Friday, 25 July 2025

Friday of the 7th week after Pentecost

96 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · Fast

Saints commemorated

★ Dormition of the holy righteous Anna, mother of the most holy Theotokos

Saint Anna, whose name in Hebrew means "grace," was of the tribe of Levi and the daughter of the priest Matthan, descended through her mother from the royal line of Judah. Together with her righteous husband Joachim of Nazareth, she lived in piety, almsgiving and the keeping of the Law, but for many years they remained childless and bore the reproach of barrenness as a sorrow before God. After long prayer and fasting, an angel appeared separately to each of them and announced that they would have a daughter through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. In response to this promise, Anna conceived and bore the holy maiden Mary, the future Mother of God, whom they brought into the temple at the age of three to be raised before the Lord.

Joachim reposed first, in his eightieth year, while Saint Anna lived on a little longer in Jerusalem in the company of her holy daughter. According to the tradition of the Church, she fell asleep in peace at the age of seventy-nine, before the Annunciation, and was buried at Gethsemane. The feast of her conception of the Theotokos is kept on 9 December, the feast of her holy meeting with Joachim on 9 September; the present day, 25 July, is set aside for her holy dormition. The faithful invoke her especially as the protector of mothers, the helper of the barren, and the patron of grandparents.

Holy righteous Macrina the younger

379

Saint Macrina was the eldest of the ten children of Saint Basil the Elder and Saint Emmelia, and the elder sister of three of the great fathers of the Church, Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory of Nyssa and Saint Peter of Sebaste. Born around 327 in Caesarea of Cappadocia, she was named Macrina after her grandmother, the disciple of Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, but was given a hidden name by her mother in a vision: Thecla. From her childhood she was taught not the fables of the pagans but the Psalter and the wisdom of Solomon, and grew up in a household which one of her brothers later called "a school of philosophy." Betrothed in early youth, Saint Macrina lost her future husband to an untimely death and refused thereafter all thought of marriage, saying that the bond of betrothal had made her a widow before God. She turned the family estate at Annisa on the river Iris in Pontus into a community of consecrated virgins, and persuaded her widowed mother to live there with the freed maidservants as one sisterhood. By her counsel and example she shaped the path of her brother Basil away from worldly ambition into the monastic life, and she was a guide to all her family. She reposed in 379, a few months after the death of Saint Basil; her brother Saint Gregory of Nyssa hastened to her bedside and afterwards wrote her Life and the dialogue On the Soul and the Resurrection in her honour. Her principal feast is on 19 July; in some calendars she is also remembered on 25 July with her relatives.

Holy righteous Olympias the deaconess of Constantinople

Saint Olympias was born around 368 into one of the leading senatorial families of the Eastern empire, the granddaughter of the Praetorian Prefect Ablabius. Orphaned in childhood, she was brought up under the guidance of Saint Theodosia, the sister of Saint Amphilochius of Iconium, in the company of Saint Gregory the Theologian, who became her spiritual father. Married very young to a high-ranking official, she was widowed within twenty months and steadfastly refused every offer of remarriage, including that of a kinsman of the emperor Theodosius. The patriarch Saint Nectarius ordained her deaconess of the Great Church, and she founded a community of more than two hundred women near Hagia Sophia, governing it with the wisdom of an abbess and the humility of a servant. She gave her vast inheritance for the freeing of slaves, the relief of the poor, the support of churches and monasteries, and the help of bishops in need. When Saint John Chrysostom became archbishop, she became his closest spiritual daughter and helper. After his unjust deposition in 404 she shared his exile in spirit, refusing all compromise with his enemies, and was herself banished, fined and reduced to want. Worn out by sorrow and illness she reposed at Nicomedia in 408. The seventeen letters which Saint John wrote to her from his exile are among the great treasures of patristic spirituality.

The holy five virgins of Mysia

The holy five virgins are a company of consecrated maidens, Theodota, Thekti, Eutyche, Mary and Cassia, who suffered martyrdom in the western part of Asia Minor in the early centuries of persecution. Each of them, while still young, had renounced an earthly betrothal and dedicated her virginity to Christ. Living in voluntary austerity, they devoted themselves to prayer, the singing of psalms, the works of mercy and the care of those in prison. Reported as Christians, they were brought before the local governor and questioned together. Their unanimous and fearless confession enraged him; they were subjected to humiliations, beatings, and torture, and at length put to death, some by the sword and others in the flames. Their bodies were taken up by faithful Christians and buried in one place. The Church keeps their joint commemoration on 25 July, holding them up as a pattern of pure virginity preserved unto the shedding of blood.

Venerable Eupraxia of Tabenna

Saint Eupraxia was the daughter of a Christian senator, also named Antigonus, of the family of the emperor Theodosius the Great. Her father reposed in her early childhood, and her mother, also called Eupraxia, withdrew with the child to Egypt to escape the snares of the imperial court and to live a life of prayer. There the elder Eupraxia, after distributing her wealth to the poor, brought her daughter to the women's monastery near Tabenna founded by Saint Pachomius, where the maiden, then only seven years of age, asked to be received as a nun. The abbess, struck by the child's earnestness, granted her wish, and the young Eupraxia grew up in the discipline of the community. She kept the rule with great severity, fasting often for whole weeks, and outdid the older sisters in obedience and humility. The devil tempted her in many ways, but her elder taught her to overcome each onslaught by the cross and the prayer of Jesus. She was granted the gifts of healing and of casting out demons, and many were brought back to soundness of mind and body through her prayers. She reposed in peace at the age of about thirty, around the year 413.

Commemoration of the holy 165 Fathers of the Fifth Ecumenical Council

553

This council was held in Constantinople during the reign of Justinian the Great. The council condemned the various forms of monophysitism, the heretical writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia and Theodoret, and the writings of Origen (particularly on universal salvation).

St Olympias the Deaconess

408

She was born to a noble family in Constantinople: her father Anysius Secundus was a senator. She was betrothed to a nobleman who died before they could be wed; resisting all advice to take another husband, Olympias devoted herself entirely to God, giving her large inheritance to the Church and to the poor. She served as a deaconess, first under the Patriarch Nektarios, then under St John Chrysostom. When St John was sent into exile, he advised her to remain in Constantinople, and to continue to serve the Church whatever patriarch took his place. But as soon as the holy hierarch went into exile, a fire destroyed a large part of the City, and St John’s enemies accused the holy Olympias of setting the fire. She in turn was exiled to Nikomedia, where she reposed in 408. She left instructions that her body be placed in a coffin and thrown into the sea, to be buried wherever it was cast up. The coffin came to shore at Vrochthoi and was buried there at a church dedicated to the Apostle Thomas. Her relics have continued to be a source of great miracles of healing. During his exile, St John Chrysostom wrote a number of letters to St Olympias, seventeen of which have been preserved through the centuries. In one he writes: ‘Now I am deeply joyful, not only because you have been delivered from sickness, but even more because you are bearing adversities with such fortitude, calling them trifles — a characteristic of a soul filled with power and abounding in the rich fruits of courage. You are not only enduring misfortune with fortitude, but are making light of it in a seemingly effortless way, rejoicing and triumphing over it — this is a proof of the greatest wisdom.’

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 7.35-8.7

³⁵And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. ³⁵And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. ³⁶But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. ³⁶But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry. ³⁷Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. ³⁷But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well. ³⁸So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. ³⁸So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better. ³⁹A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. ³⁹The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. ⁴⁰But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God. ⁴⁰But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

¹Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

¹Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth. ²And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. ²If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know; ³But if any man love God, the same is known of him. ³but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him. ⁴Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one. ⁴As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. ⁵For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; ⁵For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) ⁶But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. ⁶yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him. ⁷Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. ⁷Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

Epistle

— St Anna

Galatians — Galatians 4.22-31

²²For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman. ²²For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. ²³Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise. ²³But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. ²⁴Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar. ²⁴Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. ²⁵Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children. ²⁵For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. ²⁶But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁶But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother. ²⁷For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. ²⁷For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband. ²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. ²⁹But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now. ²⁹But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. ³⁰Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. ³⁰Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. ³¹Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman. ³¹So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 15.29-31

²⁹And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

²⁹And Jesus departed thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there. ³⁰And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: ³⁰And there came unto him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they cast them down at his feet; and he healed them: ³¹Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. ³¹insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Gospel

— St Anna

Luke — Luke 8.16-21

¹⁶No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

¹⁶And no man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand, that they that enter in may see the light. ¹⁷For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. ¹⁷For nothing is hid, that shall not be made manifest; nor anything secret, that shall not be known and come to light. ¹⁸Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. ¹⁸Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he thinketh he hath.

¹⁹Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

¹⁹And there came to him his mother and brethren, and they could not come at him for the crowd. ²⁰And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. ²⁰And it was told him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. ²¹And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. ²¹But he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of God, and do it.