Sunday, 17 August 2025

10th Sunday after Pentecost

119 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Myron the Presbyter of Cyzicus

250

The Holy Martyr Myron was a presbyter in Achaia in Greece and lived in the third century. He suffered for Christ in the year 250 under the emperor Decius. The presbyter was gentle and kind to the people of his flock and a generous benefactor to the poor, but he was also courageous in the defence of his spiritual children when they were threatened.

On the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, while Saint Myron was celebrating the Divine Liturgy, the local governor Antipater entered the church with soldiers in order to arrest the worshippers and subject them to torture for the name of Christ. Saint Myron began to plead with him for his flock, openly accusing the governor of cruelty and impiety. For this fearless witness he was himself seized and delivered up to torture.

The torturers struck his body with iron rods and cast him into a red-hot oven, but the Lord preserved His martyr unharmed, while about one hundred and fifty men standing nearby were scorched by the flames that issued forth. The governor, infuriated by this miracle, ordered Saint Myron to be lashed with leather straps and his skin to be flayed in long strips. Bearing every torment with patience, the saint cast a strip of his own flayed skin into Antipater's face, rebuking his blasphemy.

Crazed with rage, Antipater took up a sword and ran himself through, dying by his own hand. The soldiers then took Saint Myron to the city of Cyzicus on the southern shore of the Propontis, where he was beheaded by the sword and received the crown of martyrdom.

Holy Martyr Patroclus of Troyes

The Holy Martyr Patroclus lived during the third century in the city of Tricassinum, now Troyes in Gaul. He suffered for Christ during the reign of the emperor Aurelian (270 to 275). From his youth he led a pious Christian life: he loved to pray, to read the Holy Scriptures, to fast and to give alms to the poor. The Lord, well-pleased with him, bestowed upon him the gift of working wonders for the consolation of the faithful. When Aurelian came to Tricassinum during one of his campaigns, he summoned Saint Patroclus before him and demanded that he offer sacrifice to the gods. Patroclus refused, openly confessing Christ as the only true God. The emperor at first sought to win him over with promises of wealth and honour, and when these failed, with threats of torture, but the saint remained immovable. He was condemned to death and led out to be executed. The soldiers led him toward the bank of the river Sequana (the Seine). As they prepared to behead him, their eyes were suddenly clouded by a divine mist, and Saint Patroclus walked across the river upon the waters, ascending a hill on the further bank where he stood and gave thanks in prayer. A pagan woman who had been gathering wood saw him and pointed him out to the soldiers; they crossed the river and there put him to death by the sword. The body of the holy martyr was taken up by night by the priest Eusebius and the deacon Liberius and buried with reverence. Saint Patroclus is honoured as one of the early martyrs of Gaul, and his memory is kept by the Orthodox Church on 17 August.

Holy Martyrs Straton, Philip, Eutychian and Cyprian of Nicomedia

The Holy Martyrs Straton, Philip, Eutychian and Cyprian suffered for Christ at Nicomedia about the year 303 under the emperor Diocletian. They were friends bound together by faith in Christ and a common zeal to bring their pagan neighbours to the knowledge of the true God. Observing how the people of Nicomedia flocked to the theatre and the circus to watch impious spectacles, the saints went into the great theatre and began to preach the Gospel to the assembled crowds. They taught the people to abandon idol worship, exposed the emptiness of the pagan myths, and proclaimed Christ Jesus as the only Saviour. By their bold preaching and winsome lives they converted many of the spectators, so that the theatre stood empty and the pagan festivities lost their attraction. When the ruler of Nicomedia learned the cause of the empty theatre, he summoned the four Christians and demanded that they sacrifice to the gods. They steadfastly refused. The governor ordered them to be cruelly beaten, their bodies torn with iron hooks, and their flesh roasted upon red-hot grates, but the wondrous endurance of the Lord's confessors could not be broken. They were then thrown to wild beasts in the arena, but the animals would not touch them. After all manner of tortures had failed to overcome them, the holy martyrs were finally cast into a great fire, and there together they yielded up their souls to God, receiving the unfading crowns of martyrdom. The Christians of Nicomedia gathered their honourable remains and buried them with reverence.

Venerable Alypius the Iconographer of the Kiev Caves

1114

Saint Alypius was one of the first and finest of Russian iconographers, a disciple of Saint Nicon and a monk of the Monastery of the Caves at Kiev. From his youth he embraced a life of asceticism within the holy monastery and was instructed in the sacred art of iconography by the Greek masters who came to Kiev in the time of Saints Anthony and Theodosius. From the year 1083 he laboured at the adornment of the great church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Caves Monastery. Saint Alypius painted icons not for gain but for the glory of God, distributing whatever payment he received in three parts: one for the supplies of his craft, one for himself, and the third given freely to the poor. He was ordained a hieromonk and was vouchsafed by God the gift of working miracles even during his lifetime. On one occasion he healed a man of Kiev suffering from leprosy by anointing his sores with the very paints he used for sacred images. It is recorded that when the saint was once unable to complete an icon because of illness, an angel of the Lord descended in his stead and finished the work in a single night. Many of the wonderworking icons preserved in the lands of Rus' are traced by tradition to his hand, including the Sven Icon of the Mother of God. In the year 1114, having lived a long life of prayer, fasting and labour for the beauty of God's house, Saint Alypius reposed peacefully in the Lord. According to the chronicle, an angel was seen by his side at the moment of his repose. He was buried in the Near Caves of the Kiev Lavra, where his incorrupt relics rest to this day, and his memory is kept on 17 August.

Holy Martyr Patroclus

late 3rd c.

He was born to wealthy parents in Trychasia (now Troyes) in Gaul. Despite his high station he used his wealth to give daily alms to the poor and ate only once a day after sunset. Such was his holiness that he became a wonderworker, known widely for his healing power. When the Emperor Aurelian visited Gaul, he ordered Patroclus brought before him. The Saint freely confessed Christ and told the Emperor: ‘If, O King, you desire some of my goods, I will give them to you, for I can see your wretchedness.’ The astonished Emperor asked how he could call the ruler of the entire Empire wretched. Patroclus replied, ‘You have earthly, transitory riches, but you are wretched, for you do not possess yourself, since you have no faith in Christ in your heart.’ The saint was condemned to death and beheaded. Two beggars, to whom he had given alms, found his body and gave it honorable burial.

Daily readings

10th Matins Gospel

John — John 21.1-14

¹After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

¹After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested himself on this wise. ²There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. ²There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. ³Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. ³Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing. ⁴But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. ⁴But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. ⁵Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No. ⁵Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. ⁶And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. ⁶And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. ⁷Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. ⁷That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea. ⁸And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. ⁸But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net full of fishes. ⁹So when they got out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. ⁹As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. ¹⁰Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now taken. ¹⁰Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. ¹¹Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent. ¹¹Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. ¹²Jesus saith unto them, Come and break your fast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. ¹²Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. ¹³Jesus cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise. ¹⁴This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. ¹⁴This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 4.9-16

⁹For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. ⁹For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men. ¹⁰We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. ¹⁰We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor. ¹¹Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; ¹¹Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; ¹²And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: ¹²and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ¹³Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. ¹³being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now. ¹⁴I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

¹⁴I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. ¹⁵For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel. ¹⁵For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. ¹⁶Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. ¹⁶I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 17.14-23

¹⁴And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

¹⁴And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling to him, and saying, ¹⁵Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. ¹⁵Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft-times into the water. ¹⁶And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. ¹⁶And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. ¹⁷Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. ¹⁷And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him hither to me. ¹⁸And Jesus rebuked him; and the demon went out of him: and the boy was cured from that hour. ¹⁸And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

¹⁹Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out? ¹⁹Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? ²⁰And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. ²⁰And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. ²¹Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. ²¹

²²And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

²²And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men; ²³And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. ²³and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry.