Thursday, 28 August 2025

Ven. Job of Pochaev

Thursday of the 12th week after Pentecost

130 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Red cross (polyeleos typikon symbol) · No Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Uncovering of the Relics of St Job of Pochaev

1651

For his life see May 6.

Blessed Augustine, Bishop of Hippo

Blessed Augustine was born in 354 in Tagaste in North Africa to the Christian Saint Monica and the pagan Patricius. After a brilliant education in rhetoric he taught in Carthage, Rome and Milan, falling for a time into the Manichaean error and other passions of his youth, of which he wrote with searching honesty in his Confessions. Through the prayers of his mother and the preaching of Saint Ambrose, he was converted and baptised at Milan at the Pascha of 387. Returning to Africa he embraced the monastic life, was ordained priest in 391 and consecrated Bishop of Hippo Regius in 395. For thirty five years he shepherded that small see, expounding the Scriptures, defending the Orthodox faith against the Donatists, the Pelagians and the Manichaeans, and writing works such as On the Trinity and On the City of God which laid foundations of Christian theology in the Latin tongue. He fell asleep in the Lord on 28 August 430 as the Vandals were besieging his city.

Holy Righteous Anna the Prophetess, daughter of Phanuel

Saint Anna the Prophetess was descended from the tribe of Asher and was the daughter of Phanuel. After seven years of marriage she was widowed, and devoted the rest of her long life to the service of God in the Temple at Jerusalem, departing not from it but worshipping with fastings and prayers night and day. When she was eighty four years old she was found together with the Righteous Symeon in the Temple at the very moment when the Most Holy Theotokos brought the divine Infant for presentation according to the Law on the fortieth day after his birth. By the gift of prophecy Saint Anna recognised Christ as the long awaited Redeemer, gave thanks to God and spoke of him to all who looked for the redemption of Israel. The Church honours her as a witness of the Incarnation, joining her name to that of the Righteous Symeon in the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord on 2 February.

St Moses of Ethiopia

400

He is also called Moses the Black. He was a slave, but was cast out by his master due to his evil life. He then became the leader of a murderous band of robbers in Egypt. He came to repentance and took up monastic life in the desert under St Isidore of Sketis. For many years he struggled tirelessly, through prayer, fasting and vigils, with lustful and violent thoughts; he was finally freed of them through the prayers of St Isidore. He was revered by all the brethren for his ascetical life, his wisdom, and his deep humility. Once a brother committed some sin and the monks gathered to judge him. Moses at first refused to go at all, but when they insisted, he filled an old, leaky basket with sand and carried it into the assembly on his back. When the brethren asked him what his action meant, he said “My sins run out behind me, and I do not even see them, and I have come to judge my brother.” The monk was forgiven. In time the fame of this humblest of monks spread so far that kings and bishops traveled into the desert to seek his wisdom and his blessing. In his old age, he was warned that a band of brigands was coming to attack the Skete. He refused to leave saying, “It is written: he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.” So, mindful that he had slain others by the sword, he willingly awaited his own murder. Six other monks who remained with him were also slain.

Translation of the Relics of Saint Job, Abbot of Pochaev

Saint Job, in the world Ivan Iron Iron Zhelezo, was born in Galicia in 1551 and at the age of ten entered the monastery of Ugornitsky, where he was tonsured as a monk. Called by Princess Anna Goyskaya to renew the monastery on Mount Pochaev, he laboured there for over fifty years as a model of strict asceticism, hesychast prayer and tireless defence of Orthodoxy in the lands of western Rus' against the Unia. He reposed on 28 October 1651, having lived more than a century. After his repose his body was found incorrupt and many miracles took place at his grave. On 28 August 1659 his holy relics were uncovered and translated to the Cathedral of the Life Giving Trinity at Pochaev, and the Russian Church keeps this day as the feast of the translation of his relics, on which they are solemnly carried in procession around the Dormition Cathedral of the Pochaev Lavra.

Venerable Moses the Black of Scete

Saint Moses, called the Black or the Ethiopian, lived in Egypt in the fourth century. He was a slave of an Egyptian official, but having been driven out for his thievery and brutality he became the leader of a band of robbers who terrorised the country. Coming one day in flight to a monastery in the desert of Scete, he was so struck by the gentleness of the monks and by the mercy of God that he repented with all his heart, was received by Saint Isidore, and gave himself to a life of unceasing prayer and severe ascetic struggle. He warred long against the passions, especially against the demons of his old life, until by the grace of God he became a great vessel of the Spirit. After many years he was ordained priest, and gathered around himself seventy five disciples. Foreseeing his death and refusing to flee, he received in Scete a band of marauding barbarians who slew him and six of his disciples, about the year 400, in the seventy fifth year of his life. Saint Moses is loved as a luminous witness to the power of repentance and to the universality of the call of Christ.

Righteous Hezekiah, King of Judah

New Hieromartyr Chrysostom, metropolitan of Smyrna

1922

Repose of Elder Joseph the Hesychast of Mt Athos

1959

Born on the island of Paros in 1898, he entered monastic life in 1921 in response to a heavenly vision. Traveling to Mt Athos he first lived the communal monastic life, but later moved to a Skete for greater solitude. There he received the gift of ceaseless prayer. Elder Joseph and his companion in struggle, Elder Arsenios, moved to St Anne’s Skete, where they remained for the rest of their lives. Here a small company of disciples slowly gathered around them. Many of these, like silent Apostles, have spread out through the Orthodox world, contributing much to its spiritual renewal.

Daily readings

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

¹But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.

²In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,

³And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.

⁴For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.

⁵And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.

⁶As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.

⁷And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.

⁸They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

⁹They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 5.15-6.3

¹⁵But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High.

¹⁶Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them.

¹⁷He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies.

¹⁸He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet.

¹⁹He shall take holiness for an invincible shield.

²⁰His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise.

²¹Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark.

²²And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them.

²³Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.

¹Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth.

²Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.

³For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

⁷But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.

⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.

⁹But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.

¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.

¹¹Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.

¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.

¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:

¹⁴For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.

¹⁵This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Matins Gospel

Matthew — Matthew 11.27-30

²⁷All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. ²⁷All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him. ²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Corinthians — 2 Corinthians 7.1-10

¹Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

¹Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

²Open your hearts to us: we wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we took advantage of no man.

²Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. ³I say it not to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together. ³I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. ⁴Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our affliction. ⁴Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. ⁵For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

⁵For even when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. ⁶Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; ⁶Nevertheless he that comforteth the lowly, even God, comforted us by the coming of Titus; ⁷And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. ⁷and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more. ⁸For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it: though I did regret it (for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season), ⁸For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. ⁹I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing. ⁹Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. ¹⁰For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. ¹⁰For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Epistle

— St Job

Galatians — Galatians 5.22-6.2

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. ²⁴And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. ²⁶Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

¹Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. ²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 1.29-35

²⁹And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

²⁹And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. ³⁰Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell him of her: ³¹And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. ³¹and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. ³²And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

³²And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with demons. ³³And all the city was gathered together at the door. ³³And all the city was gathered together at the door. ³⁴And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. ³⁴And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him. ³⁵And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

³⁵And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.

Gospel

— St Job

Luke — Luke 6.17-23

¹⁷and he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judæa and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

¹⁷And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed. ¹⁸And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. ¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. ¹⁹And all the multitude sought to touch him; for power came forth from him, and healed them all.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²³Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. ²³Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.