Wednesday, 17 September 2025

Wednesday of the 15th week after Pentecost

150 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Liturgy · Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Heraclides, Bishop of Tamasos in Cyprus

The hieromartyr Heraclides was a native of the village of Lambadistos on the island of Cyprus, the son of a pagan priest. When the holy apostles Paul, Barnabas and Mark came to Cyprus on their first missionary journey, the young man's father, although a pagan, gladly received them and offered them hospitality. The apostles however would not dine in a house where sacrifices were made to idols, and asked for a guide who could show them the way through the island. Heraclides' father offered them his son, then bearing the name Heracleon. Travelling with the apostles, the youth was instructed in the Christian faith and was baptised by Saint Paul, who at his baptism gave him the name Heraclides. On his second visit to Cyprus, the apostle Barnabas consecrated him bishop and set him over the city of Tamasos. With apostolic zeal Heraclides preached the Gospel through the surrounding villages, working many miracles and converting great multitudes from paganism. Together with his disciple Myron, who succeeded him in the see of Tamasos, he was at last seized by pagan persecutors. After being beaten and tortured he was cast into a fire, in which he gave up his soul to God and received the crown of martyrdom. Over his tomb a great monastery rose in later centuries, the Monastery of Saint Heraclides, which remains a place of pilgrimage in Cyprus.

Holy Martyr Agathokleia

The holy martyr Agathokleia was a servant in the household of a certain Christian named Nicholas, whose wife Paulina was a pagan. For eight years Agathokleia endured continual abuse at the hands of her mistress because of her faith. Paulina beat her fiercely and forced her to walk barefoot over sharp stones. In one fit of cruelty she struck the saint with a hammer and broke her rib, and on another occasion she cut out her tongue. Yet nothing could compel Agathokleia to deny Christ or to worship idols. Paulina then locked the martyr in prison and tried to break her by hunger, but birds brought her food each day and she did not perish. Finally, enraged by the saint's invincible patience, her mistress poured red-hot coals upon her head, and so the holy martyr surrendered her soul to God. Her commemoration has been kept in the Orthodox Church on 17 September from ancient times.

Holy Martyrs Sophia and her three daughters Faith, Hope and Love

The Holy Martyrs Sophia and her three daughters Faith, Hope and Love were born in Italy in the early second century. Their mother was a pious Christian widow who, having received a special love for Christ from her own family, named her three little girls after the three Christian virtues. The family lived openly as Christians during the reign of the emperor Hadrian (117 to 138). Brought to Rome and accused before the emperor, they refused to offer sacrifice to the goddess Artemis. The eldest, Faith, twelve years old, was scourged, her breasts cut off and she was cast into boiling pitch from which she emerged unhurt; she was then beheaded. The second, Hope, ten years old, was tortured and finally beheaded. The youngest, Love, only nine, was tied to a wheel and beaten with rods until her body was covered with bloody welts, then she too was beheaded. To intensify her inner suffering Sophia was forced to watch her daughters die one by one, urging each in turn to bear their torments for the Heavenly Bridegroom. The emperor permitted her to take their bodies; she carried them beyond the city walls in a wagon and buried them on a high hill. Sitting by their graves in unceasing prayer, after three days she gave up her soul to the Lord and was buried with her children.

Our Holy Father Lambert, Bishop of Maastricht

705

He was born to a noble family in Maastricht (in modern-day Netherlands). When his spiritual father Bishop Theodard was killed in 671, St Lambert was elected Bishop of Maastricht despite his youth. He was loved by his flock for his holiness, ascetic labors and almsgiving, but was driven from his see in 675 after his patron King Childeric II was assasinated. He withdrew to the Monastery of Stavelot where he lived for seven years as one of the brethren, claiming no privileges despite his office. Once, getting up to pray during the night, he accidentally disturbed the monastic silence. The Abbot called out for whoever was responsible to do penance by standing barefoot in the snow before a cross outside the monastery church. In the morning the Abbot was dismayed to see the Bishop standing barefoot, covered with snow, before the cross, his face shining. The Abbot sought to apologize, but Lambert replied that he was honored to serve God like the Apostles, in cold and nakedness. When King Pepin of Heristal took power in 681, he restored Lambert to his see, despite the Saint’s desire to remain in obscurity. The holy bishop renewed his pastoral labors with vigor, visiting the most distant parishes and preaching the Gospel to the pagans who still inhabited the area, despite danger and threats. But when King Pepin put away his wife and replaced her with his concubine Alpais, St Lambert was the only Bishop who dared to rebuke him. For this he incurred the wrath of Alpais, who ordered his death. His assassins carried out their evil commission, even though they found a cross shining above the humble dwelling where he was staying. Saint Lambert is one of the best-loved Saints of the Netherlands and Belgium, where many parish churches are dedicated to him. His relics are now in the Belgian city of Liège.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Galatians — Galatians 3.15-22

¹⁵Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto. ¹⁵Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. ¹⁶Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. ¹⁶Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. ¹⁷Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. ¹⁷And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. ¹⁸For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. ¹⁸For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. ¹⁹What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. ¹⁹Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. ²⁰Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one. ²⁰Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. ²¹Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. ²¹Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. ²²But the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ²²But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 6.7-13

⁷And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

⁷And he calleth unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits; ⁸And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: ⁸and he charged them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse; ⁹But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. ⁹but to go shod with sandals: and, said he, put not on two coats. ¹⁰And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. ¹⁰And he said unto them, Wheresoever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart thence. ¹¹And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. ¹¹And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them. ¹²And they went out, and preached that men should repent. ¹²And they went out, and preached that men should repent. ¹³And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. ¹³And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.