Wednesday, 24 September 2025

Holy New Martyrs of Alaska

Wednesday of the 16th week after Pentecost

157 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Red cross (polyeleos typikon symbol) · Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Holy Protomartyr and Equal-of-the-Apostles Thecla

Saint Thecla, called by the Church the Protomartyr among women and Equal of the Apostles, was born in the city of Iconium of distinguished and wealthy parents, and was renowned for her great beauty. At eighteen years of age she was betrothed to a noble youth, but having heard the holy Apostle Paul preaching about Christ from the house of her neighbour Onesiphorus, she received in her heart a steadfast love for the Saviour and resolved to remain a virgin and follow the Gospel. Her mother and her betrothed in their fury denounced her to the judges; she was condemned first to be burned, but the flames did not touch her, being quenched by a sudden downpour. She afterwards followed Saint Paul to Antioch, where she was again handed over to be devoured by wild beasts, but a fierce lioness defended her, and afterwards the beasts let loose against her would not touch her body. Released at last, with the blessing of the Apostle Paul she withdrew to a cave near Seleucia in Isauria, where she lived as an ascetic for many years, healing the sick and converting many pagans. When in old age the heathen physicians, envious of the multitudes she healed, sent men to do violence to her, the rock of her cave opened by divine power and received her, where she fell asleep in peace.

Saint Stephen the First-Crowned of Serbia

Saint Stephen the First-Crowned was the second son of Saint Simeon Nemanja, the founder of the Serbian state, and the brother of Saint Sava, first Archbishop of Serbia. Born about 1165, he became Grand Prince of Serbia in 1196 on his father's abdication for the monastic life. Through his prudent rule and the prayers and counsel of his brother Saint Sava, he united and strengthened his realm; in 1217 he was crowned king with a crown sent from Rome, becoming the first ruler of Serbia to bear the royal title and so receiving the surname Prvovenchani, the First-Crowned. He laboured for the building up of the Serbian Orthodox Church and supported his brother Sava in establishing her autocephaly in 1219. He continued the building of the great monastery of Zhicha and the rich endowment of monastic houses begun by his father. Shortly before his repose he received the angelic schema with the name Simon, and fell asleep in the Lord on 24 September 1228. His holy relics, found incorrupt, were translated by his son to the monastery of Studenitsa, where they remain a place of pilgrimage and many wonders.

Venerable Coprius of Palestine

Saint Coprius, called also Copres or Koprios, was found as a newborn infant by the monks of the monastery of Saint Theodosius the Great in the wilderness of Palestine. He had been laid by his mother upon a heap of dung, in Greek kopria, during an invasion of the Hagarenes, that he might escape the slaughter; from this circumstance the monks gave him his name when they took him up and brought him into their community. They reared him on goat's milk in the monastery, and in due time he received monastic tonsure. He spent his whole life in the same house, distinguished for the simplicity of his obedience and the depth of his prayer, and reposed there in great old age. He is commemorated together with Saint Thecla on this day, as a witness to the love and care of the monastic fathers of Palestine for the orphan and the abandoned.

St Silouan, elder of Mt Athos

1938

He was a Russian peasant who traveled to Mt Athos and became a monk in the Russian Monastery of St Panteleimon. He lived so simply, humbly and quietly that he might be forgotten had not Fr Sophrony (Sakharov) become his spiritual child and, after the Saint’s repose, written a book describing his life and teaching: St Silouan of Mt Athos, one of the great spiritual books of our time. It was through Fr Sophrony’s efforts that St Silouan was glorified as a Saint. Following a vision of Christ Himself, St Silouan withdrew to a hermitage to devote himself entirely to prayer; but he was called back to serve as steward to the monastery. Though he now supervised some two hundred men, he only increased his prayers, withdrawing to his cell to pray with tears for each individual worker under his care. For more than fifteen years he struggled with demonic attacks during prayer until he was almost in despair. At this point Christ spoke to him in a vision, saying ‘The proud always suffer from demons.’ Silouan answered ‘Lord, teach me what I must do that my soul may become humble.’ To this he received the reply, Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not. Silouan made this his discipline in every moment of his life, and was granted the grace of pure prayer. He said that if he ever let his mind wander from the fire of hell, disruptive thoughts would once again plague him. In his humiliation he was filled with a pervasive love for all — he said many times that the final criterion of true Christian faith is unfeigned love for enemies, and that ‘to pray for others is to shed blood.’ St Silouan demonstrates that the Church’s true Theologians are those who manifest in their own lives the fruits of the Church’s hesychastic spirituality, however insignificant they may appear to the eyes of the world.

Daily readings

Vespers

Isaiah — Isaiah 43.9-14

⁹Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. ⁹Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth. ¹⁰Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ¹⁰Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ¹¹I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. ¹¹I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour. ¹²I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. ¹²I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God. ¹³Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? ¹³Yea, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it?

¹⁴Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

¹⁴Thus saith Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.

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.

Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 12.2-12

²For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. ²But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. ³Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. ³Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. ⁴And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁴And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. ⁵But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. ⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? ⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. ⁷But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows. ⁷But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. ⁸And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: ⁸Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: ⁹But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. ⁹but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God. ¹⁰And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. ¹⁰And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven. ¹¹And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: ¹¹And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: ¹²For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. ¹²for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Galatians — Galatians 6.2-10

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. ³For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. ³For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. ⁴But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor. ⁴But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵For each man shall bear his own burden. ⁵For every man shall bear his own burden.

⁶But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. ⁶Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. ⁷Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁷Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ⁸For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ⁹And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ¹⁰So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith. ¹⁰As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Epistle

— New Martyrs

Romans — Romans 8.28-39

²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁸And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. ²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ²⁹For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: ³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. ³⁰and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. ³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

³¹What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? ³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? ³³Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. ³³Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth; ³⁴who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. ³⁴Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁶Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 4.1-15

¹And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

¹And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness ²Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. ²during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered. ³And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. ³And the devil said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread. ⁴And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. ⁴And Jesus answered unto him, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone. ⁵And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁵And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. ⁶And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. ⁷If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. ⁷If thou therefore wilt worship before me, it shall all be thine. ⁸And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. ⁸And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. ⁹And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: ⁹And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: ¹⁰for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to guard thee: ¹⁰For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: ¹¹And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

¹¹and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.

¹²And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God. ¹²And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

¹³And when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him for a season. ¹³And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

¹⁴And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

¹⁴And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and a fame went out concerning him through all the region round about. ¹⁵And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. ¹⁵And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

Gospel

— New Martyrs

Luke — Luke 21.12-19

¹²But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. ¹²But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ¹³And it shall turn to you for a testimony. ¹³It shall turn out unto you for a testimony. ¹⁴Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: ¹⁴Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer: ¹⁵For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. ¹⁵for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay. ¹⁶And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. ¹⁶But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. ¹⁷And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. ¹⁷And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. ¹⁸And not a hair of your head shall perish. ¹⁸But there shall not an hair of your head perish. ¹⁹In your patience possess ye your souls. ¹⁹In your patience ye shall win your souls.