17th Sunday after Pentecost
168 days after Pascha · Tone 8 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast
1925
Saint Charitina was an orphan from Amisus on the southern shore of the Black Sea, raised in the household of a pious Christian noble named Claudius, who treated her as his own daughter. From childhood she devoted herself to the study of the Scriptures, vowed her virginity to Christ and became known among her townsfolk for her gentle catechesis, which led many pagans to faith. During the persecution under Diocletian about the year 304, the governor Dometian had her brought before him and demanded that she sacrifice to the idols. When she boldly confessed Christ, her head was shaved, burning coals were heaped upon it, her body was lacerated and she was bound to a wheel set over a fire, but she was preserved by the visible help of an angel. Her teeth and the nails of her hands and feet were torn out, and lastly the judge ordered her to be subjected to outrage by lewd men. Praying that the Lord receive her soul before her body could be defiled, she gave up her spirit while still at prayer. Her body, weighted with stones and cast into the sea, was carried back to land three days later and buried with reverence by Claudius.
1841
1861
Saint Methodia was born Irene Sardis in the year 1861 on the small Cycladic island of Kimolos, the third of eight children of devout parents. From early childhood she was distinguished by her piety, modesty and her love of the Church. To honour her parents she consented to marriage with a seaman from Chios, but soon after the wedding her husband perished in a shipwreck off the coast of Asia Minor. Taking this loss as the call of God, she received the monastic tonsure from the Metropolitan of Syros and was given the name Methodia. She withdrew to a tiny cell at Stiadi within the abandoned inner castle of Kimolos, beside the church of the Nativity, where she lived a hidden life of strict fasting, vigil, study of Holy Scripture, ceaseless prayer and tears. She fasted every day except Saturday and Sunday, and during Great Lent received no visitors at all, emerging only at Pascha. The Lord granted her the gifts of counsel, comfort and healing, so that the people of Kimolos and pilgrims from other islands sought her out. She reposed in peace on 5 October 1908 at the age of forty-three. Her relics were translated to the church of Panagia Odigitria, and she was canonised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1991.
Also commemorated: Ss Peter, Aleksy, Jonah, Philip, Germogen, Metrs. Moscow
Luke — Luke 24.36-53
36And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
36And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit.
37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart?
38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
39See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.
40And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat?
41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish.
43And he took it, and did eat before them.
43And he took it, and ate before them.
44And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me.
44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
45Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures;
46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
46and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;
47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48Ye are witnesses of these things.
48And ye are witnesses of these things.
49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
49And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.
50And he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.
52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53and were continually in the temple, blessing God.
53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
2 Corinthians — 2 Corinthians 6.16-7.1
16And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
17Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,
18And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
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.
Luke — Luke 6.31-36
31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 32And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them. 33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 33And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. 34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much. 35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 35But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 36Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.