Sunday, 12 October 2025

Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

18th Sunday after Pentecost

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

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyrs Probus, Tarachus, and Andronicus

304

The holy martyrs Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus suffered for Christ at Tarsus in Cilicia in the year 304, during the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian. Tarachus was a native of Claudiopolis in Syria, an old soldier of mature years who had been raised in the Christian faith. Probus was born at Side in Pamphylia, the son of a wealthy father, and Andronicus was the son of an eminent citizen of Ephesus, all three already known in their cities as confessors of Christ.

Brought before the proconsul Numerian Maximus at Tarsus, the three were commanded to offer sacrifice to the gods of the empire. Tarachus, the eldest, answered that he would offer not the blood of beasts but a pure heart to the one true God. Probus declared that he found in Christ his hope and his crown, and Andronicus that he had been delivered by Christ from the bondage of idols and would not return to them. The proconsul gave them over to long and varied tortures, bringing them three times before the tribunal in the cities of Tarsus, Mopsuestia, and Anazarbus.

Their tortures included scourging, the rending of their flesh with iron hooks, the beating of their bodies with rods of lead, the crushing of their hands and feet, the searing of their wounds with vinegar and salt, and the wrenching of their limbs upon the rack. Through it all they remained unmoved and gave glory to God. The transcript of their interrogations, preserved by Christians who paid the soldiers for the right to copy it, is one of the oldest authentic acts of the martyrs and was treasured throughout antiquity.

At the last, weary of inflicting torment and unable to break their constancy, the proconsul gave them to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre. When the beasts would not touch them, soldiers were sent in and the three were put to the sword. Christians by night gathered their relics with reverence and laid them to rest, and a heavenly light appeared above their tomb.

Saint Cosmas the Hymnographer, Bishop of Maiuma

Saint Cosmas the Hymnographer, also called Cosmas of Jerusalem, was born in Damascus toward the end of the seventh century. Orphaned in early youth, he was taken into the household of Sergius, a noble Christian official who served at the court of the Saracen caliph and was the father of Saint John of Damascus. There he was raised as the foster brother of John, sharing his lessons and his prayers, and the two were as one heart in their love of Christ. Their teacher was a learned Calabrian monk, also named Cosmas, who had been ransomed by Sergius from slavery to the Saracens. Under him the two boys were instructed in grammar, rhetoric, philosophy, music, astronomy, and theology. When their tutor in old age desired to retire to the wilderness, the two foster brothers prepared for him a hermitage and themselves followed in due time, leaving Damascus together to take the habit at the great Lavra of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified in the Judean desert. There Cosmas devoted himself to the chanting of the divine services and to the writing of sacred poetry, sharing with John of Damascus the labour of bringing the hymnody of the Church into a new and lasting splendour. To him are owed the canons of Lazarus Saturday, of Palm Sunday, of the Tridia chanted in Holy Week, the canon of the Nativity drawn from the homily of Saint Gregory the Theologian, and many further hymns of the festal cycle. With John he is honoured as a chief representative of the great age of Greek liturgical poetry. In 743 Saint Cosmas was raised against his will to the bishopric of Maiuma, the port of Gaza, where he ruled his flock with humility, defended the holy icons against the iconoclasts, and continued his hymnographic labours. He reposed in extreme old age and is venerated as a teacher and a poet of the Church.

Saint Symeon the New Theologian

Saint Symeon the New Theologian was born in 949 in Galatia, Paphlagonia, of noble parents, and named George at his baptism. As a youth he was sent to Constantinople and entrusted to his uncle, who served at the imperial court, where he received a thorough education and was prepared for civil office. About his fourteenth year he met the elder Symeon the Pious of the Studite monastery, who became his spiritual father and laid in him the foundation of his interior life.

Drawn by deep spiritual experience even while still in the world, Symeon entered the Studite monastery in Constantinople in due time and afterwards moved to the monastery of Saint Mamas, of which he became abbot in 980. There he gathered a brotherhood whom he led with a strictness and a freshness that stirred both admiration and opposition. He taught that every Christian, from the highest to the least, is called to a personal experience of the grace of the Holy Spirit, and that without this conscious experience the sacramental life is impoverished.

His zeal for the memory of his elder, whom he venerated as a saint, brought him into conflict with Stephen, the syncellus of the patriarch, and in 1009 he was deposed and exiled to Paloukiton on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus. There, far from being silenced, he gathered disciples, restored a ruined chapel of Saint Marina, and lived his last years in prayer, writing, and the spiritual fatherhood of those who came to him.

Saint Symeon left a great body of writing, the Hymns of Divine Love, the Catechetical Discourses, the Theological and Ethical Treatises, and the Practical and Theological Chapters, in which he taught with a power that has earned him the title of New Theologian, set in the Church beside Saint John the Theologian and Saint Gregory the Theologian. He reposed on 12 March 1022. His principal feast is observed on 12 October, when his relics were translated, since the ordinary date falls in the Great Fast.

Daily readings

Vespers

Genesis — Genesis 14.14-20

¹⁴And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. ¹⁴And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. ¹⁵And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. ¹⁵And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. ¹⁶And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. ¹⁶And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

¹⁷And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.

¹⁷And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, at the vale of Shaveh (the same is the King’s Vale). ¹⁸And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. ¹⁸And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. ¹⁹And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: ¹⁹And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: ²⁰And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. ²⁰and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.

Vespers

Deuteronomy — Deuteronomy 1.8-11, 15-17

⁸Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. ⁸Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

⁹And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:

⁹And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone: ¹⁰The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. ¹⁰Jehovah your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. ¹¹(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!) ¹¹Jehovah, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you! ¹⁵So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. ¹⁵So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes. ¹⁶And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. ¹⁶And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the sojourner that is with him. ¹⁷Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. ¹⁷Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.

Vespers

Deuteronomy — Deuteronomy 10.14-21

¹⁴Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. ¹⁴Behold, unto Jehovah thy God belongeth heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein. ¹⁵Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. ¹⁵Only Jehovah had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day. ¹⁶Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. ¹⁶Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. ¹⁷For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: ¹⁷For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. ¹⁸He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. ¹⁸He doth execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the sojourner, in giving him food and raiment. ¹⁹Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. ¹⁹Love ye therefore the sojourner; for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt. ²⁰Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; him shalt thou serve; and to him shalt thou cleave, and by his name shalt thou swear. ²⁰Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. ²¹He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. ²¹He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

7th Matins Gospel

John — John 20.1-10

¹The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

¹Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. ²Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. ²She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him. ³Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. ³Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. ⁴So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. ⁴And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; ⁵and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. ⁵And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. ⁶Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, ⁶Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, ⁷and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁷And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. ⁸Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. ⁸Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. ⁹For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ⁹For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. ¹⁰So the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Corinthians — 2 Corinthians 9.6-11

⁶But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ⁶But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ⁷Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. ⁷Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work: ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: ⁹as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever. ⁹(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

¹⁰And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: ¹⁰Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) ¹¹ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God. ¹¹Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Epistle

— Fathers

Hebrews — Hebrews 13.7-16

⁷Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.

⁷Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever. ⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ⁹Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. ⁹Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited. ¹⁰We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle. ¹⁰We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. ¹¹For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp. ¹¹For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. ¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate. ¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. ¹³Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹³Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹⁴For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. ¹⁴For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come. ¹⁵Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name. ¹⁵By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. ¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 7.11-16

¹¹And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

¹¹And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went to a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude. ¹²Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. ¹²Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. ¹³And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. ¹³And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. ¹⁴And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. ¹⁴And he came nigh and touched the bier: and the bearers stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. ¹⁵And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. ¹⁵And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. ¹⁶And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. ¹⁶And fear took hold on all: and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is arisen among us: and, God hath visited his people.

Gospel

— Fathers

John — John 17.1-13

¹These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

¹These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee: ²As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. ²even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life. ³And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. ³And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ. ⁴I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. ⁴I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do. ⁵And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. ⁵And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. ⁶I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word. ⁶I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. ⁷Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. ⁷Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee: ⁸For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. ⁸for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me. ⁹I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. ⁹I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine: ¹⁰and all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine: and I am glorified in them. ¹⁰And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. ¹¹And I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are. ¹¹And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. ¹²While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. ¹²While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. ¹³And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.