Saturday, 25 October 2025

Memorial (Demetrius) Saturday

Saturday of the 20th week after Pentecost

188 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius

346

Both lived in Constantinople and were disciples of the Patriarch St Paul the Confessor (November 6), who was murdered in exile by the Arians. During the reign of the Arian Emperor Constantius, they fearlessly confessed that the Son of God is of one essence with the Father and is truly God. For their confession they were beheaded by the Arians and buried outside the city. Soon afterward, miracles began to be wrought at their tomb, and St John Chrysostom later built a church over it.

Holy martyr Anastasius the fuller of Salona

Saint Anastasius lived at Aquileia in northern Italy and worked as a fuller, a craftsman who cleansed and dressed cloth. Coming to Salona in Dalmatia about the year 304, during the persecution of Diocletian, he openly painted a cross upon the door of his house and went publicly about the work of preaching Christ. He was arrested, brought before the prefect, and after refusing to sacrifice to the idols he was fearfully tortured. A heavy stone was tied about his neck and he was cast into the sea. The body was miraculously discovered some days later and reverently buried by a pious matron named Asclepia, who built a basilica over his tomb. His relics were greatly venerated in Dalmatia and a portion was later translated to Aquileia and Verona. His memory is kept by both Eastern and Western Churches on 25 October.

Holy martyrs and notaries Marcian and Martyrius of Constantinople

Saints Marcian and Martyrius served the great church at Constantinople in the fourth century during the Arian troubles. Marcian was a reader and Martyrius a subdeacon, and both acted as notaries (secretaries) to the holy patriarch Paul the Confessor. After Paul's exile and martyrdom by strangulation at the hands of the Arians, Marcian and Martyrius continued to defend the Orthodox faith and to copy out the writings of the Fathers in confutation of the heretics. The Arian party, unable to win them over either by promises of preferment or by threats, condemned them to death. They were beheaded together and buried with great honour. Saint John Chrysostom, when archbishop of Constantinople, built a church over their relics, and many miracles of healing were wrought there. Their memory is kept on 25 October.

Saint Tabitha of Joppa, raised by the apostle Peter

Saint Tabitha, whose name in Greek is Dorcas, meaning "gazelle", was a disciple at Joppa in Palestine in apostolic times. The Acts of the Apostles relates that she was full of good works and almsdeeds, weaving tunics and garments with her own hands which she gave to the widows and the poor of the city. When she fell sick and died, the believers washed her body and laid her in an upper room, then sent two men to nearby Lydda to fetch the apostle Peter. Peter put them all out, knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body said, "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes, sat up, and Peter presented her alive to the saints and the widows. The miracle became known throughout Joppa and many believed in the Lord (Acts 9:36-42). Saint Tabitha is honoured as the patroness of seamstresses and tailors and of all those who work to clothe the needy. Her tomb is still shown at Jaffa. Her memory is kept on 25 October.

Saints Martyrius the deacon and Martyrius the recluse of the Kiev caves

Two ascetics named Martyrius are commemorated together at the Kiev Caves Lavra on 25 October. The first was a deacon at the Far Caves, who lived a strict life of fasting and prayer in the fourteenth century and through whom the Lord wrought many miracles, especially in casting out unclean spirits at the time of the Divine Liturgy. The second was an earlier recluse of the same monastery, of the thirteenth or fourteenth century, who shut himself up in a narrow cell and gave himself wholly to prayer and silence. Both reposed in peace and their incorrupt relics rest in the Far Caves of the Lavra, where they continue to work miracles of healing and deliverance. Their joint memory is kept with the chorus of the saints of the Caves on 25 October and at the Synaxis of the Fathers of the Far Caves on 28 August.

St Tabitha of Joppa

She was restored to life by the Apostle Peter (Acts 9:39-40), and afterwards died in peace.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Corinthians — 2 Corinthians 1.8-11

⁸For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life: ⁸For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: ⁹But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: ⁹yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead: ¹⁰who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; ¹⁰Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; ¹¹ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf. ¹¹Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Epistle

— Departed

1 Thessalonians — 1 Thessalonians 4.13-17

¹³But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.

¹³But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. ¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; ¹⁷then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 7.1-10

¹Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

¹After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, he entered into Capernaum. ²And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

²And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick and at the point of death. ³And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. ³And when he heard concerning Jesus, he sent unto him elders of the Jews, asking him that he would come and save his servant. ⁴And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: ⁴And they, when they came to Jesus, besought him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him; ⁵for he loveth our nation, and himself built us our synagogue. ⁵For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. ⁶And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: ⁶Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: ⁷wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say the word, and my servant shall be healed. ⁷Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. ⁸For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. ⁸For I also am a man set under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. ⁹When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ⁹And when Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned and said unto the multitude that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ¹⁰And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. ¹⁰And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole.

Gospel

— Departed

John — John 5.24-30

²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. ²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life. ²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. ²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. ²⁶For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; ²⁶For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself: ²⁷And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. ²⁷and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. ²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. ²⁹and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. ³⁰I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

³⁰I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.