Friday, 31 October 2025

Hieromartyr John Kochurov

Friday of the 21st week after Pentecost

194 days after Pascha · Tone 3 · Liturgy · Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy apostles Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles and Aristobulus of the seventy

These six holy apostles of the seventy are commemorated together on this day, along with Saint Andrew the First-Called who appointed them to their sees. Saint Stachys, mentioned by the apostle Paul in Romans 16:9 as "my beloved", was consecrated by Saint Andrew the first bishop of Byzantium (later Constantinople), where he ruled the Church for sixteen years and converted many to Christ before reposing in peace. Saint Amplias (Romans 16:8) was bishop of Odyssopolis on the Black Sea coast and was put to death by pagans for the destruction of their idols. Saint Urban (Romans 16:9) was bishop of Macedonia, where, like Amplias, he sealed his apostolic preaching with martyrdom. Saint Narcissus (Romans 16:11) was bishop of Athens (or by some accounts of Patras), and likewise died for Christ. Saint Apelles (Romans 16:10) was bishop of Heraclea in Thrace, where he reposed in peace after converting many. Saint Aristobulus (Romans 16:10), brother of the apostle Barnabas, was sent to preach in Britain, where he is honoured as the first bishop and apostle of the British Isles, and where he reposed having endured many sufferings at the hands of the pagans. The names of these apostles are inscribed by Saint Paul among his fellow labourers in the closing chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.

Holy martyr Epimachus of Pelusium

Saint Epimachus was an Egyptian who lived as a hermit on Mount Pelusium for many years in great asceticism. When he heard of the persecution of Christians at Alexandria under the emperor Decius, he was filled with zeal and came down from his mountain to the city, where he openly overturned the altars of the idols and confessed Christ before the magistrate. He was seized, tortured with great cruelty, and finally beheaded about the year 250. According to the synaxaria, when his blood touched the eye of a blind woman who stood weeping nearby she was instantly healed, and many other miracles were wrought through his relics. His memory is kept on 31 October in the Greek and Slavonic calendars, and on the 8th of the Coptic month Pashons in the Egyptian Church.

Holy martyrs Stephen, Barnabas, Trophimus, Dorymedon, Cosmas, Damian, Sabbas, Bassa, Abramius and their companions

This group of nine holy martyrs of unknown native country suffered for Christ together with their companions during one of the persecutions of the early Church. Their names, preserved in the Greek synaxaria under 31 October, are Stephen, Barnabas, Trophimus, Dorymedon, Cosmas, Damian, Sabbas, Bassa and Abramius. According to the brief notice that survives, after professing Christ before the persecuting magistrate they were variously beaten with clubs, flayed, scorched with fire and at last beheaded for their refusal to deny the faith and offer sacrifice to the idols. Though little detail of their individual lives is preserved, the Church honours them as a single chorus of confessors and adds their memory to the great host of martyrs of the early centuries.

Saints Spyridon and Nikodemos, the prosphora-bakers of the Kiev caves

Saints Spyridon and Nikodemos served the brotherhood of the Kiev Caves Lavra in the twelfth century as prosphora-bakers, that is, those who prepare the loaves used in the Divine Liturgy. Spyridon, although unlettered, learned the entire Psalter by heart and recited it daily as he kneaded the dough and stoked the oven. Once, when a flame leapt out of the oven and threatened to burn down the bakehouse, he covered it with his cassock and stopped the fire with his bare hands without himself being harmed. Nikodemos was his fellow ascetic and labour-companion in the same humble obedience, sharing his prayer and his rule for thirty years. Both reposed in peace, and their incorrupt relics rest in the Near (Antoniev) Caves of the Lavra. Their memory is kept on 31 October, together with the other fathers of the Caves who served the brotherhood by hidden labours rather than by word.

New Martyr Nicholas of Chios

1754

Raised in piety, he worked as a stone-mason until an accident deprived him of his reason and of the power of speech. The local Turkish rulers took advantage of his condition to declare him a Muslim. For years thereafter he was employed as a shepherd until he met a monk named Cyril, who prayed fervently that he be restored to his senses. He was miraculously restored, and almost immediately was filled with the desire to repent and to live only for Christ, devoting himself to prayer, fasting and vigil. Some time later he was falsely suspected of a crime by the (Christian) people of his village, and brought before the Turkish authorities. When he was questioned, he declared ‘I was born a Christian, I was brought up as a Christian, I have never denied Christ for Islam, and I never will deny Him, but will die a Christian.’ For this he was brutally tortured. Many local Christians, including the village priest, feared for their own safety and urged him to deny Christ, but Nicholas only rebuked them and stood firm. After many days of torture he was finally slain by the sword. The Synaxarion tells how a thick darkness fell on the whole island of Chios. When the dismayed Turks burned the Martyr’s body to be rid of this miracle, they were further dismayed when a heavenly scent rose from the flames, revealing the Saint’s entry into eternal glory.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Colossians — Colossians 2.1-7

¹For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

¹For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ²that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ, ²That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; ³in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. ³In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. ⁴And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. ⁵For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. ⁵For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

⁶As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

⁶As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: ⁷rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ⁷Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Epistle

— St John Kochurov

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 11.23-26

²³He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. ²³He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. ²⁴The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out. ²⁴When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. ²⁵And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. ²⁵And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished. ²⁶Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. ²⁶Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first.

Gospel

— St John Kochurov

Luke — Luke 12.32-40

³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. ³³Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; ³⁶And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. ³⁶and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. ³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them. ³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. ³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁹And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. ³⁹But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. ⁴⁰Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. ⁴⁰Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.