Monday, 8 December 2025

Monday of the 27th week after Pentecost

232 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Liturgy · Nativity Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Apostles of the Seventy: Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar and Onesiphorus

These seven Apostles were among the Seventy chosen and sent out by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to preach, after the calling of the Twelve. Sosthenes, formerly the chief of the synagogue at Corinth (Acts 18:17), was converted by the preaching of the Apostle Paul and became bishop of Colophon in Asia Minor; he is named with Paul as co-author of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Apollos, a learned Jew of Alexandria mighty in the Scriptures (Acts 18:24-28), preached fervently in Ephesus, Corinth and Crete and is counted bishop of Caesarea. Cephas, distinct from the Apostle Peter, was bishop of Iconium and was rebuked at Antioch as recorded by Saint Paul (Galatians 2:11-14). Tychicus, called by Paul a beloved brother and faithful minister (Ephesians 6:21), succeeded Sosthenes as bishop of Colophon. Epaphroditus, a fellow worker and fellow soldier of Paul (Philippians 2:25), became bishop of Andriake in Lycia. Caesar was bishop of Dyrrachium in Greece, and Onesiphorus, who often refreshed Paul and was not ashamed of his chains (2 Timothy 1:16-18), shepherded Colophon and afterwards Cyrene before being martyred. All laboured to plant the Church among the nations and are commemorated together also on 30 March in the synaxis of the Seventy.

Saint Sophronius, Archbishop of Cyprus

Saint Sophronius was born on Cyprus into a Christian family in the sixth century. Educated in many sciences, he gave himself above all to the reading of the Holy Scriptures, in which he made such progress that he became renowned for his wisdom and piety. After the death of Saint Damian, bishop of Cyprus, the clergy and people of the island unanimously elected Sophronius to succeed him on the episcopal throne. As archbishop he distinguished himself by mercy to the poor, fearlessness in the defence of his flock and zeal in upholding the apostolic faith. He governed the Church of Cyprus with wisdom and gentleness, was granted the gift of working miracles, and reposed in peace. His commemoration on this day is widely observed in the Greek and Slavic synaxaria alongside Saint Patapius.

Venerable Cyril of Chelmogorsk

1367

Saint Cyril of Chelmogorsk was a Russian ascetic of the fourteenth century, born around 1286 in the city of Beloozero. Drawn from his youth to the monastic life, he entered the Antoniev-Siysk type of northern wilderness asceticism and was tonsured at a monastery on Lake Kubensk, where he lived for some years in obedience and prayer. Seeking deeper solitude, he travelled north into the forests of the Kargopol region and at length settled on Mount Chelma near the river Onega, where he lived for fifty-two years in great austerity, struggling against the elements, hostile pagan tribes and demonic temptation. Through his patient witness he converted many of the local Chud peoples to Christ, baptising them and instructing them in the Faith, and built a small church and cells which became the Chelmogorsk monastery. He reposed in 1367 at the age of eighty-two, and his relics later became a source of healing for pilgrims drawn to the remote forest community he had founded.

Venerable Patapius of Thebes

He was born at Thebes in Egypt, and at a young age left his pious parents, his inheritance and his acquaintances to dwell in the Egyptian desert, devoting himself to ceaseless prayer. After many years, he reputation spread and, despite his desire for solitude, throngs of pilgrims would seek him out for his prayers and counsel. To escape the attentions of men, he did a surprising thing: he abandoned the desert and moved to Constantinople, settling in the Blachernae district, where, amid the bustle of the city, he was able to pass unnoticed, more secure in his solitude than he had been in the caves of Egypt.

As he grew in obedience to the commandments of Christ, the grace of working miracles grew in him, and once again he gradually became known. Once a blind man cast himself before Patapius on the street, and the Saint cured him instantly by calling on the name of Christ. Once he healed a man crippled by dropsy, anointing him with the oil from a vigil lamp and signing him with the Cross.

After blessing the Church for many years with his prayers and miracles, St Patapius fell asleep in peace, and was buried in the church of the Monastery of the Egyptians near Constantinople. In 1904 his precious and incorrupt relics were uncovered in the course of some building at a small monastery near Corinth. From that time the monastery has been dedicated to St Patapius, and many miracles are worked there.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Timothy — 1 Timothy 5.1-10

¹Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren:

¹Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; ²the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. ²The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. ³Honor widows that are widows indeed. ³Honour widows that are widows indeed. ⁴But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God. ⁴But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. ⁵Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. ⁵Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. ⁶But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. ⁶But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth. ⁷And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. ⁷These things also command, that they may be without reproach. ⁸But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. ⁸But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. ⁹Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, ⁹Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, ¹⁰well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints’ feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work. ¹⁰Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 20.27-44

²⁷Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

²⁷And there came to him certain of the Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection; ²⁸Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. ²⁸and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, that if a man’s brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. ²⁹There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children. ²⁹There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died childless; ³⁰And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. ³⁰and the second: ³¹and the third took her; and likewise the seven also left no children, and died. ³¹And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. ³²Afterward the woman also died. ³²Last of all the woman died also. ³³Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. ³³In the resurrection therefore whose wife of them shall she be? for the seven had her to wife. ³⁴And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: ³⁴And Jesus said unto them, The sons of this world marry, and are given in marriage: ³⁵but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: ³⁵But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: ³⁶for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. ³⁶Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. ³⁷But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ³⁷Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ³⁸Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. ³⁸For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

³⁹Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said. ³⁹And certain of the scribes answering said, Teacher, thou hast well said. ⁴⁰And after that they durst not ask him any question at all. ⁴⁰For they durst not any more ask him any question. ⁴¹And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David’s son?

⁴¹And he said unto them, How say they that the Christ is David’s son? ⁴²And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, ⁴²For David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, ⁴³Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. ⁴³Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. ⁴⁴David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

⁴⁴David therefore calleth him Lord, and how is he his son?