Sunday, 14 December 2025

Sunday of the Forefathers

27th Sunday after Pentecost

238 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Liturgy · Nativity Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Drusus and his companions Zosimus and Theodore

The Holy Martyrs Drusus, Zosimus and Theodore suffered for Christ at Antioch in Syria during the early persecutions of the Church. Drusus is named in the Greek synaxaria of this day together with Zosimus and Theodore as those who, refusing to offer sacrifice to idols, were brought before the magistrates and confessed Christ openly. They were subjected to fierce tortures, beaten and cast into prison, and finally, persevering in the Faith, gave up their souls to God by the sword. Their memory has been preserved by the Church together with the more famous martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus on this day, joining them in the chorus of those who through suffering at the hands of pagan authorities bore witness to the Lord at the dawn of the third century.

Holy Martyrs Philemon, Apollonius, Arianus and Theotychus

“During the reign of Diocletian (284-305), the Governor of Antinoe in the Thebaid of Upper Egypt was Arian, a fierce persecutor who had sent many Christians to a violent death, among them Saints Timothy and Maura (see May 3) and Saint Sabine (Mar. 16). When he had imprisoned thirty-seven Christians for their confession of faith, one of them, named Apollonius, a reader of the Church, lost his courage at the sight of the instruments of torture, and thought how he might escape torments without denying Christ. He gave money to Philemon, a flute-player and a pagan, that he might put on Apollonius’ clothes and offer sacrifices before Arian, so that all would think Apollonius to have done the Governor’s will, and he might be released. Philemon agreed to this, but when the time came to offer sacrifice, enlightened by divine grace, he declared himself a Christian instead. He and Apollonius, who also confessed Christ when the fraud was exposed, were both beheaded. Before beheading them, Arian had commanded that they be shot with arrows, but while they remained unharmed, Arian himself was wounded by one of the arrows; Saint Philemon foretold that after his martyrdom, Arian would be healed at his tomb. When this came to pass, Arian, the persecutor who had slain so many servants of Christ, himself believed in Christ and was baptized with four of his body-guards. Diocletian heard of this and had Arian and his body-guards brought to him. For their confession of Christ, they were cast into the sea, and received the crown of life everlasting.” (Great Horologion)

Holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus

The Holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus suffered for Christ at Apollonia in Bithynia about 250 under the emperor Decius and his governor Cumbricius. Saint Leucius, a noble citizen, came forward of his own accord to rebuke the governor for the cruelty of the persecution; for this he was tortured and beheaded. Saint Thyrsus, who was not yet baptised, was so moved by his courage that he too professed Christ openly. He endured many torments, being scourged, sawn at and cast into the sea, but each time he was preserved by the power of God; brought to the temple of Apollo by the persecutors, he prayed and the idol fell down and was shattered. After his prayer he was found worthy of holy baptism and chrismation by the bishop Phileas. He was finally martyred by being placed in a coffer and sawn through with a great saw, but the saw, though dragged by many hands, would not cut him; at his prayer he gave up his soul. Saint Callinicus, a pagan priest, witnessing these wonders confessed Christ before all and was beheaded for his confession. Their memory is kept on this day in both East and West.

Saint Hybald of Lindsey

Saint Hybald, also called Higbald or Hygbald, was a holy abbot of Lindsey in Anglo-Saxon England in the seventh century. The Venerable Bede in his Ecclesiastical History records him as a man of great holiness and abstinence, friend of Saint Egbert and Saint Chad, and abbot of an unnamed monastery in the kingdom of Lindsey, the western part of present-day Lincolnshire. After the manner of the Celtic-Northumbrian fathers he laboured in solitude, prayer and the strict observance of the monastic rule, was famed for his spiritual discernment and was sought out for counsel by his contemporaries. He reposed in peace about 690 and was buried at the place that bears his name to this day, Hibaldstow ("Hybald's tomb") in Lincolnshire, where his shrine became a centre of pilgrimage. Several other Lincolnshire churches are dedicated to him, witness to his veneration in the region, and his memory is preserved among the Orthodox saints of the British Isles on this day.

Daily readings

5th Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 24.12-35

¹²But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass. ¹²Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

¹³And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem.

¹³And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. ¹⁴And they talked together of all these things which had happened. ¹⁴And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened. ¹⁵And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. ¹⁵And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. ¹⁶But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. ¹⁶But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. ¹⁷And he said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁷And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? ¹⁸And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? ¹⁸And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days? ¹⁹And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: ¹⁹And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: ²⁰And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. ²⁰and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. ²¹But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass. ²²Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; ²²Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb; ²³and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ²³And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. ²⁴And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. ²⁴And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. ²⁵Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ²⁵And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? ²⁶Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? ²⁷And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. ²⁷And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. ²⁸And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further. ²⁸And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. ²⁹But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. ²⁹And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them. ³⁰And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. ³⁰And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them. ³¹And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. ³¹And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. ³²And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? ³²And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures? ³³And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, ³³And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, ³⁴Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. ³⁴saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. ³⁵And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. ³⁵And they rehearsed the things that happened in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.

Epistle

— Forefathers weekly cycle

Colossians — Colossians 3.4-11

⁴When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. ⁴When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

⁵Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

⁵Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: ⁶for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience: ⁶For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: ⁷wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things; ⁷In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. ⁸but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: ⁸But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. ⁹lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, ⁹Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; ¹⁰And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ¹⁰and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: ¹¹where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. ¹¹Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Gospel

— Forefathers weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 14.16-24

¹⁶Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: ¹⁶But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many: ¹⁷And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. ¹⁷and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. ¹⁸And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. ¹⁸And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused. ¹⁹And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. ¹⁹And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. ²⁰And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. ²⁰And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. ²¹And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame. ²¹So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. ²²And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room. ²²And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. ²³And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. ²³And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled. ²⁴For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. ²⁴For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper.