Tuesday, 20 January 2026

Ven. Euthymius the Great

Tuesday of the 33rd week after Pentecost

275 days after Pascha · Tone 7 · Red cross half-circle (vigil typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Venerable Euthymius the Great

Venerable Euthymius the Great (377 – 20 January 473) was a celebrated monastic father and ascetic saint of the late Byzantine era who profoundly shaped the development of Orthodox monasticism in Palestine. Born in 377 in the city of Melitene in Armenia into a pious and illustrious family, Euthymius received an excellent education and early in life felt a calling to the monastic and ascetical life.

After establishing himself as a young monk in the region near his native city of Melitene, he journeyed to Jerusalem at the age of twenty-nine to visit the holy sites. Moved profoundly by the spiritual atmosphere of the Holy Land, he chose to remain there and withdrew into the desert region between Jerusalem and Jericho, known as Pharan, where he established his monastic life.

Through his own ascetical example, his spiritual wisdom, and his gracious pastoral care, Euthymius became a beacon for many seekers of monastic life. Numerous disciples gathered around him, and he gently guided them in their ascetical struggles. Amongst his most celebrated disciples were the luminous saints Cyriac the Hermit, Sabas the Sanctified (who himself became a great monastic legislator), and Theotictus. Under his direction, Euthymius established multiple monastic communities and hermitages throughout Palestine, establishing the foundation for a flourishing monastic tradition in the Holy Land.

Saint Euthymius participated actively in the theological work of the Church, particularly in formulating the decrees of the Council of Ephesus in 431 and contributing significantly to the Council of Chalcedon in 451, where his spiritual wisdom and pastoral experience informed the Church's defence of Orthodox Christological doctrine.

The venerable father reposed peacefully on 20 January 473 at the advanced age of ninety-seven, having spent nearly a century in steadfast monastic devotion and pastoral service. His feast day is celebrated on 20 January in the Eastern Orthodox Church and on 2 February in the New Calendar tradition.

Holy Martyrs Inna, Pinna and Rimma

The holy martyrs Inna, Pinna and Rimma were early Christian saints of the first centuries of the Church who died as confessors and witnesses to Christ during the era of imperial persecutions. They lived during a time when Christians faced intense pressure to renounce their faith and participate in pagan worship, yet they remained steadfast in their commitment to Christ and the Gospel.

Each of the three martyrs endured trials and suffering for refusing to renounce Christ. Their constancy and unwavering faith became a testimony to the power of divine grace and the courage that Christ grants to those who suffer for His name. Through their martyrdom, they joined the great cloud of witnesses whose blood cried out to heaven, bearing witness to the resurrection and the promise of eternal life in Christ.

The Orthodox Church honours these three martyrs together on 20 January, celebrating their unified witness to Christ and their sacrifice for the Gospel. Their memory serves to remind the faithful of the cost of discipleship and the grace of God that sustains believers through persecution. Though specific biographical details of their lives and deaths are limited in the surviving historical sources, their names are preserved in the Church's synaxarion as faithful servants of Christ who gave their lives in testimony to the faith.

Holy emperor Leo the Great, called Makellis

474

Saint Leo the Great, surnamed Makellis or Marcellus, was Eastern Roman emperor from 457 to 474. Born in Thrace around the year 401, he rose through the imperial guard and was raised to the throne by the patrician Aspar, becoming the first emperor to be crowned by the patriarch of Constantinople, Saint Anatolius. He took the name Leo on his accession. Leo proved an able ruler and a firm defender of the Orthodox faith proclaimed at the Council of Chalcedon. He upheld the two natures of Christ against the Monophysite party, restored Orthodox bishops to their sees, and laboured to preserve Antioch from heresy by removing the Monophysite Peter the Fuller. He is remembered as the first Eastern emperor to legislate in Greek rather than Latin and as a generous benefactor of the poor and of the churches of the imperial city. His daughter Ariadne was given in marriage to the future emperor Zeno. Saint Leo reposed peacefully in the year 474 and was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. The Orthodox Church honours him as a confessor of the faith.

Holy martyrs Bassus, Eusebius, Eutychius and Basilides of Nicomedia

303

The holy martyrs Bassus, Eusebius, Eutychius and Basilides were courtiers of the emperor Diocletian (284-305) and members of the senate of Nicomedia. They witnessed the steadfast confession and suffering of the hieromartyr Theopemptus, bishop of Nicomedia (commemorated 5 January), who was among the first victims of the Diocletian persecution. Moved by his courage and the miracles that accompanied his martyrdom, the four senators came to believe in Christ and received holy baptism. When their conversion became known, they were brought before the emperor and refused to renounce Christ. They were subjected to cruel tortures and put to death in the year 303. According to tradition, Saint Bassus was buried in the ground up to his waist and hacked to pieces; Saint Eusebius was hung head downwards and cut in two; Saint Eutychius was tied hand and foot to a pillar and broken apart; and Saint Basilides was disembowelled with a knife. Their relics were gathered by the faithful and buried with honour.

Saint Peter the Tax Collector

6th c.

“”Saint Peter, being of patrician rank, was appointed by the Emperor Justinian (527-65) to administer the Roman province of Africa. Harsh and without an ounce of compassion, he became universally known as ‘the Miser’. One day a beggar was importuning him insistently for alms, so he picked up one of the warm loaves which his servant had just brought in and threw it like a stone at his head. The beggar seized it with delight and made off. Two days later Peter suddenly fell ill with the fever and saw himself appear at the Last Judgment to give an account of all his deeds. A pair of scales was brought before him and swarthy creatures placed all his evil actions on to the left-hand dish, while bright angels stood to the right, in dismay at having nothing by way of a good deed to put on to the right-hand side except the loaf which he had thrown in anger at the beggar. Peter then woke up with a start and, forgetful of his illness, hastened to give away all his goods to the needy, even his clothing. Afterwards in a dream, he saw Christ wearing the clothes he had given away, and so he decided not to stop at that but to sell himself as slave to a goldsmith in order to give alms of the price paid for him. Some time later, fearing lest his identity be discovered, he fled to Jerusalem and thence to Constantinople, where he gave back his soul in peace to God in his old house.” (Synaxarion) The source of this story is the longer Life of St John the Merciful (November 12).

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

James — James 3.1-10

¹My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. ²For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. ³Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. ⁴Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. ⁵Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. ⁷For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: ⁸But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 11.11-23

¹¹And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

¹²And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: ¹³And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. ¹⁴And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

¹⁵And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; ¹⁶And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. ¹⁷And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. ¹⁸And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. ¹⁹And when even was come, he went out of the city.

²⁰And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. ²¹And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. ²²And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. ²³For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 5.15-6.3

¹⁵But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High.

¹⁶Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them.

¹⁷He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies.

¹⁸He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet.

¹⁹He shall take holiness for an invincible shield.

²⁰His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise.

²¹Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark.

²²And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them.

²³Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.

¹Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth.

²Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.

³For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

¹But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.

²In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,

³And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.

⁴For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.

⁵And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.

⁶As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.

⁷And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.

⁸They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

⁹They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

⁷But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.

⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.

⁹But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.

¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.

¹¹Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.

¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.

¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:

¹⁴For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.

¹⁵This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Matins Gospel

Matthew — Matthew 11.27-30

²⁷All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Epistle

— St Euthymius

Hebrews — Hebrews 13.17-21

¹⁷Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

¹⁸Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. ¹⁹But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. ²⁰Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel

— St Euthymius

Luke — Luke 6.17-23

¹⁷And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. ¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²³Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.