Saturday, 28 November 2026

Monk Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New

Saturday of the 26th week after Pentecost

230 days after Pascha · Tone 8 · Black squigg (6-stich typikon symbol) · Nativity Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Irenarchus of Sebaste

303

Saint Irenarchus was a young man of Sebaste in Armenia who lived during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian (284 to 305). Although still a pagan, he was endowed with a noble heart and pitied the Christians who were being tortured for their faith, and he ministered to them in prison after they had been racked by the executioners. One day he saw seven holy women being tortured for Christ, and he marvelled at the courage with which they, weak by nature, endured their torments. Asking them how they could bear such things, he received the answer that the love of Christ made all suffering light, and through this confession he himself believed. The persecutors discovered his change of heart and brought him before the governor Maximus, where he openly confessed Christ. He was first cast into a fire, but the flames did not harm him, and then plunged into icy water, but he came forth unhurt. Together with the priest Acacius, who had baptised the seven women, and with the women themselves, he was at last beheaded for the name of Christ in the year 303. Their relics were honoured in the city of Sebaste, and their memory passed into the calendar of the universal Church.

Holy Venerable Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New

715

He was born in Constantinople in 715 to pious parents named John and Anna. His mother had prayed often to the most holy Theotokos to be granted a son, and received a revelation from our Lady that she would conceive the son she desired. When the child was born, she named him Stephen, following a prophecy of the Patriarch St Germanos (commemorated May 12). Stephen entered monastic life as a youth, and so distinguished himself in asceticism and virtue that the hermits of Mt Auxentius appointed him their leader at a young age. ‘During the reign of Constantine V (741-775), Stephen showed his love of Orthodoxy in contending for the Faith… Besides being a fierce Iconoclast, Constantine raised up a ruthless persecution of monasticism. He held a council in 754 that anathematized the holy icons. Because Saint Stephen rejected this council, the Emperor framed false accusations against him and exiled him. But while in exile Saint Stephen performed healings with holy icons and turned many away from Iconoclasm. When he was brought before the Emperor again, he showed him a coin and asked whose image the coin bore. “Mine,” said the tyrant. “If any man trample upon thine image, is he liable to punishment?” asked the Saint. When they that stood by answered yes, the Saint groaned because of their blindness, and said if they thought dishonouring the image of a corruptible king worthy of punishment, what torment would they receive who trampled upon the image of the Master Christ and of the Mother of God? Then he threw the coin to the ground and trampled on it. He was condemned to eleven months in bonds and imprisonment. Later, he was dragged over the earth and was stoned, like Stephen the First Martyr; wherefore he is called Stephen the New. Finally, he was struck with a wooden club on the temple and his head was shattered, and thus he gave up his spirit in the year 767.’ (Great Horologion)

Saint Theodore, Archbishop of Rostov

Saint Theodore, in the world Ioann (John), was the son of Stephen, the elder brother of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, and of Stephen's pious wife. When Theodore was twelve years old his father, who had occupied an important post under Prince Andrew of Radonezh, embraced the monastic life and brought his young son with him to the Trinity Monastery, into the care of his uncle Saint Sergius. The great elder, foreseeing the boy's future ascetical life, himself tonsured him with the name Theodore on the feast of Saint Theodore the Hair-Shirt Wearer, and trained him in the ways of monastic obedience. Endowed with a clear mind and a deep love for the divine services, Theodore advanced rapidly in spiritual struggles, and in due time was ordained presbyter. With the blessing of Saint Sergius he founded a monastery on the banks of the Moskva River at the place called Simonovo, in honour of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, and he became its first abbot. As a friend and counsellor of Saint Demetrius Donskoi he was sent on important missions to Constantinople. In 1387 he was consecrated Archbishop of Rostov, and there he built another monastery in honour of the Nativity of the Theotokos and adorned many churches with icons painted by his own hand, for he was also a skilled iconographer. He reposed in the Lord on 28 November 1394 and his relics rest in the Dormition cathedral of Rostov.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Galatians — Galatians 3.8-12

⁸And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. ⁹So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. ¹⁰For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. ¹¹But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. ¹²And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 10.19-21

¹⁹Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. ²⁰Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

²¹In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.