Wednesday, 13 January 2027

Wednesday of the 33rd week after Pentecost

276 days after Pascha · Tone 7 · Liturgy · Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus

Hermylus was a deacon in Singidunum (modern-day Belgrade) during the reign of Licinius. When he was arrested he joyously welcomed the soldiers who came to seize him. When he confessed Christ before the magistrate, he was beaten, tormented, then thrown in jail. There he prayed to be allowed to partake in Christ’s saving Passion, and heard a voice assuring him that in three days he would receive a Martyr’s crown.

Stratonicus, his jailer, was a kind-hearted man and secretly a Christian, and wept to see the torments to which Hermylus was subjected. Seeing this, the soldiers began to question him; and, seeing that his hour had come, he in turn openly confessed Christ. For this he was seized, flogged and thrown into prison with his brother in Christ. The following day, both were bound, tied in a net and thrown into the Danube, where they received their divinely-promised crowns. Their bodies were washed up a few days later, recovered by Christians and buried with honor.

Saint Hilary of Poitiers

368

Saint Hilary of Poitiers (c. 315-368) was a great Church Father and opponent of the Arian heresy who became Bishop of Poitiers in Gaul around 350. Born a pagan, he was converted to Christianity through reading the Gospel of John and devoted himself to the study of Scripture and theology. When Emperor Constantius II attempted to impose Arianism upon the western Church, Hilary emerged as one of the most forceful defenders of the Orthodox faith, writing extensively against Arian errors and their theological distortions of the Person of Christ. For his steadfast opposition to imperial pressure and his defence of Orthodoxy, he was exiled to Phrygia in 356. From his place of exile, he continued to write against the Arian heresy, producing works that confounded the heterodox and upheld the truth of the faith. Though suffering banishment for his faithfulness, Hilary remained unmoved in his conviction and finally, after years of struggle, the Arian faction weakened and the truth prevailed. He reposed in 368 and is commemorated on 13 January as a great defender of Orthodox Christian doctrine and a luminous teacher of the faith.

Saint Kentigern

614

Saint Kentigern (also known as Kentigern Mungo or Mungo) (c. 518-614) was an Apostle of the Brythonic Kingdom of Strathclyde in what is now Scotland and the patron saint and founder of the city of Glasgow. Born in Scotland, he embraced monastic life and devoted himself to the preaching of the Gospel and the establishment of Christian communities. He founded a monastery on the site of present-day Glasgow and became a tireless missionary bringing the Orthodox faith to the pagan peoples of Scotland. Known for his holiness, miracles, and pastoral care, Kentigern laboured to evangelize the Brythonic peoples and establish the Church in that land. He reposed in 614 and is remembered on 13 January as an equal-to-the-apostles and apostle to Scotland whose missionary zeal brought the light of Christ to a distant land.

Saint Remigius of Rheims

Saint Remigius of Rheims (c. 438-533), called the Apostle to the Franks, was a Bishop of Rheims in Gaul and a great missionary evangelist who played a pivotal role in the conversion of the Frankish peoples to Christianity. Living in a period of great spiritual darkness when the Frankish tribes were pagan, he devoted himself with apostolic zeal to preaching the Gospel, baptizing thousands and establishing Christian communities. He became the spiritual father of the Frankish nation and is remembered as one of the most important figures in the evangelisation of Western Europe. Known for his wisdom, holiness, and miraculous works, Remigius guided both kings and commoners to the faith of Christ. He reposed in advanced age and is commemorated on 13 January as an equal-to-the-apostles and Apostle to the Franks.

Our Holy Father Maximos Kavsokalybites

1365

A native of Lampsacus on the Hellespont, he became a monk at the age of seventeen. When his spiritual Father died, he went on pilgrimage to Constantinople, where he took up the ascesis of folly for Christ, pretending madness in order to conceal his virtues and struggles from the world. He then went to the Great Lavra of St Athanasius on Mount Athos, where he lived as a simple monk in complete obedience. One day, he was told in a dream to go to the summit of Athos to receive (like Moses) the tablets of the spiritual law. He prayed continuously atop the Holy Mountain for three days, after which the Mother of God appeared to him surrounded by angels. She gave him a miraculous loaf for his sustenance and told him to live in solitude on the wild slopes of Mount Athos. Henceforth he lived apart, barefoot in all weather. He would build himself crude shelters of branches and brush; after living in one for a short time he would burn it and move to a new place. Thus he received the name Kavsokalybites “the Hut Burner” from the other monks, who dismissed him as a madman. Saint Gregory the Sinaite (April 6), one of the great Hesychasts, heard of St Maximos, and hurried to meet him. When they met, St Maximos put aside his usual silence at St Gregory’s pleading, and they discoursed together for many hours. Saint Gregory was astonished at the wonders that God had accomplished in St Maximos, at his depth of spiritual understanding and his eloquence. Returning to the nearby monks, he said “He is an angel and not a man!” He begged St Maximos to give up his nomadic life and his pretended madness, and to live among his fellow monks for their edification. This St Maximos did. He settled in one of his crude huts, living on bread miraculously provided from heaven and on sea-water, which was made sweet by his prayer. He received and counseled any monks who sought him out, and over the years was visited by two Emperors and by the Patriarch of Constantinople. In his last years he returned to a small cell in his Lavra, where he reposed in peace at the age of ninety- five. The monks of Mt Athos immediately venerated him as a Saint.

Our Holy Father Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers

369

“The holy Hierarch Hilary was born of pagan parents in Gaul, and was trained in philosophy and rhetoric. At a time when paganism was still strong in Gaul, Saint Hilary understood the falsehood of polytheism, and became a Christian, and a great defender of his new Faith. About the year 350 he was ordained Bishop of Poitiers, when Arles and Milan were in the hands of the Arians and the Arian Constantius was sole Emperor. Like his contemporary Saint Athanasius, Saint Hilary’s episcopate was one long struggle against the Arians. As Bishop of Poitiers, Saint Hilary foresaw the future greatness of Martin (see Nov. 12), and attached him to himself. In 355, when required to agree to the condemnation of Saint Athanasius by the Council of Milan, Hilary wrote an epistle to Constantius condemning the wrongs done by the Arians and requesting, among other things, the restoration of the Orthodox bishops, including Athanasius. For this, Hilary was banished to Asia Minor, where he wrote his greatest work, On the Trinity. Saint Hilary returned to his see in 360, where Saint Martin sought him out again. It was at this time that Saint Hilary blessed Martin to found a monastery near Poitiers, where Martin remained until being consecrated Bishop of Tours in 371. In his last years, Saint Hilary strove for the deposition of Auxentius, the Arian Bishop of Milan, but by affecting an Orthodox confession Auxentius retained his see. Saint Hilary reposed in peace about the year 368. Auxentius died in 374 and was succeeded by Saint Ambrose, who continued Saint Hilary’s battle against Arianism.” (Great Horologion, adapted)

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Timothy — 2 Timothy 4.9-22

⁹Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

⁹Give diligence to come shortly unto me: ¹⁰For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. ¹⁰for Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is useful to me for ministering. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. ¹²And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. ¹²But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus. ¹³The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. ¹³The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: ¹⁴Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord will render to him according to his works: ¹⁵Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. ¹⁵of whom do thou also beware; for he greatly withstood our words. ¹⁶At my first defence no one took my part, but all forsook me: may it not be laid to their account. ¹⁶At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. ¹⁷Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁷But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ¹⁸The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.

¹⁹Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. ²⁰Erastus remained at Corinth: but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick. ²¹Give diligence to come before winter. Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. ²¹Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. ²²The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

²²The Lord be with thy spirit. Grace be with you.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 20.1-8

¹And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

¹And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders; ²And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? ²and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? ³And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: ³And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me: ⁴The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? ⁴The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? ⁵And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? ⁵And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him? ⁶But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. ⁶But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. ⁷And they answered, that they knew not whence it was. ⁷And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. ⁸And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. ⁸And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.