Thursday, 4 February 2027

Thursday of the 36th week after Pentecost

298 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Abramios, Bishop of Arbela

342

The Holy Hieromartyr Abramios was consecrated as Bishop of Arbel (also called Arbil), located in Mesopotamia, following the martyrdom of his predecessor, the holy Bishop John, in the year 342. Saint Abramios received the pastoral responsibility of shepherding the flock of Christ in this important apostolic see during a time of grave danger for the Church. Shortly after his consecration, the pagan inhabitants of Arbel, together with Persian soothsayers, magicians, and other practitioners of false religion, brought complaints against Saint Abramios to the authorities. They accused the holy bishop of preaching Christ with such persuasive power and performing such evident miracles that he was converting too many people to the faith and establishing Christian communities throughout the region. These pagan leaders, seeing their religious influence and political power threatened, sought his destruction. Saint Abramios was arrested and brought before Aderphora, the chief magus of Persia, during the persecution of Christians under the Persian emperor Sapor II. He was interrogated and commanded to abandon his faith and to worship the pagan sun god. When confronted with this impious demand, the holy bishop answered with wisdom and courage: "How foolish to forsake the Creator and instead worship creatures!" Despite the threats of torment and death, Saint Abramios remained unmoved in his faith. He was subjected to cruel and prolonged tortures in an attempt to break his resolve and force him to renounce Christ. Throughout his suffering, he prayed unceasingly, and his prayers echoed the words of the Saviour Himself: "Lord, do not count this sin against us, for they know not what they do." His steadfast faith and prayer became a witness to the power of Christ even in the midst of terrible suffering. Ultimately, the persecutors, unable to turn him from his faith, condemned him to death. The holy hieromartyr was beheaded by the sword in the village of Felman, thereby receiving the crown of martyrdom and joining the great cloud of witnesses who have given their lives for Christ.

Venerable Cyril of New Lake, the wonderworker

1532

Saint Cyril of New Lake (Novoezersk) was born into a pious family in the lands of Galich in Russia in the fifteenth century. From childhood he was drawn to a life of prayer, and at the age of fifteen he secretly left his parents' home to seek the monastic life. He came to the Saviour's monastery at Pskov Caves, where the abbot Saint Cornelius received him and tonsured him with the name Cyril. After the death of his parents, who in his absence had sought him through many monasteries, Cyril returned briefly to receive their blessing and dispose of their goods to the poor. He then resumed the wandering life of a pilgrim, visiting the monasteries of the north of Russia for some twenty years. At length, while at prayer, he beheld a heavenly light over a small island in New Lake (Novoezero) in the region of Belozersk. Going thither he saw above the same place a pillar of fire ascending to heaven, and beneath an ancient spruce tree he built a hut and a small chapel. There a community gathered around him, and a monastery was founded. The Lord granted his servant the gifts of foresight and healing, and many came to Cyril for counsel and prayers. He foretold the troubles that would come upon Russia in the time of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. With the words "Glory to God for everything", Saint Cyril reposed on 4 February in the year 1532. The discovery of his relics is commemorated on 7 November.

Venerable Isidore of Pelusium

The Venerable Isidore of Pelusium was born in Alexandria, Egypt, during the fourth century, in a time of great spiritual renewal and monastic development. He was raised from his youth in a devout Christian household and received a sound education in sacred learning. Moved by a desire to live wholly for Christ, he withdrew from the world while still a young man and journeyed to Mount Pelusium in Egypt, where he dedicated himself entirely to the ascetical life.

In his monastic solitude, Isidore spent long hours in prayer, fasting, and the study of Holy Scripture. Over the course of his extended monastic life, he became known throughout the monastic communities of Egypt as a great spiritual father and ascetic. Though he lived in relative seclusion, his wisdom and holiness drew many to seek his counsel. Letters requesting his spiritual guidance came not only from simple folk and monks, but also from bishops, the Patriarch of Alexandria himself, and even from the emperor.

Saint Isidore responded with generosity to all who sought his wisdom, providing spiritual encouragement and moral guidance to seekers from all walks of life. He left behind a rich spiritual legacy in the form of his letters. Approximately ten thousand letters were composed over the course of his life, of which about two thousand ninety have survived to the present day. These letters contain profound theological thought, revealing the depth of his understanding of Christ and the Orthodox faith, and provide morally edifying interpretations of Holy Scripture that continue to teach and inspire the faithful.

Through his life of prayer, asceticism, and faithful service, Saint Isidore became a teacher of righteousness and a light to the Church. He continued his labours and spiritual work until his death around the year 436. His memory is preserved in the Church as an example of faithful monastic witness and of the transformative power of prayer and obedience to God.

Venerable Nicholas the confessor, abbot of Studion

868

Saint Nicholas the confessor was born on the island of Crete in the village of Kydonia about the year 793. At the age of ten he was sent to Constantinople to his uncle, the monk Theophanes of the Studion monastery. With the blessing of Saint Theodore the Studite he was enrolled in the monastery school, and at sixteen he received the monastic tonsure. He was ordained presbyter and became a noted scribe, copying many liturgical and patristic books in a beautiful hand. When the iconoclast persecution flared up under Leo the Armenian, Saint Nicholas stood firm with his abbot Theodore in defence of the holy icons. He was scourged, imprisoned and sent into exile, sharing the sufferings of his teacher in several places of confinement. After the death of Leo the Armenian a brief peace was granted to the Church, but persecution returned under Theophilus, and Nicholas was again imprisoned and beaten. After the restoration of the icons by the empress Theodora, Saint Nicholas returned to the Studion. He was twice chosen as abbot, but withdrew during the controversies that troubled the patriarchate of Constantinople. Under the emperor Basil the Macedonian he was restored to the abbacy at imperial command. He governed the monastery with gentleness and wisdom and was granted by God the gift of healing. He reposed in peace in the year 868. Saint Theodore the Studite said of him, "Brother Nicholas has suffered bravely and with fidelity."

Venerable Cyril of New Lake

1532

When he was only fifteen, St Cyril left home in secret to join the Monastery of St Cornelius of Komel (May 19). Seven years later his father visited the monastery and recognized his son. Instead of persuading Cyril to return to the world, the father was persuaded by his son to enter monastic life; his mother soon joined them, entering a convent nearby. Within the next few years, St Cyril’s mother and father both died, prompting him to exclaim ‘I too am mortal!’ He redoubled his ascetical labors and before long was granted the gift of tears in prayer. Ten years after entering the monastery, St Cyril obtained his abbot’s blessing to live the life of a hermit. He lived in complete reclusion, subsisting on wild greens and mushrooms. After seven years of solitude, he built a hermitage at New Lake and established two churches there. Soon he was ordained to the priesthood. His sanctity attracted a large company of disciples, and he founded a large monastery. There he continued to live in the strictest asceticism and shared in all the common labor of the monks. Once some thieves tried to steal the church bells, but by divine intervention became disoriented and circled the monastery in the dark until morning. When they were apprehended and brought to the Saint, he told them, ‘My children, no one has ever been enriched by stealing, but many have lost even what belonged to them.’ He then ordered that they be given food and released. During his lifetime the Saint wrought many healings, and was especially known for restoring the sight of the blind. Once his disciple Athanasius saw an unknown deacon serving with St Cyril at the Liturgy. The mysterious deacon disappeared at the end of the service, and St Cyril forbade his disciple to speak of the incident until after his death. In 1532 the Saint reposed in peace: his last words were ‘Glory to God for all things!’

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

James — James 1.19-27

¹⁹Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

¹⁹Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: ²⁰for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. ²⁰For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. ²¹Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. ²¹Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ²²But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. ²²But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ²³For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: ²³For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: ²⁴For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁴for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. ²⁵But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing. ²⁶If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man’s religion is vain. ²⁶If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. ²⁷Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. ²⁷Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 10.17-27

¹⁷And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

¹⁷And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? ¹⁸And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. ¹⁸And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good save one, even God. ¹⁹Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. ¹⁹Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother. ²⁰And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. ²⁰And he said unto him, Teacher, all these things have I observed from my youth. ²¹Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. ²¹And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. ²²But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions. ²²And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

²³And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

²³And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁴And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁴And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. ²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. ²⁶And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? ²⁶And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved? ²⁷And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. ²⁷Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.