Sunday, 14 February 2027

Sunday of Zacchaeus

77 days before Pascha · Tone 4 · Red cross (polyeleos typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

★ Saint Cyril, Equal-of-the-Apostles, Teacher of the Slavs

Cyril, along with his brother Methodius, was an apostle to the Slavic peoples and is venerated as one of the greatest missionaries in the history of the Church. Born in the ninth century, he was a learned and pious man who possessed great linguistic gifts. Cyril and Methodius were sent by the Patriarch of Constantinople to bring the Orthodox faith to the Slavic lands. To accomplish this mission, Cyril created the Glagolitic alphabet to allow the translation of the liturgical texts into the Slavonic language, making the divine services comprehensible to the Slavic peoples. Through his tireless labour and missionary zeal, Cyril brought countless souls to the knowledge of Christ and established the Orthodox Church among the Slavs. He endured many hardships and opposition but remained steadfast in his apostolic mission. His legacy continues through the Church's liturgical life among the Slavic peoples, and he is commemorated as one of the most important figures in the mission and Christianization of Eastern Europe.

Hieromartyr Philemon of Gaza

Philemon was a hieromartyr and priest of Gaza in the early Christian era. He was arrested for his Christian faith and refused to renounce Christ or offer sacrifice to idols. Despite severe tortures and imprisonment, Philemon remained steadfast in his confession of Christ. He was eventually martyred for his unwavering commitment to the Gospel and his refusal to deny the God he served. His martyrdom strengthened the faith of the Christian community in Gaza and testified to the power of Christ's redemption. He is remembered as a faithful priest and confessor whose life and death witnessed to the truth of the Christian faith.

Our Holy Father Auxentius

470

He was of Persian origin, born in Syria. As a young man, he distinguished himself as a member of the court of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger. Seeing the vanity of the world’s honors and pleasures, he became a monk in Constantinople; but when the people began to praise his holiness, he fled to Mount Oxeia near Chalcedon, which later became known as Auxentius’ Mountain. There he built a small hut and lived in reclusion; but in time he was discovered by some shepherds, and the faithful began to come in increasing numbers for his teaching, blessing, prayers and healing. He performed countless miracles, but such was his humility that he always sought to avoid their being attributed to him. When he was asked to pray for someone’s healing, he would try to refuse, saying “I too am a sinful man.” But, when he was prevailed on by the pleas of the people, he would call on all of them to pray together for the healing; or he would remind them that God would give according to their faith; or he would say to the sick person “The Lord Jesus Christ heals you.” When the Emperor Marcian summoned the Fourth Ecumenical Council to Chalcedon, he ordered that the hermit join the assembly of holy Fathers. Auxentius refused, saying that doctrinal teaching was the province of bishops, not monks. The Emperor’s envoys took him by force. He was greeted with honor by the Emperor, and affirmed all the decisions of the Council. He never returned to Mount Oxeia, but settled in an even wilder and more remote spot on Mount Skopa, which later came to be called Mount St Auxentius. His disciples built him a tiny wooden hut with one small window through which he could converse with his steady stream of visitors. He reposed in peace in 470. A great crowd gathered for his funeral, and his holy relics were taken into the care of a women’s monastery whose spiritual Father he had been. Mount St Auxentius soon became a center of hesychastic life, with seven monasteries.

Saint Auxentius of Bithynia

Auxentius was a holy ascetic and venerable monk of Bithynia who lived a life of great spiritual discipline and devotion to God. He withdrew from the distractions of worldly life to pursue monasticism and the perfection of the Christian virtue. Through his prayers, fasting, and unwavering commitment to God, Auxentius became a vessel of God's grace and was granted gifts of spiritual discernment and wisdom. He served as a spiritual father to many who sought his guidance, and his words of wisdom continue to inspire the faithful. He is remembered for his profound holiness and his dedication to the monastic life.

Venerable Maron the Hermit

Maron was a venerable hermit and ascetic monk of the fourth century known for his life of extreme asceticism and his powerful miracles of healing and deliverance. He withdrew from the world and devoted himself entirely to prayer and the pursuit of spiritual perfection. Through his unceasing prayers and intercession, Maron became a channel of divine grace and power, working wonders in the name of Christ. He was known for his great humility and his unwavering commitment to the monastic life. Maron's prayers were sought by the sick and afflicted, and many were healed through his intercession. He is remembered as one of the greatest ascetics of the Eastern Church and remains widely venerated for his holiness and miraculous powers.

What Happened to Valentine's Day?

On February 14 the Roman church commemorates two Saints named Valentinus, both martyred in Rome at different times (one was a bishop in Italy). Both are also saints of the Orthodox Church, but are commemorated on July 30 and October 24. As for chocolates, flowers, cards, etc., the Encyclopedia Britannica says: “St Valentine’s day as a lovers’ festival… has no relation to the saint or to any incident in his life. These customs seem rather to be connected either with the pagan Roman festival of the Lupercalia which took place in the middle of February, or with the spring season in general.”

Venerable Maron the Hermit of Syria

c. 423

This ascetic and wonderworker was a friend of St John Chrysostom. Read his life here.

Also commemorated: St Cyril, Teacher of the Slavs

Daily readings

4th Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 24.1-12

¹Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

¹But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. ²And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. ²And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. ³And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. ³And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: ⁴And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel: ⁵and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? ⁵And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, ⁶He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, ⁷saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. ⁷Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. ⁸And they remembered his words, ⁸And they remembered his words, ⁹And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. ⁹and returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. ¹⁰It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. ¹⁰Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles. ¹¹And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them. ¹¹And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 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.

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Timothy — 1 Timothy 4.9-15

⁹Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation. ⁹This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. ¹⁰For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe. ¹⁰For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. ¹¹These things command and teach.

¹¹These things command and teach. ¹²Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹²Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. ¹³Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. ¹³Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. ¹⁴Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. ¹⁴Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. ¹⁵Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all. ¹⁵Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 19.1-10

¹And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

¹And he entered and was passing through Jericho. ²And, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. ²And behold, a man called by name Zacchæus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich. ³And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. ³And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature. ⁴And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. ⁴And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. ⁵And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house. ⁵And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. ⁶And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. ⁶And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. ⁷And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner. ⁷And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. ⁸And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. ⁸And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold. ⁹And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. ⁹And Jesus said unto him, To-day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. ¹⁰For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.