Tuesday, 2 March 2027

Tuesday of Meatfare

61 days before Pascha · Tone 6 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Theodotus, Bishop of Cyrenia

Known for his wisdom and virtue, he was chosen as Bishop of Cyrenia on the island of Cyprus. When a persecution broke out against the Christians under the Emperor Licinius, Theodotus was arrested and subjected to many tortures. His torturer Sabinus urged him repeatedly to renounce Christ and worship the idols, but Theodotus replied, ‘If you knew the goodness of my God, who, it is my hope, will by these brief tortures make me worthy of eternal life, you would wish to suffer for Him as I do.’ The pagans then drove nails into his body, for which he thanked God. Believing that his death was approaching, he calmly gave counsel and instruction to the Christians around him. By God’s providence, an order came from the new Emperor Constantine to free all Christians who were being held for the sake of Christ. Thus Theodotus was freed and, though greatly weakened by his torments, served his flock faithfully for two more years before reposing in peace.

Holy Martyr Hesychius the Senator

Hesychius was a senator of Rome who held high rank in the secular administration during the age of Christian persecution. Despite his exalted station, he subordinated his earthly honours to his love for Christ. When the persecutions intensified, Hesychius openly declared his faith, thereby risking and ultimately losing his position, his property, and his life. History records that he was brought to trial, condemned, and executed for refusing to participate in pagan sacrifices and for his steadfast confession of Jesus as Lord. The Orthodox Church commemorates him as a holy martyr who chose the treasure of heaven over all earthly glory and dignities.

Saint Arsenius of Tver

Arsenius was a Christian ascetic and monastic father of Tver, a major city in Russia. Little is recorded of his early life, but he distinguished himself through unwavering commitment to monastic discipline and prayer. Arsenius established a monastic community and laboured to guide his monks through the rigours of ascetic practice. Known for his spiritual wisdom and pastoral care, he became a revered elder whose counsel was sought by pilgrims and clergy alike. Through fasting, vigil, and prayer, Arsenius devoted himself to the salvation of souls and the advancement of the Kingdom of God. The Orthodox Church venerates him as a holy monk and spiritual father whose intercession benefits those who call upon him in faith.

Saint Chad of Lichfield

Saint Chad (Ceadda) was a seventh-century English bishop and monastic founder who served as Bishop of the English kingdom of Mercia. Born in Northumbria, Chad was trained in the monastic tradition and became known for his ascetic devotion and pastoral care. He established the monastery at Lichfield and presided over it as abbot-bishop, combining the leadership of a monastic community with episcopal responsibility for the faithful. Chad was revered for his holiness, his dedication to prayer and fasting, and his compassionate ministry to both the rich and the poor. He refused to accept wealth or honour for himself, instead directing all resources towards the service of God and the building up of Christ's Church. Chad lived simply and laboured alongside his monks in the daily tasks of monastic life. After a brief but fruitful episcopal ministry, he reposed in peace, leaving behind a legacy of faithful service and ascetic virtue. The Orthodox Church venerates him as a holy bishop and monastic father whose example illuminates the path of Christian leadership and humble service.

The Four Hundred and Forty Martyrs of Lombardy

579

Forty of them were beheaded in one place in Lombardy (in Italy) because they refused to eat food offered to idols. Another four hundred were massacred because they refused to join with the Lombard pagans’ practice of dancing around a goat’s head that had been brought for sacrifice to the idols. Their deaths are recorded by St Gregory the Dialogist (Gregory the Great). We sometimes imagine that the Roman Empire converted almost overnight to Christianity during the reign of St Constantine the Great. This incident, more than two hundred years into Europe’s ‘Christian era’, reminds us that the progress of the Faith among the people was often slow and halting, and that paganism remained a force for many centuries.

Holy Martyr Euthalia

257

She was a pagan maiden living in Sicily with her mother (also named Euthalia) and her brother Sermilianus. When Euthalia’s mother became ill with an issue of blood, the holy martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus (May 10) appeared to her in a dream and told her that she would only be healed if she were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heeding the dream, she believed, was baptized, and was healed. Her daughter Euthalia, seeing this wonder, was also baptised. Sermilianus, despising and hating the Christian faith, first mocked his mother and sister for their conversion, then threatened them. The mother fled the house in fear. Euthalia remained, saying to her brother ‘I am a Christian, and have no fear of death.’ The cruel Sermilianus persecuted her more and more harshly until finally, enraged by the futility of his threats, he beheaded his own sister by his own hand, unknowingly procuring for her a crown of eternal glory. “And thus in this example were fulfilled the words of Christ that He was bringing a sword among men which would divide those of one blood but not those of one faith (Matt. 10:34-35).” (Prologue)

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 John — 1 John 3.10-20

¹⁰In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. ¹⁰In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. ¹¹For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. ¹¹For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: ¹²not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. ¹²Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

¹³Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

¹³Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you. ¹⁴We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death. ¹⁴We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. ¹⁵Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. ¹⁵Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. ¹⁶Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁶Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? ¹⁷But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? ¹⁸My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth. ¹⁸My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him: ¹⁹And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. ²⁰For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. ²⁰because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 14.10-42

¹⁰And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

¹⁰And Judas Iscariot, he that was one of the twelve, went away unto the chief priests, that he might deliver him unto them. ¹¹And they, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently deliver him unto them. ¹¹And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

¹²And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the passover, his disciples say unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and make ready that thou mayest eat the passover?

¹²And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? ¹³And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. ¹³And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him; ¹⁴and wheresoever he shall enter in, say to the master of the house, The Teacher saith, Where is my guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? ¹⁴And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? ¹⁵And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. ¹⁵And he will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready: and there make ready for us. ¹⁶And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. ¹⁶And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. ¹⁷And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

¹⁷And when it was evening he cometh with the twelve. ¹⁸And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. ¹⁸And as they sat and were eating, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you shall betray me, even he that eateth with me. ¹⁹And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? ¹⁹They began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? ²⁰And he said unto them, It is one of the twelve, he that dippeth with me in the dish. ²⁰And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. ²¹The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. ²¹For the Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.

²²And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

²²And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body. ²³And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it. ²³And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. ²⁴And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁴And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. ²⁵Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. ²⁵Verily I say unto you, I shall no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

²⁶And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives.

²⁶And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

²⁷And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad. ²⁷And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. ²⁸Howbeit, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee. ²⁸But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. ²⁹But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. ²⁹But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. ³⁰And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. ³⁰And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that thou to-day, even this night, before the cock crow twice, shalt deny me thrice. ³¹But he spake exceeding vehemently, If I must die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner also said they all. ³¹But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

³²And they come unto a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I pray. ³²And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. ³³And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly amazed, and sore troubled. ³³And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; ³⁴And he saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: abide ye here, and watch. ³⁴And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. ³⁵And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. ³⁵And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt. ³⁶And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. ³⁷And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? ³⁷And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour? ³⁸Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. ³⁸Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. ³⁹And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. ³⁹And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. ⁴⁰And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him. ⁴¹And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴¹And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴²Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. ⁴²Arise, let us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at hand.