Thursday, 4 March 2027

Thursday of Meatfare

59 days before Pascha · Tone 6 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyrs Paul and his sister Juliana of Ptolemais

Paul and his sister Juliana were Christian siblings of Ptolemais in Egypt who lived during the age of persecution. Despite the dangers, both maintained their faith in Christ with steadfast courage. When brought before pagan magistrates and commanded to participate in idolatrous worship, they steadfastly refused, declaring their allegiance to Jesus Christ alone. Their refusal to comply with the demands of pagan authorities resulted in their arrest and torture. Rather than breaking under duress, brother and sister encouraged each other in faith and glorified God through their sufferings. Their martyrdom became a powerful witness to the triumph of Christian faith over the violence of persecutors. The Orthodox Church commemorates Paul and Juliana as joint martyrs and powerful intercessors, honouring the special grace that unites them as blood siblings united in faith.

Saint Casimir of Poland

Saint Casimir (1458-1484) was a prince of Poland, son of King Casimir IV, who distinguished himself by his piety, virtue, and unwavering commitment to Christian principles despite his position of power and privilege. From his youth, Casimir gave evidence of extraordinary holiness: he devoted himself to prayer, fasting, and the study of Scripture, and he refused to indulge in the pleasures and vanities that typically attracted noble youth. As he matured into manhood, Casimir became an advisor to his father and later served as regent of Poland, but he never allowed political authority to seduce him into worldly ambition or compromise of his principles. He was known for his justice, his defence of the Church's freedom, and his extraordinary generosity towards the poor. Casimir never married, choosing instead to dedicate himself entirely to service of God and neighbour. He spent long hours in prayer, particularly before the Blessed Sacrament, and was known for his mystical devotion to Christ. Though his life was brief—he reposed at only twenty-six years of age—his sanctity left an indelible mark on his age. The Orthodox Church venerates him as a saint and prince who chose the narrow way of ascetic virtue over the broad path of worldly pleasure.

Saint Joasaph, Prince of India

Joasaph (also known as Josaphat or Yudasaf) was a legendary Indian prince whose life story, though historically debated, has profound spiritual significance in Orthodox tradition. According to the sacred narrative, Joasaph was born a prince and heir to his father's kingdom but was shielded from knowledge of human suffering by his earthly parent. When he discovered through a chance encounter the reality of sickness, old age, and death, Joasaph's heart was moved to seek the true remedy for human misery. He secretly renounced his princely estate and sought out a wise Christian hermit named Barlaam, who became his spiritual father and guide. Through their dialogues, recorded in the famous "Barlaam and Joasaph" narrative, Joasaph was instructed in the Christian faith and ascetic discipline. Abandoning all worldly honours and pleasures, he devoted himself entirely to prayer, fasting, and the pursuit of union with God. The Orthodox Church venerates him as a saint and prince who chose the Kingdom of Heaven over all earthly glory.

Venerable Gerasimus of the Jordan

He was from Lycia in Asia Minor. After living there as a hermit for many years, he traveled to the Egyptian Thebaid and lived among the Desert Fathers. He then went to Palestine, where he founded the great Lavra, a community of about seventy monks, that remains to this day. The monastery’s rule was simple and strict: During the five weekdays, the monks would stay in their cells, praying and weaving baskets and mats. On these days they ate only a little dry bread and some dates. On Saturdays and Sundays the monks gathered for worship and ate boiled vegetables with a little wine. Each monk owned only one garment; if he left his cell he was required to leave it open so that anyone else could take whatever he needed from it. Saint Gerasimos himself was an example to all of them, exceeding even the rule that he laid upon them: during the Great Fast, he would eat nothing but what he received in Holy Communion.

In the desert, the Saint once saw a lion in great pain from a thorn in its paw. Moved by compassion, Gerasim approached it, made the sign of the Cross and pulled the thorn out. The lion followed the elder back to the monastery and remained there until the Saint’s death. When Gerasimos died, the lion, overcome by grief, soon died also, lying upon the Saint’s grave.

Saint Gerasimos was present at the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon, where he proved a strong champion of Orthodoxy, though he had inclined toward the Monophysite heresy in his youth. He reposed in peace in 475.

St James the Faster of Phoenecia

6th c.

“He lived in the sixth century. He was so perfected in godliness that he was able to heal the gravest illnesses by his prayers. But the enemy of the human race brought a heavy temptation on him. There was once sent to him a woman who had been corrupted by some mockers. She pretended to weep before him, but enticed him to sin. Seeing that he would fall into sin, James put his left hand into the fire and held it there until it was completely burned. Seeing this, the woman was filled with fear and horror, repented and reformed her life. “But on a second occasion he did not resist and fell with a young girl whom her parents had brought to him to be healed of her madness. He indeed healed her, but then sinned with her and, in order to conceal the sin, killed her and threw her into a river. As always, the path from lust to murder was not very long. James spent ten years after that as a penitent, living in a grave. He learned after that that God had forgiven him, because, when he at one time prayed for rain in a time of great drought from which both men and cattle were suffering, it fell. “Here is an example, similar to that of David, of how wicked the evil demon is; how, by the permission of God, the greatest spiritual giants can topple, and how again, by sincere repentance, God in His compassion will forgive the greatest sins and does not punish those who punish themselves.” (Prologue)

Also commemorated: Rt. Blv. Prince Daniel of Moscow

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 John — 1 John 4.20-5.21

²⁰If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? ²⁰If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen. ²¹And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. ²¹And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.

¹Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

¹Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. ²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. ²Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. ⁴For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. ⁴For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ⁵And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? ⁵Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? ⁶This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. ⁶This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁷For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ⁸For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one. ⁸And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. ⁹If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. ⁹If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son. ¹⁰He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. ¹⁰He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. ¹¹And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹¹And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹²He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ¹²He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.

¹³These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God. ¹³These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. ¹⁴And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁴And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁵and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. ¹⁵And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. ¹⁶If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request. ¹⁶If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. ¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. ¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

¹⁸We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not. ¹⁸We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. ¹⁹And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. ¹⁹We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one. ²⁰And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. ²⁰And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. ²¹My little children, guard yourselves from idols. ²¹Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 15.1-15

¹And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

¹And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate. ²And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. ²And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering saith unto him, Thou sayest. ³And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. ³And the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. ⁴And Pilate again asked him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of. ⁵But Jesus no more answered anything; insomuch that Pilate marvelled. ⁵But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

⁶Now at the feast he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. ⁶Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. ⁷And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. ⁷And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. ⁸And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. ⁸And the multitude went up and began to ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them. ⁹But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? ⁹And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? ¹⁰For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹⁰For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. ¹¹But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. ¹¹But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. ¹²And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? ¹²And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? ¹³And they cried out again, Crucify him. ¹³And they cried out again, Crucify him. ¹⁴Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. ¹⁴And Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, Crucify him. ¹⁵And Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

¹⁵And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.