Saturday, 6 March 2027

Memorial Saturday

Saturday of Meatfare

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

Saints commemorated

Discovery of the Precious Cross by Empress Helen

The Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross commemorates the discovery of the True Cross of Jesus Christ, which was found by Empress Helen (Saint Helena), the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine I, in the early fourth century. According to sacred tradition, Empress Helen travelled to Jerusalem and, through prayer and investigation, located the site of Golgotha (the place of the skull) where Christ was crucified. Through her piety and determination, the three crosses were discovered: the cross of Jesus Christ and the crosses of the two thieves crucified with Him. Through a miraculous sign, the True Cross was identified: when it was brought near to a dying woman, she was instantly healed. Empress Helen subsequently built the magnificent Church of the Holy Sepulchre over the site of both Golgotha and the Resurrection tomb. This discovery became one of the most significant events in Christian history, as it brought the most precious relic of Christendom to light and provided believers with tangible proof of the historical reality of Christ's passion and resurrection. The Orthodox Church venerates the Precious Cross and honours the memory of Empress Helen as a saint and discoverer of the holiest relic.

Holy 42 Martyrs of Amorion

The forty-two martyrs of Amorion were Christian soldiers and monks who suffered martyrdom during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Theophilus (829-842 CE), a period marked by renewed conflict with the Islamic Caliphate and internal religious disputes over icon veneration. When the city of Amorion was besieged and captured, forty-two Christian captives were selected for execution because of their refusal to renounce Christ and convert to Islam. Among them were soldiers, monks, and clergy of various ranks. Despite torture and threats of execution, all forty-two remained steadfast in their confession of Jesus Christ and refused to apostatise. They were executed together, glorifying God through their martyrdom. Their joint witness became one of the most celebrated examples of Christian martyrdom in Byzantine history. The Orthodox Church commemorates them on 6 March as the Holy 42 Martyrs of Amorion, and their feast is of great liturgical significance, recognised as a major commemoration in the Orthodox calendar.

Saint Arcadius of Cyprus

Arcadius was a Christian saint of Cyprus who lived in the early centuries of the Church. Little detailed biographical information survives in historical records, but tradition holds that he was a man of deep faith and devoted Christian practice. Arcadius became known throughout Cyprus for his holiness, his pastoral concern for the faithful, and his powerful intercession on behalf of those who sought his prayers. Though the specific details of his ministry and his repose are not extensively recorded in surviving sources, the Orthodox Church has preserved his memory as a saint worthy of veneration. Arcadius is commemorated in the liturgical tradition and honoured as an intercessor whose prayers benefit the faithful. The Church's veneration of him testifies to the presence of holiness throughout all ages and in all places, and to the communion of saints that binds the earthly Church to those who have passed into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Also commemorated: Forty-two Martyrs of Ammoria

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 10.23-28

²³All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify. ²³All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. ²⁴Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor’s good. ²⁴Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. ²⁵Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake; ²⁵Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: ²⁶for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. ²⁶For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. ²⁷If one of them that believe not biddeth you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake. ²⁷If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. ²⁸But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience’ sake: ²⁸But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

Epistle

— Departed

1 Thessalonians — 1 Thessalonians 4.13-17

¹³But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.

¹³But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. ¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; ¹⁷then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 21.8-9, 25-27, 33-36

⁸And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. ⁸And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them. ⁹But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. ⁹And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately.

²⁵And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

²⁵And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; ²⁶Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. ²⁶men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. ²⁷And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁷And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ³³Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. ³³Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

³⁴But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:

³⁴And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. ³⁵For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁵for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. ³⁶Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. ³⁶But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Gospel

— Departed

John — John 5.24-30

²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. ²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life. ²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. ²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. ²⁶For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; ²⁶For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself: ²⁷And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. ²⁷and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. ²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. ²⁹and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. ³⁰I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

³⁰I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.