Thursday, 11 March 2027

Cheesefare Thursday

52 days before Pascha · Tone 7 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · Fast (Meat Fast)

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Pionius, Presbyter of Smyrna

250

Saint Pionius was a presbyter of the Church of Smyrna who suffered for Christ during the persecution of the emperor Decius in the year 250. A learned man and a faithful pastor, he had carefully transcribed the older account of the martyrdom of his predecessor Saint Polycarp, preserving for the Church the memory of that glorious witness. By a heavenly revelation Pionius foreknew that he would be arrested on 23 February, the very feast on which the Christians of Smyrna kept the memory of Saint Polycarp. On that day, having spent the night in prayer with his disciples Sabina and Asclepiades, he placed about his own neck and theirs woven cords as a sign of their willing readiness for martyrdom, that no one might think they were being led away by force. They were brought before the magistrates and exhorted to sacrifice to the gods, but Pionius answered with a long and noble defence of the faith, recorded in one of the most ancient and authentic acts of the martyrs that has come down to us. After many torments and a long imprisonment, Saint Pionius was at length condemned to be burned alive. On 11 March of the year 250 he was nailed to a stake in the amphitheatre of Smyrna, and giving thanks to God in the midst of the flames, he yielded up his soul. With him are commemorated his fellow-martyrs Limnus the presbyter, the women Sabina and Macedonia, and Asclepiades.

Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem

He was born in Damascus to an eminent family, and was well educated in his youth. Discontented with the wisdom of the world, he entered monastic life in the monastery of St Theodosius, where he became the lifelong friend and disciple of John Moschos. Together they visited the monasteries and hermitages of Egypt; they later wrote down their discoveries among the holy monks in the classic Spiritual Meadow. After the death of his teacher, St Sophronius traveled to Jerusalem, which had just been liberated from the Persians. He was there to see the Precious Cross returned from Persia by the Emperor Heraclius, who carried it into Jerusalem on his back. A few years later, in 634, St Sophronius was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem, where he served his flock wisely for three years and three months. He was zealous in the defense of Orthodoxy against the Monothelite heresy: He convoked a Council in Jerusalem which condemned it before it was condemned at the Sixth Ecumenical Council. The holy Patriarch even traveled to Constantinople to rebuke the Patriarch Sergius and Emperor Heraclius, who had embraced the Monothelite error.

The years of peace were few for the Holy Land; for just as the Persian Empire was decisively defeated by Heraclius, the followers of Islam erupted out of Arabia, conquering most of North Africa and the Middle East in a few years. The Saint was so grieved by the capture of Jerusalem in 637 by the Caliph Omar that begged God to take him, so that he might not live to see the desecration of the holy places. His prayer was granted, and he reposed in peace less than a year later.

St Sophronios is the author of the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt, appointed to be read in the churches during every Great Lent. He also wrote the service of the Great Blessing of the Waters. Some have attributed the Vesperal hymn “Gladsome Light” to him, but we know that it dates from before the time of St Basil the Great, who mentions it in his writings. It seems though, that St Sophronios supplemented the hymn, and that its present form is due to him.

Venerable Sophronius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves

Saint Sophronius was an ascetic of the Far Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra, also called the caves of Saint Theodosius, where he laboured in the thirteenth century. Of his earlier life little is recorded, save that having renounced the world he embraced the strictest form of monastic struggle, withdrawing into the silence of the underground caves to give himself wholly to prayer and the contemplation of God. The tradition of the Lavra remembers him as a man of severe self-denial, who wore upon his bare flesh a coarse hairshirt and bound himself with a heavy iron belt. Day by day, in the unbroken stillness of his cell, he would read through the entire Psalter, weeping over the verses and offering them as incense to the Lord. By such hidden labours he attained great purity of heart and was found worthy of unceasing prayer. After a life pleasing to God, Saint Sophronius reposed in peace, and his incorrupt relics were laid to rest in the Far Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra, where they remain to this day, a source of healing and grace to those who venerate them. He is commemorated on 11 March, on the day of his repose, and again on 11 May, and is also numbered among the Synaxis of the venerable fathers whose relics rest in the Far Caves of Saint Theodosius, kept on 28 August.

St John Moschos, author of the Spiritual Meadow

622

He is commemorated today along with his disciple and friend St Sophronius (see above).

Holy Martyr Pionius

250

“A priest of Smyrna, he suffered there in the time of Decius’ persecution. They condemned him to be crucified, which was a great joy to him. And as soon as the soldiers assembled the cross and laid it on the ground, Pionius laid himself on it and stretched out his arms, calling to the soldiers to put the nails into his hands. The cross was inserted into the ground upside down, and a fire lit under the martyr’s head. There were many bystanders. Pionius closed his eyes and prayed to God within himself. The flames could not succeed in igniting even his hair, and when the fire had at last gone out and everyone thought that he was dead, Pionius opened his eyes and cried out joyfully: ‘O Lord, receive my spirit!’, and breathed his last. This saint wrote the life of St Polycarp of Smyrna, together with whom he now makes merry in the Kingdom of Christ. He suffered and was glorified in 250.” (Prologue)

Also commemorated: St Euthymius, Bishop of Novgorod

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Jude — Jude 11-25

¹¹Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. ¹¹Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. ¹²These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; ¹²These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; ¹³wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved for ever. ¹³Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. ¹⁴And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, ¹⁴And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, ¹⁵To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. ¹⁵to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. ¹⁶These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. ¹⁶These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaketh great swelling words), showing respect of persons for the sake of advantage.

¹⁷But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

¹⁷But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸that they said to you, In the last time there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁸How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit. ¹⁹These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. ²⁰But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, ²⁰But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ²¹Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ²²And of some have compassion, making a difference: ²²And on some have mercy, who are in doubt; ²³And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. ²³and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

²⁴Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy,

²⁴Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. ²⁵to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 23.2-34, 44-56

²And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. ²And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king. ³And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest. ³And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. ⁴And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man. ⁴Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. ⁵And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. ⁵But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judæa, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place. ⁶When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilæan. ⁶But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilæan. ⁷And when he knew that he was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days. ⁷And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

⁸And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

⁸Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. ⁹Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. ⁹And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. ¹⁰And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. ¹⁰And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. ¹¹And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. ¹¹And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. ¹²And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

¹²And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

¹³And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

¹³And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, ¹⁴Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: ¹⁴and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I, having examined him before you, found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: ¹⁵No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. ¹⁵no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him. ¹⁶I will therefore chastise him, and release him. ¹⁶I will therefore chastise him, and release him. ¹⁷ ¹⁷(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) ¹⁸And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: ¹⁸But they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:— ¹⁹one who for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison. ¹⁹(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) ²⁰Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. ²⁰And Pilate spake unto them again, desiring to release Jesus; ²¹But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. ²¹but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him. ²²And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. ²²And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him. ²³And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. ²³But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. ²⁴And Pilate gave sentence that what they asked for should be done. ²⁴And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. ²⁵And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will. ²⁵And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

²⁶And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus. ²⁶And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

²⁷And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.

²⁷And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. ²⁸But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. ²⁸But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. ²⁹For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. ²⁹For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. ³⁰Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. ³⁰Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. ³¹For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? ³¹For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry? ³²And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

³²And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

³³And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. ³³And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

³⁴Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. ³⁴And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots. ⁴⁴And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

⁴⁴And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, ⁴⁵And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. ⁴⁵the sun’s light failing: and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

⁴⁶And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. ⁴⁶And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost. ⁴⁷Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. ⁴⁷And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. ⁴⁸And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts. ⁴⁸And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. ⁴⁹And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things. ⁴⁹And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

⁵⁰And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

⁵⁰And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good and righteous man ⁵¹(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. ⁵¹(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of God: ⁵²This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. ⁵²this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³And he took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain. ⁵³And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. ⁵⁴And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on. ⁵⁴And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. ⁵⁵And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. ⁵⁵And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid.

⁵⁶And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment. ⁵⁶And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.