Tuesday, 16 March 2027

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

47 days before Pascha · Tone 8 · Liturgy · Lenten Fast (No overrides)

Great Canon

Saints commemorated

Saint Christodulus of Patmos, Wonderworker

Saint Christodulus was from the region of Nicaea in Bithynia, the son of Theodore and Anna, and was given the name John at birth. He assumed the monastic habit in his youth and was renamed Christodulus, meaning "slave of Christ" in Greek. He received permission and monetary aid from Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (reigned 1081-1118), and built on the island of Patmos a church and monastery named in honour of Saint John the Evangelist. Through his prayers and holy works, he became a wonderworker, performing many miracles. When the Arabs attacked the monastery, he fled with his disciples to Euboia (Euripus), where he completed the course of his life about the end of the eleventh century on the 16th of March. The disciples of this righteous man took his sacred incorrupt remains and transferred them to his own monastery, where they repose to this day for the sanctification of those who have recourse to them with faith. The Orthodox Christian Church celebrates his memory on March 16 of each year.

The Holy Apostle Aristobulus of the Seventy, Bishop of Britain

“He was the brother of the Apostle Barnabas and was born in Cyprus. He was a follower of the Apostle Paul, who mentions him in his Epistle to the Romans (16:10). When the great Apostle Paul created many bishops for different parts of the world, he made this Aristobulus bishop of Britain (i.e. England). In Britain there was a wild people, pagan and wicked, and Aristobulus endured among them unmentionable torments, misfortunes and malice. They smote him without mercy, dragged him through the streets, mocked him and jeered at him. But in the end this holy man came to success by the power of the grace of God. He enlightened the people, baptised them in the name of Christ the Lord, built churches, ordained priests and deacons and finally died there in peace and went to the Kingdom of the Lord whom he had served so faithfully.” (Prologue)

Note: in the Greek calendar he is commemorated on March 15.

The Holy Martyr Papas of Lampsacus

The Holy Martyr Papas lived in the city of Laranda in Asia Minor during the reign of Maximian (305-311). When he was arrested for his belief in Christ, Papas was subjected to terrible tortures. His feet were put into boots with sharp nails hammered into the soles, and he was made to walk. They took him from the city of Laranda to Diocaesarea and later to Seleucia, Isauria to stand trial. Saint Papas died bound to a barren tree, which then miraculously became fruitful as a sign of his redemption through Christ. Papas is commemorated on 16 March in the Orthodox Church calendar as a martyr saint celebrated by Eastern Orthodox Christians.

The Holy Martyr Sabinus of Egypt

The Holy Martyr Sabinus was an administrator of the Egyptian city of Hermopolis. During a persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian (284-305), Saint Sabinus and some like-minded companions hid in a remote village.

His hiding place was revealed by a certain ungrateful beggar to whom Sabinus had shown kindness, giving him food and money. The wretch betrayed him for two pieces of gold. Sabinus was seized with six other Christians. After torture, they were all drowned in the Nile in 287.

The Greek Orthodox Church gives him the full office on March 16, where he is commemorated as a martyr and saint in the Orthodox tradition.

Our Holy Father Christodoulos, Wonderworker of Patmos

1111

He was from the region of Nicaea, and was named John by his parents Theodore and Anna. He took up the monastic life at an early age, and was renamed Christodoulos (‘Slave of Christ’). After going far in the ascetical life, he was given permission by the Emperor Alexis I (1081-1118) to establish a church and monastery on the island of Patmos, dedicated to St John the Evangelist. Both the church and the monastery stand and continue in use to this day. When Patmos was attacked by the Arabs, he and his disciples fled to Euboea, where he reposed. The Saint’s disciples brought his relics back to his own monastery, where they continue to work miracles today.

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 1.19-2.3

¹⁹If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: ¹⁹If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: ²⁰But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. ²⁰but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.

²¹How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

²¹How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. ²²Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: ²²Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water. ²³Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. ²³Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

²⁴Therefore saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies; ²⁴Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:

²⁵And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: ²⁵and I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin; ²⁶And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. ²⁶and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, a faithful town. ²⁷Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness. ²⁷Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

²⁸And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed. ²⁸But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed. ²⁹For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. ²⁹For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. ³⁰For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. ³⁰For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. ³¹And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. ³¹And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

¹The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

¹The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. ²And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

²And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. ³And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. ³And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 1.14-23

¹⁴And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:

¹⁴And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: ¹⁵and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. ¹⁵And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. ¹⁶And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. ¹⁶And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. ¹⁷And God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth, ¹⁷And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, ¹⁸And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. ¹⁸and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. ¹⁹And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. ¹⁹And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

²⁰And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

²⁰And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. ²¹And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that moveth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind: and God saw that it was good. ²¹And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. ²²And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. ²²And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. ²³And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. ²³And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 1.20-33

²⁰Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: ²⁰Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places; ²¹She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, ²¹She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words: ²²How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? ²²How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge? ²³Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. ²³Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you. ²⁴Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;

²⁴Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; ²⁵But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof: ²⁵But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: ²⁶I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; ²⁶I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; ²⁷When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. ²⁷When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you. ²⁸Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me: ²⁸Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: ²⁹For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah, ²⁹For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: ³⁰They would none of my counsel, They despised all my reproof. ³⁰They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. ³¹Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices. ³¹Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. ³²For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. ³²For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them. ³³But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil. ³³But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.