Friday, 19 March 2027

Friday of the First Week of Lent

44 days before Pascha · Tone 8 · Presanctified · Lenten Fast (No overrides)

Presanctified Liturgy

Saints commemorated

The Holy Martyr Pancharius of Nicomedia

The Holy Martyr Pancharius was a friend of Emperor Diocletian who had abandoned the Christian faith and become a pagan. His mother and sister, remaining devoted to Christ, sent him a letter in which they urged the apostate to fear God and remember the dread Last Judgment. Being ashamed of himself and moved by their fervent prayers, Saint Pancharius accepted the counsel of his mother. He confessed his faith in Christ before the emperor and declared himself a Christian. For his bold testimony to the Orthodox faith, he was subjected to terrible torments and ultimately died a martyr's death for Christ in order to live with Him eternally. His story emphasises the power of maternal faith, family intercession, and the possibility of repentance and redemption through Christ, even after apostasy. Saint Pancharius is commemorated on 19 March in the Orthodox Church calendar as a holy martyr.

The Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria

Chrysanthos was the only son of Polemon, a prominent pagan in Rome. As befit his status, he was given every opportunity for secular learning, but seemed unable to acquire worldly wisdom. By God’s providence, copies of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles came into his possession and, reading them avidly, he was enlightened and desired above all to be a Christian. He found a priest, Carpophorus, who instructed him in the Faith and baptised him. When his father discovered Chrysanthos’ conversion, he was angry and did everything he could to turn his son back to paganism, using even threats and imprisonment. When none of these measures worked, Polemon arranged for his son to be married to a beautiful and learned young pagan woman named Daria, hoping that affection for her would draw his son away from Christ. But instead, Chrysanthus persuaded Daria of the truth of Christianity, and she was secretly baptised.

When his father died, Chrysanthus and his wife began to confess Christ openly and to live publicly as Christians. They were soon arrested and grievously tortured for their faith. The torturer, whose name was Claudius, was so moved by their endurance and patience that he himself embraced the Faith, along with his whole household. For this they were executed: Claudius by drowning, his two sons by beheading, and his wife by hanging. Finally Chrysanthus and Daria were buried alive in a pit and covered with stones. This was during the reign of the Emperor Numerian.

Venerable Innocent of Komel and Vologda

1491

Saint Innocent was born at Moscow of the noble princely family of Okhlyabinin, descended from the princes of Russia. Forsaking the world while still young, he received the monastic tonsure at the Monastery of Saint Cyril of White Lake (Kirillo-Belozersk), where he was placed under the guidance of Saint Nilus of Sora, the great teacher of inward prayer and non-possession. Together with his elder, Saint Innocent journeyed to the East, visiting Palestine, Constantinople, and the Holy Mountain of Athos, where they remained for several years, gathering the wisdom of the holy fathers concerning the contemplative life. Returning to Russia and seeking deeper solitude, the two withdrew into the trackless forest by the river Sora, some fifteen versts from the Monastery of Saint Cyril. There they erected a cross, dug a well, and built separate cells in the manner of the ancient sketes, where Saint Nilus established his celebrated rule of prayer. After the repose of his elder, Saint Innocent withdrew further north into the Vologda hinterland, and in the year 1491 he built a hermitage at the river Eda, where it flows into the Nurma, in the wilderness of Komel. There he laboured for thirty years, gathering disciples and forming a brotherhood that observed the rule of Saint Nilus. Foreseeing his end, he gave his community careful instructions and reposed in peace on 19 March in the year 1521. In accordance with his last wish he was buried humbly in the corner of the monastery near the marsh, and over his grave was placed a stone inscribed with the date of his repose.

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 3.1-14

¹For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

¹For, behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water; ²The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, ²the mighty man, and the man of war; the judge, and the prophet, and the diviner, and the elder; ³The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. ³the captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counsellor, and the expert artificer, and the skilful enchanter. ⁴And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. ⁴And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. ⁵And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable. ⁵And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. ⁶When a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand; ⁶When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand: ⁷In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people. ⁷in that day shall he lift up his voice, saying, I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: ye shall not make me ruler of the people. ⁸For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. ⁸For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against Jehovah, to provoke the eyes of his glory. ⁹The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have done evil unto themselves.

⁹The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. ¹⁰Say ye of the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. ¹⁰Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. ¹¹Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for what his hands have done shall be done unto him. ¹¹Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. ¹²As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

¹²As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. ¹³The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.

¹³Jehovah standeth up to contend, and standeth to judge the peoples. ¹⁴Jehovah will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and the princes thereof: It is ye that have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses: ¹⁴The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 2.20-3.20

²⁰And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. ²⁰And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; but for man there was not found a help meet for him.

²¹And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; ²¹And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: ²²and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. ²²And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. ²³And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. ²³And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. ²⁴Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. ²⁴Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. ²⁵And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. ²⁵And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

¹Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?

¹Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ²And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: ²And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: ³but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. ³But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. ⁴And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ⁴And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ⁵for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. ⁵For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. ⁶And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.

⁶And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. ⁷And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. ⁷And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons. ⁸And they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God amongst the trees of the garden. ⁸And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

⁹And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

⁹And Jehovah God called unto the man, and said unto him, Where art thou? ¹⁰And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. ¹⁰And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

¹¹And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? ¹¹And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? ¹²And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. ¹²And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. ¹³And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. ¹³And Jehovah God said unto the woman, What is this thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. ¹⁴And Jehovah God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

¹⁴And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: ¹⁵and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. ¹⁵And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. ¹⁶Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. ¹⁶Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. ¹⁷And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

¹⁷And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; ¹⁸Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; ¹⁸thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; ¹⁹in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. ¹⁹In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. ²⁰And the man called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. ²⁰And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 3.19-34

¹⁹The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. ¹⁹Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens. ²⁰By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. ²⁰By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.

²¹My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: ²¹My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion: ²²So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. ²²So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck. ²³Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble. ²³Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. ²⁴When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. ²⁴When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. ²⁵Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. ²⁵Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh: ²⁶For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. ²⁶For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken. ²⁷Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.

²⁷Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. ²⁸Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. ²⁸Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee. ²⁹Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. ²⁹Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

³⁰Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. ³⁰Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.

³¹Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. ³¹Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways. ³²For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright. ³²For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

³³The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. ³³The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous. ³⁴Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. ³⁴Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.