Sunday, 21 March 2027

Sunday of Orthodoxy

First Sunday of Lent

42 days before Pascha · Tone 1 · Liturgy · Lenten Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Saint Cyril, Bishop of Catania

Saint Cyril was born in Antioch and was a disciple of the Apostle Peter, the Chief of the Apostles. The Apostle Peter, recognising the spiritual gifts and piety of Cyril, installed him as Bishop of Catania in Sicily, where he would shepherd the flock of Christ. Saint Cyril wisely guided his flock in the Orthodox faith with pastoral care and spiritual wisdom. He was pious in his personal life and devoted to the Gospel. The Lord granted him the gift of wonderworking, and through his prayers many miraculous signs were performed for the strengthening of faith and the healing of the afflicted. Saint Cyril's episcopal ministry brought many souls to Christ and established the Church firmly in Catania. He is commemorated on 21 March as a holy bishop and wonderworker in the Orthodox tradition.

Saint James the Confessor, Bishop of Catania

Saint James, Bishop and Confessor, was inclined toward the ascetic life from his early years. He entered the Studite monastery, where he was tonsured and became a monk devoted to prayer and spiritual discipline.

Pious and well-versed in Holy Scripture, Saint James was eventually elevated to the bishop's throne of Catania in Sicily, where he faithfully shepherded Christ's flock. During the reign of the iconoclast Emperor Constantine V Copronymus (741-775), Saint James was repeatedly urged not to venerate the holy icons.

Refusing to abandon the veneration of sacred images, which had been honoured since ancient times in the Church, Saint James suffered greatly for his Orthodox faith. The iconoclasts exhausted him in prison, starved him, beat him with rods, and subjected him to many cruel torments. Yet he bravely endured all these sufferings without wavering in his confession of Christ.

Saint James was ultimately exiled from his see because of his steadfast defence of the holy icons. He died in exile, completing his struggle as a confessor of the Orthodox faith. The Church commemorates him on 21 March as a holy confessor and bishop.

Saint Thomas, Patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Thomas served as Patriarch of Constantinople, shepherding the Church of Constantinople during a critical period in Church history. Upon the death of the holy Patriarch Thomas in 610, considerable disorders and ecclesiastical difficulties arose in the Patriarchate and the wider Church. Saint Thomas' successor, Patriarch Sergius (610-638), faced significant theological challenges and controversies regarding the nature of Christ. Despite the good intentions of Patriarch Sergius, the subsequent period saw the rise of the Monothelite heresy, which denied the full Orthodox teaching concerning Christ's divine and human wills. This theological struggle underscores the importance of Saint Thomas' faithful stewardship of the Patriarchate and his commitment to preserving Orthodox doctrine. Saint Thomas is commemorated on 21 March in the Orthodox Church calendar as a holy Patriarch.

Our Holy Father Serapion

366

‘A companion of St Antony the Great, he lived in the Nitrian desert, in charge of the monastery of Arsina which contained 11,000 monks. Palladius and Sozomenes gave him the title “the Great”. He entered into rest in about 366. St Serapion wrote: “Do not think that sickness is grave; only sin is grave… Sickness leads us only to the tomb, but sin follows the sinner beyond it”.’ (Prologue)

Daily readings

9th Matins Gospel

John — John 20.19-31

¹⁹Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

¹⁹When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ²⁰And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. ²⁰And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. ²¹Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ²¹Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: ²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: ²³whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. ²³Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

²⁴But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

²⁴But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. ²⁵The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

²⁶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

²⁶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. ²⁷Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. ²⁷Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. ²⁸Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. ²⁸And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. ²⁹Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. ²⁹Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

³⁰And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

³⁰Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: ³¹but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name. ³¹But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Hebrews — Hebrews 11.24-26, 32-12.2

²⁴By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; ²⁴By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; ²⁵choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; ²⁵Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; ²⁶accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. ²⁶Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

³²And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: ³²And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ³³who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³³Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. ³⁴Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: ³⁵Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: ³⁶and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: ³⁶And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: ³⁷They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; ³⁷they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated ³⁸(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. ³⁸(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. ³⁹And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise, ³⁹And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: ⁴⁰God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. ⁴⁰God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

¹Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ²looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 1.43-51

⁴³The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

⁴³On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me. ⁴⁴Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁴Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. ⁴⁵Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. ⁴⁶And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. ⁴⁶And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. ⁴⁷Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! ⁴⁷Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! ⁴⁸Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. ⁴⁸Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. ⁴⁹Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel. ⁴⁹Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. ⁵⁰Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. ⁵⁰Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee underneath the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. ⁵¹And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. ⁵¹And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.