Monday, 22 March 2027

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

41 days before Pascha · Tone 1 · Liturgy · Lenten Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Basil of Ancyra

St Basil labored for the Church during the reign of Julian the Apostate, who briefly attempted to return the Roman empire to paganism after the reign of St Constantine. The Saint had already suffered for the Faith as bishop of Anycra (now Ankara,the capital of Turkey), and when Julian came to power, fresh persecutions began. Basil openly denounced the Emperor’s anti-Christian policies, for which he was tortured and thrown in prison.

When the Emperor came to Ancyra, Basil was brought before him, and Julian urged the bishop to renounce the Faith, promising him wealth and position if he would do so. Basil replied, ‘I believe in my Christ, whom you have denied and who gave you this earthly kingdom, but He will shortly take this from you. How can you have no shame before the altar under which you were saved from death as an eight-year-old child when they sought to kill you? Therefore He will soon make this earthly kingdom from you, and your body shall not be buried when you have spewed forth your soul in bitter torments.’ The enraged Emperor ordered that seven strips be torn from Basil’s body every day, a torture which was carried out for seven days. When the Saint was once again brought before the Emperor, he tore off a strip of his own flesh and threw it to Julian, saying ‘Take this and eat it, Julian, if such food is sweet to you, but Christ is life for me.’ At this the Emperor ordered that red-hot iron spits be driven through Basil; and thus the holy bishop at last received the crown of martyrdom.

Holy Martyr Drosis, daughter of Emperor Trajan

Saint Drosis was the daughter of the Roman Emperor Trajan. According to hagiographic tradition, she became a devoted Christian and renounced the luxuries and privileges of imperial life to serve Christ. During the period of persecution, she refused to participate in pagan religious practices and rejected the honour that her rank might have afforded her. Rather than forsake her faith, she endured martyrdom. Her example represents the radical commitment required to follow Christ, transcending worldly power and privilege in favour of eternal truth.

Venerable Isaac the Confessor, founder of Dalmaton Monastery

Saint Isaac was a venerable monastic father of the Caucasus region who founded the monastery of Dalmaton (also known as Dalmatos). He lived in the early centuries of the Christian era and dedicated his life to ascetic endeavour and the establishment of monastic communities. His spiritual wisdom and example influenced many who sought the monastic life. The monastery he established became a centre of Orthodox spirituality and learning, preserving the faith through difficult periods. Isaac's legacy includes his contribution to the development of monastic traditions and his mentorship of numerous disciples.

Martyr Drosida of Antioch, and five nuns

104

‘The daughter of the Emperor Trajan, she was seized with five other women when they were gathering the bodies of the martyrs who had suffered for Christ by night, and was for this cruelly mutilated by the Emperor. The five women were terribly tortured and at last thrown into molten copper, where they surrendered their souls to their Lord. But Drosida remained under strict imperial guard. However, she escaped from the court and baptised herself in a river. After eight days she gave her soul into God’s hands.’ (Prologue)

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 4.2-5.7

²In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

²In that day shall the branch of Jehovah be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. ³And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: ³And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem; ⁴When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. ⁴when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning. ⁵And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. ⁵And Jehovah will create over the whole habitation of mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be spread a covering. ⁶And there shall be a pavilion for a shade in the day-time from the heat, and for a refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain. ⁶And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

¹Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:

¹Let me sing for my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: ²and he digged it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. ²And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. ³And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

³And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. ⁴What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? ⁴What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? ⁵And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: ⁵And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: ⁶and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor hoed; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. ⁶And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. ⁷For the vineyard of Jehovah of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for justice, but, behold, oppression; for righteousness, but, behold, a cry. ⁷For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 3.21-4.7

²¹And Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them. ²¹Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

²²And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever—

²²And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: ²³therefore Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. ²³Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. ²⁴So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. ²⁴So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

¹And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with the help of Jehovah.

¹And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. ²And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. ²And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

³And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. ³And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah. ⁴And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering: ⁴And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: ⁵but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. ⁵But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. ⁶And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

⁶And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? ⁷If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; and unto thee shall be its desire; but do thou rule over it. ⁷If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 3.34-4.22

³⁴Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly. ³⁴Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. ³⁵The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools. ³⁵The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

¹Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. ¹Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding: ²For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law. ²For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. ³For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. ³For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. ⁴And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live; ⁴He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. ⁵Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. ⁵Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth; ⁶Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee. ⁶Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. ⁷Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. ⁷Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding. ⁸Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. ⁸Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. ⁹She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. ⁹She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee. ¹⁰Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many. ¹⁰Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. ¹¹I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness. ¹¹I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. ¹²When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. ¹²When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. ¹³Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life. ¹³Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. ¹⁴Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.

¹⁴Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. ¹⁵Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on. ¹⁵Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. ¹⁶For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. ¹⁶For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. ¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. ¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. ¹⁸But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. ¹⁸But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. ¹⁹The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. ¹⁹The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble. ²⁰My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.

²⁰My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. ²¹Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. ²¹Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. ²²For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. ²²For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.