Daily Devotional

Scripture Readings

Paschalion — Movable Calendar

Thursday of the Twenty-Second Week

Epistle

The Reading is from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Colossians [§ 260]. Brethren:

4 ²Be persevering in prayer, watching therein with giving of thanks; ³praying at the same time also for us, that God might open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of the Christ—on which account I also have been bound— ⁴in order that I might make it manifest, as there is need for me to speak. ⁵Be walking in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. ⁶Let your speech always be with grace, which hath been seasoned with salt, to know how ye ought to answer each one.

⁷Tychikos, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow slave in the Lord, shall make known to you all the things concerning me, ⁸whom I am sending to you for this very thing, in order that he might know the things concerning you and comfort your hearts, ⁹with Onesimos, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known to you all the things here.

Gospel

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [§ 41]. At that time:

9 ⁷Herod the tetrarch heard of all the things being done by Jesus; and he was thoroughly at a loss, because it was said by some that “John hath been raised from the dead,” ⁸and by some that “Elias did appear,” and by others that “some one of the ancient prophets hath risen.” ⁹And Herod said, “I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he was seeking to see Him.

¹⁰And having returned, the apostles set forth in detail to Him whatsoever they did. And He took them and withdrew privately to a desolate district of a city which is called Bethsaida. ¹¹But the crowds, having known it, followed Him; and having received them, He was talking to them about the kingdom of God; and those having need of cures He was healing.

Menaion — Fixed Calendar

The commemoration of the holy Martyrs Probos, Tarachos and Andronikos, and our holy father among the saints, Martin, Bishop of Tours (commemorated on Gk. calendar on the 12^th of November).

Epistle

For the Martyrs:

The Reading is from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians [§ 233].

6 ¹⁰Brethren, keep on being empowered in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, for you to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; ¹²because for us the wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the cosmic rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of evil on account of the heavenly things. ¹³For this cause take up the full armor of God, in order that ye might be able to withstand in the evil day, and having counteracted all things, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having girt your loins with truth, and having put on for yourselves the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having shod your feet in readiness of the Gospel of peace; ¹⁶on the whole, take up the shield of faith, with which ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

For the Hierarch:

The Reading is from the First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians [§ 151]. Brethren:

12 ⁷To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given to the profit of all: ⁸for to one is given by the Spirit a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹and to another faith in the same Spirit; and to another free gifts of healings in the same Spirit; ¹⁰and to another operations of works of power; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to another interpretation of tongues; ¹¹but the one and the same Spirit energizeth all these things, distributing to each separately as He will.

Gospel

For the Martyrs:

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [§ 106]. The Lord said to His disciples, “Be taking heed of men:

21 ¹²“For they shall lay their hands upon you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors on account of My name; ¹³“but it shall prove to be a testimony for you. ¹⁴“Therefore settle it for yourselves in your hearts not to premeditate to make a defense; ¹⁵“for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all those who oppose you shall not be able to contradict nor withstand. ¹⁶“And ye shall be delivered up also by parents, and kinfolk, and friends, and brethren; and they shall put some of you to death. ¹⁷“And ye shall be hated by all for My name’s sake. ¹⁸“But a hair of your head in no wise shall perish. ¹⁹“In your patience win your souls.”

For the Hierarch:

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John [§ 36]. The Lord said to the Jews who had come to Him:

10 ⁹“I am the door; by Me if anyone should enter, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰“The thief cometh not, except that he might steal, and slay, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. ¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. ¹²“But the hireling, who indeed is not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep and fleeth; and the wolf seizeth them and scattereth the sheep. ¹³“Now the hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling and careth not about the sheep. ¹⁴“I am the good shepherd; and I know those that are Mine, and am known of those that are Mine. ¹⁵“Even as the Father knoweth Me, I also know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶“And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; them also it is needful for Me to bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.”

Lives of the Saints (Prologue)

October 25th – Civil Calendar
October 12th – Church Calendar

The Holy Martyrs Tarachos, Provos and Andronikos.

Tarachos was born in Syrian Claudiopolis, Provos in Pamphylian Side, and Andronikos was the son of an eminent citizen of Ephesus. They were all three martyred together by the proconsul, Hymerius Maximus, in the time of the Emperor Diocletian (284-305). Tarachos was sixty-five years old when he was martyred. When the proconsul asked him three times for his name, he answered all three times: ‘I am a Christian.’ They were first beaten with rods, then, all bloody and wounded, thrown into prison. After that, they were brought out again for further torture. When the proconsul urged Provos to deny Christ, promising him honors from the emperor and his own friendship, holy Provos replied: ‘I neither desire imperial honors nor seek your friendship.’ When he put St. Andronikos to even greater physical torture, Christ’s young martyr replied: ‘My body is before you; do with it what you will.’ After long-drawn-out torture in various places, these three holy martyrs were thrown into the theater before the wild beasts. Before them, others were torn to pieces by the animals in this same theater, but the beasts would not touch the saints; both the bear and the ferocious lioness fawned around them. Seeing this, many people believed in Christ the Lord and cried out against the proconsul. Wild with anger, and more ferocious than the beasts, the proconsul ordered soldiers to go in and cut Christ’s soldiers to pieces, and their bodies lay mingled with the bodies of the others who had been slain. Three Christians: Makarios, Felix and Verianos, who witnessed the slaughter of the holy martyrs, came that night to take their bodies. All the bodies being mixed up and the night being very dark, they, in uncertainty about how to distinguish the martyrs’ bodies, prayed to God, and three lights suddenly appeared above the bodies of the saints. They then took them and gave them burial.

2. St. Martin, Bishop of Tours.

Born in 316 in Pannonia, in a town called Sabaria, he was the son of pagan parents. His father was a Roman officer, and the young Martin was therefore put, against his will, into the army. He was, however, already a catechumen in the Christian Church, which he had loved with all his heart from his early youth. Travelling one winter with his companions to the town of Amiens, he saw a beggar, almost naked and freezing with cold, in front of the gates. Martin was distressed, and parting from his companions, took off his soldier’s cloak, and with his saber, cut it in half. He gave half to the beggar and wrapped himself in the other, and went on his way. That night, the Lord Jesus appeared to him in a dream, clad in the other half of his cloak, and said to His angels: ‘Martin is only a catechumen, and behold, he clothes Me in his garment!’ Leaving the army, Martin was immediately baptized, and baptized his mother. After that, he became a monk in the diocese of St. Hilary of Poitiers, and spent his life in true asceticism. He had a rare meekness, and for this God gave him abundant wonder-working gifts, so that he could raise the dead and drive out evil spirits. He was made Bishop of Tours against his will. After abundant toil in the Lord’s vineyard and after a mighty struggle with both pagans and Arian heretics, St. Martin gave his holy soul into the hands of his Lord in 397.

3. Our Holy Father Kosmas of Maiuma.

Born in Jerusalem, he was a friend of St. John Damascene, whose parents took him in as an orphan and educated him. As a monk, he helped St. Damascene to compile the Octoechos*, and he himself composed many canons to the saints. The especially lovely canons for Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and the Sunday of the Judgement are ascribed to him. He was bishop of the town of Maiuma, near Gaza. He outlived St. Damascene and died in great old age. * The Octoechos: the book of the Eight Modes, which change weekly and comprise the basis of the Offices—Tr.

FOR CONSIDERATION

In what have the saints been most exalted and glorified by heaven and by men? Chiefly in their humility and service. St. Martin, even as an officer before his Baptism, had one servant whom he regarded more as a brother than a servant. He often served his servant, feeling no shame at this, but rather joy. When St. Hilary wanted to make him a priest, he refused this honor with tears, and begged the bishop to let him be a monk in some remote place. St. Martin was once travelling from France to Pannonia, to see his parents. When he was crossing the Alps, brigands seized him and made to kill him. When one of the brigands took up a sword to behead him, Martin was unafraid and stayed motionless without asking for mercy, being utterly at peace as though nothing were happening. The brigand was astonished at such a reaction, put his sword away and asked Martin who he was. Martin said that he was a Christian, and that it was because of this that he was not afraid, knowing that God, in His great mercy, is near to men, and especially in the hour of danger. All the brigands were amazed at the rare virtues of this godly man, and he who had drawn his sword against Martin came to faith in Christ, was baptized and later became a monk. When the episcopal seat in Tours became vacant, everyone wanted to have St. Martin as bishop, but Martin was unwilling. Some citizens of Tours got him out of his monastery by craft, and took him off. This was how they did it: they came to the gate of Martin’s monastery and told the abbot that a sick man was waiting outside, asking that he come out and give him his blessing. When St. Martin came out, they seized him and carried him off to Tours, and made him bishop. Foreseeing his approaching death in old age, he told his brethren and they, with many tears, begged him not to leave them. The saint, to comfort them, prayed to God in their presence, saying: ‘Lord, if I am still needed by Thy people, I do not refuse the toil. May Thy holy will be done.’

Daily Scripture Readings taken from The Orthodox New Testament, translated and published by Holy Apostles Convent, Buena Vista, Colorado, copyright © 2000, used with permission, all rights reserved.

Daily Prologue Readings taken from The Prologue of Ochrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic, translated by Mother Maria, published by Lazarica Press, Birmingham, England, copyright © 1985, all rights reserved. Edited by Dormition Skete.