Isaiah 10.12-20 (6th Hour)

12„Dar, după ce Domnul Îşi va împlini toată lucrarea Lui pe muntele Sionului şi la Ierusalim, voi pedepsi – zice Domnul – pe împăratul Asiriei pentru rodul inimii lui îngâmfate şi pentru trufia privirilor lui semeţe, 13căci el a zis: „Prin puterea mâinii mele am făcut aceste lucruri şi prin înţelepciunea mea – căci sunt priceput – am împins înapoi hotarele popoarelor şi le-am jefuit vistieriile, şi, ca un viteaz, am dat jos pe cei ce şedeau pe scaunele lor de domnie; 14am pus mâna pe bogăţiile popoarelor ca pe un cuib şi cum se strâng nişte ouă părăsite, aşa am strâns eu tot pământul: niciunul n-a mişcat vreo aripă, nici n-a deschis ciocul ca să ciripească.” 15Se făleşte oare securea împotriva celui ce se slujeşte de ea? Sau se mândreşte ferăstrăul faţă de cel ce-l mânuieşte? Ca şi cum nuiaua ar mişca pe cel ce o ridică, parcă toiagul ar ridica pe cel ce nu este de lemn! 16De aceea, Domnul Dumnezeul oştirilor va trimite ofilirea prin războinicii lui cei voinici; şi între aleşii lui va izbucni un pârjol, ca pârjolul unui foc. 17Lumina lui Israel se va preface în foc, şi Sfântul lui într-o flacără care va mistui şi va arde spinii şi mărăcinii lui, într-o zi. 18Va arde, trup şi suflet, strălucirea pădurii şi câmpiilor lui, de va fi ca un bolnav care cade în leşin. 19Ceilalţi copaci din pădurea lui vor putea fi număraţi, şi un copil le-ar putea scrie numărul. 20În ziua aceea, rămăşiţa lui Israel şi cei scăpaţi din casa lui Iacov nu se vor mai sprijini pe cel ce îi lovea; ci se vor sprijini cu încredere pe Domnul, Sfântul lui Israel.

Genesis 7.6-9 (Vespers)

6Noe era de şase sute de ani când a venit potopul pe pământ. 7Şi Noe a intrat în corabie cu fiii săi, cu nevasta sa şi cu nevestele fiilor săi, din pricina apelor potopului. 8Din dobitoacele curate şi din dobitoacele necurate, din păsări şi din tot ce se târăşte pe pământ, 9au intrat în corabie la Noe, două câte două, câte o parte bărbătească şi câte o parte femeiască, aşa cum poruncise Dumnezeu lui Noe.

Proverbs 9.12-18 (LXX) (Vespers)

12Dacă eşti înţelept, pentru tine eşti înţelept; dacă eşti batjocoritor, tu singur vei suferi. 13Nebunia este o femeie gălăgioasă, proastă şi care nu ştie nimic. 14Ea şade totuşi la uşa casei sale, pe un scaun, pe înălţimile cetăţii, 15ca să strige la trecătorii care merg pe calea cea dreaptă: 16„Cine este prost, să vină aici!” Iar celui fără minte îi zice: 17„Apele furate sunt dulci, şi pâinea luată pe ascuns este plăcută!”

18El nu ştie că acolo sunt morţii şi că oaspeţii ei sunt în văile Locuinţei morţilor.

St Sophronios, patriarch of Jerusalem (638)

He was born in Damascus to an eminent family, and was well educated in his youth. Discontented with the wisdom of the world, he entered monastic life in the monastery of St Theodosius, where he became the lifelong friend and disciple of John Moschos. Together they visited the monasteries and hermitages of Egypt; they later wrote down their discoveries among the holy monks in the classic Spiritual Meadow. After the death of his teacher, St Sophronius traveled to Jerusalem, which had just been liberated from the Persians. He was there to see the Precious Cross returned from Persia by the Emperor Heraclius, who carried it into Jerusalem on his back. A few years later, in 634, St Sophronius was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem, where he served his flock wisely for three years and three months. He was zealous in the defense of Orthodoxy against the Monothelite heresy: He convoked a Council in Jerusalem which condemned it before it was condemned at the Sixth Ecumenical Council. The holy Patriarch even traveled to Constantinople to rebuke the Patriarch Sergius and Emperor Heraclius, who had embraced the Monothelite error.

The years of peace were few for the Holy Land; for just as the Persian Empire was decisively defeated by Heraclius, the followers of Islam erupted out of Arabia, conquering most of North Africa and the Middle East in a few years. The Saint was so grieved by the capture of Jerusalem in 637 by the Caliph Omar that begged God to take him, so that he might not live to see the desecration of the holy places. His prayer was granted, and he reposed in peace less than a year later.

St Sophronios is the author of the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt, appointed to be read in the churches during every Great Lent. He also wrote the service of the Great Blessing of the Waters. Some have attributed the Vesperal hymn “Gladsome Light” to him, but we know that it dates from before the time of St Basil the Great, who mentions it in his writings. It seems though, that St Sophronios supplemented the hymn, and that its present form is due to him.

St John Moschos, author of the Spiritual Meadow (622)

He is commemorated today along with his disciple and friend St Sophronius (see above).

Holy Martyr Pionius (250)

“A priest of Smyrna, he suffered there in the time of Decius’ persecution. They condemned him to be crucified, which was a great joy to him. And as soon as the soldiers assembled the cross and laid it on the ground, Pionius laid himself on it and stretched out his arms, calling to the soldiers to put the nails into his hands. The cross was inserted into the ground upside down, and a fire lit under the martyr’s head. There were many bystanders. Pionius closed his eyes and prayed to God within himself. The flames could not succeed in igniting even his hair, and when the fire had at last gone out and everyone thought that he was dead, Pionius opened his eyes and cried out joyfully: ‘O Lord, receive my spirit!’, and breathed his last. This saint wrote the life of St Polycarp of Smyrna, together with whom he now makes merry in the Kingdom of Christ. He suffered and was glorified in 250.” (Prologue)