Orthodox Calendar

20 Septembrie 2028
Wednesday of the 16th week after Pentecost

Fast

Commemorations

  • Martyr Sozon of Cilicia (208/304)
  • Holy Apostles Evodus and Onesiphorus of the Seventy
  • Holy Martyr Eupsychyius of Caesarea (2nd c.)
  • Our Holy Father John, Archbishop of Novgorod (1185)
  • St Kassia (Kassiani) the Hymnographer (9th c.)

Scripture Readings

Galatians 6.2-10 (Epistle)

2Purtaţi-vă sarcinile unii altora şi veţi împlini astfel legea lui Hristos. 3Dacă vreunul crede că este ceva, măcar că nu este nimic, se înşală singur. 4Fiecare să-şi cerceteze fapta lui, şi atunci va avea cu ce să se laude numai în ce-l priveşte pe el, şi nu cu privire la alţii; 5căci fiecare îşi va purta sarcina lui însuşi. 6Cine primeşte învăţătura în Cuvânt să facă parte din toate bunurile lui şi celui ce-l învaţă. 7Nu vă înşelaţi: „Dumnezeu nu Se lasă să fie batjocorit.” Ce seamănă omul, aceea va şi secera. 8Cine seamănă în firea lui pământească va secera din firea pământească putrezirea; dar cine seamănă în Duhul va secera din Duhul viaţa veşnică. 9Să nu obosim în facerea binelui; căci, la vremea potrivită, vom secera, dacă nu vom cădea de oboseală. 10Aşadar, cât avem prilej, să facem bine la toţi, şi mai ales fraţilor în credinţă.

Mark 7.14-24 (Gospel)

14În urmă, a chemat din nou noroadele la Sine şi le-a zis: „Ascultaţi-Mă toţi şi înţelegeţi. 15Afară din om nu este nimic care, intrând în el, să-l poată spurca; dar ce iese din om aceea-l spurcă. 16Dacă are cineva urechi de auzit, să audă.” 17După ce a intrat în casă, pe când era departe de norod, ucenicii Lui L-au întrebat despre pilda aceasta. 18El le-a zis: „Şi voi sunteţi aşa de nepricepuţi? Nu înţelegeţi că nimic din ce intră în om de afară nu-l poate spurca? 19Fiindcă nu intră în inima lui, ci în pântece, şi apoi este dat afară în hazna.” A zis astfel, făcând toate bucatele curate. 20El le-a mai zis: „Ce iese din om aceea spurcă pe om. 21Căci dinăuntru, din inima oamenilor, ies gândurile rele, preacurviile, curviile, uciderile, 22furtişagurile, lăcomiile, vicleşugurile, înşelăciunile, faptele de ruşine, ochiul rău, hula, trufia, nebunia. 23Toate aceste lucruri rele ies dinăuntru şi spurcă pe om.” 24Isus a plecat de acolo şi S-a dus în ţinutul Tirului şi al Sidonului. A intrat într-o casă, dorind să nu ştie nimeni că este acolo; dar n-a putut să rămână ascuns.

Commemorations

Martyr Sozon of Cilicia (208/304)

He began life as a pagan shepherd in Lycaonia. Coming to faith in Christ, he was baptized and received the name Sozon (“Save”). Thereafter he took every opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to his countrymen and to urge them to give up their idols. Entering a temple of Artemis in Cilicia, he cut off its golden hand, broke it into pieces, and distributed the gold to the poor. When he learned that because of this some were being punished unjustly for theft, he gave himself up to the governor Maximian. He was beaten to death with rods, by some accounts in 288, by others in 304.

Holy Apostles Evodus and Onesiphorus of the Seventy

St Evodus (or Evodius) is mentioned by St Ignatios of Antioch. He was a disciple of the Apostle Peter and succeeded him as Bishop of Antioch. It is said that the name “Christians” for members of the Church was given by Evodus. He was martyred during a visit by the Emperor Vespasian to Antioch. St Onesiphorus is mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his second epistle to St Timothy, where he calls Onesiphorus a friend and helper. He was a bishop in Colophon in Asia Minor, where he met martyrdom for Christ.

Holy Martyr Eupsychyius of Caesarea (2nd c.)

He was the son of a wealthy pagan senator in Caesarea of Cappadocia. When his father died, he gave his inheritance to the poor, proclaiming the Kingdom of God while he did so. For this he was arrested by Sapricius, Governor of Cappadocia, and put in prison. He persuaded his jailers to release him for awhile, and set about giving away the remainder of his worldly goods, first to his accusers and persecutors, then to the poor. When all his wealth was gone, he voluntarily returned to prison. He was viciously scourged several times, then beheaded. At his martyrdom, it is said that milk instead of blood flowed from his body.

Our Holy Father John, Archbishop of Novgorod (1185)

“He was first a married priest and then, from 1163, bishop in Novgorod, building seven churches during his lifetime. He had a vision of the holy Mother of God and a rare power over demons, making them obey him, and he once miraculously preserved Novgorod from an attack by seventy-two princes. He suffered from diabolical temptations, but overcame them all by the power of the Cross and by prayer. Retiring to a monastery in old age, he received the Great Habit and entered peacefully into rest in the Lord on September 7th, 1185.” (Prologue)

St Kassia (Kassiani) the Hymnographer (9th c.)

She was born in Constantinople to a noble family, and grew to be unusually beautiful and learned — so much so that she was chosen to participate in a ‘bride show’, at which the Emperor Theophilos was to choose a wife. Struck by Kassia’s beauty, the Emperor approached her and said ‘Through a woman came forth the baser things,’ referring to Eve’s transgression. Kassia responded, ‘Through a woman came forth the better things’, referring to the Incarnation of Christ through His Most Pure Mother. Stung by her reply, the Emperor rejected her and chose Theodora as his wife. Kassia entered monastic life and founded a women’s monastery in Constantinople, closely allied with the Stoudion Monastery. Serving as abbess of the monastery, she wrote many liturgical hymns, at least twenty of which are included in the services of the Church. Best-known (or at least most closely associated with her) is the Hymn of Kassiani, sung at Matins on Holy Wednesday. She reposed in peace.