Wednesday October 30 / November 12 ns • Holy Martyrs Zenóbios and Zenobía; Holy Apostle Cleopas; St. Joseph, Patriarch of Constantinople ~ Fast day ~ I Thess. 2:1-8; St. Luke 11:42-46

WEDNESDAY
October 30
Nov. 12 new style
2025

~ Fast Day ~

Holy Martyrs Zenóbios and Zenobía

Holy Apostle Cleopas; 

St. Joseph, Patriarch of Constantinople

Zenόbios and Zenobίa were from the town of Aegea in Cilicia. They inherited the true Faith and great material wealth from their parents. Working zealously for the Faith and with great love, they distributed all their wealth to the poor.

Because their hands were so generous, the hand of God shielded them from every evil intent of men and demons. The generous hands of Zenόbios, which gave to the poor, were endowed by God with the gift of miracle-working, and Zenόbios healed the sick of every kind of infirmity merely by touching them. Zenόbios was appointed Bishop of Aegea.

During a persecution, the Prefect Lysias arrested him and said: "I offer you two choices: life or death; life if you worship the gods, or death if you do not.'' St. Zenόbios replied: "Life without Christ is not life but death, whereas death for the sake of Christ is not death but life.''

When Zenόbios was subjected to cruel tortures, Zenobίa came to the judge and said: "I also want to drink from this cup of suffering, and be crowned with that wreath.''

After being tortured in fire and in boiling pitch, both were beheaded with the sword in about the year 285. Thus this brother and sister took up their habitation in the Kingdom of the Immortal Christ the King.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

King James Version

2 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Saint Luke 11:42-46

King James Version

42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

44 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

45 Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.

46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

PHILOKALIA

ON THE SPIRITUAL LAW

Saint Mark the Ascetic

To Penitent Heart

To brood on evil makes the heart brazen; but to destroy evil through self-restraint and hope breaks the heart. 

There is a breaking of the heart which is gentle and makes it deeply penitent, and there is a breaking which is violent and harmful, shattering it completely. 

Vigils, prayer and patient acceptance of what comes constitute a breaking that does not harm but benefits the heart, provided we do not destroy the balance between them through excess. He who perseveres in them will be helped in other ways as well; but he who is slack and negligent will suffer intolerably on leaving this life. 

A self-indulgent heart becomes a prison and chain for the soul when it leaves this life; whereas an assiduous heart is an open door. 

'The iron gate that leads into the city' is a hard heart (Acts 12 : 10); but to one who suffers hardship and affliction the gate will open of its own accord, as it did to St. Peter.

There are many differing methods of prayer. No method is harmful; if it were, it would be not prayer but the activity of Satan. 

A man wanted to do evil, but first prayed as usual; and finding himself prevented by God, he was then extremely thankful.

Tuesday October 29 / November 11 new style • Holy Martyr Anastasía of Rome, Sts. Abrámios and Mary ~ I Thess. 1:6-10; St. Luke 11:34-41

TUESDAY
October 29
Nov. 11 new style
2025

The Holy Martyr Anastasía of Rome,

Sts. Abrámios and Mary

ANASTSIA was born in Rome of noble parents, and was left an orphan at the age of three. As an orphan, she was taken to a convent near Rome where the abbess was Sophia, a nun of the highest level of perfection. After seventeen years, Anastasia was well known-among the Christians as a great ascetic, and among the pagans as a rare beauty.

Probus, the pagan governor, heard of Anastasia and sent his soldiers to bring her to him. For two hours, the good Abbess Sophia counseled Anastasia how to keep the Faith, how to resist flattering deceits, and how to endure torture. Anastasia said to her:

"My heart is ready to suffer for Christ; my soul is ready to die for my Sweet Jesus.'' Brought before the governor, Anastasia openly expressed her faith in Christ the Lord, and when the governor tried to turn her away from the Faith-first by promises and then by threats-the martyr said to him: "I am ready to die for my Lord not only once, but-oh, if it were only possible-a hundred times!'' When they stripped her naked to humiliate her, she cried out to the servants: "Whip me, cut me up and tear me apart, cover my naked body with wounds and cover my shame with blood!'' She was beaten, torn and cut up. On two occasions she felt a great thirst and asked for water, and a Christian, Cyril, gave her a drink, for which he was blessed by the martyr of Christ and beheaded by the pagans.

Anastasia's breasts and tongue were severed, but an angel of God appeared and sustained her. Finally, she was beheaded outside the city. Blessed Sophia found her body and buried it honorably.

Anastasia was crowned with the wreath of martyrdom during the reign of Decius.

1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

King James Version

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.

7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Saint Luke 11:34-41

King James Version

34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

37 And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.

38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed before dinner.

39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

Christ and Us

It is only necessary to seek one thing: to be with Jesus. The man who remains with Jesus is rich, even if he is poor with regard to material things. Whoever desires the earthly more than the heavenly loses both the earthly and the heavenly. But whoever seeks the heavenly is Lord of the whole world.

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

A man in this world must solve a problem: to be with Christ, or to be against Him. And every man decides this, whether he wants to or not. He will either be a lover of Christ or a fighter of Christ. There is no third option.

Saint Justin Popovich

Monday Oct 28 / Nov 10 new style • Martyrs Terence & Neonílla; St. Stephen the Sabbaïte; St. Athanásios, Patriarch of Constantinople; St. Philaret the Confessor, Metropolitan of New York; St. Theophilos the Fool for Christ of the Kiev Caves ~ I Thess. 1:1-5; St. Luke 11:29-33

Christian - If you don't love people, don't expect an invitation

MONDAY
October 28
Nov. 10 new style
2025

The Holy Martyrs Terence & Neonílla

St. Stephen the Sabbaïte;

St. Athanásios, Patriarch of

Constantinople;

St. Philaret the Confessor,

Metropolitan of New York

St. Theophilos the Fool for Christ

of the Kiev Caves

Saint Terence was from Syria, and suffered for Christ with his wife Neonílla and their seven children Sabelus, Photius, Theodoulos, Vele, Hierax, Nitus, and Eunice. They were denounced as Christians and brought before the authorities for interrogation.

The saints confessed Christ and mocked the pagan gods, even as their sides were raked with iron hooks. Vinegar was poured into their wounds, which were then set afire. The saints encouraged one another and prayed to God to help them. He sent angels to free them from their bonds and to heal their wounds.

Then the saints were thrown to the wild beasts, who became gentle and did not harm them. Afterward, they were thrown into a cauldron filled with hot pitch, but they were not burned. Seeing that nothing could harm the saints, the pagans beheaded them.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

King James Version

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Saint Luke 11:29-33

King James Version

29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

A  HYMN  BEFORE  RETIRING 

Saint Ephraem the Syrian 

Grant Lord, that if I keep my vigils, 

I may stand in purity before Thee; 

And if, oh my Saviour, I slumber. 

Let my sleep be free from sin. 

If in my watching I commit iniquity. 

Oh Lord by Thy grace forgive me; 

If I sin when sleeping, 

Let Thy kindness be my expiation. And through the cross of Thy humiliation. 

Afford me refreshing slumber; 

And deliver me from disturbing dreams. 

And from profane imaginations; 

And in sleep full of peace. 

Let all the night conduct me; 

Let not evil beings have dominion over me. 

Nor thoughts full of iniquity. And from hateful concupiscence deliver me 

Through Thy living body which I have eaten; 

And I will lie down and sleep in peace. 

And let Thy blood be a protector to me: — And to the soul which is Thy production 

Grant the freedom of Thy likeness 

And let Thy right hand watch over 

The body which Thy hands have formed. Let the wall of Thy mercy encompass me 

Like a buckler of defence; 

And when my body is still, and slumbers, 

Let Thy kindness be its guard. 

Let not the Evil One approach my couch. 

Thro the supplication of the mother who bare Thee; 

And by Thy sacrifice on behalf of all men, 

Put Satan to flight that he persecute me not. And, Lord, perform Thy promise to me. 

And protect my life by Thy cross; 

And when I awake I will praise Thee 

Because Thou hast displayed Thy love to my lowliness. 

From the sleepers, satisfied with rest. 

And the watchers who have put on their arms, 

Be glory to Thee, Thou guardian Spirit!

Who hast made me a watcher for Thy praise!