Friday July 29/August 11, 2023 • Holy Martyr Callínicos; Holy Martyr Theodóta and her three children; Holy Royal Martyr Olaf, King and Enlightener of Norway > Fast day > II Cor. 1:12–20; St. Matt. 22:23–33 > Refresher THE NECESSITY AND SYMBOLISM OF THE SIX PSALMS OF ORTHROS

Holy Martyr Callínicos
Holy Martyr Theodóta and her three children;
Holy Royal Martyr Olaf, King and Enlightener of Norway

Friday July 29/August 11, 2023 - FAST DAY

Callínicos was born in Cilicia. From his youth he was educated in Christian piety. Abandoning all, he went to preach the Holy Gospel. In Ancyra, a heathen Prince Sarcedos arrested him. When the prince threatened him with cruel tortures if he did not worship the idols, St. Callínicos answered him: "To me all pain for my God is most welcome as bread is to a hungry man." After cruel tortures and beatings, the prince placed iron shoes with nails protruding inside on his feet and ordered that he be driven into the city of Gangra for the prince was afraid to torture him anymore or to kill him in Ancyra for many, observing the heroic patience of this holy man, converted to the Faith of Christ. Along the way the soldiers became thirsty but there was no water. St. Callínicos prayed to God and brought forth water from a stone. When they arrived in the city of Gangra, the torturers threw St. Callínicos into a fiery furnace. The saint prayed to God saying: " I give thanks to you O Heavenly Father for making me worthy of this hour in which I die for Your Name." After that, he entered the fire. When the fire died down they found his body, whole and unharmed by the fire. He honorably suffered and was crowned with the wreath of eternal glory about the year 250 A.D.

THE EPISTLE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE PAUL

2 Corinthians 1:12-20 KJV

12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

13 For we write none other things unto you, that what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;

14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15 And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

Saint Matthew 22:23-33 KJV

23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

27 And last of all the woman died also.

28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

Refresher

THE NECESSITY AND SYMBOLISM OF THE SIX PSALMS OF ORTHROS

The Six Psalms (Psalms 3, 37, 62, 87, 102, and 142) are a regular part of nearly every Orthros (Matins) service. It is one of the most sacred parts of the Orthros service. During their reading, we should abandon all thoughts, stand quietly, and pay attention. 

The Six Psalms bring together the segments of the Christian life, comforting the sorrow we experience on the path to Eternal joy. Most or all the candles or lights in the church are extinguished while the Psalms are read. The dimly lit Church enhances concentration on the words of the psalms and the various doxologies to God. Moreover, on one hand it becomes difficult to see one another but this in turn allows us to repent, conversing with Christ Himself.

During the reading of Psalm 87, the priest leaves the altar to read the twelve morning prayers, which include intercessions for those standing in the Church and for the forgiveness of their sins. This act symbolizes Christ, who heard the mourning of mankind and left His heavenly throne to rescue us, and ultimately shares in the suffering that Psalm 87 describes:

Wherefore, O Lord, dost Thou cast off my soul and turnest Thy face away from me? A poor man am I, and in troubles from my youth; yea, having been exalted, I was humbled and brought to distress. Thy furies have passed upon me, and Thy terrors have sorely troubled me. They came round about me like water, all the day long they compassed me about together. Thou hast removed afar from me friend and neighbor, and mine acquaintances because of my misery.

 

+ There is also a tradition in the Church which says the Six Psalms will be read to each of us by our guardian angel at the Last Judgment, and during the time of the reading, the whole world will be judged.