From the calendar 2025

Tuesday, October 14

Ven. Parasceva of Serbia

Appointed readings

2 passages

Epistle

Philippians 1:8–14

Open Reader ↗

8For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

10that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,

11being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,

13so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;

14and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Gospel

Luke 8:1–3

Open Reader ↗

1Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,

2and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,

3and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

The rhythm of the day

Fasting: Fast-free
Weekly tone: Tone 1

In remembrance

The saints commemorated this day

Ven. Parasceva of Serbia

Holy Martyrs Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius, and Celsus of Milan (1st c.)Read the life

These martyrs contested for the faith in Milan, and were beheaded under the Emperor Nero. Many years later, their relics were discovered by St Ambrose through a vision, and were given honorable burial.

Saint Cosmas the Hymnographer (8th c.)Read the life

He was from Jerusalem. An orphan, he was adopted into the family of St John of Damascus (commemorated December 4). He became Bishop of Maiuma, a city on the coast of Palestine, which was later named Constantia. Like his adoptive brother he became a noted hymnographer: The Canon of the Cross (Sept. 14) and the Canon for Christ’s Nativity, “Christ is born, give ye glory…” are his compositions.

Saint Nicholas the Pious (Sviatosha), Prince of Chernigov (1143)Read the life

He was the first Russian prince to forsake the world and enter monastic life, at the Lavra of the Kiev Caves. Though his brothers according to the flesh tried to turn him back from his chosen path, he embraced monastic life zealously, amazing his fellow-monks by his humility and piety. Despite his rank, he insisted upon being treated like the simplest novice, performing the meanest tasks joyfully. In time his abbot allowed him to withdraw from the common life, living entirely in his cell in constant prayer. He reposed in peace in 1143. A few months later his brother Prince Iziaslav was healed of a grave illness when he put on St Nicholas’ hair shirt and drank some water from the monastery. The Prince asked to be clothed in the hairshirt on the day of his death.