From the calendar 2025

Tuesday, October 21

Ven. Hilarion the Great

Appointed readings

2 passages

Epistle

Philippians 2:16–23

16holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

17Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

18For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.

20For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.

21For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.

22But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.

23Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.

Gospel

Luke 9:23–27

Open Reader ↗

23Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

25For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

26For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.

27But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.'

The rhythm of the day

Fasting: Fast-free
Weekly tone: Tone 2

In remembrance

The saints commemorated this day

Ven. Hilarion the GreatRead the life

He was born in Palestine to pagan parents who sent him to Alexandria to be educated. There he learned of the Christian faith and was baptized. Hearing of the fame of St Anthony the Great, he met the great “Father of monks,” and determined to devote himself to the ascetical life. For the rest of his life he traveled from place to place, engaging in the most austere life of solitude, prayer and fasting. But wherever he went, his holiness shone like a beacon, and he became known to the people, who flocked to him for counsel, nurture and healing. He would then flee to another place and begin again. His travels took him to Egypt, Libya, Sicily, and finally Cyprus, where he reposed at a great age. As he lay on his deathbed, he cried out ‘Go forth, O my soul. What do you fear? Go forth! Why are you disquieted within me?

Read the full life

Holy New Martyr John of Monembasia (1773)Read the life

“Saint John was from Monembasia in the Peloponnese. At that time the region was under the Turkish yoke and subject to frequent raids from Albanians who captured Christians to sell them as slaves. In the course of one such attack, John’s father was killed and the young boy and his mother were taken as captives to Larissa, where they were sold to a Turk from Thessalonica. This man, who had no son, wanted to adopt John and make him a Muslim. But nothing was able to persuade the fifteen-year-old youth: attractive promises, threatened beatings, the magic arts the Turk’s wife used to make him lose his chastity, all were in vain. John remained as immovable as a rock and preferred to starve for days on end than break the fasts of the Church. The Turk became enraged at his failure to prevail over his young slave, and ran a sword into his stomach.

Read the full life

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