From the calendar 2028

Monday, October 2

Hieromartyr Cyprian, Martyrs Justina and Theoctistus

Appointed readings

2 passages

Epistle

Ephesians 4:25–32

25Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another.

26'Be angry, and do not sin': do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

27nor give place to the devil.

28Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

29Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Gospel

Luke 6:24–30

Open Reader ↗

24'But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation.

25Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger.

26Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

27'But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

29To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.

30Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

The rhythm of the day

Fasting: Fast-free
Weekly tone: Tone 8

In remembrance

The saints commemorated this day

Hieromartyr Cyprian, Martyrs Justina and TheoctistusRead the life

“Saint Justina, who was from Damascus, lived in virginity for the sake of Christ. Saint Cyprian, who was from Antioch, began as an initiate of magic and worshipper of the demons. A certain foolish young man who had been smitten with Justina’s beauty hired Cyprian to draw her to love him; when Cyprian had used every demonic device he knew, and had failed, being repulsed by the power of Christ Whom Justina invoked, he understood the weakness of the demons and came to know the truth. Delivered from demonic delusion, he came to Christ and burned all his books of magic, was baptized, and later ascended the episcopal throne in his country. Later, he and Justina were arrested by the Count of Damascus, and having endured many torments at his hands, they were sent finally to Diocletian in Nicomedia, where they were beheaded in the year 304.” (Great Horologion)

Bl. Andrew, Fool-for-ChristRead the life

St Andrew was bought as a slave by Theognostos,a wealthy citizen of Constantinople, during the reign of the Emperor Leo the Wise. Theognostos recognized Andrew’s unusual ability and taught him to read and write. Despite this, Andrew, obeying a divine revelation, took up the ascesis of folly for Christ, behaving as a madman all day and secretly praying most of the night. His master endeavored to have him cured of his apparent madness, having prayers read over him in church, but to no avail. Finally he discharged Andrew, who thereafter lived in absolute poverty in Constantinople, clothing himself in rags and living on the bread given him by kindly Christians. Anything that he received, beyond that needed for bare survival, he gave to beggars, usually mocking and insulting them at the same time so as not to be thanked or praised for his deeds.

Read the full life

St Cassian the Greek, Wonderworker of Uglich (1504)Read the life

In 1473, Princess Sophia Paleologos came to Russia with a large retinue to marry Prince Ivan III. One of this retinue was a certain nobleman named Constantine, a relative of the last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI Paleologos. Constantine entered into the service of Archbishop Joasaph of Rostov, and in 1489 went with him on his retirement to the Monastery of St Therapont at White Lake. Constantine himself had no plans to become a monk; but on his first night at the monastery St Martinian (January 12) appeared to him, exhorting him to renounce the world immediately. Constantine reported his vision to the Archbishop, who confirmed its authenticity, and Constantine was tonsured a monk with the name Cassian.

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