Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost &

Thirteenth Sunday of Matthew

August 30, 2015

Leave-taking of the commemoration of the Beheading of St John the Baptist

Alexander, Paul the New, and John, Patriarchs of Constantinople; Venerable Phantinos of Calabria; repose of Venerable Alexander of Svir; translation of the relics of Alexander Nevsky, prince of Novgorod; Cyril and Makarios, patriarchs of Serbia

Hymns of the Day

Troparion of the Resurrection– Tone 4

Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.

Troparion of the Baptist’s Beheading–  Tone 2

The memory of the righteous is celebrated with songs of praise, but the Lord’s testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner. Thou wast shown indeed to be the most honorable of the prophets, for in the waters thou didst baptize Him Who had been proclaimed. After suffering with joy in behalf of the truth, thou didst proclaim even to those in Hades the God Who appeared in the flesh, Who takest away the sin of the world, and granteth us the Great Mercy.

Troparion of St Joseph–  Tone 2

Proclaim, O Joseph to David, the ancestor of God, the amazing wonder, for by the angel they were revealed unto thee. For thou hast seen a Virgin great with child, and thou gave glory with the shepherds and didst worship with the Magi. Wherefore, plead with Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion of the Nativity of the Theotokos - Tone 4

Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death, O immaculate one, by thy holy Nativity, which thy people, redeemed from the guilt of offenses, celebrate by crying unto thee:  The barren woman giveth birth to the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life.

Epistle – Corinthians 16:13-24

Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, and be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to

be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Gospel – Matthew 21:33-42

The Lord spoke this parable: “There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’”

St Anthimus of Nicomedea – September 3^rd

The Hieromartyr Anthimus was the Bishop of Nicomedia in the early fourth century during the reigns of emperors Diocletian and Maximian. He was martyred during the intense persecutions of that time.

The early life of Anthimus is unknown. He was the bishop of Nicomedia at a time in which it had large Christian population. The city was also the chief residence of emperor Diocletian. The persecutions re-instituted by Diocletian became particularly intense in Nicomedia after a fire at the imperial court. The pagans accused the Christians of setting the fire and reacted against them with terrible ferocity throughout the communities of Bithynia.  

Massacres transpired in the Christian communities after pagan altars were set up in the marketplaces, in which no transactions were permitted until a sacrifice to the gods and the spirit of the Augustus had been made. Anthimus hid himself in the village of Omana not far from Nicomedia at the request of his flock. From there he sent letters to the Christians, urging them to keep firmly the Faith and not to fear tortures.

One of his letters, sent with Deacon Theophilus, was intercepted and turned over to emperor Maximian. Theophilus was cruelly questioned and died under torture, without revealing the whereabouts of Anthimus to his torturers. Maximian soon managed to learn whereabouts of Anthimus. A detachment of soldiers was sent after him. Anthimus met them along the way, but the soldiers did not recognize him. The bishop invited them to join him for a repast that he provided. After the meal, Anthimus revealed that he was the one they sought. The surprised soldiers did not know what to do. They were ready to leave him and lie to the emperor that they had not found him. However, Anthimus was not one to tolerate a lie. So, he would not consent to their plan.

The soldiers came to believe in Christ and received baptism. The bishop ordered them to carry out the emperor's instructions. After  Anthimus was brought before the emperor, Maximian ordered that the instruments of execution be brought out and placed before him. "Do you think, emperor, to frighten me with these tools of execution?" asked Anthimus. "No indeed, you cannot frighten one who wishes to die for Christ! Execution is frightening only for the cowardly, for whom the present life is most precious." The emperor then directed that Anthimus be fiercely tortured and beheaded by the sword. Anthimus joyfully glorified God with his last breath and received the crown of martyrdom.

[orthodoxwiki.org]