Holy Fathers

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

Today's Gospel Friday 5 June, 2026

For 1st Friday of Matthew

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (5:33-41)

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

04/06/2026

The Saint of the day 5 June

† Hieromartyr Dorotheus, bishop of Tyre (361)

He became Bishop of Tyre in Phoenecia during the reign of Diocletian. The persecutions under Diocletian and Maximian drove him to Thrace; after their death he returned to Tyre.

Persecution broke out again under Julian the Apostate, and Dorotheus was seized and tortured to death at the age of 107. He wrote learned writings in both Greek and Latin, telling the lives of the Prophets and the Saints.

Troparion — Tone 4

O Dorotheus, wise hierarch of Christ, / You received the light of wisdom as a gift from the Father of lights. / You increased the talents given to you / And in your old age contested beyond the bounds of nature. / And now, O Hieromartyr, you even intercede for our souls!

Kontakion — Tone 3

By preaching Orthodox doctrine, O Hieromartyr, / You offered yourself as a godly and holy gift. / First you excelled in asceticism / And then in the contest of martyrdom, / Attaining the victor’s prize from Christ our God!

Kontakion — Tone 5

You were resplendent, O blessed Dorotheus, / With virtues brighter than the sun and with your sufferings! / You shine forth and enlighten the land, / Dispelling the darkness of idolatry and base heresy. / Therefore, we celebrate your memory with splendor!

03/06/2026

Today's Gospel Thursday 4 June 2026

* For Our Father Metrophanes, Archbishop of Constantinople

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (10:1-9)

The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

03/06/2026

The Saint of the day 4 June (2)

† St Metrophanes, Archbishop of Constantinople (325)

https://media.ancientfaith.com/sotd/06_04_metrophanes_pc.mp3

He was born into a pagan family, but his father Dometius, along with all his family, became Christians and went to Byzantium to escape persecution in Rome. Dometius was ordained a priest and in time became Bishop of Byzantium.

When Dometius died, his elder son Probus became Bishop; then when Probus died, Dometius' second son Metrophanes succeeded him. Metrophanes was enthroned around the time that Constantine the Great was establishing Byzantium as the new capital of the Roman Empire. He sent a delegate to the First Ecumenical Council in 325, since he was unable to attend due to age and infirmity.

The Emperor Constantine loved Metrophanes as a father and urged the entire Council to visit the ailing Bishop. Ten days later he died.

Troparion — Tone 1

You proclaimed the great mystery of the Trinity, O good shepherd, / And manifested Christ’s dispensation to all, / Dispersing the spiritual wolves who menaced your rational flock, / Saving the lambs of Christ who cry: / Glory to him who has strengthened you! / Glory to him who has exalted you! / Glory to him who through you has fortified the Orthodox Faith!

Troparion — Tone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, / an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; / your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. / Hierarch Father Metrophanes, / entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion — Tone 2

You clearly taught the faith of Christ, / and by keeping it you truly increased your faithful flock to a multitude; / and so, Metrophanes, you now rejoice with the angels and unceasingly intercede for us all.

03/06/2026

The Saint of the day 4 June (1)

† Holy Myrrh-bearers Mary and Martha, sisters of St Lazarus (1st c.)

http://audio.ancientfaith.com/sotd/06_04_mary_martha.mp3

Mary and Martha, with their brother Lazarus, were especially devoted disciples of our Lord; their story up to the time of the Resurrection can be found in Luke 10 and John 11-12. Mary and Martha were among the Myrrh-bearing women. They, with their brother, reposed in Cyprus, where Lazarus became first Bishop of Kition after he was raised from death by Christ.

An ancient tradition holds that Lazarus was thirty years old when he was restored to life by the Lord, and that he lived another thirty years. After he was raised from the dead, he never again laughed; but once, when he saw someone stealing a clay pot, he smiled and said, 'Clay stealing clay.' His name is a Greek version of Eleazar, meaning 'God has helped.

Troparion of Martha and Mary, Sisters of Lazarus
Third Tone

Since ye believed in Christ with strong and ardent faith, and ever worshipped His divine and mighty deeds, ye both adorned yourselves with all the splendour of sacred virtues. With your holy brother now, ye are also vouchsafed to dwell with the ranks of Saints on high, O ye sisters of Lazarus; and with him, O wise Mary and Martha, ye pray for us all unto the Master.

Kontakion of Martha and Mary, Sisters of Lazarus
Third Tone

In the town of Bethany, ye dwelt of old; now in Heaven ye abide in Paradise, where our Lord's countenance shineth. For ye gave your hearts and souls up with fervent longing unto Him that is the Life and the Resurrection; as ye stand on high, O Mary and Martha, pray Him to grant salvation to us.

02/06/2026

Today's Gospel Wednesday 3 June, 2026

* For 1st Wednesday of Matthew

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (5:20-26)

Jesus said to his disciples, "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire.

So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny."

Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

02/06/2026

The Saint of the day 3 June

† Holy Martyr Lucillian and those with him (270)

http://audio.ancientfaith.com/sotd/06_03_lucillian.mp3

Lucilian spent most of his life as a pagan priest. In advanced old age, he learned the truth of the Christian faith and was baptized. The conversion of so public a figure quickly attracted attention, and Lucilian was brought to trial in Nicomedia.

After enduring many tortures he was imprisoned with four young Christians, scarcely older than children: Claudius, Hypatius, Paul and Dionysius. When they were brouht before Silvanos the governor, all five confessed their faith and were sentenced to death and cast into a fiery furnace. When they miraculously emerged unharmed, they were taken to Byzantium, where the four young men were beheaded and Lucillian was crucified.

A maiden named Paula openly carried away the martyrs' bodies and buried them. For this she in turn was tortured and, refusing to renounce her faith in Christ, beheaded. This was in the reign of the Emperor Aurelian. A church was built in their honor in Constantinople.

Troparion — Tone 1

By your faith, you shone like a radiant star in the dark night of error; / you fought the good fight and slew the crafty enemy, O Lucillian. / Together with venerable Paula and the four martyred children / entreat Christ our God to save our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 2

You attained the dignity of the martyrs of Christ / through the torments that you courageously endured, O Lucillian. / Together with Paula and the four martyred children, / you sing to the Creator: / “Like sheep we are slaughtered for love of You, O Savior.”