Fasting Guidelines
Apodosis of Pascha. Tone five.
Fast. Fish Allowed
Today’s Commemorations
- Venerable Isaac , founder of the Dalmatian Monastery at Constantinople (383).
- Synaxis of All Saints of Penza Metropolia.
- New Hieromartyr Basil priest (1942).
- Martyr Natalius.
- Martyrs Romanus, Meletius and Euplius.
- St. Macrina, grandmother of St. Basil the Great (4th c.).
- Venerable James, monk of Galich Monastery (15th c.).
- Venerables Isaiah and Nikanor of Arkhangel’sk.
- Martyr Barlaam of Caesarea in Cappadocia.
- St. Venantius of Gaul (374).
- St. Hubert of Maastricht (727) (Neth.).
Scripture Readings
Acts 18:22-28
And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
John 12:36-47
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light. These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
Saints and Feasts Celebrated Today
Venerable Isaac , founder of the Dalmatian Monastery at Constantinople (383). 
The Monk Isaac lived during the IV Century, accepted monastic vows and pursued asceticism in the wilderness. During the years of the reign of the emperor Valentus (364-378) – a zealous adherent of the Arian heresy, they began to persecute the Orthodox, closing and destroying churches. Having learned of the persecution, the Monk Isaac quit the wilderness and arrived in Constantinople, so as to console and encourage the Orthodox. At this time barbarian Goths, dwelling along the River Danube/Dunaj, were making war against the empire. They seized Thrace and advanced towards Constantinople. When the emperor Valentus was leaving the capital with his soldiers, the Monk Isaac – turning himself towards the emperor, loudly cried out: “Emperor, unlock the churches of the Orthodox, and then the Lord wilt aid thee!”. But the emperor, disdaining the words of the monk, confidently continued on his way. Three times did the monk repeat his request and prophecy. The angry emperor gave orders to hurl the Monk Isaac into a deep ravine, grown over with prickly thorns. By day the ravine was a swamp, and to emerge from it was impossible. But the monk with the help of God remained alive, and he emerged, overtook the emperor and said: “Thou wanted to destroy me, but the holy Angels did save me from peril. Hear me, open up the churches to the Orthodox and thou shalt defeat the enemy. If however thou dost not heed me, then thou shalt not return alive, but shalt perish in fire”. The emperor was astonished at the boldness of the monk and ordered his attendants Saturninus and Victor to take the monk and hold him in prison until his return. The prophecy of the saint soon happened. The Goths defeated and began to chase down the Greek army. The emperor together with his Arian generals took refuge in a barn with straw, and the attackers set it afire. After receiving news about the perishing of the emperor, they set free the Monk Isaac and began to honour him as a prophet of God. Onto the throne was then chosen the holy Emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395), who on the advice of Saturninus and Victor summoned the elder to himself, meeting him with great respect, beseeching prayers to the saints and fulfilling all his instructions: he banished the Arians from Constantinople and restored the churches to the Orthodox. The Monk Isaac wanted to return into the wilderness, but Saturninus and Victor besought him not to leave the city, but rather to protect it with his prayers. In the outskirts of Constantinople they built for the saint an hut, where monks gathered to him. Thus arose a monastery, the hegumen and spiritual guide of which was the Monk Isaac. He nourished also the laypeople, and helped many of the poor and suffering. Having reached extreme old age, the Monk Isaac made co-hegumen together with him the Monk Dalmatos (the account about him is located under 3 August), by whose name the monastery was called. The Monk Isaac died in the year 383, and his memory is celebrated also on 22 March.
Martyr Natalius.
The Holy Martyrs Natalia and Salonus were beheaded by the sword for confessing faith in Christ, not later than the IV Century.
Martyrs Romanus, Meletius and Euplius.
Saint Euplos died a martyr’s death sewn up in an ox skin beneathe the harsh rays of the sun.
St. Macrina, grandmother of St. Basil the Great (4th c.).
“The grandmother of St Basil the Great, she was outstanding for her intellect and piety. She was a disciple of St Gregory the Wonder-worker of Neocaesarea. In the reign of Diocletian, she abandoned her home and hid in the forests and desert places with her husband, Basil. Although their home was confiscated, they felt no pangs of regret. Stripped of everything except their love for God, they settled in an ancient forest and spent seven years there. By God’s providence, goats would come down from the mountains and provide them with food. They both died peacefully in the fourth century, after great sufferings for the Christian faith.” (Prologue)
Venerable James, monk of Galich Monastery (15th c.).
The Monk Yakov (James) of Galich pursued asceticism in the XV Century and was buried in the Galich Starotorzhsk monastery, beneathe the altar of the church in honour of the holy Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb. The holy saint of God was glorified by miracles after his death.
Venerables Isaiah and Nikanor of Arkhangel’sk.
The Monks Isaiah and Nikanor of Arkhangel’sk were glorified in the exploit of wilderness-dwelling on the banks of the River Rucha in the Arkhangel’sk frontier region.
Additional Saints and Feasts Celebrated Today
Synaxis of All Saints of Penza Metropolia.
New Hieromartyr Basil priest (1942).
Martyr Barlaam of Caesarea in Cappadocia.
St. Venantius of Gaul (374).
St. Hubert of Maastricht (727) (Neth.).
Today’s Hymns
St. Isaac of the Monastery of Dalmatus
No Troparion is given in the Menaion.
Download today’s octoechos HERE.
Download today’s menaion HERE.
Courtesy of St. Sergius Church
Hymns, Readings, Feast Day, and Fasting Information provided by Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.
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