Sunday, October 5, 2025

Tone 8; 17th Sunday after Pentecost (2nd of Luke)

Martyr Charitina of Amisus

St. Charitina of Amisus

Commemorated on October 5

(Wikipedia) St. Charitina of Amisus (also known as Charitina of Rome) was a virgin martyr from Asia Minor, distinguished by strict chastity and piety. Charitina spent her life in fasting, prayer and study. By her example she converted many to Christianity during the reign of Emperor Diocletian and was seized in the city of Amisus in Pontus. After torture and death, her body was thrown into the sea in the year 304.

Life

Charitina was born in Amisus around 287. Orphaned young, she was the servant of an eminent Christian man called Claudius the pious, who brought her up as his own daughter.[1] The young woman was very pretty, sensible, and kind. She imparted her love for Christ to others, and by her example converted many. Charitina was meek, humble, obedient and silent. Although not as yet baptized, she was a Christian at heart. She studied the law of God and vowed to live in perpetual virginity as a bride of Christ.

The Emperor Diocletian's governor, Dometius, heard of her and sent soldiers to take her from her foster-father for trial. The judge asked her: "Is it true, little girl, that you are a Christian, and that you delude others by bringing them to this dishonourable faith?" Charitina courageously replied: "It is true that I am a Christian, and a lie that I delude others. I lead those in error to the way of truth, bringing them to my Christ."

The judge ordered that her hair be cut off and live coals put on her head, but the maiden was preserved by God's power. They threw her into the sea, but she clambered out saying, "This is my baptism." God delivered her from it. She was bound to a wheel, which began to turn, but an angel of God stopped the wheel and Charitina remained unharmed. Then the judge sent some dissolute youths to rape her. Fearing this dishonour, St Charitina prayed to God to receive her soul before these dissolute men could assault her and so, while she was kneeling in prayer, her soul left her body. St. Charitina died a martyr's death in the year 304.

The Martyrologium Romanum states that her martyrdom took place in Corycus in Cilicia Trachaea in Anatolia.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Forgive me, I made a mistake in last week's bulletin. There is NO HOME GAME this Saturday. Confessions and Vespers will be at the regular time (see below).

The next lecture in the "No Free Pizza" series will be this Catechumen, Wednesday, October 1, at 6:00 pm. We will look at how not to be angry and afraid in a fearful and angry world. Last week's lecture is available on our website.

The OCWA conference is Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 9:30 AM-2:15 PM at St. Ignatius Orthodox Church, Fitchburg.

In Christ,

Fr Gregory

This Week at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Wednesday, October 1

• 2:00 PM-6:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 6:00 PM: How Not to Be Angry and Afraid in an Angry and Fearful World

Thursday, October 2

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 6:00 PM: OCF

Friday, October 3

• 11:00 AM-3:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions 

Saturday, October 4

• 9:30 AM- 2:15 PM: OCWA Conference (St Ignatius Orthodox Church, Fitchburg)
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, October 5

• 9:15 AM: Hours
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, October 8

• 2:00 PM-6:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 6:00 PM: First Steps Along the Way

Thursday, October 9

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 6:00 PM: OCF

Friday, October 10

• 11:00 AM-3:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions 

Saturday, October 11 (UW Home game)

• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers [canceled]
• 6:00 PM: Confessions [canceled]

Sunday, October 12

• 9:15 AM: Hours
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Hymns After the Small Entrance

Tone 8 Troparion (Resurrection)

Thou didst descend from on high, O Merciful One! Thou didst accept the three day burial to free us from our sufferings!//O Lord, our Life and Resurrection, glory to Thee!

Tone 4 Troparion (Sts. Cyril & Methodius)

Divinely-wise Cyril and Methodius, / equals-to-the-apostles and teachers of the Slavs, / entreat the Master of all / to strengthen all nations in Orthodoxy and unity of mind, / to grant peace to the world and to save our souls.

Tone 4 Troparion (St. Charitina)

Thy lamb Charitina calls out to Thee, O Jesus, in a loud voice: “I love Thee, my Bridegroom, and in seeking Thee I endure suffering. In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in Thee, and I died so that I might live with Thee. Accept me as a pure sacrifice, for I have offered myself in love.”//Through her prayers save our souls, since Thou art merciful!

Tone 8 Kontakion (Resurrection)

By rising from the tomb, Thou didst raise the dead and resurrect Adam. Eve exults in Thy Resurrection,//and the world celebrates Thy rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!

Tone 3 Kontakion (Sts. Cyril & Methodius)

Let us honor the sacred pair, who translated divine scripture / pouring forth a fountain of divine knowledge from which we still draw today. / Now as you stand before the throne of the Most-high / we call you blessed, Cyril and Methodius, / as you fervently pray for our souls.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

Tone 2 Kontakion (St. Charitina)

Having fortified thy soul with faith and strengthened by understanding thou didst openly put the enemy to shame, O Charitina; thou didst stand before Christ wearing a robe empurpled by thy blood, All-blessed One, and now thou dost rejoice with the Angels,//praying for us, O passionbearer.

now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Tone 6 Kontakion

Steadfast protectress of Christians, / most constant advocate before the Creator, / do not despise the voices of us who have sinned, / but in your goodness come speedily to help us, who cry to you in faith: / “Hasten to intercede for us, O Theotokos, / and speedily make supplication, for you always protect those who honor you.”

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1

Brethren, And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them

And walk among them.

I will be their God,

And they shall be My people.”

Therefore

“Come out from among them

And be separate, says the Lord.

Do not touch what is unclean,

And I will receive you.”

“I will be a Father to you,

And you shall be My sons and daughters,

Says the Lord Almighty.”

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Gospel: Luke 6:31-36

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

By the age of 25, about 60% of those baptized as infants will no longer consider themselves members of the Orthodox Church. A parish on a university campus is an important witness not only to the surrounding community but also to high school age and younger parishioner. Establishing a parish on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison helps remind young people that graduating high school doesn't mean "graduating" from the Church. Please consider joining those who have committed their time, treasure and talent in establishing an Orthodox community on the Isthmus.

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