Readings and saints

Friday, October 29, 2027

October 16 on the Old Calendar

Martyr Anastasia the Roman

Friday of the 19th week after Pentecost

Venerable Martyr
St. Anastasia the Roman
Fasting
Fast day: no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, wine, or oil.Your priest can tell you how to keep the fast.
Tone
Tone 1This week’s Resurrection hymns are sung in the first of the Church’s eight tones.

The readings

Translation

Traditional: the King James Version (1611) for the New Testament. Underlined words are explained in Words of Prayer.

Modern: the World English Bible for the New Testament. Your choice is remembered on this device.

Epistle

Philippians 1:27-2:4

Traditional

27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Modern

27Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News; 28and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf, 30having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

1If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, 2make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; 4each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

Gospel

Luke 11:23-26

Traditional

23He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Modern

23“He who is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters. 24The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’ 25When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order. 26Then he goes and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”

Remembered on this day

St. Anastasia the Roman

Anastasia is remembered as a young Christian woman from Rome who suffered martyrdom in the third century. Tradition holds that she lived among women devoted to prayer and refused to give up her faith when brought before the authorities. The Church remembers her courage and love for Christ. Much about her life is uncertain. What has endured is the memory of a young woman whose life mattered to God, even when those in power treated it as worthless.

How she died
Tradition holds that Anastasia was tortured and beheaded.

St. Anastasia the Roman: the full page

Also remembered today: Ven. Avram of Rostov; Our Holy Father Abramius (366) and his niece Mary (371) of Mesopotamia.

Calendar: Orthocal, following the Revised Julian (New) Calendar of the Orthodox Church in America. Parishes on the Old Calendar keep each day 13 days later. Check your own parish calendar.