A daily study of the Network’s diverse faiths
Radonitsa. Russian Orthodox Memorial Day that does not fall on a Saturday, as do Soul Saturdays, but on either the Monday or Tuesday of the 2nd week after Pascha (Easter). Radonitsa does not have special hymns for the dead but a Panikhida liturgical solemn service for the repose of the departed follows the Divine Liturgy. All present then take paschal foods to the cemeteries to greet the departed with the joy of the Resurrection. Image: egliserusse.eu.
Saint Gangulphus of Burgundy (Heiliger Gangolf) (d760). Feast Day commemorating the death of illustrious Christian Burgundian courtier and great landowner. He went to war, but also dedicated himself to preaching the Gospel in Frisia. During his absence, his wife committed adultery with a priest. Gangulphus forbade her from ever sharing his marriage bed and exiled the priest. Gangulphus became a hermit and dedicated himself to a life of prayer and penance, performing charitable works. The priest returned and inflicted a mortal wound on the sleeping Gangulphus before fleeing the country with Gangulphus’ wife. After his martyrdom, miracles took place at Gangulphus’ tomb and both his wife and the priest soon suffered fatal illnesses. Gangulphus’ relics were translated to Varennes-sur-Amance, where his cult developed, and they were later distributed to various parts of France, Germany, the Low Countries and Switzerland. Venerated in Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Churches. Patron of husbands unhappily married, tanners, shoemakers, children, horses, invoked against knee pains, sicknesses affecting the eyes and skin, marital difficulties and adultery. Image © 2021 Catholic Online.
Prayer Dear God, we humbly pray that You will bring healing, calm, peace and clarity of thinking to all involved in marriages that have decayed. We pray that You will infuse hope and give wisdom for the sacrificial love needed in marriage. May Your healing lead to deep reconciliation and protection from those who feed the fires of discontent. Amen
Άγιοι Κύριλλος και Μεθόδιος (Sts Cyril and Methodius, Свети Кирило и Методије). Lutheran Commemoration and Eastern Orthodox Church alternative Feast Day for Bishops who died in 869 and 885, both missionaries to the Slavs. Cyril the Philosopher, a deacon and monk, and Methodius were Greek brothers honoured as Apostles to the southern Slavs and founders of Slavic literary culture. Methodius, the governor of a Slavic colony, became a monk and was elected Abbot of a monastery in Constantinople. In 862, Cyril and Methodius went to teach the Moravians in their native language and Cyril developed an alphabet to transcribe the Slavo-Roman liturgical books, originating the Cyrillic alphabet. After German opposition, the brothers were ordained Bishops and the Slavonic liturgy was approved. Cyril died in Rome and was buried there. Methodius returned to Moravia as Metropolitan of Sirmium and continued to be harassed by German bishops, who ordered his imprisonment. He was recalled to Rome on charges of heresy but the Pope allowed him to return to Moravia and use Slavonic in the liturgy. Methodius completed Slavonic translations of the Bible and Byzantine ecclesiastical law whilst continuing his missionary activities. His funeral, celebrated in Greek, Latin and Slavonic, was attended by large crowds. Alternative Eastern Orthodox Church Feast Day 24 May. Roman Catholic Feast Day Czech Republic and Slovakia 5 July, 14 February elsewhere with Anglican Church and Greek Orthodox Lesser Feast Day for St Cyril (Constantine, Equal-to-the-apostles and Teacher of the Slavs). Image: newsitamea.gr.