The Holy Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus, and Basiliscus.

When

March 3, 2026

All Day

Available in Word document: 2026-03-03

Day 16 of the Great Fast. According to liturgical prescriptions, the Divine Liturgy is not celebrated today.

MONDAY EVENING VESPERS

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 1

If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

Let us love the Fast:* for by the power of the Spirit it withers the most wicked passions,* giving us strength to do godly works;* it enables our mind to ascend to heaven,* and gains the forgiveness of sins,* from our compassionate God.

I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

In my wretchedness I have shamefully wasted my life with harlots, O Lord,* but like the Prodigal, I cry out to You with compunction:* I have sinned, O heavenly Father;* cleanse and save me.* Reject me not who have departed far from You and am now destitute of blessed deeds.

Tone 3

From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

Come, let us with cymbals and songs of praise* greet the season of honourable abstinence;* for through the Fast we noetically trample underfoot the serpent, the origin of evil.* Wherefore with boldness let us cry out to Christ:* Grant us, O Saviour, to gaze upon Your all-holy Cross without condemnation * and to venerate it, radiantly keeping festival* with psalms and hymns.

Tone 1

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

O martyrs three in number,* who contended mightily against those that cruelly condemned you,* and who with faith endured all manner of pangs most cruel:* you have received the kingdom on high.* Pray that God grant to our souls* peace and great mercy.

Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

With spiritual songs let us praise Eutropius, the steadfast Cleonicus and Basiliscus;* for they utterly consumed the tinder of ungodliness with fire by the grace of piety.* And now they illumine the ends of the earth with the divine radiance of fire,* like beacons most bright,* having cast all deception into darkness.

Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

When your heads were severed,* you crushed the head of the enemy under your beautiful feet, O valiant athletes,* unwavering stars, animate sacrifices,* treasures of the temple of heaven.* O glorious Eutropius, Basiliscus and Cleonicus,* beg peace for us all.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

Rejoice, O pure one, O strange report!* Rejoice, holy tree of paradise, divinely planted!* Rejoice, destruction of the evil demons!* Rejoice, two-edged sword,* who cut off the head of the enemy by your strange birthgiving!* O most holy and all-immaculate one,* call us back who have gone astray.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

In God we will boast all the day long:* and in Your Name will we give praise in the age to come.

verse: O God, with our ears we have heard, for our fathers have told us.

Vespers Reading I

Genesis 6:9-22

This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, who was perfect in his generation and well-pleasing to God. So Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Now the earth was corrupt before God and filled with unrighteousness. Thus the Lord God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh corrupted their way on the earth. Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with unrighteousness through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of square timber. You shall make the ark in compartments, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. Thus you shall make the ark: three hundred cubits in length, fifty cubits in breadth, and thirty cubits in height. Now when you assemble the ark, you shall gradually finish it up to a cubit at the top, and set the door in its side. You shall make the ark with lower, second, and third stories. And behold, I am bringing a flood of water on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life. Whatever is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. From every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing on the earth after its kind, two of every kind, they will enter into the ark with you, male and female, to keep them alive. You shall also take for yourself all kinds of food to eat, and you shall gather it both for yourself and for them.” Thus Noah did according to all the Lord God commanded him, so he did.

Prokeimenon, Tone 6

I shall commemorate your name* in every generation and generation

verse: My heart is inclined unto a good word.

Vespers Reading II

Proverbs 8:1-21

You shall proclaim wisdom
That discernment may obey you;
For she is on the lofty summit
And stands in the midst of the paths.
For she sits beside the gates of princes
And sings at the entrances,
“You, O men, I exhort,
And I utter my voice to the sons of men;
Understand astuteness, O simple ones,
And put it in your heart, O uninstructed ones.
Obey me, for I speak sacred things,
And from my lips I will bring forth things that are true.
For my mouth shall speak the truth,
But false lips are an abomination before me.
All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
There is nothing in them crooked or twisted.
All things are evident to those who understand
And true to those who find knowledge.
Lay hold of instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than tested gold,
And choose perception rather than pure gold.
For wisdom is better than precious stones,
And every costly thing is not worthy of her.
I, wisdom, dwell with counsel,
And I call upon knowledge and understanding.
The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness,
And both rudeness and arrogance, and the ways of wicked men;
And I hate the perverted ways of evil men.
Counsel and safety are mine;
Discernment is mine, and strength is mine;
By me, kings reign,
And princes write of righteousness;
By me, noblemen become great,
And by me, monarchs have power in the land.
I love those who love me,
And those who seek me shall find me.
Riches and glory belong to me,
And abundant possessions, and righteousness;
It is better to enjoy my fruits than gold and precious stones,
And my fruits are better than choice silver.
I walk in the ways of righteousness,
And I am conversant with the paths of judgment;
That I may distribute substance to those who love me,
And may fill their treasuries with good things.

Aposticha

Tone 2

O good Father, in my madness I am stripped bare of Your good gifts.* I have wandered far from You and enslaved myself to a strange citizen.* I lead unclean beasts to pasture,* and eating of their food I remain hungry.* But, knowing Your loving-kindness, I flee to You:* in Your love for mankind, cover my nakedness and save me.

I have lifted up my eyes to You enthroned in heaven. Behold, as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their masters, as the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, so are our eyes on the Lord our God until He has mercy on us.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we have been filled with shame; our soul is all too full of the mockery of the rich, of the contempt of the proud.

Because the holy martyrs intercede for us* and sing in praise of Christ,* all deception has ceased,* and humanity saved been saved by faith.

Glory… Now…

From your virginal womb the light of the Word* has shone forth upon the world.* Beseech Him, O pure all-holy Virgin,* that our souls be delivered from the snares of the enemy.

TUESDAY MORNING MATINS

Sessional Hymn I, Tone 5

Lying upon the bed of my many sins, I am despoiled of my hope of salvation;* for the sleep of my slothfulness will bring punishment upon my soul.* But spare me, Christ my God, for You alone love mankind.

O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, neither chasten me in Your wrath.

Let us all keep watch and go out to meet Christ* and let us make our lamps burn brightly with our many acts of compassion;* then shall we be counted worthy to enter the bridal chamber.* For once we have been shut outside the door, we shall cry to God to no avail,* ‘Have mercy on me.’

God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.

Through the miracles of Your holy martyrs, O Christ our God,* You have given us a rampart that cannot be destroyed.* Through their prayers scatter to the winds the schemes of the heathen and strengthen the rulers of our land,* for You alone are good and love mankind.

Glory… Now…

The strange mystery of the Virgin has brought salvation to the world.* For the Joy of all was born from her without seed* and was revealed in the flesh without corruption.* O Lord, glory to You.

Sessional Hymn II, Tone 1

Let us cleanse ourselves by fasting and prayer,* and please God through acts of mercy to the poor.* Let us weep and lament with fervent tears,* while time remains for reformation,* that we may be delivered from eternal lamentation in the flames of Gehenna,* and let us render glory to Christ who has ordained penitence for all mankind,* turning back their understanding to righteousness.

Glory… Now…

Stretching forth your divine arms, wherewith you bore the Creator* who in His goodness has become incarnate, O most pure virgin,* beseech Him to deliver from temptations, sufferings, and tribulations* we who praise you with love and cry aloud:* Glory to Him who made His abode within you!* Glory to Him who issued forth from you!* Glory to Him who has delivered us by your birth-giving!

Sessional Hymn III, Tone 3

Gladdened by the Fast and rejoicing in song,* mastering control of the passions through prayer,* let us trample underfoot the snares of the evil one,* that we may cry aloud to Christ:* Count us worthy to look upon Your Cross,* as You are compassionate, granting us great mercy.

Glory… Now…

O divinely blessed unwedded Mother, cure the infirmities of my soul,* for I am held prisoner by my sins,* sighing from the depths of my heart I cry to you,* O all-immaculate Theotokos:* I have sinned greatly; accept me,* that with boldness I may call upon you:* Rejoice, O dwelling-place of God.

Canon

Ode 2

Irmos: Behold now, and see that I am God,* who saved the people of Israel when they were in bondage,* and commanded Moses to lead them in the wilderness,* for I am mighty in My power.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The supremely good Father has adopted me as His son, through the washing of Baptism He has bestowed upon me the riches of His many blessings. But I have become enslaved to vain thoughts, and so have become a pauper.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Be merciful, be merciful, O Lord; pass not judgment upon me, O righteous Judge, but, for the sake of Your great mercy, accept my feeble sighs and reject me not, O Christ.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Putting off the loathsome garment of self-indulgence, let us put on the radiant robe of abstinence, and joyously approach the Redeemer’s bright Resurrection.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Save me, O Mother of the Saviour, save me, look upon my distress, O pure one, for from despair, the countless number of my sins grieve my wretched soul every day.

Irmos: Behold now, and see, that I am the Saviour of the world,* the true Light, the Fount of life, the Son of God.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

See now, see, that I am your God, the wellspring that has sent salvation to you: through abstinence, let every mortal draw forth water from this fount.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

See now, see, that I have appointed for you the holy season of the Fast as a spiritual banquet.

Glory…

Let us glorify the Trinity and worship the Unity: the only-begotten beginningless Son from the beginningless Father, and the Spirit co-enthroned with the Son and coeternal with the Father.

Now…

O all-immaculate one, ceaselessly intercede before the Saviour on behalf of those who from their heart confess you to be the Theotokos, that they may be delivered from all distress.

Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.

Great are You, O Lord, and marvellous are Your works: for in the den of old You delivered Daniel who protected himself from the lions by fasting.

Katavasia: Behold now, and see, that I am the Saviour of the world,* the true Light, the Fount of life, the Son of God.

Ode 8

Irmos: Him of whom the angels and all the hosts of heaven are in awe* as their Lord and Creator,* O priests hymn, O children praise, O peoples bless and supremely exalt* throughout all ages.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I weep and lament when I contemplate the hour at which I shall stand before the fearful throne, called to give account for the many evil deeds I have done, whether in ignorance or in knowledge.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Moses, having found purification in fasting, spoke with God who alone is pure. O my soul, be purified by fasting, and draw near to God, the Lover of mankind.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Let us love fasting, the mother of virtues, and hate opulent foods, the begetter of passions; rather let us cry: O Father who are in heaven, save us, O save us, by the prayers of Your saints.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

O pure Virgin Mary, at the hour of judgment pray to the Judge whom you bore, that He take pity on me and save me from condemnation; for you alone are the protection of the race of mankind.

Irmos: In His divine power the Lord descended into the flames* and was seen walking with the Children of the Hebrews:* O priests, bless and supremely exalt Him* throughout all ages.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Embracing the most joyful grace of the Fast, let us be radiant with the virtues, and by our peaceful faces and way of life, display the peaceful disposition of our souls.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Having fasted, Elisha returned the dead child alive to the Shunammite woman. From this let us understand, O brethren, how great and good the Fast is, and how God has given it grace.

We bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Lord.

With the Father we worship the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity one in essence, and with mouths of clay we cry with the angels: Glory to the Triune God in the highest.

Now…

You alone, O divinely joyous one, gave birth while remaining a virgin. O great mystery, dread and marvellous! For you bore God in the flesh, the Saviour of the world.

Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.

O brethren, let not one of us be overcome with idleness and sloth. Now is the time for activity, the hour of solemn festivity. Those, then, who are wise will thus quickly inherit eternity.

We praise, we bless, and we worship the Lord, hymning and supremely exalting Him throughout all ages!

Katavasia: In His divine power the Lord descended into the flames* and was seen walking with the Children of the Hebrews:* O priests, bless and supremely exalt Him* throughout all ages.

Magnificat

Ode 9

Irmos: The light-bearing cloud upon whom the beginningless Master of all descended from heaven,* like the dew upon the fleece,* and of whom He was incarnate, becoming a man for our sake,* let us all magnify as the pure Mother of God.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Having fallen into a sea of sin, a deep of despair, a tempest of thoughts and a storm of passions, I raise my cry to You: O abyss of mercy, help me and according to Your loving-kindness send down rain upon me, and cleanse me of my sins.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O faithful, let us cleanse the body through fasting, the spirit through abstinence, and the soul through tears, that in purity we may behold the saving Passion of the Redeemer, which He endured for our sake.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Like the Publican I groan; like the Harlot I weep; and like the Thief I cry out, “Remember me, O compassionate One.” With the blind man I call to You: “O Son of God, open the eyes of my soul, for they are blinded by the wickedness of the deceitful enemy who makes me stumble.”

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

The Mountain uncut by hand, the impassable Gate; she who is higher than the heavens and all creation, the beauty of Jacob, the golden Vessel of manna, the Bridge, and the Mother of the Creator, let us the faithful bless her, the Virgin.

Irmos: Upon Mount Sinai Moses saw you in the bush,* as one who conceived the fire of the Godhead within your womb, and yet remained unconsumed.* Daniel saw you as a mountain not cut by the hand of man,* and Isaiah proclaimed you as the Rod that blossomed forth from the root of David.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Having understood that the present days are sacred above all others, let us offer up prayers to God with a pure conscience, kneeling often upon the ground, and saying: “O Lord, ever accept the petitions and entreaties of Your servants.”

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The people, so it is written, sat down to eat and drink, and then rose up to dance and worship the carved image of Belphegor. Behold the grievous fruits of gluttony! But let us fast, and we shall be glorified like the great Moses.

Glory…

The Trinity supreme in Godhead is by Essence an undivided Unity; though single in Nature, it is distinguished in Hypostases; though indivisible, it is divided in characteristics; though one, it is three: the Father, the Son, and the Spirit of Life, together watching over all things.

Now…

Who has ever heard of a virgin giving birth to a child and a mother that knew not a man? O Mary, this miracle has been wrought in you, but pray-tell how? “Enquire not into the mystery of my childbearing: it is altogether true yet transcends the comprehension of man.”

Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You.

O Lord, since Your wrath against sinners is unendurable, who shall stand unafraid when it threatens him? Boundless is Your mercy; save me according to YOur tender compassion, and not according to my many sinful and wretched deeds.

Katavasia: Upon Mount Sinai Moses saw you in the bush,* as one who conceived the fire of the Godhead within your womb, and yet remained unconsumed.* Daniel saw you as a mountain not cut by the hand of man,* and Isaiah proclaimed you as the Rod that blossomed forth from the root of David.

Aposticha

Tone 7

I have sinned O Lord, I confess to You, Prodigal that I am.* I dare not raise my eyes to heaven, from whence I have fallen in my wretchedness.* I have sinned against heaven and before You,* and am not worthy to be called Your son.* I openly proclaim my guilt; I need no accusers to bear witness against me;* for my prodigality condemns me;* my wicked life accuses me;* my nakedness shames me,* and the rags which clothe me bring disgrace upon me.* O lovingly-compassionate Father, only-begotten Son, and Holy Spirit,* receive me who repent and have mercy on me.

In the morning, fill us with Your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Show forth Your work to Your servants; let Your glory shine on their children.

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands, give success to the work of our hands.

In the midst of the arena of the lawless ones,* the passion-bearers cried aloud rejoicing:* “O Lord, glory be to You.”

Glory… Now…

Ineffably were You born of the Virgin, O Christ,* and You have enlightened those who are in darkness and cry aloud:* O Lord, glory be to You!