brethren, the follower of Christ, celebrate with perpetual chorus of praise.' St Andrew is represented noiding in his hand a cross saltire, or leaning on it. St Thomas is stated, by Origen ard other writers, to have preached in Parthia. The connection of the Christians of India and of Malabar with Thomas the Apostle is very doubtful. His body is said by Ruffinus, in the 4th century, to have been at Edessa. There is no good authority for his martyrdom. The festival is mentioned by Theodoret in the 5th century. A commemoration of St Thomas is appointed for the 21st of December in Athelstan's Psalter, 703. St Thomas is represented as handling our Lord's wounds; or, in reference to a late tradition of his martyrdom, with a lance or spear; also holding a carpenter's square. Introit in 1549, Ps. cxxviii. The Collect was composed in 1549. The Epistle is taken from the Sar. Miss. The Gospel in the Miss, ends at V. 29, not 31. The Greek Church calls the 1st Sunday after Easter the Sunday of St Thomas, and commemorates him on that day, see p. 121. The Epistle has no reference to St Thomas. The Gospel at the Liturgy is John xx. 19-31. He is also commemorated on the 6th of October. The Epistle, the ordinary Epistle in such cases, is 1 Cor. iv. 9-6; the Gospel is John xx. 19-31. The commemoration of the Conversion of St Paul appears to have arisen from a sense of the importance of that event to the Christian Church at large, and from the desire to assign a separate festival to St Paul, whose martyrdom was celebrated in conjunction with that of St Peter. According to Eusebius, who quotes Caius Romanus, Tertullian, Origen and Dionysius. of Corinth, the Apostles were martyred, St Peter crucified, St Paul beheaded, by order of Nero, on the same day, June 29th, 67, or Feb. 22nd, 68, for the actual day is disputed; and their bodies were buried, one on the Ostian way, the other in the Vatican, until removed by Xystus, 119-128, to the catacombs for greater security in time of persecution. St Jerome tells us that he frequently went to see their sepulchres in the catacombs among the rest of the martyrs. The festival of the martyrdom of St Peter and St Paul is one of the most ancient Apostolic festivals, and is as old as the end of the 4th century. Of a special celebration of the Conversion of St Paul Guericke states that no trace is to be found before the 12th century. We have, however, a special Epistle and Gospel for the festival in the MS. of Leofr. and in the Com. Pam., which are evidence against this assertion. Introit in 1549, Ps. cxxxviii. The Collect in the Sar. Miss. for this day is, 'Deus, qui universum mundum beati Pauli Apostoli tui prædicatione docuisti, da nobis, quæsumus, ut, qui ejus hodie conversionem colimus, per ejus ad te exempla gradiamur. Per,' &c. The Collect is found in the Ambrosian Miss, and in the MS. of Leofric. The Epistle in the Sar. Miss., MS. Leofr., Com. Pam. is the same as ours. The Gospel ends with the words 'everlasting life." MS. Leofr., Com. Pam. The Greek Church has no festival of the Conversion of St Paul. St Paul is represented as resting upon a sword; as holding one or two swords; as holding a sword and a book; or with three springs, supposed to have risen from the three spots where his head bounded after his decapitation. The Festival of Hypapante, Symeon's meeting of Christ in the temple, dates from the reign of Justinian, 542. The emperor is said to have instituted it on occasion of an earthquake, which destroyed half the city of Pompeiopolis, and of other calamities. It was considered in the Greek Church as one of the feasts belonging to our Lord (Δεσποτικαὶ ἑορ rai). The second name was given in the 9th century by the Roman pontiffs. The custom of carrying candles in the Roman Church on this festival seems derivable from the heathen feast in honour of Proserpine, for whom Ceres searched with lighted torches. In memory thereof the heathens kept a feast of lights. To this the Roman Church gave a different turn, and applied the honour to the Virgin as mother of the true light. Introit in 1549, Ps. cxxxiv. 'Omnipotens, sempiterne Deus, majestatem tuam supplices exoramus ut, sicut unigenitus Filius tuus hodierna die cum nostræ carnis substantia in templo est præsentatus, ita nos facias purificatis tibi mentibus præsentari. Per eundem Dominum.' Miss. Sar., MS of Leofr., Sacrament, of Greg. The Epistle in Sar. Miss., MS. of Leofric, and Com. Pam. ended with v. 4. The Gospel ended with v. 32, not v. 40. In the Greek Church the prelude (πpokeμevov) of this festival, which retains its first name, Hypapante, is, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord, for he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.' The Epistle is Heb. vii. 7-17. The morning Gospel is Luke ii. 25-33. The Gospel at the Liturgy is Luke ii. 22-40. The following is from the Greek Service Book. 'Our king Christ, whom the children of be reproved. Hear us, O Lord, through the The Epistle. Ephes. ii. 19. fellow-citizens Ananias answered, saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God, through the Spirit. The Gospel. St. John xx. 24. THOMAS, one of the twelve, called Didymus, other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord, and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen ine, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his Name. The Conversion of Saint Paul. Amen. AND For the Epistle. Acts ix. 1. ND Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that, if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And, as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whoin thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened he saw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalein; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy Name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my Name before the Gentiles, and kins, and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my Name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and, putting his (even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest,) hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this Name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. The Gospel. St. Matth. xix. 27. Pre have forsaken all, and followed thee DETER answered and said unto Jesus, Behold, we what shall we have therefore? And Jesus THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE COMMONLY CALLED, The Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin. The Collect. ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we humbly beseech thy Majesty, that, as thy onlybegotten Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For the Epistle. Mal. iii. 1. BEHOLD, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple; even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in the captivity confessed, crying with a loud voice in the furnace, Praise the Lord, all ye works, Him, who for our sake became an infant, and was brought under the law, to free us from the ordinances of the law, h.m praise all ye works, him our Lord. Thee, the light of the soul, the ineffable light, the light to save the Gentiles, Simeon took up in his arms, crying, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart from this fleeting life, to the life in the spirit. The eternal God, who deigned for us to become a babe, and be received in the arms of aged Simeon, praise as Lord all ye works.' A Festival of Symeon and Anna is kept on the following day. The history of Matthias is unknown. Sophronius, c. 380, relates that he preach ed in Ethiopia. Whether he died a natural death, or was martyred, is uncertain. In the old mode of reckoning there was some doubt as to the day on which he should be commemorated in Leap-year, see p. 31. The festival is mentioned in Athelstan's Psalter, 703, and occurs also in a German Martyrology, supposed to be nearly co-eval with Gregory the Great. Introit in 1549, Ps. cxl. The Collect was composed in 1549. The Epistle and Gospel are the same as in Sar. Miss. The Greek Church keeps a Festival of St Matthias on the 9th of August. The following are from the Greek Service Book. 'By the radiance of thy divine words thou didst consume evil error, and didst enlighten believers to glorify the incarnation, O thou blessed one, of the Lord of all; and his divine passion thou didst imitate; therefore, on the recurrence of thy holy festival, we raise our united voice in thy honour, O apostle Matthias, and ask thy intercession. 'As divine salt thou wast cast, O blessed one, into the world, apostle Matthias, purifying the corruption of error by the preaching of repentance, chasing diseases and banishing infirmities of souls and bodies, O illustrious one.' The Epistle is Acts i. 12-17, 21-26. The Gospel is Luke x. 16—21. St Matthias is represented as bearing a halbert; leaning upon a sword: holding a sword by the point; a lance, hatchet or axe: with a stone in his hand; with a carpenter's square; with a book and scimitar. Of the Festival of the Annunciation Bingham writes, that it had come into use before the Council in Trullo, 692: for that Council, renewing a prohibition of the Council of Laodicea, makes a further exception in behalf of the Annunciation, forbidding all festivals to be kept in Lent except the Sabbath and the Lord's-day and the Holy Annunciation; which shews that by this time it was become a noted festival, and therefore we may date its original as far back as the 7th century at least, when we find that sermons began to be made upon it. Introit in 1549, Ps. cxxxi. 'Gratiam tuam, quæsumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde ut, qui angelo nuntiante Christi filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Qui tecum vivit et regnat Deus.' Sar. Miss., MS. Leofric, Sacram. Greg. The Epistle and Gospel are the same as in Sar. Miss. In the Greek Church the Epistle is Heb. ii. 11-18. The morning Gospel is Luke i. 39-49, 56. The Gospel at the Liturgy is Luke i. 24-33. The following, which is the introduction to the service of the day of the Annunciation, may serve as a specimen of the extreme veneration which the Greeks pay to the Virgin. 'Revealing the counsel of God decreed from everlasting, O virgin, Gabriel stood at thy side saluting thee with words of good omen. Hail, land unsown; hail, bush unconsumed; hail, abyss impenetrable: hail, bridge which conducts to heaven; lofty ladder which Jacob beheld. Hail, divine pot of manna; hail, abolition of the curse; hail, the recaller of Adam's transgression, the Lord is with thee.' The tradition of the Greek Church is, that the Annunciation took place at a well which they still shew at Nazareth. former years. And I will come near to you | dwellers at Jerusalem, insomuch as that field to judgement, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false-swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not ine, saith the Lord of hosts. The Gospel. St. Luke ii. 22. ND when the days of her purification, ac Acording to the Law of Moses, were accom ;) plished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice, according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the Law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also:) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein and, His bishoprick let another take. Wherefore, of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a wit ness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And of these two thou hast chosen; that he may knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fel!, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles. The Gospel. St. Matth. xi. 25. T that time Jesus answered and said, I A thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed ine of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever that labour and are heavy ladun, and I will give you rest. Take iny yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Collect. TE beseech thee, grace the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. years from her virginity: and she was a widow Wieseur tarts: that, as we have knowl of about fourscore and four years; which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him. For the Epistle. Acts i. 15. N those days Peter stood up in the midst of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfillel, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus: for he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the For the Epistle. Isai. vii. 10. MR2, saying, Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary inen, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and OREOVER, the Lord spake again unto choose the good. The Gospel. St. Luke i. 26. Awas sent from God unto a city of Galilee AND in the sixth month the angel Gabriel named Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the St Mark, the companion of St Peter, is related to have written his Gospel under the direction of that Apostle. He founded, or rather superintended, the Church of Alexandria, where he is said to have been martyred in attempting to stop the worship of Serapis, c. 64. His body was carried to Venice, 465. The festival is as old as 730. Introit in 1549, Ps. cxli. The Collect was composed in 1549. The Epistle in Sar. Miss. ends with v. 13, not 16, as in our Order. The Gospel ended with v. 7, not with v. 11, as ours. In the Greek Church the Epistle is 1 Pet. v. 6-14. The Gospel is Luke x. 16-21. The following is from the Greek Service Book. 'O blessed Mark, thou didst drink from the fountain of grace, and didst flow forth from Eden a most illustrious river of peace, watering with the streams of thy evangelic preaching the face of the earth, and moistening the foundations of the church with thy inspired teaching. 'O noble Mark, Moses of yore whelmed the Egyptians in the sea, but thou, O wise one, didst draw forth the same people from error, through the same power having in bodily presence sojourned among them and destroyed their idols with a high arm.' The Great Litany of St Mark's Day was instituted by Gregory the Great, 590, on occasion of a pestilence in Rome. It was received in England by the Council of Cloveshoo, 747. Seven processions set out from different Churches, and met in one principal Church for a solemn service. Thus commenced the Litania Septena; and from the circumstances of its origin the Litany on St Mark's Day is called the Litania Major, although the service used does not differ from that of the Rogations. St Mark is represented with a lion by his side; seated, a fig-tree behind him; strangled; dragged by the neck. Of the Evangelistic symbols the following interpretation may be given: The angel with human face, assigned to St Matthew, alludes to the humanity of our Lord, on which this Evangelist especially dwells. The lion of St Mark represents the royal character of the Son of David. The ox, or calf, of St Luke sets forth the sacrificial nature of the Redeemer. The soaring sublimity of St John is expressed by the eagle. Philip the Apostle lived for some time, and died at Hierapolis in Phrygia. He had two unmarried daughters, who attained a great age, and were buried at Hierapolis. If James, the son of Alphæus, were not the same person as James the Bishop of Jerusalem, we know nothing of his history. If he were, then he presided for 30 years over the Church there, and was martyred, 62; he received his deathblow from a fuller's club. We find the Festival of St Philip and St James in Bede, 730. In other calendars a separate day is assigned to St James, June 22nd. Introit in 1549, Ps. cxxxiii. The Collect was composed in 1549, and ran as follows: Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, as thou hast taught St Philip and other the Apostles; through Jesus Christ our Lord:' altered to its present form in 1662. The Epistle in Sar. Miss. is Wisdom v. 1-6. The Gospel in Sar. Miss, and in MS. Leofric is the same as ours. In the Greek Church the Festival of St Philip is kept on the 14th of November. The Epistle is Acts viii. 26–39. This selection has reference to Philip the Deacon. The Gospel, John i. 44—51, to Philip the Apostle. From the Greek Service Book. 'As an organ touched by the breath of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit didst thou quit thyself; and, by singing a strain of supernatural beauty to the world, thou didst with thy tongue of fire wither all deceit like combustible wood, and like grass of the earth that fadeth away; and to all the inhabitants of the globe thou preachedst, O holy Philip, our master and Lord Christ.' James, the son of Alphæus, is commemorated on the 9th of October. The Epistle is 1 Cor. iv. 9-16. The Gospel is Matt. ix. 36-x. 8. From the Greek Service Book. 'Filled to overflowing with the streams of divine wisdom thou gushedst forth as a river of paradisiacal beauty, and didst bedew the face of the earth, O wise one, with genuine waters of godliness.' James, the Lord's brother, the first Bishop of Jerusalem, is commemorated on the 23rd of October. The Epistle is Gal.i.11-19. The Gospel is Matt. xiii. 54-58. |