[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Mon Apr 9 05:00:45 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Apr 9 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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John 20:19-25  (Vespers, Gospel)
19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week,
when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear
of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them,
"Peace be with you."
20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then
the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent
Me, I also send you."
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you
retain the sins of any, they are retained.
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them
when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."
So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails,
and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into
His side, I will not believe."
Scripture Reading 1 of 8

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Acts 1:12-17, 21-26
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which
is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.
13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where
they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas;
Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the
Zealot; and Judas the son of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,
with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples
(altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and
said,
16 Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the
Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who
became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;
17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.
21 Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that
the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up
from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His
resurrection.
23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed
Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all,
show which of these two You have chosen
25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by
transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was
numbered with the eleven apostles.
Scripture Reading 2 of 8

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John 1:18-28
18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in
the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and
Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the
Christ."
21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am
not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."
22 Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to
those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"
23 He said: "I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make
straight the way of the LORD, ' as the prophet Isaiah said."
24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, saying, "Why then do you baptize if you are not
the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
26 John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands
One among you whom you do not know.
27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal
strap I am not worthy to loose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John
was baptizing.
Scripture Reading 3 of 8

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Matthew 28:1-20  (Cross Procession)
1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the
door, and sat on it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as
snow.
4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for
I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place
where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the
dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will
see Him. Behold, I have told you.
8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and
ran to bring His disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them,
saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped
Him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren
to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the
city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had
happened.
12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together,
they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13 saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away
while we slept.'
14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and
make you secure.
15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this
saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain
which Jesus had appointed for them.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been
given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
Scripture Reading 4 of 8

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Mark 16:1-8  (Cross Procession)
1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of
James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came
to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from
the door of the tomb for us?"
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled
away-for it was very large.
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white
robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where
they laid Him.
7 But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you
into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.
8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled
and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were
afraid.
Scripture Reading 5 of 8

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Luke 24:1-12  (Cross Procession)
1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they,
and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the
spices which they had prepared.
2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that
behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they
said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He
was still in Galilee,
7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful
men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'
8 And they remembered His words.
9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the
eleven and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the
other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not
believe them.
12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the
linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to
himself at what had happened.
Scripture Reading 6 of 8

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John 20:1-10 (or Luke 24:36-53)  (Cross Procession)
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb
early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken
away from the tomb.
2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple,
whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out
of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to
the tomb.
4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and
came to the tomb first.
5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying
there; yet he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he
saw the linen cloths lying there,
7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with
the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also;
and he saw and believed.
9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again
from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
Scripture Reading 7 of 8

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Luke 24:36-53 (or John 20:1-10)  (Cross Procession)
36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of
them, and said to them, "Peace to you."
37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen
a spirit.
38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise
in your hearts?
39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and
see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.
40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said
to them, "Have you any food here?"
42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.
43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you
while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which
were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms
concerning Me."
45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the
Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was
necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third
day,
47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His
name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And you are witnesses of these things.
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the
city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands
and blessed them.
51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from
them and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
Scripture Reading 8 of 8

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Bright Monday
On Bright Monday the Church commemorates the Sweet-Kissing
(Glykophilousa) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Like the Iveron Icon (March 31), the Sweet-Kissing Icon was also saved
from the iconoclasts by a pious woman in the ninth century. It also
traveled miraculously upon the sea, arriving at Mt. Athos, the "Garden
of the Theotokos," where it was honored by the monks.
A nobleman named Simeon was an iconoclast who shared the emperor
Theophilus's hatred for the holy icons. Simeon's wife Victoria, on the
other hand, venerated icons, especially a certain icon of the Mother
of God before which she prayed each day. Simeon could not tolerate his
wife's piety, so he demanded that she give him the icon so he could
burn it. Victoria threw the icon into the sea, hoping that it would be
preserved through God's providence.
Years later, the icon appeared on the shores of Mt. Athos near the
monastery of Philotheou. The igumen and the brethren of the monastery
retrieved the icon and placed it in the church, where it worked many
miracles.
In 1830 a pilgrim came to the monastery from Adrianopolis. He listened
to the history of the icon and the miracles associated with it, but
regarded such things as childish fables. The monk who had related all
this was surprised and grieved by the pilgrim's disbelief, fearing
that such doubts indicated an unhealthy spiritual state. He did all
that he could to remove the pilgrim's skepticism, but the man
stubbornly adhered to his opinion.
The Mother of God, in her compassion, finally healed the pilgrim's
soul in a rather dramatic way. On the very day that he had his
discussion with the monk, the pilgrim was walking on an upper balcony.
Suddenly, he lost his footing and began to fall. In his distress he
called out, "Most Holy Theotokos, help me!" The Mother of God heard
him, and he landed on the ground completely unharmed.
The icon is one of the Eleusa (Tenderness) type. It is unusual in that
it shows the Virgin kissing her Child. Christ raises His hand as if to
repulse His mother's caress.
Other Sweet-Kissing (Tenderness) icons are: Lubyatov (March 19)
Novgorod (July 28)
Pskov (May 21, June 23, August 26, October 7)
Smolensk (March 19)
Sviatogorsk (July 17)
Yaroslavl (May 14)
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Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea, in Cappadocia
The Holy Martyr Eupsychius was born in the city of Caesarea in
Cappadocia and received a Christian upbringing by his illustrious
parents.
During the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363), St Eupsychius
entered into a Christian marriage.
At Caesarea there was a pagan temple to the goddess Fortuna, whom
Julian the Apostate revered. As Eupsychius was going to his wedding,
the pagans were offering sacrifice to the goddess Fortuna.
St Eupsychius was filled with zeal for the Lord, and he destroyed the
temple. He knew that this would inevitably result in his punishment.
St Eupsychius distributed all his possessions to the poor and prepared
himself for martyrdom.
The enraged emperor Julian loosed his wrath not only upon St
Eupsychius, but against all the inhabitants of this city. Some of the
citizens were executed, while the more respectable were sent into
exile. Christian clergy were drafted into military service, and he
looted the churches of anything valuable. The city was deprived of its
title Caesarea [i.e. "Imperial"] and resumed its original name of
Maza. He also imposed a severe tax on the inhabitants. The emperor
threatened to annihilate the city altogether, if the people did not
build a new pagan temple in place of the one destroyed.
Julian tried to compel St Eupsychius to offer sacrifice to idols. For
many days they tormented the saint on a rack, and also with iron
claws. But his faith was firm, and the judge sentenced the martyr to
be beheaded with a sword.
Then Julian embarked on a campaign against the Persians, marching
through Cappadocia and approaching Caesarea. Danger threatened the
city, since the emperor intended to raze it to its foundations. But
then St Basil the Great (January 1), showing Julian the proper respect
as sovereign authority, came out to meet him carrying with him three
loaves of barley bread, which he ate. The emperor ordered his
retainers to take the loaves, and to give St Basil a pinch of hay
saying, "You have given us barley, cattle fodder. Now receive hay from
us in return."
The saint answered, "O Emperor, we bring you that which we ourselves
eat, and you give us cattle feed. You mock us, since you, by your
might, are not able to transform hay into bread, the essential food of
mankind."
Julian angrily retorted, "I'll shove this hay down your throat when I
return here from Persia. I shall raze this city to its very
foundations, and plow over this ground and turn it into a field. I
know that it was on your advice that the people dared to destroy the
statues and temple of Fortuna."
After this the emperor continued on his way, but soon perished in his
campaign against the Persians. He was struck down in the year 363 by
the holy Great Martyr Mercurius (November 24).
After the emperor's demise, the Christians of the city of Caesarea
built a splendid church over the grave of St Eupsychius, and from his
holy relics they received help and healing.
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Martyr Desan the Bishop and 272 others in Persia
The Holy Martyrs Bishop Desan, Presbyter Mariabus, Abdiesus, and 270
Others were put to death under the Persian emperor Sapor II.
Imprisoned, they refused to turn away from the Christian Faith. In
their number also was the Martyr Ia, who is commemorated also on
September 11.
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Martyr Mariabus the Presbyter and 272 others in Persia
The Holy Martyrs Mariabus the presbyter, Bishop Desan, Abdiesus, and
270 others were put to death under the Persian emperor Sapor II.
Imprisoned, they refused to turn away from the Christian Faith. In
their number also was the Martyr Ia, who is commemorated on September
11.
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Martyr Abdiesus and 272 Others in Persia
The Holy Martyrs Bishop Desan, Presbyter Mariabus, Abdiesus, and 270
Others were put to death under the Persian emperor Sapor II.
Imprisoned, they refused to turn away from the Christian Faith. In
their number also was the Martyr Ia, who is commemorated also on
September 11.
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272 Martyrs in Persia with Desan the Bishop
The Holy Martyrs Bishop Desan, Presbyter Mariabus, Abdiesus, and 270
Others were put to death under the Persian emperor Sapor II.
Imprisoned, they refused to turn away from the Christian Faith. In
their number also was the Martyr Ia, who is commemorated also on
September 11.
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Monkmartyr Bademus (Vadim) of Persia
Monk Martyr Archimandrite Bademus (Vadim) was born in the fourth
century in the Persian city of Bithlapata, and was descended from a
rich and illustrious family. In his youth, he was enlightened with the
Christian teaching. The saint gave away all his wealth to the poor and
withdrew into the wilderness, where he founded a monastery. He would
go up on a mountain for solitary prayer, and once was permitted to
behold the Glory of God.
During this period the Persian emperor Sapor (310-381) began to
persecute Christians. They arrested St Bademus and his seven
disciples, and tortured them in prison, hoping that they would
renounce Christ and worship the sun and fire. But St Bademus and his
disciples held firmly to the Christian Faith. The confessors spent
four months in jail. All this time St Bademus was a spiritual leader
and support for the Christians living in Persia.
One of the associates of the emperor Sapor, Nirsanes, was a Christian
and suffered imprisonment for this. He did not hold up under torture
and denied Christ, promising to fulfill whatever the emperor
commanded. Sapor demanded that Nirsanes personally cut off the head of
St Bademus. For this he was promised a reprieve and great rewards.
Nirsanes was not able to overcome his fear of new tortures, and he
agreed to follow the path of betrayal walked by Judas.
When they brought St Bademus to him, he took the sword and turned
toward him, but overcome by conscience, he trembled and stood
petrified. St Bademus said to him, "Has your wickedness now reached
this point, Nirsanes, that you should not only renounce God, but also
murder His servants? Woe to you, accursed one! What will you do on
that day when you stand before the Dread Judgment Seat? What answer
will you give to God? I am prepared to die for Christ, but I don't
want to receive death at your hands."
Nirsanes struck with the sword, but his hands shook, and he could not
behead the saint immediately, and the fire-worshippers began to call
him a coward. The holy martyr Bademus stood motionless, enduring many
terrible blows, until the murderer succeeded in cutting off his head.
The just punishment for his misdeeds were not slow in overtaking the
hapless fellow. Tormented by his conscience, he did away with himself,
throwing himself on a sword. After the death of the emperor Sapor, the
seven disciples of St Bademus were released from prison.
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St Eleni (who was also called Susanna), New martyr of Lesbos
Saint Eleni (who was also called Susanna) is one of the New Martyrs of
Lesbos who are commemorated on Bright Tuesday. She was St. Irene's
older cousin, and suffered along with Sts Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene
on April 9, 1463 (Bright Tuesday).
On November 12, 1961 Mrs Basilike Rallis had a dream in which she saw
herself by the church at Karyes near the town of Thermi on the Greek
island of Lesbos. As she looked inside the church, she saw a young
girl about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a dark complexion and
dark hair. Since the girl was praying, Mrs Rallis also began to pray.
The girl turned to her and said, "Do you know who I am? I am a martyr.
Not like Renoula (a diminutive form of Irene), of course, but if you
only knew what I endured! I lived with the mayor's family, and I was
also with them when the Turks tortured them here. They mistreated me
and gave me such a horrib le beating that I died from the pains. My
name is Eleni."
The saint also told Mrs Rallis about an icon of the Mother of God that
she had been asking about, revealing to her the place where it would
be found.
When she awoke, Mrs Rallis was reluctant to mention this dream to
anyone. She said to herself, "If there really is another martyr named
Eleni, I'll see her again. Maybe someone else will see her, too, then
I'll tell. But who was this Eleni who lived with the mayor's family?
Perhaps she was thei r servant."
The next night, she dreamed that she was in the village church. She
saw three clerics coming out through the left door of the altar. She
made the Sign of the Cross at once, for she thought that Satan might
be tempting her. Then ;she saw the three clerics make the Sign of the
Cross, too. They looked at her and smiled as they slowly proceeded to
the center of the church.
"I recognized St. Raphael and St. Nicholas right away," Mrs Rallis
recalled, "but did not know the other saint. He was tall, middle-aged
with a long grey beard and a lordly air about him."
At that moment, a girl with a round face came out by the same door.
She was beautiful, and she wore a rose-colored dress. Mrs Rallis
approached her and, kneeling before her, she asked, "Are you also a
saint?"
"Yes," the girl replied. "Sit down beside me, watch quietly and I will
explain some things to you."
Then other people began to come out from the same door and approached
the saints. First, a man of medium height with civilian clothes and a
long grey jacket. The girl said to Mrs Rallis, "The teacher,
Theodore." He was followed by another well-formed man. The saint said,
"The mayor, Basil (St Irene's father)." Then a tall, stout woman of
about forty came forth with two girls whom Mrs Rallis recognized at
once.They were Sts Irene and Eleni, of whom she had dreamt the night
before.
The unknown saint who had appeared with Sts Raphael and Nicholas
identified the tall woman as Maria, the mayor's wife, and the two
girls as Renoula and Eleni. He asked Mrs Rallis, "Why, when you
dreamed abou t her last evening, did you say that you would not say
anything about it to anyone? Eleni is also a martyr, and she wishes to
be remembered. She was not the mayor's servant, but his orphaned niece
who lived with them. Her proper name, which she signed on papers, was
Eleni. However, they also called her Susanna. She also had that name."
Mrs Rallis slowly approached St Irene. She embraced her and began to
weep, saying, "O Renoula, my tortured little girl, how could these
heartless evil-doers burn you?" Then St Irene also started to cry.
When Mrs Rallis woke up, her eyes were filled with tears, and she
thought that she would faint. So powerful was the dream that she later
said, "Ah, that tortured child! How I ached for her! Every time I go
to Karyes I will sit by her little tomb and I will mourn as if she
were my own child. Just think, they tortured the child in front of her
father, in front of her mother who bore her. It seems to me that there
does not exist a more terrible martyrdom for parents."
The Newly-Appeared Martyrs of Lesbos are also commemorated on April 9.
Detailed accounts of these saints may be found in A GREAT SIGN (in
Greek) by Photios Kontoglou (Astir, 1964).
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New Martyr Raphael of Lesbos
Newly-Appeared Martyrs of Lesbos, Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene were
martyred by the Turks on Bright Tuesday (April 9, 1463) ten years
after the Fall of Constantinople. For nearly 500 years, they were
forgotten by the people of Lesbos, but "the righteous Judge... opened
the things that were hid" (2 Macc. 12:41).
For centuries the people of Lesbos would go on Bright Tuesday to the
ruins of a monastery near Thermi, a village northwest of the capital,
Mytilene. As time passed, however, no one could remember the reason
for the annual pilgrimage. There was a vague recollection that once
there had been a monastery on that spot, and that the monks had been
killed by the Turks.
In 1959, a pious man named Angelos Rallis decided to build a chapel
near the ruins of the monastery. On July 3 of that year, workmen
discovered the relics of St Raphael while clearing the ground. Soon,
the saints began appearing to various inhabitants of Lesbos and
revealed the details of their lives and martyrdom. These accounts form
the basis of Photios Kontoglou's 1962 book A GREAT SIGN (in Greek).
St Raphael was born on the island of Ithaka around 1410, and was
raised by pious parents. His baptismal name was George, but he was
named Raphael when he became a monk. He was ordained to the holy
priesthood, and later attained the offices of Archimandrite and
Chancellor.
In 1453, St Raphael was living in Macedonia with his fellow monastic,
the deacon Nicholas, a native of Thessalonica. In 1454, the Turks
invaded Thrace, so the two monks fled to the island of Lesbos. They
settled in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos near Thermi,
where St Raphael became the igumen.
In the spring of 1463, the Turks raided the monastery and captured the
monks. They were tortured from Holy Thursday until Bright Tuesday. St
Raphael was tied to a tree, and the ferocious Turks sawed through his
jaw, killing him. St Nicholas was also tortured, and he died while
witnessing his Elder's martyrdom. He appeared to people and indicated
the spot where his relics were uncovered on June 13, 1960.
St Irene was the twelve-year-old daughter of the village mayor, Basil.
She and her family had come to the monastery to warn the monks of the
invasion. The cruel Hagarenes cut off one of her arms and threw it
down in front of her parents. Then the pure virgin was placed in a
large earthen cask and a fire was lit under it, suffocating her
within. These torments took place before the eyes of her parents, who
were also put to death. Her grave and the earthen cask were found on
May 12, 1961 after Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene had appeared to
people and told them where to look.
Others who also received the crown of martyrdom on that day were St
Irene's parents Basil and Maria; Theodore, the village teacher; and
Eleni, the fifteen-year-old cousin of St Irene.
The saints appeared separately and together, telling people that they
wished to be remembered. They asked that their icon be painted, that a
church service be composed for them, and they indicated the place
where their holy relics could be found. Based on the descriptions of
those who had seen the saints, the master iconographer Photios
Kontoglou painted their icon. The ever-memorable Father Gerasimos of
Little St Anne Skete on Mt Athos composed their church service.
Many miracles have taken place on Lesbos, and throughout the world.
The saints hasten to help those who invoke them, healing the sick,
consoling the sorrowful, granting relief from pain, and bringing many
unbelievers and impious individuals back to the Church.
St Raphael is tall, middle-aged, and has a beard of moderate length.
His hair is black with some grey in it. His face is majestic,
expressive, and filled with heavenly grace. St Nicholas is short and
thin, with a small blond beard. He stands before St Raphael with great
respect. St Irene usually appears with a long yellow dress reaching to
her feet. Her blonde hair is divided into two braids which rest on
either side of her chest.
Sts Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene (and those with them) are also
commemorated on Bright Tuesday. Dr. Constantine Cavarnos has given a
detailed account of their life, miracles, and spiritual counsels in
Volume 10 of his inspirational series MODERN ORTHODOX SAINTS (Belmont,
MA, 1990).
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New Martyr Nicholas of Lesbos
Newly-Appeared Martyrs of Lesbos, Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene were
martyred by the Turks on Bright Tuesday (April 9, 1463) ten years
after the Fall of Constantinople. They began appearing to various
inhabitants of Lesbos in 1959 and revealed the details of their lives
and martyrdom. These accounts form the basis of Photios Kontoglou's
1962 book A GREAT SIGN (in Greek).
In 1453, St Nicholas was living in Macedonia with his fellow monastic,
St Raphael. Deacon Nicholas was a native of Thessalonica. In 1454, the
Turks invaded Thrace, so the two monks fled to the island of Lesbos.
They settled in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos near
Thermi, where St Raphael became the igumen.
In the spring of 1463, the Turks raided the monastery and captured the
monks. They were tortured from Holy Thursday until Bright Tuesday. St
Raphael was tied to a tree, and the ferocious Turks sawed through his
jaw, killing him. St Nicholas was also tortured, and he died while
witnessing his Elder's martyrdom. He appeared to people and indicated
the spot where his relics were uncovered on June 13, 1960.
St Nicholas is short and thin, with a small blond beard. He stands
before St Raphael with great respect. St Irene usually appears with a
long yellow dress reaching to her feet. Her blonde hair is divided
into two braids which rest on either side of her chest.
Sts Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene (and those with them) are also
commemorated on Bright Tuesday. Dr. Constantine Cavarnos has given a
detailed account of their life, miracles, and spiritual counsels in
Volume 10 of his inspirational series MODERN ORTHODOX SAINTS (Belmont,
MA, 1990).
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New Martyr Irene of Lesbos
The Newly-Appeared Martyrs of Lesbos, Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene
were martyred by the Turks on Bright Tuesday (April 9, 1463) ten years
after the Fall of Constantinople. They began appearing to various
inhabitants of Lesbos in 1959 and revealed the details of their lives
and martyrdom. These accounts form the basis of Photios Kontoglou's
1962 book A GREAT SIGN (in Greek).
St Irene was the twelve-year-old daughter of the village mayor, Basil.
In the spring of 1463, the Turks raided the monastery at Thermi and
captured the monks. She and her family had come to the monastery to
warn the monks of the invasion. The cruel Hagarenes cut off one of her
arms and threw it down in front of her parents. Then the pure virgin
was placed in a large earthen cask and a fire was lit under it,
suffocating her within. These torments took place before the eyes of
her parents, who were also put to death. Her grave and the earthen
cask were found on May 12, 1961 after Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene
had appeared to people and told them where to look.
Others who also received the crown of martyrdom on that day were St
Irene's parents Basil and Maria; Theodore, the village teacher; and
Eleni, the fifteen-year-old cousin of St Irene.
St Irene usually appears with a long yellow dress reaching to her
feet. Her blonde hair is divided into two braids which rest on either
side of her chest.
Sts Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene (and those with them) are also
commemorated on Bright Tuesday. Dr. Constantine Cavarnos has given a
detailed account of their life, miracles, and spiritual counsels in
Volume 10 of his inspirational series MODERN ORTHODOX SAINTS (Belmont,
MA, 1990).
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St Vadim Piersidsk
No information available at this time.
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