[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed Apr 11 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Acts 2:22-36
22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested
by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through
Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-
23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of
God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to
death;
24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it
was not possible that He should be held by it.
25 For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD always before my
face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my
flesh also will rest in hope.
27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your
Holy One to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full
of joy in Your presence.'
29 Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch
David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to
this day.
30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an
oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He
would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the
Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see
corruption.
32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having
received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out
this which you now see and hear.
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
'The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has
made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2


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John 1:35-51
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.
36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of
God!"
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What
do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when
translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"
39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was
staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth
hour).
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have
found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).
42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said,
"You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is
translated, A Stone).
43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found
Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom
Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the
son of Joseph."
46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of
Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"
48 Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and
said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig
tree, I saw you."
49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!
You are the King of Israel!"
50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you
under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than
these."
51 And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you
shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending
upon the Son of Man."
Scripture Reading 2 of 2



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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Bright Wednesday
On Bright Wednesday we commemorate the holy monastic Fathers who have
shone forth on the God-trodden Mt Sinai. This commemoration was
established by the Church of Russia on April 17, 1997.
Saints Theocharis and Apostolos are local saints of Arta. The first
fell asleep in 1845 and the second a little later. St Theocharis was a
teacher at Komboti, Arta. The icons of these saints are in the church
of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Arta.
The Kasperov Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is also commemorated
today. Tradition says that this holy icon had been brought to Cherson
from Transylvania by a Serb at the end of the sixteenth century.
Passing down from parent and child, the icon had come to a certain
Mrs. Kasperova of Cherson in 1809.
One night in February of 1840 she was praying, seeking consolation in
her many sorrows. Looking at the icon of the Virgin, she noticed that
the features of the icon, darkened by age, had suddenly become bright.
Soon the icon was glorified by many miracles, and people regarded it
as wonder-working.
During the Crimean War (1853-1856), the icon was carried in procession
through the city of Odessa, which was besieged by enemy forces. On
Great and Holy Friday, the city was spared. Since that time, an
Akathist has been served before the icon in the Dormition Cathedral of
Odessa every Friday.
The icon is painted with oils on a canvas mounted on wood. The Mother
of God holds Her Son on her left arm. The Child is holding a scroll.
St John the Baptist (Janurary 7) is depicted on one side of the icon,
and St Tatiana (January 12) on the other. These were probably the
patron saints of the original owners of the icon.
The Kasperov Icon is commemorated on October 1, June 29, and Bright
Wednesday.
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Hieromartyr Antipas the Bishop of Pergamum and Disciple of St
John the Theologian
The Hieromartyr Antipas, a disciple of the holy Apostle John the
Theologian (September 26), was bishop of the Church of Pergamum during
the reign of the emperor Nero (54-68).
During these times, everyone who would not offer sacrifice to the
idols lived under threat of either exile or execution by order of the
emperor. On the island of Patmos (in the Aegean Sea) the holy Apostle
John the Theologian was imprisoned, he to whom the Lord revealed the
future judgment of the world and of Holy Church.
"And to the angel of the Church of Pergamum write: the words of him
who has the sharp two-edged sword. I know where you live, where the
throne of Satan is, and you cleave unto My Name, and have not
renounced My faith, even in those days when Antipas was My faithful
martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells" (Rev 2:12-13).
By his personal example, firm faith and constant preaching about
Christ, St Antipas began to turn the people of Pergamum from offering
sacrifice to idols. The pagan priests reproached the bishop for
leading the people away from their ancestral gods, and they demanded
that he stop preaching about Christ and offer sacrifice to the idols
instead.
St Antipas calmly answered that he was not about to serve the demons
that fled from him, a mere mortal. He said he worshiped the Lord
Almighty, and he would continue to worship the Creator of all, with
His Only-Begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit. The pagan priests retorted
that their gods existed from of old, whereas Christ was not from of
old but was crucified under Pontius Pilate as a criminal. The saint
replied that the pagan gods were the work of human hands and that
everything said about them was filled with iniquities and vices. He
steadfastly confessed his faith in the Son of God, incarnate of the
Most Holy Virgin.
The enraged pagan priests dragged the Hieromartyr Antipas to the
temple of Artemis and threw him into a red-hot copper bull, where
usually they put the sacrifices to the idols. In the red-hot furnace
the martyr prayed loudly to God, imploring Him to receive his soul and
to strengthen the faith of the Christians. He went to the Lord
peacefully, as if he were going to sleep (+ ca. 68).
At night Christians took the body of the Hieromartyr Antipas, which
was untouched by the fire. They buried him at Pergamum. The tomb of
the hieromartyr became a font of miracles and of healings from various
sicknesses.
We pray to the Hieromartyr Antipas for relief from toothache, and
diseases of the teeth.
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Venerable James the Abbot of Zheleznoborov
Saint James of Zhelezny Bor, a son of the noble Anosov (or Amosov)
line, which had their lands at Kostroma Galich, was born in the second
half of the fourteenth century. As a youth he went to St Sergiua of
Radonezh, received monastic tonsure from him, and lived at the Trinity
monastery for several years.
In 1392 St James settled in a dense forest near iron mines, at a place
which was called the Iron Pines, at the banks of the rivulet Tebza.
His sanctity of life was already known in his own time. In 1415 the
wife of Great Prince Basil (1389-1425), Sophia (in monasticism
Syncletica, + 1453) fell seriously ill before childbirth. The Great
Prince sent a message to St James begging the monk to pray for his
wife, and asking whether she would live. The saint told him to pray to
the holy Martyr Longinus and foretold the happy birth of a son, Basil.
(In 1450, this son, Great Prince Basil (1425-1462), visited the
monastery of St James and prayed there with gratitude for his victory
over Prince Demetrius Shemyaka).
The grateful Prince Basil generously rewarded St James and gave him
money to build a monastery with a church in honor of the holy Prophet
John the Forerunner. In 1429, the Khazan Tatars laid waste the
surroundings of Galich. St James hid deep in the forest with his
disciples. When they returned, they found the monastery in ruins.
Everything had to be rebuilt.
The saint built a church dedicated to St Nicholas, and he dug out
ponds with the brethren. On the example of the Trinity-Sergiev
monastery a strict cenobitic rule was introduced. Many of the hungry
and destitute people, devastated by the Tatars, were fed at the
monastery.
After many years of common ascetical efforts, the monks entreated St
James to be their igumen. He humbly submitted to their request and
journeyed to Moscow, where he was ordained a priest.
St James died on April 11, 1442 and was buried at the John the
Forerunner church of the monastery he founded.
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St Barsanuphius the Bishop of Tver
Saint Barsanuphius of Tver was born in the year 1495, and was from
Serpukhov. He was named John in Baptism, and he was taught to read and
write. While still a youth, he was captured by the Crimean Tatars.
Accepting this as the Lord's will, he meekly submitted to his masters,
and dutifully accomplished the work they assigned him to do. After
three years, John's father ransomed him. He then went to Moscow and
became a monk in the Andronikov Monastery, where he received the
monastic name Barsanuphius.
Devoting himself to the ascetical life, he became proficient in virtue
and piety. In 1544, he was appointed as igumen of the Pesnosha
Monastery. Later, he went to Kazan and founded a monastery dedicated
to the Transfiguration of the Lord.
While in Kazan, Archimandrite Barsanuphius was able to help St Gurias
(December 5) in spreading Christianity among the Moslems and pagans.
His knowledge of the Tatar language proved to be very useful in this
work.
In 1567, St Barsanuphius was consecrated Bishop of Tver. He healed
many sick people with his knowledge of medicine, but he also healed
those suffering from infirmities of the soul.
When the God-pleaser reached old age, he returned to Kazan and to the
Transfiguration Monastery which he founded. There he received the
Great Schema, and he died at the monastery in 1576.
The holy relics of Sts Gurias and Barsanuphius were uncovered on
October 4, 1596. They were placed in shrines in a side chapel of the
church at the orders of Patriarch Job. On June 20, 1630 their
grace-filled relics were transferred from the Transfiguration
Monastery to the Cathedral of the Annunciation.
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Martyr Processus of Rome
The Holy Martyrs Processus and Martinian were pagans and they served
as guards at the Mamertine prison in Rome.
State criminals were held in this prison, among them some Christians.
Watching the Christian prisoners and listening to their preaching,
Processus and Martinian gradually came to the knowledge of the Savior.
When the holy Apostle Peter was locked up at the Mamertine prison,
Processus and Martinian came to believe in Christ. They accepted holy
Baptism from the apostle and released him from prison.
The jailer Paulinus learned about this, and he demanded that Sts
Processus and Martinian renounce Christ. But they fearlessly confessed
Christ, and they spat at the golden statue of Jupiter. Paulinus
ordered that they be slapped on the face, and then seeing the resolute
stance of the holy martyrs, he subjected them to torture. The martyrs
were beaten with iron rods, scorched with fire, and finally, thrown
into prison.
A certain illustrious and pious woman, by the name of Lucina, visited
them in prison and gave them help and encouragement. The torturer
Paulinus was soon punished by God. He fell blind and died three days
later. The son of Paulinus went to the city ruler demanding that the
martyrs be put to death. Sts Processus and Martinian were beheaded by
the sword (+ ca. 67).
Lucina buried the bodies of the martyrs. Today their tomb is in the
south transept of St Peter's Basilica in Rome.
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Martyr Martinian of Rome
The Holy Martyrs Processus and Martinian were pagans and they served
as guards at the Mamertine prison in Rome.
State criminals were held in this prison, among them some Christians.
Watching the Christian prisoners and listening to their preaching,
Processus and Martinian gradually came to the knowledge of the Savior.
When the holy Apostle Peter was locked up at the Mamertine prison,
Processus and Martinian came to believe in Christ. They accepted holy
Baptism from the apostle and released him from prison.
The jailer Paulinus learned about this, and he demanded that Sts
Processus and Martinian renounce Christ. But they fearlessly confessed
Christ, and they spat at the golden statue of Jupiter. Paulinus
ordered that they be slapped on the face, and then seeing the resolute
stance of the holy martyrs, he subjected them to torture. The martyrs
were beaten with iron rods, scorched with fire, and finally, thrown
into prison.
A certain illustrious and pious woman, by the name of Lucina, visited
them in prison and gave them help and encouragement. The torturer
Paulinus was soon punished by God. He fell blind and died three days
later. The son of Paulinus went to the city ruler demanding that the
martyrs be put to death. Sts Processus and Martinian were beheaded by
the sword (+ ca. 67).
Lucina buried the bodies of the martyrs. Today their tomb is in the
south transept of St Peter's Basilica in Rome.
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Venerable Pharmuthius the Anchorite of Egypt
Saint Pharmuphios lived during the fourth century at the same desert
monastery where St John (March 29) lived in asceticism within a well,
to whom St Pharmuphios gave food.
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Venerable John the Disciple of the Venerable Gregory of
Decapolis
Saint John was a disciple of St Gregory the Decapolite (November 20).
See April 18.
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St Callinicus of Cernica the Bishop of Rimnicului in Romania
No information available at this time.
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Appearance of the Icon of the Mother of God "the Footprint"
at Pochaev
No information available at this time.
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