[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Thu Apr 19 05:00:31 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Apr 19 2007

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Acts 4:23-31
23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported
all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one
accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the
sea, and all that is in them,
25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the
nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were
gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.'
27 For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both
Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel,
were gathered together
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be
done.
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that
with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may
be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled
together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit,
and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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John 5:24-30
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in
Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into
judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when
the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear
will live.
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to
have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is
the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are
in the graves will hear His voice
29 and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of
life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of
condemnation.
30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is
righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the
Father who sent Me.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Venerable John of the Ancient Caves in Palestine
Saint John of the Ancient Caves is so called because he lived during
the eighth century in the Lavra of St Chariton (September 28). This
was called the "Old," or ancient cave, since it was one the oldest of
the Palestinian monasteries. The Lavra was situated not far from
Bethlehem, near the Dead Sea.
St John in his early years left the world, went to venerate the holy
places of Jerusalem, and settled at the Lavra, where he labored in
fasting, vigil, and prayer. He was ordained to the holy priesthood,
and glorified by his ascetic life.
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Martyr Christopher at Nicomedia
The Holy Martyrs Christopher, Theonas, and Anthony were officers in
the army of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). They were present at the
sufferings of the Holy Great Martyr George (April 23), they saw the
miracles accomplished by the power of God, and they witnessed St
George's faith and unshakable courage.
The soldiers came to believe in the Savior, threw down their golden
military belts, and declared themselves Christians in front of the
emperor. They were immediately thrown into prison. The next day the
emperor urged the former soldiers to renounce Christ, but they firmly
confessed their faith and glorified the Savior as the true God.
The emperor ordered that the martyrs be beaten with iron rods, and
their bodies to be raked with hooks. The holy martyrs endured all the
torments and remained unyielding. Then Diocletian gave orders to burn
them. The martyric death of Sts Christopher, Theonas, and Anthony
occurred in the year 303.
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Martyr Theonas at Nicomedia
The Holy Martyrs Christopher, Theonas, and Anthony were officers in
the army of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). They were present at the
sufferings of the Holy Great Martyr George (April 23), they saw the
miracles accomplished by the power of God, and they witnessed St
George's faith and unshakable courage.
The soldiers came to believe in the Savior, threw down their golden
military belts, and declared themselves Christians in front of the
emperor. They were immediately thrown into prison. The next day the
emperor urged the former soldiers to renounce Christ, but they firmly
confessed their faith and glorified the Savior as the true God.
The emperor ordered that the martyrs be beaten with iron rods, and
their bodies to be raked with hooks. The holy martyrs endured all the
torments and remained unyielding. Then Diocletian gave orders to burn
them. The martyric death of Sts Christopher, Theonas, and Anthony
occurred in the year 303.
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Martyr Anthony at Rome
The Holy Martyrs Christopher, Theonas, and Anthony were officers in
the army of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). They were present at the
sufferings of the Holy Great Martyr George (April 23), they saw the
miracles accomplished by the power of God, and they witnessed St
George's faith and unshakable courage.
The soldiers came to believe in the Savior, threw down their golden
military belts, and declared themselves Christians in front of the
emperor. They were immediately thrown into prison. The next day the
emperor urged the former soldiers to renounce Christ, but they firmly
confessed their faith and glorified the Savior as the true God.
The emperor ordered that the martyrs be beaten with iron rods, and
their bodies to be raked with hooks. The holy martyrs endured all the
torments and remained unyielding. Then Diocletian gave orders to burn
them. The martyric death of Sts Christopher, Theonas, and Anthony
occurred in the year 303.
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Hieromartyr Paphnutius of Jerusalem
Hieromartyr Paphnutius of Jerusalem was a bishop. He underwent many
sufferings from the pagans and was tortured by fire, wild beasts, and
finally was beheaded by the sword.
Some suggest that the hieromartyr Paphnutius was an Egyptian bishop
and suffered together with many other Egyptians, exiled to the
Palestinian mines during the persecution by Diocletian (284-305).
The myrrh-streaming relics of the hieromartyr were glorified by
miracles. The Canon in his honor was composed during the Iconoclast
period (before 842). In the final Ode is a petition for the
hieromartyr to put an end to the heresy disrupting the Church.
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St George the Confessor and Bishop of Antioch, in Pisidia
Saint George the Confessor, Bishop of Antioch in Pisidia, lived during
the Iconoclast period. In his youth he became a monk, was known for
his holiness of life and was made bishop of Antioch in Pisidia.
St George was at Constantinople during the iconoclastic persecution
under Emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820). He denounced the Iconoclast
heresy at a Council of bishops, calling on the emperor to abandon it.
When St George refused to remove the icons from the church, as ordered
by the emperor's decree, he was exiled to imprisonment (813-820).
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St Tryphon the Patriarch of Constantinople
Saint Tryphon, Patriarch of Constantinople, was a monk from the time
of his youth, distinguished by his meekness, lack of malice, full
submission to the will of God, and his firm faith and love for the
Church. At this time the emperor Romanus (919-944) ruled in
Constantinople. He wanted to elevate his younger son Theophylactus to
the patriarchal throne. When Patriarch Stephanos (925-928) died,
Theophylactus was only sixteen years old. The emperor then suggested
that St Tryphon be "locum tenens" of the patriarchal throne until
Theophylactus came of age.
St Tryphon meekly accepted the burden of patriarchal service and for
three years he wisely governed the Church. When Theophylactus turned
twenty (931), the emperor told St Tryphon to resign the patriarchal
throne. St Tryphon did not consider it proper to hand over the throne
to an inexperienced youth, and he refused to do so. The emperor could
not intimidate St Tryphon, since his life was blameless. Then Romanus
employed the cunning counsels of Bishop Theophilus of Caesarea.
The deceitful bishop went to St Tryphon and urged him not to obey the
emperor, and not to resign the patriarchal throne. Then Bishop
Theophilus craftily obtained St Tryphon's signature on a blank sheet
of paper. Not suspecting any treachery, the guileless saint took a
clean sheet of paper and wrote: "Tryphon, by the Mercy of God,
Archbishop of Constantinople, the New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch."
When they presented this paper to the emperor, he ordered them to
write over the saint's signature: "I hereby resign the position of
Patriarch, because I consider myself unworthy of this office." When
this false document was read before the imperial dignitaries, servants
removed St Tryphon from the patriarchal chambers.
St Tryphon patiently endured the injustice done to him, and returned
to his own monastery. He lived there as a simple monk for a year
before his death (+ 933). His body was taken to Constantinople and
buried with the Patriarchs.
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Venerable Nicephorus the Abbot of Catabad
Saint Nicephorus was born at Constantinople into a rich and
illustrious family. His parents, Andrew and Theodora, raised their son
in the Christian Faith. After their death, young Nicephorus
distributed all his wealth to the poor and went to Chalcedon. The
strict monastic life at the Monastery of St Andrew appealed to
Nicephorus, and he remained there with the brethren.
>From the very start, the saint displayed unusual fervor in prayer and
at work. He had such endurance in asceticism, that soon the igumen
sent the saint to a Phoenician island to preach Christ, and he was
made igumen of a monastery dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos.
St Nicephorus lived on the island for thirty-three years, and he
brought many pagans to Christ. A church was built on the island on the
site of a pagan temple.
Sensing the approach of death, the saint was carried aboard a ship and
said to the captain, "I am going to the Lord, but take my body to
Chalcedon to the monastery of St Andrew." As soon as he said these
words, he died.
The ship sailed to Chalcedon, and the brethren of the monastery of St
Andrew reverently buried the body of the holy ascetic.
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Monkmartyr Agathangelus of Esphigmenou of Mt Athos
The Monk Martyr Agathangelus, in the world Athanasius, was born in the
city of Enos, Thrace, and was raised in a strict Orthodox family.
After the death of his parents Constantine and Krystalia, he became a
sailor. The Turks wanted to convert the skilled and intelligent youth
to Islam, but knew that he would not do so of his own free will. So
they arrested him in the city of Smyrna, wounded him and threatened
him with death, then demanded that he become a Moslem.
The youth was terrified and promised to do as they asked, hoping to
escape from the bullies and then go back on his promise. However, he
was unable to do this for a long time. Tormented by pangs of
conscience, he was able to quit the city and seek refuge on Mount
Athos. Igumen Euthymius of Esphigmenou monastery confessed him and
blessed him to become a novice.
St Athanasius considered even his most intense efforts insufficient to
atone for his sin of apostasy. He believed that he had to suffer
martyrdom for Christ, and he began to pray about this.
On the fourth Sunday of Great Lent the nineteen-year-old youth was
tonsured as a monk with the name Agathangelus.
St Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared to the new monk in a dream and
promised to help him. The igumen of the monastery saw this as a
special sign, and blessed St Agathangelus to bear witness to Christ at
Smyrna before those who forced him to become a Moslem.
In the Ottoman courtroom the confessor told how they had compelled him
to accept an alien faith. Then he publicly renounced Islam and
confessed himself a Christian. They began to cajole and admonish St
Agathangelus to reconsider his statement. He replied, "I will not give
in to you, nor to your threats, nor to your promises. I love only
Christ, I follow only Christ, only in my Christ do I hope to know
happiness."
The judge threatened him with death by torture. "I am prepared to
endure all for my Christ! I accept every manner of torment with the
greatest joy! I ask only that you do not tarry in carrying out your
word," the saint replied.
They bound St Agathangelus with heavy chains, hammered his feet into
wooden boots, and threw him into prison. With him were two other
wrongly condemned Christians. One of them, Nicholas, gave an account
of the saint's martyrdom.
On the following day, St Agathangelus was again brought before the
judge in fetters. Bravely enduring all the torments which the Turks
had readied for him, he again was sent to prison. Nicholas told him
that a certain influential man would intervene before the judge for
his release, but St Agathangelus wrote a note to this man asking that
he not attempt to free him, but to pray to God that he be strengthened
for martyrdom.
The saint readied himself for the final trial. At midnight, it was
revealed to him in a vision that they would execute him no later than
five o'clock, and he waited for the appointed hour. At about the
fourth hour, a watch was placed over him. Seeing no possibility of
converting the confessor from his faith in Christ, the judges decided
to execute him. Absorbed in prayer, the martyr did not take notice the
preparations for execution, nor the large throng of people.
He was beheaded at the fifth hour of the morning, on April 19, 1818.
Christians gathered up the holy relics of the martyr and buried them
in the city of Smyrna, in the church of the Great Martyr George.
A portion of the relics of St Agathangelus was sent to the Esphigmenou
monastery on Mount Athos in 1844.
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Venerable Simeon of Philotheou
St Simeon the Bare-Foot [Bosoi] was the son of a priest. When he was
fifteen years old, he came under the spiritual guidance of Pachomius,
the Bishop of Demetriada (Larissa diocese), who tonsured him and
ordained him as hierodeacon. Desiring to follow a strict monastic
life, St Simeon soon went to a monastery near Mount Olympus, and then
to Mount Athos, to the Lavra of St Athanasius.
By his humility and obedience he gained the respect of the brethren
and was ordained hieromonk. After he transferred to the Philotheou
monastery, he intensified his God-pleasing labors, he became an
example for the brethren, and was unanimously chosen as head of this
monastery. Later, through the cunning of the Enemy of mankind, St
Simeon had to endure the complaints of monks who thought he was too
strict.
Leaving it to God to judge the culprits, St Simeon left the monastery
and went to Mt. Phlamourion on Mt. Pelion. There, in solitude and
quiet, with neither roof nor fire, the holy hermit engaged in
spiritual struggles dressed in old clothing, with almost without food,
in constant prayer either standing or on bended knees. After three
years, he was found by certain God-loving people. Inspired with
reverence for his way of life, they begged him to allow them to live
with him.
After seven years, through the efforts and zeal of St Simeon, a
monastery was formed. A church was built in honor of the Most Holy
Trinity, where he served the Divine Liturgy every day. When the life
of the brethren in the wilderness monastery had been put in order, the
wise servant left the monastery and began to preach the Word of God in
Epirus, Thessaly and Athens.
By his instructions and teaching the saint strengthened the wavering
in their faith, and he set those in error on the path to salvation. He
made those who were strong in their faith even stronger, and he taught
everyone to love one another, and to attend church on Sundays and
feastdays.
The boldness of the holy confessor aroused the malice of the opponents
of Christianity. In the city of Euripa they slandered St Simeon before
the city ruler, Ayan, accusing him of converting a Turk to
Christianity. The saint was arrested and sentenced to public burning.
However, God did not permit the unjust sentence to be carried out.
The condemned one was led to his interrogation in shackles, barefoot
[bosoi] and in an old rassa. St Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit,
answered the governor so wisely that Ayan could not impose the death
sentence. The saint received his freedom and continued his efforts,
sealing his preaching with healings and miracles.
Many followed St Simeon and submitted themselves to him. He accepted
everyone, blessed them for the monastic life, and sent them to his
monastery.
St Simeon ended his life at Constantinople. He fell asleep in the Lord
and was buried by the Patriarch at Chalke, in a church dedicated to
the Most Holy Theotokos. After two years, when the monks of the
Phlamourion monastery decided to transfer his holy relics to their
monastery, and his grave was opened, an ineffable fragrance came
forth, and healings began.
The Life and the Service to St Simeon were published at Smyrna in
1646.
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St Matrona of Moscow
No information available at this time.
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