[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Sat Apr 28 05:00:30 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat Apr 28 2007

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Acts 9:20-31
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is
the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who
destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come
here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief
priests?"
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the
Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.
24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day
and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the
wall in a large basket.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the
disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that
he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he
declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had
spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name
of Jesus.
28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed
against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and
sent him out to Tarsus.
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had
peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the
comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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John 15:17-16:2
17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
18 If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated
you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because
you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore
the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater
than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake,
because they do not know Him who sent Me.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but
now they have no excuse for their sin.
23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they
would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and
My Father.
25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written
in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'
26 But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the
Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will
testify of Me.
27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from
the beginning.
1 These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to
stumble.
2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming
that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Apostle Jason, of the Seventy and those with him
The Apostle Jason was from Tarsus (Asia Minor). He was the first
Christian in the city. The Apostle Sosipater was a native of Patra,
Achaia. He is thought to be the same Sosipater mentioned in Acts 20:4.
They both became disciples of St Paul, who even called them his
kinsmen (Rom 16:21). St John Chrysostom (Homily 32 on Romans) says
that this is the same Jason who is mentioned in Acts 17:5-9. St Jason
was made bishop in his native city of Tarsus, and St Sosipater in
Iconium. They traveled west preaching the Gospel, and in 63 they
reached the island of Kerkyra [Korfu] in the Ionian Sea near Greece.
There they built a church in the name of the Protomartyr Stephen and
they baptized many. The governor of the island learned on this and
locked them up in prison, where they met seven thieves: Saturninus,
Iakischolus, Faustianus, Januarius, Marsalius, Euphrasius and Mammius.
The Apostles converted them to Christ. For their confession of Christ,
the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a cauldron of molten tar, wax
and sulfur.
The prison guard, after witnessing their martyrdom, declared himself a
Christian. For this they cut off his left hand, then both feet and
finally his head. The governor ordered the Apostles Jason and
Sosipater to be whipped and again locked up in prison.
When the daughter of the governor of Kerkyra (Korfu), the maiden
Kerkyra, learned how Christians were suffering for Christ, she
declared herself a Christian and gave away all her finery to the poor.
The infuriated governor attempted to persuade his daughter to deny
Christ, but St Kerkyra stood firm against both persuasion and threats.
Then the enraged father devised a terrible punishment for his
daughter: he gave orders that she be placed in a prison cell with the
robber and murderer Murinus, so that he might defile the betrothed of
Christ
But when the robber approached the door of the prison cell, a bear
attacked him. St Kerkyra heard the noise and she drove off the beast
in the name of Christ. Then, by her prayers, she healed the wounds of
Murinus. Then St Kerkyra enlightened him with the faith of Christ, and
St Murinus declared himself a Christian and was executed.
The governor gave orders to burn down the prison, but the holy virgin
remained alive. Then on her enraged father's order, she was suspended
upon a tree, choked with bitter smoke and shot with arrows. After her
death, the governor decided to execute all the Christians on the
island of Kerkyra. The Martyrs Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalis, after
being enlightened by Sts Jason and Sosipater, were burned alive.
The inhabitants of Kerkyra, escaping from the persecution, crossed to
an adjoining island. The governor set sail with a detachment of
soldiers, but was swallowed up by the waves. The governor succeeding
him gave orders to throw the Apostles Jason and Sosipater into a
cauldron of boiling tar. When he beheld them unharmed, he cried out
with tears, "O God of Jason and Sosipater, have mercy on me!"
Having been set free, the Apostles baptized the governor and gave him
the name Sebastian. With his help, the Apostles Jason and Sosipater
built several churches on the island, and increased the flock of
Christ by their fervent preaching. They lived there until they reached
old age.
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Apostle Sosipater of the Seventy and those with him
The Apostle Sosipater was a native of Patra, Achaia. He is thought to
be the same Sosipater mentioned in Acts 20:4. They both became
disciples of St Paul, who even called them his kinsmen (Rom 16:21). St
John Chrysostom (Homily 32 on Romans) says that this is the same Jason
who is mentioned in Acts 17:5-9. St Jason was made bishop in his
native city of Tarsus, and St Sosipater in Iconium. They traveled west
preaching the Gospel, and in 63 they reached the island of Kerkyra
[Korfu] in the Ionian Sea near Greece.
There they built a church in the name of the Protomartyr Stephen and
they baptized many. The governor of the island learned on this and
locked them up in prison, where they met seven thieves: Saturninus,
Iakischolus, Faustianus, Januarius, Marsalius, Euphrasius and Mammius.
The Apostles converted them to Christ. For their confession of Christ,
the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a cauldron of molten tar, wax
and sulfur.
The prison guard, after witnessing their martyrdom, declared himself a
Christian. For this they cut off his left hand, then both feet and
finally his head. The governor ordered the Apostles Jason and
Sosipater to be whipped and again locked up in prison.
When the daughter of the governor of Kerkyra (Korfu), the maiden
Kerkyra, learned how Christians were suffering for Christ, she
declared herself a Christian and gave away all her finery to the poor.
The infuriated governor attempted to persuade his daughter to deny
Christ, but St Kerkyra stood firm against both persuasion and threats.
Then the enraged father devised a terrible punishment for his
daughter: he gave orders that she be placed in a prison cell with the
robber and murderer Murinus, so that he might defile the betrothed of
Christ
But when the robber approached the door of the prison cell, a bear
attacked him. St Kerkyra heard the noise and she drove off the beast
in the name of Christ. Then, by her prayers, she healed the wounds of
Murinus. Then St Kerkyra enlightened him with the faith of Christ, and
St Murinus declared himself a Christian and was executed.
The governor gave orders to burn down the prison, but the holy virgin
remained alive. Then on her enraged father's order, she was suspended
upon a tree, choked with bitter smoke and shot with arrows. After her
death, the governor decided to execute all the Christians on the
island of Kerkyra. The Martyrs Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalis, after
being enlightened by Sts Jason and Sosipater, were burned alive.
The inhabitants of Kerkyra, escaping from the persecution, crossed to
an adjoining island. The governor set sail with a detachment of
soldiers, but was swallowed up by the waves. The governor succeeding
him gave orders to throw the Apostles Jason and Sosipater into a
cauldron of boiling tar. When he beheld them unharmed, he cried out
with tears, "O God of Jason and Sosipater, have mercy on me!"
Having been set free, the Apostles baptized the governor and gave him
the name Sebastian. With his help, the Apostles Jason and Sosipater
built several churches on the island, and increased the flock of
Christ by their fervent preaching. They lived there until they reached
old age.
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Virginmartyr Kerkyra and those with her
When the daughter of the governor of Kerkyra (Korfu), the maiden
Kerkyra, learned how Christians were suffering for Christ, she
declared herself a Christian and gave away all her finery to the poor.
The infuriated governor attempted to persuade his daughter to deny
Christ, but St Kerkyra stood firm against both persuasion and threats.
Then the enraged father devised a terrible punishment for his
daughter: he gave orders that she be placed in a prison cell with the
robber and murderer Murinus, so that he might defile the betrothed of
Christ.
But when the robber approached the door of the prison cell, a bear
attacked him. St Kerkyra heard the noise and she drove off the beast
in the name of Christ. Then, by her prayers, she healed the wounds of
Murinus. Then St Kerkyra enlightened him with the faith of Christ, and
St Murinus declared himself a Christian and was executed.
The governor gave orders to burn down the prison, but the holy virgin
remained alive. Then on her enraged father's order, she was suspended
upon a tree, choked with bitter smoke and shot with arrows. After her
death, the governor decided to execute all the Christians on the
island of Kerkyra.
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Martyr Dada at Dorostolum
The Martyrs Dada, Maximus and Quinctilian suffered under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305), who issued a decree requiring everyone to offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods during the public festivals, and to put
Christians to death.
Tarquinius and Gabinius, the emperor's representatives in Dorostolum,
made a sumptuous feast, attended not only by the inhabitants of the
city, but also people from the surrounding villages.
After the festivities, someone reported to the emperor that three
brothers, Dada, Maximus and Quinctilian, did not obey the imperial
decree and withdrew themselves into the Ozovia forest. Soldiers were
sent after them, who caught the holy brothers at prayer and led them
forth for trial.
The governors interrogated the brothers, who confessed themselves
Christians. Tarquinius offered to make St Maximus a pagan priest of
Zeus, but the saint called Zeus a foul adulterer and again confessed
the True God.
Tarquinius attempted to reason with Sts Dada and Quinctilian. They
said that their brother was well versed in the Holy Scripture and they
would follow him in everything. They threw the martyrs into prison,
but they thought only of the salvation of their souls. At midnight
when the saints were asleep, the devil appeared to them. When the
martyrs woke, they beheld an angel who said, "Fear not, for God your
hope brings you to Himself. He is not far from you and will sustain
you."
In the morning, Tarquinius told the brothers that the gods had
revealed their will to him in a dream: they were to be put to death if
they did not offer sacrifice. The martyrs answered that the Lord had
commanded them to endure torments for His sake.
The tortures and interrogations continued for several days from
morning to evening. Finally, they sentenced the martyrs to death, led
them out under guard to their forest and beheaded them with a sword.
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Martyr Maximus at Dorostolum
The Martyrs Maximus, Dada, and Quinctilian suffered under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305), who issued a decree requiring everyone to offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods during the public festivals, and to put
Christians to death.
Tarquinius and Gabinius, the emperor's representatives in Dorostolum,
made a sumptuous feast, attended not only by the inhabitants of the
city, but also people from the surrounding villages.
After the festivities, someone reported to the emperor that three
brothers, Dada, Maximus and Quinctilian, did not obey the imperial
decree and withdrew themselves into the Ozovia forest. Soldiers were
sent after them, who caught the holy brothers at prayer and led them
forth for trial.
The governors interrogated the brothers, who confessed themselves
Christians. Tarquinius offered to make St Maximus a pagan priest of
Zeus, but the saint called Zeus a foul adulterer and again confessed
the True God.
Tarquinius attempted to reason with Sts Dada and Quinctilian. They
said that their brother was well versed in the Holy Scripture and they
would follow him in everything. They threw the martyrs into prison,
but they thought only of the salvation of their souls. At midnight
when the saints were asleep, the devil appeared to them. When the
martyrs woke, they beheld an angel who said, "Fear not, for God your
hope brings you to Himself. He is not far from you and will sustain
you."
In the morning, Tarquinius told the brothers that the gods had
revealed their will to him in a dream: they were to be put to death if
they did not offer sacrifice. The martyrs answered that the Lord had
commanded them to endure torments for His sake.
The tortures and interrogations continued for several days from
morning to evening. Finally, they sentenced the martyrs to death, led
them out under guard to their forest and beheaded them with a sword.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Quinctilian at Dorostolum
The Martyrs Quinctilian, Dada, and Maximus suffered under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305), who issued a decree requiring everyone to offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods during the public festivals, and to put
Christians to death.
Tarquinius and Gabinius, the emperor's representatives in Dorostolum,
made a sumptuous feast, attended not only by the inhabitants of the
city, but also people from the surrounding villages.
After the festivities, someone reported to the emperor that three
brothers, Dada, Maximus and Quinctilian, did not obey the imperial
decree and withdrew themselves into the Ozovia forest. Soldiers were
sent after them, who caught the holy brothers at prayer and led them
forth for trial.
The governors interrogated the brothers, who confessed themselves
Christians. Tarquinius offered to make St Maximus a pagan priest of
Zeus, but the saint called Zeus a foul adulterer and again confessed
the True God.
Tarquinius attempted to reason with Sts Dada and Quinctilian. They
said that their brother was well versed in the Holy Scripture and they
would follow him in everything. They threw the martyrs into prison,
but they thought only of the salvation of their souls. At midnight
when the saints were asleep, the devil appeared to them. When the
martyrs woke, they beheld an angel who said, "Fear not, for God your
hope brings you to Himself. He is not far from you and will sustain
you."
In the morning, Tarquinius told the brothers that the gods had
revealed their will to him in a dream: they were to be put to death if
they did not offer sacrifice. The martyrs answered that the Lord had
commanded them to endure torments for His sake.
The tortures and interrogations continued for several days from
morning to evening. Finally, they sentenced the martyrs to death, led
them out under guard to their forest and beheaded them with a sword.
_________________________________________________________________
St Cyril the Bishop of Turov
Saint Cyril, Bishop of Turov, was born of rich parents in the thirties
of the twelfth century in the city of Turov at the River Pripyat.
>From his early years St Cyril eagerly read the sacred books and
attained a profound understanding of them. He studied not only in
Russian, but also in Greek. When he reached maturity St Cyril refused
his inheritance and was tonsured in Turov's St Boris and Gleb
monastery. He struggled much in fasting and prayer and taught the
monks to obey the igumen. A monk who is not obedient to the igumen
does not fulfill his vow, and therefore is not able to be saved.
Three writings of St Cyril on monastic life have survived, one of
which, "A Narrative on the Black Clergy from the Old Law and from the
New," may be ascribed to a period of his being in the monastery.
After a certain while St Cyril lived on a pillar, where he increased
his asceticism, and meditated on the Holy Scripture. Many turned to
him for counsel in the spiritual life.
St Cyril's holiness of life and profound enlightenment became known to
many, and so he was chosen as Bishop of Turov. In 1169 St Cyril took
part in a council censuring Bishop Theodore, who occupied the
Vladimir-Suzdal cathedra and who sought to separate from the
metropolitanate of Kiev. St Cyril denounced the heresy of Theodore and
wrote many letters to the holy prince Andrew Bogoliubsky (July 4), in
which he provided him instruction and guidance in discovering the
cause of church disorders in the Rostov region.
Because of his love for solitude, St Cyril left his See (by the year
1182, Bishop Laurence is mentioned as the Bishop of Turov) and he
devoted himself fully to spiritual writing. He composed a discourse on
the yearly cycle of the Lord's Feasts, but not all of them have been
preserved. The works of St Cyril deserve a place beside the works of
the holy Fathers in book collections.
The most complete collection of works by St Cyril of Turov, published
by Bishop Eugenius of Turov in 1880, includes:
Sermon on Palm Sunday, from Gospel accounts
Sermon on Holy Pascha on the Radiant Day of the Resurrection of
Christ, from the prophetic accounts
Sermon on the Sunday after Pascha, on the Renewal of the Resurrection,
on the Artos [loaf blessed on Pascha], and on Thomas Touching the Side
of the Lord
Sermon on Taking down the Body of Christ and on the Myrrh-bearing
Women, from the Gospel account, and in praise of Joseph on the Third
Sunday After Pascha
Sermon on the Paralytic from Genesis and from the Gospel account, on
the Fourth Sunday After Pascha
Sermon on the Blind man and the enmity of the Jews from the Gospel
account, on the Fourth Sunday After Pascha
Sermon on the Ascension of the Lord, on Thursday of the Sixth Week
After Pascha, from prophetic decrees, and on Raising the Race of Adam
from Hades
Sermon on the Holy 318 Fathers, from the Holy Books, on Christ the Son
of God, and in praise of the Fathers of the Holy Council of Nicea, on
the Sunday Before Pentecost
Parable on the Blind and the Lame
Parable on the Human Soul, and on the Body, and on Breaking God's
Commandments, and on the Resurrection of the Human Body, and on the
Future Judgment, and on the Torment
Narrative on the Black Clergy, from the Old Testament and from the
New, bearing a common form, and the accomplishing of this matter
To Igumen Basil: a Parable on the White Clergy, and on Monasticism,
and on the Soul, and on Repentance
Letter of a certain Elder to the Blessed Archimandrite Basil on the
Schema
Four Prayers on Sunday (after Matins, Hours, and two after Vespers)
Four Prayers on Monday
Four Prayers on Tuesday
Five Prayers on Wednesday (after Matins, Hours, and three after
Vespers)
Three Prayers on Thursday (after Matins, Hours, Vespers)
Four Prayers on Friday (after Matins, Hours, and two after Vespers)
Six Prayers on Saturday (two after Matins, one after Hours, and three
after Vespers)
Molieben Canon
Confession and Remembrance.
Later, the "Sermon on the Enlightenment of our Lord Jesus Christ" was
discovered. The saint also composed a "Great Canon of Repentance to
the Lord in Alphabetic Chapters." As a theologian St Cyril believed
his task was to discern the true and hidden meaning of various texts
of Holy Scripture.
St Cyril died on April 28, 1183. His contemporaries regarded him as a
Russian Chrysostom. The saint humbly wrote of himself: "I am not a
harvester, but I gather sheaves of grain; I am not an artist in
literary matters." He was always conscious of the sublime hierarchical
service to which the Lord had called him: "If I were to speak of my
own opinions, you would do well not to come to church, but I proclaim
to you the Word of God. I read to you the accounts of Christ. I
present to you the words of God, finer than gold or other stones,
sweeter than mead or honeycomb, and you would be deprived of them by
not coming to church, ... but I praise and bless those of you who do
come."
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Martyr Saturninus who was converted by Apostles Jason and
Sosipater
Saint Saturninus was one of seven thieves imprisoned on he island of
Kerkyra (Korfu) who were converted by Sts Jason and Sosipater. For
their confession of Christ, the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a
cauldron of molten tar, wax and sulfur around the year 63 A.D.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Iakischolus (Inischolus) who was converted by Apostles
Jason and Sosipater
Saint Iakischolus was one of seven thieves imprisoned on he island of
Kerkyra (Korfu) who were converted by Sts Jason and Sosipater. For
their confession of Christ, the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a
cauldron of molten tar, wax and sulfur around the year 63 A.D.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Faustianus who was converted by Apostles Jason and
Sosipater
Saint Faustianus was one of seven thieves imprisoned on he island of
Kerkyra (Korfu) who were converted by Sts Jason and Sosipater. For
their confession of Christ, the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a
cauldron of molten tar, wax and sulfur around the year 63 A.D.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Januarius who was converted by Apostles Jason and
Sosipater
Saint Januarius was one of seven thieves imprisoned on he island of
Kerkyra (Korfu) who were converted by Sts Jason and Sosipater. For
their confession of Christ, the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a
cauldron of molten tar, wax and sulfur around the year 63 A.D.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Marsalius who was converted by Apostles Jason and
Sosipater
Saint Marsalius was one of seven thieves imprisoned on he island of
Kerkyra (Korfu) who were converted by Sts Jason and Sosipater. For
their confession of Christ, the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a
cauldron of molten tar, wax and sulfur around the year 63 A.D.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Euphrasius who was converted by Apostles Jason and
Sosipater
Saint Euphrasius was one of seven thieves imprisoned on he island of
Kerkyra (Korfu) who were converted by Sts Jason and Sosipater. For
their confession of Christ, the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a
cauldron of molten tar, wax and sulfur around the year 63 A.D.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Mammius who was converted by Apostles Jason and
Sosipater
Saint Mammius was one of seven thieves imprisoned on he island of
Kerkyra (Korfu) who were converted by Sts Jason and Sosipater. For
their confession of Christ, the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a
cauldron of molten tar, wax and sulfur around the year 63 A.D.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Zeno who was converted by Apostles Jason and Sosipater
After the death of St Kerkyra, the Christian daughter of the governor,
he decided to execute all the Christians on the island of Kerkyra. The
Martyrs Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalis, after being enlightened by
Sts Jason and Sosipater, were burned alive.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Eusebius who was converted by Apostles Jason and
Sosipater
After the death of St Kerkyra, the Christian daughter of the governor,
he decided to execute all the Christians on the island of Kerkyra. The
Martyrs Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalis, after being enlightened by
Sts Jason and Sosipater, were burned alive.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Neon who was converted by Apostles Jason and Sosipater
After the death of St Kerkyra, the Christian daughter of the governor,
he decided to execute all the Christians on the island of Kerkyra. The
Martyrs Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalis, after being enlightened by
Sts Jason and Sosipater, were burned alive.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Vitalis who was converted by Apostles Jason and
Sosipater
After the death of St Kerkyra, the Christian daughter of the governor,
he decided to execute all the Christians on the island of Kerkyra. The
Martyrs Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalis, after being enlightened by
Sts Jason and Sosipater, were burned alive.
_________________________________________________________________