[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed Aug 1 05:00:22 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed Aug 1 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 Corinthians 1:18-24   (Epistle, Cross)
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written:
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of
this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not
know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message
preached to save those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and
to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God and the wisdom of God.
Scripture Reading 1 of 6

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Hebrews 11:33-12:2  (Epistle, Martyrs)
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out
of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to
flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better
resurrection.
36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of
chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain
with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being
destitute, afflicted, tormented-
38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and
mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did
not receive the promise,
40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not
be made perfect apart from us.
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Scripture Reading 2 of 6

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John 19:6-11; 13-20; 25-28; 30-35  (Gospel, Cross)
6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried
out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You
take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him."
7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He
ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."
8 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid,
9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, "Where are
You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.
10 Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not
know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?"
11 Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless
it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me
to you has the greater sin."
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and
sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement,
but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth
hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"
15 But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!"
Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests
answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"
16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus
and led Him away.
17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of
a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,
18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either
side, and Jesus in the center.
19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing
was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus
was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek,
and Latin.
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved
standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!"
27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that
hour that disciple took her to his own home.
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished,
that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is
finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies
should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a
high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and
that they might be taken away.
32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the
other who was crucified with Him.
33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they
did not break His legs.
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and
immediately blood and water came out.
35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and
he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.
Scripture Reading 3 of 6

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Matthew 10:32-36; 11:1  (Gospel, Martyrs)
32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess
before My Father who is in heaven.
33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My
Father who is in heaven.
34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to
bring peace but a sword.
35 For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter
against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law';
36 and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve
disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their
cities.
Scripture Reading 4 of 6

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Hebrews 2:11-18  (Epistle, At the Lesser Blessing of Waters)
11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are
all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of
the assembly I will sing praise to You."
13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and
the children whom God has given Me."
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He
Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might
destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage.
16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to
the seed of Abraham.
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that
He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining
to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to
aid those who are tempted.
Scripture Reading 5 of 6

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John 5:1-4  (Gospel, At the Lesser Blessing of Waters)
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called
in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame,
paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred
up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the
water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
Scripture Reading 6 of 6

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of
the Lord (First of the three "Feasts of the Savior" in August)
The Procession of the Venerable Wood of the Life-Creating Cross of the
Lord: In the Greek Horologion of 1897 the derivation of this Feast is
explained: "Because of the illnesses that occur in August, it was
customary, in former times, to carry the Venerable Wood of the Cross
through the streets and squares of Constantinople for the
sanctification of the city, and for relief from sickness. On the eve
(July 31), it was taken out of the imperial treasury, and laid upon
the altar of the Great Church of Hagia Sophia (the Wisdom of God).
>From this Feast until the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, they
carried the Cross throughout the city in procession, offering it to
the people to venerate. This also is the Procession of the Venerable
Cross."
In the Russian Church this Feast is combined also with the remembrance
of the Baptism of Rus, on August 1, 988. In the "Account of the Order
of Services in the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Great Church of the
Dormition," compiled in 1627 by order of Patriarch Philaret of Moscow
and All Rus, there is the following explanation of the Feast: "On the
day of the Procession of the Venerable Cross there is a church
procession for the sanctification of water and for the enlightenment
of the people, throughout all the towns and places."
Knowledge of the day of the actual Baptism of Rus was preserved in the
Chronicles of the sixteenth century: "The Baptism of the Great Prince
Vladimir of Kiev and all Rus was on August 1."
In the present practice of the Russian Church, the Lesser
Sanctification of Water on August 1 is done either before or after
Liturgy. Because of the Blessing of Water, this first Feast of the
Savior in August is sometimes called 'Savior of the Water." There may
also be a Blessing of New Honey today, which is why the Feast is also
called "Savior of the Honey." From this day the newly gathered honey
is blessed and tasted.
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7 Holy Maccabee Martyrs
The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar,
Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their
teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the
impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved
pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He
did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from
their covenant with God. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord, placed
a statue of the pagan god Zeus there, and forced the Jews to worship
it. Many people abandoned the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but
there were also those who continued to believe that the Savior would
come.
A ninety-year-old elder, the scribe and teacher Eleazar, was brought
to trial for his faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. He suffered tortures
and died at Jerusalem.
The disciples of St Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers and their
mother Solomonia, also displayed great courage. They were brought to
trial in Antioch by King Antiochus Epiphanes. They fearlessly
acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to
eat pig's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law.
The eldest brother acted as spokesmen for the rest, saying that they
preferred to die rather than break the Law. He was subjected to fierce
tortures in sight of his brothers and their mother. His tongue was cut
out, he was scalped, and his hands and feet were cut off. Then a
cauldron and a large frying pan were heated, and the first brother was
thrown into the frying pan, and he died.
The next five brothers were tortured one after the other. The seventh
and youngest brother was the last one left alive. Antiochus suggested
to St Solomonia to persuade the boy to obey him, so that her last son
at least would be spared. Instead, the brave mother told him to
imitate the courage of his brothers.
The child upbraided the king and was tortured even more cruelly than
his brothers had been. After all her seven children had died, St
Solomonia, stood over their bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to
God and died.
The martyric death of the Maccabee brothers inspired Judas Maccabeus,
and he led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. With God's help, he
gained the victory, and then purified the Temple at Jerusalem. He also
threw down the altars which the pagans had set up in the streets. All
these events are related in the Second Book of Maccabees (Ch. 8-10).
Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on the seven Maccabees,
including St Cyprian of Carthage, St Ambrose of Milan, St Gregory
Nazianzus and St John Chrysostom.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Abim of the Holy Seven Maccabee Martyrs
The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar,
Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their
teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the
impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved
pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He
did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from
their covenant with God. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord, placed
a statue of the pagan god Zeus there, and forced the Jews to worship
it. Many people abandoned the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but
there were also those who continued to believe that the Savior would
come.
A ninety-year-old elder, the scribe and teacher Eleazar, was brought
to trial for his faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. He suffered tortures
and died at Jerusalem.
The disciples of St Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers and their
mother Solomonia, also displayed great courage. They were brought to
trial in Antioch by King Antiochus Epiphanes. They fearlessly
acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to
eat pig's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law.
The eldest brother acted as spokesmen for the rest, saying that they
preferred to die rather than break the Law. He was subjected to fierce
tortures in sight of his brothers and their mother. His tongue was cut
out, he was scalped, and his hands and feet were cut off. Then a
cauldron and a large frying pan were heated, and the first brother was
thrown into the frying pan, and he died.
The next five brothers were tortured one after the other. The seventh
and youngest brother was the last one left alive. Antiochus suggested
to St Solomonia to persuade the boy to obey him, so that her last son
at least would be spared. Instead, the brave mother told him to
imitate the courage of his brothers.
The child upbraided the king and was tortured even more cruelly than
his brothers had been. After all her seven children had died, St
Solomonia, stood over their bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to
God and died.
The martyric death of the Maccabee brothers inspired Judas Maccabeus,
and he led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. With God's help, he
gained the victory, and then purified the Temple at Jerusalem. He also
threw down the altars which the pagans had set up in the streets. All
these events are related in the Second Book of Maccabees (Ch. 8-10).
Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on the seven Maccabees,
including St Cyprian of Carthage, St Ambrose of Milan, St Gregory
Nazianzus and St John Chrysostom.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Antoninus of the Holy Seven Maccabee Martyrs
The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar,
Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their
teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the
impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved
pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He
did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from
their covenant with God. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord, placed
a statue of the pagan god Zeus there, and forced the Jews to worship
it. Many people abandoned the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but
there were also those who continued to believe that the Savior would
come.
A ninety-year-old elder, the scribe and teacher Eleazar, was brought
to trial for his faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. He suffered tortures
and died at Jerusalem.
The disciples of St Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers and their
mother Solomonia, also displayed great courage. They were brought to
trial in Antioch by King Antiochus Epiphanes. They fearlessly
acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to
eat pig's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law.
The eldest brother acted as spokesmen for the rest, saying that they
preferred to die rather than break the Law. He was subjected to fierce
tortures in sight of his brothers and their mother. His tongue was cut
out, he was scalped, and his hands and feet were cut off. Then a
cauldron and a large frying pan were heated, and the first brother was
thrown into the frying pan, and he died.
The next five brothers were tortured one after the other. The seventh
and youngest brother was the last one left alive. Antiochus suggested
to St Solomonia to persuade the boy to obey him, so that her last son
at least would be spared. Instead, the brave mother told him to
imitate the courage of his brothers.
The child upbraided the king and was tortured even more cruelly than
his brothers had been. After all her seven children had died, St
Solomonia, stood over their bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to
God and died.
The martyric death of the Maccabee brothers inspired Judas Maccabeus,
and he led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. With God's help, he
gained the victory, and then purified the Temple at Jerusalem. He also
threw down the altars which the pagans had set up in the streets. All
these events are related in the Second Book of Maccabees (Ch. 8-10).
Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on the seven Maccabees,
including St Cyprian of Carthage, St Ambrose of Milan, St Gregory
Nazianzus and St John Chrysostom.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Gurias of the Holy Seven Maccabee Martyrs
The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar,
Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their
teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the
impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved
pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He
did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from
their covenant with God. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord, placed
a statue of the pagan god Zeus there, and forced the Jews to worship
it. Many people abandoned the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but
there were also those who continued to believe that the Savior would
come.
A ninety-year-old elder, the scribe and teacher Eleazar, was brought
to trial for his faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. He suffered tortures
and died at Jerusalem.
The disciples of St Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers and their
mother Solomonia, also displayed great courage. They were brought to
trial in Antioch by King Antiochus Epiphanes. They fearlessly
acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to
eat pig's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law.
The eldest brother acted as spokesmen for the rest, saying that they
preferred to die rather than break the Law. He was subjected to fierce
tortures in sight of his brothers and their mother. His tongue was cut
out, he was scalped, and his hands and feet were cut off. Then a
cauldron and a large frying pan were heated, and the first brother was
thrown into the frying pan, and he died.
The next five brothers were tortured one after the other. The seventh
and youngest brother was the last one left alive. Antiochus suggested
to St Solomonia to persuade the boy to obey him, so that her last son
at least would be spared. Instead, the brave mother told him to
imitate the courage of his brothers.
The child upbraided the king and was tortured even more cruelly than
his brothers had been. After all her seven children had died, St
Solomonia, stood over their bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to
God and died.
The martyric death of the Maccabee brothers inspired Judas Maccabeus,
and he led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. With God's help, he
gained the victory, and then purified the Temple at Jerusalem. He also
threw down the altars which the pagans had set up in the streets. All
these events are related in the Second Book of Maccabees (Ch. 8-10).
Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on the seven Maccabees,
including St Cyprian of Carthage, St Ambrose of Milan, St Gregory
Nazianzus and St John Chrysostom.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Eleazar of the Holy Seven Maccabee Martyrs
The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar,
Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their
teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the
impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved
pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He
did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from
their covenant with God. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord, placed
a statue of the pagan god Zeus there, and forced the Jews to worship
it. Many people abandoned the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but
there were also those who continued to believe that the Savior would
come.
A ninety-year-old elder, the scribe and teacher Eleazar, was brought
to trial for his faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. He suffered tortures
and died at Jerusalem.
The disciples of St Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers and their
mother Solomonia, also displayed great courage. They were brought to
trial in Antioch by King Antiochus Epiphanes. They fearlessly
acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to
eat pig's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law.
The eldest brother acted as spokesmen for the rest, saying that they
preferred to die rather than break the Law. He was subjected to fierce
tortures in sight of his brothers and their mother. His tongue was cut
out, he was scalped, and his hands and feet were cut off. Then a
cauldron and a large frying pan were heated, and the first brother was
thrown into the frying pan, and he died.
The next five brothers were tortured one after the other. The seventh
and youngest brother was the last one left alive. Antiochus suggested
to St Solomonia to persuade the boy to obey him, so that her last son
at least would be spared. Instead, the brave mother told him to
imitate the courage of his brothers.
The child upbraided the king and was tortured even more cruelly than
his brothers had been. After all her seven children had died, St
Solomonia, stood over their bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to
God and died.
The martyric death of the Maccabee brothers inspired Judas Maccabeus,
and he led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. With God's help, he
gained the victory, and then purified the Temple at Jerusalem. He also
threw down the altars which the pagans had set up in the streets. All
these events are related in the Second Book of Maccabees (Ch. 8-10).
Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on the seven Maccabees,
including St Cyprian of Carthage, St Ambrose of Milan, St Gregory
Nazianzus and St John Chrysostom.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Eusebonus of the Holy Seven Maccabee Martyrs
The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar,
Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their
teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the
impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved
pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He
did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from
their covenant with God. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord, placed
a statue of the pagan god Zeus there, and forced the Jews to worship
it. Many people abandoned the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but
there were also those who continued to believe that the Savior would
come.
A ninety-year-old elder, the scribe and teacher Eleazar, was brought
to trial for his faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. He suffered tortures
and died at Jerusalem.
The disciples of St Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers and their
mother Solomonia, also displayed great courage. They were brought to
trial in Antioch by King Antiochus Epiphanes. They fearlessly
acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to
eat pig's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law.
The eldest brother acted as spokesmen for the rest, saying that they
preferred to die rather than break the Law. He was subjected to fierce
tortures in sight of his brothers and their mother. His tongue was cut
out, he was scalped, and his hands and feet were cut off. Then a
cauldron and a large frying pan were heated, and the first brother was
thrown into the frying pan, and he died.
The next five brothers were tortured one after the other. The seventh
and youngest brother was the last one left alive. Antiochus suggested
to St Solomonia to persuade the boy to obey him, so that her last son
at least would be spared. Instead, the brave mother told him to
imitate the courage of his brothers.
The child upbraided the king and was tortured even more cruelly than
his brothers had been. After all her seven children had died, St
Solomonia, stood over their bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to
God and died.
The martyric death of the Maccabee brothers inspired Judas Maccabeus,
and he led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. With God's help, he
gained the victory, and then purified the Temple at Jerusalem. He also
threw down the altars which the pagans had set up in the streets. All
these events are related in the Second Book of Maccabees (Ch. 8-10).
Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on the seven Maccabees,
including St Cyprian of Carthage, St Ambrose of Milan, St Gregory
Nazianzus and St John Chrysostom.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Alimus of the Holy Seven Maccabee Martyrs
The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar,
Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their
teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the
impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved
pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He
did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from
their covenant with God. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord, placed
a statue of the pagan god Zeus there, and forced the Jews to worship
it. Many people abandoned the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but
there were also those who continued to believe that the Savior would
come.
A ninety-year-old elder, the scribe and teacher Eleazar, was brought
to trial for his faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. He suffered tortures
and died at Jerusalem.
The disciples of St Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers and their
mother Solomonia, also displayed great courage. They were brought to
trial in Antioch by King Antiochus Epiphanes. They fearlessly
acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to
eat pig's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law.
The eldest brother acted as spokesmen for the rest, saying that they
preferred to die rather than break the Law. He was subjected to fierce
tortures in sight of his brothers and their mother. His tongue was cut
out, he was scalped, and his hands and feet were cut off. Then a
cauldron and a large frying pan were heated, and the first brother was
thrown into the frying pan, and he died.
The next five brothers were tortured one after the other. The seventh
and youngest brother was the last one left alive. Antiochus suggested
to St Solomonia to persuade the boy to obey him, so that her last son
at least would be spared. Instead, the brave mother told him to
imitate the courage of his brothers.
The child upbraided the king and was tortured even more cruelly than
his brothers had been. After all her seven children had died, St
Solomonia, stood over their bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to
God and died.
The martyric death of the Maccabee brothers inspired Judas Maccabeus,
and he led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. With God's help, he
gained the victory, and then purified the Temple at Jerusalem. He also
threw down the altars which the pagans had set up in the streets. All
these events are related in the Second Book of Maccabees (Ch. 8-10).
Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on the seven Maccabees,
including St Cyprian of Carthage, St Ambrose of Milan, St Gregory
Nazianzus and St John Chrysostom.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Marcellus of the Holy Seven Maccabee Martyrs
The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar,
Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their
teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the
impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved
pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He
did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from
their covenant with God. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord, placed
a statue of the pagan god Zeus there, and forced the Jews to worship
it. Many people abandoned the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but
there were also those who continued to believe that the Savior would
come.
A ninety-year-old elder, the scribe and teacher Eleazar, was brought
to trial for his faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. He suffered tortures
and died at Jerusalem.
The disciples of St Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers and their
mother Solomonia, also displayed great courage. They were brought to
trial in Antioch by King Antiochus Epiphanes. They fearlessly
acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to
eat pig's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law.
The eldest brother acted as spokesmen for the rest, saying that they
preferred to die rather than break the Law. He was subjected to fierce
tortures in sight of his brothers and their mother. His tongue was cut
out, he was scalped, and his hands and feet were cut off. Then a
cauldron and a large frying pan were heated, and the first brother was
thrown into the frying pan, and he died.
The next five brothers were tortured one after the other. The seventh
and youngest brother was the last one left alive. Antiochus suggested
to St Solomonia to persuade the boy to obey him, so that her last son
at least would be spared. Instead, the brave mother told him to
imitate the courage of his brothers.
The child upbraided the king and was tortured even more cruelly than
his brothers had been. After all her seven children had died, St
Solomonia, stood over their bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to
God and died.
The martyric death of the Maccabee brothers inspired Judas Maccabeus,
and he led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. With God's help, he
gained the victory, and then purified the Temple at Jerusalem. He also
threw down the altars which the pagans had set up in the streets. All
these events are related in the Second Book of Maccabees (Ch. 8-10).
Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on the seven Maccabees,
including St Cyprian of Carthage, St Ambrose of Milan, St Gregory
Nazianzus and St John Chrysostom.
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Martyr Solomonia the mother of the Holy Seven Maccabee
Martyrs
Saint Solomonia was the mother of the seven Maccabee brothers. She
encouraged her sons to remain faithful to the Law of God even when
threatened with death.
This admirable mother is honored and remembered for her great courage,
for she watched all seven of her sons die in a single day. May we also
be faithful to God's commandments and the traditions of the Church.
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Martyr Eleazar the Teacher of the Holy Seven Maccabee Martyrs
Saint Eleazar lived in the second century before Christ, and was a
scribe. At the age of ninety he voluntarily endured torture and death
rather than violate the Law of God by eating swine's flesh. By
suffering death for the Law of Moses, he left young men, and the whole
nation, an example of virtue and courage.
The story of Eleazar is found in II Maccabees, chapter 6.
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Martyr Leontius of Perge in Pamphylia
The Martyrs Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cindeus, Mnesithius,
Cyriacus, Menaeus, Catunus and Eukleus lived in the Pamphylian city of
Perge during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). All of
them were baptized in childhood. St Menaeus was a carpenter, and the
rest were farmers.
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Martyr Attius of Perge in Pamphylia
The Martyrs Attius, Leontius, Alexander, Cindeus, Mnesithius,
Cyriacus, Mineon, Catanus and Eucleus lived in the Pamphylian city of
Perge during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). All of
them were baptized in childhood. St Mineon was a carpenter, and the
rest were farmers.
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Martyr Alexander of Perge in Pamphylia
The Martyrs Alexander, Leontius, Attius, Cindeus, Mnesithius,
Cyriacus, Mineon, Catanus and Eucleus lived in the Pamphylian city of
Perge during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). All of
them were baptized in childhood. St Mineon was a carpenter, and the
rest were farmers.
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Martyr Cindeus of Perge in Pamphylia
The Martyrs Cindeus, Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Mnesithius,
Cyriacus, Mineon, Catanus and Eucleus lived in the Pamphylian city of
Perge during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). All of
them were baptized in childhood. St Mineon was a carpenter, and the
rest were farmers.
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Martyr Mnesithius (Minesitheus) of Perge in Pamphylia
The Martyrs Mnesithius, Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cindeus,
Cyriacus, Mineon, Catanus and Eucleus lived in the Pamphylian city of
Perge during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). All of
them were baptized in childhood. St Mineon was a carpenter, and the
rest were farmers.
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Martyr Cyriacus of Perge in Pamphylia
The Martyrs Cyriacus, Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cindeus,
Mnesithius, Mineon, Catanus, and Eucleus lived in the Pamphylian city
of Perge during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). All of
them were baptized in childhood. St Mineon was a carpenter, and the
rest were farmers.
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Martyr Mineon (Menaeus) of Perge in Pamphylia
The Martyrs Mineon, Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cindeus, Mnesithius,
Cyriacus, Catanus, and Eucleus lived in the Pamphylian city of Perge
during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). All of them were
baptized in childhood. St Mineon was a carpenter, and the rest were
farmers.
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Martyr Catanus of Perge in Pamphylia
The Martyrs Catanus, Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cindeus, Mnesithius,
Cyriacus, Mineon, and Eucleus lived in the Pamphylian city of Perge
during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). All of them were
baptized in childhood. St Mineon was a carpenter, and the rest were
farmers.
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Martyr Eucleus of Perge in Pamphylia
The Martyrs Eucleus, Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cindeus, Mnesithius,
Cyriacus, Mineon, and Catanus lived in the Pamphylian city of Perge
during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). All of them were
baptized in childhood. St Mineon was a carpenter, and the rest were
farmers.
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