[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sun Aug 19 05:00:15 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sun Aug 19 2007

----------------------------------------------------
------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------

Matthew 28:15-20  (1st Matins Gospel)
15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this
saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain
which Jesus had appointed for them.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been
given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3

-----------------------------

1 Corinthians 15:1-11
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to
you, which also you received and in which you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I
preached to you-unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures,
5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of
whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen
asleep.
7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due
time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called
an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was
not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I,
but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you
believed.
Scripture Reading 2 of 3

-----------------------------

Matthew 19:16-26
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good
thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but
One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the
commandments."
18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,'
'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not
bear false witness,'
19 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.' "
20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my
youth. What do I still lack?"
21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you
have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and
come, follow Me."
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful,
for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it
is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying,
"Who then can be saved?"
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Scripture Reading 3 of 3

----------------------------------------------------
------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Mother of God
On the fourth day of the Afterfeast of the Dormition, the Church
continues to honor the passage of the Most Holy Theotokos from death
to life. Just as Christ once dwelt in the virginal womb of His Mother,
now He takes Her "to dwell in His courts."
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Andrew Stratelates in Cilicia
The Martyr Andrew Stratelates was a military commander in the Roman
army during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305). They loved
him in the Roman army because of his bravery, invincibility and sense
of fairness. When a large Persian army invaded the Syrian territories,
the governor Antiochus entrusted St Andrew with the command of the
Roman army, giving him the title of "Stratelates" ("Commander"). St
Andrew selected a small detachment of brave soldiers and proceeded
against the adversary.
His soldiers were pagans, and St Andrew himself had still not accepted
Baptism, but he believed in Jesus Christ. Before the conflict he
persuaded the soldiers that the pagan gods were demons and could not
help them in battle. He proclaimed to them Jesus Christ, the
omnipotent God of Heaven and earth, giving help to all who believe in
Him.
The soldiers went into battle, calling on the help of the Savior. The
small detachment routed the numerous host of the Persians. St Andrew
returned from the campaign in glory, having gained a total victory.
But jealous men denounced him to the governor Antiochus, saying that
he was a Christian who had converted the soldiers under his command to
his faith.
St Andrew was summoned to trial, and there he declared his faith in
Christ. For this they subjected him to torture. He laid himself upon a
bed of white-hot copper, but as soon as he sought help from the Lord,
the bed became cool. They crucified his soldiers on trees, but not one
of them renounced Christ. Locking the saints away in prison, Antiochus
sent the report of charges on to the emperor, unable to decide whether
to impose the death sentence upon the acclaimed champion. The emperor
knew how the army loved St Andrew, and fearing a rebellion, he gave
orders to free the martyrs. Secretly, however, he ordered that each be
executed on some pretext.
After being freed, St Andrew went went to the city of Tarsus with his
fellow soldiers. There the local bishop Peter and Bishop Nonos of
Beroea baptized them. Then the soldiers proceeded on to the vicinity
of Taxanata. Antiochus wrote a letter to Seleucus, governor of the
Cilicia region, ordering him to overtake the company of St Andrew and
kill them, under the pretext that they had deserted their military
standards.
Seleucus came upon the martyrs in the passes of Mount Tauros, where
they were evidently soon to suffer. St Andrew, calling the soldiers
his brothers and children, urged them not to fear death. He prayed for
all who would honor their memory, and asked the Lord to create a
curative spring on the place where their blood would be shed.
At the time of this prayer the steadfast martyrs were beheaded with
swords. During this time, a spring of water issued forth from the
ground. Bishops Peter and Nonos, with their clergy, secretly followed
the company of St Andrew, and buried their bodies. One of the clergy,
suffering for a long time from an evil spirit, drank from the spring
of water, and at once he was healed. Reports of this spread among the
local people and they began to come to the spring. Through the prayers
of St Andrew and the 2593 Martyrs suffering with him, they received
gracious help from God.
_________________________________________________________________
2,593 Martyred Soldiers in Cilicia
These soldiers were beheaded with St Andrew Stratelates by the
governor Seleucus of Cilicia on the pretext that they had abandoned
their military standards.
_________________________________________________________________
St Pitirim the Bishop of Perm
Saint Pitirim, Bishop of Great Perm, was chosen and consecrated to the
See of Perm after the suffering and death of St Gerasimus of Perm
(January 24). Before becoming bishop, Archimandrite Pitirim was head
of the Chudov monastery. He later became known as the composer of the
Canon to St Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow (February 12), and also
wrote his Life.
As bishop, St Pitirim first occupied himself with establishing
friendly relations between the Zyryani and Voguli peoples. He
circulated admonitory letters and messages, seeking to defend the
Zyryani from pillage. The Voguli leader Asyka however, taking
advantage of princely dissention and the remoteness of the bishop from
the capital, plundered Christian settlements and killed defenseless
people.
Novgorod landowners held lands at the Rivers Vyg and Dvina, suffering
death from the constant pillaging. In the year 1445, they marched out
against the Voguli and took Asyka captive. The crafty pagan swore
friendship to Perm and vowed to harass Christians no longer. Set free,
Asyka waited for a convenient moment to attack Ust'-Vym with the aim
of killing St Pitirim, to whom he attributed his defeat by the
Novgorodians.
During this time St Pitirim was twice in Moscow: in 1447 to address an
encyclical to Prince Demetrius Shemyaka, having broken a treaty (it is
supposed that the writer was St Pitirim); and again in the year 1448
for the consecration of St Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow (March 31).
Taking advantage of St Pitirim's absence, Asyka again made an attack
on a Zyryani settlement near the Pechora, robbing and killing the
inhabitants. Not only the Zyryani, but also the Voguli living their
nomadic life near the Pechora tributary, had become convinced of the
truth of the preachings of St Pitirim, and they had begun to accept
Baptism.
Embittered by this, Asyka committed a new crime. On August 19, 1456 he
murdered St Pitirim, when he was out blessing the waters at the point
of land formed by the confluence of the Rivers Vaga and Vychegda. The
body of the saint remained for 40 days in a grave at the place of his
death (since they awaited an answer to the sad news of his death). In
spite of the hot weather, decay did not touch him. The saint was
buried in the Ust'-Vym cathedral church of the Annunciation next to
his predecessor St Gerasimus. The memory of his repose was already
entered into a typikon in the year 1522. In the year 1607 the joint
commemoration of the three Great Perm holy Hierarchs: Gerasimus,
Pitirim and Jonah, was established (January 29). They succeeded one
another at the Ust'-Vym cathedral.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Timothy of Palestine
The Martyrs Timothy, Agapius and Thekla suffered martyrdom in the year
304. The Martyr Timothy was a native of the city of Caesarean
Palestine. He studied the Holy Scripture, and having received a
special gift of eloquence, he became a teacher of the Christian Faith.
During the time of persecution against Christians under the
co-emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311), the martyr
was brought to trial by the governor Urban. St Timothy fearlessly
declared himself a Christian and spoke about the love of the Lord
Jesus Christ for mankind and of His coming into the world for their
salvation. The martyr was subjected to cruel torture, and when they
saw that he remained down, they killed him.
And in this same town and year the Martyrs Agapius and Thekla were
condemned. They were thrown to be eaten by wild beasts, and suffering
in this manner, they received their heavenly crowns.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Agapius of Palestine
The Martyrs Agapius, Timothy, and Thekla suffered martyrdom at
Caesarea of Palestine in the year 304 during the persecution under the
co-emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311).
Sts Agapius and Thekla were condemned to be eaten by wild beasts.
After suffering in this manner, they received their heavenly crowns
from Christ.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Thekla of Palestine
The Martyrs Thekla, Agapius, and Timothy suffered martyrdom at
Caesarea of Palestine in the year 304 during the persecution under the
co-emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311).
Sts Agapius and Thekla were condemned to be eaten by wild beasts.
After suffering in this manner, they received their heavenly crowns
from Christ.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Theophanes of Dochiariou of Mt Athos
St Theophanes the New, a native of the city of Ioannina, lived during
the sixteenth century. As a young man, he received monastic tonsure on
Mount Athos at the Docheiariou monastery. He was later chosen igumen
of this monastery because of his lofty virtue. In giving refuge to his
own nephew (who had been forcibly converted to Islam) from the Turks
who had captured Constantinople, St Theophanes, with the help of God,
freed the youth, hid him in his own monastery and blessed him to enter
the monastic life.
The brethren, fearing revenge on the part of the Turks, began to
grumble against the saint. He, not wanting to be the cause of discord
and dissension, humbly withdrew with his nephew from the Docheiariou
monastery, quit the Holy Mountain and went to Beroea. There, in the
skete monastery of St John the Forerunner, St Theophanes built a
church in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos. And as monks began to
gather, he gave them a cenobitic monastic rule.
When the monastery flourished, the saint withdrew to a new place at
Naousa, where he made a church in honor of the holy Archangels and
founded there also a monastery. To the very end of his days St
Theophanes did not forsake guiding the monks of both monasteries, both
regarding him as their common father.
In a revelation foreseeing his own end and giving his flock a final
farewell, the saint died in extreme old age at the Beroeia monastery.
Even during life the Lord had glorified his humble saint: saving
people from destruction, he calmed a storm by his prayer, and
converted sea water into drinking water. Even after death, the saint
has never forsaken people with his grace-filled help.
_________________________________________________________________
Intercession of the "Don" Icon of the Mother of God against
the Tatars Attack
The Don Icon of the Mother of God was painted by Theophanes the Greek.
On the day of the Kulikovo Battle (September 8, 1380, the Feast of the
Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos), the Icon was with the Russian
army, giving it help, but after the victory it was passed on by the
Don Cossacks as a gift to their commander, Great Prince Demetrius of
the Don (1363-1389), who then transferred it to Moscow.
The Icon at first was at the Kremlin's Dormition Cathedral, and later
at the Annuniciation Cathedral (the Icon is now in the Tretiakov State
Gallery). In commemoration of the victory on the banks of the River
Don it was called the Don Icon.
In the year 1591, the Crimean Khan Nuradin and his brother Murat-Girei
invaded Russia with a numerous army. Advancing on Moscow, they
positioned themselves on the Vorobiev hills. A church procession was
made around Moscow with the Don Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in
order to guard the city from the enemy.
On the day of battle it was in the military chapel in the ranks of the
soldiers, and set the Tatars to flight. In thanksgiving to the Most
Holy Theotokos for Her mercy, manifest through the Don Icon. In 1592,
the Don monastery was founded at the very place where it stood amid
the soldiers. The wonderworking icon was placed in this monastery, and
its feastday was established as August 19.
By established custom, once every four years His Holiness the
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia performs the rite of the
preparation of Holy Chrism in the small cathedral in honor of the Don
Icon of the Mother of God.
_________________________________________________________________