[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Mon Aug 20 05:00:13 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Aug 20 2007

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

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

2 Corinthians 8:7-15
7 But as you abound in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge,
in all diligence, and in your love for us-see that you abound in this
grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your
love by the diligence of others.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty
might become rich.
10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be
doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;
11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a
readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what
you have.
12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to
what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;
14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply
their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack-that there
may be equality.
15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and
he who gathered little had no lack."
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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

Mark 3:6-12
6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the
Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
7 But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great
multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea
8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre
and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was
doing, came to Him.
9 So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for
Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.
10 For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed
about Him to touch Him.
11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before
Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God."
12 But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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

Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Mother of God
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Prophet Samuel
The Prophet Samuel was the fifteenth and last of the Judges of Israel,
living more than 1146 years before the Birth of Christ. He was
descended from the Tribe of Levi, and was the son of Elkanah from
Ramathaim-Zophim of Mount Ephraim. He was born, having been besought
from the Lord through the prayers of his mother Hannah (therefore he
received the name Samuel, which means "besought from God"). Even
before birth, he was dedicated to God. Her song, "My heart exults in
the Lord," is the Third Ode of the Old Testament (1 Sam/1 Kings
2:1-10).
When the boy reached the age of three, his mother went with him to
Shiloh and in accord with her vow dedicated him to the worship of God.
She gave him into the care of the High Priest Eli, who at this time
was a judge over Israel. The prophet grew in the fear of God, and at
twelve years of age he had a revelation that God would punish the
house of the High Priest Eli, because he did not restrain the impiety
of his sons. Eli's whole family was wiped out in a single day.
The prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines, having slain in
battle 30,000 Israelites (among them were also the sons of the High
Priest, Hophni and Phinees), gaining victory and capturing the Ark of
the Covenant. Hearing this, the High Priest Eli fell backwards from
his seat at the gate, and breaking his back, he died. The wife of
Phinees, upon hearing what had happened in this very hour, gave birth
to a son (Ichabod) and died with the words: "The glory has departed
from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken away" (1 Sam/1 Kgs 4: 22).
Upon the death of Eli, Samuel became the judge of the nation of
Israel. The Ark of God was returned by the Philistines on their own
initiative. After returning to God, the Israelites returned to all the
cities that the Philistines had taken. In his old age, the Prophet
Samuel made his sons Joel and Abiah judges over Israel, but they did
not follow the integrity and righteous judgment of their father, since
they were motivated by greed.
Then the elders of Israel, wanting the nation of God to be "like other
nations" (1 Sam/1 Kgs 8: 20), demanded of the Prophet Samuel that they
have a king. The Prophet Samuel anointed Saul as king, but saw in this
a downfall of the people, whom God Himself had governed until this
time, announcing His will through His chosen saints. Resigning the
position of judge, the Prophet Samuel asked the people if they
consented to his continued governance, but no one stepped forward for
him.
After denouncing the first king, Saul, for his disobedience to God,
the Prophet Samuel anointed David as king. He had offered David
asylum, saving him from the pursuit of King Saul. The Prophet Samuel
died in extreme old age. His life is recorded in the Bible (1 Sam/1
Kgs; Sirach 46:13-20).
In the year 406 A.D. the relics of the Prophet Samuel were transferred
from Judea to Constantinople.
_________________________________________________________________
Hieromartyr Philip the Bishop of Heraclea
Saint Philip was Bishop of Heraclea, and suffered martyrdom with Sts
Severus, Memnon, and thirty-seven others in Thrace during the third
century.
He was thrown into a fiery oven after his hands and feet were
amputated.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Severus and 38 Soldiers in Thrace
The martyrs Severus, Memnon, Philip, and thirty-seven others suffered
in Philippopolis, Thrace under the emperor Diocletian (284-305).
When the governor learned that the St Severus had converted the
centurion Memnon to Christ, he ordered that Memnon be tortured. They
cut three strips of skin from St Memnon's back.
St Severus was raked with iron hooks. Then they put red-hot rings on
his fingers and girded him with a red-hot iron belt. After these
tortures, he was blinded.
The others had their hands and feet cut off and were thrown into a
fiery oven.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Memnon and 38 Soldiers in Thrace
The Martyrs Memnon, Severus, Philip, and thirty-seven others suffered
in Philippopolis, Thrace under the emperor Diocletian (284-305).
When the governor learned that the St Severus had converted the
centurion Memnon to Christ, he ordered that Memnon be tortured. They
cut three strips of skin from St Memnon's back. Later, his hands and
feet were cut off, and he was thrown into a fiery oven.
_________________________________________________________________
38 Martyred Soldiers in Thrace with Severus and Memnon
These thirty-seven soldiers suffered with Sts Severus and Memnon in
Philippopolis, Thrace under the emperor Diocletian (284-305).
Their names are Orion, Antilinus, Molias, Eudemon, Silvanus, Sabinus,
Eustathius, Straton, Bosua of Byzantium, Timothy, Palmatus, Mestus,
Nikon, Difilus, Dometian, Maximus, Neophytus, Victor, Rinus,
Satorninus, Epaphroditus, Cercanus, Gaius, Zoticus, Cronion, Anthony,
Horus, Zoilus, Tyrannus, Agathon, Panstenus [Parthenias], Achilles,
Panthyrias, Chrysanthus, Athenodorus, Pantoleon, Theosebius,
Genephlius of Philippopolis.
Their hands and feet were cut off, and they were thrown into a fiery
oven.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Heliodorus of Persia
The Martyrs Heliodorus and Dosa suffered for Christ in Persia under
the emperor Sapor II, in the year 380.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Dosa of Persia
The Martyrs Heliodorus and Dosa suffered for Christ in Persia under
the emperor Sapor II, in the year 380.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Lucius
The Martyr Lucius, a senator, was beheaded by the sword on the island
of Crete in the year 310 for confessing his faith in Christ.
_________________________________________________________________