[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed Aug 22 05:00:12 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed Aug 22 2007

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

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

2 Corinthians 9:12-10:7
12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs
of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to
God,
13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the
obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your
liberal sharing with them and all men,
14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the
exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and
gentleness of Christ-who in presence am lowly among you, but being
absent am bold toward you.
2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that
confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us
as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the
flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for
pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to
the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is
fulfilled.
7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone
is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider
this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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

Mark 3:20-27
20 Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so
much as eat bread.
21 But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold
of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."
22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has
Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."
23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: "How can
Satan cast out Satan?
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he
cannot stand, but has an end.
27 No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless
he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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

Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Mother of God
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Agathonicus of Nicomedia, and others who suffered
under Maximian
The Martyrs Agathonicus, Zoticus, Theoprepius, Acindynus, Severian,
Zeno and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the
emperor Maximian (284-305).
The Martyr Agathonicus was descended from the illustrious lineage of
the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia. Well versed in Holy
Scripture, he converted many pagans to Christ, including the most
eminent member of the Senate (its "princeps" or leader). Comitus
Eutolmius was sent to the Pontine (lower Black Sea) region, where he
crucified the followers of the Christian Zoticus, who had refused to
offer sacrifice to idols. He took Zoticus with him.
In Nicomedia, Eutolmius arrested the Martyr Agathonicus (together with
the princeps), and also Theoprepius, Acindynus and Severian. After
tortures, Eutolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for
trial by the emperor.
But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, the Martyrs Zoticus,
Theoprepius and Acindynus were unable to proceed further behind the
chariot of the governor because of wounds received duringtorture.
Therefore, they were put to death. The Martyr Severian was put to
death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonicus together with others
was beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor, in Selymbria.
The relics of the Martyr Agathonicus were in a church named for him at
Constantinople, and were seen in the year 1200 by the Russian pilgrim
Anthony. And in the fourteenth century Philotheus, the archbishop of
Selymbria, devoted an encomium to the Martyr Agathonicus.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Zoticus of Nicomedia, and others who suffered under
Maximian
The Martyrs Zoticus, Agathonicus, Theoprepius, Acindynus, Severian,
Zeno and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the
emperor Maximian (284-305). The Martyr Agathonicus was descended from
the illustrious lineage of the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia.
Having become well versed in Holy Scripture, he converted many pagans
to Christ, including the most eminent member of the Senate (its
"princeps" or leader). Comitus Eutolmius was sent to the Pontine
(lower Black Sea) region, where he crucified the followers of the
Christian Zoticus, who had refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
Zoticus himself, he took with him.
In Nicomedia, Eutolmius arrested the Martyr Agathonicus (together with
the princeps), and also Theoprepius, Acindynus and Severian. After
tortures, Eutolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for
trial by the emperor.
But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, the Martyrs Zoticus,
Theoprepius and Acindynus were unable to proceed further behind the
chariot of the governor because of wounds received during torture.
Therefore, they were put to death. The Martyr Severian was put to
death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonicus together with others
was beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor, in Selymbria.
The relics of the Martyr Agathonicus were in a church named for him at
Constantinople, and were seen in the year 1200 by the Russian pilgrim
Anthony. And in the fourteenth century Philotheus, the archbishop of
Selymbria, devoted an encomium to the Martyr Agathonicus.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theoprepius of Nicomedia, and others who suffered
under Maximian
The Martyrs Theoprepius, Agathonicus, Zoticus, Acindynus, Severian,
Zeno and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the
emperor Maximian (284-305). The Martyr Agathonicus was descended from
the illustrious lineage of the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia.
Having become well versed in Holy Scripture, he converted many pagans
to Christ, including the most eminent member of the Senate (its
"princeps" or leader). Comitus Eutolmius was sent to the Pontine
(lower Black Sea) region, where he crucified the followers of the
Christian Zoticus, who had refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
Zoticus himself, he took with him.
In Nicomedia, Eutolmius arrested the Martyr Agathonicus (together with
the princeps), and also Theoprepius, Onesiphorus and Severian. After
tortures, Eutolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for
trial by the emperor.
But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, the Martyrs Zoticus,
Theoprepius and Acindynus were unable to proceed further behind the
chariot of the governor because of wounds received duringtorture.
Therefore, they were put to death. The Martyr Severian was put to
death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonicus together with others
was beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor, in Selymbria.
The relics of the Martyr Agathonicus were in a church named for him at
Constantinople, and were seen in the year 1200 by the Russian pilgrim
Anthony. And in the fourteenth century Philotheus, the archbishop of
Selymbria, devoted an encomium to the Martyr Agathonicus.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Acindynus of Nicomedia, and others who suffered under
Maximian
The Martyrs Acindynus, Agathonicus, Zoticus, Theoprepius, Severian,
Zeno and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the
emperor Maximian (284-305). The Martyr Agathonicus was descended from
the illustrious lineage of the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia.
Having become well versed in Holy Scripture, he converted many pagans
to Christ, including the most eminent member of the Senate (its
"princeps" or leader). Comitus Eutolmius was sent to the Pontine
(lower Black Sea) region, where he crucified the followers of the
Christian Zoticus, who had refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
Zoticus himself, he took with him.
In Nicomedia, Eutolmius arrested the Martyr Agathonicus (together with
the princeps), and also Theoprepius, Acindynus and Severian. After
tortures, Eutolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for
trial by the emperor.
But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, the Martyrs Zoticus,
Theoprepius and Acindynus were unable to proceed further behind the
chariot of the governor because of wounds received duringtorture.
Therefore, they were put to death. The Martyr Severian was put to
death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonicus together with others
was beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor, in Selymbria.
The relics of the Martyr Agathonicus were in a church named for him at
Constantinople, and were seen in the year 1200 by the Russian pilgrim
Anthony. And in the fourteenth century Philotheus, the archbishop of
Selymbria, devoted an encomium to the Martyr Agathonicus.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Severian of Nicomedia, and others who suffered under
Maximian
The Martyrs Severian, Agathonicus, Zoticus, Theoprepius, Acindynus,
Zeno and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the
emperor Maximian (284-305). The Martyr Agathonicus was descended from
the illustrious lineage of the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia.
Having become well versed in Holy Scripture, he converted many pagans
to Christ, including the most eminent member of the Senate (its
"princeps" or leader). Comitus Eutolmius was sent to the Pontine
(lower Black Sea) region, where he crucified the followers of the
Christian Zoticus, who had refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
Zoticus himself, he took with him.
In Nicomedia, Eutolmius arrested the Martyr Agathonicus (together with
the princeps), and also Theoprepius, Acindynus and Severian. After
tortures, Eutolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for
trial by the emperor.
But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, the Martyrs Zoticus,
Theoprepius and Acindynus were unable to proceed further behind the
chariot of the governor because of wounds received during torture.
Therefore, they were put to death. The Martyr Severian was put to
death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonicus together with others
was beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor, in Selymbria.
The relics of the Martyr Agathonicus were in a church named for him at
Constantinople, and were seen in the year 1200 by the Russian pilgrim
Anthony. And in the fourteenth century Philotheus, the archbishop of
Selymbria, devoted an encomium to the Martyr Agathonicus.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Zeno of Nicomedia, and others who suffered under
Maximian
The Martyrs Zeno, Agathonicus, Zoticus, Theoprepius, Acindynus,
Severian, and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the
emperor Maximian (284-305). The Martyr Agathonicus was descended from
the illustrious lineage of the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia.
Having become well versed in Holy Scripture, he converted many pagans
to Christ, including the most eminent member of the Senate (its
"princeps" or leader). Comitus Eutolmius was sent to the Pontine
(lower Black Sea) region, where he crucified the followers of the
Christian Zoticus, who had refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
Zoticus himself, he took with him.
In Nicomedia, Eutolmius arrested the Martyr Agathonicus (together with
the princeps), and also Theoprepius, Acindynus and Severian. After
tortures, Eutolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for
trial by the emperor.
But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, the Martyrs Zoticus,
Theoprepius and Acindynus were unable to proceed further behind the
chariot of the governor because of wounds received during torture.
Therefore, they were put to death. The Martyr Severian was put to
death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonicus together with others
was beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor, in Selymbria.
The relics of the Martyr Agathonicus were in a church named for him at
Constantinople, and were seen in the year 1200 by the Russian pilgrim
Anthony. And in the fourteenth century Philotheus, the archbishop of
Selymbria, devoted an encomium to the Martyr Agathonicus.
_________________________________________________________________
Hieromartyr Athanasius the Bishop of Tarsus in Cilicia
The Hieromartyr Athanasius, bishop of the Cilician city of Tarsus, who
baptized the holy Nun Anthusa, was beheaded by the sword under the
emperor Aurelian (270-275).
St Anthusa, a native of the city of Seleucia (in Syria), was the
daughter of illustrious pagans. Learning of the teachings of Christ,
she under pretense of visiting her benefactress, journeyed instead to
Tarsus to St Athanasius and received Baptism from him.
Her parents were enraged at their daughter for becoming a Christian.
She received monastic tonsure from St Athanasius, then settled in the
desert, where she spent 33 years at ascetic deeds. She died at the end
of the third century while she was praying. The Martyrs Charisimos and
Neophytus, who had been baptized together with the Nun Anthusa, were
her servants, and they too accepted death for Christ.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Anthusa the Nun
The Hieromartyr Athanasius, bishop of the Cilician city of Tarsus, who
baptized the holy Nun Anthusa, was beheaded by the sword under the
emperor Aurelian (270-275).
St Anthusa, a native of the city of Seleucia (in Syria), was the
daughter of illustrious pagans. Learning of the teachings of Christ,
she under pretense of visiting her benefactress, journeyed instead to
Tarsus to St Athanasius and received Baptism from him.
Her parents were enraged at their daughter for becoming a Christian.
She received monastic tonsure from St Athanasius, then settled in the
desert, where she spent 33 years at ascetic deeds. She died at the end
of the third century while she was praying. The Martyrs Charisimos and
Neophytus, who had been baptized together with the Nun Anthusa, were
her servants, and they too accepted death for Christ.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Charesimus the servant of Anthusa the Nun
The Hieromartyr Athanasius, bishop of the Cilician city of Tarsus, who
baptized the holy Nun Anthusa, was beheaded by the sword under the
emperor Aurelian (270-275).
The Saint Anthusa, a native of the city of Seleucia (in Syria), was
the daughter of illustrious pagans. Learning of the teachings of
Christ, she under pretense of visiting her benefactress, journeyed
instead to Tarsus to St Athanasius and received Baptism from him.
Her parents were enraged at their daughter for becoming a Christian.
She received monastic tonsure from St Athanasius, then settled in the
desert, where she spent 33 years at ascetic deeds. She died at the end
of the third century while she was praying. The Martyrs Charisimos and
Neophytus, who had been baptized together with the Nun Anthusa, were
her servants, and they too accepted death for Christ.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Neophytus the Servant of Anthusa the Nun
The Hieromartyr Athanasius, bishop of the Cilician city of Tarsus, who
baptized the holy Nun Anthusa, was beheaded by the sword under the
emperor Aurelian (270-275).
The Saint Anthusa, a native of the city of Seleucia (in Syria), was
the daughter of illustrious pagans. Learning of the teachings of
Christ, she under pretense of visiting her benefactress, journeyed
instead to Tarsus to St Athanasius and received Baptism from him.
Her parents were enraged at their daughter for becoming a Christian.
She received monastic tonsure from St Athanasius, then settled in the
desert, where she spent 33 years at ascetic deeds. She died at the end
of the third century while she was praying. The Martyrs Charisimos and
Neophytus, who had been baptized together with the Nun Anthusa, were
her servants, and they too accepted death for Christ.
_________________________________________________________________
Virginmartyr Eulalia of Barcelona
The Martyr Eulalia lived in Spain, near the city of Barcionum (now
Barcelona), and she was raised by her parents in piety and the
ChristianFfaith. Already at fourteen years of age, the maiden spent a
solitary life in her parental home with others of her own age,
occupied in prayer, the reading of Holy Scripture, and handicrafts.
During the time of a persecution against Christians under the emperors
Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311), the governor Dacian
arrived in the city of Barcionum to rid it of Christians. Hearing of
this, the maiden secretly left her home at night, and by morning had
made her way into the city. Pushing her way through the throng of
people, the girl made a bold denunciation of the judge for forcing
people to renounce the True God in order to offer sacrifice to devils
instead.
Dacian gave orders to strip the girl and beat her with rods, but she
steadfastly endured the torment and told the judge that the Lord would
deliver her from the pain. They tied the martyr to a tree and tore her
skin with iron claws, and they then burned her wounds with torches.
During her torment, Dacian asked the saint,"Where then is your God,
Whom you have called upon?" She answered that the Lord was beside her,
but that Dacian in his impurity could not see Him. During the saint's
prayer: "Behold, God helps me, and the Lord is the defender of my
soul" (Ps. 53/54:4), the flames of the torches turned back upon the
torturers, who fell to the ground.
The Martyr Eulalia began to pray that the Lord would take her to
Heaven to Himself, and with this prayer she died. People saw a white
dove come from her mouth and fly up to Heaven. Then a sudden snowstorm
covered the martyr's naked body like a white garment (the saint's
commemoration is sometimes given as December 10, which may be more
correct, in view of the snow).
Three days later, the martyr's parents came and wept before her
hanging body, but they were also glad that their daughter would be
numbered among the saints. When they took St Eulalia from the tree,
one of the Christians, named Felix, said with tears of joy: "Lady
Eulalia, you are the first of us to win the martyr's crown!"
St Felix himself soon accepted death for Christ, and is also
commemorated on this day.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Gorazd of Prague, Bohemia and Moravo-Cilezsk
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Icon of the Mother of God of Georgia
The Georgian Icon of the mother of God: In 1622 the Persian Shah Abbas
conquered Georgia. Many Christian holy things were stolen, and many
were sold to the Russian merchants in Persia. Thus, the Georgian Icon
of the Mother of God came to a certain merchant named Stephen, who
piously kept it.
In Yaroslavl, the merchant George Lytkin, on whose business Stephen
was in Persia, received a revelation in a dream about the holy object
found by Stephen, and he was commanded to send it to the Chernogorsk
monastery in the Arkhangelsk diocese, founded in 1603.
When Stephen returned home in 1629 and showed the icon to George
Lytkin, he remembered his vision and he set off to the Dvina outskirts
to the Chernogorsk monastery (so called because it was built on a
hilly and somber place. From of old it had been named "Black Hill",
but afterwards the monastery changed the name to "Pretty Hill".
The icon was glorified there by miracles. In 1654, during a
pestilential plague, the icon was transferred to Moscow, and those
praying before it escaped the deadly plague. The numerous copies of
the icon testify to its deep veneration. In 1658, with the blessing of
Patriarch Nikon, there was established an annual feastday of the
Georgian Icon of the Mother of God. The service was written in 1698
under the supervision of Theodore Polykarpov of the Moscow printing
office.
_________________________________________________________________
St Felix of Spain
The Martyr Eulalia lived in Spain, near the city of Barcionum (now
Barcelona), and she was raised by her parents in piety and the
Christian Faith. Already at fourteen years of age, the maiden spent a
solitary life in her parental home with others of her own age,
occupied in prayer, the reading of Holy Scripture, and handicrafts.
During a persecution against Christians under the emperors Diocletian
(284-305) and Maximian (305-311), the governor Dacian arrived in the
city of Barcionum to rid it of Christians. Hearing of this, the maiden
secretly left her home at night, and by morning had made her way into
the city. Pushing her way through the throng of people, the girl made
a bold denunciation of the judge for forcing people to renounce the
True God in order to offer sacrifice to devils instead.
Dacian gave orders to strip the girl and beat her with rods, but she
steadfastly endured the torment and told the judge that the Lord would
deliver her from the pain. They tied the martyr to a tree and tore her
skin with iron claws, and they then burned her wounds with torches.
During her torment, Dacian asked the saint,"Where then is your God,
Whom you have called upon?" She answered that the Lord was beside her,
but that Dacian in his impurity could not see Him. During the saint's
prayer: "Behold, God helps me, and the Lord is the defender of my
soul" (Ps. 53/54:4), the flames of the torches turned back upon the
torturers, who fell to the ground.
The Martyr Eulalia began to pray that the Lord would take her to
Heaven to Himself, and with this prayer she died. People saw a white
dove come from her mouth and fly up to Heaven. Then a sudden snowstorm
covered the martyr's naked body like a white garment (the saint's
commemoration is sometimes given as December 10, which may be more
correct, in view of the snow).
Three days later, the martyr's parents came and wept before her
hanging body, but they were also glad that their daughter would be
numbered among the saints. When they took St Eulalia from the tree,
one of the Christians, named Felix, said with tears of joy: "Lady
Eulalia, you are the first of us to win the martyr's crown!"
St Felix himself soon suffereddeath for Christ, and is also
commemorated on this day.
_________________________________________________________________
St Bogolep, disciple of St Paisius of Uglich
Saint Bogolep was a disciple of St Paisius of Uglich (June 6). In the
world St Bogolep was a baker of bread, and then in the monastery he
had this as his obedience.
A wonderworking icon of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos
appeared before him when he went early in the morning for water to the
Volga. He saw the icon standing on the riverbank and gleaming with a
heavenly light (from whence it came was unknown).
Forgetting about the water, St Bogolep quickly ran back to the
monastery and reported everything to St Paisius. Sts Adrian, Vassian,
Bogolep and Paisius, in company with all the monastery brethren,
carried the icon to the monastery.
St Bogolep was a hieromonk. Before his death he became a schemamonk.
His memory is celebrated on August 22, the day commemorating his
namesake St Theoprepius (which in Russian translation is "Bogolep,"
meaning "God-worthy").
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Isaac I of Optina
Saint Isaac (Antimonov) fell asleep in the Lord on August 22, 1894.
The Moscow Patriarchate authorized local veneration of the Optina
Elders on June 13,1996, glorifying them for universal veneration on
August 7, 2000.
_________________________________________________________________