[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Tue Aug 28 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no
torment will ever touch them.
2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their
departure was thought to be affliction,
3 and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at
peace.
4 For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is
full of immortality.
5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
6 like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt
offering he accepted them.
7 In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run
like sparks through the stubble.
8 They will govern nations and rule other peoples, and the Lord will
reign over them for ever.
9 Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will
abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect,
and he watches over his holy ones.
Scripture Reading 1 of 6


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Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
15 But the righteous live for ever, and their reward is with the Lord;
the Most High takes care of them.
16 Therefore they will receive a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem
from the hand of the Lord, because with his right hand he will cover
them, and with his arm he will shield them.
17 The Lord will take his zeal as his whole armor, and will arm all
creation to repel his enemies;
18 he will put on righteousness as a breastplate, and wear impartial
justice as a helmet;
19 he will take holiness as a invincible shield,
20 and sharpen stern wrath for a sword, and creation will join with
him to fight against the madmen.
21 Shafts of lightening will fly with true aim, and will leap to the
target as a from a well-drawn bow of clouds,
22 and hailstones full of wrath will be hurled as from a catapult; the
water of the sea will rage against them, and rivers will relentlessly
overwhelm them;
23 a mighty wind will rise against them, and like a tempest it will
winnow them away. Lawlessness will lay waste the whole earth, and
evil-doing will overturn the thrones of rulers.
1 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the
ends of the earth.
2 Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations.
3 For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty
from the Most High, who will search out your works and inquire into
your plans.
Scripture Reading 2 of 6


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Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15  (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
7 But the righteous man, though he die early, will be at rest.
8 For old age is not honored for length of time, nor measured by
number of years;
9 but understanding is gray hair for men, and a blameless life is ripe
old age.
10 There was one who pleased God and was loved by him,
11 He was caught up lest evil change his understanding or guile
deceive his soul.
12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and roving
desire perverts the innocent mind.
13 Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years;
14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took him
quickly from the midst of wickedness.
15 Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, nor take such a thing
to heart, that God's grace and mercy are his elect, and he watches
over his holy ones.
Scripture Reading 3 of 6


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Matthew 11:27-30  (Matins Gospel)
27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows
the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the
Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly
in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Scripture Reading 4 of 6


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Galatians 5:22-6:2  (St. Job)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are
spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering
yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Scripture Reading 5 of 6


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Luke 6:17-23  (St. Job)
17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd
of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and
Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear
Him and be healed of their diseases,
18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they
were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out
from Him and healed them all.
20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: Blessed
are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed
are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And
revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is
great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
Scripture Reading 6 of 6



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Venerable Moses the Black of Scete
Saint Moses Murin the Black lived during the fourth century in Egypt.
He was an Ethiopian, and he was black of skin and therefore called
"Murin" (meaning "like an Ethiopian"). In his youth he was the slave
of an important man, but after he committed a murder, his master
banished him, and he joined a band of robbers.
Because of his bad character and great physical strength they chose
him as their leader. Moses and his band of brigands did many evil
deeds, both murders and robberies. People were afraid at the mere
mention of his name.
Moses the brigand spent several years leading a sinful life, but
through the great mercy of God he repented, left his band of robbers
and went to one of the desert monasteries. Here he wept for a long
time, begging to be admitted as one of the brethren. The monks were
not convinced of the sincerity of his repentance, but the former
robber would not be driven away nor silenced. He continued to ask that
they accept him.
St Moses was completely obedient to the igumen and the brethren, and
he poured forth many tears of sorrow for his sinful life. After a
certain while St Moses withdrew to a solitary cell, where he spent the
time in prayer and the strictest fasting in a very austere lifestyle.
Once, four of the robbers of his former band descended upon the cell
of St Moses. He had lost none of his great physical strength, so he
tied them all up. Throwing them over his shoulder, he brought them to
the monastery, where he asked the Elders what to do with them. The
Elders ordered that they be set free. The robbers, learning that they
had chanced upon their former ringleader, and that he had dealt kindly
with them, followed his example: they repented and became monks.
Later, when the rest of the band of robbers heard about the repentance
of St Moses, then they also gave up their thievery and became fervent
monks.
St Moses was not quickly freed from the passions. He went often to the
igumen, Abba Isidore, seeking advice on how to be delivered from the
passions of profligacy. Being experienced in the spiritual struggle,
the Elder taught him never to eat too much food, to remain partly
hungry while observing the strictest moderation. But the passions did
not cease to trouble St Moses in his dreams.
Then Abba Isidore taught him the all-night vigil. The monk stood the
whole night at prayer, so he would not fall asleep. From his prolonged
struggles St Moses fell into despondency, and when there arose
thoughts about leaving his solitary cell, Abba Isidore instead
strengthened the resolve of his disciple.
In a vision he showed him many demons in the west, prepared for
battle, and in the east a still greater quantity of holy angels, also
ready for fighting. Abba Isidore explained to St Moses that the power
of the angels would prevail over the power of the demons, and in the
long struggle with the passions it was necessary for him to become
completely cleansed of his former sins.
St Moses undertook a new effort. Making the rounds by night of the
wilderness cells, he carried water from the well to each brother. He
did this especially for the Elders, who lived far from the well and
who were not easily able to carry their own water. Once, kneeling over
the well, St Moses felt a powerful blow upon his back and he fell down
at the well like one dead, laying there in that position until dawn.
Thus did the devils take revenge upon the monk for his victory over
them. In the morning the brethren carried him to his cell, and he lay
there a whole year crippled. Having recovered, the monk with firm
resolve confessed to the igumen, that he would continue to live in
asceticism. But the Lord Himself put limits to this struggle of many
years: Abba Isidore blessed his disciple and said to him that the
passions had already gone from him. The Elder commanded him to receive
the Holy Mysteries, and to go to his own cell in peace. From that
time, St Moses received from the Lord power over demons.
Accounts about his exploits spread among the monks and even beyond the
bounds of the wilderness. The governor of the land wanted to see the
saint. When he heard of this, St Moses decided to hide from any
visitors, and he departed his own cell. Along the way he met servants
of the governor, who asked him how to get to the cell of the
desert-dweller Moses. The monk answered them: "Go no farther to see
this false and unworthy monk." The servants returned to the monastery
where the governor was waiting, and they told him the words of the
Elder they had chanced to meet. The brethren, hearing a description of
the Elder's appearance, told them that they had encountered St Moses
himself.
After many years of monastic exploits, St Moses was ordained deacon.
The bishop clothed him in white vestments and said, "Now Abba Moses is
entirely white!" The saint replied, "Only outwardly, for God knows
that I am still dark within."
Through humility, the saint believed himself unworthy of the office of
deacon. Once, the bishop decided to test him and he bade the clergy to
drive him out of the altar, reviling him as an unworthy Ethiopian. In
all humility, the monk accepted the abuse. Having put him to the test,
the bishop then ordained St Moses to be presbyter. St Moses labored
for fifteen years in this rank, and gathered around himself 75
disciples.
When the saint reached age 75, he warned his monks that soon brigands
would descend upon the skete and murder all that were there. The saint
blessed his monks to leave, in order to avoid violent death. His
disciples began to beseech the monk to leave with them, but he
replied: "For many years already I have awaited the time when therethe
words which my Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, should be fulfilled:
"All who take up the sword, shall perish by the sword" (Mt. 26: 52).
After this, seven of the brethren remained with the monk, and one of
them hid nearby during the attack of the robbers. The robbers killed
St Moses and the six monks who remained with him. Their death occurred
in about the year 400.
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Uncovering of the relics of the Venerable Job, Abbot and
Wonderworker of Pochaev
Saint Job of Pochaev died on October 28, 1651, and his relics were
transferred to the church of the Holy Trinity on August 28, 1659. A
second uncovering of the relics took place on August 28, 1833. In the
year 1902, the Holy Synod decreed that on this day the holy relics of
St Job be carried around the Dormition cathedral of the Pochaev Lavra
after the Divine Liturgy.
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Righteous Anna the Prophetess and Daughter of Phanuel, who
met the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem
Righteous Anna the Prophetess was descended from the tribe of Aser,
and was the daughter of Phanuel. She lived with her husband for seven
years until he died. After his death, Righteous Anna led a strict and
pious life, "not leaving the Temple, and serving God both day and
night in fasting and prayer" (Luke. 2: 37). When Righteous Anna was 84
years old, she saw the Infant Jesus Christ at the Temple of Jerusalem.
He was brought to be dedicated to God as a firstborn child according
to the Mosaic law.
Righteous Anna also heard the prophetic words of St Simeon the
God-Receiver spoken to the Most Holy Theotokos. The Prophetess Anna
together with St Simeon glorified God, and told everyone that the
Messiah had come into the world (Luke. 2: 38).
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Martyr Susanna the Queen of Georgia
Saint Shushanik was the wife of the Georgian prince Varsken, the ruler
of Hereti (a province of southeastern Georgia) was under Persian
control at that time, Varsken was essentially the viceroy for the
Persians). Having been raised in a pious Christian family, she was
deeply penetrated with love and the fear of God.
At that time Kartli was under heavy political pressure from Persia,
and Prince Varsken visited the Persian king Peroz in hopes of
encouraging more friendly relations between the two countries. He
willingly denied the true Faith, converted to the worship of fire, and
promised the king to convert his wife and children upon his return to
Hereti.
Having approached the border of Hereti, Varsken sent messengers to
Tsurtavi, the city in which he ruled, to ensure that his subjects met
him with due respect. The blessed Shushanik, having learned of her
husbands betrayal, fell to the ground and wept over him with bitter
tears. Then she took her four children, deserted the palace, and
sought refuge in a nearby church.
That evening Shushanik was visited by her spiritual father, the elder
Jacob, who predicted, Varskens cruelty and mercilessness are
unmistakable. Know that terrible trials await you. Will you be firm
and unbending in your position?
I would rather die than unite with him and destroy my soul! she
answered.
Three days later the prince arrived in Tsurtavi. As promised, he tried
to persuade his wife to convert, but St. Shushanik firmly answered, As
you have renounced your Creator, so I am renouncing you. I will no
longer take part in your affairs, no matter what suffering I must
endure!
The next time, Varsken sent his younger brother Jojik and Bishop Apots
to convince Shushanik to return to the palace. Shushanik refused for
some time, but in the end she yielded to their persuasion. She set off
for the palace with the Holy Gospel and the Lives of the holy martyrs,
and when she arrived she locked herself in a squalid cell. Two days
later Varsken returned to the palace and invited Shushanik, his
brother Jojik, and his sister-in-law for supper. The queen, however,
could not bring herself to share a meal with one who had betrayed
Christ: she pushed away the cup that Jojiks wife had offered her, thus
further angering her husband.
The furious Varsken beat his wife mercilessly, fettered her in irons,
locked her in prison, and forbade the guards to let anyone in to see
her.
St. Shushanik spent six years in captivity. While she was serving her
sentence, she helped the poor that came to her. Through her prayers
the sick were healed and children were born to the childless. Before
her death, Holy Martyr Shushanik blessed those around her and
requested that she be buried at the place from which her unbelieving
husband had dragged her out of the palace.
This happened in the year 475. The clergy and people alike wept
bitterly over Shushaniks tragic fate. Her holy relics were buried in
accordance with her will.
In 578, with the blessing of Catholicos Kirion I, St. Shushaniks holy
relics were translated to Tbilisi, where they remain today, in the
Metekhi Church of the Most Holy Theotokos.
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Synaxis of the Saints of the Kiev Caves, whose relics repose
in the Far Caves of the Venerable Theodosius
On this day the Church celebrates the Synaxis of the Holy Fathers of
the Kiev Caves, whose relics repose in the Far Caves of St Theodosius.
They have their own individual days of commemoration, but today we
honor the whole assembly of these monastic saints who were a light
upon the earth, guiding us on the path of salvation.
Igumen Theodosius, the Founder (May 3, August 14, September 2) Monk
Agathon the Wonderworker (February 20) Archimandrite Acindynus (+1235)
Monk Ammon (October 4) Bishop Amphilochius of Vladimir, Volhynia
(October 10) Monk Anatolius the Recluse (July 3) Monk Aquila the
Deacon (January 4) Monk Arsenius, Lover of Labor (May 8) Monk
Athanasius the Recluse (December 2) Monk Benjamin the Recluse (October
13) Monk Cassian the Recluse (February 29, May 8) Elder Daniel (14th
Century) Hieromonk Dionysius the Recluse (October 3) Archimandrite
Dositheus (+ 1218) Elder Eulogius (14th Century) Hieroschemamonk
Euthymius (January 20) Monk Gerontius the Canonarch (April 1) Monk
Gregory the Recluse (January 8, August 8) Schemamonk Hilarion (October
21) Monk Hypatius the Healer (March 31) Archimandrite Ignatius
(December 20) Monk Isidore the Recluse (12th-13th Centuries) Monk
Joseph the Much-Ailing (April 4) Monk Laurence the Recluse (January
20) Monk Leontius the Canonarch (April 1, June 18) Monk Longinus the
Gate-Keeper (October 16) Hieromartyr Lucian the Priest (October 15)
Monk Macarius the Deacon (January 19) Monk Mardarius the Recluse
(December 13) Monk Martyrius the Recluse (October 25) Monk Martyrius
the Deacon (October 25) Monk Mercurius the Faster (November 4, 24)
Monk Moses the Wonderworker (July 26, 28) Monk Nestor the Unlearned
(October 29) Monk Paisius (July 19) Hieromonk Pambo the Recluse (July
18) Hieromonk Pancratius the Recluse (February 9) Monk Paphnutius the
Recluse (February 15) Monk Paul the Obedient (September 10) Igumen
Pimen the Faster (May 8, August 7) Monk Pior the Recluse (October 4)
Monk Rufus the Obedient (April 8) Schemamonk Silvanus (June 10, July
10) Schemamonk Sisoes (July 6) Monk Sophronius the Recluse (March 11,
May 11) Monk Theodore the Silent (February 17) Monk Theodosius (Prince
Theodore) (August 11) Archbishop Theophilus of Novgorod (October 26)
Igumen Timothy (+ 1132) Monk Titus the Soldier (January 27, February
27) Monk Zachariah the Faster (March 24) Monk Zeno the Faster (January
30)
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Synaxis of all Saints of Serbia
No information available at this time.
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St Sava of Pskov
Saint Sava of Krypetsk was tonsured at Athos, and from there he came
to Pskov. He began to struggle on Mount Snetna at the monastery of
Mother of God near Pskov, and then he went to a more remote spot along
the River Tolva, at the monastery of St Euphrosyne (May 15). Finally,
he withdrew for complete solitude to the Krypetsk wilderness, 15
versts from the Tolva, and he settled alone in a small cave in the
impenetrable forest.
His food was bread and water, and on Wednesdays and Fridays he ate
nothing. Living the life of a hermit he was assailed by unclean
spirits, but always he prevailed over them through prayer. After
several years in the solitary life, those zealous for wilderness life
began to gather around St Sava. They asked him to form a monastery and
build a church in honor of the Apostle John the Theologian. The monk
refused to be igumen of the monastery and entrusted its guidance to
the monk Cassian. Many came out from Pskov to the austere Elder, and
he healed and admonished them, but never did he accept gifts from
them.
One time the Pskov prince Yaroslav Vasilievich Obolensky, who
frequently visited at the monastery, journeyed with his sick wife to
see the saint. St Sava sent him a message saying, "The Elder, the
sinner Sava, tells you, Prince, not to enter the monastery with the
princess. Our rule here states that women are not to enter the
monastery. If you transgress this fatherly command, your princess will
not receive healing."
The prince asked forgiveness, since it was through ignorance that he
was on the point of violating the rule. St Sava came out through the
monastery gates with the brethren, and served a Molieben there. The
princess was healed. In 1487, through the mediation of the prince,
Pskov received a deed to the lands for the monastery.
The monk taught the laity to guard their purity, reminding them of the
injunction of the Apostle against the defilers of the body (I Cor.
6:9-10). He told the rich and the judges not to make their living at
the expense of the poor and to preserve righteous truth. He frequently
reminded everyone to avoid quarrels and enmity, to preserve love and
peace and to overlook the faults of others by courtesy, even as they
in turn have forgiven us.
At the monastery, a strict cenobitic life had been introduced from the
very beginning. Then, when sufficient brethren and means had been
gathered, there was nothing in the cell of the monk except for two
icons, his monk's garb and the cot upon which he lay down to take his
rest.
Through such poverty he taught the brethren. The monk commanded them
to work the land with their own hands. He said, "How can we call the
ancient ascetics our Fathers, when we do not live their way of life?
How can we be counted as their children? They were homeless and poor,
they spent their time in caves and in the wilderness, and for the Lord
with all their strength they subjected their flesh to the spirit. They
knew no respite by day, or by night. We should love the good Lord,
children, and show our love for Him not only by words, nor by our
manner of attire, but by deeds: by love one for another, by tears, by
fasting, by every manner of temperance, just as the ancient Fathers
did."
The grateful prince built a bridge to the monastery through the fens
and the swamps 1400 sazhen [1 sazhen = 7 feet] in length. After his
death (August 28, 1495), St Sava did not forsake the monastery, and
many times came to its defense.
Once, robbers approached the monastery at night, and they saw an
august Elder who held a staff in his hand and threateningly ordered
them to repent. In the morning, they learned that there was no such
Elder at the monastery, and they realized that it had been St Sava
himself. The leader of the robbers repented before the igumen and
remained at the monastery.
St Sava was tall of stature, with a beard grey as snow, roundish and
thick and not very long. In this form he appeared to the monk Isaiah
in the mid-sixteenth century, and showed him where to find his
incorrupt relics. Later, in the year 1555, the Pskov priest Basil
compiled the Life of St Sava at the request of the Krypetsk brethren,
and his Feastday was established.
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Righteous Hezekiah
Righteous Hezekiah (721-691 B.C.) was the son of the impious king
Ahaz. The life of Righteous Hezekiah is described in the Bible (4/2
Kings 18-20).
He became King of Judah at the age of twenty-five, and reigned at
Jerusalem for 29 years. A zealous worshipper of the True God, Hezekiah
reopened the Temple of Solomon (2 Chron. 20:3). At the time of the
celebration of the Passover, to which he summoned all the subjects of
the kingdom of Israel, Hezekiah gave orders to destroy the idols
throughout his kingdom, reminding the people of the punishments which
befell their ancestors for forsaking the True God. After this,
idolatry ceased not only in the kingdom of Judah, but also in many
places in the kingdom of Israel.
Therefore, God delivered him from his enemies and fulfilled his
petitions. Thus, in the fourteenth year of the reign of Hezekiah, the
Assyrian king Sennacherib son of Salmanassar, having conquered Israel,
gathered his forces to make war upon Hezekiah.
The Assyrian king took the fortress of Lachis and sent an army towards
Jerusalem, demanding that the Jewish king surrender. Hezekiah turned
to God in prayer, and an angel of the Lord struck down 185,000
soldiers in the Assyrian camp. Soon after the withdrawal of
Sennacherib, Hezekiah fell ill. The Prophet Isaiah came to him through
the will of God and told him to set his affairs in order, since he
would soon die. But the power of Hezekiah's prayer was so great that
God prolonged his life for another fifteen years.
His prayer was fervent when he besought God to help him. But even more
ardent was his prayer of thanks. Hezekiah died at age 54 and was
buried with great reverence at Jerusalem. The memory of the Righteous
Hezekiah is also celebrated on Cheesefare Saturday.
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