[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri Dec 7 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 Timothy 1:18-20; 2:8-15  (Wednesday)
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the
prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage
the good warfare,
19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected,
concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that
they may learn not to blaspheme.
8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy
hands, without wrath and doubting;
9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest
apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold
or pearls or costly clothing,
10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good
works.
11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.
12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a
man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into
transgression.
15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in
faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4


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1 Timothy 3:1-13
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a
bishop, he desires a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate,
sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle,
not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission
with all reverence
5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he
take care of the church of God?);
6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same
condemnation as the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside,
lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to
much wine, not greedy for money,
9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons,
being found blameless.
11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate,
faithful in all things.
12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and
their own houses well.
13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a
good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ
Jesus.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4


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Luke 21:5-7, 10-11, 20-24  (Wednesday)
5 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful
stones and donations, He said,
6 These things which you see-the days will come in which not one stone
shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.
7 So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be?
And what sign will there be when these things are about to take
place?"
10 Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom.
11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines
and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from
heaven.
20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its
desolation is near.
21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those
who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the
country enter her.
22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are
written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing
babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and
wrath upon this people.
24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away
captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Scripture Reading 3 of 4


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Luke 21:28-33
28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your
heads, because your redemption draws near.
29 Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the
trees.
30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that
summer is now near.
31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the
kingdom of God is near.
32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away
till all things take place.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass
away.
Scripture Reading 4 of 4



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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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St Ambrose the Bishop of Milan
Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was born in the year 340 into the
family of the Roman prefect of Gaul (now France). Even in the saint's
childhood there appeared presentiments of his great future. Once, bees
covered the face of the sleeping infant. They flew in and out of his
mouth, leaving honey on his tongue. Soon they flew away so high that
they could no longer be seen. Ambrose's father said that the child
would become something great when he reached manhood.
After the death of the father of the family, Ambrose journeyed to
Rome, where the future saint and his brother Satyrius received an
excellent education. About the year 370, upon completion of his course
of study, Ambrose was appointed to the position of governor (consular
prefect) of the districts of Liguria and Aemilia, though he continued
to live at Mediolanum (now Milan).
In the year 374 Auxentius, the Arian Bishop of Mediolanum, died. This
led to complications between the Orthodox and the Arians, since each
side wanted to have its own bishop. Ambrose, as the chief city
official, went to the church to resolve the dispute.
While he was speaking to the crowd, suddenly a child cried
out,"Ambrose for bishop!" The people took up this chant. Ambrose, who
at this time was still a catechumen, considered himself unworthy, and
tried to refuse. He disparaged himself, and even tried to flee from
Mediolanum. The matter went ultimately before the emperor Valentinian
the Elder (364-375), whose orders Ambrose dared not disobey. He
accepted holy Baptism from an Orthodox priest and, passing through all
the ranks of the Church clergy in just seven days, on December 7, 374
he was consecrated Bishop of Mediolanum. He dispersed all his
possessions, money and property for the adornment of churches, the
upkeep of orphans and the poor, and he devoted himself to a strict
ascetic life.
Ambrose combined strict temperance, intense vigilance and work within
the fulfilling of his duties as archpastor. St Ambrose, defending the
unity of the Church, energetically opposed the spread of heresy. Thus,
in the year 379 he traveled off to establish an Orthodox bishop at
Sirmium, and in 385-386 he refused to hand over the basilica of
Mediolanum to the Arians.
The preaching of St Ambrose in defense of Orthodoxy was deeply
influential. Another noted Father of the Western Church, St Augustine
(June 15), bore witness to this, having accepted holy Baptism in the
year 387 by the grace of the preaching of the bishop of Mediolanum.
St Ambrose also actively participated in civil matters. Thus, the
emperor Gracian (375-383), having received from him the "Exposition of
the Orthodox Faith" (De Fide), removed, by decree of the saint, the
altar of Victory from the halls of the Senate at Rome, on which oaths
were wont to be taken. Displaying a pastoral boldness, St Ambrose
placed a severe penance on the emperor Theodosius I (379-395) for the
massacre of innocent inhabitants of Thessalonica. For him there was no
difference between emperor and commoner. Though he released Theodosius
from the penance, the saint would not permit the emperor to commune at
the altar, but compelled him to do public penance.
The fame of Bishop Ambrose and his actions attracted to him many
followers from other lands. From faraway Persia learned men came to
him to ask him questions and absorb his wisdom. Fritigelda (Frigitil),
queen of the military Germanic tribe of the Markomanni, which often
had attacked Mediolanum, asked the saint to instruct her in the
Christian Faith. The saint in his letter to her persuasively stated
the dogmas of the Church. And having become a believer, the queen
converted her own husband to Christianity and persuaded him to
conclude a treaty of peace with the Roman Empire.
The saint combined strictness with an uncommon kindliness. Granted a
gift of wonderworking, he healed many from sickness. One time at
Florence, while staying at the house of Decentus, he resurrected a
dead boy.
The repose of St Ambrose, who departed to the Lord on the night of
Holy Pascha, was accompanied by many miracles. He even appeared in a
vision to the children being baptized that night. The saint was buried
in the Ambrosian basilica in Mediolanum, beneath the altar, between
the Martyrs Protasius and Gervasius (October 14).
A zealous preacher and valiant defender of the Christian Faith, St
Ambrose received particular renown as a Church writer. In dogmatic
compositions he set forth the Orthodox teaching about the Holy
Trinity, the Sacraments, and Repentance: "Five Books on the Faith" (De
Fide); "Explication of the Symbol of the Faith" (Explanatio Symboli);
"On the Incarnation" (De Incarnationis); "Three Books on the Holy
Spirit" (De Spiritu Sancto); "On the Sacraments" (De Sacramento); "Two
Books on Repentance" (De Paenitentia). In writings about Christian
morality, he explained the excellence of Christian moral teaching
compared to pagan moral teaching.
A well-known work of St Ambrose, "On the Duties of the Clergy" (De
Officiis Ministrorum) evidences his deep awareness of pastoral duty.
He stresses that those who serve in the Church should have not only
the proper knowledge of Church services, but also the proper knowledge
of moral precepts.
St Ambrose was also a reformer of Church singing. He introduced
antiphonal singing (along the Eastern or Syrian form) into the Western
Church, which became known as "Ambrosian Chant." He also composed
twelve hymns which were used during his lifetime. The hymn, "Thee, O
God, we praise" (Te Deum), attributed to St Ambrose, entered into the
divine services of the Orthodox Church (Molieben).
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Venerable Anthony the Abbot of Siya, Novgorod
Saint Anthony of Siya, in the world Andrew, was born into a family of
rich farmers in the village of Kekhta near the North Dvina river. In
childhood he received a fine education, read much and learned
iconography. After the death of his parents, Andrew went to Novgorod,
and for five years worked for a boyar [nobleman] there. He later
married, but his wife died after a year.
Then Andrew decided to devote himself to monasticism. He distributed
his goods to the poor and as a wanderer came to the Pachomiev
wilderness monastery at the River Kena. St Pachomius tonsured him with
the name Anthony. Soon he was ordained a hieromonk, and Anthony, with
the blessing of the igumen, celebrated the divine services by himself.
He went out with the other monks of the monastery to work for the
monastery's needs. Out of love for solitude St Anthony eventually left
the Pachomiev wilderness, after choosing two companions from the
monastic brethren, and he settled upon Mikhailov Island, on the one
side washed by the River Sii, and on the other, by encircling lakes.
In this harsh frontier within the dense thickets Anthony built a
chapel in 1520. But to clear the forest required difficult work, and
Anthony's companions began to grumble against him. Then quite
unexpectedly an unknown man furnished them with the means of
subsistence, offering money for good measure. The Siya monastery
became famous, and inhabitants of surrounding villages often visited
it. And again St Anthony, taking one disciple, withdrew to a still
more remote place on Lake Palun. There, in a solitary cell, he dwelt
for three years. When the igumen Theoctistus refused to guide the Siya
monastery any longer, the brethren tried to persuade St Anthony to
return to them. He finally acceded to the request of the monks, again
became igumen and piously guided the monastery until his death in the
year 1556, when he was seventy-nine years old.
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Venerable Nilus of Stolbensk Lake
Saint Nilus of Stolobnoye was born into a peasant family in a small
village of the Novgorod diocese. In the year 1505 he was tonsured at
the monastery of St Sava of Krypetsk (August 28) near Pskov. After ten
years in ascetic life at the monastery he set out to the River Sereml,
on the side of the city of Ostashkova; here for thirteen years he led
a strict ascetic life in incessant struggle against the snares of the
devil, who took on the appearance of reptiles and wild beasts. Many of
the inhabitants of the surrounding area started coming to the monk for
instruction, but this became burdensome for him and he prayed God to
show him a place for deeds of quietude. Once, after long prayer he
heard a voice saying, "Nilus! Go to Lake Seliger. There upon the
island of Stolobnoye you can be saved!" St Nilus learned the location
of this island from people who visited him. When he arrived there, he
was astonished by its beauty.
The island, in the middle of the lake, was covered over by dense
forest. St Nilus found a small hill and dug out a cave, and after a
while he built a hut, in which he lived for twenty-six years. To his
exploits of strict fasting and stillness [ie. hesychia] he added
another - he never lay down to sleep, but permitted himself only a
light nap, leaning on a prop set into the wall of the cell.
The pious life of the monk frequently roused the envy of the Enemy of
mankind, which evidenced itself through the spiteful action of the
local inhabitants. One time someone set fire to the woods on the
island where stood the saint's hut, but the flames went out in
miraculous manner upon reaching the hill. Another time robbers forced
their way into the hut. The monk said to them: "All my treasure is in
the corner of the cell." In this corner stood an icon of the Mother of
God, but the robbers began to search there for money and became
blinded. Then with tears of repentance they begged for forgiveness.
St Nilus performed many other miracles. He would refuse gifts if the
conscience of the one offering it to him was impure, or if they were
in bodily impurity.
Aware of his approaching end, St Nilus prepared a grave for himself.
At the time of his death, an igumen from one of the nearby monasteries
came to the island and communed him with the Holy Mysteries. Before
the igumen's departure, St Nilus prayed for the last time, censing
around the holy icons and the cell, and surrendered his soul to the
Lord on December 7, 1554. The translation of his holy relics (now
venerated at the church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Of the Sign"
in the city of Ostashkova) took place in the year 1667, with feastdays
established both on the day of his death, and on May 27.
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Venerable John the Faster of the Kiev Near Caves
No information available at this time
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Martyr Athenodorus of Mesopotamia
The Holy Martyr Athenodorus, from Syrian Mesopotamia, led a monastic
life from his youth. Denounced as a Christian, he was arrested and
condemned to fierce tortures by the governor of the land, Eleusius.
Miracles accompanied the martyrdom of the saint, which converted many
of the pagans to the Christian Faith.
He was beheaded in the year 304.
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Venerable Paul the Obedient
Saint Paul the Obedient We do not know when he lived. There is only a
short Life which says that he was the son of wealthy parents. He left
secular life upon reaching maturity.
The appellation "Obedient" was bestowed upon the monk for his deep
humility, and for the complete renunciation of his own will. Once, the
monk stirred boiling tar with his hand, and received not the slightest
burn from it. Some of the brethren regarded him as a God-bearing
ascetic, but others became suspicious of him.
After fervent prayer, the monks received a unique vision proving that
their brother was a true ascetic. By night they were all transported
to Paradise and they conversed with St Paul, who permitted them to
take a flower or twig with them as a remembrance. Awakening from
sleep, they found in their hands the flowers and twigs from Paradise.
After this St Paul went to Jerusalem, and then to Cyprus.
Having led a solitary life, he ended his life on Mount Paregoros
[Mount Solace]. Before his death the voice of God said to him, "Ascend
the mountain, Paul, and accept the end of life."
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St Philothea of Thrace, the Protectress of Romania
Saint Philothea (Philofthea) of Argesh was born in Trnovo, the old
capital of Bulgaria, around 1206. Her father was a farmer, and her
mother was from Wallachia. She died when Philothea was still a child,
and her father remarried.
The child was often punished by her stepmother, who accused her of
being disobedient, and of giving their possesions away to the poor.
Her father chastised her for this, but Philothea continued to attend
church services and to do good to others, just as her mother had
taught her. As she grew older, she was adorned with the virtues of
prayer, virginity, and almsgiving.
St Philothea used to bring food to her father, who was out working in
the fields. Not all of the food reached him, however, because the girl
would give some of it to the poor children begging in the street. When
he complained to his wife that she did not prepare enough food for
him, she replied, "I send you plenty of food. Ask your daughter what
she does with it."
Becoming angry with Philothea, her father decided to spy on her to see
what happened to the food. From a place of concealment, he saw her
giving food to the poor children who came to her. In a violent rage,
he took the axe from his belt and threw it at the twelve-year-old
girl, hitting her in the leg. The wound was mortal, and she soon gave
her pure soul into God's hands.
The man was filled with fear and remorse, and tried to lift his
daughter's body from the ground, but it became as heavy as a rock.
Then the wretch ran to the Archbishop of Trnovo to confess his sin and
explain what had happened. The Archbishop and his clergy went with
candles and incense to take up the martyr's body and bring it to the
cathedral, but even they were unable to lift it.
The Archbishop realized that St Philothea did not wish to remain in
her native land, so he began to name various monasteries, churches,
and cathedrals to see where she wished to go. Not until he named the
Monastery of Curtea de Argesh in Romania were they able to lift her
holy relics and place them in a coffin. The Archbishop wrote to the
Romanian Voievode Radu Negru, asking him to accept the saint's relics.
The Archbishop and his clergy carried the holy relics in procession as
far as the Danube, where they were met by Romanian clergy, monastics,
and the faithful. Then they were carried to the Curtea de Argesh
Monastery.
Many people have been healed at the tomb of St Philothea in a small
chapel in the belltower behind the monastery church, and those who
entreat her intercession receive help from her. Each year on December
7 there is a festal pilgrimage to the Monastery, and people come from
all over Romania. The relics of St Philothea are carried around the
courtyard in procession, and there are prayers for the sick.
The holy Virgin Martyr Philothea is venerated in Romania, Bulgaria,
and throughout the Orthodox world.
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Venerable Gregory the Founder of Grigoriou Monastery of Mt
Athos
St Gregory of Mount Athos was born in Serbia, and pursued asceticism
on Mt Athos. He built and dedicated the monastery of St Nicholas,
which was later renamed Grigoriou in his honor.
In the records of Mt Athos the saint's signature dating from 1405 was
discovered. According to Tradition, the relics of St Gregory were
taken from Athos by Serbian monks.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir of Seligersk
The Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Seliger comes from the
island of Seliger in the Tver Province of Russia.
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