[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sat Dec 8 05:00:12 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat Dec 8 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 Timothy 4:4-8, 16
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if
it is received with thanksgiving;
5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good
minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the
good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself
toward godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable
for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that
which is to come.
16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in
doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Luke 21:37-22:8
37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He
went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet.
38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple
to hear Him.
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called
Passover.
2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill
Him, for they feared the people.
3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among
the twelve.
4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and
captains, how he might betray Him to them.
5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.
6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the
absence of the multitude.
7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be
killed.
8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for
us, that we may eat."
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Venerable Patapius of Thebes
Saint Patapius was born at Thebes into a pious Christian family.
Reaching the age of maturity, he scorned the vanities of the world and
so went into the Egyptian desert where he became known for his ascetic
deeds. Though he wished to dwell in silence, people began to come to
him for advice.
He went eventually to Constantinople, where he obtained a cell at the
city wall, near the Blachernae church. But here, too, he quickly
became known. The sick began to throng about, and he having been
vouchsafed the gift of healing, began to help all the needy.
After a life adorned with virtue and miracles, St Patapius fell asleep
in the Lord and was buried in the church of St John the Baptist.
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Venerable Cyril the Abbot of Chelma Hill
Saint Cyril of Chelma Hill, Enlightener of the Chudian People, was
born at the city of White Lake. He was tonsured at the monastery of St
Anthony the Roman, where for six years he passed through various
obediences. Then, after wandering through the wilderness for three
years, he settled in a wild region of Kargopolsk. And here, by a
command from on high, he chose Chelma Hill for his constant abode.
Many of the afflicted from the Chud people came to see St Cyril, whose
luminous ascetic life and kindly preaching moved many to accept holy
Baptism.
Toward the end of his life, St Cyril established a monastery and
church in honor of the Theophany of the Lord. The monk dwelt upon
Chelma Hill for fifty-two years, and died at the advanced age of 82.
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Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy
Saints Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, Onesiphorus,
Apostles of the 70 were chosen and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself to preach. They were chosen some time after the selection of
the Twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1-24).
St Sosthenes, before accepting Christianity, was head of the Jewish
synagogue at Corinth. During a riot against the Apostle Paul, he too
suffered a beating. He was converted by Paul to faith in Christ and
afterwards became bishop at Caesarea.
All of these saints departed peacefully to the Lord (they are also
commemorated on March 30). The Church also remembers St Onesiphorus
(September 7) with them.
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Apostle Apollos of the Seventy
Saints Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, Onesiphorus,
Apostles of the 70 were chosen and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself to preach. They were chosen some time after the selection of
the Twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1-24).
St Apollos (September 10) was a native of Alexandria and was a man of
erudition. The chief place of his service was at Corinth. He toiled
there for a long time and converted many to Christ. Towards the end of
his life he preached on the island of Crete and was Bishop of
Caesarea.
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Apostle Cephas of the Seventy
Saints Cephas, Apollos, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, Onesiphorus,
Apostles of the 70 were chosen and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself to preach. They were chosen some time after the selection of
the Twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1-24).
St Cephas was bishop at Colophon, Pamphylia.
All of these saints departed peacefully to the Lord (they are also
commemorated on March 30). The Church also remembers St Onesiphorus
(September 7) with them.
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Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy
Saints Tychicus, Apollos, Cephas, Epaphroditus, Caesar, Onesiphorus,
Apostles of the 70 were chosen and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself to preach. They were chosen some time after the selection of
the Twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1-24).
St Tychicus, a native of Asia Minor, was a disciple and companion of
the holy Apostle Paul. During St Paul's first imprisonment, he
delivered the Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians. He
replaced St Sosthenes on the episcopal throne at Caesarea.
All of these saints departed peacefully to the Lord (they are also
commemorated on March 30).
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Apostle Epaphroditus of the Seventy
Saints Epaphroditus, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Caesar, Onesiphorus,
Apostles of the 70 were chosen and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself to preach. They were chosen some time after the selection of
the Twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1-24).
St Epaphroditus, one of the Apostle Paul's closest assistants and
companions, was bishop of the Thracian city of Adriaca.
All of these saints departed peacefully to the Lord (they are also
commemorated on March 30). The Church also remembers St Onesiphorus
(September 7) with them.
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Apostle Caesar of the Seventy
Saints Caesar, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Onesiphorus,
Apostles of the 70 were chosen and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself to preach. They were chosen some time after the selection of
the Twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1-24).
St Caesar preached at and was bishop of Dyrrhachium, a district of the
Peloponnesos in Greece.
All of these saints departed peacefully to the Lord (they are also
commemorated on March 30). The Church also remembers St Onesiphorus
(September 7) with them.
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Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy
Saints Onesiphorus, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar,
Apostles of the 70 were chosen and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself to preach. They were chosen some time after the selection of
the Twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1-24).
All of these saints departed peacefully to the Lord (they are also
commemorated on March 30). The Church also remembers St Onesiphorus
(September 7) with them.
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62 Martyred Priests of Africa, martyred by the Arians
The Holy Martyrs of Africa (62 Clergy and 300 Laypeople): They
suffered in the time of the emperor Zeno (474-491). Guneric, the ruler
of the Vandal kingdom in North Africa, came under the influence of
heretical Arian bishops and began a fierce persecution against the
Orthodox.
When believers had gathered at one of the churches and secretly
celebrated the Divine Liturgy, barbarian soldiers burst into the
church. Some of the worshippers fled, but 300 men voluntarily gave
themselves over to torture and were beheaded. Of the clergy, two were
burned, and sixty had their tongues cut out. By a miraculous Divine
power they continued to preach and to oppose the Arian heresy.
They all endured horrible torments, but remained faithful to Christ
and His holy Church.
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300 Martyred laypeople of Africa, martyred by the Arians
The Holy Martyrs of Africa (62 Clergy and 300 Laypeople): They
suffered in the time of the emperor Zeno (474-491). Guneric, the ruler
of the Vandal kingdom in North Africa, came under the influence of
heretical Arian bishops and began a fierce persecution against the
Orthodox.
When believers had gathered at one of the churches and secretly
celebrated the Divine Liturgy, barbarian soldiers burst into the
church. Some of the worshippers fled, but 300 men voluntarily gave
themselves over to torture and were beheaded. Of the clergy, two were
burned, and sixty had their tongues cut out. By a miraculous Divine
power they continued to preach and to oppose the Arian heresy.
They all endured horrible torments, but remained faithful to Christ
and His holy Church.
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Martyr Anthusa at Rome
The Holy Martyr Anthusa, the wife of a Roman official, was baptized by
St Ambrose of Milan (December 7). When the city prefect's wife Sunilda
suggested that St Anthusa be baptized by an Arian, she refused. So she
was committed to the fire, and received the crown of martyrdom.
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