[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Mon Dec 10 05:00:16 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Dec 10 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Luke 24:1-12  (4th Matins Gospel)
1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they,
and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the
spices which they had prepared.
2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that
behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they
said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He
was still in Galilee,
7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful
men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'
8 And they remembered His words.
9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the
eleven and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the
other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not
believe them.
12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the
linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to
himself at what had happened.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3

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Ephesians 5:9-19  (Epistle)
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and
truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by
them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for
whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And
Christ will give you light."
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the
Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be
filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Scripture Reading 2 of 3

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Luke 17:12-19  (Gospel)
12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who
were lepers, who stood afar off.
13 And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have
mercy on us!"
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the
priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with
a loud voice glorified God,
16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he
was a Samaritan.
17 So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where
are the nine?
18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except
this foreigner?
19 And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you
well."
Scripture Reading 3 of 3

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Martyr Menas of Alexandria
The Holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes, and Eugraphus suffered for their
faith in Christ under the emperor Maximian (305-313).
St Menas was sent by the emperor from Athens to Alexandria to suppress
the riots that had arisen between the Christians and the pagans.
Distinguished for his gift of eloquence, Menas instead openly began to
preach the Christian Faith and he converted many pagans to Christ.
Learning of this, Maximian sent Hermogenes to Alexandria to place the
saints on trial. Moreover, he gave orders to purge the city of
Christians.
Hermogenes, although he was a pagan, was distinguished by his reverent
bearing. And struck by the endurance of St Menas under torture and by
his miraculous healing after the cruel torments, he also came to
believe in Christ. Maximian himself then arrived in Alexandria.
Neither the astonishing stoic endurance of Sts Menas and Hermogenes
under torture, nor even the miracles manifested by God in this city,
mollified the emperor. Instead, they vexed him all the more. The
emperor personally stabbed St Eugraphus, the secretary of St Menas,
and then gave orders to behead the holy Martyrs Menas and Hermogenes.
The relics of the holy martyrs, cast into the sea in an iron chest,
were afterwards found (see February 17) and transferred to
Constantinople in the ninth century. The emperor Justinian built a
church in the name of the holy Martyr Menas of Alexandria. St Joseph
the Hymnographer (April 4) composed a Canon in honor of these holy
martyrs.
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Martyr Hermogenes of Alexandria
The Holy Martyrs Hermogenes, Menas, and Eugraphus suffered for their
faith in Christ under the emperor Maximian (305-313).
St Menas was sent by the emperor from Athens to Alexandria to suppress
the riots that had arisen between the Christians and the pagans.
Distinguished for his gift of eloquence, Menas instead openly began to
preach the Christian Faith and he converted many pagans to Christ.
Learning of this, Maximian sent Hermogenes to Alexandria to place the
saints on trial. Moreover, he gave orders to purge the city of
Christians.
Hermogenes, although he was a pagan, was distinguished by his reverent
bearing. And struck by the endurance of St Menas under torture and by
his miraculous healing after the cruel torments, he also came to
believe in Christ. Maximian himself then arrived in Alexandria.
Neither the astonishing stoic endurance of Sts Menas and Hermogenes
under torture, nor even the miracles manifested by God in this city,
mollified the emperor. Instead, they vexed him all the more. The
emperor personally stabbed St Eugraphus, the secretary of St Menas,
and then gave orders to behead the holy Martyrs Menas and Hermogenes.
The relics of the holy martyrs, cast into the sea in an iron chest,
were afterwards found (see February 17) and transferred to
Constantinople in the ninth century. The emperor Justinian built a
church in the name of the holy Martyr Menas of Alexandria. St Joseph
the Hymnographer (April 4) composed a Canon in honor of these holy
martyrs.
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Martyr Eugraphus of Alexandria
The Holy Martyrs Eugraphus, Menas, and Hermogenes suffered for their
faith in Christ under the emperor Maximian (305-313).
St Menas was sent by the emperor from Athens to Alexandria to suppress
the riots that had arisen between the Christians and the pagans.
Distinguished for his gift of eloquence, Menas instead openly began to
preach the Christian Faith and he converted many pagans to Christ.
Learning of this, Maximian sent Hermogenes to Alexandria to place the
saints on trial. Moreover, he gave orders to purge the city of
Christians.
Hermogenes, although he was a pagan, was distinguished by his reverent
bearing. And struck by the endurance of St Menas under torture and by
his miraculous healing after the cruel torments, he also came to
believe in Christ. Maximian himself then arrived in Alexandria.
Neither the astonishing stoic endurance of Sts Menas and Hermogenes
under torture, nor even the miracles manifested by God in this city,
mollified the emperor. Instead, they vexed him all the more. The
emperor personally stabbed St Eugraphus, the secretary of St Menas,
and then gave orders to behead the holy Martyrs Menas and Hermogenes.
The relics of the holy martyrs, cast into the sea in an iron chest,
were afterwards found (see February 17) and transferred to
Constantinople in the ninth century. The emperor Justinian built a
church in the name of the holy Martyr Menas of Alexandria. St Joseph
the Hymnographer (April 4) composed a Canon in honor of these holy
martyrs.
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St Joasaph the Bishop of Belgorod
Saint Joasaph was born at Proluka, in the former Poltava governance,
on September 8, 1705, the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy
Theotokos. He was descended from the old and venerable Little Russian
(Ukrainian) lineage of the Gorlenkovi. At Baptism he was named
Joachim.
In 1712, his father enrolled the seven-year-old Joachim in the Kiev
Spiritual Academy. Within the walls of the academy he felt attracted
to monastic life. For seven years he studied it further, and finally
revealed his intention to his parents.
For a long time his mother and father pleaded with their first-born
son not to accept monastic tonsure. But in 1725, unknown to them, he
became a "rasophore" ("robe-wearing novice") with the name Hilarion at
the Kiev Mezhigorsk monastery, and on 21 November 1727 he was tonsured
in the mantya with the name Joasaph at the Kievo-Bratsk monastery.
This event co-incided with the completion of his studies at the
spiritual academy.
After the death of His Grace Barlaam, the See of Kiev was governed by
Archbishop Raphael Zaborovsky. Archbishop Raphael noticed the
abilities of the young ascetic and assigned him to greater service to
the Church. He was entrusted with the responsibility of the office of
examiner of the Kiev archbishopric.
In November 1734, Archbishop Raphael ordained the hierodeacon Joasaph
as hieromonk, and he was transferred from the Bratsk monastery school
to the Kiev-Sophia archbishop's house. At the same time, he was
appointed a member of the Kiev religious consistory.
In fulfilling the office of examiner, he exerted much effort towards
the correction of moral deficiencies among the parish clergy. The
saint's service in the consistory office enabled him to develop his
administrative abilities. During this time, he made a good study of
the needs of clergy-servers, noting both the good points and the
failings of the diocese. His talent for administration was combined
with his great spiritual effort. He quickly ascended the ladder of
spiritual perfection, which can be seen in his work, "The Conflict of
the Seven Venerable Virtues with the Seven Deadly Sins."
On June 24, 1737 Hieromonk Joasaph was appointed head of the Holy
Transfiguration Mgarsk monastery, and elevated to the rank of igumen.
Here he worked with all his strength to put the monastery in good
order, for it was an old bastion of Orthodoxy in the struggle with the
Unia. In this monastery were relics of St Athanasius, Patriarch of
Constantinople and Wonderworker of Lubny (May 2). Several times St
Athanasius appeared to Igumen Joasaph, as a sign of his patronal
protection.
In 1744 Metropolitan Raphael elevated Igumen Joasaph to the dignity of
archimandrite. Towards the end of that same year he was called to
Moscow and soon, at the direction of the Most Holy Synod, he was
appointed vicar of the Holy Trinity Sergiev Lavra monastery. At this
monastery of St Sergius he also unstintingly fulfilled obedience to
the Church (this year required much exertion for the rebuilding of the
monastery after a fire).
On June 2, 1748 at the Peter and Paul cathedral in Peterburg,
Archimandrite Joasaph was ordained Bishop of Belgorod. Ascending the
archbishop's throne, St Joasaph strictly concerned himself with piety
and the condition of the churches, with the proper celebration of
divine services, and especially with the moral condition of his flock.
The saint devoted great attention to the education of the clergy, and
the correct observance of churchly norms and traditions. Just as
before, the saint worked with all his strength in his archpastoral
service, without regard for his health.
On the eve of his repose, the saint forbade his cell attendant Stephen
to aspire to the priesthood, and he predicted that if he did not obey
him, he would meet with an untimely end. To another cell attendant
Basil, the saint indicated that he would be a deacon, but would never
become a priest. Later, this prediction was fulfilled. St Joasaph died
on December 10, 1754, and was glorified on September 4, 1911.
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Martyr Gemellus of Paphlagonia
The Holy Martyr Gemellus of Paphlagonia was subjected to cruel
tortures for his staunch denunciation of the emperor Juilan the
Apostate (361-363) in the city of Ancyra (Galatia). A red-hot iron
belt was placed around his waist. Then he was ordered to accompany the
impious Julian on his journey. When they reached Edessa in
Mesopotamia, he was stretched out on the ground and his limbs were
pierced with wooden stakes. Then he was hung on a post and mutilated.
Enduring the tortures, the saint continued to revile the emperor.
After being subjected to even more horrible torments, they let him go.
He was still able to walk and speak, so he went on his way until he
met a priest. He entreated the priest to baptize him, and when he
emerged from the water, his wounds were all healed.
Hearing of this miracle, Julian ordered that St Gemellus be crucified.
The victorious athlete of Christ gave up his soul to God, and his body
was secretly taken down and buried by Christians.
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Venerable Thomas of Bithynia
Saint Thomas Dephourkinos was born in Bithynia. From his youth he was
fond of monastic life and entered one of the area monasteries. Later
in life, when the Byzantine official Galoliktos had founded a
monastery at the River Sagarisa, St Thomas was already an experienced
monk, and the brethren chose him as head of the new monastery.
>From there St Thomas withdrew into the wilderness, where for a long
time he labored in solitude. The monk overcame many snares of the
devil in the wilderness. The Lord glorified him with the gift of
healing and prophecy.
Once, the emperor Leo the Wise (886-911) came to the monastery to St
Thomas for advice. Not finding the monk at the monastery, the emperor
sent his messenger with a letter for him. And just as the messenger
arrived at the the Elder's hut, the saint carried out to him a sealed
answer, resolving the emperor's question. It is not known when St
Thomas reposed.
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Blessed John the King of Serbia and his parents
Saint John of Serbia and his parents Saint Stephen and St Angelina.
The life of the Serbian ruler Stephen Brankovich and his family was
filled with instability and misfortune. After Serbia was seized in
1457 by the Turks, the then Serbian ruler's middle son, Stephen
(October 9), distinguished by a meek disposition and fine knowledge of
Holy Scripture, went to the capital of Turkey after his sister had
been given to Sultan Murat in marriage. Learning that the Turks had
burned the Mileshevsk monastery with fanatic cruelty, St Stephen rose
up to defend Serbia from oppression.
When he married Angelina (July 30), the daughter of the Prince of
Albania, the Turks threatened St Stephen and his family with
punishment. With his wife and three children he was forced to hide
first in Albania, and then in Italy, where he died.
St Angelina transferred the incorrupt relics of her spouse to
Kupinovo. At the end of the fifteenth century a son of the Righteous
Stephen and Angelina, St John, became ruler of Serbia. The incorrupt
relics of St John and his parents were afterwards glorified by many
miracles.
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Blessed Stephen the Prince of Serbia
Saints Stephen and Angelina were the parents of St John of Serbia. The
life of the Serbian ruler Stephen Brankovich and his family was filled
with instability and misfortune. After Serbia was seized in 1457 by
the Turks, the then Serbian ruler's middle son, Stephen (October 9),
distinguished by a meek disposition and fine knowledge of Holy
Scripture, went to the capital of Turkey after his sister had been
given to Sultan Murat in marriage. Learning that the Turks had burned
the Mileshevsk monastery with fanatic cruelty, St Stephen rose up to
defend Serbia from oppression.
When he married Angelina (July 30), the daughter of the Prince of
Albania, the Turks threatened St Stephen and his family with
punishment. With his wife and three children he was forced to hide
first in Albania, and then in Italy, where he died.
St Angelina transferred the incorrupt relics of her spouse to
Kupinovo. At the end of the fifteenth century a son of the Righteous
Stephen and Angelina, St John, became ruler of Serbia. The incorrupt
relics of St John and his parents were afterwards glorified by many
miracles.
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Blessed Angelina Brancovich the Princess of Serbia
Saints Angelina and Stephen were the parents of St John of Serbia. The
life of the Serbian ruler Stephen Brankovich and his family was filled
with instability and misfortune. After Serbia was seized in 1457 by
the Turks, the then Serbian ruler's middle son, Stephen (October 9),
distinguished by a meek disposition and fine knowledge of Holy
Scripture, went to the capital of Turkey after his sister had been
given to Sultan Murat in marriage. Learning that the Turks had burned
the Mileshevsk monastery with fanatic cruelty, St Stephen rose up to
defend Serbia from oppression.
When he married Angelina (July 1 & 30), the daughter of the Prince of
Albania, the Turks threatened St Stephen and his family with
punishment. With his wife and three children he was forced to hide
first in Albania, and then in Italy, where he died.
St Angelina transferred the incorrupt relics of her spouse to
Kupinovo. At the end of the fifteenth century, their son St John,
became ruler of Serbia. The incorrupt relics of St John and his
parents were afterwards glorified by many miracles.
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Venerable Leontius
No information available at this time.
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