[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed Dec 12 05:00:19 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed Dec 12 2007

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Hebrews 5:11-6:8
11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have
become dull of hearing.
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone
to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you
have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of
righteousness, for he is a babe.
14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good
and evil.
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of
Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection
of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this we will do if God permits.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy
Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to
come,
6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they
crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open
shame.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and
bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives
blessing from God;
8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being
cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

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Hebrews 7:1-6  (Thursday)
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God,
who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed
him,
2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being
translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem,
meaning "king of peace,"
3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither
beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God,
remains a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch
Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the
priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people
according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have
come from the loins of Abraham;
6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from
Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

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Mark 8:30-34
30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about
Him.
31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many
things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to
rebuke Him.
33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He
rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful
of the things of God, but the things of men."
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also,
He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

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Mark 9:10-16  (Thursday)
10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising
from the dead meant.
11 And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah
must come first?"
12 Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and
restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man,
that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him
whatever they wished, as it is written of him.
14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around
them, and scribes disputing with them.
15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed,
and running to Him, greeted Him.
16 And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"
Scripture Reading 4 of 4

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St Spyridon the Wonderworker and Bishop of Tremithus
Saint Spyridon of Tremithus was born towards the end of the third
century on the island of Cyprus. He was a shepherd, and had a wife and
children. He used all his substance for the needs of his neighbors and
the homeless, for which the Lord rewarded him with a gift of
wonderworking. He healed those who were incurably sick, and cast out
demons.
After the death of his wife, during the reign of Constantine the Great
(306-337), he was made Bishop of Tremithus, Cyprus. As a bishop, the
saint did not alter his manner of life, but combined pastoral service
with deeds of charity.
According to the witness of Church historians, St Spyridon
participated in the sessions of the First Ecumenical Council in the
year 325. At the Council, the saint entered into a dispute with a
Greek philosopher who was defending the Arian heresy. The power of St
Spyridon's plain, direct speech showed everyone the importance of
human wisdom before God's Wisdom: "Listen, philosopher, to what I tell
you. There is one God Who created man from dust. He has ordered all
things, both visible and invisible, by His Word and His Spirit. The
Word is the Son of God, Who came down upon the earth on account of our
sins. He was born of a Virgin, He lived among men, and suffered and
died for our salvation, and then He arose from the dead, and He has
resurrected the human race with Him. We believe that He is one in
essence (consubstantial) with the Father, and equal to Him in
authority and honor. We believe this without any sly rationalizations,
for it is impossible to grasp this mystery by human reason."
As a result of their discussion, the opponent of Christianity became
the saint's zealous defender and later received holy Baptism. After
his conversation with St Spyridon, the philosopher turned to his
companions and said, "Listen! Until now my rivals have presented their
arguments, and I was able to refute their proofs with other proofs.
But instead of proofs from reason, the words of this Elder are filled
with some sort of special power, and no one can refute them, since it
is impossible for man to oppose God. If any of you thinks as I do now,
let him believe in Christ and join me in following this man, for God
Himself speaks through his lips."
At this Council, St Spyridon displayed the unity of the Holy Trinity
in a remarkable way. He took a brick in his hand and squeezed it. At
that instant fire shot up from it, water dripped on the ground, and
only dust remained in the hands of the wonderworker. "There was only
one brick," St Spyridon said, "but it was composed of three elements.
In the Holy Trinity there are three Persons, but only one God."
The saint cared for his flock with great love. Through his prayer,
drought was replaced by abundant rains, and incessant rains were
replaced by fair weather. Through his prayers the sick were healed and
demons cast out.
A woman once came up to him with a dead child in her arms, imploring
the intercession of the saint. He prayed, and the infant was restored
to life. The mother, overcome with joy, collapsed lifeless. Through
the prayer of the saint of God the mother was restored to life.
Another time, hastening to save his friend, who had been falsely
accused and sentenced to death, the saint was hindered on his way by
the unanticipated flooding of a stream. The saint commanded the water:
"Halt! For the Lord of all the world commands that you permit me to
cross so that a man may be saved." The will of the saint was
fulfilled, and he crossed over happily to the other shore. The judge,
apprised of the miracle that had occurred, received St Spyridon with
esteem and set his friend free.
Similar instances are known from the life of the saint. Once, he went
into an empty church, and ordered that the lampadas and candles be
lit, and then he began the service. When he said, "Peace be unto all,"
both he and the deacon heard from above the resounding of "a great
multitude of voices saying, "And with thy spirit." This choir was
majestic and more sweetly melodious than any human choir. To each
petition of the litanies, the invisible choir sang, "Lord, have
mercy." Attracted by the church singing, the people who lived nearby
hastened towards it. As they got closer and closer to the church, the
wondrous singing filled their ears and gladdened their hearts. But
when they entered into the church, they saw no one but the bishop and
several church servers, and they no longer heard the singing which had
greatly astonished them."
St Simeon Metaphrastes (November 9), the author of his Life, likened
St Spyridon to the Patriarch Abraham in his hospitality. Sozomen, in
his CHURCH HISTORY, offers an amazing example from the life of the
saint of how he received strangers. One time, at the start of the
Forty-day Fast, a stranger knocked at his door. Seeing that the
traveller was very exhausted, St Spyridon said to his daughter, "Wash
the feet of this man, so he may recline to dine." But since it was
Lent there were none of the necessary provisions, for the saint
"partook of food only on certain days, and on other days he went
without food." His daughter replied that there was no bread or flour
in the house. Then St Spyridon, apologizing to his guest, ordered his
daughter to cook a salted ham from their larder. After seating the
stranger at table, he began to eat, urging that man to do the same.
When the latter refused, calling himself a Christian, the saint
rejoined, "It is not proper to refuse this, for the Word of God
proclaims, "Unto the pure all things are pure" (Titus 1:15).
Another historical detail reported by Sozomen, was characteristic of
the saint. It was his custom to distribute one part of the gathered
harvest to the destitute, and another portion to those having need
while in debt. He did not take a portion for himself, but simply
showed them the entrance to his storeroom, where each could take as
much as was needed, and could later pay it back in the same way,
without records or accountings.
There is also the tale by Socrates Scholasticus about how robbers
planned to steal the sheep of St Spyridon. They broke into the
sheepfold at night, but here they found themselves all tied up by some
invisible power. When morning came the saint went to his flock, and
seeing the tied-up robbers, he prayed and released them. For a long
while he advised them to leave their path of iniquity and earn their
livelihood by respectable work. Then he made them a gift of a sheep
and sending them off, the saint said kindly, "Take this for your
trouble, so that you did not spend a sleepless night in vain."
All the Lives of the saint speak of the amazing simplicity and the
gift of wonderworking granted him by God. Through a word of the saint
the dead were awakened, the elements of nature tamed, the idols
smashed. At one point, a Council had been convened at Alexandria by
the Patriarch to discuss what to do about the idols and pagan temples
there. Through the prayers of the Fathers of the Council all the idols
fell down except one, which was very much revered. It was revealed to
the Patriarch in a vision that this idol had to be shattered by St
Spyridon of Tremithus. Invited by the Council, the saint set sail on a
ship, and at the moment the ship touched shore and the saint stepped
out on land, the idol in Alexandria with all its offerings turned to
dust, which then was reported to the Patriarch and all the bishops.
St Spyridon lived his earthly life in righteousness and sanctity, and
prayerfully surrendered his soul to the Lord. His relics repose on the
island of Corfu (Kerkyra), in a church named after him (His right
hand, however, is located in Rome). His memory is also celebrated on
Cheesefare Saturday.
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Venerable Therapon the Abbot of Monza
Saint Therapon of Monza was a monk in the monastery of St Adrian (May
5) at the River Monza. The monk began his ascetic deeds in Moscow, and
then transferred to the city of Kostroma at the Elevation of the Cross
monastery, and was tonsured there.
The pious monks Adrian and Paphnutius, from the monastery of St Paul
of Obnora (January 10). Seeking solitude, they moved to the Monza and
founded a monastery 25 versts from Galich. St Therapon transferred to
this monastery, where he labored in asceticism until the end of his
life. Each day, with the blessing of the igumen, he withdrew into a
forest thicket and prayed. By night he read and transcribed copies of
spiritually useful books.
In his life he emulated Blessed Basil of Moscow (August 2), whom he
called his friend, although personally he never saw him. Even during
his life, St Therapon was glorified with a gift of wonderworking.
Before his death he predicted a year of famine (1601). He surrendered
his soul to God in the year 1597. The monastery at the River Monza was
called after him the Theraponov.
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Hieromartyr Alexander the Bishop of Jerusalem
The Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem, was a disciple of the
great teacher and writer of the Church, Clement of Alexandria. At the
beginning of the third century he was chosen bishop of Flavia,
Cappadocia. He was arrested during the reign of the emperor Septimus
Severus (193-211) and spent three years in prison.
After his release from prison he went to Jerusalem to venerate the
holy places, and was told to remain there through a divine revelation.
In 212 he was chosen as coadministrator with the elderly Patriarch
Narcissus, an unusually rare occurrence in the ancient Church.
Following the death of St Narcissus (August 7), St Alexander succeeded
him and governed the Church of Jerusalem for thirty-eight years,
working for the enlightenment of Christians. He also established the
first library of Christian theological works at Jerusalem.
St Alexander was arrested during the persecution of the Church under
the emperor Decius (249-251). The holy martyr was sent to Cappadocia,
where he suffered many tortures. He was condemned to be eaten by wild
beasts, but they did not harm him. St Alexander was cast into prison,
where he surrendered his soul to God.
The hieromartyr Alexander is also commemorated on May 16.
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Martyr Synetus of Rome
The Holy Martyr Synetus (the name is derived from the Greek word
meaning "man of reason") was a Roman by birth, and was a reader in the
Roman Church under Pope Sixtus (257-258). He was subjected to torture,
and was beheaded for his brave confession of faith in the time of the
emperor Aurelian (270-275).
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Martyr John, Abbot of the Zedazeni Monastery
The life of the holy martyr John, Abbot of Zedazeni Monastery, has not
been preserved, but the list recalling the names of the holy fathers
who reposed at Zedazeni Monastery after John of Zedazeni, which was
compiled by Catholicos Arsenius II, tells us that Abbot John was
murdered at Zedazeni by Muslims. St. John was martyred in the 9th
century.
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