[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Fri Dec 14 05:00:18 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri Dec 14 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 Timothy 5:22-6:11  (Wednesday)
22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's
sins; keep yourself pure.
23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your
stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.
24 Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment,
but those of some men follow later.
25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those
that are otherwise cannot be hidden.
1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own
masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine
may not be blasphemed.
2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them
because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are
benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which
accords with godliness,
4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and
arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil
suspicions,
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the
truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such
withdraw yourself.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can
carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction
and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which
some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

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1 Timothy 6:17-21
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty,
nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us
richly all things to enjoy.
18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give,
willing to share,
19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come,
that they may lay hold on eternal life.
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the
profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely
called knowledge-
21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be
with you. Amen.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

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Mark 8:30-34  (Wednesday)
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
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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Martyr Thyrsus of Apollonia
The Holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus suffered for Christ
under the emperor Decius (249-251) at Caesarea in Bithynia. St
Leucius, having reproached the prefect Cumbricius for his unjust
persecution of Christians, was executed after being tortured. As soon
as his head was cut off, his soul departed to heaven.
St Thyrsus, who was still a catechumen, was nonetheless eager for
martyrdom. He was sentenced to cruel tortures and torments after
refusing to offer sacrifice to the idols. Citing the words of the
Prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 2:27), he ridiculed those who worshiped wood
and stone.
The saint's arms and legs were pulled out of their sockets, his eyes
were plucked out, and his teeth were shattered with a hammer. He was
taken to a heathen temple, where, by his prayers, he toppled a statue
of Apollo. Cumbricius was enraged by this, and he ordered that greater
torments be devised for the athlete of Christ. He endured them all and
died peacefully after making the Sign of the Cross. The pagan priest
Callinicus, seeing the bravery and the miracle involving St Thyrsus,
believed in Christ and boldly confessed the true Faith, for which he
was beheaded.
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Martyr Leucius of Apollonia
The Holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus suffered for Christ
under the emperor Decius (249-251) at Caesarea in Bithynia.
St Leucius reproached the prefect Cumbricius for his unjust
persecution of Christians, was executed after being tortured. As soon
as his head was cut off, his soul departed to heaven.
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Martyr Callinicus of Apollonia
The Holy Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus suffered for Christ
under the emperor Decius (249-251) at Caesarea in Bithynia. St
Leucius, having reproached the prefect Cumbricius for his unjust
persecution of Christians, was executed after being tortured. As soon
as his head was cut off, his soul departed to heaven.
The pagan priest Callinicus, after witnessing the martyrdom of St
Thyrsus, believed in Christ and boldly confessed the true Faith, for
which he was beheaded.
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Martyr Apollonius of Alexandria
The Holy Martyrs Philemon, Apollonius, Arianus and Theotychus suffered
for the Faith in Egypt, at the city of Antinoe, under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305). St Arrian up until his conversion to Christ was
a persecutor of Christians, among whom were the martyrs Apollonius and
Philemon.
St Apollonius, at first fearing to face the sufferings, asked the
pagan musician Philemon to change clothes with him and offer sacrifice
to the idols for him. But unexpectedly St Philemon confessed himself a
Christian in front of the pagans.
St Apollonius repented and also confessed Christ. After torture, both
martyrs were executed. St Philemon's body was hung upon an olive tree,
and arrows were shot at him. One struck prefect Arianus in the eye,
destroying it. Arianus' injured eye was healed by when he applied dirt
taken from Philemon's grave. He repented and was converted to the
Christian Faith and baptized together with all his household and
bodyguards. Out of love for Christ they voluntarily went to torture
and were sentenced to death.
The Martyr Theotychus was the eldest of the guards, and is remembered
with the other saints. The Martyrs Philemon and Apollonius died on
March 16, 286, and the Martyrs Arrian and Theotychus on March 4, 287.
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Martyr Philemon of Alexandria
The Holy Martyrs Philemon, Apollonius, Arianus and Theotychus suffered
for the Faith in Egypt, at the city of Antinoe, under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305). St Arrian up until his conversion to Christ was
a persecutor of Christians, among whom were the martyrs Apollonius and
Philemon.
St Apollonius, at first fearing to face the sufferings, asked the
pagan musician Philemon to change clothes with him and offer sacrifice
to the idols for him. But unexpectedly St Philemon confessed himself a
Christian in front of the pagans.
St Apollonius repented and also confessed Christ. After torture, both
martyrs were executed. St Philemon's body was hung upon an olive tree,
and arrows were shot at him. One struck prefect Arianus in the eye,
destroying it. Arianus' injured eye was healed by when he applied dirt
taken from Philemon's grave. He repented and was converted to the
Christian Faith and baptized together with all his household and
bodyguards. Out of love for Christ they voluntarily went to torture
and were sentenced to death.
The Martyr Theotychus was the eldest of the guards, and is remembered
with the other saints. The Martyrs Philemon and Apollonius died on
March 16, 286, and the Martyrs Arrian and Theotychus on March 4, 287.
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Martyr Arianus of Alexandria
The Holy Martyrs Philemon, Apollonius, Arianus and Theotychus suffered
for the Faith in Egypt, at the city of Antinoe, under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305). St Arrian up until his conversion to Christ was
a persecutor of Christians, among whom were the martyrs Apollonius and
Philemon.
St Apollonius, at first fearing to face the sufferings, asked the
pagan musician Philemon to change clothes with him and offer sacrifice
to the idols for him. But unexpectedly St Philemon confessed himself a
Christian in front of the pagans.
St Apollonius repented and also confessed Christ. After torture, both
martyrs were executed. St Philemon's body was hung upon an olive tree,
and arrows were shot at him. One struck prefect Arianus in the eye,
destroying it. Arianus' injured eye was healed by when he applied dirt
taken from Philemon's grave. He repented and was converted to the
Christian Faith and baptized together with all his household and
bodyguards. Out of love for Christ they voluntarily went to torture
and were sentenced to death.
The Martyr Theotychus was the eldest of the guards, and is remembered
with the other saints. The Martyrs Philemon and Apollonius died on
March 16, 286, and the Martyrs Arrian and Theotychus on March 4, 287.
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Martyr Theotychus of Alexandria
The Holy Martyrs Philemon, Apollonius, Arianus and Theotychus suffered
for the Faith in Egypt, at the city of Antinoe, under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305). St Arrian up until his conversion to Christ was
a persecutor of Christians, among whom were the martyrs Apollonius and
Philemon.
St Apollonius, at first fearing to face the sufferings, asked the
pagan musician Philemon to change clothes with him and offer sacrifice
to the idols for him. But unexpectedly St Philemon confessed himself a
Christian in front of the pagans.
St Apollonius repented and also confessed Christ. After torture, both
martyrs were executed. St Philemon's body was hung upon an olive tree,
and arrows were shot at him. One struck prefect Arianus in the eye,
destroying it. Arianus' injured eye was healed by when he applied dirt
taken from Philemon's grave. He repented and was converted to the
Christian Faith and baptized together with all his household and
bodyguards. Out of love for Christ they voluntarily went to torture
and were sentenced to death.
The Martyr Theotychus was the eldest of the guards, and is remembered
with the other saints. The Martyrs Philemon and Apollonius died on
March 16, 286, and the Martyrs Arrian and Theotychus on March 4, 287.
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St Hilarion, Metropolitan of Suzdal and Yuriev
Saint Hilarion, Metropolitan of Suzdal and Yuriev (in the world John),
was born November 13, 1631 into the family of the lower city priest
Ananias. His father, famed for his piety and reading, was one of three
candidates for the Patriarchal throne, together with the future
Patriarch Nikon (1652-1658).
John entered a monastery in 1653. In 1655, he became founder and
builder of the Phlorischev wilderness monastery not far from the city
of Gorokhovetsa. In his monastic struggles, the saint wrestled with
fleshly passions. When he fell down in exhaustion before the Vladimir
Icon of the Mother of God beseeching Her help, the Mother of God
shielded him with gracious power and calmed his spirit.
Once, when St Hilarion was serving Vespers together with a
hierodeacon, robbers burst into the church. They killed the deacon and
started to set St Hilarion on fire, asking him where the monastery
treasure was hid. They did not believe that there was no gold in the
monastery. Overcome by the pain, St Hilarion turned to the
wonderworking icon and said, "O All-Pure Virgin Mary, Mother of our
Lord Jesus Christ! If they injure me with the fire, I shall no longer
have the ability to glorify Thy Son and Thee." Suddenly the robbers
heard the shouts of people searching for them, and they fled.
Another time, St Hilarion in passing by the church heard a voice: "I
shall glorify thee throughout all the land." He trembled, and going
into the vestibule, he found no people there. On the portico he found
only the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. The ascetic fell down
before the image with tears and confessed his unworthiness.
Later on, when the saint had begun the construction of a stone church,
he was very sad that concerns about the construction and disagreements
among the workers were distracting him from prayer. While serving in
church with the brethren, he was preoccupied by these thoughts and
began to regret undertaking the work. With tears he besought the
Mother of God not to abandon him and to deliver him from these
worries.
When he finished his prayer, St Hilarion remained alone in church and
began again to think about the construction. And so he fell asleep. In
a dream the Mother of God appeared to him and said, "Transfer My icon,
named the Vladimir, from this hot church and put it in the newly-built
stone church, and I shall be your Helper there".
St Hilarion awoke and ordered the large bell to be rung. The monks
immediately assembled. All went to the hot church and, having prayed
before the icon, solemnly transferred it from the portico into the
temple. After serving the all night Vigil, Divine Liturgy and a
Molieben, the saint told the brethren of his vision. Then in
procession they transferred the icon to the church under construction,
where they set it in the midst of the woods. From that time the
construction went successfully and was soon completed. The saint
wanted to dedicate the temple in honor of the icon, but he it was
revealed to him in a vision that the temple was to be consecrated in
honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
In the wilderness monastery he maintained a very strict community
rule. In 1694, the saint sent a letter to the Phlorischev monastery in
which he reminisced about his own monastic Rule at this monastery:
"Under me, a sinner, no one possessed anything of his own, but all was
shared in common. Many of you may remember that former cenobitic
community. And you also remember that I consigned to the fire those
possessions which would destroy that cenobitic community."
On December 11, 1681, the saint was consecrated as Archbishop of
Suzdal and Yuriev, and in 1682 he was elevated to the dignity of
Metropolitan and remained on the Suzda' cathedra until February 1705.
The saint died peacefully on December 14, 1707 and was buried in the
Suzdal cathedral in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The saint was known for his unceasing concern for the poor. After his
death they found only three coins.
The wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir-Phlorischev
(August 26) was painted by the renowned iconographer John Chirov in
1464 at Nizhni Novgorod in fulfillment of a vow of John Vetoshnikov.
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