[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Thu Dec 20 05:00:13 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Dec 20 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Hebrews 10:35-11:7
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the
will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not
tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul
has no pleasure in him."
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those
who believe to the saving of the soul.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which
are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God
testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was
not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had
this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes
to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved
with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by
which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness
which is according to faith.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Mark 10:17-27
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before
Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit
eternal life?"
18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but
One, that is, God.
19 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not
murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not
defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'
20 And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have
kept from my youth."
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing
you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and
follow Me."
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had
great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is
for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"
24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered
again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust
in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for
a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who
then can be saved?"
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but
not with God; for with God all things are possible."
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord
The Forefeast of the Nativity of the Lord begins on December 20. From
now on, most of the liturgical hymns will be concerned with the birth
of the Savior. Many of the Church's hymns of this period are slightly
modified versions of the hymns of Holy Week.
>From the 20th to the 23rd we sing the Troparion (Tone 4) "Prepare, O
Bethlehem, for Eden has been opened to all. Adorn yourself, O
Ephratha, for the Tree of Life blossoms forth from the Virgin in the
cave. Her womb is a spiritual paradise planted with the fruit divine;
if we eat of it we shall live forever and not die like Adam. Christ is
coming to restore the image which He made in the beginning."
We also sing the Kontaion (Tone 3) "Today the Virgin comes to the cave
where she will give birth past understanding to the Word from all
eternity. Rejoice, O universe, when the tidings are proclaimed.
Glorify, with the angels and shepherds, the one Who chose to be
manifest as a newborn Child, while remaining the eternal God."
At Vespers on this first day of the prefeast we sing, "Let us
celebrate, O people, the prefeast of Christ's Nativity; let us raise
our minds on high, in spirit going up to Bethlehem." (Sticheron on
"Lord, I Call.")
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Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer the Bishop of Antioch
The Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, was a disciple of the holy
Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, as was also St Polycarp,
Bishop of Smyrna (February 23). St Ignatius was the second bishop of
Antioch, and successor to Bishop Euodius, Apostle of the Seventy
(September 7).
Tradition suggests that when St Ignatius was a little boy, the Savior
hugged him and said: "Unless you turn and become as little children,
you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (Mt. 18:3). The saint
was called "God-Bearer" (Theophoros), because he bore God in his heart
and prayed unceasingly to Him. He also had this name because he was
held in the arms of Christ, the incarnate Son of God.
St Ignatius was a disciple of the Apostle John the Theologian,
together with St Polycarp of Smyrna. As Bishop of Antioch, St Ignatius
was zealous and spared no effort to build up the church of Christ. To
him is attributed the practice of antiphonal singing (by two choirs)
during church services. He had seen a vision of the angels in heaven
alternately singing praises to God, and divided his church choir to
follow this example. In the time of persecution he was a source of
strength to the souls of his flock, and was eager to suffer for
Christ.
In the year 106 the emperor Trajan (98-117), after his victory over
the Scythians, ordered everyone to give thanks to the pagan gods, and
to put to death any Christians who refused to worship the idols. In
the year 107, Trajan happened to pass through Antioch. Here they told
him that Bishop Ignatius openly confessed Christ, and taught people to
scorn riches, to lead a virtuous life, and preserve their virginity.
St Ignatius came voluntarily before the emperor, so as to avert
persecution of the Christians in Antioch. St Ignatius rejected the
persistent requests of the emperor Trajan to sacrifice to the idols.
The emperor then decided to send him to Rome to be thrown to the wild
beasts. St Ignatius joyfully accepted the sentence imposed upon him.
His readiness for martyrdom was attested to by eyewitnesses, who
accompanied St Ignatius from Antioch to Rome.
On the way to Rome, the ship sailed from Seleucia stopped at Smyrna,
where St Ignatius met with his friend Bishop Polycarp. Clergy and
believers from other cities and towns thronged to see St Ignatius. He
exhorted everyone not to fear death and not to grieve for him. In his
Epistle to the Roman Christians, he asked them to assist him with
their prayers, and to pray that God would strengthen him in his
impending martyrdom for Christ: "I seek Him Who died for us; I desire
Him Who rose for our salvation... In me, desire has been nailed to the
cross, and no flame of material longing is left. Only the living water
speaks within me, saying, 'Hasten to the Father.'"
>From Smyrna, St Ignatius went to Troas. Here he heard the happy news
of the end of the persecution against Christians in Antioch. From
Troas, St Ignatius sailed to Neapolis (in Macedonia) and then to
Philippi.
On the way to Rome St Ignatius visited several churches, teaching and
guiding the Christians there. He also wrote seven epistles: to the
churches of Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, Rome, Philadelphia, and
Smyrna. He also addressed a letter to St Polycarp, who mentions a
collection of the letters of St Ignatius in his letter to the
Philippians (Ch. 13). St Irenaeus of Lyons quotes from St Ignatius's
letter to the Romans (AGAINST HERESIES 5:28:4). All these letters have
survived to the present day.
The Roman Christians met St Ignatius with great joy and profound
sorrow. Some of them hoped to prevent his execution, but St Ignatius
implored them not to do this. Kneeling down, he prayed together with
the believers for the Church, for love between the brethren, and for
an end to the persecution against Christians.
On December 20, the day of a pagan festival, they led St Ignatius into
the arena, and he turned to the people: "Men of Rome, you know that I
am sentenced to death, not because of any crime, but because of my
love for God, by Whose love I am embraced. I long to be with Him, and
offer myself to him as a pure loaf, made of fine wheat ground fine by
the teeth of wild beasts."
After this the lions were released and tore him to pieces, leaving
only his heart and a few bones. Tradition says that on his way to
execution, St Ignatius unceasingly repeated the name of Jesus Christ.
When they asked him why he was doing this, St Ignatius answered that
this Name was written in his heart, and that he confessed with his
lips Him Whom he always carried within. When the saint was devoured by
the lions, his heart was not touched. When they cut open the heart,
the pagans saw an inscription in gold letters: "Jesus Christ." After
his execution St Ignatius appeared to many of the faithful in their
sleep to comfort them, and some saw him at prayer for the city of
Rome.
Hearing of the saint's great courage, Trajan thought well of him and
stopped the persecution against the Christians. The relics of St
Ignatius were transferred to Antioch (January 29), and on February 1,
637 were returned to Rome and placed in the church of San Clemente.
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Venerable Ignatius the Archimandrite of the Kiev Caves
Saint Ignatius, Archimandrite of the Kiev Caves: In the general
service to the Kiev Caves saints, it says of him: "Ignatius, monastic
pastor and healer of the sick, in our infirmities you help us by your
reverence, therefore let us offer song of praise unto your memory"
(Ode 1 of the Canon). He was buried in the Far (Theodosiev) Caves, and
his memory is celebrated together with the Fathers of these Far Caves,
on August 28. The commemoration of the St Ignatius was established on
December 20 because of his namesake, the Hieromartyr Ignatius the
God-Bearer. There is also another commemoration: the Synaxis of all
the Fathers of the Kiev Caves monastery on the second Sunday of Great
Lent.
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St Philogonius the Bishop of Antioch
Before becoming a bishop, Saint Philogonius was a laywer who defended
the poor, the widowed and the orphaned. When his wife died, he was
chosen as Bishop of Antioch.
Distinguished by profound theological knowledge, St Philogonius
successfully defended Orthodoxy against the Arian heresy and by this
prevented unrest in the Church.
During the persecution against Christians under the emperors Maximian
(284-305)and Licinius (311-324), St Philogonius proved himself a
confessor of the Orthodox Faith. He died peacefully in about the year
323. St John Chrysostom wrote a eulogy for St Philogonius in 386.
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St Daniel II the Archbishop of Serbia
Saint Daniel of Serbia, the only son of rich and renowned parents, was
a close associate of the Serbian king Stephan Urosh Milutin. Having
renounced a secular career, he received monastic tonsure from the
igumen of the St Nicholas monastery at Konchul near the River Ibar. St
Daniel's ascetic life was an example for all the brethren.
Archbishop Eustathius of Serbia ordained him presbyter and took him
into his cell. When it was time to choose the igumen for the Hilandar
monastery on Mount Athos, St Daniel received the appointment. The
saint was igumen at a most difficult time for the Holy Mountain. After
the Crusaders were expelled from Palestine, they joined with the Arabs
to plunder and loot the Athonite monasteries, "not sparing anything
sacred."
St Daniel remained at the Hilandar monastery, enduring siege and
hunger. When peace came to the Holy Mountain, the saint resigned as
igumen and withdrew into complete silence in the cell of St Sava of
Serbia (at Karyes). During the internecine war of Kings Milutin and
Dragutin and Stephen of Dechani (November 11), the ascetic was
summoned to Serbia, where he reconciled the adversaries.
In his native land Daniel was made Bishop of Banja and head of the
renowned monastery of St Stephen, a royal treasury. After completing
the construction of a cathedral church at Banja in honor of the holy
Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen, St Daniel returned to his monastic
labors on the Holy Mountain.
The saint was summoned from Athos again in 1325, when he was elected
Archbishop of Serbia. He was consecrated on the Feast of the Elevation
of the Cross of the Lord. The Protos ["head"] of the Holy Mountain,
Garbasios, and other Athonite Elders took part in the solemnities.
Archbishop Daniel was a model of piety, and a wise archpastor. His
tenure as archbishop was marked by complete non-covetousness, concern
and toil for the needs of the Church and the flock, and the building
of churches. In 1335 the saint built a church at Dechani in honor of
the Ascension of the Lord, one of the finest Christian monuments in
Serbia. He collected accounts about the Serbian past, and compiled the
"Rodoslov" [Account about the homeland], writing about the lives of
Serbian rulers and Serbian archpastors.
Even during his lifetime St Daniel was granted the gift of
wonderworking and healing. After fourteen years as archbishop, St
Daniel departed to the Lord on December 19, 1338.
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Repose of St John of Kronstadt
St John of Kronstadt was born in the village of Sura in Archangel
province on October 19, 1829, and was called John in honor of St John
of Rila (August 18). His parents were very poor but were very devoted
to the Church. Even though he was poor, as a young boy John learned to
feel compassion for others in their misfortune. His neighbors
frequently asked him to pray for them, as they noticed this special
grace-endowed gift in him. When John was ten, his parents were able to
raise some money and send him to the local school which was attached
to the church. At first, the boy had an extremely difficult time with
his studies. He worked for days on end, but still failed to keep up.
Writing about his life he once recalled an evening when everyone had
already gone to bed. "I could not sleep, and I still failed to
understand anything I was taught. I still read poorly and could not
remember anything I was told. I became so depressed I fell to my knees
and began to pray. I dont know whether I had spent a long time in that
position or not, but suddenly something shook my whole being. It was
as if a veil had fallen from my eyes, and my mind had been opened, and
I remembered clearly my teacher of that day and his lesson. I also
recalled the topic and the examples he had given. I felt so light and
joyous inside." After this experience he did so well he became one of
the first in his class to be chosen to go to seminary, and after
seminary to the Theological Academy in St Petersburg (a great honor at
that time).
Throughout his studies, John thought about the importance of
forgiveness, meekness, and love, and came to believe that these were
the very center and power of Christianity, and that only one path -
the path of humble love - leads to God and the triumph of His
righteousness. He also thought a great deal about the Savior's death
on the Cross at Golgotha, and pitied those who did not know Jesus
Christ. He wished to preach to them about His death and Resurrection.
He dreamed about becoming a missionary to distant China, but saw that
there was a great deal of work for a genuine pastor of Christs flock
both in his own city and the surrounding towns.
When John graduated from the Academy he met Elizabeth Nesvitsky who
lived in the town of Kronstadt. They dated, he proposed, and they were
married. After his studies, John still desired to learn more about his
faith and his Church.
It was in this frame of mind that he prepared to be a priest and to
enter public ministry. He was ordained a deacon on December 10, 1885,
and then priest on December 12. He was assigned to St Andrews
Cathedral in the city of Kronstadt. He said, I made myself a rule to
be as sincere as possible in my work, and of strictly watching myself
and my inner life.
Fr John wanted most of all to earn the love of the people in his care,
because only a loving attitude could provide the firm support and help
he needed as he faced the difficult work of the priesthood. His
constant thought was how he would come before the Last Judgment and
have to give an account, not only for his own deeds, but also the
deeds of his flock, for whose education and salvation he was
responsible. To him no one was a stranger; everyone who came to him
for help became a friend and relative. He would tell people The Church
is the best heavenly friend of every sincere Christian. He conducted
divine services daily and offered the prayers of the faithful. He
called all who rarely receive Holy Communion to prepare themselves and
live their lives in a Christian way so that they could receive more
often. Listening to Fr John, many people changed their lifestyle,
repented sincerely, and joyfully received Holy Communion on a regular
basis.
At that time the government exiled murderers, thieves and other
criminals to Kronstadt. Life was horrible for the exiles. Even
children of exiles would become thieves and criminals. He would go to
their dugouts, hovels and shacks to visit with them. Not satisfied
with staying for five or ten minutes to administer some rite and then
leave, Fr John believed he was coming to visit a priceless soul, his
brothers and sisters. He would stay for hours, talking, encouraging,
comforting, crying, and rejoicing together with them.
>From the beginning he also concerned himself with the material needs
of the poor. He would shop for food, go to the pharmacy for
prescriptions, to the doctor for help, many times giving the poor his
last few coins. The inhabitants of Kronstadt would see him returning
home barefoot and without his cassock. Often parishioners would bring
shoes to his wife, saying to her, Your husband has given away his
shoes to someone, and will come home barefoot. He would also write
articles for the newspaper exhorting the people of Kronstadt to
support the poor morally and materially. These appeals touched the
hearts of many and Fr John organized many charitable efforts.
Realizing that his individual charity was insufficient for aiding the
needy, he founded the Orthodox Christian House Parish Trusteeship of
St Andrew the First-Called. This brotherhood coordinated many
charitable efforts throughout the city and helped many needy people.
In 1857, he began teaching in the local city schools. He would tell
people, If children cannot listen to the Gospel, it is only because it
is taught like any other subject, with boredom and indifference. Such
teaching defeats the purpose of the Gospel. It fails because it forces
students only to read words and memorize them instead of making them
live in their lives. To Fr John there were no incapable students. He
taught in such a way that poor pupils as well as good ones were able
to understand. His attention was aimed not so much at forcing students
to memorize as to fill their souls with the joy of living according to
Christian values, sharing with them the holy thoughts which filled his
soul.
When speaking to other priests about their vocation he would say, You
are a representative of the faith of the Church, O priest; you are a
representative of Christ the Lord Himself. You should be a model of
meekness, purity, courage, perseverance, patience, and lofty spirit.
You are doing the work of God and must not let anything discourage
you.
St John has performed more miracles than almost any other saint, with
the possible exception of St Nicholas. Through his prayers he healed
the sick, gave hope to the hopeless, and brought sinners to
repentance.
Fr John labored endlessly in his work for the Lord preaching,
teaching, and helping those in need. Having spent his entire life
serving God and His people, Fr John fell ill and died on December 20,
1908. Almost immediately, people from near and far began to make
pilgrimages to the monastery where he was buried. Even today millions
of Orthodox Christians in Russia and around the world pray to him to
intercede for them as he had always done from his childhood.
St John was glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church on June 8, 1990.
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Icon of the Mother of God the "Rescuer of the Drowning"
No information available at this time
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New-martyr John of Thasos
The New Martyr John of Thasos was from the village of Marias on the
island of Thasos. In his youth he was brought to Constantinople and
apprenticed to a tailor. One day he was seized by the Turks and
accused of insulting the Moslem religion. They tried to force him to
accept Islam, but he would not agree to renounce the Christian Faith,
for which he was beheaded at the age of eighteen in the year 1652.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Novgorod
The Novgorod Icon of the Mother of God was painted by St Peter,
Metropolitan of Moscow (December 21), during his stay as igumen of a
monastery on the River Rata at the boundary of the Malyi Dvorets.
During a time of persecution, the Uniates plundered the Novgorod
monastery, and the icon was transferred by the hieromonk James to the
Eletsk Chernigov monastery. Bishop Anthony (Stakovsky) of Chernigov
later blessed Simeon, the organizer of the Surozh monastery (Chernigov
diocese) with this icon. On August 14, 1677, during a church
procession from the old church to a new one, the icon manifested
miraculous signs.
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