[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sat Dec 29 05:00:17 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat Dec 29 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 Timothy 6:11-16  (Saturday After)
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which
you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the
presence of many witnesses.
13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and
before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius
Pilate,
14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our
Lord Jesus Christ's appearing,
15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and
only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom
no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.
Amen.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

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Colossians 1:3-6
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always for you,
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for
all the saints;
5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you
heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is
bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard
and knew the grace of God in truth;
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

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Matthew 12:15-21  (Saturday After)
15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great
multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.
16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known,
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet,
saying:
18 Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul
is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare
justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in
the streets.
20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not
quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory;
21 And in His name Gentiles will trust."
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

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Luke 17:3-10
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke
him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in
a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him.
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
6 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say
to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in
the sea,' and it would obey you.
7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will
say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit
down to eat'?
8 But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper,
and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and
afterward you will eat and drink'?
9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were
commanded him? I think not.
10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are
commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was
our duty to do.'
Scripture Reading 4 of 4

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Afterfeast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ
On December 29, the Afterfeast of the Nativity, we commemorate the
14,000 holy infants who were put to death by King Herod in his attempt
to kill the new-born Messiah (Mt. 2:16).
Today there is also a commemoration of all Orthodox Christians who
have died from hunger, thirst, the sword, and freezing.
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14,000 Infants (the Holy Innocents) slain by Herod at
Bethlehem
14,000 Holy Infants were killed by King Herod in Bethlehem. When the
time came for the Incarnation of the Son of God and His Birth of the
Most Holy Virgin Mary, Magi in the East beheld a new star in the
heavens, foretelling the Nativity of the King of the Jews. They
journeyed immediately to Jerusalem to worship the Child, and the star
showed them the way. Having worshipped the divine Infant, they did not
return to Jerusalem to Herod, as he had ordered them, but being warned
by God in a dream, they went back to their country by another way.
Herod finally realized that his scheme to find the Child would not be
successful, and he ordered that all the male children two years old
and younger at Bethlehem and its surroundings be killed. He thought
that the divine Infant, Whom he considered a rival, would be among the
dead children.
The murdered infants thus became the first martyrs for Christ. The
rage of Herod fell also on Simeon the God-Receiver (February 3), who
declared before everyone in the Temple that the Messiah had been born.
When the holy Elder died, Herod would not give permission for him to
be properly buried. On the orders of King Herod, the holy prophet and
priest Zachariah was also killed. He was murdered in Jerusalem between
the Temple and the altar (Mt. 23:35) because he would not tell the
whereabouts of his son John, the future Baptist of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
The wrath of God soon fell upon Herod himself: a horrid condition
struck him down and he died, eaten by worms while still alive. Before
his death, the impious king murdered the chief priests and scribes of
the Jews, and also his brother, and his sister and her husband, and
also his own wife Mariam, and three of his sons, and seventy men of
wisdom who were members of the Sanhedrin. He initiated this bloodbath
so that the day of his death would not be one of rejoicing, but one of
mourning.
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Venerable Marcellus the Abbot of the Monastery of the
"Unsleeping Ones"
Saint Marcellus, igumen of the Monastery called "the Unsleeping Ones,"
was a native of the city of Apamea in Syria. His parents were wealthy,
but died when he was young. He received his education first at
Antioch, and then at Ephesus. All his possessions left him by his
parents he distributed to the poor, thereby sundering his ties to the
world.
Under the guidance of an experienced elder at Ephesus, Marcellus
entered upon the path of asceticism. He later went on to Byzantium to
St Alexander, igumen of the monastery named "the Unsleeping." The
monastery received its name because in it psalmody was done
constantly, both day and night, by alternating groups of monks. St
Alexander accepted Marcellus and tonsured him into the monastic
schema. Zealous in the works of watchfulness, fasting and prayer, the
saint received great spiritual talents and the gift of clairvoyance.
Marcellus foresaw the day of Abba Alexander's death and his own
election as igumen. However, since he was still young, he did not want
to rule others. So he slipped out of the monastery to visit other
provinces and other monasteries, where he received edification from
the monks who lived there.
After the death of St Alexander, when Abba John had already been
chosen as igumen, Marcellus returned to the great joy of the brethren.
Abba John made Marcellus his own closest assistant. After John's
death, St Marcellus was chosen igumen of the monastery in spite of his
own wishes, and in this position he remained for sixty years.
News of his saintly life spread far. People came to Marcellus from
afar, both the illustrious and the common, rich and the poor. Many
times they saw angels encircling the saint, attending and guarding
him. With the help of God, the monastery of "the Unsleeping Ones"
flourished. So many monks came to place themselves under the direction
of St Marcellus that it became necessary to enlarge the monastery and
the church.
St Marcellus received donations from believers for expansion, and
built a beautiful large church, a hospital, and a hostel for the
homeless. By his prayers the monk treated the sick, cast out devils
and worked miracles. For example, one of the monks was sent to Ankara
and fell ill. Being near death, he called out mentally to his abba. At
that very hour St Marcellus heard his disciple in the monastery, and
he began to pray for him. He who was sick recovered at once.
When a ship with his monks came into danger on the Black Sea, the
saint calmed the tempest by his prayers. Another time, when they told
him that a fire was raging at Constantinople, he prayed tearfully for
the city, and the fire subsided as if extinguished by the tears of the
monk.
John, the servant of a certain Arian nobleman named Ardaburios, was
unjustly accused of something, and he hid out at the monastery to
escape his master's wrath. Ardaburios twice demanded that St Marcellus
hand John over to him, but he refused. Ardaburios then sent out a
detachment of soldiers, who surrounded the monastery, threatening to
slay anyone who interfered with their mission. The brethren went to
the abba, asking him to surrender John and save the monastery. St
Marcellus signed himself with the Sign of the Cross, then boldly went
out alone through the monastery gate towards the soldiers. Lightning
flashed in the sky, thunder rumbled, and the Cross appeared shining
brighter than the sun. The soldiers threw down their weapons and took
to flight. Ardaburios, learning from the soldiers what had happened,
was frightened, and because of St Marcellus he pardoned the servant.
St Marcellus peacefully departed to the Lord in the year 485. His
faithful disciple Lukian grieved terribly over him, but on the fifth
day after the death St Marcellus appeared to him and comforted him,
foretelling his own impending end.
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Venerable Mark the Grave-Digger of the Kiev Near Caves
Saints Mark the Grave-Digger, Theophilus and John are mentioned in the
Kiev Caves Paterikon. Two brothers being monastics, Sts Theophilus and
John, so loved each other that they prevailed upon St Mark to prepare
a double grave so they could be buried side by side.
Many years later, the older of the two brothers was away on monastery
business. During this time his brother John fell ill and died. Several
days later, St Theophilus returned and went with the brethren to view
his brother's body. Seeing that he lay at the higher place in their
common grave, he became indignant with St Mark and said, "Why did you
put him in my place? I am older than he."
The cave-dweller Mark, bowed humbly to St Theophilus and asked that he
forgive him. Turning to the dead man, he said, "Arise, give this place
to your older brother, and you lie down in the other place." And the
dead man moved to the lower place in the grave. Seeing this, St
Theophilus fell down at the knees of St Mark begging his forgiveness.
The cave-dweller Mark told Theophilus that he ought to be concerned
for his own salvation, because soon he would join his brother in that
place.
Hearing this, St Theophilus became terrified and decided that he would
soon die. He gave away everything that he possessed, keeping only his
mantle, and every day he awaited the hour of death. No one was able to
stop his tears, nor to tempt him with tasty food. Tears were his bread
by day and by night (Ps 41/42:3). God granted him several years more
for repentance, which he spent in fasting and lamentation. He even
went blind from continuous weeping.
St Mark forsaw the hour of his death and told Theophilus he would soon
depart this life. Theophilus pleaded, "Father, either take me with
you, or restore my sight." St Mark said to Theophilus, "Do not desire
death, it shall come in its own time, even if you do not wish it. Let
this be the sign of your impending end: three days before you depart
this world, your eyesight will return."
The words of the saint were fulfilled. The body of St Theophilus was
placed in the Antoniev Cave in the grave together with his brother St
John, near the relics of St Mark. Their memory is celebrated also on
September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
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Venerable Theophilus of the Kiev Near Caves
Saints Mark the Grave-Digger, Theophilus and John are mentioned in the
Kiev Caves Paterikon. Two brothers being monastics, Sts Theophilus and
John, so loved each other that they prevailed upon St Mark to prepare
a double grave so they could be buried side by side.
Many years later, the older of the two brothers was away on monastery
business. During this time his brother John fell ill and died. Several
days later, St Theophilus returned and went with the brethren to view
his brother's body. Seeing that he lay at the higher place in their
common grave, he became indignant with St Mark and said, "Why did you
put him in my place? I am older than he."
The cave-dweller Mark, bowed humbly to St Theophilus and asked that he
forgive him. Turning to the dead man, he said, "Arise, give this place
to your older brother, and you lie down in the other place." And the
dead man moved to the lower place in the grave. Seeing this, St
Theophilus fell down at the knees of St Mark begging his forgiveness.
The cave-dweller Mark told Theophilus that he ought to be concerned
for his own salvation, because soon he would join his brother in that
place.
Hearing this, St Theophilus became terrified and decided that he would
soon die. He gave away everything that he possessed, keeping only his
mantle, and every day he awaited the hour of death. No one was able to
stop his tears, nor to tempt him with tasty food. Tears were his bread
by day and by night (Ps 41/42:3). God granted him several years more
for repentance, which he spent in fasting and lamentation. He even
went blind from continuous weeping.
St Mark forsaw the hour of his death and told Theophilus he would soon
depart this life. Theophilus pleaded, "Father, either take me with
you, or restore my sight." St Mark said to Theophilus, "Do not desire
death, it shall come in its own time, even if you do not wish it. Let
this be the sign of your impending end: three days before you depart
this world, your eyesight will return."
The words of the saint were fulfilled. The body of St Theophilus was
placed in the Antoniev Cave in the grave together with his brother St
John, near the relics of St Mark. Their memory is celebrated also on
September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
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Venerable John of the Kiev Near Caves
Saints Mark the Grave-Digger, Theophilus and John are mentioned in the
Kiev Caves Paterikon. Two brothers being monastics, Sts Theophilus and
John, so loved each other that they prevailed upon St Mark to prepare
a double grave so they could be buried side by side.
Many years later, the older of the two brothers was away on monastery
business. During this time his brother John fell ill and died. Several
days later, St Theophilus returned and went with the brethren to view
his brother's body. Seeing that he lay at the higher place in their
common grave, he became indignant with St Mark and said, "Why did you
put him in my place? I am older than he."
The cave-dweller Mark, bowed humbly to St Theophilus and asked that he
forgive him. Turning to the dead man, he said, "Arise, give this place
to your older brother, and you lie down in the other place." And the
dead man moved to the lower place in the grave. Seeing this, St
Theophilus fell down at the knees of St Mark begging his forgiveness.
The cave-dweller Mark told Theophilus that he ought to be concerned
for his own salvation, because soon he would join his brother in that
place.
Hearing this, St Theophilus became terrified and decided that he would
soon die. He gave away everything that he possessed, keeping only his
mantle, and every day he awaited the hour of death. No one was able to
stop his tears, nor to tempt him with tasty food. Tears were his bread
by day and by night (Ps 41/42:3). God granted him several years more
for repentance, which he spent in fasting and lamentation. He even
went blind from continuous weeping.
St Mark forsaw the hour of his death and told Theophilus he would soon
depart this life. Theophilus pleaded, "Father, either take me with
you, or restore my sight." St Mark said to Theophilus, "Do not desire
death, it shall come in its own time, even if you do not wish it. Let
this be the sign of your impending end: three days before you depart
this world, your eyesight will return."
The words of the saint were fulfilled. The body of St Theophilus was
placed in the Antoniev Cave in the grave together with his brother St
John, near the relics of St Mark. Their memory is celebrated also on
September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
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Venerable Theophilus of Luga and Omutch
No information available at this time
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Venerable Thaddeus the Confessor of the Studion
Saint Thaddeus the Confessor, a disciple of Theodore the Studite, was
a defender of the veneration of holy icons. He was brought to trial
and suffered during the reign of Leo V (813-820). The heretics,
mocking St Thaddeus, put an icon of the Savior on the ground, picked
the saint up, and stood him upon it.
After this the judge said, "You have trampled upon the icon of Christ.
There is no point in further resistance, so join us." Thaddeus replied
that he had been placed upon the icon involuntarily, and he cursed the
impiety of the iconoclasts. Enraged by his bold words, they beat him
with cudgels. Then they dragged the martyr by the legs and threw him
outside the city walls. He appeared to be dead, but he was still
alive. A certain Christian took him into his own home and washed his
wounds. St Thaddeus lived another three days, and then surrendered his
soul to God.
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