[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Sat Feb 10 05:00:18 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat Feb 10 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 Corinthians 10:23-28
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all
things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for
conscience' sake;
26 for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness."
27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you
desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for
conscience' sake.
28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat
it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for
"the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness."
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

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1Thessalonians 4:13-17  (Departed)
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those
who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will
bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are
alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede
those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead
in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall
always be with the Lord.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

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Luke 21:8-9, 25-27, 33-36
8 And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come
in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.'
Therefore do not go after them.
9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for
these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come
immediately.
25 And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars;
and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the
waves roaring;
26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those
things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens
will be shaken.
27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass
away.
34 But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with
carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on
you unexpectedly.
35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of
the whole earth.
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to
escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of Man.
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

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John 5:24-30  (Departed)
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in
Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into
judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when
the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear
will live.
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to
have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is
the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are
in the graves will hear His voice
29 and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of
life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of
condemnation.
30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is
righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the
Father who sent Me.
Scripture Reading 4 of 4

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Hieromartyr Charalampus the Bishop of Magnesia in Thessaly
The Hieromartyr Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, the Martyrs
Porphyrius and Baptus and Three Women Martyrs suffered in the year
202.
St Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia (Asia Minor), successfully spread
faith in Christ the Savior, guiding people on the way to salvation.
News of his preaching reached Lucian, the governor of the district,
and the military commander Lucius. The saint was arrested and brought
to trial, where he confessed his faith in Christ and refused to offer
sacrifice to idols.
Despite the bishop's advanced age (he was 113 years old), he was
subjected to monstrous tortures. They lacerated his body with iron
hooks, and scraped all the skin from his body. During this the saint
turned to his tormentors, "I thank you, brethren, that you have
restored my spirit, which longs to pass over to a new and everlasting
life!"
Seeing the Elder's endurance and his complete lack of malice, two
soldiers (Porphyrius and Baptus) openly confessed Christ, for which
they were immediately beheaded with a sword. Three women who were
watching the sufferings of St Charalampus also began to glorify
Christ, and were quickly martyred.
The enraged Lucius seized the instruments of torture and began to
torture the holy martyr, but suddenly his forearms were cut off as if
by a sword. The governor then spat in the face of the saint, and
immediately his head was turned around so that he faced backwards.
Then Lucius entreated the saint to show mercy on him, and both
torturers were healed through the prayers of St Charalampus. During
this a multitude of witnesses came to believe in Christ. Among them
also was Lucius, who fell at the feet of the holy bishop, asking to be
baptized.
Lucian reported these events to the emperor Septimus Severus
(193-211), who was then at Pisidian Antioch (western Asia Minor). The
emperor ordered St Charlampos to be brought to him in Antioch.
Soldiers twisted the saint's beard into a rope, wound it around his
neck, and used it to drag him along. They also drove an iron nail into
his body. The emperor then ordered them to torture the bishop more
intensely, and they began to burn him with fire, a little at a time.
But God protected the saint, and he remained unharmed.
Many miracles were worked through his prayer: he raised a dead youth,
and healed a man tormented by devils for thirty-five years, so that
many people began to believe in Christ the Savior. Even Galina, the
daughter of the emperor, began to believe in Christ, and twice smashed
the idols in a pagan temple. On the orders of the emperor they beat
the saint about the mouth with stones. They also wanted to set his
beard on fire, but the flames burned the torturer.
Full of wickedness, Septimus Severus and an official named Crispus
hurled blasphemy at the Lord, mockingly summoning Him to come down to
the earth, and boasting of their own power and might. The Lord sent an
earthquake, and great fear fell upon all, the impious ones were both
suspended in mid-air held by invisible bonds, and only by the prayer
of the saint were they put down. The dazed emperor was shaken in his
former impiety, but again quickly fell into error and gave orders to
torture the saint.
And finally, he sentenced St Charalampus to beheading with a sword.
During his final prayer, the heavens opened and the saint saw the
Savior and a multitude of angels. The holy martyr asked Him to grant
that the place where his relics would repose would never suffer famine
or disease. He also begged that there would be peace, prosperity, and
an abundance of fruit, grain, and wine in that place, and that the
souls of these people would be saved. The Lord promised to fulfill his
request and ascended to heaven, and the soul of the hieromartyr
Charalampus followed after Him. By the mercy of God, the saint died
before he could be executed. Galina buried the martyr's body with
great honor.
In Greek hagiography and iconography St Charalampus is regarded as a
priest, while Russian sources seem to regard him as a bishop.
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Martyr Porphyrius in Thessaly
Saint Porphyrius was a soldier who suffered martyrdom with Sts
Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, Baptus, Porphyrius, and three women
in the year 202.
Seeing the endurance of StCharalampus and his complete lack of malice,
two soldiers (Porphyrius and Baptus) openly confessed Christ, for
which they were immediately beheaded with a sword.
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Martyr Baptus in Thessaly
Saint Baptus was a soldier who suffered martyrdom with Sts
Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, Porphyrius, and three women in the
year 202.
Seeing the endurance of StCharalampus and his complete lack of malice,
two soldiers (Porphyrius and Baptus) openly confessed Christ, for
which they were immediately beheaded with a sword.
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3 Female Martyrs in Thessaly
These three women witnessed the sufferings of St Charalampus and also
began to glorify Christ. They were put to death with St Charalampus.
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Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Novgorod, Buried in the Cathedral
of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost. On October 4, 1439 St John
(September 7) appeared to the presiding hierarch St Euthymius (March
11) and ordered him to serve a special panikhida in memory of those
buried at the Sophia cathedral (the Russian princes and Archbishops of
Novgorod, and all Orthodox Christians) on the Feast of the Hieromartyr
Hierotheus, first Bishop of Athens.
Then the incorrupt relics of St John (September 7) were uncovered.
Afterwards, the Synaxis was established to mark the glorification of
the Novgorod hierarchs. E. E. Golubinsky says that because these
hierarchs remained unknown at the time of their glorification, he
determined this date for their common celebration was established in
the period between the time of the Moscow Council of 1549 and the time
of the formation of the Holy Synod (E. E. Golubinsky, History of the
Canonization of Saints in the Russian Church. Moscow, 1903, p. 157).
Included in the Synaxis of Novgorod hierarchs are: St Joachim of
Korsun, first bishop of Novgorod (988-1030); St Luke the Jew, bishop
(October 15, 1060); St Germanus, bishop (1078-1096); St Arcadius,
bishop (September 18); St Gregory, archbishop (May 24, 1193); St
Martyrius, archbishop (August 24, 1199); St Anthony, archbishop
(October 8, 1231); St Basil the Lame, archbishop (July 3, 1352); St
Simeon, archbishop (June 15, 1421); St Gennadius, archbishop (December
4); St Pimen, archbishop (1553-1571); Aphthonius, metropolitan (April
6, 1653).
The relics of these saints were buried or transferred to Novgorod's
Sophia Cathedral (except for St Germanus, St Gennadius and St Pimen)
therefore, in some sources their names are not included in the
Synaxis.
The October 4 celebration was established in connection with the
memory of the holy Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich of Novgorod (+ 1052),
and the February 10 Synaxis of the Novgorod hierarchs is celebrated in
connection with the holy Princess Anna of Novgorod (+ 1056).
Besides those mentioned, hierarchs who have separate commemorations
are: St Nikita the Hermit, bishop (January 31); St Niphon, bishop
(April 8); St John, archbishop (September 7); St Theoctistus,
archbishop (December 23); St Moses, archbishop (January 25); St
Euthymius, archbishop (March 11); St Jonah, archbishop (November 5);
St Serapion, archbishop (March 16).
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St Joachim, First Bishop of Novgorod
Today we commemorate the Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs, which is also
celebrated on October 4 and on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Joachim of Korsun, first Bishop of Novgorod (988-1030), does not
seem to have a separate commemoration.
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St Luke the Bishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Luke, Bishop of Novgorod fell asleep in the Lord on October 15,
1058.
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St Theodore the Hierarch of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Theodore does not seem to have a separate commemoration.
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St Herman the Bishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Herman, Bishop of Novgorod (1078-1096), does not seem to have a
separate commemoration.
The relics of these saints were buried or transferred to Novgorod's
Sophia Cathedral (except for St Herman, St Gennadius and St Pimen)
therefore, in some sources their names are not included in the
Synaxis.
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St Arcadius the Bishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Arcadius, bishop of Novgorod, is commemorated on September 18.
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St John, Archbishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost. On October 4, 1439 St John
(September 7) appeared to the presiding hierarch St Euthymius (March
11) and ordered him to serve a special panikhida in memory of those
buried at the Sophia cathedral (the Russian princes and Archbishops of
Novgorod, and all Orthodox Christians) on the Feast of the Hieromartyr
Hierotheus, first Bishop of Athens.
Then the incorrupt relics of St John were uncovered. Afterwards, the
Synaxis was established to mark the glorification of the Novgorod
hierarchs. E. E. Golubinsky says that because these hierarchs remained
unknown at the time of their glorification, he determined this date
for their common celebration was established in the period between the
time of the Moscow Council of 1549 and the time of the formation of
the Holy Synod (E. E. Golubinsky, History of the Canonization of
Saints in the Russian Church. Moscow, 1903, p. 157).
Saint John the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Novgorod, is also
commemorated on September 7.
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St Gabriel the Bishop of Novgorod
Today we commemorate the Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs, which is also
celebrated on October 4 and on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
St Gabriel does not seem to have a separate commemoration.
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St Martyrius the Archbishop of Novgorod
Today we commemorate the Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs, which is also
celebrated on October 4 and on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Martyrius, Archbishop of Novgorod is commemorated on August 24.
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St Anthony the Archbishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Anthony, Archbishop of Novgorod is commemorated on October 8.
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St Basil the Archbishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
St Basil the Lame, Archbishop of Novgorod is commemorated on July 3.
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St Moses the Hierarch of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Moses, Archbishop of Novgorod is commemorated on January 25.
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St Simeon the Hierarch of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Simeon, Archbishop of Novgorod is commemorated on June 15.
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St Euthymius the Hierarch of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost. On October 4, 1439 St John
(September 7) appeared to the presiding hierarch St Euthymius (March
11) and ordered him to serve a special panikhida in memory of those
buried at the Sophia cathedral (the Russian princes and Archbishops of
Novgorod, and all Orthodox Christians) on the Feast of the Hieromartyr
Hierotheus, first Bishop of Athens.
Saint Euthymius the wonderworker, Archbishop of Novgorod, is also
commemorated on March 11.
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St Aphthonius the Hierarch of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Aphthonius, Metropolitan of Novgorod is commemorated on April 6.
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Princess Anna of Novgorod
The Holy Princess Anna of Novgorod, wife of Great Prince Yaroslav the
Wise, gave her children a true Christian upbringing, marked by a
strong faith in God, love of work, integrity and learning.
Her son Mstislav later became Great Prince of Kiev, and her daughter
the queen of a western European realm. St Anna left the world and went
into a monastery, where she ended her days in strict obedience and
prayer in the year 1056.
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Venerable Prochorus of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Prochorus of the Caves was a native of Smolensk, and entered the
Kiev Caves monastery under the igumen John (1089-1103). He was a great
ascetic of strict temperance. In place of bread he ate pigweed (or
orach), and so he was called "pigweed-eater." Every summer, he
gathered pigweed and made enough bread from it to last him for a whole
year. He also ate prosphora from church now and then, and his only
drink was water. Seeing the patience of St Prochorus, God transformed
the usual bitterness of the pigweed into sweetness.
During the saint's lifetime, a famine threatened Russia. Prochorus
began to gather the pigweed even more zealously and to prepare his
"bread". Certain people followed his example, but they were not able
to eat this weed because of its bitterness. Prochorus distributed his
pigweed bread to the needy, and it tasted like it was made from fine
wheat. Only the bread given with the blessing of St Prochorus was
edible, and even pure and light in appearance. If anyone tried to
prepare this bread himself, or take it without the saint's blessing,
it was not fit for consumption. This became known to the igumen and
the brethren, and the fame of Prochorus spread far and wide.
After a certain while there was no salt at Kiev, and the people
suffered because of this. Then the saint gathered ashes from all the
cells, and began to distribute it to the needy. Through his prayers,
the ashes became pure salt. The merchants, who hoped to take advantage
of this shortage of salt for their own profit, became angry with St
Prochorus for distributing free salt to the people.
Prince Svyatopolk confiscated the salt from Prochorus. When they
transported it to the prince's court, everyone saw that it was just
ordinary ashes. After three days, Svyatopolk gave orders to discard
it. St Prochorus blessed the people to take the discarded ashes, and
they were again changed into salt.
This miracle reformed the fierce prince. He began to pray zealously,
made peace with the igumen of the monastery of the Caves, and highly
esteemed St Prochorus. When the last hour of the saint approached, the
prince left his army and hastened to him, even though he was at war.
He received his blessing and with his own hands, carried the body of
the saint to the cave and buried him. Returning to his army,
Svyatopolk easily gained victory over the Polvetsians, turning them to
flight and capturing their supply carts. Such was the great power of
the prayer of St Prochorus.
The righteous one died in the year 1107, and was buried in the Near
Caves. He is also commemorated on September 28 and on the second
Sunday of Great Lent.
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Venerable Longinus of Koryazhemsk, Vologda
Saint Longinus of Koryazhemsk first pursued asceticism at the
monastery of St Paul of Obnora, and then lived at the Sts Boris and
Gleb Solvychegod monastery. From there he settled with his friend
Simon near Vychegda, toward the mouth of the Koryazhema river.
Here, deep in the countryside, ten versts from Solvychegod, the
ascetics built cells and a chapel. When brethren gathered around them,
they built a church named for St Nicholas, and built a monastery in
which the saint was igumen. Near the church there was a well, dug out
by St Longinus himself.
After his death in 1540 the saint's body was buried, in accord with
his last wishes, near the entrance to the church. Sixteen years later,
it was placed inside the church.
The memory of St Longinus is celebrated with a special service, and
there is a brief Life, compiled at a later time.
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Virginmartyr Ennatha of Palestine
The Holy Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula suffered in the
year 308 under the emperor Maximian II Galerius (305-311). St Ennatha
came from the city of Gaza (in the south of Palestine), St Valentina
was a native of Palestinian Caesarea, and St Paula was from the region
of Caesarea.
St Ennatha was the first to be brought to trial before the governor
Firmilian, bravely declaring herself a Christian. They beat her, and
then they suspended her from a pillar and scourged her.
St Valentina, accused of not worshipping the gods, was led to a pagan
temple to offer sacrifice, but she bravely hurled a stone at the
sacrifice and turned her back on it. They beat her mercilessly and
sentenced her to be beheaded along with St Ennatha.
Last of all, St Paula was brought, and they subjected her to many
torments. With the help of God, however, she endured them with great
patience and courage. Before her death Paula gave thanks to the Lord
for strengthening her. Bowing to the Christians present, she bent her
neck beneath the sword.
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Virginmartyr Valentina of Palestine
The Holy Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula suffered in the
year 308 under the emperor Maximian II Galerius (305-311). St Ennatha
came from the city of Gaza (in the south of Palestine), St Valentina
was a native of Palestinian Caesarea, and St Paula was from the region
of Caesarea.
St Ennatha was the first to be brought to trial before the governor
Firmilian, bravely declaring herself a Christian. They beat her, and
then they suspended her from a pillar and scourged her.
St Valentina, accused of not worshipping the gods, was led to a pagan
temple to offer sacrifice, but she bravely hurled a stone at the
sacrifice and turned her back on it. They beat her mercilessly and
sentenced her to be beheaded along with St Ennatha.
Last of all, St Paula was brought, and they subjected her to many
torments. With the help of God, however, she endured them with great
patience and courage. Before her death Paula gave thanks to the Lord
for strengthening her. Bowing to the Christians present, she bent her
neck beneath the sword.
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Virginmartyr Paula of Palestine
The Holy Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula suffered in the
year 308 under the emperor Maximian II Galerius (305-311). St Ennatha
came from the city of Gaza (in the south of Palestine), St Valentina
was a native of Palestinian Caesarea, and St Paula was from the region
of Caesarea.
St Paula was brought to trial before the governor Firmilian and they
subjected her to many torments. With the help of God, however, she
endured them with great patience and courage. Before her death Paula
gave thanks to the Lord for strengthening her. Bowing to the
Christians present, she bent her neck beneath the sword.
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Icon of the Mother of God "Areovindus"
The origins of this unusual icon, in which the Most Holy Theotokos is
depicted without Christ, are unknown. The bright red color of her
outer garment inspired the name Areovindus, or "Fire Appearing"
("Fiery Vision").
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St John Chimchimeli the Philosopher
No information available at this time.
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