[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Feb 22 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Isaiah 2:11-21  (6th Hour)
11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men
shall be bowed down, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the day of the Lord of hosts Shall come upon everything proud
and lofty, Upon everything lifted up And it shall be brought low
13 Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, And
upon all the oaks of Bashan;
14 Upon all the high mountains, And upon all the hills that are lifted
up;
15 Upon every high tower, And upon every fortified wall;
16 Upon all the ships of Tarshish, And upon all the beautiful sloops.
17 The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of
men shall be brought low; The Lord alone will be exalted in that day,
18 But the idols He shall utterly abolish.
19 They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And into the caves of
the earth, From the terror of the Lord And the glory of His majesty,
When He arises to shake the earth mightily.
20 In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols
of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the moles
and bats,
21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, And into the crags of the
rugged rocks, From the terror of the Lord And the glory of His
majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3


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Genesis 2:4-19  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were
created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,
5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb
of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on
the earth, and there was no man to till the ground;
6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the
ground.
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the
man whom He had formed.
9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is
pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in
the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil.
10 Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it
parted and became four riverheads.
11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the
whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.
12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are
there.
13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes
around the whole land of Cush.
14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes
toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to
tend and keep it.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the
garden you may freely eat;
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not
eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I
will make him a helper comparable to him.
19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and
every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would
call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its
name.
Scripture Reading 2 of 3


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Proverbs 3:1-18  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own
understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of
all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will
overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His
correction;
12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in
whom he delights.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains
understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her
gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire
cannot compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and
honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are
all who retain her.
Scripture Reading 3 of 3



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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Uncovering of the relics of the Holy Martyrs at the Gate of
Eugenius at Constantinople
During the persecutions against Christians the relics of the holy
martyrs were usually buried by believers in hidden places. So at
Constantinople, near the gates and tower in the Eugenius quarter, the
bodies of several martyrs were found. Their names remain unknown by
the Church.
When miracles of healing began to occur at this spot, the relics of
the saints were discovered and transferred to a church with great
honor. It was revealed to a certain pious clergyman, Nicholas
Kalligraphos, that among the relics discovered at Eugenius were the
relics of the holy Apostle Andronicus of the Seventy and his helper
Junia (May 17), whom the Apostle Paul mentions in the Epistle to the
Romans (Rom 16:7). In the twelfth century, a great domed church was
built on the spot where the relics of the holy martyrs were
discovered. This work was undertaken by the emperor Andronicus
(1183-1185), whose patron saint was the holy Apostle Andronicus.
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Martyr Maurice at Apamea in Syria
Saint Maurice, a military commander of Syrian Apamea, suffered in the
year 305 under the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311) together with
his son Photinus and seventy soldiers under his command (only two of
the soldiers' names are known, Theodore and Philip).
During a persecution, pagan priests reported to the emperor that St
Maurice was spreading the faith in Christ. Brought to trial, St
Maurice, his son and his soldiers firmly confessed their faith and
they yielded neither to entreaties nor to threats. They were then
beaten without mercy, burned with fire and raked with iron hooks.
Young Photinus, having endured the tortures, was beheaded by the sword
before the very eyes of his father. But this cruel torment did not
break St Maurice, who was happy that his son had been vouchsafed the
martyr's crown.
They then devised even more subtle tortures for the martyrs: they led
them to a swampy place full of mosquitoes, wasps and gnats, and they
tied them to trees, having smeared their bodies with honey. The
insects fiercely stung and bit the martyrs, who were weakened by
hunger and thirst.
The saints endured these torments for ten days, but they did not cease
praying and glorifying God until finally the Lord put an end to their
sufferings. The wicked torturer gave orders to behead them and leave
their bodies exposed without burial, but Christians secretly buried
the venerable relics of the holy martyrs by night at the place of
their horrible execution.
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Martyr Photinus at Apamea in Syria
Saint Maurice, a military commander of Syrian Apamea, suffered in the
year 305 under the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311) together with
his son Photinus and seventy soldiers under his command (only two of
the soldiers' names are known, Theodore and Philip).
During a persecution, pagan priests reported to the emperor that St
Maurice was spreading the faith in Christ. Brought to trial, St
Maurice, his son and his soldiers firmly confessed their faith and
they yielded neither to entreaties nor to threats. They were then
beaten without mercy, burned with fire and raked with iron hooks.
Young Photinus, having endured the tortures, was beheaded by the sword
before the very eyes of his father. But this cruel torment did not
break St Maurice, who was happy that his son had been vouchsafed the
martyr's crown.
They then devised even more subtle tortures for the martyrs: they led
them to a swampy place full of mosquitoes, wasps and gnats, and they
tied them to trees, having smeared their bodies with honey. The
insects fiercely stung and bit the martyrs, who were weakened by
hunger and thirst.
The saints endured these torments for ten days, but they did not cease
praying and glorifying God until finally the Lord put an end to their
sufferings. The wicked torturer gave orders to behead them and leave
their bodies exposed without burial, but Christians secretly buried
the venerable relics of the holy martyrs by night at the place of
their horrible execution.
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Martyr Theodore at Apamea in Syria
Saint Theodore was one of seventy soldiers who suffered in the year
305 under the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311) with St Maurice, a
military commander of Syrian Apamea.
The martyrs were led to a swampy place full of mosquitoes, wasps and
gnats, and they tied them to trees, having smeared their bodies with
honey. The insects fiercely stung and bit the martyrs, who were
weakened by hunger and thirst.
The saints endured these torments for ten days, but they did not cease
praying and glorifying God until finally the Lord put an end to their
sufferings. The wicked torturer gave orders to behead them and leave
their bodies exposed without burial, but Christians secretly buried
the venerable relics of the holy martyrs by night at the place of
their horrible execution.
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Martyr Philip at Apamea in Syria
Saint Philip was one of seventy soldiers who suffered in the year 305
under the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311) with St Maurice, a
military commander of Syrian Apamea.
During a persecution, pagan priests reported to the emperor that St
Maurice was spreading the faith in Christ. Brought to trial, St
Maurice, his son and his soldiers firmly confessed their faith and
they yielded neither to entreaties nor to threats. They were then
beaten without mercy, burned with fire and raked with iron hooks.
Young Photinus, having endured the tortures, was beheaded by the sword
before the very eyes of his father. But this cruel torment did not
break St Maurice, who was happy that his son had been vouchsafed the
martyr's crown.
They then devised even more subtle tortures for the martyrs: they led
them to a swampy place full of mosquitoes, wasps and gnats, and they
tied them to trees, having smeared their bodies with honey. The
insects fiercely stung and bit the martyrs, who were weakened by
hunger and thirst.
The saints endured these torments for ten days, but they did not cease
praying and glorifying God until finally the Lord put an end to their
sufferings. The wicked torturer gave orders to behead them and leave
their bodies exposed without burial, but Christians secretly buried
the venerable relics of the holy martyrs by night at the place of
their horrible execution.
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70 Soldiers martyred at Apamea in Syria
These seventy soldiers suffered in the year 305 under the emperor
Maximian Galerius (305-311) with St Maurice, a military commander of
Syrian Apamea. Only two of the soldiers' names are known, Theodore and
Philip.
The martyrs were led to a swampy place full of mosquitoes, wasps and
gnats, and they tied them to trees, having smeared their bodies with
honey. The insects fiercely stung and bit the martyrs, who were
weakened by hunger and thirst.
The saints endured these torments for ten days, but they did not cease
praying and glorifying God until finally the Lord put an end to their
sufferings. The wicked torturer gave orders to behead them and leave
their bodies exposed without burial, but Christians secretly buried
the venerable relics of the holy martyrs by night at the place of
their horrible execution.
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Venerable Thalassius Hermit of Syria
Saint Thalassius of Syria, lived during the fifth century. At a young
age he withdrew to a hill near the village of Targala and passed 38
years there in monastic deeds, having neither a roof over his head,
nor any cell nor shelter.
For his simple disposition, gentleness and humility he was granted by
the Lord the gift of wonderworking and healing the sick. Many wanted
to live under his guidance, and the saint did not refuse those coming
to him. He himself built cells for them. He died peacefully, granted
rest from his labors.
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Venerable Limnaeus Hermit of Syria
Saint Limnaeus began his efforts under the guidance of St Thalassius
and dwelt with him for a sufficient time to acquire the virtues of his
teacher: simplicity of manner, gentleness and humility. Then St
Limnaeus joined St Maron (February 14).
On a hill he built a small stone enclosure without a roof, and through
a small aperture, he conversed with those who came to see him. His
heart was full of compassion for people. Wanting to help all the
destitute, he built a wanderers' home on the hillside with the help of
his admirers, a dwelling for the poor and the crippled, and he fed
them with what pious people brought him.
The holy ascetic even sacrificed his own quiet and solitude for these
poor brethren, and took upon himself the responsibility for for their
spiritual nourishment, inducing them to pray and glorify the Lord. For
his holy life he was granted the gift of wonderworking. He once cured
himself of a snakebite through prayer.
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Venerable Baradates Hermit of Syria
Saint Baradates the Syrian began to live as a desert-dweller in a hut
near Antioch. He then built a stone cell upon a hill, so cramped and
low that the ascetic could stand in it only in a stooped position. It
had neither window nor door, and the wind, rain and cold came in
through the cracks, and in summer he was not protected from the heat.
After many years Patriarch Theodoretos of Alexandria urged the monk to
leave the cramped hut. Then the saint withdrew into a new seclusion:
covered in leather from head to foot with a small opening for his nose
and mouth, he prayed standing with hands upraised to heaven. The grace
of God strengthened him in his works and purified his heart from
passions. People began to flock to him for spiritual counsel, and St
Baradates with deep humility guided them. Having acquired many
spiritual gifts, St Baradates departed to the Lord in peace in 460.
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St Athanasius the Confessor of Constantinople
Saint Athanasius the Confessor was born in Constantinople of rich and
pious parents. From his childhood he dreamed of devoting himself
entirely to God, and having reached maturity, he settled in one of the
Nicomedia monasteries, called the Pavlopetrios (i.e., in the names of
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul), and became a monk there.
The loftiness of his ascetic life became known at the imperial court.
During the reign of the iconoclast emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820),
St Athanasius was subjected to torture for venerating icons, and then
underwent exile, grief and suffering. Confessing the Orthodox Faith
until the very end of his life, St Athanasius died peacefully in the
year 821.
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9 Martyred brothers of Kola
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Guram of Kola with his eight brothers
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Adarnase of Kola with his eight brothers
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Baqar of Kola with his eight brothers
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Vache of Kola with his eight brothers
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Bardzim of Kola with his eight brothers
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Dachi of Kola with his eight brothers
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Juansher of Kola with his eight brothers
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Ramaz of Kola with his eight brothers
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Pharsman of Kola with his eight brothers
No information available at this time.
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