[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Fri Jan 19 05:00:20 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri Jan 19 2007

----------------------------------------------------
------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------

1 Peter 1:1-2, 10-12; 2:6-10
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion
in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in
sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched
carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who
was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings
of Christ and the glories that would follow.
12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they
were ministering the things which now have been reported to you
through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit
sent from heaven-things which angels desire to look into.
6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in
Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him
will by no means be put to shame."
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are
disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the
chief cornerstone,"
8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble,
being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who
called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had
not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

-----------------------------

1 Thessalonians 5:14-23  (Saturday)
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue
what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may
your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

-----------------------------

Mark 12:1-12
1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a
vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and
built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far
country.
2 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he
might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.
3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
4 Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones,
wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.
5 And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others,
beating some and killing some.
6 Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to
them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
7 But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'
8 So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and
destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.
10 Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the
builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
11 This was the LORD's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?"
12 And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for
they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and
went away.
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

-----------------------------

Luke 17:3-10  (Saturday)
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

----------------------------------------------------
------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

Venerable Macarius the Great of Egypt
Saint Macarius the Great of Egypt was born around 331 in the village
of Ptinapor in Egypt. At the wish of his parents he entered into
marriage, but was soon widowed. After he buried his wife, Macarius
told himself, "Take heed, Macarius, and have care for your soul. It is
fitting that you forsake worldly life."
The Lord rewarded the saint with a long life, but from that time the
memory of death was constantly with him, impelling him to ascetic
deeds of prayer and penitence. He began to visit the church of God
more frequently and to be more deeply absorbed in Holy Scripture, but
he did not leave his aged parents, thus fulfilling the commandment to
honor one's parents.
Until his parents died, St Macarius used his remaining substance to
help them and he began to pray fervently that the Lord might show him
a guide on the way to salvation. The Lord sent him an experienced
Elder, who lived in the desert not far from the village. The Elder
accepted the youth with love, guided him in the spiritual science of
watchfulness, fasting and prayer, and taught him the handicraft of
weaving baskets. After building a separate cell not far from his own,
the Elder settled his disciple in it.
The local bishop arrived one day at Ptinapor and, knowing of the
saint's virtuous life, ordained him against his will. St Macarius was
overwhelmed by this disturbance of his silence, and so he went
secretly to another place. The Enemy of our salvation began a
tenacious struggle with the ascetic, trying to terrify him, shaking
his cell and suggesting sinful thoughts. St Macarius repelled the
attacks of the devil, defending himself with prayer and the Sign of
the Cross.
Evil people slandered the saint, accusing him of seducing a woman from
a nearby village. They dragged him out of his cell and jeered at him.
St Macarius endured the temptation with great humility. Without a
murmur, he sent the money that he got for his baskets for the support
of the pregnant woman.
The innocence of St Macarius was manifested when the woman, who
suffered torment for many days, was not able to give birth. She
confessed that she had slandered the hermit, and revealed the name of
the real father. When her parents found out the truth, they were
astonished and intended to go to the saint to ask forgiveness. Though
St Macarius willingly accepted dishonor, he shunned the praise of men.
He fled from that place by night and settled on Mt. Nitria in the
Pharan desert.
Thus human wickedness contributed to the prospering of the righteous.
Having dwelt in the desert for three years, he went to St Anthony the
Great, the Father of Egyptian monasticism, for he had heard that he
was still alive in the world, and he longed to see him. Abba Anthony
received him with love, and Macarius became his devoted disciple and
follower. St Macarius lived with him for a long time and then, on the
advice of the saintly abba, he went off to the Skete monastery (in the
northwest part of Egypt). He so shone forth in asceticism that he came
to be called "a young Elder," because he had distinguished himself as
an experienced and mature monk, even though he was not quite thirty
years old.
St Macarius survived many demonic attacks against him. Once, he was
carrying palm branches for weaving baskets, and a devil met him on the
way and wanted to strike him with a sickle, but he was not able to do
this. He said, "Macarius, I suffer great anguish from you because I am
unable to vanquish you. I do everything that you do. You fast, and I
eat nothing at all. You keep vigil, and I never sleep. You surpass me
only in one thing: humility."
When the saint reached the age of forty, he was ordained to the
priesthood and made the head of the monks living in the desert of
Skete. During these years, St Macarius often visited with St Anthony
the Great, receiving guidance from him in spiritual conversations.
Abba Macarius was deemed worthy to be present at the death of St
Anthony and he received his staff. He also received a double portion
of the Anthony's spiritual power, just as the prophet Elisha once
received a double portion of the grace of the prophet Elias, along
with the mantle that he dropped from the fiery chariot.
St Macarius worked many healings. People thronged to him from various
places for help and for advice, asking his holy prayers. All this
unsettled the quietude of the saint. He therefore dug out a deep cave
under his cell, and hid there for prayer and meditation.
St Macarius attained such boldness before God that, through his
prayers, the Lord raised the dead. Despite attaining such heights of
holiness, he continued to preserve his unusual humility. One time the
holy abba caught a thief loadng his things on a donkey standing near
the cell. Without revealing that he was the owner of these things, the
monk began to help tie up the load. Having removed himself from the
world, the monk told himself, "We bring nothing at all into this
world; clearly, it is not possible to take anything out from it.
Blessed be the Lord for all things!"
Once, St Macarius was walking and saw a skull lying upon the ground.
He asked, "Who are you?" The skull answered, "I was a chief priest of
the pagans. When you, Abba, pray for those in hell, we receive some
mitigation."
The monk asked, "What are these torments?" "We are sitting in a great
fire," replied the skull, "and we do not see one another. When you
pray, we begin to see each other somewhat, and this affords us some
comfort." Having heard such words, the saint began to weep and asked,
"Are there still more fiercesome torments?" The skull answered, "Down
below us are those who knew the Name of God, but spurned Him and did
not keep His commandments. They endure even more grievous torments."
Once, while he was praying, St Macarius heard a voice: "Macarius, you
have not yet attained such perfection in virtue as two women who live
in the city." The humble ascetic went to the city, found the house
where the women lived, and knocked. The women received him with joy,
and he said, "I have come from the desert seeking you in order to
learn of your good deeds. Tell me about them, and conceal nothing."
The women answered with surprise, "We live with our husbands, and we
have not such virtues." But the saint continued to insist, and the
women then told him, "We married two brothers. After living together
in one house for fifteen years, we have not uttered a single malicious
nor shameful word, and we never quarrel among ourselves. We asked our
husbands to allow us to enter a women's monastery, but they would not
agree. We vowed not to utter a single worldly word until our death."
St Macarius glorified God and said, "In truth, the Lord seeks neither
virgins nor married women, and neither monks nor laymen, but values a
person's free intent, accepting it as the deed itself. He grants to
everyone's free will the grace of the Holy Spirit, which operates in
an individual and directs the life of all who yearn to be saved."
During the years of the reign of the Arian emperor Valens (364-378),
St Macarius the Great and St Macarius of Alexandria was subjected to
persecution by the followers of the Arian bishop Lucius. They seized
both Elders and put them on a ship, sending them to an island where
only pagans lived. By the prayers of the saints, the daughter of a
pagan priest was delivered from an evil spirit. After this, the pagan
priest and all the inhabitants of the island were baptized. When he
heard what had happened, the Arian bishop feared an uprising and
permitted the Elders to return to their monasteries.
The meekness and humility of the monk transformed human souls. "A
harmful word," said Abba Macarius, "makes good things bad, but a good
word makes bad things good." When the monks asked him how to pray
properly, he answered, "Prayer does not require many words. It is
needful to say only, "Lord, as Thou wilt and as Thou knowest, have
mercy on me." If an enemy should fall upon you, you need only say,
"Lord, have mercy!" The Lord knows that which is useful for us, and
grants us mercy."
When the brethren asked how a monk ought to comport himself, the saint
replied, "Forgive me, I am not yet a monk, but I have seen monks. I
asked them what I must do to be a monk. They answered, 'If a man does
not withdraw himself from everything which is in the world, it is not
possible to be a monk.' Then I said, 'I am weak and cannot be as you
are.' The monks responded, 'If you cannot renounce the world as we
have, then go to your cell and weep for your sins.'"
St Macarius gave advice to a young man who wished to become a monk:
"Flee from people and you shall be saved." That one asked: "What does
it mean to flee from people?" The monk answered: "Sit in your cell and
repent of your sins."
St Macarius sent him to a cemetery to rebuke and then to praise the
dead. Then he asked him what they said to him. The young man replied,
"They were silent to both praise and reproach." "If you wish to be
saved, be as one dead. Do not become angry when insulted, nor puffed
up when praised." And further: "If slander is like praise for you,
poverty like riches, insufficiency like abundance, then you shall not
perish."
The prayer of St Macarius saved many in perilous circumstances of
life, and preserved them from harm and temptation. His benevolence was
so great that they said of him: "Just as God sees the whole world, but
does not chastize sinners, so also does Abba Macarius cover his
neighbor's weaknesses, which he seemed to see without seeing, and
heard without hearing."
The monk lived until the age of ninety. Shortly before his death, Sts
Anthony and Pachomius appeared to him, bringing the joyful message of
his departure to eternal life in nine days. After instructing his
disciples to preserve the monastic Rule and the traditions of the
Fathers, he blessed them and began to prepare for death. St Macarius
departed to the Lord saying, "Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my
spirit."
Abba Macarius spent sixty years in the wilderness, being dead to the
world. He spent most of his time in conversation with God, often in a
state of spiritual rapture. But he never ceased to weep, to repent and
to work. The saint's profound theological writings are based on his
own personal experience. Fifty Spiritual Homilies and seven Ascetic
Treatises survive as the precious legacy of his spiritual wisdom.
Several prayers composed by St Macarius the Great are still used by
the Church in the Prayers Before Sleep and also in the Morning
Prayers.
Man's highest goal and purpose, the union of the soul with God, is a
primary principle in the works of St Macarius. Describing the methods
for attaining mystical communion, the saint relies upon the experience
of the great teachers of Egyptian monasticism and on his own
experience. The way to God and the experience of the holy ascetics of
union with God is revealed to each believer's heart.
Earthly life, according to St Macarius, has only a relative
significance: to prepare the soul, to make it capable of perceiving
the heavenly Kingdom, and to establish in the soul an affinity with
the heavenly homeland.
"For those truly believing in Christ, it is necessary to change and
transform the soul from its present degraded nature into another,
divine nature, and to be fashioned anew by the power of the Holy
Spirit."
This is possible, if we truly believe and we truly love God and have
observed all His holy commandments. If one betrothed to Christ at
Baptism does not seek and receive the divine light of the Holy Spirit
in the present life, "then when he departs from the body, he is
separated into the regions of darkness on the left side. He does not
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but has his end in hell with the
devil and his angels" (Homily 30:6).
In the teaching of St Macarius, the inner action of the Christian
determines the extent of his perception of divine truth and love. Each
of us acquires salvation through grace and the divine gift of the Holy
Spirit, but to attain a perfect measure of virtue, which is necessary
for the soul's assimilation of this divine gift, is possible only "by
faith and by love with the strengthening of free will." Thus, the
Christian inherits eternal life "as much by grace, as by truth."
Salvation is a divine-human action, and we attain complete spiritual
success "not only by divine power and grace, but also by the
accomplishing of the proper labors." On the other hand, it is not just
within "the measure of freedom and purity" that we arrive at the
proper solicitude, it is not without "the cooperation of the hand of
God above." The participation of man determines the actual condition
of his soul, thus inclining him to good or evil. "If a soul still in
the world does not possess in itself the sanctity of the Spirit for
great faith and for prayer, and does not strive for the oneness of
divine communion, then it is unfit for the heavenly kingdom."
The miracles and visions of Blessed Macarius are recorded in a book by
the presbyter Rufinus, and his Life was compiled by St Serapion,
bishop of Tmuntis (Lower Egypt), one of the renowned workers of the
Church in the fourth century. His holy relics are in the city of
Amalfi, Italy.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Macarius of Alexandria
Saint Macarius of Alexandria was a contemporary and friend of St
Macarius of Egypt (January 19). He was born in the year 295, and until
the age of forty he was occupied in trade. Later, he was baptized and
withdrew into the desert, where he spent more than sixty years.
After several years of ascetic life he was ordained to the holy
priesthood and made head of the monastery the Cells in the desert
between Nitria and Skete, where hermits silently lived in asceticism,
each separately in his own cell. There were three deserts in northern
Egypt: the first was the Cells (the inner desert), so designated
because of the many cells carved into the rocks. The second was called
Skete (utter desert). The third was the Nitrian desert which reached
the western bank of the Nile.
St Macarius of Alexandria, like Macarius of Egypt, was a great ascetic
and monastic head, and he worked many miracles. Learning about some
monk's ascetic feat, he attempted to imitate it. Thus, when he heard
that someone ate only one pound of bread a day, he would eat only that
much or even less. Wishing to shorten his sleep, he stayed for twenty
whole days under the open sky, enduring heat by day and cold by night.
St Macarius once received a bunch of newly-picked grapes. He very much
wanted to eat them, but he conquered this desire in himself and gave
the grapes to another monk who was sick. That monk, wanting to
preserve his abstinence, gave the grapes to another, and he gave them
to a third and so forth. In the end the bunch of grapes returned to St
Macarius. The ascetic was astonished at the abstinence of his
disciples and gave thanks to God.
Once, a proud thought came to the saint to go to Rome and heal the
sick. Struggling with the temptation, the saint filled up a sack of
sand, loaded it on himself and walked into the desert until he
exhausted his body. Then the proud thought did not leave him.
By his ascetic life, fasting, and renunciation of earthly things, St
Macarius acquired the gifts of wonderworking and of discerning the
inner thoughts of people, and he also saw many visions. He once saw
how one of the ascetics of the holy monastery, St Mark, received the
Holy Mysteries from the hands of angels, and how during Communion the
careless brethren received burning coals from the demons instead of
the Body of Christ.
St Macarius was glorified by many miracles of healing the sick and
casting out devils. St Macarius of Alexandria died in about 394-395 at
age of one hundred. He wrote a Discourse on the Origin of the Soul
included in the text of the Annotated Psalter.
_________________________________________________________________
St Mark the Archbishop of Ephesus
Saint Mark Eugenikos, Archbishop of Ephesus, was a stalwart defender
of Orthodoxy at the Council of Florence. He would not agree to a union
with Rome which was based on theological compromise and political
expediency (the Byzantine Emperor was seeking military assistance from
the West against the Moslems who were drawing ever closer to
Constantinople). St Mark countered the arguments of his opponents,
drawing from the well of pure theology, and the teachings of the holy
Fathers. When the members of his own delegation tried to pressure him
into accepting the Union he replied, "There can be no compromise in
matters of the Orthodox Faith."
Although the members of the Orthodox delegation signed the Tomos of
Union, St Mark was the only one who refused to do so. When he returned
from Florence, St Mark urged the inhabitants of Constantinople to
repudiate the dishonorable document of union. He died in 1457 at the
age of fifty-two, admired and honored by all.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Macarius the Faster, of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Macarius the Faster of the Near Caves of Kiev was a deacon. He
is commemorated on January 19 because of his namesake, St Macarius of
Egypt.
St Macarius of the Near Caves (twelfth century) is also commemorated
on September 28. There is a general commemoration of all the
wonderworkers of the Kiev Caves on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Macarius the Deacon of the Kiev Caves
Saint Macarius the Deacon lived in the Far Caves of Kiev, and is
commemorated on January 19 because of his namesake, St Macarius of
Egypt. St Macarius lived during the thirteenth-fourteenth centuries,
and was distinguished by his lack of covetousness. He possessed great
fervor for the temple of God and he continuously labored in reading
Holy Scripture and in fasting.
According to Tradition, he was frequently ill as a child, and his
parents vowed that they would offer their son to the Monastery of the
Caves if he were made healthy. By his mildness and humility he earned
the love of the brethren, who taught him to read and to write. Because
of his piety of life he was ordained as a deacon. The Lord also
granted him the gift of wonderworking.
St Macarius of the Far Caves is also commemorated on August 28. There
is a general commemoration of all the wonderworkers of the Kiev Caves
on the second Sunday of Great Lent.
_________________________________________________________________
Righteous Theodore of Novgorod the Fool-For-Christ
Blessed Theodore of Novgorod was the son of pious parents, wealthy
citizens of Novgorod. Having been raised in strict Christian piety,
and having reached the age of maturity, he took on himself the ascetic
deed of foolishness for Christ's sake. He gave all his possessions to
the poor, and he lived in great poverty until the end of his life, not
even having a roof over his head, nor warm clothes on cold days.
When he discovered a mutual enmity between the Novgorod citizens of
the Torgov quarter and the inhabitants of the Sophia quarter, Blessed
Theodore pretended to be feuding with Blessed Nicholas Kochanov (July
27) who lived in asceticism on the opposite Sophia side. When Blessed
Theodore happened to cross over the Volkhov Bridge to the Sophia side,
then Blessed Nicholas pushed him over to the Torgov side. Theodore did
the same thing when Nicholas chanced upon on the Torgov side. The
blessed ones, spiritually in agreement with each other, by their
unusual behavior reminded the people of Novgorod of their own
internecine strife, which often ended in bloody skirmishes.
The blessed one possessed the gift of clairvoyance. By warning people
to see to their bread, he was actually predicting an impending famine.
Another time he said, "This will be bare, it will be fine for sowing
turnips." This was his prediction of a fire that devastated the
streets of the Torgov quarter. Blessed Theodore foresaw his own end
and said to the Novgorod people, "Farewell, I'm going far away."
During his life, the citizens of Novgorod saw him as a saint pleasing
to God, and had a high regard for him. After his death in the year
1392, the holy fool was buried, at his request, in the Torgov quarter,
at Lubyanitsa in the church of the holy Great Martyr George, at the
porch where the saint usually loved to spend his time in unceasing
prayer. A chapel was built over his holy relics.
_________________________________________________________________
Opening of the Relics of the Venerable Sava of Storozhev, or
Zvenigorod
Today we commemorate opening of the incorrupt relics of Saint Sava of
Storozhev and Zvenigorod on January 19, 1652.
St Sava is also also commemorated on December 3, as determined by the
Moscow Council of 1547.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Macarius the Roman of Novgorod
Saint Macarius the Roman was born at the end of the fifteenth century
into a wealthy family of Rome. His parents raised him in piety and
gave him an excellent education. He might have expected a successful
career in public service, but he did not desire honors or earthly
glory. Instead, he focused on how to save his soul.
He lived in an age when the Christian West was shaken by the
Protestant Reformation. While others around him were pursuing luxury
and lascivious pleasures, he studied the Holy Scriptures and the
writings of the Fathers. St Macarius was grieved to see so many
darkened by sin and worldly vanity, and was disturbed by the
rebellions and conflicts within the Western Church. With tears, he
asked God to show him the path of salvation, and his prayer did not go
unanswered. He came to realize that he would find the safe harbor of
salvation in the Orthodox Church.
St Macarius left Rome secretly, and set out for Russia without money,
and wearing an old garment. After many sufferings on his journey, he
arrived in Novgorod, where he rejoiced to see so many churches and
monasteries. One of these monasteries had been founded three centuries
before by his fellow countryman, St Anthony the Roman (August 3).
St Macarius came to the banks of the River Svir, where St Alexander of
Svir (April 17 and August 30) had founded the monastery of the Holy
Trinity. St Alexander received Macarius into the Orthodox Church and
tonsured him as a monk. Macarius, however longed for the solitary
life. He moved to an island on the River Lezna, forty-five miles from
Novgorod, where he engaged in ascetical struggles and unceasing
prayer.
The winters were very cold, and the summers were hot and humid. The
marshy area was also a breeding ground for mosquitos, which tormented
the saint. St Macarius survived on berries, roots, and herbs.
Sometimes bears would come to him for food, and they allowed him to
pet them.
Such a great lamp of the spiritual life could not remain hidden for
long. One rainy night someone knocked on his door and asked him to
open it. Several people, who seemed to be hunters, entered his cell.
Astonished by his appearance, and the divine light shining from his
face, the men asked for his blessing. They told him they had come to
the forest to hunt, and only by the prayers of the saint did God
permit them to find him.
"It is not my sinful prayers," he told them, "but the grace of God
which led you here."
After feeding them, he spoke and prayed with them, then showed them
the way out of the marsh. St Macarius was concerned that his peace
would be disturbed, now that his dwelling place was known. His fears
were justified, because many people sought him out to ask for his
advice and prayers.
The holy ascetic decided to move even farther into the wilderness,
choosing an elevated place on the left bank of the Lezna. Even here,
however, he was not able to conceal himself for very long. Sometimes a
pillar of fire would rise up into the sky at night above his place of
refuge. During the day, the grace of God was made manifest by a
fragrant cloud of smoke. Drawn by these signs, the local inhabitants
of the region were able to find him once more.
Some of his visitors begged St Macarius to permit them to live near
him and to be guided by his counsels. Seeing that this was the Lord's
will, he did not refuse them. He blessed them to build cells, and this
was the foundation of his monastery.
In 1540, they built a wooden church dedicated to the Dormition of the
Most Holy Theotokos. St Macarius was ordained to the holy priesthood
by Bishop Macarius of Novgorod, who later became Metropolitan of All
Russia. The hierarch also appointed St Macarius as igumen of the
monastery.
St Macarius was an example to the others, and was given the gifts of
clairvoyance and wonderworking from God. He wore himself out with his
labors and vigils, encouraging others not to become faint-hearted in
their own struggles.
After several years, he entrusted the monastery to one of his
disciples, and returned to the island where he had first lived. There
he fell asleep in the Lord on August 15, 1550. His disciples buried
him outside on the left side of the Dormition church which he had
founded.
The Hermitage of St Macarius was never a prosperous monastery with
many monks, but it was distinguished by the high level of spiritual
life. In the seventeenth century, many of the monasteries near
Novgorod were plundered by Swedish invaders. The Hermitage of St
Macarius was also burned in 1615, and some of the monks were put to
the sword.
By the eighteenth century, the monastery had become a dependency of
the St Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St Petersburg. The Empress Catherine
closed it in 1764, just as she had closed other monasteries, and it
was designated as a parish church. Although pilgrims still came to
venerate the saint's relics and to celebrate his Feast Day, the
buildings soon fell into ruin.
In the mid-nineteenth century, some benefactors restored the two
churches and the miraculous healing spring which the saint himself had
dug. About this time an old priest was living there, and he celebrated
the church services until his death. In 1894, the monastery began to
function once more under the noted missionary Hieromonk Arsenius, who
introduced the Athonite Typikon. The monastery was destroyed by the
Soviets in 1932.
St Macarius the Roman is commemorated on August 15 (the date of his
repose), and also on January 19 (his nameday).
_________________________________________________________________
Virginmartyr Euphrasia of Nicomedia
The Holy Virgin Martyr Euphrasia was born at Nicomedia into an
illustrious family. She was a Christian, and was noted for her beauty.
During the persecution of Christians by Maximian, the pagans tried to
compel Euphrasia to offer sacrifice to idols. When she refused, she
was beaten, and then given to a certain barbarian to be violated.
The saint prayed tearfully to the Lord that He would preserve her
virginity, and God heard her prayer. St Euphrasia suggested to the
barbarian that if he would not defile her, she would give him a
special herb which would protect him from enemy weapons and death. But
this herb, she explained, held its power only when received from a
virgin and not from a woman.
The soldier believed St Euphrasia and went with her into the garden.
The holy virgin picked the herb, then offered to demonstrate its
power. She placed the herb on her neck and told the man to strike her
with his sword. With a mighty blow, he cut off her head. Thus her
prayer was answered, and the wise virgin offered her soul to God in
303, safeguarding her bodily purity.
_________________________________________________________________
St Arsenius the Archbishop of Kerkyra (Corfu)
Saint Arsenius, Archbishop of Kerkyra (Corfu), was a native of
Palestine and lived in the ninth century. He led a strict ascetic
life, and was a highly educated man and renowned spiritual writer. He
was glorified by wisdom, and by the constantly defended his flock from
the wrath of the emperor Constantine (979-1028).
Because of his great virtue, St Arsenius was consecrated as Archbishop
of Kerkyra. He became a defender of widows, a father to orphans, and a
comfort for the sorrowful, and so God rewarded him with the gift of
miracles.
He fell asleep in the Lord toward the end of the ninth century. His
relics were placed in the cathedral at Kerkyra, and many miracles and
healings took place at his tomb.
St Arsenius composed the Canon chanted during the Sanctification of
Oil, a Panegyric on the Apostle Andrew, and a Discourse on the
Suffering of the Great Martyr Barbara. Several of his letters to St
Photius (February 6) still survive.
_________________________________________________________________
St Macarius the Stylite of Martkobsk, Georgia
Saint Anthony the Stylite of Martomq'ophi (Martkob), Georgia was one
of the Twelve Disciples of St John Zedazeni (May 7). They were
ascetics of Syria (Cappadocia), and were the founders of Georgian
monasticism, arriving in Georgia from Cappadocia in the mid-sixth
century. The holy Thirteen Cappadocian Fathers were actually
Georgians, who received their spiritual schooling at the renowned
Lavra of St Simeon the Stylite and at other monasteries of Syria and
Mesopotamia, intending to return to their native land and assist in
its Christian enlightenment.
St Anthony is also commemorated with the others on May 7.
_________________________________________________________________
St Anthony the Founder of Monasticism in Georgia
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________