[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Tue Jan 23 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 Peter 3:10-22
10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his
tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and
pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are
open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who
do evil."
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is
good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are
blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to
give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is
in you, with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers,
those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing
good than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but
made alive by the Spirit,
19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering
waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which
a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us-baptism (not the
removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels
and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2


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Mark 12:18-27
18 Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him;
and they asked Him, saying:
19 Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves
his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his
wife and raise up offspring for his brother.
20 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he
left no offspring.
21 And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any
offspring. And the third likewise.
22 So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman
died also.
23 Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she
be? For all seven had her as wife.
24 Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken,
because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?
25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given
in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
26 But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the
book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him,
saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob'?
27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are
therefore greatly mistaken.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2



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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Hieromartyr Clement the Bishop of Ancyra
The Hieromartyr Clement was born in the Galatian city of Ancyra in the
year 258, of a pagan father and a Christian mother. He lost his father
when he was an infant, and his mother when he was twelve. She
predicted a martyr's death for him because of his belief in Christ.
A woman named Sophia adopted him and raised him in the fear of God.
During a terrible famine in Galatia several pagans turned out their
own children, not having the means to feed them. Sophia took in these
unfortunates, and fed and clothed them. St Clement assisted her in
this. He taught the children and prepared them for Baptism. Many of
them died as martyrs for Christ.
St Clement was made a reader, and later a deacon. When he was eighteen
he was ordained to the holy priesthood, and at age twenty he was
consecrated Bishop of Ancyra. Soon afterwards the persecution against
Christians under Diocletian (284-305) broke out.
Bishop Clement was denounced as a Christian and arrested. Dometian,
the governor of Galatia, tried to make the saint worship the pagan
gods, but St Clement firmly confessed his faith and valiantly
withstood all the tortures.
They suspended him on a tree, and raked his body with sharp iron
instruments so that his entrails could be seen. They smashed his mouth
with stones, and they turned him on a wheel and burned him over a low
fire. The Lord preserved His sufferer and healed his lacerated body.
Then Dometian sent the saint to Rome to the emperor Diocletian
himself, with a report that Bishop Clement had been fiercely tortured,
but had proven unyielding. Diocletian, seeing the martyr completely
healthy, did not believe the report and subjected him to even crueler
tortures, and then had him locked up in prison.
Many of the pagans, seeing the bravery of the saint and the miraculous
healing of his wounds, believed in Christ. People flocked to St
Clement in prison for guidance, healing and Baptism, so that the
prison was literally transformed into a church. When word of this
reached the emperor, many of these new Christians were executed.
Diocletian, struck by the amazing endurance of St Clement, sent him to
Nicomedia to his co-emperor Maximian. On the ship, the saint was
joined by his disciple Agathangelus, who had avoided being executed
with the other confessors, and who now wanted to suffer and die for
Christ with Bishop Clement.
The emperor Maximian in turn sent Sts Clement and Agathangelus to the
governor Agrippina, who subjected them to such inhuman torments, that
even the pagan on-lookers felt pity for the martyrs and they began to
pelt the torturers with stones.
Having been set free, the saints healed an inhabitant of the city
through the laying on of hands and they baptized and instructed
people, thronging to them in multitudes. Arrested again on orders of
Maximian, they were sent home to Ancyra, where the ruler Cyrenius had
them tortured. Then they were sent to the city of Amasea to the
proconsul Dometius, known for his great cruelty.
In Amasea, the martyrs were thrown into hot lime. They spent a whole
day in it and remained unharmed. They flayed them, beat them with iron
rods, set them on red-hot beds, and poured sulfur on their bodies. All
this failed to harm the saints, and they were sent to Tarsus for new
tortures. In the wilderness along the way St Clement had a revelation
that he would suffer a total of twenty-eight years for Christ. Then
having endured a multitude of tortures, the saints were locked up in
prison.
St Agathangelus was beheaded with the sword on November 5. The
Christians of Ancyra freed St Clement from prison and took him to a
cave church. There, after celebrating Liturgy, the saint announced to
the faithful the impending end of the persecution and his own
martyrdom. On January 23, the holy hierarch was killed by soldiers
from the city, who stormed the church. The saint was beheaded as he
stood before the altar and offered the Bloodless Sacrifice. Two
deacons, Christopher and Chariton, were beheaded with him, but no one
else was harmed.
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Martyr Agathangelus
Saint Agathangelus was a disciple of St Clement (see below).
Sts Clement and Agathangelus were denounced as Christians and sent to
the governor Agrippina, who subjected them to such inhuman torments,
that even the pagan on-lookers felt pity for the martyrs and they
began to pelt the torturers with stones.
Having been set free, the saints healed an inhabitant of the city
through the laying on of hands and they baptized and instructed
people, thronging to them in multitudes. Arrested again on orders of
Maximian, they were sent home to Ancyra, where the ruler Cyrenius had
them tortured. Then they were sent to the city of Amasea to the
proconsul Dometius, known for his great cruelty.
In Amasea, the martyrs were thrown into hot lime. They spent a whole
day in it and remained unharmed. They flayed them, beat them with iron
rods, set them on red-hot beds, and poured sulfur on their bodies. All
this failed to harm the saints, and they were sent to Tarsus for new
tortures. In the wilderness along the way St Clement had a revelation
that he would suffer a total of twenty-eight years for Christ. Then
having endured a multitude of tortures, the saints were locked up in
prison.
St Agathangelus was beheaded with the sword on November 5. The
Christians of Ancyra freed St Clement from prison and took him to a
cave church. There, after celebrating Liturgy, the saint announced to
the faithful the impending end of the persecution and his own
martyrdom. On January 23, the holy hierarch was killed by soldiers
from the city, who stormed the church. The saint was beheaded as he
stood before the altar and offered the Bloodless Sacrifice. Two
deacons, Christopher and Chariton, were beheaded with him, but no one
else was harmed.
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Venerable Gennadius of Kostroma
Saint Gennadius of Kostroma and Liubimograd, in the world Gregory, was
born in the city of Mogilev into a rich family. He early displayed
love for the church, and his frequent visits to monasteries evoked the
dismay of his parents. Gregory, however, was firmly resolved to devote
himself to God, and changing into tattered clothing, he secretly left
his parental home and journeyed to Moscow.
He visited the holy places in Moscow, but he did not find it suitable
in spirit and so set out to the Novgorod region. The destiny of the
future ascetic was decided by an encounter with St Alexander of Svir
(August 30). With his blessing, Gregory went to the Vologda forest to
St Cornelius of Komel (May 19), and was tonsured by him with the name
Gennadius. Together with St Cornelius, Gennadius moved on to the
Kostroma forest. Here, on the shores of Lake Sura, in about the year
1529, there emerged the monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord,
afterwards called "the Gennadiev monastery". Having become igumen, St
Gennadius did not slacken his monastic efforts, and together with the
brethren he went out to the monastery tasks: he chopped wood, carried
firewood, made candles and baked prosphora. He also wore heavy chains.
One of his favorite tasks was the painting of icons, with which he
adorned his new monastery.
For his holy life St Gennadius received from the Lord the gift of
clairvoyance and wonderworking. Journeying to Moscow on monastic
affairs, at the house of the nobleman Roman Zakharin, the saint
predicted to his daughter Anastasia that she would become Tsaritsa.
Indeed, Tsar Ivan the Terrible chose her as his wife.
The Life of St Gennadius was written by his disciple, Iguman Alexis,
between the years 1584-1587. In it was inserted his spiritual
testament, dictated by St Gennadius himself. In it he commands the
monks to observe the monastery Rule, to toil constantly, to be at
peace with everyone, and to preserve the books collected at the
monastery, while striving to understand their meaning. He said,
"Strive towards the light, and shun the darkness."
St Gennadius died on January 23, 1565, and was glorified by the Church
on August 19, 1646.
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Translation of the relics of St Theoctistus the Archbishop of
Novgorod
The main Feast of St Theoctistus is December 23. He was glorified in
1664, because of the miraculous healings which took place at his
relics. In 1786, the relics of the saint were transferred to Yuriev,
where Archimandrite Photius built a chapel in his honor at the local
cathedral.
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Venerable Mausimas the Syrian
Saint Mausimas the Syrian lived in Syria, near the city of Cyrrhus. He
voluntarily embraced poverty and devoted his life to the service of
his neighbor. The doors of his hut were always open to anyone who had
need of him.
In his hut there were two vessels: one with bread, and the other with
oil. Anyone in need came to him and received the food from his hand.
These vessels never became empty. The saint died at the end of the
fourth century.
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Venerable Salamanes the Silent of the Euphrates
Saint Salamanes the Silent was a native of the city of Kapersana, near
the River Euphrates. Having found a cave near the banks of the river,
he lived there as a hermit in silence and asceticism.
Learning of his exalted life, the Bishop of Kapersana wanted to ordain
him to the holy priesthood, but the hesychast would not answer him
with even a single word. The holy ascetic did not break his silence,
conversing with the Lord alone. The Orthodox Church venerates him as
the first saint to have taken upon himself the exploit of silence,
which he continued to his very end (+ ca. 400).
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St Paulinus the Merciful the Bishop of Nola
Saint Paulinus the Merciful, Bishop of Nola, was descended from an
aristocratic and wealthy family of Bordeaux (France). By virtue of his
extensive education and upbringing, the twenty-year-old youth was
chosen to become a Roman senator, later he became consul and finally,
governor of the region of Campagna in Italy.
At twenty-five years of age, he and his wife were converted to Christ
and were baptized. After this he completely changed his manner of
life. He disposed of all his property, and distributed the money to
the needy, for which he endured the scorn of his friends and servants.
Not having children of their own, the pious couple adopted poor
orphans and raised them in the fear of God. In his searchings for a
secluded life, St Paulinus went to the Spanish city of Barcelona.
News of his ascetic life spread about, and in 393 they asked him to be
ordained as a priest. Soon he left Spain and went on to the city of
Nola in Italy, where he was elected bishop.
When the Vandal barbarians invaded Italy and carried off many people
to Africa in captivity, St Paulinus used church funds to ransom the
captives. However, he did not have enough money to ransom the son of a
certain poor widow from slavery in the household of the Prince of the
Vandals. So, he volunteered to take his place. Dressed as a slave, St
Paulinus began to serve the Vandal prince as a gardener.
Soon his identity was revealed to the ruler, King Riga, in a dream.
Not only did he receive his own freedom, but he also won the release
of all the other prisoners from Campania, and returned home with them.
St Paulinus is known both as a builder of churches and as a Christian
poet. Among his many virtues, his love for mankind and his compassion
for the poor and needy deserve special mention. He died at
seventy-eight years of age on June 22, 431. Thirty-two of his poems
and fifty-one of his letters survive. They contain various moral
discourses filled with deep piety.
His relics are in Rome, in the church of the holy Apostle Bartholomew.
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Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the Sixth Ecumenical
Council
The Sixth Ecumenical Council was convened by the emperor Constantine
Pogonatos (668-685) at Constantinople in the year 681 to combat the
Monothelite heresy. At it 171 holy Fathers were present, who affirmed
the doctrine of two wills in Jesus Christ, the divine and the human.
This Council was followed by another Council in the year 691, called
the Council of Trullo. This Council addressed certain practical
matters, and 102 canons were promulgated.
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Synaxis of the Saints of Kostroma
The saints of Kostroma include St Abramius of Galich, or Chukhloma
Lake (July 20) St Adrian of Monza (May 5) St Alexander of Galich,
abbot of Voche (March 27) St Barnabas abbot of Verluga (June 11) St
Cyril of New Lake (February 4, November 7) St Cyril of White Lake
(June 9) St Dionysius, Archbishop of Suzdal (June 26, October 15) St
Gennadius, abbot of Kostroma (August 19) St Gregory, abbot of Pelshme,
wonderworker of Vologda (September 30) St James of Brileev (April 11)
St James of Galich Monastery (April 4, May 30) St James of
Zheleznoborovsk (April 11, May 5) St Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow
(March 31, May 27, June 15) St Macarius, abbot of Zheltovod and Unzha
(July 25) St Macarius of Pisma Monastery (January 10) St Metrophanes,
bishop of Voronezh (August 7, September 4, November 23) St Pachomius,
abbot of Nerekhta (March 21, May 15) St Paisius, abbot of Galich (May
23) St Paul of Obnora (January 10, October 7) St Therapon of Monza
(May 27, December 1).
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St. John
No information available at this time.
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