[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Tue Jan 30 05:00:28 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Tue Jan 30 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Deuteronomy 1:8-11, 15-17  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
8 See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land
which the Lord swore to your fathers--to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob--to
give to them and their descendants after them.'
9 "And I spoke to you at that time, saying: 'I alone am not able to
bear you.
10 The Lord your God has multiplied you, and here you are today, as
the stars of heaven in multitude.
11 May the Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times more
numerous than you are, and bless you as He has promised you!
15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and
made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds,
leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes.
16 Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases
between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his
brother or the stranger who is with him.
17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small
as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man's presence,
for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to
me, and I will hear it.'
Scripture Reading 1 of 6

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Deuteronomy 10:14-21  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
14 Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God,
also the earth with all that is in it.
15 The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose
their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this
day.
16 Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be
stiff-necked no longer.
17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great
God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
18 He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves
the stranger, giving him food and clothing.
19 Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of
Egypt.
20 You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him
you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.
21 He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these
great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.
Scripture Reading 2 of 6

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Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9  (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no
torment will ever touch them.
2 In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their
departure was thought to be affliction,
3 and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at
peace.
4 For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is
full of immortality.
5 Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
6 like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt
offering he accepted them.
7 In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run
like sparks through the stubble.
8 They will govern nations and rule other peoples, and the Lord will
reign over them for ever.
9 Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will
abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect,
and he watches over his holy ones.
Scripture Reading 3 of 6

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John 10:9-16  (Matins Gospel)
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go
in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to
destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have
it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the
sheep.
12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own
the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and
the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about
the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My
own.
15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down
My life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must
bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and
one shepherd.
Scripture Reading 4 of 6

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Hebrews 13:7-16  (Epistle, Hierarchs)
7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to
you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it
is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which
have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no
right to eat.
11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the
sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His
own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His
reproach.
14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise
to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices
God is well pleased.
Scripture Reading 5 of 6

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Matthew 5:14-19  (Gospel, Hierarchs)
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot
be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did
not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one
jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is
fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments,
and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven;
but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven.
Scripture Reading 6 of 6

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Synaxis of the Ecumenical Teachers and Hierarchs: Basil the
Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom
Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the
Theologian and John Chrysostom: During the eleventh century, disputes
raged in Constantinople about which of the three hierarchs was the
greatest. Some preferred St Basil (January 1), others honored St
Gregory the Theologian (January 25), while a third group exalted St
John Chrysostom (November 13).
Dissension among Christians increased. Some called themselves
Basilians, others referred to themselves as Gregorians, and others as
Johnites.
By the will of God, the three hierarchs appeared to St John the Bishop
of Euchaita (June 14) in the year 1084, and said that they were equal
before God. "There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one
another."
They ordered that the disputes should stop, and that their common
commemoration should be celebrated on a single day. Bishop John chose
January 30 for their joint Feast, thus ending the controversy and
restoring peace.
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Hieromartyr Hippolytus the Pope of Rome
The Hieromartyr Hippolytus, and the Martyrs Censorinus, Sabinus,
Chryse the Virgin and 20 Others suffered during the third century.
When St Hippolytus, Bishop of Rome, learned of the suffering of the
martyrs, he appeared before the governor despite his advanced years
and rebuked the torturers for their inhumanity. The enraged governor
sentenced the holy bishop to be tortured. After long torments, they
tied him hand and foot and threw him into the sea.
St Censorinus was a high-ranking magistrate during the reign of the
Roman emperor Claudius II (268-270). He was arrested and thrown into
prison for his faith in Christ. By the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
he raised up a dead man. As a result, twenty soldiers and prison
guards were converted to Christ. They were beheaded with St
Censorinus. Then the virgin Chryse was brought for interrogation. She
bravely confessed herself a Christian and was subjected to torture.
After horrible torments, she was drowned in the sea.
Saint Sabinus had heavy rocks tied around his neck, and then they hung
his body on a tree and burned his sides with torches. In his torments,
he gave up his holy soul to the Lord.
With St Chryse suffered the martyrs Ares, Felix, Maximus, Herculianus,
Venerius, Stiracius, Mennas, Commodus, Hermes, Maurus, Eusebius,
Rusticus, Monagrius, Amandinus, Olympius, Cyprus, Theodore the
Tribune, Maximus the Presbyter, Archelaus the Deacon, and Cyriacus the
Bishop.
All these Roman martyrs suffered in the year 269. The relics of the
Hieromartyr Hippolytus were put in the church of the holy Martyrs
Laurence and Pope Damasus at Rome. St Hippolytus was a disciple of St
Irenaeus, Bishop of Lugdunum (Lyons in France), and he is also
renowned as a Christian theologian who wrote many treatises against
the heretics.
St Hyppolitus compiled a Paschal Canon, the famous Apostolic
Tradition, "On Christ", and a "Treatise on the Antichrist." St
Hippolytus also wrote many commentaries on Holy Scripture, on the
Biblical Books: Genesis, Exodus, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of
Songs, and on the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John, and on the
Prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, on the Psalms of David
and on the Apocalyse. Part of his works are preserved only in
fragments. His discourses, devoted to the Theophany and the Prophet
Daniel, are preserved in full. His discourses demonstrate his
masterful style of preaching. He was one of the last Western Fathers
to write in Greek.
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Martyr Censorinus of Rome
Saint Censorinus suffered martyrdom in Rome with St Hippolytus during
the third century.
St Censorinus was a high-ranking magistrate during the reign of the
Roman emperor Claudius II (268-270). He was arrested and thrown into
prison for his faith in Christ. By the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
he raised up a dead man. As a result, twenty soldiers and prison
guards were converted to Christ. They were beheaded with St
Censorinus.
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Martyr Sabinus of Rome
The Hieromartyr Hippolytus, and the Martyrs Censorinus, Sabinus,
Chryse the Virgin and 20 Others suffered during the third century.
Saint Sabinus had heavy rocks tied around his neck, and then they hung
his body on a tree and burned his sides with torches. In his torments,
he gave up his holy soul to the Lord.
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Martyr Ares of Rome
The Hieromartyr Hippolytus, and the Martyrs Censorinus, Sabinus,
Chryse the Virgin and 20 Others suffered during the third century.
The martyr Ares was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the
year 269.
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Virginmartyr Chryse of Rome
The Hieromartyr Hippolytus, and the Martyrs Censorinus, Sabinus,
Chryse the Virgin and 20 Others suffered in the year 269. The virgin
Chryse was arrested and brought for interrogation. She bravely
confessed herself a Christian and was subjected to torture. After
horrible torments, she was drowned in the sea.
With St Chryse suffered the martyrs Ares, Felix, Maximus, Herculianus,
Venerius, Stiracius, Mennas, Commodus, Hermes, Maurus, Eusebius,
Rusticus, Monagrius, Amandinus, Olympius, Cyprus, Theodore the
Tribune, Maximus the Presbyter, Archelaus the Deacon, and Cyriacus the
Bishop.
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Martyr Felix Beheaded at Ostia
The Hieromartyr Hippolytus, and the Martyrs Censorinus, Sabinus,
Chryse the Virgin and 20 Others suffered during the third century.
Saint Felix was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the year
269.
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Martyr Maximus beheaded at Ostia
The Hieromartyr Maximus was one of those who suffered with St Chryse
in the year 269.
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Martyr Herculianus beheaded at Ostia
Saint Herculianus was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the
year 269.
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Martyr Venerius beheaded at Ostia
Saint Venerius was one of those who suffered with St Hippolytus in the
year 269.
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Martyr Styracius beheaded at Ostia
Saint Stiracius was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the
year 269.
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Martyr Mennas beheaded at Ostia
Saint Mennas was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the year
269.
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Martyr Commodus, beheaded at Ostia
Saint Commodus was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the
year 269.
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Martyr Hermes beheaded at Ostia
Saint Hermes was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the year
269.
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Martyr Maurus beheaded at Ostia
Saint Maurus was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the year
269.
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Martyr Eusebius beheaded at Ostia
Saint Eusebius was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the
year 269.
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Martyr Rusticus beheaded at Ostia
The Hieromartyr Hippolytus, and the Martyrs Censorinus, Sabinus,
Chryse the Virgin and 20 Others suffered during the third century.
Saint Rusticus was one of those who suffered with St Chryse.
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Martyr Monagrius beheaded at Ostia
Saint Monagrius was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the
year 269.
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Martyr Amandinus beheaded at Ostia
Saint Amandinus was one of those who suffered with StChryse in the
year 269.
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Martyr Olympius beheaded at Ostia
Saint Olympius was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the
year 269.
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Martyr Cyrus Beheaded at Ostia
Saint Cyrus was one of those who suffered with St Chryse in the year
269.
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Martyr Theodore the Tribune Beheaded at Ostia
Saint Theodore the Tribune was one of those who suffered with St
Chryse in the year 269.
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Martyr Maximus the Presbyter beheaded at Ostia
Saint Maximus the Presbyter was one of those who suffered with St
Hippolytus in the year 269.
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Martyr Archelaus the Deacon beheaded at Ostia
Saint Archelaus the Deacon was one of those who suffered with StChryse
in the year 269.
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Martyr Cyriacus the Bishop beheaded at Ostia
Saint Cyriacus the Bishop was one of those who suffered with St Chryse
in the year 269.
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Venerable Zeno the Faster, of the Kiev Caves
Saint Zeno the Faster and Lover of Labor of the Far Caves of Kiev
lived in the fourteenth century. In the Third Ode of the Canon to the
Monks of the Far Caves, he is described as "resplendant in fasting."
His memory is also celebrated on August 28 and the second Sunday of
Great Lent.
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Venerable Zeno the Hermit of Antioch the Disciple of St Basil
the Great
Saint Zeno, the disciple of Saint Basil the Great, was born in the
city of Pontus into a rich family. He served at the court of the
emperor Valens (364-378), among the soldiers who were sent out to
deliver the imperial edicts.
After the death of Valens, St Zeno left the world and settled in a
cave near the city of Antioch. For forty years he lived in this cave,
and he lived an austere life in complete solitude, cleansing his soul,
and meditating on God.
St Zeno went to church each Sunday and received the Holy Mysteries of
Christ. In his cell he had neither bed, nor fireplace, nor lamp. The
ascetic wore old rags, and ate only bread and water, for which he had
to make a tedious journey into the city to the well.
St Zeno was particularly fond of holy books, which he borrowed from
those who came to him for spiritual counsel. Through his deep humility
the blessed ascetic, filled with the gifts of grace, considered
himself poor in spirit. St Zeno died at the beginning of the fifth
century.
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Martyr Theophilus the New in Cyprus
The Holy Martyr Theophilus the New was born and raised in
Constantinople. He was a commander of the Greek armies and a senator.
During a time of war with enemies of the Byzantine Empire, St
Theophilus was taken captive. The Arabs demanded he renounce Christ,
but he remained faithful to Orthodoxy. St Theophilus was imprisoned on
Cyprus, where he spent four years, after which he was beheaded in the
year 784.
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Blessed Peter the King of Bulgaria
Saint Peter, King of Bulgaria, was the son of the militant Bulgarian
prince Simeon. St Peter was distinguished for his Christian piety, and
he often turned to St John of Rila (August 18, October 19), asking his
prayers, spiritual guidance and advice.
King Peter concluded peace with Byzantium on terms advantageous for
Bulgaria. He also gained recognition from the Patriarch of
Constantinople for the autonomy of the Bulgarian Church, and the
affirmation of a Patriarchal throne in Bulgaria, benefiting all the
Bulgarian Church.
St Peter aided in the successful extirpation of the Bogomil heresy in
his lands. He died in the year 967, at fifty-six years of age.
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Icon of the Mother of God "Tinos"
This highly-venerated icon of the Annunciation was discovered in the
ruins of the ancient church of St John the Baptist on January 30,
1823.
An elderly man, Michael Polyzoes, had a dream shortly before the Feast
of the Annunciation in 1821, in which the Mother of God appeared to
him in shining white garments. She instructed him to dig in the field
of Anthony Doxaras outside the city, where he would find her icon. She
also told him to build a church on the site, since there had once been
one there. The Queen of Heaven also promised to help him accomplish
these tasks.
Upon awakening, he crossed himself and tried to go back to sleep,
believing that his dream had been a temptation from the devil. Before
falling asleep, Michael saw the Theotokos once again, and noticed that
the room was flooded by a gentle white light. Her head was surrounded
by divine light, and her face displayed ineffable grace and sweetness.
Speaking to the old man she said, "Why are you afraid? Your fear comes
from unbelief. Listen! I am Panagia (the all-holy one). I want you to
dig in the field of Anthony Doxaras where my icon is buried. I ask you
to do this as a favor, old man. You will build a church there and I
will help you." Then she disappeared.
The next morning, Michael went into the village and told the priest
what had happened to him during the night. The priest also thought the
dream was a temptation, so he urged Michael to come for Confession and
Communion. The old man, however, was not convinced that his visions
were mere dreams or demonic temptations. He told the inhabitants of
the village of his experience. Some laughed at him, but only two
believed his words.
The two men went with him to the field one night and dug in many
places, but they found nothing. Then they dug in another place and
found the remains of an old wall. Finding nothing but bricks, they had
to give up their search in the morning so the Turks would not find out
what they were doing.
Anthony Doxaras, the owner of the field, found the bricks and tried to
use them to build an oven. The mortar would not adhere to the bricks,
so whenever they tried to build one section of the oven, it collapsed.
The workers were convinced that God was showing them that the bricks
from the ancient church were not to be used for an oven.
St Pelagia (July 23), an eighty-year-old nun, had several dreams in
June of 1822 in which the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to her. St
Pelagia was living in the women's monastery of the Dormition on Mt.
Kechrovounios, about an hour's journey from the village. She had lived
in the monastery from a young age, and was known for her great virtue
and piety.
The Theotokos appeared to her in a dream and ordered her to go to
Stamatelos Kangades (a prominent man of the village), and tell him to
uncover the church of St John the Baptist in the field of Anthony
Doxaras.
Terrified by the vision, Pelagia attributed the dream to her
imagination, and she began to pray. She was afraid to tell anyone
about her dream, but the following week, the Theotokos appeared to her
again, reminding her of her instructions. Still, the nun remained
silent and told no one of her vision. The Theotokos appeared a third
time, this time with a severe manner. She chastised the nun for her
unbelief, saying, "Go and do as I told you. Be obedient."
St Pelagia woke up in fear and trembling. As she opened her eyes, she
saw the same mysterious Woman she had seen while asleep. With a great
effort she asked, "Who are you, Lady? Why are you angry with me, and
why do you order me to do these things?" The Woman raised her hand and
said, "Proclaim, O earth, glad tidings of great joy" (Megalynarion of
the Ninth Ode of the Canon for Matins of the Annunciation).
Understanding at last, the aged nun joyfully exclaimed, "Praise, O
heavens, the glory of God" (The next line of the Megalynarion).
At once, she informed the Abbess of her visions, and she also told
Stamatelos Kangades. Mr. Kangades, who had been designated by the
Theotokos to carry out the excavation of the church, informed Bishop
Gabriel of these events. The bishop had already heard of the dream of
Michael Polyzoes, and realized that the account of the nun Pelagia
agreed with his vision. Bishop Gabriel wrote to all the churches on
the island of Tinos, urging them to cooperate in finding the church
and the icon.
Excavations began in September of 1822 under the supervision of Mr.
Kangades. The foundations of the church of St John, destroyed by Arabs
in 1200, were uncovered. An old well was found near the church, but
not the holy icon. The money ran out, and so the effort was abandoned.
Once again the Mother of God appeared to St Pelagia, urging that the
excavations continue. Bishop Gabriel sent out an appeal for donations
to build a new church on the foundations of the old church of St John
the Baptist. The new church was built, and was dedicated to St John
and to the Life-Giving Fountain.
On January 30, 1823 workers were leveling the ground inside the church
in preparation for laying a new stone floor. About noon one of the
workers, Emmanuel Matsos, struck a piece of wood with his pickaxe,
splitting it down the middle. He looked at one piece of the board and
saw that it was burned on one side, while the other side showed traces
of paint. As he brushed off the dirt with his hand, he saw that it was
an icon. Joining the two pieces of wood together, he crossed himself
and venerated the icon.
He called the other workers, who also came and venerated the icon.
When the icon was cleaned, it was shown to be an icon of the
Annunciation. The split was in the middle of the icon, between the
Theotokos and the Archangel Gabriel. Neither figure was damaged, and
this was regarded as a miracle.
That same day, the icon was given to Bishop Gabriel, who kissed it and
cried out, "Great art Thou, O Lord, and wondrous are Thy works."
After the finding of the icon, the inabitants of Tinos were filled
with zeal to build a magnificent church in honor of the Theotokos.
People offered their money and their own labor to help build the
church of the Evangelistria (She who received the Good News).
The new church was completed in 1823, and was consecrated by Bishop
Gabriel. St Pelagia of Tinos fell asleep in the Lord on April 28,
1834. Her Feast Day, however, is on July 23.
The Tinos Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos continues to be venerated as
one of Greece's holiest treasures. Innumerable miracles of healing and
deliverance from danger have not ceased since the time the icon was
found.
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St Demetrius, the New Martyr of Sliven
The Holy New Martyr Demetrius was born on October 9, 1818 in Sliven,
Bulgaria. His parents had no children for the first eight years of
their marriage. Their prayers to God were answered, and their sons
Stephen and Demetrius were born.
Demetrius was the younger son, and was brought up in a pious manner.
He did not go to school, but he attended church frequently and
memorized many prayers and services.
After their parents died, Stephen left home and went to Wallachia.
Demetrius remained in the family home, which soon collapsed because of
its age. The Moslems used this excuse to seize the surrounding
property, and Demetrius became a servant to one of them. The family
tried to convert him to their religion, but Demetrius resisted such
attempts. "Our Orthodox Christian religion was given to us by the Lord
Jesus Christ," he said, "while yours was given to you by Mohammed, a
mere man."
They threw Demetrius out of the house when they heard this, and he
later became a baker. Even while selling his bread in the marketplace,
Demetrius proclaimed the Orthodox Faith and pointed out the
deficiencies of Islam. Naturally, this outraged the Moslems, and they
began to plan their revenge.
A new kadi came to Sliven, and Demetrius was chosen to prepare the
food. The local beys chose him because they knew he had insulted
Islam. The kadi offered him tobacco and liquor, but Demetrius said
that he did not smoke or drink. When he tried to leave, the kadi said,
"Let me make you a Moslem. You see what a good life we have. If you
convert, I will tell your master to give you his daughter in marriage,
and half of his riches."
Demetrius answered sarcastically, "Oh, sure."
Mistaking this for a serious reply, one of the Moslems began wrapping
cloth around the young man's head in the form of a turban. Demetrius
threw the turban to the ground and ran from the house. Some of the
Hagarenes chased him, but were unable to catch him. For three days he
hid in the village of Ichera without food or water.
Demetrius went to a bishop and told him his story. The bishop
encouraged him to remain Orthodox, then sent him away with a gold coin
and a wooden cross.
Exchanging the coin for change, Demetrius gave half the money to the
poor. Then he went up to a Moslem guard and said that he was the one
they were seeking. He was escorted back to Sliven with his hands tied
behind him. When he met an Orthodox Christian Demetrius said, "Forgive
me, brethren. I gave myself up to these ungodly people for the glory
of our Faith."
When St Demetrius was thrown into prison, he asked for the priest
Stephen to visit him. His request was refused, but Fr Stephen learned
that Demetrius was incarcerated and tried to have him freed. The kadi
ordered Demetrius to be brought to him while he was dining with other
officials.
The kadi asked Demetrius if he was willing to accept Islam. Christ's
holy martyr informed him that he had never promised to become a
Moslem, and he had no intention of doing so. "If you took my irony for
truth, I am sorry for you." He went on to call Mohammed a false
prophet, and his followers sons of Satan.
The kadi told Demetrius that if he did not become a Moslem, he would
be put to death. Then he sent him back to prison for three days to
consider this. When he was brought before the kadi again, Demetrius
refused to convert. Then he was ordered to be executed.
When the other Christians heard of Demetrius's fearless confession of
faith and his impending death, they brought Father Stephen to him.
Demetrius told the priest he was afraid that he would not be able to
endure the tortures. Fr Stephen urged him to remain strong and bear
witness to Christ.
St Demetrius remained in prison for a whole year. His tortures
continued, and no one was able to help him. At the beginning of the
year, many Moslems gathered and shouted for the kadi to execute
Demetrius. Therefore, he summoned Demetrius before him. The fearless
martyr remained unshaken in his resolve, and mocked their faith.
For the last time Demetrius was offered the choice of converting to
Islam or being put to death. He said he would remain a Christian
whatever they did to him. Father Stephen came to the prison to hear
the saint's confession and give him Communion.
On the morning of January 30, 1841 Demetrius was brought to the place
of execution. He asked forgiveness of the Christians he met,
entreating them to pray for him. Then they ordered him to kneel on the
ground for beheading. The first stroke did not sever his head, and he
remained motionless. With the second stroke, the martyr's head fell to
the ground. The Christians soaked cloths in his blood, and Fr Stephen
collected some of the blood-soaked earth in a box.
The holy relics remained unburied all night. The kadi ordered the body
to be thrown into the river the next day, because Moslems believe that
the bodies of those who insult Mohammed should not be received by the
earth. After a sufficient bribe had been paid, the kadi released the
body for burial in the garden of the monastery. St Demetrius now lives
in the heavenly Kingdom, glorifying most holy Trinity, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit throughout all ages.
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Holy New Martyr Theodore
The Holy New Martyr Theodore was born in the city of Mytilene, where
he married and raised children in Orthodox piety. He renounced Christ
and accepted the Moslem religion, but soon repented of his sin, left
his family and went to Mt. Athos. But even in the monastery St
Theodore was deeply anguished by his denial of Christ.
The Lord blessed the saint to confess the Orthodox Faith before a
Moslem judge in the year 1784. The enraged judge gave orders to
fiercely torture the holy martyr, and then they strangled him with a
rope and cast him into the sea. Christians buried the body of the holy
Martyr Theodore in the church of St John the Forerunner.
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