[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Fri Jul 13 05:00:20 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri Jul 13 2007

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1 Corinthians 7:35-8:7
35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on
you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without
distraction.
36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin,
if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do
what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no
necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in
his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.
38 So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not
give her in marriage does better.
39 A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her
husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only
in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my
judgment-and I think I also have the Spirit of God.
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have
knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as
he ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know
that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God
but one.
5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth
(as there are many gods and many lords),
6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and
we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things,
and through whom we live.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with
consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an
idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Matthew 15:29-31
29 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up
on the mountain and sat down there.
30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame,
blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at
Jesus' feet, and He healed them.
31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the
maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they
glorified the God of Israel.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel
The Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel is celebrated on the day after
the Annunciation, and a second time on July 13. It was instituted in
the ninth century, perhaps to celebrate the dedication of a church at
Constantinople. Originally, the Feast was observed on October 16 (Juan
Mateos, LE TYPIKON DE LA GRANDE EGLISE).
An account of the Holy Archangel Gabriel is found under March 26 and
November 8.
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Venerable Stephen of St Sava Monastery
Saint Stephen Sabbaites, nephew of St John of Damascus (December 4),
was born in the year 725. The ten-year-old boy entered the Lavra of St
Sava and spent his whole life at this monastery, sometimes going out
into the desert for solitary ascetic deeds. The venerable Stephen was
given the gifts of wonderworking and clairvoyance. He healed the sick,
cast out devils, and discerned the thoughts of those coming to him for
counsel. He died in the year 724, foretelling in advance the day of
his death. The Life of the monk was compiled by his student Leontius.
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St Julian the Bishop of Cenomanis (Le Mans) in Gaul
Saint Julian, Bishop of Cenomanis, was elevated to bishop by the
Apostle Peter. Some believe that he is the same person as Simon the
Leper (Mark 14:3), receiving the name Julian in Baptism.
The Apostle Peter sent St Julian to preach the Gospel in Gaul. He
arrived in Cenomanis (the region of the River Po in the north of
present day Italy) and settled into a small hut out beyond a city
(probably Cremona), and he began to preach among the pagans. The
idol-worshippers at first listened to him with distrust, but the
preaching of the saint was accompanied by great wonders. By prayer St
Julian healed many of the sick. Gradually, a great multitude of people
began to flock to him, asking for help. In healing bodily infirmities,
St Julian healed also the souls, enlightening those coming to him by
the light of faith in Christ.
In order to quench the thirst of his numerous visitors, St Julian,
having prayed to the Lord, struck his staff on the ground, and from
that dry place there came forth a spring of water. This wonder
converted many pagans to Christianity. One time the holy bishop wanted
to see the local prince. At the gate of the prince's dwelling there
sat a blind man whom St Julian pitied, and having prayed, gave him his
sight. The prince came out towards the holy bishop, and having only
just learned that he had worked this miracle, he fell down at the feet
of the bishop, requesting Baptism. Having catechized the prince and
his family, St Julian imposed on them a three-day fast, and then he
baptized them.
On the example of the prince, the majority of his subjects also
converted to Christ. The prince donated his own home to the bishop to
build a temple in it, and he provided the Church with means. St Julian
fervently concerned himself with the spiritual enlightenment of his
flock, and he healed the sick as before. Deeply affected by the grief
of parents, the holy bishop prayed that God would restore their dead
children to life. The holy Bishop Julian remained long on his throne,
teaching his flock the way to Heaven. The holy bishop died in extreme
old age. To the end of his days he preached about Christ and he
completely eradicated idolatry in the land of Cenomanis.
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Martyr Serapion
The Holy Martyr Serapion, suffered for Christ before the Emperor
Severus (193-211). As a Christian he was brought to judgment before
the governor Achilles. The holy martyr firmly proclaimed to the pagans
his faith in Christ, and he was subjected to inhuman torments.
Afterwards, he was thrown into prison.
Healed by the Lord Jesus Christ, he was brought to the judgment place
and he presented himself before the judge completely healthy. The
enraged pagans sentenced the saint to be burned alive. In the midst of
the flames, he gave up his soul to God (+ ca. 205).
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Martyr Marcian of Iconium
The Holy Martyr Marcian, a native of Lyceian Iconium, while still at a
youthful age converted many to Christ by his fiery preaching. For his
zeal the idol-worshippers subjected the saint to bodily punishment,
and then sent him to Cappadocia to the governor Perennias. Now by
persuasion, now by threats, he attempted to turn the youth away from
the Truth, Christ.
St Marcian fearlessly testified about the truthfulness of the
Christian Faith, and he accused Perennias of worshipping inanimate
idols. The enraged governor gave orders to subject the saint to severe
torments, but in his sufferings the saint remained steadfast in his
faithfulness to Christ. They cut off his head while he prayed, giving
thanks to God for his fate (+258).
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Icon of the Mother of God "It Is Truly Meet"
The "It is Truly Meet" Icon of the Mother of God is in the high place
of the altar of the cathedral church of the Karyes monastery on Mount
Athos.
One Saturday night an Elder went to Karyes for the all-night Vigil. He
left, instructing his disciple to remain behind and read the service
in their cell. As it grew dark, the disciple heard a knock on the
door. When he opened the door, he saw an unknown monk who called
himself Gabriel, and he invited him to come in. They stood before the
icon of the Mother of God and read the service together with reverence
and compunction.
During the Ninth Ode of the Canon, the disciple began to sing "My soul
magnifies the Lord" with the Irmos of St Cosmas the Hymnographer
(October 14), "More honorable than the Cherubim."
The stranger sang the next verse, "For He has regarded the low estate
of His handmaiden." Then he chanted something the disciple had never
heard before, "It is truly meet to bless Thee, O Theotokos,
ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God" Then he
continued with, "More honorable than the Cherubim."
While the hymn was being sung, the icon of the Theotokos shone with a
heavenly light. The disciple was moved by the new version of the
familiar hymn, and asked his guest to write the words down for him.
When the stranger asked for paper and ink, the disciple said that they
did not have any.
The stranger took a roof tile and wrote the words of the hymn on its
surface with his finger. The disciple knew then that this was no
ordinary monk, but the Archangel Gabriel. The angel said, "Sing in
this manner, and all the Orthodox as well." Then he disappeared, and
the icon of the Mother of God continued to radiate light for some time
afterward.
The Eleousa Icon of the Mother of God, before which the hymn "It Is
Truly Meet" was first sung, was transferred to the katholikon at
Karyes. The tile, with the hymn written on it by the Archangel
Gabriel, was taken to Constantinople when St Nicholas Chrysoberges
(December 16) was Patriarch.
Numerous copies of the "It Is Truly Meet" Icon are revered in Russian
churches. At the Galerna Harbor of Peterburg a church with five
cupolas was built in honor of the Merciful Mother of God, and into it
they put a grace-bearing copy of the "It Is Truly Meet" icon sent from
Athos.
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St Just, Penwith
No information available at this time.
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Virgin Abbess Sarah of Scete in Libya
No information available at this time.
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