[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Thu Jul 19 05:00:28 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Jul 19 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9  (Vespers, 1st 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 1 of 6

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Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
15 But the righteous live for ever, and their reward is with the Lord;
the Most High takes care of them.
16 Therefore they will receive a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem
from the hand of the Lord, because with his right hand he will cover
them, and with his arm he will shield them.
17 The Lord will take his zeal as his whole armor, and will arm all
creation to repel his enemies;
18 he will put on righteousness as a breastplate, and wear impartial
justice as a helmet;
19 he will take holiness as a invincible shield,
20 and sharpen stern wrath for a sword, and creation will join with
him to fight against the madmen.
21 Shafts of lightening will fly with true aim, and will leap to the
target as a from a well-drawn bow of clouds,
22 and hailstones full of wrath will be hurled as from a catapult; the
water of the sea will rage against them, and rivers will relentlessly
overwhelm them;
23 a mighty wind will rise against them, and like a tempest it will
winnow them away. Lawlessness will lay waste the whole earth, and
evil-doing will overturn the thrones of rulers.
1 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the
ends of the earth.
2 Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations.
3 For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty
from the Most High, who will search out your works and inquire into
your plans.
Scripture Reading 2 of 6

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Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15  (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
7 But the righteous man, though he die early, will be at rest.
8 For old age is not honored for length of time, nor measured by
number of years;
9 but understanding is gray hair for men, and a blameless life is ripe
old age.
10 There was one who pleased God and was loved by him,
11 He was caught up lest evil change his understanding or guile
deceive his soul.
12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and roving
desire perverts the innocent mind.
13 Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years;
14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took him
quickly from the midst of wickedness.
15 Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, nor take such a thing
to heart, that God's grace and mercy are his elect, and he watches
over his holy ones.
Scripture Reading 3 of 6

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Matthew 11:27-30  (Matins Gospel)
27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows
the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the
Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly
in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Scripture Reading 4 of 6

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Galatians 5:22-6:2  (Epistle, Saint)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one
another.
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are
spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering
yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Scripture Reading 5 of 6

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Luke 6:17-23  (Gospel, Saint)
17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd
of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and
Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear
Him and be healed of their diseases,
18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they
were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out
from Him and healed them all.
20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: Blessed
are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed
are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And
revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is
great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
Scripture Reading 6 of 6

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Uncovering of the relics of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov
Uncovering of the Relics of Saint Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov: The
glorification of St Seraphim of Sarov (January 2), took place in 1903,
seventy years after his repose. On July 3, 1903 Metropolitan Anthony
of St Petersburg, assisted by Bishop Nazarius of Nizhni-Novgorod and
Bishop Innocent of Tambov, transferred the saint's relics from their
original burial place to the church of Sts Zosimus and Sabbatius. Tsar
Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra provided a new cypress coffin to
receive the relics. This cypress coffin was then placed inside an oak
coffin and remained in the church until the day of the saint's
glorification.
At noon on July 16, the first day of the festivities, Metropolitan
Anthony offered a Memorial Service for the ever-memorable Hieromonk
Seraphim in the Dormition Cathedral. Services also took place in the
monastery's other churches.
The next day Metropolitan Anthony and Bishop Nazarius served a
Memorial Liturgy in the Dormition Cathedral. At 5:00 that afternoon,
the bells of Sarov began to ring, announcing the arrival of Tsar
Nicholas and his family. Metropolitan Anthony greeted them and then
led them to the Dormition Cathedral for a Service of Thanksgiving.
The royal family attended the early Liturgy on July 18th and received
the Holy Mysteries. Later that morning, the final Memorial Service for
the repose of Hieromonk Seraphim's soul was offered in the Cathedral.
These would be the last prayers offered for him as a departed servant
of God. From that time forward, prayers would be addressed to him as a
saint. At 6 P.M. the bells rang for Vigil, the first service with
hymns honoring St Seraphim, and during which his relics would be
exposed for public veneration.
At the time of the Litia during Vespers, the saint's coffin was
carried from the church of Sts Zosimus and Sabbatius and into the
Dormition Cathedral. Several people were healed of various illnesses
during this procession. During Matins, as "Praise ye the Name of the
Lord" was sung, the coffin was opened. After the Gospel, Metropolitan
Anthony and the other hierarchs kissed the holy relics. They were
followed by the royal family, the officiating clergy, and all the
people in the cathedral.
On July 19, the saint's birthday, the late Liturgy began at 8 o'clock.
At the Little Entrance, twelve Archimandrites lifted the coffin from
the middle of the church, carried it around the altar, then placed it
into a special shrine. The long awaited event was accompanied by
numerous miraculous healings of the sick, who had gathered at Sarov in
large numbers. More than 200,000 people came to Sarov from all across
Russia.
The festivities at Sarov came to an end with the dedication of the
first two churches to St Seraphim. The first church to be consecrated
was over his monastic cell in Sarov. The second church was consecrated
on July 22 at the Diveyevo convent.
In 1991, St Seraphim's relics were rediscovered after being hidden in
a Soviet anti-religious museum for seventy years. Widely esteemed in
his lifetime, St Seraphim is one of the most beloved saints of the
Orthodox Church.
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Venerable Dius the Abbot of Antioch
Saint Dius was born in Antioch, Syria towards the end of the fourth
century into a pious Christian family. From his youth he was noted for
his temperance. He ate food in small quantities, but not every day,
and his flesh was humbled by vigil and unceasing prayer. For these
deeds the Lord granted St Dius dispassion and the gift of
wonderworking.
In a vision, the Lord ordered St Dius to go to Constantinople and
there to serve both Him and the people. St Dius settled beyond the
city in a solitary place, where people feared to live. St Dius bravely
contended with the evil spirits which tried to expel him from this
place. The Lord heard the prayer of His saint: his staff took root,
began to grow and with time was transformed into an immense oak, which
stood for a long time even after the death of St Dius.
The surrounding inhabitants began to come to the saint for advice and
guidance, and they sought healing from illnesses of body and soul. St
Dius doctored the infirm with prayer, and whatever was offered him he
distributed to the poor, the homeless and the sick.
Reports of St Dius reached even the emperor Theodosius the Younger. He
came to St Dius for a blessing together with Patriarch Atticus of
Constantinople (406-425). The emperor wanted a monastery to be built
on the place of St Dius' efforts, and he provided the means for its
construction. The Patriarch ordained the monk as a priest and made him
the igumen. Soon numerous monastic brethren gathered to St Dius. The
monastery was in need of a well, and they dug for a long time without
success. Through the prayers of the monk the Lord brought forth a
spring of pure water, which soon filled up the entire well. Once,
through his prayers, the monk raised up a drowned man. The Lord worked
many other miracles through His saint.
In extreme old age St Dius became grievously ill. He took his leave of
the brethren, received the Holy Mysteries, and lay upon his cot like
one dead. At the monastery His Holiness Patriarch Atticus (Comm. on
Cheesefare Saturday) came for the funeral service and also Patriarch
Alexander of Alexandria, who was then at Constantinople. The holy
Elder unexpectedly rose up from his death bed and said, "The Lord has
granted me fifteen more years of life." Great was the joy of the
brethren.
St Dius did live another fifteen years, helping all with guidance and
counsel, healing the sick, and being concerned for the poor and
homeless. Shortly before his death, a radiant man in priestly garb
appeared to him in the altar of the church and told him of his
impending death. Having given thanks to the Lord for this news, St
Dius quietly died and was buried in his monastery.
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Venerable Macrina the Sister of St Basil the Great
Saint Macrina was the sister of the holy hierarchs Basil the Great and
Gregory of Nyssa, and was born in Cappadocia at the beginning of the
fourth century. Her mother, Emilia, saw an angel in a dream, naming
her unborn child Thekla, in honor of the holy Protomartyr Thekla. St
Emilia (January 1) fulfilled the will of God and named her daughter
Thekla. Another daughter was named Macrina, in honor of a grandmother,
who suffered during the time of persecution under the emperor Maximian
Galerius.
Besides Macrina, family there were nine other children. St Emila
herself guided the upbringing and education of her elder daughter. She
taught her reading and writing in the Scriptural books and Psalms of
David, selecting examples from the sacred books which spoke of a pious
and God-pleasing life. St Emilia taught her daughter to pray and to
attend church services. Macrina was also taught the proper knowledge
of domestic governance and various handicrafts. She was never left
idle and did not participate in childish games or amusements.
When Macrina grew up, her parents betrothed her to a certain pious
youth, but the bridegroom soon died. Many young men sought marriage
with her, but Macrina refused them all, having chosen the life of a
virgin and not wanting to be unfaithful to the memory of her dead
fiancé. St Macrina lived in the home of her parents, helping them
fulfill the household tasks as an overseer together with the servants,
and she helped with the upbringing of her younger brothers and
sisters. After the death of her father she became the chief support
for the family.
When all the children grew up and left the parental home, St Macrina
convinced her mother, St Emilia, to leave the world, to set their
slaves free, and to settle in a women's monastery. Several of their
servants followed their example. Having taken monastic vows, they
lived together as one family, they prayed together, they worked
together, they possessed everything in common, and in this manner of
life nothing distinguished one from another.
After the death of her mother, St Macrina guided the sisters of the
monastery. She enjoyed the deep respect of all who knew her.
Strictness towards herself and temperance in everything were
characteristic of the saint all her life. She slept on boards and had
no possessions. St Macrina was granted the gift of wonderworking.
There was an instance (told by the sisters of the monastery to St
Gregory of Nyssa after the death of St Macrina), when she healed a
girl of an eye-affliction. Through the prayers of the saint, there was
no shortage of wheat at her monastery in times of famine.
St Macrina died in the year 380, after a final prayer of thanks to the
Lord for having received His blessings over all the course of her
life. She was buried in the same grave with her parents.
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Right-believing Prince Roman of Ryazan
The Holy Prince Roman Olegovich of Ryazan was from a line of princes,
who during the time of the Tatar (Mongol) Yoke won glory as defenders
of the Christian Faith and of their Fatherland. Both his grandfathers
perished for the Fatherland in the struggle with Batu.
Raised to love the holy faith (the prince lived in tears and prayers)
and his homeland, the prince with all his strength concerned himself
about his devastated and oppressed subjects. He defended them from the
coercion and plundering of the Khan's "baskaki" ("tax-collectors").
The "baskaki" hated the saint and they slandered him before the Tatar
Khan Mengu-Timur.
Roman Olegovich was summoned to the Horde, where Khan Mengu-Timur
declared that he had to choose one of two things: either a martyr's
death or the Tatar faith. The noble prince said that a Christian
cannot change from the true Faith to a false one. For his firmness in
the confession of faith he was subjected to cruel torments: they cut
out his tongue, gouged out his eyes, cut off his ears and lips,
chopped off his hands and feet, tore off the skin from his head and,
after beheading him, they impaled him upon a spear. This occurred in
the year 1270.
The veneration of the royal martyr began immediately with his death.
The chronicle says about the saint: "By your suffering, you have
gained the Kingdom of Heaven, and a crown from the hand of the Lord,
together with your kinsman Michael Vsevolodovich, cosufferers with
Christ for the Orthodox Christian Faith."
Since 1854, there have been church processions and Moliebens at Ryazan
on the Feast day of St Roman. A church was consecrated in honor of the
holy Prince Roman at Ryazan in 1861.
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Venerable Paisius of the Kiev Far Caves
Saint Paisius of the Caves was a monk of the Kiev Caves monastery.
>From the Canon to the Kiev Caves monks, venerated in the Far Caves, it
is known that he was connected by oneness of mind and brotherly love
with St Mercurius (November 24). Both saints were inseparable, they
lived in the same cell, and after death were placed in the same grave.
At the present time their relics rest in separate reliquaries.
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Blessed Stephen the King of Serbia, With His Mother
Saint Stephen was the son of prince St Lazar of Serbia (June 15). In
the terrible times of the Turkish Yoke St Stephen became the great
benefactor of his enslaved countrymen. He built up the city,
constructed churches and expended his treasury on the help of the
needy. St Stephen exceeded many rulers in his wisdom, his charity and
his faith. He died peacefully in the year 1427.
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St Militsa of Serbia
Saint Militsa was the mother of St Stephen, and was known for her
quick wit and her pious life. She founded the Lubostina women's
monastery, in which she was tonsured with the name Eugenia. She died
at the monastery as a schema-nun on November 11, 1405.
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