[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Jul 26 2007

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Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3  (Vespers, 1st 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 1 of 6


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1 John 4:1-6  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in
the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist,
which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the
world hears them.
6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does
not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of
error.
Scripture Reading 2 of 6


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1 John 4:20-5:5  (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar;
for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love
God whom he has not seen?
21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must
love his brother also.
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and
everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of
Him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God
and keep His commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His
commandments are not burdensome.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the
victory that has overcome the world-our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is
the Son of God?
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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Philippians 3:7-14  (Saint)
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for
Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from
the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness
which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the
fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I
press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also
laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing
I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to
those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in
Christ Jesus.
Scripture Reading 5 of 6


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Mark 10:29-31, 42-45  (Saint)
29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no
one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or
wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's,
30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time-houses and
brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with
persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life.
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that
those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their great ones exercise authority over them.
43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become
great among you shall be your servant.
44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many.
Scripture Reading 6 of 6



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Repose of St Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of the Peoples
of Alaska
Father Jacob (Netsvetov) of Alaska was born of pious parents in 1802
on Atka Island, Alaska. His father, Yegor Vasil'evich Netsvetov was a
Russian from Tobolsk. His mother, Maria Alekseevna, was an Aleut from
Atka island. Yegor and Maria had four children who survived infancy;
Jacob was the first born, followed by Osip (Joseph), Elena, and
Antony. Yegor and Maria were devoted to their children and, though of
meager means, did all they could to provide them with the education
which would help them in this life as well as in the life to come.
Osip and Antony were eventually able to study at the St Petersburg
Naval Academy in Russia, becoming a naval officer and a shipbuilder,
respectively. Their sister, Elena, married a successful and respected
clerk for the Russian-American Company. But Jacob yearned for a
different kind of success, a success that the world might consider
failure for "the righteous live forever, their reward is with the
Lord" (Wis. Sol. 5:15). And so, when the family moved to Irkutsk in
1823, Jacob enrolled in the Irkutsk Theological Seminary and placed
all his hope in Christ by seeking first the Kingdom of God (Mt. 6:33).
Jacob was tonsured as a Subdeacon on October 1, 1825. He married a
Russian woman (perhaps also a Creole) named Anna Simeonovna, and in
1826 graduated from the Seminary with certificates in history and
theology. On October 31, 1826, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate
and assigned to serve the altar of the Holy Trinity-St Peter Church in
Irkutsk. Two years later, on March 4, 1828, Archbishop Michael, who
had earlier ordained Father John Veniaminov (St Innocent), elevated
the godly deacon Jacob to the Holy Priesthood. This, however, was no
ordinary ordination. As if he were a new Patrick, hearing the mystical
call of his distant flock, Father Jacob yearned to return to his
native Alaska. And the all-good God, who (satisfies the longing soul
and fills the hungry soul with goodness" (Ps.107:9) heard the prayer
of his servant.
Archbishop Michael provided Father Jacob with two antimensia: one for
the new Church which would be dedicated to the glory of God in honor
of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Atka, and one to be used for
missionary activity. On May 1, 1828 a molieben for travelers was
served, and Father Jacob, his father, Yegor, (now tonsured as reader
for the Atka Church), and his matushka, Anna, set out for Alaska.
Who can tell of the perils and trials associated with such a journey?
Travel in those days was never easy, either overland or over the waves
of the sea. Nevertheless, aided by prayer and confidence in God's
providence, the Netsvetov family arrived safely in Atka over a year
later, on June 15, 1829. The new assignment for the newly-ordained
Father Jacob would also prove to be quite a challenge. The Atka
"parish" comprised a territory stretching for nearly 2,000 miles and
included Amchitka, Attu, Copper, Bering and Kurile Islands. But this
did not deter the godly young priest, for when he was clothed in the
garments of the Priesthood, he was found to be "clad with zeal as a
cloak' (Is. 59:17), and so he threw himself wholly into his sacred
ministry. His deep love for God and for his flock was evident in
everything that he did. Both in Atka and in the distant villages and
settlements which he visited, Father Jacob offered himself as a
"living sacrifice" (Rom 12:1). Having "no worry about his life" (Mt.
6:25 ff), the holy one endured manifold tortures of cold, wet, wind,
illness, hunger and exhaustion, for to him life was Christ (Phil
1:21). Showing himself as a "rule of faith," his example brought his
people to a deep commitment to their own salvation. Being fully
bilingual and bicultural, Father Jacob was uniquely blessed by God to
care for the souls of his fellow Alaskans.
When he arrived in Atka, the Church of St Nicholas had not yet been
built. So, with his own hands Father Jacob constructed a large tent
(Acts 18:3) in which he conducted the services. For Father Jacob the
services of the Church were life: life for his people and life for
himself. It was in the worship of God that he found both strength and
joy. Later he would transport this tent with him on his missionary
journeys, and like Moses in the wilderness, the grace of God was found
wherever this tent was taken (Num 4:1 ff; 10:17 ff).
When his first six months had ended (end of 1829), Father Jacob
recorded that he had baptized 16, chrismated 442, married 53 couples,
and buried 8.
Once the church was constructed, Father Jacob turned his attention to
the building of a school in which the children would learn to read and
write both Russian and Unangan Aleut. The Russian American Company
provided some of the support initially, with the students providing
the remainder. This continued until 1841, when it was reorganized as a
parish school and ties with the company ceased. Father Jacob proved to
be a talented educator and translator whose students became
distinguished Aleut leaders in the next generation.
Father Netsvetov led an active physical and intellectual life, hunting
and gathering for his own subsistence needs, preparing specimens of
fish and marine animals for the natural history museums of Moscow and
St Petersburg, corresponding with St Innocent (Veniaminov) on matters
of linguistics and translations. He labored over the creation of an
adequate alphabet for the Unangan-Aleut language, and the translation
of the Holy Scriptures and other appropriate literature into that
language. St Innocent praised the young pastor for his holiness of
life, his teaching, and for continuing this work of translating which
he, himself, had begun earlier among the native peoples. After fifteen
years of service, Father Jacob was awarded the Nabedrennik, Kamilavka,
and Gold Cross. Later, he would be made Archpriest and receive the
Order of St Anna.
These ecclesiastical awards do not tell of the personal sufferings of
this warrior for Christ. In March of 1836, his precious wife, Anna,
died of cancer; his home burned to the ground in July of 1836; and his
dear father, Yegor, died of an undetermined illness in 1837. Who can
utter the depth of sorrow felt by this God-pleaser? Yet he lifted up
his voice with that ancient sufferer and cried, "shall we indeed
accept good from God and shall we not accept adversity? In all this he
did not sin with his lips" (Job 2:10). In his journal Father Jacob
attributed all to "the Will of Him whose Providence and Will are
inscrutable and whose actions toward men are incomprehensible." He
patiently endured hardships and sufferings like the Holy Apostle Paul.
He saw in these misfortunes not a Victory by the hater of men's souls
(i.e. the devil) but a call from God to even greater spiritual
struggles. With this in mind, Father Jacob petitioned his ruling
bishop to return to Irkutsk in order to enter the monastic life. A
year later, word reached him that permission was granted contingent
upon the arrival of a replacement. None ever came.
Instead, Bishop Innocent soon came to Atka and asked Father Jacob to
accompany him on a voyage by ship to Kamchatka. Who can know the
heavenly discourse enjoyed by these two lovers of Christ as they
traveled over the waves? This, however, is clear, the holy archpastor
was able to accomplish three things in Father Netsvetov. Firstly, he
applied the healing salve of the Spirit with words of comfort;
secondly, he dissuaded Father Jacob from entering the monastery; and
thirdly, he revealed to the godly priest the true plan of the Savior
for his life, that he 'might preach (Christ) among the Gentiles" (Gal.
1: 16) deep in the Alaskan interior. Father Jacob continued to serve
his far-flung flock of the Atka parish until December 30, 1844. A new
zeal had taken hold of him, and it was then that St Innocent appointed
him to head the new Kvikhpak Mission in order to bring the light of
Christ to the people of the Yukon. Here, aided by two young Creole
assistants, Innokentii Shayashnikov and Konstantin Lukin, together
with his young nephew, Vasilii Netsvetov, Father Jacob "settled' in
the wilderness of Alaska.
He learned new languages, embraced new peoples and cultures, devised
another alphabet, built another church and Orthodox community, and for
the next twenty years, until his health and eyesight failed, continued
to be an evangelical beacon of the grace of God in southwestern
Alaska.
Establishing his headquarters in the Yup'ik Eskimo village of
Ikogmiute (today's 'Russian Mission') he traveled to native
settlements hundreds of miles up and down Alaska's longest river (the
Yukon) as well as the Kuskokwim River region. At the insistence of
Indian leaders, he traveled as far as the middle of the Innoko River
baptizing hundreds of Indians from various, and often formerly
hostile, tribes. "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity" (Ps 133:1). He built the first Christian
temple in this region, and dedicated it to the feast of the Elevation
of the Holy Cross. Here Father Jacob, in spite of failing health,
joyfully celebrated the Church's cycle of services, including all of
the services prescribed for Holy Week and Pascha.
Finally, in 1863, the evil One, who "walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour" (I Pet 5:8), sought one last time to get
the better of the righteous one. So the devil, the father of lies,
(John 8:44), inspired an assistant of Father Jacob to level spurious
and slanderous charges against his master. This resulted in a summons
to Sitka, issued by Bishop Peter. The godly pastor was quickly cleared
of all charges, but due to his ever-worsening health, he remained in
Sitka for his final year serving a Tlingit chapel. He died on July 26,
1864 at the age of 60 and was buried on the third day at the entry of
the chapel. During his final missionary travels in the Kuskokwim/Yukon
delta region, he had baptized 1,320 people - distinguishing himself as
the evangelizer of the Yup'ik Eskimo and Athabascan Indian peoples.
This brief history has recounted the basic chronology of the saint's
life and labors, but we must not neglect to relate his other deeds,
that the light be not "hidden under a bushel" (Mt.5:15). In 184 1,
Father Jacob encountered a group of women from his flock in Amlia who
had fallen victim to certain demonic influences and teachings. Blaming
himself for the seduction and fall of his spiritual children by the
evil one, he informed the leader among them that he was going to pay
them a visit.
Upon arriving, he found one of the women paralyzed, semi-conscious and
unable to speak. He ordered that she be removed to another house
apart, and on the next day when this was accomplished, he lit the
lampada before the icons of the beautiful corner, vested himself in
his priestly epitrachilion (stole), sprinkled holy water throughout
the room, and began the first prayers of exorcism. He then left.
During the night he was notified that the woman had begun to speak but
incoherently. He came immediately to her and performed a second
exorcism. This time, she sprang out of her bed and stood next to the
saint, joined her prayer to his, and accompanied them with
prostrations. When the prayers were finished, Father Jacob again
sprinkled her with holy water and gave her the precious cross to kiss.
She regained full consciousness, a state of health and true reason -
that is, even the false teachings of the evil spirits had no more part
in her.
Once in November of 1845, Father Jacob was preaching in the village of
Kalskag, where the local chief was also the head shaman. He spoke for
all of the villagers and resisted the Word of God forcefully. But the
saint, calm and full of the Holy Spirit, continued to sow the seeds of
right belief and piety. After many hours, the chief fell silent and
finally came to believe. The villagers, in solidarity with their
leader, also joyously expressed their belief in the Triune God and
sought Holy Baptism.
Father Jacob was a physician of bodies as well as souls. He often
cared for the sick among his flock even to his own detriment. During
the winter of 1850-1851 the saint was himself ravaged with illness.
Yet he cared for the sick and dispensed medicine to them every day.
Father Jacob's preaching often brought together in the Holy Faith
tribes who were traditional enemies. One example from his journal
reads:
"Beginning in the morning, upon my invitation, all the Kol'chane and
Ingalit from the Yukon and the local ones gathered at my place and I
preached the word of God, concluding at noon. Everyone listened to the
preaching with attention and without discussion or dissent, and in the
end they all expressed faith and their wish to accept Holy Baptism,
both the Kol'chane and the Ingatit (formerly traditional enemies). I
made a count by families and in groups, and then in the afternoon
began the baptismal service. First I baptized 50 Kol'chane and Ingalit
men, the latter from the Yukon and Innoko. It was already evening when
I completed the service. March 21, 1853."
So it was that this apostolic man, this new Job, conducted himself
during his earthly course. There are many other deeds and wonders
which he performed, many known and many more known only to God. Few
missionaries in history have had to endure the hardships which Father
Jacob faced, yet he did so with patience and humility. His life of
faith and piety are the legacy which he leaves to us, his spiritual
children in America, and indeed to all Christians throughout the
world.
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Hieromartyr Hermolaus at Nicomedia
Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates of Nicomedia, were
among the small number of those remaining alive after 20,000
Christians were burned alive in a church at Nicomedia in the year 303
(December 28), on the orders of the emperor Maximian (284-305). They
in remote places and did not cease to preach Christianity to the
pagans.
The young pagan named Pantoleon (Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, July
27) often passed by the house in which St Hermolaus had concealed
himself. Once St Hermolaus chanced to meet the youth and asked him to
stop by his house. In their conversation St Hermolaus began to explain
to his guest the falseness, impiety and vanity of worshipping the
pagan gods. From that day on, Pantoleon began to visit St Hermolaus
daily and received holy Baptism from him.
When the trial of the holy Great Martyr Panteleimon was being held,
Sts Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates, were also arrested. The Lord
Jesus Christ appeared to St Hermolaus one evening and revealed to him
that on the following day he would suffer for Him and receive a
martyr's crown.
Sts Hermippus and Hermocrates were arrested and brought to trial after
St Hermolaus. All three were given the chance to deny Christ and offer
sacrifice to idols. But they resolutely refused, confessed their faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ and were prepared gladly to die for Him.
The pagans began to threaten the holy priests with torture and death.
Suddenly, a strong earthquake occurred, and the idols and pagan temple
collapsed and shattered. This was reported to the emperor. The enraged
Maximian gave the holy martyrs over to torture and pronounced upon
them a sentence of death. Bravely enduring all the torments, the holy
Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates were beheaded in
about the year 305.
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Martyr Hermippus at Nicomedia
Hieromartyrs Hermippus, Hermolaus, and Hermocrates of Nicomedia, were
among the small number of those remaining alive after 20,000
Christians were burned alive in a church at Nicomedia in the year 303
(December 28), on the orders of the emperor Maximian (284-305). They
in remote places and did not cease to preach Christianity to the
pagans.
The young pagan named Pantoleon (Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, July
27) often passed by the house in which St Hermolaus had concealed
himself. Once St Hermolaus chanced to meet the youth and asked him to
stop by his house. In their conversation St Hermolaus began to explain
to his guest the falseness, impiety and vanity of worshipping the
pagan gods. From that day on, Pantoleon began to visit St Hermolaus
daily and received holy Baptism from him.
When the trial of the holy Great Martyr Panteleimon was being held,
Sts Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates, were also arrested. The Lord
Jesus Christ appeared to St Hermolaus one evening and revealed to him
that on the following day he would suffer for Him and receive a
martyr's crown.
Sts Hermippus and Hermocrates were arrested and brought to trial after
St Hermolaus. All three were given the chance to deny Christ and offer
sacrifice to idols. But they resolutely refused, confessed their faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ and were prepared gladly to die for Him.
The pagans began to threaten the holy priests with torture and death.
Suddenly, a strong earthquake occurred, and the idols and pagan temple
collapsed and shattered. This was reported to the emperor. The enraged
Maximian gave the holy martyrs over to torture and pronounced upon
them a sentence of death. Bravely enduring all the torments, the holy
Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates were beheaded in
about the year 305.
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Martyr Hermocrates at Nicomedia
Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates of Nicomedia, were
among the small number of those remaining alive after 20,000
Christians were burned alive in a church at Nicomedia in the year 303
(December 28), on the orders of the emperor Maximian (284-305). They
in remote places and did not cease to preach Christianity to the
pagans.
The young pagan named Pantoleon (Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, July
27) often passed by the house in which St Hermolaus had concealed
himself. Once St Hermolaus chanced to meet the youth and asked him to
stop by his house. In their conversation St Hermolaus began to explain
to his guest the falseness, impiety and vanity of worshipping the
pagan gods. From that day on, Pantoleon began to visit St Hermolaus
daily and received holy Baptism from him.
When the trial of the holy Great Martyr Panteleimon was being held,
Sts Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates, were also arrested. The Lord
Jesus Christ appeared to St Hermolaus one evening and revealed to him
that on the following day he would suffer for Him and receive a
martyr's crown.
Sts Hermippus and Hermocrates were arrested and brought to trial after
St Hermolaus. All three were given the chance to deny Christ and offer
sacrifice to idols. But they resolutely refused, confessed their faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ and were prepared gladly to die for Him.
The pagans began to threaten the holy priests with torture and death.
Suddenly, a strong earthquake occurred, and the idols and pagan temple
collapsed and shattered. This was reported to the emperor. The enraged
Maximian gave the holy martyrs over to torture and pronounced upon
them a sentence of death. Bravely enduring all the torments, the holy
Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates were beheaded in
about the year 305.
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Venerable Moses the Hungarian of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Moses the Hungarian of the Caves, was a brother of St Ephraim of
Novy Torg (January 28), and of St George. Together with them he
entered into the service of the holy Prince Boris (July 24). After the
murder of St Boris in 1015 at the River Alta (St George also perished
with him), St Moses fled and hid himself at Kiev with Predislava,
sister of prince Yaroslav. In 1018, when the Polish king Boleslav
seized Kiev, St Moses and his companions wound up in Poland as
captives.
Tall and handsome, St Moses attracted the attention of a certain rich
Polish widow, who burned with a passionate desire for him and wanted
to ransom him from captivity and make him her husband. St Moses
resolutely refused to exchange captivity for slavery to a wife.
Despite his refusal, the Polish woman bought the captive.
She did everything in her power to seduce the youth, but he preferred
hunger pains to banquets of food. Then the Polish woman began to
convey St Moses through her lands, thinking to captivate him by power
and riches. St Moses told her that he would not trade spiritual riches
for the perishable things of this world, and that he wished to become
a monk.
Passing through the area, an Athonite hieromonk tonsured St Moses a
monk. The Polish woman gave orders to stretch St Moses on the ground
and to beat him with iron rods, so that the ground became soaked with
his blood. She sought permission of Boleslav to do with the captive
all that she pleased. The shameless woman once gave orders to put St
Moses in a bed with her. She kissed and embraced him, but she
accomplished nothing by this.
St Moses said, "From the fear of God I loathe you as impure". Hearing
this, the Polish woman gave orders to give the saint each day a
hundred lashes, and then to emasculate him. Boleslav soon began a
persecution against all the monks in the land, but sudden death
overtook him. A revolt arose in Poland, in which the widow also was
killed.
Having recovered from his wounds, St Moses arrived at the Kiev Caves
monastery, bearing on himself martyr's wounds and a crown of a
confessor and courageous warrior of Christ. The Lord provided him
strength in his sufferings. A certain monastic brother, oppressed by
impure passion, went to St Moses and sought his help, saying, "I
promise to keep until death everything you tell me to do." St Moses
said: "As long as you live, do not speak a word to any woman." The
brother promised to obey the advice of the monk. St Moses had in his
hand a staff, without which he was not able to walk because of the
wounds which he had received. With this staff St Moses struck the
chest of the brother who had approached him, and immediately he was
delivered from temptation.
St Moses pursued asceticism at Kiev for 10 years; he died in about the
year 1043 and was buried in the Near Caves. After venerating the
saint's holy relics and fervent prayer to him, the monks were healed
of fleshly temptations.
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Martyr Parasceva of Rome
Holy Virgin Martyr Paraskeva of Rome was the only daughter of
Christian parents, Agathon and Politia, and from her early years she
dedicated herself to God. She spent much of her time in prayer and the
study of the Holy Scriptures. After the death of her parents St
Paraskeva distributed all of her inheritance to the poor, and
consecrated her virginity to Christ. Emulating the holy Apostles, she
began to preach to the pagans about Christ, converting many to
Christianity.
She was arrested during the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161) because
she refused to worship the idols. She was brought to trial and
fearlessly confessed herself a Christian. Neither enticements of
honors and material possessions, nor threats of torture and death
shook the firmness of the saint nor turned her from Christ. She was
given over to beastly tortures. They put a red-hot helmet on her head
and threw her in a cauldron filled with boiling oil and pitch. By the
power of God the holy martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor
peered into the cauldron, St Paraskeva threw a drop of the hot liquid
in his face, and he was burned. The emperor began to ask her for help,
and the holy martyr healed him. After this the emperor set her free.
Traveling from one place to another to preach the Gospel, St Paraskeva
arrived in a city where the governor was named Asclepius. Here again
they tried the saint and sentenced her to death. They took her to an
immense serpent living in a cave, so that it would devour her. But St
Paraskeva made the Sign of the Cross over the snake and it died.
Asclepius and the citizens witnessed this miracle and believed in
Christ. She was set free, and continued her preaching. In a city where
the governor was a certain Tarasius, St Paraskeva endured fierce
tortures and was beheaded in the year 140.
Many miracles took place at the saint's tomb: the blind received
sight, the lame walked, and barren women gave birth to children. It is
not only in the past that the saint performed her miracles, but even
today she helps those who call on her in faith.
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Venerable Gerontius of St Anne Skete, Mt. Athos
Saint Gerontius founded the Skete of St Anna on Mount Athos.
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Icon of the Mother of God in Constantinople of "Emvolon"
No information available at this time.
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St Sava III of Serbia
Saint Sava III was Archbishop of Serbia from 1305 -1316. He is also
commemorated on August 30.
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