[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sun Jul 29 05:00:16 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sun Jul 29 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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John 20:19-31  (9th Matins Gospel)
19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week,
when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear
of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them,
"Peace be with you."
20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then
the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent
Me, I also send you."
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you
retain the sins of any, they are retained.
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them
when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."
So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails,
and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into
His side, I will not believe."
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas
with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst,
and said, "Peace to you!"
27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My
hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be
unbelieving, but believing."
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have
believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His
disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His
name.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3

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1 Corinthians 3:9-17
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's
building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise
master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.
But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it,
because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's
work, of what sort it is.
14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive
a reward.
15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself
will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit
of God dwells in you?
17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the
temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
Scripture Reading 2 of 3

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Matthew 14:22-34
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go
before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the
mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone
there.
24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves,
for the wind was contrary.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on
the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were
troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It
is I; do not be afraid."
28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to
come to You on the water."
29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat,
he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and
beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and
said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying,
"Truly You are the Son of God."
34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
Scripture Reading 3 of 3

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Martyr Callinicus of Gangra in Asia Minor
The Holy Martyr Callinicus, a native of Cilicia, was raised from
childhood in the Christian Faith. Grieving that many misguided people
would perish for eternity because they worshiped idols, he went
through the cities and villages to proclaim Jesus Christ and His
teachings to the pagans, and with the Word of God he converted many to
Christianity.
In the Galatian city of Ancyra the holy confessor was arrested and
brought to trial before a governor named Sacerdonus, a fierce
persecutor of Christians. The governor, threatening tortures and
death, ordered the saint to offer sacrifice to the idols. The saint
fearlessly declared that he was not afraid of martyrdom, since every
believer in Christ receives from Him strength in ordeals, and through
death inherits an eternal blessed life.
They cruelly beat the saint with ox thongs and tore at his body with
iron hooks, but he endured everything with patience and calm. This
aroused still greater fury in Sacerdonus, and he ordered that sandals
with sharp nails be placed on the saint's feet, and that they should
drive the martyr with whips to the city of Gangra to be burned.
The pathway was arduous, and the soldiers who accompanied the
condemned man were weak from thirst. In despair they began to implore
the saint to pray the Lord for water. The saint, taking pity on his
tormentors, with the help of God caused a miraculous spring of water
to gush forth from a stone. The astonished soldiers were filled with
sympathy for their rescuer, and they wanted even to set him free. Fear
of execution, however, compelled them to bring the martyr farther. In
Gangra, St Callinicus joyfully offered thanks to the Lord, Who had
vouchsafed him the crown of martyrdom. He went into the blazing fire
and gave up his soul to God. His body, remaining unharmed, was
reverently buried by believers.
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Venerable Constantine the Abbot of Kosinsk, Pskov
Sts Constantine and Cosmas were monastic followers of St Barlaam of
Khutyn (November 6) and his successor, St Anthony of Dymsk (January
17). About the year 1220, they left the Khutyn monastery and settled
upon a wilderness peninsula, situated 3 versts from the city of
Staraya Rus, between the Rivers Polista and Smezhnya. In time they
founded a monastery there in the name of St Nicholas, headed by St
Constantine until his death (ca. 1240).
St Cosmas continued with the exploits of his mentor. He was buried in
the same grave with St Constantine. Their bodies rest beneath the
vestibule of the Nikolaev church, built in 1820 over the tomb of the
saints.
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Venerable Cosmas the Abbot of Kosinsk, Pskov
Sts Cosmas and Constantine were monastic followers of St Barlaam of
Khutyn (November 6) and his successor, St Anthony of Dymsk (January
17). About the year 1220, they left the Khutyn monastery and settled
upon a wilderness peninsula, situated 3 versts from the city of
Staraya Rus, between the Rivers Polista and Smezhnya. In time they
founded a monastery there in the name of St Nicholas, headed by St
Constantine until his death (ca. 1240).
St Cosmas continued with the exploits of his mentor. He was buried in
the same grave with St Constantine. Their bodies rest beneath the
vestibule of the Nikolaev church, built in 1820 over the tomb of the
saints.
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Virginmartyr Seraphima (Serapia) of Antioch
The Holy martyr Seraphima the Virgin, a native of Antioch, lived at
Rome during the reign of the emperor Hadrian (117-138) with the
illustrious Roman Sabina, whom the saint converted to Christianity.
During the persecution against Christians begun by order of the
emperor, the governor Virilus gave orders to bring St Seraphima to
trial. Desiring a crown of martyrdom from the Lord, she fearlessly
went to the executioner at the first summons. The devoted Sabina
accompanied her. Seeing that illustrious lady, Virilus at first set
the maiden free, but after several days he again summoned St Seraphima
and began the trial.
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Martyr Theodota in Bithynia
The Holy martyr Theodota and her three young children lived during the
reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). She was a Christian, a
native of the city of Nicea, Bithynia. After being widowed, St
Theodota led a pious life and raised her sons in the Christian Faith.
She had a spiritual friendship with St Anastasia (December 22).
When the persecution against Christians began, they arrested the holy
women. At the trial, the dignitary Leucadius was captivated by the
beautiful Theodota and he decided to take her home with him, intending
to marry her. Finding herself in the home of Leucadius with her
children, St Theodota kept herself in purity, yielding neither to
inducements nor charms, nor threats by the pagan.
Angered at the steadfastness of the saint, Leucadius sent her and her
children to Bithynia, to the district governor Nicetas. At the
interrogation, when the judge began to threaten her with torture, St
Theodota's eldest son Evodus said that Christians do not fear
tortures, but rather fear being forsaken by God. They cruelly beat the
boy before the eyes of his mother, so that his blood began to flow. St
Theodota prayed that the Lord would strengthen her son in his
sufferings, and rejoiced in that he was being given a martyr's death
for the sake of truth.
They gave St Theodota over to be defiled, but the Lord preserved her.
An angel of the Lord held back everyone who tried to approach the
saint. Imputing this miracle to sorcery, the judge sentenced the saint
and her children to death by fire.
The memory of the holy Martyrs Theodota, the child Evodus and her
other two small sons is celebrated also on December 22, together with
the memory of St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions.
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3 Martyred Sons of Theodota in Bithynia
The Holy martyr Theodota and her three young children lived during the
reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). She was a Christian, a
native of the city of Nicea, Bithynia. After being widowed, St
Theodota led a pious life and raised her sons in the Christian Faith.
She had a spiritual friendship with St Anastasia (December 22).
When the persecution against Christians began, they arrested the holy
women. At the trial, the dignitary Leucadius was captivated by the
beautiful Theodota and he decided to take her home with him, intending
to marry her. Finding herself in the home of Leucadius with her
children, St Theodota kept herself in purity, yielding neither to
inducements nor charms, nor threats by the pagan.
Angered at the steadfastness of the saint, Leucadius sent her and her
children to Bithynia, to the district governor Nicetas. At the
interrogation, when the judge began to threaten her with torture, St
Theodota's eldest son Evodus said that Christians do not fear
tortures, but rather fear being forsaken by God. They cruelly beat the
boy before the eyes of his mother, so that his blood began to flow. St
Theodota prayed that the Lord would strengthen her son in his
sufferings, and rejoiced in that he was being given a martyr's death
for the sake of truth.
They gave St Theodota over to be defiled, but the Lord preserved her.
An angel of the Lord held back everyone who tried to approach the
saint. Imputing this miracle to sorcery, the judge sentenced the saint
and her children to death by fire.
The memory of the holy Martyrs Theodota, the child Evodus and her
other two small sons is celebrated also on December 22, together with
the memory of St Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions.
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Martyr Michael
The Hosiomartyr Michael, a disciple of St Theodore of Edessa (July 9),
was beheaded during the ninth century for his confession of faith in
Christ. His memory is celebrated also on May 23.
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Martyr Eustathius of Mtskheta in Georgia
Saint Eustathius, a Persian by descent, was a fire-worshipper named
Gvirobandak prior to his baptism into the Christian Faith. When he
arrived in Georgia and settled in Mtskheta, he was deeply drawn to the
morals and traditions of the Georgian people, and he resolved to
convert to Christianity.
His decision entailed a great risk, as the Persians dominated eastern
Georgia, persecuting Christians and forcing all to worship fire, as
they did. Catholicos Samoel himself baptized Gvirobandak and called
him Eustathius. The new convert soon married a Georgian woman and was
fully assimilated into Georgian society and the life of the Church.
Once the Persians who were occupying Mtskheta invited Eustathius to a
celebration, but he declined, saying, I am stamped with the seal of
Christ and far removed from every darkness!
After the celebration the fire-worshippers reported Eustathius to
Ustam, the chief of the Mtskheta Fortress. The chief summoned
Eustathius and threatened him, saying, You will not remain a Christian
without punishment. If you do not voluntarily turn back from this way
of misfortune, severe tortures will await you!
St. Eustathius calmly answered him, saying, For the sake of Christ I
am prepared to endure not only torture but even death itself with
rejoicing!
Since he himself did not have the authority to punish Eustathius,
Ustam sent the accused to the marzban Arvand Gushnasp. Then the
informers appeared again before Ustam and reported that seven more
fire-worshippers had converted to Christianity. All eight of them were
bound in chains and escorted to Tbilisi.
The furious marzban ordered his servants to shave the captives heads
and beards, bore holes in their noses, hang weights round their necks,
fetter their bodies in chains and cast them into prison.
Anyone who denied Christ was to be pardoned. Two of the victims,
Bakhdiad and Panagushnasp, could not bear the suffering and denied
Christ. The marzban freed them, while the six holy menGushnaki,
Eustathius, Borzo, Perozak, Zarmil and Stevenremained in confinement.
Six months later Arvand Gushnasp was summoned to Persia, so Catholicos
Samoel, the chieftain Grigol of Mtskheta and the nobleman Arshusha
took advantage of the opportunity and requested that he release the
imprisoned Persian Christians. Arvand Gushnasp yielded to the request
of the Georgian dignitaries, but warned that the Christian converts
would soon meet their deaths.
Meanwhile, the betrayer Bakhdiad fell ill with epilepsy and died,
while Panagushnasp lived on in terrible poverty.
Three years later Vezhan Buzmir was appointed the new marzban of
Kartli, and the pagan priests again reported on Sts. Eustathiuss and
Stevens conversion. St. Eustathius asked to see his family and said to
them: Farewell, for I am not destined to return home again. I will not
betray Christ, and for this they will not forgive me. Imprisonment and
beheading await me in Tbilisi. My remains will be brought here
according to Gods will.
Eustathius and Steven were escorted to the new marzban, and Eustathius
declared before him that he would not deny Christ. The enraged marzban
ordered that he be cast into prison and that his head be chopped off
that night and his body thrown behind the fortress wall, to be torn to
pieces by the birds. As directed, the marzbans servants beheaded the
saint and cast his body into the abyss behind the fortress wall.
But a group of faithful Christians located St. Eustathiuss body and
carried it in secret to Mtskheta. Catholicos Samoel met the holy
relics when they arrived, and with great honor they were buried in
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral under the altar table.
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Martyr Bessarion, the Bishop of Smolyan
No information available at this time.
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Child Schemamonk Bogolep
The Child Schemamonk Bogolep was the son of a Moscow nobleman Iakov
Lukich Ushakov and his wife Katherine. He was born in 1660 at Moscow.
At Baptism they gave him the name Boris, in honor of the holy
Passion-Bearer Boris (July 24).
Ushakov was appointed voevoda (military-commander) in the city of
Chernyi Yar (Black Ravine), situated 250 versts from Astrakhan. He was
known for his integrity. From infancy Boris displayed unusual traits.
On Wednesdays and Fridays he would not drink milk from his mother's
breasts. When the bells pealed at the church, he began to cry, and
became quiet only when they brought him into the church. When they did
not take the infant to church, he cried all day and ate nothing.
In 1662 a deadly pestilence spread about in Russia. The child fell
ill, and the pestilence afflicted him in the legs. He became lame, but
continued to walk to church. The parents prayed for the health of
their son and they tried everything in their power to heal him. But no
sooner had the one illness gone, than upon his face there appeared
another, called scales.
Once during his illness the child saw a wandering monk who visited at
their home. The angelic garb so impressed the child, that he began to
implore his parents to sew him such clothing and permit him to receive
monastic tonsure. The holy child proclaimed: "You will see for
yourselves, when you tonsure and grant me the angelic garb, I shall be
well." The parents consented. The child was invested in the schema
with the name Bogolep (the Russian version of the Greek name
Theoleptos, meaning "similar to God").
On the next day the child schemamonk was completely healthy, his face
was clear and there remained no trace of the illness. But on the third
day there was a new illness, he developed a fever, and it struck down
the child. He died on August 1, 1667 and was buried at the left wall
of the wooden Black Ravine church in honor of the Resurrection of
Christ. (This church was built after a great fire in Black Ravine, on
July 24, 1652 the Feast of St Boris). A chapel was built over the
grave of the child.
The Life of the holy Schemamonk Bogolep was compiled under a vow by
the Black Ravine merchant Sava Tatarinov during the years 1731-1732.
Icons of the saint, with the Troparion and Kontakion to him, were
widely dispersed throughout the Astrakhan region.
In 1750 on the place of the wooden church a stone church was built
with a side-altar in honor of the holy Martyr John the Warrior. The
grave of the holy schemamonk was enclosed in this side altar.
The bank of the river, where the church of the Resurrection of Christ
stood, was constantly eroding. By the mid-nineteenth century the
structure of the church was threatened, and they removed all the holy
things from it. For a long time the people of Black Ravine did not
remove the chief holy object: the grave of the holy schemamonk.
Finally, in 1851 when the water had already approached 4 ft. 8 inches,
the people petitioned the Most Holy Synod with a request to transfer
the holy relics of the Schemamonk Bogolep, and they received
permission for this. The small child's coffin was laid bare, but just
when the city head took it into his hands, it slid out of his hands
and disappeared into the waters of the Volga.
This disappearance of the relics just at the opening of the grave was
accepted as the Will of God, since the holy child had repeatedly
appeared to many either in sleep, or awake while walking along the
river bank, or coming down the hill. He consoled them, promising that
he would be present spiritually with believers.
The simple life of the holy Schemamonk Bogolep, full of the mysteries
of God, illustrates the words of the Savior concerning children: "Let
the children come unto Me and forbid them not, for of such is the
Kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whosoever shall not receive the
Kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter therein. And He took
them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them" (Mark
10: 14-16).
We pray to St Bogolep for children, and also for protection against
lightning.
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St Roman of Kirzhachsk
Saint Roman of Kirzhachsk was a coascetic and student of St Sergius,
Igumen of Radonezh (September 25 and July 5). Sts Sergius and Roman
built a church in the forests of Vladimir governia at the River
Kirzhach in honor of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, and
established a new monastery (in 1371). Three years later, with the
blessing of St Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow (February 12), St
Sergius returned to the Trinity monastery, and St Roman remained to
head the newly-created wilderness monastery.
Ordained to the priesthood by St Alexis, the new head of the
Annunciation monastery fulfilled the precepts of his spiritual father
and teacher, St Sergius with great fervor. A zealous ascetic, a good
and demanding instructor, St Roman was an example for all the
brethren.
The saint died on July 29, 1392 and was buried in the Annunciation
temple. In the manuscripts, St Roman is numbered among the saints and
is called a wonderworker.
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Martyr Shushanik, Queen of Georgia
No information available at this time.
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