[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Fri Jun 1 05:00:30 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri Jun 1 2007

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Romans 2:14-29
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things
in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to
themselves,
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts
accusing or else excusing them)
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,
according to my gospel.
17 Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your
boast in God,
18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being
instructed out of the law,
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a
light to those who are in darkness,
20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form
of knowledge and truth in the law.
21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You
who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
22 You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You
who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through
breaking the law?
24 For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of
you," as it is written.
25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if
you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become
uncircumcision.
26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements
of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law,
judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a
transgressor of the law?
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that
which is outward in the flesh;
29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of
the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from
men but from God.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Matthew 5:33-41
33 Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall
not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.'
34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is
God's throne;
35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it
is the city of the great King.
36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair
white or black.
37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is
more than these is from the evil one.
38 You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for
a tooth.'
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you
on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have
your cloak also.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Martyr Justin the Philosopher and those with him at Rome
The Holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher was born around 114 at Sychem,
an ancient city of Samaria. Justin's parents were pagan Greeks. From
his childhood the saint displayed intelligence, love for knowledge and
a fervent devotion to the knowledge of Truth. When he came of age he
studied the various schools of Greek philosophy: the Stoics, the
Peripatetics, the Pythagoreans, the Platonists, and he concluded that
none of these pagan teachings revealed the way to knowledge of the
true God.
Once, when he was strolling in a solitary place beyond the city and
pondering about where to seek the way to the knowledge of Truth, he
met an old man. In the ensuing conversation he revealed to Justin the
essential nature of the Christian teaching and advised him to seek the
answers to all the questions of life in the books of Holy Scripture.
"But before anything else," said the holy Elder, "pray diligently to
God, so that He might open to you the doors of Light. No one is able
to comprehend Truth, unless he is granted understanding from God
Himself, Who reveals it to each one who seeks Him in prayer and in
love."
In his thirtieth year, Justin accepted holy Baptism (between the years
133 and 137). From this time St Justin devoted his talents and vast
philosophical knowledge to preaching the Gospel among the pagans. He
began to journey throughout the Roman Empire, sowing the seeds of
faith. "Whosoever is able to proclaim Truth and does not proclaim it
will be condemned by God," he wrote.
Justin opened a school of Christian philosophy. St Justin subsequently
defended the truth of Christian teaching, persuasively confuting pagan
sophistry (in a debate with the Cynic philosopher Crescentius) and
heretical distortions of Christianity. He also spoke out against the
teachings of the Gnostic Marcian.
In the year 155, when the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161) started a
persecution against Christians, St Justin personally gave him an
Apology in defense of two Christians innocently condemned to
execution, Ptolemy and Lucias. The name of the third remains unknown.
In the Apology he demonstrated the falseness of the slander against
Christians accused unjustly for merely having the name of Christians.
The Apology had such a favorable effect upon the emperor that he
ceased the persecution. St Justin journeyed, by decision of the
emperor, to Asia Minor where they were persecuting Christians with
particular severity. He proclaimed the joyous message of the imperial
edict throughout the surrounding cities and countryside.
The debate of St Justin with the Rabbi Trypho took place at Ephesus.
The Orthodox philosopher demonstrated the truth of the Christian
teaching of faith on the basis of the Old Testament prophetic
writings. St Justin gave an account of this debate in his work
Dialogue with Trypho the Jew.
A second Apology of Saint Justin was addressed to the Roman Senate. It
was written in the year 161, soon after Marcus Aurelius (161-180)
ascended the throne.
When he returned to Italy, St Justin, like the Apostles, preached the
Gospel everywhere, converting many to the Christian Faith. When the
saint arrived at Rome, the envious Crescentius, whom Justin always
defeated in debate, brought many false accusations against him before
the Roman court. St Justin was put under guard, subjected to torture
and suffered martyrdom in 165. The relics of St Justin the Philosopher
rest in Rome.
In addition to the above-mentioned works, the following are also
attributed to the holy martyr Justin the Philosopher:
1) An Address to the Greeks
2) A Hortatory Address to the Greeks
3) On the Sole Government of God
St John of Damascus preserved a significant part of St Justin's On the
Resurrection, which has not survived. The church historian Eusebius
asserts that St Justin wrote books entitled
The Singer
Denunciation of all Existing Heresies and
Against Marcian
In the Russian Church the memory of the martyr is particularly
glorified in temples of his name. He is invoked by those who seek help
in their studies.
The holy martyrs Justin, Chariton, Euelpistus, Hierax, Peonus,
Valerian, Justus and the martyr Charito suffered with St Justin the
Philosopher in the year 166. They were brought to Rome and thrown into
prison. The saints bravely confessed their faith in Christ before the
court of the prefect Rusticus. Rusticus asked St Justin, whether he
really thought that after undergoing tortures he would go to heaven
and receive a reward from God. Saint Justin answered, "Not only do I
think this, but I know and am fully assured of it."
The prefect proposed to all the Christian prisoners that they offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods. When they refused he issued a sentence of
death, and the saints were beheaded.
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Martyr Chariton with his wife and those with him at Rome
The holy martyr Chariton, his wife Charito, and others suffered with
St Justin the Philosopher in the year 166. They were brought to Rome
and thrown into prison. The saints bravely confessed their faith in
Christ before the court of the prefect Rusticus. Rusticus asked St
Justin whether he really thought that after undergoing tortures he
would go to heaven and receive a reward from God. St Justin answered,
"Not only do I think this, but I know and am fully assured of it."
The prefect proposed to all the Christian prisoners that they offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods. When they refused he issued a sentence of
death, and the saints were beheaded.
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Martyr Charito with her husband, and those with her at Rome
The holy martyr Charito, her husband Chariton, and others suffered
with St Justin the Philosopher in the year 166. They were brought to
Rome and thrown into prison. The saints bravely confessed their faith
in Christ before the court of the prefect Rusticus. Rusticus asked St
Justin whether he really thought that after undergoing tortures he
would go to heaven and receive a reward from God. St Justin answered,
"Not only do I think this, but I know and am fully assured of it."
The prefect proposed to all the Christian prisoners that they offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods. When they refused he issued a sentence of
death, and the saints were beheaded.
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Martyr Euelpistus with those with him at Rome
The holy martyr Euelpistus and others suffered with St Justin the
Philosopher in the year 166. They were brought to Rome and thrown into
prison. The saints bravely confessed their faith in Christ before the
court of the prefect Rusticus. Rusticus asked St Justin whether he
really thought that after undergoing tortures he would go to heaven
and receive a reward from God. St Justin answered, "Not only do I
think this, but I know and am fully assured of it."
The prefect proposed to all the Christian prisoners that they offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods. When they refused he issued a sentence of
death, and the saints were beheaded.
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Martyr Hierax and those with him at Rome
The holy martyr Hierax and others suffered with St Justin the
Philosopher in the year 166. They were brought to Rome and thrown into
prison. The saints bravely confessed their faith in Christ before the
court of the prefect Rusticus. Rusticus asked St Justin, whether he
really thought that after undergoing tortures he would go to heaven
and receive a reward from God. St Justin answered, "Not only do I
think this, but I know and am fully assured of it."
The prefect proposed to all the Christian prisoners that they offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods. When they refused he issued a sentence of
death, and the saints were beheaded.
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Martyr Peonus with those with him at Rome
The holy martyr Peonus suffered with St Justin the Philosopher and
others in the year 166. They were brought to Rome and thrown into
prison. The saints bravely confessed their faith in Christ before the
court of the prefect Rusticus. Rusticus asked St Justin whether he
really thought that after undergoing tortures he would go to heaven
and receive a reward from God. St Justin answered, "Not only do I
think this, but I know and am fully assured of it."
The prefect proposed to all the Christian prisoners that they offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods. When they refused he issued a sentence of
death, and the saints were beheaded.
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Martyr Valerian with those with him at Rome
The holy martyr Valerian suffered with St Justin the Philosopher and
others in the year 166. They were brought to Rome and thrown into
prison. The saints bravely confessed their faith in Christ before the
court of the prefect Rusticus. Rusticus asked St Justin whether he
really thought that after undergoing tortures he would go to heaven
and receive a reward from God. St Justin answered, "Not only do I
think this, but I know and am fully assured of it."
The prefect proposed to all the Christian prisoners that they offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods. When they refused he issued a sentence of
death, and the saints were beheaded.
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Martyr Justus and those with him at Rome
The holy martyr Justus suffered with St Justin the Philosopher and
others in the year 166. They were brought to Rome and thrown into
prison. The saints bravely confessed their faith in Christ before the
court of the prefect Rusticus. Rusticus asked St Justin whether he
really thought that after undergoing tortures he would go to heaven
and receive a reward from God. St Justin answered, "Not only do I
think this, but I know and am fully assured of it."
The prefect proposed to all the Christian prisoners that they offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods. When they refused he issued a sentence of
death, and the saints were beheaded.
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Venerable Dionysius the Abbot of Glushetsk, Vologda
No information available at this time.
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Venerable Agapitus the Unmercenary Physician of the Kiev Near
Caves
St Agapitus of the Caves. This holy Unmercenary Physician was born at
Kiev. He was a novice and disciple of St Anthony of the Caves, and
lived during the eleventh century. If any of the monastic brethren
fell ill, St Agapitus came to him and selflessly attended to the sick
one. He fed his patient boiled herbs which he himself prepared, and
the person recovered through the prayers of the saint. Many laymen
also turned to the monastic physician with the gift of healing.
In Kiev at this time was an experienced Armenian physician, who was
able to diagnose the nature of the illness and even accurately
determine the day of death just by looking at a patient. When one of
these doomed patients turned to St Agapitus, the grace-bearing healer
gave him some food from the monastery trapeza (dining area), and the
patient became well. Enflamed with envy, the physician wanted to
poison St Agapitus, but the Lord preserved him, and the poison had no
effect.
St Agapitus healed Prince Vladimir Monomakh of Chernigov, the future
Great Prince of Kiev (1114-1125), by sending him boiled herbs. The
grateful prince went to the monastery and wanted to see his healer,
but the humble ascetic hid himself and would not accept gifts.
When the holy healer himself became sick, that same Armenian physician
came to him and after examining him, he said that he would die in
three days. He swore to became an Orthodox monk if his prediction were
not fulfilled. The saint said that the Lord had revealed to him that
He would summon him only after three months.
St Agapitus died after three months (on June 1, not later than 1095),
and the Armenian went to the igumen of the Caves monastery and
received monastic tonsure. "It is certain that Agapitus was a saint of
God," he said. "I well knew, that it was impossible for him to last
three days in his sickness, but the Lord gave him three months." Thus
did the monk heal sickness of the soul and guide to the way of
salvation.
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Fathers martyred by the Dagestanians
The holy monk-martyrs Shio the New, David, Gabriel and Paul labored in
the David-Gareji Wilderness at the end of the 17th century.
St. Shio was from the village of Vedzisi in the Kartli region. His
parents, Papuna and Tamar, were wealthy and highly influential people.
They had eight children: five sons and three daughters. After their
parents died, Shios brothers quarreled so intensely over their
inheritance that the eldest brother finally killed the youngest.
Deeply disturbed by this tragedy, blessed Shio sought to withdraw from
the vanity of the worlda world in which brother can murder brother and
a son can murder his father. Shio confessed his desire to his
spiritual father, and he was advised to journey to the David-Gareji
Monastery and be tonsured a monk. In fact, the abbot, Fr. Onopre
(Machutadze), had invited Shio to the monastery several times before,
saying, Come, brother Shio, and let us finish our lives here.
With great joy Onopre received Shio, who was already revered by many
for his faith and chastity. He directed him to a cell and clothed him
as a novice.
Blessed Shios tireless labors, humility, and manifest love for his
brothers inspired many to seek his counsel. The abbot himself often
trusted Shio to administer the affairs of the monastery in his
absence.
Once Fr. Onopre departed to attend to some matters outside the
monastery, leaving Shio in charge. After Vespers and a meal, the
exhausted brothers were settling down to rest when a band of Dagestani
robbers suddenly stormed the monastery grounds. They ransacked the
monastery and captured Hieromonk Shio and the monks David, Gabriel and
Paul and killed them. Some of the brothers who remained tried to flee,
but they were caught and brutally slain.
The cells of the David-Gareji Monastery were soaked with blood. Then
the Dagestanis, yet unsatisfied, seized and destroyed nearly all the
monasterys property. They stole some of the clerical vestments, and
the rest they cut in pieces and tossed in a well. Then they hacked the
holy icons to pieces with their axes.
With the blessing of the catholicos and by order of the king, the
mutilated relics of the holy martyrs were buried in the courtyard
south of the grave of St. David of Gareji.
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Martyr Shio of Akhakalakhi in Georgia
The holy monk-martyrs Shio the New, David, Gabriel and Paul labored in
the David-Gareji Wilderness at the end of the 17th century.
St. Shio was from the village of Vedzisi in the Kartli region. His
parents, Papuna and Tamar, were wealthy and highly influential people.
They had eight children: five sons and three daughters. After their
parents died, Shios brothers quarreled so intensely over their
inheritance that the eldest brother finally killed the youngest.
Deeply disturbed by this tragedy, blessed Shio sought to withdraw from
the vanity of the worlda world in which brother can murder brother and
a son can murder his father. Shio confessed his desire to his
spiritual father, and he was advised to journey to the David-Gareji
Monastery and be tonsured a monk. In fact, the abbot, Fr. Onopre
(Machutadze), had invited Shio to the monastery several times before,
saying, Come, brother Shio, and let us finish our lives here.
With great joy Onopre received Shio, who was already revered by many
for his faith and chastity. He directed him to a cell and clothed him
as a novice.
Blessed Shios tireless labors, humility, and manifest love for his
brothers inspired many to seek his counsel. The abbot himself often
trusted Shio to administer the affairs of the monastery in his
absence.
Once Fr. Onopre departed to attend to some matters outside the
monastery, leaving Shio in charge. After Vespers and a meal, the
exhausted brothers were settling down to rest when a band of Dagestani
robbers suddenly stormed the monastery grounds. They ransacked the
monastery and captured Hieromonk Shio and the monks David, Gabriel and
Paul and killed them. Some of the brothers who remained tried to flee,
but they were caught and brutally slain.
The cells of the David-Gareji Monastery were soaked with blood. Then
the Dagestanis, yet unsatisfied, seized and destroyed nearly all the
monasterys property. They stole some of the clerical vestments, and
the rest they cut in pieces and tossed in a well. Then they hacked the
holy icons to pieces with their axes.
With the blessing of the catholicos and by order of the king, the
mutilated relics of the holy martyrs were buried in the courtyard
south of the grave of St. David of Gareji.
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Martyr David of the St David Gareji Monastery, Georgia
The holy monk-martyrs Shio the New, David, Gabriel and Paul labored in
the David-Gareji Wilderness at the end of the 17th century.
St. Shio was from the village of Vedzisi in the Kartli region. His
parents, Papuna and Tamar, were wealthy and highly influential people.
They had eight children: five sons and three daughters. After their
parents died, Shios brothers quarreled so intensely over their
inheritance that the eldest brother finally killed the youngest.
Deeply disturbed by this tragedy, blessed Shio sought to withdraw from
the vanity of the worlda world in which brother can murder brother and
a son can murder his father. Shio confessed his desire to his
spiritual father, and he was advised to journey to the David-Gareji
Monastery and be tonsured a monk. In fact, the abbot, Fr. Onopre
(Machutadze), had invited Shio to the monastery several times before,
saying, Come, brother Shio, and let us finish our lives here.
With great joy Onopre received Shio, who was already revered by many
for his faith and chastity. He directed him to a cell and clothed him
as a novice.
Blessed Shios tireless labors, humility, and manifest love for his
brothers inspired many to seek his counsel. The abbot himself often
trusted Shio to administer the affairs of the monastery in his
absence.
Once Fr. Onopre departed to attend to some matters outside the
monastery, leaving Shio in charge. After Vespers and a meal, the
exhausted brothers were settling down to rest when a band of Dagestani
robbers suddenly stormed the monastery grounds. They ransacked the
monastery and captured Hieromonk Shio and the monks David, Gabriel and
Paul and killed them. Some of the brothers who remained tried to flee,
but they were caught and brutally slain.
The cells of the David-Gareji Monastery were soaked with blood. Then
the Dagestanis, yet unsatisfied, seized and destroyed nearly all the
monasterys property. They stole some of the clerical vestments, and
the rest they cut in pieces and tossed in a well. Then they hacked the
holy icons to pieces with their axes.
With the blessing of the catholicos and by order of the king, the
mutilated relics of the holy martyrs were buried in the courtyard
south of the grave of St. David of Gareji.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Gabriel of the St David Gareji Monastery, Georgia
The holy monk-martyrs Shio the New, David, Gabriel and Paul labored in
the David-Gareji Wilderness at the end of the 17th century.
St. Shio was from the village of Vedzisi in the Kartli region. His
parents, Papuna and Tamar, were wealthy and highly influential people.
They had eight children: five sons and three daughters. After their
parents died, Shios brothers quarreled so intensely over their
inheritance that the eldest brother finally killed the youngest.
Deeply disturbed by this tragedy, blessed Shio sought to withdraw from
the vanity of the worlda world in which brother can murder brother and
a son can murder his father. Shio confessed his desire to his
spiritual father, and he was advised to journey to the David-Gareji
Monastery and be tonsured a monk. In fact, the abbot, Fr. Onopre
(Machutadze), had invited Shio to the monastery several times before,
saying, Come, brother Shio, and let us finish our lives here.
With great joy Onopre received Shio, who was already revered by many
for his faith and chastity. He directed him to a cell and clothed him
as a novice.
Blessed Shios tireless labors, humility, and manifest love for his
brothers inspired many to seek his counsel. The abbot himself often
trusted Shio to administer the affairs of the monastery in his
absence.
Once Fr. Onopre departed to attend to some matters outside the
monastery, leaving Shio in charge. After Vespers and a meal, the
exhausted brothers were settling down to rest when a band of Dagestani
robbers suddenly stormed the monastery grounds. They ransacked the
monastery and captured Hieromonk Shio and the monks David, Gabriel and
Paul and killed them. Some of the brothers who remained tried to flee,
but they were caught and brutally slain.
The cells of the David-Gareji Monastery were soaked with blood. Then
the Dagestanis, yet unsatisfied, seized and destroyed nearly all the
monasterys property. They stole some of the clerical vestments, and
the rest they cut in pieces and tossed in a well. Then they hacked the
holy icons to pieces with their axes.
With the blessing of the catholicos and by order of the king, the
mutilated relics of the holy martyrs were buried in the courtyard
south of the grave of St. David of Gareji.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Paul of the St David Gareji Monastery, Georgia
The holy monk-martyrs Shio the New, David, Gabriel and Paul labored in
the David-Gareji Wilderness at the end of the 17th century.
St. Shio was from the village of Vedzisi in the Kartli region. His
parents, Papuna and Tamar, were wealthy and highly influential people.
They had eight children: five sons and three daughters. After their
parents died, Shios brothers quarreled so intensely over their
inheritance that the eldest brother finally killed the youngest.
Deeply disturbed by this tragedy, blessed Shio sought to withdraw from
the vanity of the worlda world in which brother can murder brother and
a son can murder his father. Shio confessed his desire to his
spiritual father, and he was advised to journey to the David-Gareji
Monastery and be tonsured a monk. In fact, the abbot, Fr. Onopre
(Machutadze), had invited Shio to the monastery several times before,
saying, Come, brother Shio, and let us finish our lives here.
With great joy Onopre received Shio, who was already revered by many
for his faith and chastity. He directed him to a cell and clothed him
as a novice.
Blessed Shios tireless labors, humility, and manifest love for his
brothers inspired many to seek his counsel. The abbot himself often
trusted Shio to administer the affairs of the monastery in his
absence.
Once Fr. Onopre departed to attend to some matters outside the
monastery, leaving Shio in charge. After Vespers and a meal, the
exhausted brothers were settling down to rest when a band of Dagestani
robbers suddenly stormed the monastery grounds. They ransacked the
monastery and captured Hieromonk Shio and the monks David, Gabriel and
Paul and killed them. Some of the brothers who remained tried to flee,
but they were caught and brutally slain.
The cells of the David-Gareji Monastery were soaked with blood. Then
the Dagestanis, yet unsatisfied, seized and destroyed nearly all the
monasterys property. They stole some of the clerical vestments, and
the rest they cut in pieces and tossed in a well. Then they hacked the
holy icons to pieces with their axes.
With the blessing of the catholicos and by order of the king, the
mutilated relics of the holy martyrs were buried in the courtyard
south of the grave of St. David of Gareji.
_________________________________________________________________