[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Sun Jun 10 05:00:45 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sun Jun 10 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Isaiah 43:9-14  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be
assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things?
Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let
them hear and say, It is truth.
10 You are My witnesses, says the Lord, And My servant whom I have
chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.
12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no
foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses, Says the Lord,
that I am God.
13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can
deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?
14 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: For your
sake I will send to Babylon, And bring them all down as fugitives The
Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.
Scripture Reading 1 of 8

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Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9  (Vespers, 2nd 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 2 of 8

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Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-6:3  (Vespers, 3rd 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 3 of 8

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Mark 16:1-8  (2nd Matins Gospel)
1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of
James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came
to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from
the door of the tomb for us?"
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled
away-for it was very large.
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white
robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where
they laid Him.
7 But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you
into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.
8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled
and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were
afraid.
Scripture Reading 4 of 8

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Romans 2:10-16  (Epistle)
10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to
the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without
law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but
the doers of the law will be justified;
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.
Scripture Reading 5 of 8

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Hebrews 11:33-12:2  (Epistle, Saints)
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out
of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to
flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better
resurrection.
36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of
chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain
with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being
destitute, afflicted, tormented-
38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and
mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did
not receive the promise,
40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not
be made perfect apart from us.
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Scripture Reading 6 of 8

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Matthew 4:18-23  (Gospel)
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon
called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for
they were fishermen.
19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of
men."
20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father,
mending their nets. He called them,
22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed
Him.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness
and all kinds of disease among the people.
Scripture Reading 7 of 8

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Matthew 4:25-5:12  (Gospel, Saints)
25 Great multitudes followed Him-from Galilee, and from Decapolis,
Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was
seated His disciples came to Him.
2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they
shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all
kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in
heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Scripture Reading 8 of 8

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Synaxis of the Saints of North America
On the second Sunday after Pentecost, each local Orthodox Church
commemorates all the saints, known and unknown, who have shone forth
in its territory. Accordingly, the Orthodox Church in America
remembers the saints of North America on this day.
Saints of all times, and in every country are seen as the fulfillment
of God's promise to redeem fallen humanity. Their example encourages
us to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us"
and to "run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews
12:1). The saints of North America also teach us how we should live,
and what we must expect to endure as Christians
Although it is a relatively young church, the Orthodox Church in
America has produced saints in nearly all of the six major categories
of saints: Apostles (and Equals of the Apostles); Martyrs (and
Confessors); Prophets; Hierarchs; Monastic Saints; and the Righteous.
Prophets, of course, lived in Old Testament times and predicted the
coming of Christ.
The first Divine Liturgy in what is now American territory (northern
latitude 58 degrees, 14 minutes, western longitude 141 degrees) was
celebrated on July 20, 1741, the Feast of the Prophet Elias, aboard
the ship Peter under the command of Vitus Bering. Hieromonk Hilarion
Trusov and the priest Ignatius Kozirevsky served together on that
occasion. Several years later, the Russian merchant Gregory I.
Shelikov visited Valaam monastery, suggesting to the abbot that it
would be desirable to send missionaries to Russian America.
On September 24, 1794, after a journey of 7,327 miles (the longest
missionary journey in Orthodox history) and 293 days, a group of monks
from Valaam arrived on Kodiak Island in Alaska. The mission was headed
by Archimandrite Joasaph, and included Hieromonks Juvenal, Macarius,
and Athanasius, the Hierodeacons Nectarius and Stephen, and the monks
Herman and Joasaph. St Herman of Alaska (December 13, August 9), the
last surviving member of the mission, fell asleep in the Lord in 1837.
Throughout the Church's history, the seeds of faith have always been
watered by the blood of the martyrs. The Protomartyr Juvenal was
killed near Lake Iliamna by natives in 1799, thus becoming the first
Orthodox Christian to shed his blood for Christ in the New World. In
1816, St Peter the Aleut was put to death by Spanish missionaries in
California when he refused to convert to Roman Catholicism.
Missionary efforts continued in the nineteenth century, with outreach
to the native peoples of Alaska. Two of the most prominent laborers in
Christ's Vineyard were St Innocent Veniaminov (March 31 and October 6)
and St Jacob Netsvetov (July 26), who translated Orthodox services and
books into the native languages. Father Jacob Netsvetev died in Sitka
in 1864 after a life of devoted service to the Church. Father John
Veniaminov, after his wife's death, received monastic tonsure with the
name Innocent. He died in 1879 as the Metropolitan of Moscow.
As the nineteenth century was drawing to a close, an event of enormous
significance for the North American Church took place. On March 25,
1891, Bishop Vladimir went to Minneapolis to receive St Alexis Toth
(May 7) and 361 of his parishioners into the Orthodox Church. This was
the beginning of the return of many Uniates to Orthodoxy.
St Tikhon (Belavin), the future Patriarch of Moscow (April 7, October
9), came to America as bishop of the diocese of the Aleutians and
Alaska in September 1898. As the only Orthodox bishop on the
continent, St Tikhon traveled extensively throughout North America in
order to minister to his widely scattered and diverse flock. He
realized that the local church here could not be a permanent extension
of the Russian Church. Therefore, he focused his efforts on giving the
American Church a diocesan and parish structure which would help it
mature and grow.
St Tikhon returned to Russia in 1907, and was elected as Patriarch of
Moscow ten years later. He died in 1925, and for many years his exact
burial place remained unknown. St Tikhon's grave was discovered on
February 22, 1992 in the smaller cathedral of Our Lady of the Don in
the Don Monastery when a fire made renovation of the church necessary.
St Raphael of Brooklyn (February 27) was the first Orthodox bishop to
be consecrated in North America. Archimandrite Raphael Hawaweeny was
consecrated by Bishop Tikhon and Bishop Innocent (Pustynsky) at St
Nicholas Cathedral in New York on March 13, 1904. As Bishop of
Brooklyn, St Raphael was a trusted and capable assistant to St Tikhon
in his archpastoral ministry. St Raphael reposed on February 27, 1915.
The first All American Council took place March 5-7, 1907 at Mayfield,
PA, and the main topic was "How to expand the mission." Guidelines and
directions for missionary activity, and statutes for the
administrative structure of parishes were also set forth.
In the twentieth century, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution,
countless men, women, and children received the crown of martyrdom
rather than renounce Christ. Sts John Kochurov (October 31) and
Alexander Hotovitzky (December 4 and August 7) both served the Church
in North America before going back to Russia. St John became the first
clergyman to be martyred in Russia on October 31, 1917 in St
Petersburg. St Alexander Hotovitzky, who served in America until 1914,
was killed in 1937.
In addition to the saints listed above, we also honor those saints who
are known only to God, and have not been recognized officially by the
Church. As we contemplate the lives of these saints, let us remember
that we are also called by God to a life of holiness.
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Feast of All Saints of Georgia
Having examined the history of Georgia and the hagiographical
treasures attesting to the faith of the Georgian nation, we become
convinced that Heavenly Georgia the legion of Georgian saints,
extolling the Lord in the Heavenly Kingdom with a single voiceis
infinitely glorious. It is unknown how many cleansed themselves of
their earthly sins in merciless warfare with the enemy of Christ, or
how many purified their souls in unheated cells through prayer,
fasting, and ascetic labors.
To God alone are known the names of those ascetics, forgotten by
history, who by their humble labors tirelessly forged the future of
the Georgian Church and people.
St. George of the Holy Mountain wrote: From the time we recognized the
one true God, we have never renounced Him, nor have our people ever
yielded to heresy.
A decree of the Church Council of Ruisi-Urbnisi states: We will not
depart from thee, the Catholic Church which bore us in holiness, nor
will we betray thee, our prideOrthodoxyto which we have always been
faithful, for we have been granted the honor to know thee, the witness
of the Truth Itself! This relationship to Orthodoxy is the cornerstone
of the life of every Georgian believer.
It is impossible to count the names of all those Christians who have
been raised up from the earthly Church in Georgia to the heavens, let
alone to describe all the godly deeds they have performed. For this
reason December 11 has been set aside for the commemoration not only
of the saints whose Lives are known to us but also of the nearly three
hundred more whose names, but not stories, have been preserved as
well.
Most Georgian people bear the name of a saint who is commemorated on
this day, and they entreat the saint to intercede before the Lord in
their behalf.
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Hieromartyr Timothy the Bishop of Prusa
The Hieromartyr Timothy, Bishop of Prusa (Bithynia), received from the
Lord the gift of wonderworking because of his purity and sanctity of
life. At Prusa he converted many pagans to the faith in Christ. The
emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363), upon hearing about St Timothy
had him locked up in prison, but even there also the saint continued
to preach the Gospel. Julian forbade him to teach about Jesus Christ,
but the saint continued to spread the Christian Faith. Finally, the
emperor gave orders to behead the saint. His holy relics were
afterwards transferred to Constantinople.
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Venerable Silvanus the Schemamonk, of the Kiev Far Caves
The Holy Schemamonk Silvanus of the Kiev Caves labored in asceticism
in the Far Caves during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. One
time, by the power of his prayer, he held fast to the spot robbers,
who had come into the monastery garden, and for three days they were
not able to move. When they repented, the monk then freed them. The
memory of St Silvanus is celebrated also on August 28, and on the
second Sunday of Great Lent.
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Finding of the relics of St Basil the Bishop of Ryazan
The Uncovering and Transfer of the Holy Relics of Saint Basil, Bishop
of Ryazan (July 3), was done by Archbishop Theodoret of Ryazan
(1605-1617). It pleased Divine Providence during the Time of Troubles
to glorify St Basil. The uncovering of his relics and their transfer
into the Ryazan-Dormition (afterwards Nativity) church in the Kremlin
of Ryazan-Pereslavl took place on July 10, 1609. This had been the
cathedral church from the time of the Ryazan bishop Jonah II
(1522-1547). The relics of St Basil were placed in a reliquary at the
left kleros, beside the iconostasis. A troparion and kontakion were
then composed. From that time the name of St Basil was "commemorated
throughout all the churches of the Ryazan diocese." People had
recourse to him as to "their constant intercessor, a helper in sorrow
and peril." Under Archbishop Moses (1638-1651), a stone crypt was
built over the relics of St Basil in 1638, and over it was put the
Murom Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "the Supplication of Basil."
During this period services of thanksgiving to St Basil were served in
the Ryazan churches. The first solemn celebration of the transfer of
the relics of the saint took place on June 10, 1645 under Archbishop
Moses. Especially fervent in veneration of the Ryazan hierarch was
Archbishop Misael (1651-1655). By his command, in 1653, an inscription
was made on a large silver vessel for the blessing of water, "This cup
is from Ryazan-Pereslavl, in the cathedral church of the Dormition and
the holy Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb, and our Father among the
saints Basil, Bishop of Ryazan, Wonderworker".
In 1655 St Basil was depicted upon a silver cross together with St
John the Forerunner and St Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow. In 1712
during the time of Metropolitan Stephen Yavorsky, a stone chapel was
constructed over the original burial place of St Basil, at the
Borisoglebsk church , through the zeal of the clerk Nikita Altukhov.
In the years 1722-1723 under Tsar Peter I a formal investigation of
the saint was conducted, after which St Basil was depicted upon an
icon together with other Russian saints. Metropolitan Demetrius
(Sechenov) of Novgorod, during his time as Bishop of Ryazan
(1752-1757) compiled the service to St Basil, "having in mind first of
all the writing of the troparion, kontakion and canon".
Through his efforts a new crypt was constructed over the relics of St
Basil, containing a reliquary with an icon of the saint. In 1782 the
reliquary was elegantly adorned by the Archbishop of Ryazan and
Zaraisk, Simon (Lagova) (1778-1804). In 1810 under the Ryazan and
Zaraisk archbishop Theophylakt (Rusanov), a decree of the Holy Synod
was promulgated concerning the celebration of St Basil on the Sunday
of All Saints. On October 4, 1836 a new memorial was unveiled at the
spot of the uncovering of the relics of St Basil. It was set up
through the zeal of the churchwarden of the Borisoglebsk church,
Simeon Panov. In 1871, Archbishop Alexis (Rzhanitsky, 1867-1876)
served the Divine Liturgy at the Borisoglebsk church on the Feast day
of St Basil, July 3, for the first time.
Under Archbishop Palladius (Raev, 1876-1882) the Holy Synod in 1881
appointed the following days for commemoration of St Basil: July 3,
the day of his blessed repose, and June 10, the day of the transfer of
his holy relics. Even today, St Basil is especially venerated in the
Ryazan lands. In each temple of the Ryazan diocese there is his icon.
In the majority of the churches, moreover, is found a mural of the
saint sailing along on the water on his mantiya with the Murom Icon of
the Mother of God in hand. In the cathedral church each Wednesday
evening an Akathist is sung to him.
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St John Maximovitch the Metropolitan of Tobolsk
Saint John, Metropolitan of Tobolsk and All Siberia, the Wonderwonder,
in the world was named John Maximovitch, and he was born in the city
of Nezhino in 1651. His father Maxim Vasil'evich and mother Euphrosyne
had seven sons, of which John was the eldest. Upon his completion of
the Kiev-Mogilyansk College (afterwards the Kiev Spiritual Academy),
the future hierarch emerged from it as a teacher of the Latin
language. Thereafter, in 1680, he accepted monasticism at the Kiev
Caves monastery and became absorbed in inner spiritual activity. With
the general consent of the brethren, the young monk was given the
obedience of preaching. From this period he demonstrated an
exceptional eloquence. He attached a special significance to inner
religious knowledge. The chief theme of his life can be defined at a
stroke as, "How ought man to conform his will with the will of God?"
He developed this theme both in his preachings, and in his subsequent
missionary service. In answer to it appeared the work, published
towards the end of his long ascetic life, and entitled "Heliotropion"
or "Sunflower," or Conforming the Human Will to the Divine Will." Of
the many works of the holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church, this work
gives a very thorough answer to this great question of Christian
soteriology.
In 1658 they sent him on a mission to Moscow. There he was appointed
by Patriarch Joachim (1674-1690) as vicar of the Briansk-Svensk
monastery, which was then under the Kiev Caves Lavra.
St Theodosius, Archbishop of Chernigov, in 1695 shortly before his own
death (February 5) appointed Hieromonk John as Archimandrite of the
Chernigov Eletsk monastery, and designated him as his successor as
bishop. (St John revered the memory of St Theodosius, believing in the
power of his prayerful intercession before the Lord. Because of his
faith, he received healing from a serious illness through the prayers
of St Theodosius. At the very height of the sickness, St Theodosius
appeared to him and said, "Serve tomorrow, you will be well." On the
following day St John, completely well and to the amazement of
everyone, served the Divine Liturgy. This miracle of St John's healing
marked the beginning of the veneration of St Theodosius as a
grace-bearing saint of God.)
On January 10, 1697 Patriarch Adrian of Moscow and All Rus (1690-1700)
consecrated Archimandrite John as Bishop of Chernigov, in the
Dormition cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
Upon entering into the administration of the diocese, Bishop John
created a Collegium near the archbishop's cathedral, similar to the
Kiev Academy, which the saint intended should serve as an "Athens at
Chernigov," a school of pious enlightenment.
In view of its high level of theological education and training, St
John's school received wide renown. In essence, this was the first
seminary in Russia. Seminaries on the model of this one began opening
in other dioceses of the Russian Church.
The saint also later opened a printing press, at which he and his
successors published many works of spiritual and moral content.
The life of St John was illumined by lofty virtues, and especially
humility. It is reflected also in his works, "The Moral-Didactic
Reflector" (Chernigov, 1703 and 1707); "The Alphabet, with Rhymes
Added" (1705); "The Virgin Mother of God" (1707); "The Theatre, or
Moral-Didactic Disgrace" (1708); "Excursus on Psalm 50" (Chernigov,
1708); "Excursus on the "Our Father" and "The Eight Gospel Beatitudes"
(1709); "The Royal Way of the Cross" (Chernigov, 1709); "Thoughts on
God to the Benefit of Right-Belief" (1710 and 1711); "Synaxarion
Commemoration on the Victory of Poltava" (1710); "The Pilgrim" (in
manuscript); "Spiritual Thoughts" (Moscow, 1782).
At Chernigov in 1714 the saint also first published his chief work,
written in the Latin language. It was a peculiarity of the graduates
of the Kiev school was that they wrote their works in classical Latin.
Professor I. A. Maximovich in 1888 translated the "Heliotropion" into
the modern Russian language and published it at first in parts in the
"Chernigov Diocesan Newsletter", and later on in a separate book
(Kiev, 1896). With his name is connected also "The Latin-Greek-Russian
Lexicon."
Saint John was known to have connections with Mount Athos. He had a
special interest in the fate of Russian inhabitants on the Holy
Mountain, and sent them substantial material aid during these
difficult years. His archbishopal grammota to the Russian monastery of
St Panteleimon has been preserved, and it testifies to his concern for
those on Mount Athos.
On August 14, 1711, after his elevation to the dignity of
metropolitan, St John arrived at the see of Tobolsk and All Siberia.
The saint concerned himself constantly with the enlightening of his
diocese. There he continued with his work, started at Chernigov. He
improved the school which had been opened by his predecessor, the
renowned missionary Metropolitan Philotheus (Leschinsky, + 1727), and
he continued the apostolic preaching among the pagans of Siberia,
converting many thousands to Christ. In 1714 St John set off to Peking
to head a mission with Archimandrite Hilarion (Lezhaisky). At Tobolsk
he again undertook publishing activity, using the printing press he
set up at Chernigov. To this time belongs also the publication by
Metropolitan John of the "Heliotropion" in the Slavonic-Russian
language (1714), so that the Siberians could also understand it.
The chronicler describes the life of the saint in Siberia: "He was
quiet and unpretentious, graciously considerate, sympathetic to the
poor, and merciful." He often helped people secretly, and sometimes in
the garb of a simple monk, he would bring generous alms to the homes
of the needy saying, "Accept this in the Name of Jesus Christ." His
home at Tobolsk was always open to all those in need of help or a word
of comfort. Even on the day he died, June 10, 1715, after Divine
Liturgy St John had set up a dining-hall at his home for the clergy
and the impoverished, and he himself served at table. Later on, having
taken his leave of everyone, the saint withdrew to his chambers. When
the church bells rang for Vespers, he died at prayer on his knees. The
saint was buried in the chapel of St John Chrysostom at the Tobolsk
Dormition-Sophia cathedral.
St John has long been venerated in Siberia. In light of numerous
miracles and the longstanding local veneration of St John, in 1916 the
Church established the all-Russian celebration of the saint on June
10, the day of repose.
St John's memory is fervently kept by Siberians and by all the
believing Russian people. He at present rests in the Tobolsk cathedral
of the Protection of the Mother of God. The service to him was
republished, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexis I, by
Metropolitan Bartholomew (Gorodtsov) in 1947 at the city of
Novosibirsk.
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Martyr Alexander at Constantinople
The Holy Martyrs Alexander and Antonina the Virgin. St Antonina was
from the city of Krodamos (Asia Minor). She was arrested for being a
Christian, and was brought before the governor Festus. He urged her to
worship the pagan gods, promising to make her a priestess of the
goddess Artemis. But the saint bravely confessed Christ, and she urged
the governor to renounce the worship of demons in the form of idols.
Festus gave orders to strike the saint on the face and lock her up in
prison.
The martyr spent all her time at prayer, she ate and drank nothing,
but then she heard the voice of God, "Antonina, fortify yourself with
food and be brave, for I am with you." When they led her before the
governor again, the martyr continued to stand up for the Christian
Faith and to denounce the pagans.
The governor decided to give the holy virgin over for defilement by
soldiers, but the Lord inspired one of them, St Alexander, to save the
holy virgin. He sought permission to go in to her on the pretext that
he might be able to convince her to obey the governor's will. St
Alexander then suggested that she put on his military attire and flee.
St Antonina was afraid, but the Lord ordered her to agree.
No one recognized her dressed as a soldier, and she walked out of
prison. The soldiers sent by Festus found St Alexander alone in the
cell. He would not respond to the questions of the governor, and so he
was tortured and mercilessly beaten. Through the inspiration of the
Lord Jesus Christ, St Antonina also came to stand before Festus.
Soldiers cut off their hands, then they smeared them with pitch and
threw them into a pit where a fire was burning. When the fire went
out, they threw snakes into the pit, so that Christians would not be
able to gather up the bones of the martyrs. Returning home, Festus
became numb, and was able neither to eat nor to drink. He died after
seven days of terrible torment.
Sts Alexander and Antonina were martyred on May 3, 313. In the
Prologue their memory is listed under June 10. The relics of the
saints were transferred to Constantinople and placed in the Maximov
monastery.
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Virginmartyr Antonina at Constantinople
The Holy Martyrs Antonina the Virgin and Alexander. St Antonina was
from the city of Krodamos (Asia Minor). She was arrested for being a
Christian, and was brought before the governor Festus. He urged her to
worship the pagan gods, promising to make her a priestess of the
goddess Artemis. But the saint bravely confessed Christ, and she urged
the governor to renounce the worship of demons in the form of idols.
Festus gave orders to strike the saint on the face and lock her up in
prison.
The martyr spent all her time at prayer, she ate and drank nothing,
but then she heard the voice of God, "Antonina, fortify yourself with
food and be brave, for I am with you." When they led her before the
governor again, the martyr continued to stand up for the Christian
Faith and to denounce the pagans.
The governor decided to give the holy virgin over for defilement by
soldiers, but the Lord inspired one of them, St Alexander, to save the
holy virgin. He sought permission to go in to her on the pretext that
he might be able to convince her to obey the governor's will. St
Alexander then suggested that she put on his military attire and flee.
St Antonina was afraid, but the Lord ordered her to agree.
No one recognized her dressed as a soldier, and she walked out of
prison. The soldiers sent by Festus found St Alexander alone in the
cell. He would not respond to the questions of the governor, and so he
was tortured and mercilessly beaten. Through the inspiration of the
Lord Jesus Christ, St Antonina also came to stand before Festus.
Soldiers cut off their hands, then they smeared them with pitch and
threw them into a pit where a fire was burning. When the fire went
out, they threw snakes into the pit, so that Christians would not be
able to gather up the bones of the martyrs. Returning home, Festus
became numb, and was able neither to eat nor to drink. He died after
seven days of terrible torment.
Sts Alexander and Antonina were martyred on May 3, 313. In the
Prologue their memory is listed under June 10. The relics of the
saints were transferred to Constantinople and placed in the Maximov
monastery.
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Venerable Theophanes of Antioch
Saint Theophanes of Antioch was the son of pagans. At a youthful age
he entered into marriage, but after three years his wife died. St
Theophanes then came to believe in Christ and accepted Baptism. He
gave up everything and began to live beyond the city in a manner of
self-denial. He zealously taught the keeping of the commandments of
God to everyone who came to him. He exhorted people to lead a pure and
chaste life, and he condemned the debauchery of the people of Antioch.
When St Theophanes learned about a certain profligate woman, Pansemne,
who was caught up in the snares of the devil, he wanted to save her.
Knowing how difficult it would be to fulfill such an intention, and
conscious of his own infirmity, St Theophanes prayed and he besought
the Lord to help him save the sinful woman.
Finally, the saint dressed up in fine clothing, took along much gold
and then went to Pansemne. The monk gave her the gold and he asked her
to forsake the dissolute life to marry him. Pansemne happily consented
and gave him her word to become his wife. The sole condition which St
Theophanes set for Pansemne was that she should accept Baptism.
Because of the attractive marriage offer, Pansemne consented. In
preparing her to accept Baptism, St Theophanes instructed her in the
Christian Faith. He explained that the truth of God does not tolerate
sin and corruption, but that the love of God is gracious to those that
repent.
Having accepted Baptism, St Pansemne by the grace of God was
completely reborn as a person. She distributed all the riches that she
had acquired through profligacy, and she settled into a hut beside the
cell of the monk and began to live the life of an ascetic. After 22
months she died on the very same day as the monk (+ 369).
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St Bassian the Bishop of Lodi in Lombardy
Saint Bassian, Bishop of Lodi, was a friend of St Ambrose, Bishop of
Milan (December 7). St Bassian's father governed the Syracuse region
(in Sicily) and he prepared his son to follow in his footsteps. He
sent him to Rome to receive his education. While still in his
childhood St Bassian had heard about the Christians and he wanted to
learn more about them and become familiar with the Christian Faith.
Gordian the priest taught him the essentials of the Christian Faith,
and the youth was filled with the desire to accept Baptism. At the
time of the performing of the Mystery St Bassian beheld an angel in
the Baptismal font, holding the garment in which the newly-baptized
would be clothed. The saint made bold to ask who he was and where he
was from. The angel replied that he was sent from afar to help him
fulfill his holy intent to know Christ. Then he became invisible.
St Bassian began to lead a strict life, eating little food, and
spending his nights at prayer. His servants were astonished at such
temperance, and they surmised that he had accepted Christianity. They
reported about this to St Bassian's father, who ordered him to return
to Syracuse. Praying in the church of St John the Theologian, the
saint received from the Apostle the command to leave Rome. And so St
Bassian distributed all his substance to the poor and together with
his faithful Christian servant, he set off to Ravenna to his kinsman,
Bishop Ursus.
Bishop Ursus set him up at a solitary place outside the city near the
church in honor of the Hieromartyr Apollinarius. St Bassian quickly
advanced spiritually, and soon he was glorified by miracles. During
this time a judge had been falsely accused and was sentenced to death
by decapitation. Along the way to he prayerfully called out for help
to St Bassian. When the executioner was already holding the sword over
his head, the sword suddenly was knocked from his hands and flew off
to the side. This occurred three times. The same thing happened with
another executioner. When they reported this to the Emperor, the
Emperor set the judge free. He then told how he had been saved through
the intercession of St Bassian.
The people of the city, believing that the prayer of St Bassian was
powerful before God, asked Bishop Ursus to ordain him to the
priesthood. Upon the death of the bishop of the city of Lodium (Lodi
in Liguria, Northern Italy), the priest Clement of the cathedral
church had a revelation that St Bassian would be chosen Bishop of
Lodium. Both St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, and Bishop Ursus officiated
at at his consecration.
St Bassian taught the people not only by word, but also by deed,
providing his flock example of a virtuous life. At Lodi he built a
beautiful church dedicated to the holy Apostles. St Bassian often
exchanged letters with St Ambrose, and he was present at his blessed
repose, and buried his body.
St Bassian died peacefully in the year 430, having served as
archbishop for 35 years.
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Synaxis of the Saints of Ryzan
No information on the life of this saint is available at this time.
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Synaxis of the Saints of Siberia
No information available at this time.
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St Pansemnas, the former harlot of Antioch
No information available at this time.
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