[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Sat Mar 3 05:00:35 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat Mar 3 2007

----------------------------------------------------
------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------

Hebrews 3:12-16
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief in departing from the living God;
13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any
of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of
our confidence steadfast to the end,
15 while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden
your hearts as in the rebellion."
16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came
out of Egypt, led by Moses?
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

-----------------------------

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17  (Departed)
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those
who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will
bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are
alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede
those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead
in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall
always be with the Lord.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

-----------------------------

Mark 1:35-44
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He
went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.
37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for
You."
38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may
preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."
39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee,
and casting out demons.
40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and
saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."
41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and
touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."
42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he
was cleansed.
43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once,
44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your
way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those
things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

-----------------------------

John 5:24-30  (Departed)
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in
Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into
judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when
the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear
will live.
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to
have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is
the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are
in the graves will hear His voice
29 and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of
life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of
condemnation.
30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is
righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the
Father who sent Me.
Scripture Reading 4 of 4

----------------------------------------------------
------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

2nd Saturday of Great Lent Memorial Saturday
Saturday is the day which the Church has set aside for the
commemoration of faithful Orthodox Christians departed this life in
the hope of resurrection to eternal life. Since the Divine Liturgy
cannot be served on weekdays during Great Lent, the second, third, and
fourth Saturdays of the Fast are appointed as Soul Saturdays when the
departed are remembered at Liturgy.
In addition to the Liturgy, kollyva (wheat or rice cooked with honey
and mixed with raisins, figs, nuts, sesame, etc.) is blessed in church
on these Saturdays. The kollyva reminds us of the Lord's words,
"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains
alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24).The kollyva
symbolizes the future resurrection of all the dead. As St Simeon of
Thessalonica (September 15) says, man is also a seed which is planted
in the ground after death, and will be raised up again by God's power.
St Paul also speaks of this (I Cor. 15:35-49).
It is customary to give alms in memory of the dead in addition to the
prayers we offer for their souls. The angel who spoke to Cornelius
testifies to the efficacy of almsgiving, "Your prayers and your alms
have ascended as a memorial before God" (Acts 10:4).
Memorial services for the dead may be traced back to ancient times.
Chapter 8 of the Apostolic Constitutions recommends memorial services
with Psalms for the dead. It also contains a beautiful prayer for the
departed, asking that their voluntary and involuntary sins be
pardoned, that they be given rest with the Patriarchs, Prophets, and
Apostles in a place where sorrow, suffering, and sighing have fled
away (Isaiah 35:10). St John Chrysostom mentions the service for the
dead in one of his homilies on Philippians, and says that it was
established by the Apostles. St Cyprian of Carthage (Letter 37) also
speaks of our duty to remember the martyrs.
The holy Fathers also testify to the benefit of offering prayers,
memorial services, Liturgies, and alms for the dead (St John
Chrysostom, St Cyril of Jerusalem, St John of Damascus, etc.).
Although both the righteous and those who have not repented and
corrected themselves may receive benefit and consolation from the
Church's prayer, it has not been revealed to what extent the
unrighteous can receive this solace. It is not possible, however, for
the Church's prayer to transfer a soul from a state of evil and
condemnation to a state of holiness and blessedness. St Basil the
Great points out that the time for repentance and forgiveness of sins
is during the present life, while the future life is a time for
righteous judgment and retribution (Moralia 1). St John Chrysostom, St
Gregory the Theologian, and other patristic writers concur with St
Basil's statement.
By praying for others, we bring benefit to them, and also to
ourselves, because "God is not so unjust as to forget your work and
the love which you showed for His sake in serving the saints" (Heb.
6:10).
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Eutropius of Amasea
The Holy Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus suffered in the
city of Pontine Amasea (Asia Minor) in about the year 308.
The brothers Eutropius and Cleonicus, and Basiliscus the nephew of the
Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (February 17), were comrades. After
the martyric death of St Theodore, they wound up in prison and by
their preaching brought many of the pagans in prison with them to the
Christian Faith.
When he tortured St Theodore, Publius perished shamefully, struck down
by divine wrath. Asclepiodotus was chosen as ruler of Amasea, and was
more inhumane than his predecessor. Knowing the comrades of St
Theodore the Recruit were all in prison, the governor commanded that
they be brought to him. Sts Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus thus
firmly confessed their faith in Christ before this new governor. They
were mercilessly beaten, so that their bodies were entirely bruised.
As he was being tortured St Eutropius prayed loudly to the Savior,
"Grant us, O Lord, to endure these wounds for the sake of the crown of
martyrdom, and help us, as You helped Your servant Theodore." In
answer to the saint's prayer, the Lord Himself appeared to the martyrs
with His angels and the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit, saying
to them: "Behold, the Savior has come to help you, that you may know
life eternal."
Soldiers and many of the people standing nearby were also granted to
behold the Savior. They urged Asclepiodotus to halt the tortures.
Seeing that the people were distraught and ready to believe in the
true God, the governor commanded the martyrs to be taken away. The
governor then invited St Eutropius to supper and urged him to offer
public sacrifice to the pagan gods, yet remain a Christian in soul.
Eutropius refused this offer.
On the following day they brought the martyrs to a pagan temple, to
force them to offer sacrifice. Eutropius entreated the Savior: "Lord,
be with us, and destroy the raging of the pagans. Grant that on this
place the Bloodless Sacrifice of the Christians be offered to You, the
true God." No sooner had these last words been spoken, than an
earthquake began. The walls of the temple collapsed, and the statue of
the goddess Artemis was smashed to bits. Everyone fled from the temple
avoid being crushed among the rubble. In the noise of the earthquake a
voice was heard from on high: "Your prayer has been heard, and on this
place a house of Christian prayer shall be built."
When the earthquake ended, the governor Asclepiodotus, barely
recovered from his fright, gave orders to drive high wooden stakes
into the ground, tie the martyrs to them and pour boiling tar over
them. The saints began to pray to God, and Eutropius cried out turning
to the torturers: "May the Lord turn your deed against you!"
The tar began to flow beside the bodies of the martyrs, like water
with marble, scorching the torturers. Those seeing this fled in
terror, but the governor in his bitterness gave orders to rake their
bodies with iron hooks and to sting their wounds with mustard mixed
with salt and vinegar. The saints endured these torments with
remarkable firmness.
The night before their execution the saints spent their time at
prayer, and again the Lord appeared to them and strengthened them.
On the morning of March 3, Sts Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified,
but Basiliscus was left in prison.
St Basiliscus was executed on May 22 in the city of Komana. They
beheaded him, and threw his body into a river, but Christians found
his relics and buried them in a ploughed field. Later at Komana a
church was built and dedicated to St Basiliscus.
An account of the life of the holy martyr is found under May 22.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Cleonicus of Amasea
The Holy Martyrs Cleonicus, Eutropius and Basiliscus suffered in the
city of Pontine Amasea (Asia Minor) in about the year 308.
The brothers Eutropius and Cleonicus, and Basiliscus the nephew of the
Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (February 17), were comrades. After
the martyric death of St Theodore, they wound up in prison and by
their preaching brought many of the pagans in prison with them to the
Christian Faith.
When he tortured St Theodore, Publius perished shamefully, struck down
by divine wrath. Asclepiodotus was chosen as ruler of Amasea, and was
more inhumane than his predecessor. Knowing the comrades of St
Theodore the Recruit were all in prison, the governor commanded that
they be brought to him. Sts Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus thus
firmly confessed their faith in Christ before this new governor. They
were mercilessly beaten, so that their bodies were entirely bruised.
As he was being tortured St Eutropius prayed loudly to the Savior,
"Grant us, O Lord, to endure these wounds for the sake of the crown of
martyrdom, and help us, as You helped Your servant Theodore." In
answer to the saint's prayer, the Lord Himself appeared to the martyrs
with His angels and the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit, saying
to them: "Behold, the Savior has come to help you, that you may know
life eternal."
Soldiers and many of the people standing nearby were also granted to
behold the Savior. They urged Asclepiodotus to halt the tortures.
Seeing that the people were distraught and ready to believe in the
true God, the governor commanded the martyrs to be taken away. The
governor then invited St Eutropius to supper and urged him to offer
public sacrifice to the pagan gods, yet remain a Christian in soul.
Eutropius refused this offer.
On the following day they brought the martyrs to a pagan temple, to
force them to offer sacrifice. Eutropius entreated the Savior: "Lord,
be with us, and destroy the raging of the pagans. Grant that on this
place the Bloodless Sacrifice of the Christians be offered to You, the
true God." No sooner had these last words been spoken, than an
earthquake began. The walls of the temple collapsed, and the statue of
the goddess Artemis was smashed to bits. Everyone fled from the temple
avoid being crushed among the rubble. In the noise of the earthquake a
voice was heard from on high: "Your prayer has been heard, and on this
place a house of Christian prayer shall be built."
When the earthquake ended, the governor Asclepiodotus, barely
recovered from his fright, gave orders to drive high wooden stakes
into the ground, tie the martyrs to them and pour boiling tar over
them. The saints began to pray to God, and Eutropius cried out turning
to the torturers: "May the Lord turn your deed against you!"
The tar began to flow beside the bodies of the martyrs, like water
with marble, scorching the torturers. Those seeing this fled in
terror, but the governor in his bitterness gave orders to rake their
bodies with iron hooks and to sting their wounds with mustard mixed
with salt and vinegar. The saints endured these torments with
remarkable firmness.
The night before their execution the saints spent their time at
prayer, and again the Lord appeared to them and strengthened them.
On the morning of March 3, Sts Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified,
but Basiliscus was left in prison.
St Basiliscus was executed on May 22 in the city of Komana. They
beheaded him, and threw his body into a river, but Christians found
his relics and buried them in a ploughed field. Later at Komana a
church was built and dedicated to St Basiliscus.
An account of the life of the holy martyr is found under May 22.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Basiliscus of Amasea
The Holy Martyrs Basiliscus, Eutropius and Cleonicus suffered in the
city of Pontine Amasea (Asia Minor) in about the year 308.
The brothers Eutropius and Cleonicus, and Basiliscus the nephew of the
Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (February 17), were comrades. After
the martyric death of St Theodore, they wound up in prison and by
their preaching brought many of the pagans in prison with them to the
Christian Faith.
When he tortured St Theodore, Publius perished shamefully, struck down
by divine wrath. Asclepiodotus was chosen as ruler of Amasea, and was
more inhumane than his predecessor. Knowing the comrades of St
Theodore the Recruit were all in prison, the governor commanded that
they be brought to him. Sts Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus thus
firmly confessed their faith in Christ before this new governor. They
were mercilessly beaten, so that their bodies were entirely bruised.
At the time of torture St Eutropius prayed loudly to the Savior:
"Grant us, O Lord, to endure these wounds for the sake of the crown of
martyrdom, and help us, as You helped Your servant Theodore." In
answer to the saint's prayer, the Lord Himself appeared to the martyrs
with His angels and the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit, saying
to them: "Behold, the Savior has come to help you, that you may know
life eternal."
Soldiers and many of the people standing nearby were also granted to
behold the Savior. They began to urge Asclepiodotus to halt the
tortures. Seeing that the people were distraught and ready to believe
in the true God, the governor commanded the martyrs to be taken away.
The governor then invited St Eutropius to supper and urged him to
offer public sacrifice to the pagan gods, yet remain a Christian in
soul. Eutropius refused this offer.
On the following day they brought the martyrs to a pagan temple, to
force them to offer sacrifice. Eutropius began to entreat the Savior:
"Lord, be with us, and destroy the raging of the pagans. Grant that on
this place the Bloodless Sacrifice of the Christians be offered to
You, the true God." These last words of prayer had no sooner been
spoken, than an earthquake began, the walls of the temple collapsed,
and the statue of the goddess Artemis was smashed to bits. Everyone
fled from the temple so as not to be crushed among the rubble. In the
noise of the earthquake a voice was heard from on high: "Your prayer
has been heard, and on this place a house of Christian prayer shall be
built."
When the earthquake ended, the governor Asclepiodotus, barely
recovered from his fright, gave orders to drive high wooden stakes
into the ground, tie the martyrs to them and pour boiling tar over
them. The saints began to pray to God, and Eutropius cried out turning
to the torturers: "May the Lord turn your deed against you!"
The tar began to flow beside the bodies of the martyrs, like water
with marble, scorching the torturers. Those seeing this fled in
terror, but the governor in his bitterness gave orders to rake their
bodies with iron hooks and to sting their wounds with mustard mixed
with salt and vinegar. The saints endured these torments with
remarkable firmness.
The night before their execution the saints spent their time at
prayer, and again the Lord appeared to them and strengthened them.
On the morning of March 3, Sts Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified,
but Basiliscus was left in prison.
St Basiliscus was executed on May 22 in the city of Komana. They
beheaded him, and threw his body into a river, but Christians found
his relics and buried them in a ploughed field. Later at Komana a
church was built and dedicated to St Basiliscus.
An account of the life of the holy martyr is located under May 22.
_________________________________________________________________
Virginmartyr Piama
The Virgin Piama lived in asceticism not far from Alexandria. The
saint lived in the home of her mother, as in a hermitage. She partook
of food at the end of the day, and after prayer she spun flax.
St Piama was granted the gift of discernment. The people of a more
populous village, blinded with greed, planned to destroy the small
village of the holy maiden in order to divert water to their own
fields when the Nile overflowed its banks. St Piama saw their wicked
intent and reported it to the village elders. The startled elders fell
on their knees before the saint, imploring her to go to the
neighboring people and dissuade them from their evil purpose.
The nun Piama did not go to meet them, since for a long time she
shunned contact with people. The saint spent all night at prayer, and
in the morning the people of the neighboring village armed themselves
and set off for the village of the holy maiden. Suddenly, they froze
in their tracks and were not able to proceed farther. The Lord
revealed to the impious people that the prayer of St Piama held them
back. The people came to their senses and repented of their wicked
intent. They sent messengers to the village with a request for peace
and said, "Thanks be to God, Who through the prayers of the maiden
Piama has delivered us."
The saint peacefully fell asleep in the Lord in the year 337.
_________________________________________________________________
St Zeno
No information on the life of this saint is available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
St Zoilus
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Icon of the Mother of God of Volokolamsk
The Volokolamsk Icon of the Mother of God is a copy of the Vladimir
Icon of the Moscow Dormition cathedral. The icon was brought from
Zvenigorod to the Dormition monastery of St Joseph of Volokolamsk on
March 2, 1572, during the second week of Great Lent and was solemnly
met by Igumen Leonid (1563-1566; 1568-1573) and all the monastic
brethren.
It is distinguished by its particular depiction on the margins of St
Cyprian (right) and St Gerontius (left), Metropolitans of Moscow.
The name of Metropolitan Cyprian is associated with the first arrival
of the ancient Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God from Constantinople
to Moscow in the year 1395, and under Metropolitan Gerontius in 1480
the Vladimir Icon came finally to Moscow.
In the year 1588 the Volokolamsk Icon was dedicated atop the gate in
the church at the south gates of the St Joseph of Volokolamsk
monastery in honor of the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most
Holy Theotokos (August 26).
At the end of the seventeenth century, when a church of the same name
was built in Moscow at Staraya Basmanna, the church atop the gate of
St Joseph of Volokolamsk was rededicated in honor of the holy Apostles
Peter and Paul. The Volokolamsk Icon was transferred to its proper
place on the iconostasis of the new cathedral Dormition church of the
monastery of St Joseph of Volokoamsk.
In 1578, the icon was recognized as wonderworking.
_________________________________________________________________
St John the Katholikos of Georgia
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________