[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Sun Mar 18 04:00:36 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sun Mar 18 2007

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John 20:1-10  (7th Matins Gospel)
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb
early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken
away from the tomb.
2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple,
whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out
of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to
the tomb.
4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and
came to the tomb first.
5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying
there; yet he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he
saw the linen cloths lying there,
7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with
the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also;
and he saw and believed.
9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again
from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
Scripture Reading 1 of 5

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Hebrews 6:13-20
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by
no one greater, He swore by Himself,
14 saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will
multiply you."
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation
is for them an end of all dispute.
17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of
promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,
18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to
lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay
hold of the hope set before us.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and
steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become
High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Scripture Reading 2 of 5

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Ephesians 5:9-19   (Saint)
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and
truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by
them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for
whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And
Christ will give you light."
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the
Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be
filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Scripture Reading 3 of 5

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Mark 9:17-31
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my
son, who has a mute spirit.
18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the
mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your
disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.
19 He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I
be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."
20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the
spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming
at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?"
And he said, "From childhood.
22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water
to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and
help us.
23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to
him who believes."
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears,
"Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked
the unclean spirit, saying to it: "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command
you, come out of him and enter him no more!"
26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of
him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead."
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him
privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"
29 So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer
and fasting."
30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He
did not want anyone to know it.
31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is
being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And
after He is killed, He will rise the third day."
Scripture Reading 4 of 5

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Matthew 4:25-5:12  (Saint)
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 5 of 5

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4th Sunday of Great Lent St John Climacus (of the Ladder)
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is dedicated to St John of the Ladder
(Climacus), the author of the work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. The
abbot of St Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai (6th century) stands
as a witness to the violent effort needed for entrance into God's
Kingdom (Mt.10: 12). The spiritual struggle of the Christian life is a
real one, "not against flesh and blood, but against ... the rulers of
the present darkness ... the hosts of wickedness in heavenly places
..." (Eph 6:12). Saint John encourages the faithful in their efforts
for, according to the Lord, only "he who endures to the end will be
saved" (Mt.24:13).
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Repose of St Nicholas of Zhicha
Saint Nicholas of Zhicha, "the Serbian Chrysostom," was born in Lelich
in western Serbia on January 4, 1881 (December 23, 1880 O.S.). His
parents were Dragomir and Katherine Velimirovich, who lived on a farm
where they raised a large family. His pious mother was a major
influence on his spiritual development, teaching him by word and
especially by example. As a small child, Nicholas often walked three
miles to the Chelije Monastery with his mother to attend services
there.
Sickly as a child, Nicholas was not physically strong as an adult. He
failed his physical requirements when he applied to the military
academy, but his excellent academic qualifications allowed him to
enter the St Sava Seminary in Belgrade, even before he finished
preparatory school.
After graduating from the seminary in 1905, he earned doctoral degrees
from the University of Berne in 1908, and from King's College, Oxford
in 1909. When he returned home, he fell ill with dysentery. Vowing to
serve God for the rest of his life if he recovered, he was tonsured at
the Rakovica Monastery on December 20, 1909 and was also ordained to
the holy priesthood.
In 1910 he went to study in Russia to prepare himself for a teaching
position at the seminary in Belgrade. At the Theological Academy in St
Petersburg, the Provost asked him why he had come. He replied, "I
wanted to be a shepherd. As a child, I tended my father's sheep. Now
that I am a man, I wish to tend the rational flock of my heavenly
Father. I believe that is the way that has been shown to me." The
Provost smiled, pleased by this response, then showed the young man to
his quarters.
After completing his studies, he returned to Belgrade and taught
philosophy, logic, history, and foreign languages at the seminary. He
spoke seven languages, and this ability proved very useful to him
throughout his life.
St Nicholas was renowned for his sermons, which never lasted more than
twenty minutes, and focused on just three main points. He taught
people the theology of the Church in a language they could understand,
and inspired them to repentance.
At the start of World War I, Archimandrite Nicholas was sent to
England on a diplomatic mission to seek help in the struggle of the
Serbs against Austria. His doctorate from Oxford gained him an
invitation to speak at Westminster Abbey. He remained in England for
three short months, but St Nicholas left a lasting impression on those
who heard him. His writings "The Lord's Commandments," and
"Meditations on the Lord's Prayer" impressed many in the Church of
England.
Archimandrite Nicholas left England and went to America, where he
proved to be a good ambassador for his nation and his Church.
The future saint returned to Serbia in 1919, where he was consecrated
as Bishop of Zhicha, and was later transferred to Ochrid. The new
hierarch assisted those who were suffering from the ravages of war by
establishing orphanages and helping the poor.
Bishop Nicholas took over as leader of Bogomljcki Pokret, a popular
movement for spiritual revival which encouraged people to pray and
read the Bible. Under the bishop's direction, it also contributed to a
renewal of monasticisml. Monasteries were restored and reopened, and
this in turn revitalized the spiritual life of the Serbian people.
In 1921, Bishop Nicholas was invited to visit America again and spent
two years as a missionary bishop. He gave more than a hundred talks in
less than six months, raising funds for his orphanages. Over the next
twenty years, he lectured in various churches and universities.
When Germany invaded Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941, Bishop Nicholas, a
fearless critic of the Nazis, was arrested and confined in Ljubostir
Vojlovici Monastery. In 1944, he and Patriarch Gavrilo were sent to
the death camp at Dachau. There he witnessed many atrocities and was
tortured himself. When American troops liberated the prisoners in May
1945, the patriarch returned to Yugoslavia, but Bishop Nicholas went
to England.
The Communist leader Tito was just coming to power in Yugoslavia,
where he persecuted the Church and crushed those who opposed him.
Therefore, Bishop Nicholas believed he could serve the Serbian people
more effectively by remaining abroad. He went to America in 1946,
following a hectic schedule in spite of his health problems which were
exacerbated by his time in Dachau. He taught for three years at St
Sava's Seminary in Libertyville, IL before he settled at St Tikhon's
Monastery in South Canaan, PA in 1951.
He taught at St Tikhon's and also served as the seminary's Dean and
Rector. He was also a guest lecturer at St Vladimir's Seminary in NY,
and at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.
On Saturday March 17, 1956 Bishop Nicholas served his last Liturgy.
After the service he went to the trapeza and gave a short talk. As he
was leaving, he bowed low and said, "Forgive me, brothers." This was
something unusual which he had not done before.
On March 18, 1956 St Nicholas fell asleep in the Lord Whom he had
served throughout his life. He was found in his room kneeling in an
attitude of prayer. Though he was buried at St Sava's Monastery in
Libertyville, IL, he had always expressed a desire to be buried in his
homeland. In April of 1991 his relics were transferred to the Chetinje
Monastery in Lelich. There he was buried next to his friend and
disciple Fr Justin Popovich (+ 1979).
English readers are familiar with St Nicholas's PROLOGUE FROM OCHRID,
THE LIFE OF ST SAVA, A TREASURY OF SERBIAN SPIRITUALITY, and other
writings which are of great benefit for the whole Church. He thought
of his writings as silent sermons addressed to people who would never
hear him preach. In his life and writings, the grace of the Holy
Spirit shone forth for all to see, but in his humility he considered
himself the least of men.
Though he was a native of Serbia, St Nicholas has a universal
significance for Orthodox Christians in all countries. He was like a
candle set upon a candlestick giving light to all (MT 5:15). A
spiritual guide and teacher with a magnetic personality, he attracted
many people to himself. He also loved them, seeing the image of God in
each person he met. He had a special love for children, who hastened
to receive his blessing whenever they saw him in the street.
He was a man of compunctionate prayer, and possessesed the gift of
tears which purify the soul (St John Climacus, LADDER, Step 7). He was
a true pastor to his flock protecting them from spiritual wolves, and
guiding them on the path to salvation. He has left behind many
soul-profiting writings which proclaim the truth of Christ to modern
man. In them he exhorts people to love God, and to live a life of
virtue and holiness. May we also be found worthy of the Kingdom of
Heaven through the prayers of St Nicholas, and by the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever. Amen.
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Martyr Trophimus of Nicomedia
The Holy Martyrs Trophimus and Eucarpion were soldiers at Nicomedia
during the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian
(284-305). They distinguished themselves by their great ferocity in
carrying out all of the emperor's decrees.
Once, when these soldiers had caught up with some Christians, they
suddenly saw a large fiery cloud which had come down from the sky,
thickening in form as it drew close to them. From out of the cloud
came forth a Voice: "Why are you so zealous in threatening My
servants? Don't be deluded! No one can suppress those believing in Me
through their own strength. It is better to join them and discover the
Heavenly Kingdom yourselves."
The soldiers fell to the ground in fright, not daring to lift up their
eyes, and only said to one another, "Truly this is the great God, Who
has manifested Himself to us. We would do well to become His
servants." The Lord then spoke saying, "Rise up, repent, for your sins
are forgiven." As they got up, they beheld within the cloud the image
of a Radiant Man and a great multitude standing about Him.
The astonished soldiers cried out with one voice, "Receive us, for our
sins are inexpressibly wicked. There is no other God but You, the
Creator and true God, and we are not yet numbered among Your
servants." But just as they spoke this, the cloud receded and rose up
into the sky.
Spiritually reborn after this miracle, the soldiers released all the
jailed Christians from the prisons. For this Sts Trophimus and
Eucarpion were handed over to terrible torments: they suspended the
saints and tore their bodies with iron hooks. They gave thanks unto
God, certain that the Lord would forgive them their former sins. When
a fire had been lit, the holy martyrs went willingly into the fire and
there gave up their souls to God.
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Martyr Eucarpion of Nicomedia
The Holy Martyrs Eucarpion and Trophimus were soldiers at Nicomedia
during the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian
(284-305). They distinguished themselves by their great ferocity in
carrying out all of the emperor's decrees.
Once, when these soldiers had caught up with some Christians, they
suddenly saw a large fiery cloud which had come down from the sky,
thickening in form as it drew close to them. From out of the cloud
came forth a Voice: "Why are you so zealous in threatening My
servants? Don't be deluded! No one can suppress those believing in Me
through their own strength. It is better to join them and discover the
Heavenly Kingdom yourselves."
The soldiers fell to the ground in fright, not daring to lift up their
eyes, and only said to one another, "Truly this is the great God, Who
has manifested Himself to us. We would do well to become His
servants." The Lord then spoke saying, "Rise up, repent, for your sins
are forgiven." As they got up, they beheld within the cloud the image
of a Radiant Man and a great multitude standing about Him.
The astonished soldiers cried out with one voice, "Receive us, for our
sins are inexpressibly wicked. There is no other God but You, the
Creator and true God, and we are not yet numbered among Your
servants." But just as they spoke this, the cloud receded and rose up
into the sky.
Spiritually reborn after this miracle, the soldiers released all the
jailed Christians from the prisons. For this Sts Trophimus and
Eucarpion were handed over to terrible torments: they suspended the
saints and tore their bodies with iron hooks. They gave thanks unto
God, certain that the Lord would forgive them their former sins. When
a fire had been lit, the holy martyrs went willingly into the fire and
there gave up their souls to God.
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Venerable Aninas of the Euphrates
Saint Aninas was born at Chalcedon into a Christian family. After the
death of his parents, he withdrew at age fifteen into a monastery,
where he received monastic tonsure. In search of complete solitude, he
went off into the heart of the desert where the River Euphrates
separates Syria from Persia. There he came upon an Elder named Maium
and settled there with him. Both ascetics led a very strict life.
During the forty days of the Great Fast they ate nothing, taking
delight and joy instead in spiritual nourishment.
Every day St Aninas carried drinking water from afar. Once, he
returned with full water pitchers earlier than usual, since an angel
had filled the vessels with water. The Elder Maium realized that his
disciple had attained to high level of spiritual accomplishment, and
he in turn asled St Aninas to become his guide, but he refused out of
humility. Later, the Elder went to a monastery, and St Aninas remained
alone in the wilderness.
By constant struggles the saint conquered the passions within himself,
and he was granted gifts of healing and clairvoyance. Even the wild
beasts became docile and served him. Wherever the saint went, two
lions followed after him, one of which he had healed of a wound on its
paw.
Accounts of the saint spread throughout all the surrounding area, and
the sick and those afflicted by evil spirits began to come to him,
seeking healing. Several disciples also gathered around the saint.
Once, in his seventeenth year as an ascetic, several men had come to
the saint and asked for something to quench their thirst. Relying on
the power of God, the saint sent one of his disciples to a dried-up
well. The well miraculously filled up to its very top, and this water
remained for many days. When the water ended, the saint did not dare
to ask for a miracle for himself, and so he began to carry water from
the Euphrates at night.
Bishop Patrick of Neocaesarea repeatedly visited the monk and ordained
him presbyter, although the humble ascetic was resolved not to accept
the priestly office. When he learned that the saint himself carried
water from a distance, Bishop Patrick twice gave him donkeys, but each
time St Aninas gave them away to the poor and continued to carry the
water himself. Then the bishop ordered that a large well be dug, which
they filled from time to time, bringing donkeys from the city.
St Aninas discerned the desire of a certain stylite monk, who
struggled far from him, to come down off his pillar and make a
complaint in court against a robber who had hurt him with a stone. St
Aninas wrote a letter to the stylite, advising him not to carry out
his intent. The letter was brought to the stylite by a trusty lion,
and it brought him to his senses.
A certain pious woman, who had fallen ill, went to St Aninas to ask
for his prayers. Along the way a robber chanced upon her. Since the
woman had no money, he decided to assault her and force her into sin.
The woman called on the saint's help and cried out, "St Aninas, help
me!" Terror suddenly overcame the robber, and he let go of the woman.
The woman went to St Aninas and told him everything, and she also
received healing. The robber also came to the monk in repentance, was
baptized, and then tonsured as a monk. A spear which he had thrust
into the ground when he attacked the woman, grew into a mighty oak.
At the age of 110 the saint predicted the time of his death, and he
directed his successor as igumen to assemble the brethren.
Before his death, St Aninas conversed with the holy Prophets Moses,
Aaron and Or [or Hur: Ex. 24:14]. He fell asleep in the Lord saying, "
O Lord, receive my soul."
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St Cyril the Archbishop of Jerusalem
Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem, was born in Jerusalem in the
year 315 and was raised in strict Christian piety. Upon reaching the
age of maturity, he became a monk, and in the year 346 he became a
presbyter. In the year 350, upon the death of Archbishop Maximus, he
succeeded him on the episcopal throne of Jerusalem.
As Patriarch of Jerusalem, St Cyril zealously fought against the
heresies of Arius and Macedonius. In so doing, he aroused the
animosity of the Arian bishops, who sought to have him deposed and
banished from Jerusalem.
There was a miraculous portent in 351 at Jerusalem: at the third hour
of the day on the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Cross appeared in the
heavens, shining with a radiant light. It stretched from Golgotha
above the Mount of Olives. St Cyril reported this portent to the Arian
emperor Constantius (351-363), hoping to convert him to Orthodoxy.
The heretic Acacius, deposed by the Council of Sardica, was formerly
the Metropolitan of Caesarea, and he collaborated with the emperor to
have St Cyril removed. An intense famine struck Jerusalem, and St
Cyril expended all his wealth in charity. But since the famine did not
abate, the saint pawned church utensils, and used the money to buy
wheat for the starving. The saint's enemies spread a scandalous rumor
that they had seen a woman in the city dancing around in clerical
garb. Taking advantage of this rumor, the heretics forcibly expelled
the saint.
The saint found shelter with Bishop Silvanus in Tarsus. After this, a
local Council at Seleucia, at which there were about 150 bishops, and
among them St Cyril. The heretical Metropolitan Acacius did not want
to allow him to take a seat, but the Council would not consent to
this. Acacius stormed out of the Council, and before the emperor and
the Arian patriarch Eudoxius, he denounced both the Council and St
Cyril. The emperor had the saint imprisoned.
When the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363) ascended the throne he
repealed all the anti-Orthodox decrees of Constantius, seemingly out
of piety. St Cyril returned to his own flock. But after a certain
while, when Julian had become secure upon the throne, he openly
apostasized and renounced Christ. He permitted the Jews to start
rebuilding the Temple of Jerusalem that had been destroyed by the
Romans, and he even provided them part of the funds for the building
from the state treasury.
St Cyril predicted that the words of the Savior about the destruction
of the Temple down to its very stones (Luke. 21:6) would undoubtedly
transpire, and the blasphemous intent of Julian would come to naught.
Soon there was such a powerful earthquake, that even the solidly set
foundation of the ancient Temple ofSolomon shifted in its place, and
what had been rebuilt fell down and shattered into dust. When the Jews
resumed construction, a fire came down from the heavens and destroyed
the tools of the workmen. Great terror seized everyone. On the
following night, the Sign of the Cross appeared on the clothing of the
Jews, which they could not remove by any means.
After this heavenly confirmation of St Cyril's prediction, they
banished him again, and the bishop's throne was occupied by St
Cyriacus. But St Cyriacus soon suffered a martyr's death (October 28).
After the emperor Julian perished in 363, St Cyril returned to his
See, but during the reign of the emperor Valens (364-378) he was
exiled for a third time. It was only under the holy emperor St
Theodosius the Great (379-395) that he finally returned to his
archpastoral activity. In 381 St Cyril participated in the Second
Ecumenical Council, which condemned the heresy of Macedonius and
affirmed the Nicea-Constantinople Symbol of Faith (Creed).
St Cyril's works include twenty-three Instructions (Eighteen are
Catechetical, intended for those preparing for Baptism, and five are
for the newly-baptized) and two discourses on Gospel themes: "On the
Paralytic," and "Concerning the Transformation of Water into Wine at
Cana."
At the heart of the Catechetical Instructions is a detailed
explanation of the Symbol of Faith. The saint suggests that a
Christian should inscribe the Symbol of Faith upon "the tablets of the
heart."
"The articles of the Faith," St Cyril teaches, "were not written
through human cleverness, but they contain everything that is most
important in all the Scriptures, in a single teaching of faith. Just
as the mustard seed contains all its plethora of branches within its
small kernel, so also does the Faith in its several declarations
combine all the pious teachings of the Old and the New Testaments."
St Cyril, a great ascetic and a champion of Orthodoxy, died in the
year 386.
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St. Cyril of Astrakhan
No information available at this time.
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