[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri May 11 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Composite 2  Genesis 17:1-2, 4, 5-7, 8, 9-10, 11-12, 14 (Vespers, 1st
Reading, Saints)
The memory of the righteous is with praise and the blessing of the
Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who has found wisdom and the
mortal who has understanding. For it is better to purchase her than
treasuries of gold and silver. She is more precious than precious
stones and all that is precious is unworthy of her. For length of days
and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are
riches and glory. Out of her mouth proceeds righteousness and she
bears law and mercy upon her tongue.
Hear me, O child, for I will speak noble things. Blessed is the man
who keeps my ways, for my ways are the way of life, and in them is
prepared favor from the Lord. Therefore, I pray you, and utter my
voice to the sons of men: For I, wisdom, have dwelt with counsel and
knowledge and I have called upon understanding. Counsel and safety are
mine, understanding and strength are mine. I love those who love me
and those seeking me shall find grace.
Understand craftiness, O you who are simple, and imbibe knowledge, you
who are untaught. Hear me again, for I will speak noble things: I will
open _my mouth_ and from my lips _shall_ come what is right. For my
throat shall meditate truth; false lips are an abomination before me.
All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them that
is twisted or perverse. They are all straight to him who understands
and right to those who find knowledge.
I shall instruct you in truth, so that your hope will be in the Lord
and you shall be filled with the Spirit.
Scripture Reading 1 of 8


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Proverbs 10:31-11:12  (Vespers, 2nd Reading, Saints)
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse
tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of
the wicked what is perverse.
1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight
is His delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of
the unfaithful will destroy them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers
from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But
the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the
unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of
the unjust perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked
instead.
9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through
knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when
the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is
overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of
understanding holds his peace.
Scripture Reading 2 of 8


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Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15  (Vespers, 3rd Reading, Saints)
7 But the righteous man, though he die early, will be at rest.
8 For old age is not honored for length of time, nor measured by
number of years;
9 but understanding is gray hair for men, and a blameless life is ripe
old age.
10 There was one who pleased God and was loved by him,
11 He was caught up lest evil change his understanding or guile
deceive his soul.
12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and roving
desire perverts the innocent mind.
13 Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years;
14 for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took him
quickly from the midst of wickedness.
15 Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, nor take such a thing
to heart, that God's grace and mercy are his elect, and he watches
over his holy ones.
Scripture Reading 3 of 8


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John 10:1-9  (Matins Gospel)
1 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by
the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a
robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he
calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the
sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him,
for they do not know the voice of strangers.
6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things
which He spoke to them.
7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am
the door of the sheep.
8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep
did not hear them.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go
in and out and find pasture.
Scripture Reading 4 of 8


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Acts 15:5-34
5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying,
"It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the
law of Moses."
6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to
them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose
among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the
gospel and believe.
8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the
Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,
9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts
by faith.
10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of
the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we
shall be saved in the same manner as they.
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and
Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through
them among the Gentiles.
13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and
brethren, listen to me:
14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to
take out of them a people for His name.
15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is
written:
16 After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David,
which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the
Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these
things.'
18 Known to God from eternity are all His works.
19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the
Gentiles who are turning to God,
20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols,
from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him
in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to
send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas,
leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the
brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria,
and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled
you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be
circumcised and keep the law" -to whom we gave no such commandment-
25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send
chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the
same things by word of mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you
no greater burden than these necessary things:
29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from
things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves
from these, you will do well. Farewell.
30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had
gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and
strengthened the brethren with many words.
33 And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back
with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.
34 However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.
Scripture Reading 5 of 8


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Hebrews 7:26-8:2  (Saints)
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the
heavens;
27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up
sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this
He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the
word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has
been perfected forever.
1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such
a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens,
2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the
Lord erected, and not man.
Scripture Reading 6 of 8


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John 10:27-38
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither
shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no
one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
30 I and My Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
32 Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My
Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?"
33 The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone
You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself
God."
34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You
are gods" '?
35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the
Scripture cannot be broken),
36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the
world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;
38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that
you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.
Scripture Reading 7 of 8


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Matthew 5:14-19  (Saints)
14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot
be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father in heaven.
17 Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did
not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one
jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is
fulfilled.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments,
and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven;
but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven.
Scripture Reading 8 of 8



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Hieromartyr Mocius the Presbyter of Amphipolis in Macedonia
Saint Mocius was a presbyter in Macedonia in the city of Amphipolis.
During a persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian
(284-305), St Mocius exhorted the pagans who had assembled for the
pagan festival of Dionysus (Bacchus), to abandon iniquity and the vile
customs which accompanied this celebration. He urged them to repent
and be converted to the Lord Jesus Christ, and be cleansed through
holy Baptism.
The saint was brought to trial before the governor of Laodicea. When
threatened with torture, he replied, "My death for Christ is a great
accomplishment for me." St Mocius was subjected to torture, which he
bore with marvelous endurance, and did not cease to denounce the
idol-worshippers.
Taken to the pagan temple of Dionysus, the saint shattered the idols
when he called upon Jesus Christ. After this he was put into a red-hot
oven, where he remained unharmed, but the flames coming out of the
oven scorched the governor.
Again the commander subjected St Mocius to fierce torture, which he
endured with the help of God. He was given to wild beasts to be eaten,
but they did not touch him. The lions lay down at his feet. The
people, seeing such miracles, urged that the saint be set free. The
governor ordered the saint to be sent to the city of Perinth, and from
there to Byzantium, where St Mocius was executed.
Before his death he gave thanks to the Lord for giving him the
strength to persevere to the very end. His last words were, "Lord,
receive my spirit in peace." Then he was beheaded. St Mocius died
about the year 295. Later, the emperor Constantine built a church in
honor of the hieromartyr Mocius and transferred his holy
passion-bearing relics into it.
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Equal of the Apostles and Teacher of the Slavs, Cyril
Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equals of the Apostles, and Enlighteners
of the Slavs came from an illustrious and pious family living in the
Greek city of Thessalonica. St Methodius was the oldest of seven
brothers, St Constantine [Cyril was his monastic name] was the
youngest. At first St Methodius was in the military and was governor
in one of the Slavic principalities dependent on the Byzantine Empire,
probably Bulgaria, which made it possible for him to learn the Slavic
language. After living there for about ten years, St Methodius later
received monastic tonsure at one of the monasteries on Mount Olympus
(Asia Minor).
St Constantine distinguished himself by his great aptitude, and he
studied with the emperor Michael under the finest teachers in
Constantinople, including St Photius, the future Patriarch of
Constantinople (February 6).
St Constantine studied all the sciences of his time, and also knew
several languages. He also studied the works of St Gregory the
Theologian. Because of his keen mind and penetrating intellect, St
Constantine was called "Philosopher" (wise). Upon the completion of
his education, St Constantine was ordained to the holy priesthood and
was appointed curator of the patriarchal library at the church of
Hagia Sophia. He soon left the capital and went secretly to a
monastery.
Discovered there, he returned to Constantinople, where he was
appointed as instructor in philosophy. The young Constantine's wisdom
and faith were so great that he won a debate with Ananias, the leader
of the heretical iconclasts . After this victory Constantine was sent
by the emperor to discuss the Holy Trinity with the Saracens, and
again he gained the victory. When he returned, St Constantine went to
his brother St Methodius on Olympus, spending his time in unceasing
prayer and reading the works of the holy Fathers.
The emperor soon summoned both of the holy brothers from the monastery
and sent them to preach the Gospel to the Khazars. Along the way they
stayed in the city of Korsun, making preparations for their missionary
activity. There the holy brothers miraculously discovered the relics
of the hieromartyr Clement, Pope of Rome (November 25).
There in Korsun St Constantine found a Gospel and Psalter written in
Russian letters [i.e. Slavonic], and a man speaking the Slavic tongue,
and he learned from this man how to read and speak this language.
After this, the holy brothers went to the Khazars, where they won a
debate with Jews and Moslems by preaching the Gospel. On the way home,
the brothers again visited Korsun and, taking up the relics of St
Clement, they returned to Constantinople. St Constantine remained in
the capital, but St Methodius was made igumen of the small
Polychronion monastery near Mount Olympus, where he lived a life of
asceticism as before.
Soon messengers came to the emperor from the Moravian prince
Rostislav, who was under pressure from German bishops, with a request
to send teachers to Moravia who would be able to preach in the Slavic
tongue. The emperor summoned St Constantine and said to him, "You must
go there, but it would be better if no one knows about this."
St Constantine prepared for the new task with fasting and prayer. With
the help of his brother St Methodius and the disciples Gorazd,
Clement, Sava, Naum and Angelyar, he devised a Slavonic alphabet and
translated the books which were necessary for the celebration of the
divine services: the Gospel, Epistles, Psalter, and collected
services, into the Slavic tongue. This occurred in the year 863.
After completing the translation, the holy brothers went to Moravia,
where they were received with great honor, and they began to teach the
services in the Slavic language. This aroused the malice of the German
bishops, who celebrated divine services in the Moravian churches in
Latin. They rose up against the holy brothers, convinced that divine
services must be done in one of three languages: Hebrew, Greek or
Latin.
St Constantine said, "You only recognize three languages in which God
may be glorified. But David sang, 'Praise the Lord, all nations,
praise the Lord all peoples (Ps 116/117:1).' And the Gospel of St
Matthew (28:18) says, 'Go and teach all nations....'" The German
bishops were humiliated, but they became bitter and complained to
Rome.
The holy brothers were summoned to Rome for a decision on this matter.
Taking with them the relics of St Clement, Sts Constantine and
Methodius set off to Rome. Knowing that the holy brothers were
bringing these relics with them, Pope Adrian met them along the way
with his clergy. The holy brothers were greeted with honor, the Pope
gave permission to have divine services in the Slavonic language, and
he ordered the books translated by the brothers to be placed in the
Latin churches, and to serve the Liturgy in the Slavonic language.
At Rome St Constantine fell ill, and the Lord revealed to him his
approaching death. He was tonsured into the monastic schema with the
name of Cyril. On February 14, 869, fifty days after receiving the
schema, St Cyril died at the age of forty-two.
St Cyril commanded his brother St Methodius to continue with their
task of enlightening the Slavic peoples with the light of the true
Faith. St Methodius entreated the Pope to send the body of his brother
for burial in their native land, but the Pope ordered the relics of St
Cyril to be placed in the church of St Clement, where miracles began
to occur from them.
After the death of St Cyril, the Pope sent St Methodius to Pannonia,
after consecrating him as Archbishop of Moravia and Pannonia, on the
ancient throne of St Andronicus (July 30). In Pannonia St Methodius
and his disciples continued to distribute services books written in
the Slavonic language. This again aroused the wrath of the German
bishops. They arrested and tried St Methodius, who was sent in chains
to Swabia, where he endured many sufferings for two and a half years.
After being set free by order of Pope John VIII of Rome, and restored
to his archdiocese, St Methodius continued to preach the Gospel among
the Slavs. He baptized the Czech prince Borivoi and his wife Ludmilla
(September 16), and also one of the Polish princes. The German bishops
began to persecute the saint for a third time, because he did not
accept the erroneous teaching about the procession of the Holy Spirit
from both the Father and the Son. St Methodius was summoned to Rome,
but he justified himself before the Pope, and preserved the Orthodox
teaching in its purity, and was sent again to the capital of Moravia,
Velehrad.
Here in the remaining years of his life St Methodius, assisted by two
of his former pupils, translated the entire Old Testament into
Slavonic, except for the Book of Maccabbees, and even the Nomocanon
(Rule of the holy Fathers) and Paterikon (book of the holy Fathers).
Sensing the nearness of death, St Methodius designated one of his
students, Gorazd, as a worthy successor to himself. The holy bishop
predicted the day of his death and died on April 6, 885 when he was
about sixty years old. The saint's burial service was chanted in three
languages, Slavonic, Greek, and Latin. He was buried in the cathedral
church of Velehrad.
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Equal of the Apostles and Teacher of the Slavs, Methodius
Saint Methodius, Equal of the Apostles, and Enlightener of the Slavs,
came from an illustrious and pious family living in the Greek city of
Thessalonica. St Methodius was the oldest of seven brothers, St
Constantine [Cyril was his monastic name] was the youngest. At first
St Methodius was in the military and was governor in one of the Slavic
principalities dependent on the Byzantine Empire, probably Bulgaria,
which made it possible for him to learn the Slavic language. After
living there for about ten years, St Methodius later received monastic
tonsure at one of the monasteries on Mount Olympus (Asia Minor).
St Constantine eventually joined his brother St Methodius on Olympus,
spending his time in unceasing prayer and reading the works of the
holy Fathers.
The emperor soon summoned both of the holy brothers from the monastery
and sent them to preach the Gospel to the Khazars. Along the way they
stayed in the city of Korsun, making preparations for their missionary
activity. There the holy brothers miraculously discovered the relics
of the hieromartyr Clement, Pope of Rome (November 25).
There in Korsun St Constantine found a Gospel and Psalter written in
Russian letters [i.e. Slavonic], and a man speaking the Slavic tongue,
and he learned from this man how to read and speak this language.
After this, the holy brothers went to the Khazars, where they won a
debate with Jews and Moslems by preaching the Gospel. On the way home,
the brothers again visited Korsun, then returned to Constantinople
with the relics of St Clement.
St Constantine remained in the capital, but St Methodius was made
igumen of the small Polychronion monastery near Mount Olympus, where
he lived a life of asceticism as before.
Soon messengers came to the emperor from the Moravian prince
Rostislav, who was under pressure from German bishops, requesting him
to send teachers to Moravia who could preach in the Slavic tongue. The
emperor summoned St Constantine and said to him, "You must go there,
but it would be better if no one knows about this."
St Constantine prepared for the new task with fasting and prayer. With
the help of his brother St Methodius and the disciples Gorazd,
Clement, Sava, Naum and Angelyar, he devised a Slavonic alphabet and
translated the books which were necessary for the celebration of the
divine services: the Gospel, Epistles, Psalter, and collected
services, into the Slavic tongue. This occurred in the year 863.
After completing the translation, the holy brothers went to Moravia,
where they were received with great honor, and they began to teach the
services in the Slavic language. This aroused the malice of the German
bishops, who celebrated divine services in the Moravian churches in
Latin. They rose up against the holy brothers, convinced that divine
services must be done in one of three languages: Hebrew, Greek or
Latin.
St Constantine said, "You only recognize three languages in which God
may be glorified. But David sang, 'Praise the Lord, all nations,
praise the Lord all peoples (Ps 116/117:1).' And the Gospel of St
Matthew (28:18) says, 'Go and teach all nations....'" The German
bishops were humiliated, but they became bitter and complained to
Rome.
The holy brothers were summoned to Rome for a decision on this matter.
Taking with them the relics of St Clement, Sts Constantine and
Methodius set off to Rome. Knowing that the holy brothers were
bringing these relics with them, Pope Adrian met them along the way
with his clergy. The holy brothers were greeted with honor, the Pope
gave permission to have divine services in the Slavonic language, and
he ordered the books translated by the brothers to be placed in the
Latin churches, and to serve the Liturgy in the Slavonic language.
At Rome St Constantine fell ill, and the Lord revealed to him his
approaching death. He was tonsured into the monastic schema with the
name of Cyril. On February 14, 869, fifty days after receiving the
schema, St Cyril died at the age of forty-two.
St Cyril commanded his brother St Methodius to continue with their
task of enlightening the Slavic peoples with the light of the true
Faith. St Methodius entreated the Pope to send the body of his brother
for burial in their native land, but the Pope ordered the relics of St
Cyril to be placed in the church of St Clement, where miracles began
to occur from them.
After the death of St Cyril, the Pope sent St Methodius to Pannonia,
after consecrating him as Archbishop of Moravia and Pannonia, on the
ancient throne of St Andronicus (July 30). In Pannonia St Methodius
and his disciples continued to distribute services books written in
the Slavonic language. This again aroused the wrath of the German
bishops. They arrested and tried St Methodius, who was sent in chains
to Swabia, where he endured many sufferings for two and a half years.
After being set free by order of Pope John VIII of Rome, and restored
to his archdiocese, St Methodius continued to preach the Gospel among
the Slavs. He baptized the Czech prince Borivoi and his wife Ludmilla
(September 16), and also one of the Polish princes. The German bishops
began to persecute the saint for a third time, because he did not
accept the erroneous teaching about the procession of the Holy Spirit
from both the Father and the Son. St Methodius was summoned to Rome,
but he justified himself before the Pope, and preserved the Orthodox
teaching in its purity, and was sent again to the capital of Moravia,
Velehrad.
Here in the remaining years of his life St Methodius, assisted by two
of his former pupils, translated the entire Old Testament into
Slavonic, except for the Book of Maccabbees, and even the Nomocanon
(Rule of the holy Fathers) and Paterikon (book of the holy Fathers).
Sensing the nearness of death, St Methodius designated one of his
students, Gorazd, as a worthy successor to himself. The holy bishop
predicted the day of his death and died on April 6, 885 when he was
about sixty years old. The saint's burial service was chanted in three
languages, Slavonic, Greek, and Latin. He was buried in the cathedral
church of Velehrad.
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Venerable Sophronius the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves
The Relics of Saint Sophronius were buried in the Far Caves of the
Kiev Caves monastery. In the Canon to the monks of the Far Caves the
saint's solitary ascetical struggles are mentioned. He was deemed
worthy to hear angels singing. The memory of St Sophronius is also
celebrated on March 11.
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St Joseph the Metropolitan of Astrakhan
The Hieromartyr Joseph, First Metropolitan of Astrakhan, was born at
Astrakhan in 1579. After becoming a monk, St Joseph was made
Archimandrite of the Astrakhan Trinity monastery at the age of
fifty-two.
In 1656 he was at Moscow, after which he was chosen to be Metropolitan
of Astrakhan. On May 11,1672, during an uprising of the townspeople,
St Joseph suffered martyrdom at Astrakhan. This sad event was recorded
in detail by two eyewitnesses, priests of the Astrakhan cathedral,
Cyril and Peter.
The priests took the body of the martyr, dressed it in bishop's
vestments, and placed it in a prepared grave. On the following day,
after serving a Panikhida, the saint's body was taken to a chapel, and
it remained unburied for nine days. The relics of the holy hierarch
were placed into the grave, and were soon glorified by miracles.
St Joseph was glorified at the Council of the Russian Orthodox Church
in April 1918.
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St Nicodemus the Archbishop of Serbia
Saint Nicodemus, Archbishop of Serbia, was Igumen of the Hilandar
monastery on Mount Athos, and was consecrated bishop in the year 1316.
In 1319 he translated the TYPIKON of St Sava the Sanctified of
Jerusalem into the Slavonic language, and ordered it to be used in
Serbia.
St Nicodemus died in the year 1325.
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St Rostislav the Prince of Great Moravia
No information on the life of this saint is available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Commemoration of the Founding of Constantinople
In 324 the holy Emperor Constantine (May 21) decided that the imperial
capital had to be closer to the Eastern provinces, and yet have direct
communication with the West. The city of Byzantium fulfilled these
requirements, and on November 8, 324 the site of the new capital was
consecrated.
Tradition tells us that the Emperor was tracing the boundaries of the
city with a spear, when his courtiers became astonished by the
magnitude of the new dimensions of the capital. "Lord," they asked,
"how long will you keep going?"
Constantine replied, "I shall keep going until the one who walks ahead
of me stops."
Then they understood that the emperor was being guided by some divine
power. There is an iconographic sketch by Rallis Kopsides showing an
angel of the Lord going before St Constantine as he traces the new
boundaries of the city.
Construction of the main buildings was begun in 325, and pagan
monuments from Rome, Athens, and other cities were used to beautify
the new capital. The need for the new city is partially explained by
the changing requirements of government, the Germanic invasion of the
West, and commercial benefits, but the new city was also to be a
Christian capital. For this, a new foundation was required.
In 330, the work had progressed to the point where it was possible for
Constantine to dedicate the new capital. The dedication took place on
May 11, followed by forty days of joyous celebration. Christian
Constantinople was placed under the protection of the Most Holy
Theotokos, and overshadowed pagan Byzantium. St Constantine was the
first Emperor to submit voluntarily to Christ, and Constantinople
became the symbol of a Christian Empire which lasted for a thousand
years.
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New Martyr Dioscorus
No information available at this time.
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New Martyr Argyrus
No information available at this time.
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Blessed Christopher, called Christesia
Blessed Christesias family was from Egrisi in western Georgia. From
his youth Christesia longed for the divine services and the solitary
life, but he was forced by his master to marry, and by this marriage
he begot a son. Later, when both his wife and son had died, his master
insisted that he marry again, but the pious Christesia would not heed
his masters order.
Instead he related the order to his spiritual father, who advised him
to depart from the world and journey to the Davit-Gareji Wilderness.
Deeply inspired by his spiritual fathers counsel, Christesia abandoned
his possessions and his life in the world and withdrew to the
Monastery of St. John the Baptist in the Davit-Gareji Wilderness.
The holy father spent many years in humble service to the Lord. He was
assigned to gather firewood and bring water for the monastery, and he
performed these tasks obediently and in perfect meekness. Every day he
walked over four miles to fill a pitcher with water and then carried
it to a small hut nearby. He hung the pitcher at the entrance to make
it visible from a distance, and travelers who passed by would come to
quench their thirst.
He also kept a small vegetable garden to feed the passers-by. Every
Saturday he prepared kolio (a dish of wheat and honey traditionally
offered to commemorate the departed) and divided it in three parts:
one part commemorated the family and loved ones of those who had
donated the wheat and honey; the second, the deceased fathers of the
monastery; and the last, all departed Orthodox Christians.
It always disturbed St. Christesia to see his brothers and sisters at
odds with one another, so when he heard that two people were
quarreling, he would go and reconcile them. My children! he would say,
If you do not heed my words, I will leave in sorrow, and the devil,
who is always resistant to peace, will rejoice and send more
tribulations upon you. I came to you hungry, and I will depart hungry!
His words warmed the hearts of those whom he counseled and helped them
to be reconciled with one another.
One hot evening after Vespers, St. Christesia set off on foot for a
certain village. He left during twilight, and when night fell the sky
was without a moon and extraordinarily dark. Before long it became
difficult to walk any farther, so St. Christesia stopped to pray, and
a bright light appeared before him to light the way. The divine light
guided him all through the night, until he reached the village of
Sartichala.
St. Christesias cell was poor and cramped. He slept on a bed of wooden
planks that he covered in sheepskin, and instead of a pillow he rested
his head on a stone. The pious ascetic wore a sheepskin coat and
sandals made of bark. Whatever he received he gave to the poor. Having
placed complete trust in God, he would not permit himself to worry
about the morrow, nor did he bother to store up food or supplies for
the harsh winter months.
Father Christesia was already advanced in age when he was tonsured a
monk and given the new name Christopher. He reposed peacefully in
1771, at the age of eighty.
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