[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Wed May 16 05:00:31 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed May 16 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Acts 18:22-28
22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the
church, he went down to Antioch.
23 After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the
region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the
disciples.
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent
man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being
fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the
Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and
Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way
of God more accurately.
27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote,
exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he
greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the
Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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John 12:36-47
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become
sons of light. These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden
from them.
37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not
believe in Him,
38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he
spoke: Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of
the LORD been revealed?"
39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
40 He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they
should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their
hearts and turn, So that I should heal them."
41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but
because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be
put out of the synagogue;
43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44 Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not
in Me but in Him who sent Me.
45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.
46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me
should not abide in darkness.
47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge
him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Leavetaking of Pascha
On Wednesday of the sixth week of Pascha, we celebrate the Leavetaking
of the Feast. While most Feasts have their Leavetaking on the eighth
day, Pascha, the Feast of Feasts, has its Leavetaking on the
thirty-ninth day. The fortieth day is the Feast of the Lord's
Ascension, which marks the end of the Lord's physical presence on
earth. He does not abandon us, however. He has promised to be with us
always, even until the end of the age (MT 20:28). As we sing in the
Kontakion for Ascension, "Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our
God, not being parted from those who love Thee, but remaining with
them and crying: I am with you and no one will be against you." There
is a similar thought expressed in the Troparion for the Dormition: "In
falling asleep, you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos."
The services today are celebrated just as on the day of Pascha itself.
The daily readings from Holy Scripture, of course, will differ. After
the Dismissal at Liturgy, the paschal hymns are no longer sung. The
prayer "O Heavenly King" is not said or sung until Pentecost.The
Winding Sheet (Plaschanitsa) is taken from the altar and is put in its
proper place. Even though today is a Wednesday, fish, wine, and oil
are permitted.
Today we also commemorate the Finding of the Icon of the Mother of God
"Of the Meeting" in Kalamata in the Peloponnesus.
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Venerable Theodore the Sanctified, Disciple of the Venerable
Pachomius the Great
Saint Theodore was called "Sanctified" because he was the first in his
monastery ordained to the priesthood.
St Theodore came from Egypt and was the son of rich and illustrious
Christian parents. The yearning for monastic life appeared early in
him. Once there was a large party at the house of his parents during
the feast of Theophany. The boy did not want to take part in the
festivities, grieving that because of earthly joys he might be
deprived of joys in the life to come. He secretly left home when he
was fourteen and entered one of the monasteries.
Hearing about Pachomius the Great, he burned with the desire to see
the ascetic. St Pachomius received the young man with love, having
been informed by God beforehand about his coming. Remaining at the
monastery, St Theodore quickly succeeded in all his monastic tasks,
particularly in the full obedience to his guide, and in his compassion
towards the other brethren. Theodore's mother, learning that he was at
the Tabennisi monastery, came to St Pachomius with a letter from the
bishop, asking to see her son. St Theodore did not wish to break his
vow to renounce the world, so he refused to meet with his mother.
Seeing St Theodore's strength of mind and ability, St Pachomius once
told him to instruct the brethren on Holy Scripture. St Theodore was
then only twenty years old. He obeyed and began to speak, but some of
the older brethren took offense that a new monk should teach them, and
they departed. St Pachomius said to them, "You have given in to the
devil and because of your conceit, your efforts will come to naught.
You have not rejected Theodore, but rather the Word of God, and have
deprived yourselves of the Holy Spirit."
St Pachomius appointed St Theodore as overseer of the Tabennisi
monastery, and withdrew to a more solitary monastery. St Theodore with
filial love continued to concern himself over his instructor, and he
looked after St Pachomius in his final illness, and when the great
abba reposed in the Lord, he closed his eyes. After the death of St
Pachomius, St Theodore directed the Tabennisi monastery, and later on
he was at the head of all the Thebaid monasteries. St Theodore the
Sanctified was famed for his holiness of life and a great gift of
wonderworking, and he was well known to St Athanasius, Patriarch of
Alexandria. St Theodore reposed in his old age in the year 368.
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Translation of the relics of the Venerable Ephraim the Abbot
of Perekop, Novgorod
The Transfer of the Relics of St Ephraim of Perekomsk occurred on May
16, 1545. This celebration was established at a Moscow Council of the
year 1549. St Ephraim of Perekomsk reposed on September 26, 1492. The
Life of the saint is found under September 26 .
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Venerable Cassian the Abbot of Komel (Vologda)
St Cassian of Komel and Vologda was a disciple of St Cornelius of
Komel (May 19) and he guided the Komel monastery after St Cornelius
went to Lake Sura. Chosen by the brethren with the blessing of St
Cornelius, he strove to imitate his teacher in everything, and he
strictly observed his monastic Rule.
St Cassian instructed the monks in the fear of God to spend their time
at prayer, to be concerned about inner activity, and to banish all
worldly thoughts, to be sober in thought, to be vigilant in soul and
contrite in heart (Chapter 1 of the Rule "On Church Decorum and
Communal Prayer").
Upon the return of St Cornelius to the monastery, St Cassian joyfully
met his teacher, and resigned as igumen, wanting to remain in
obedience to the holy Elder as before. St Cassian reposed in the year
1537.
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Venerable Laurence the Abbot of Komel (Vologda)
Saint Laurence of Komel was a disciple of St Cornelius of Komel. In
the year 1538, on the recommendation of St Cornelius, he was
unanimously chosen by the brethren as igumen of the monastery, and he
made use of the spiritual counsels and instructions of his teacher.
Learning of the approach of Tatars towards the monastery, and on the
advice of St Cornelius, igumen Laurence led all the brethren away to a
safe place. Later, when the danger had passed, the monks returned to
the monastery.
Upon the repose of his teacher, St Laurence guided the holy
monasteryfor ten years, devoting himself to its welfare. Seeing the
zeal and the love for the Lord in St Laurence as head of the Korniliev
monastery, the Elder Alexius placed the Koptevo monastery, which he
directed, under the Korniliev monastery in 1547.
Even with his many cares, St Laurence did not forsake his beloved work
of copying books. St Laurence reposed in the Lord on May 16, 1548.
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St Alexander the Archbishop of Jerusalem
The Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem, was a disciple of the
great teacher and writer of the Church, Clement of Alexandria. At the
beginning of the third century he was chosen bishop of Flavia,
Cappadocia. He was arrested during the reign of the emperor Septimus
Severus (193-211) and spent three years in prison.
After his release from prison he went to Jerusalem to venerate the
holy places, and was told to remain there through a divine revelation.
In 212 he was chosen as coadministrator with the elderly Patriarch
Narcissus, an unusually rare occurrence in the ancient Church.
Following the death of St Narcissus (August 7), St Alexander succeeded
him and governed the Church of Jerusalem for thirty-eight years,
working for the enlightenment of Christians. He also established the
first library of Christian theological works at Jerusalem.
St Alexander was arrested during the persecution of the Church under
the emperor Decius (249-251). The holy martyr was sent to Cappadocia,
where he suffered many tortures. He was condemned to be eaten by wild
beasts, but they did not harm him. St Alexander was cast into prison,
where he surrendered his soul to God in the year 251.
The hieromartyr Alexander is also commemorated on December 12.
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Martyr Vitus at Lucania
The Holy Martyrs Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia suffered for Christ
during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284-305).
St Vitus was the son of an illustrious Sicilian dignitary, the pagan
Gelas. Gelas tried to turn his son from Christianity, but failed.
Paternal love then turned to hatred, and he decided to kill Vitus.
In order to save the boy, his tutor St Modestus and his governess St
Crescentia, who were Christians, secretly took him from his parental
home. They saw a boat at the river, and an angel entered the boat with
them. They reached the Italian district of Lucanium, where the saints
lived quietly, hiding from those who would persecute them. The holy
youth continued to heal the sick and convert pagans to Christianity.
His fame soon spread throughout the region.
Sts Vitus and Modestus went to present themselves before Diocletian,
and were thrown into prison. Then the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to
the prisoners, strengthening them for their contest. He helped them,
and the fetters fell from their hands.
Ascribing the miracle to magic, Diocletian ordered that St Vitus be
thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. The saint stood in it as if in
cool water, and remained unharmed. Then a fierce lion was set loose.
The young man made the Sign of the Cross, and the beast laid at his
feet and began to lick them. They tied the holy martyrs to pillars and
began to scrape them with iron claws.
St Crescentia came out of the crowd of spectators, confessed herself a
Christian and reproached the emperor for his cruelty. He also
sentenced her to torture.
St Vitus called out to God, "O God, save us by Thy power and deliver
us." Then an earthquake struck, and many pagans perished beneath the
collapsed buildings. Diocletian fled to his chambers in fear. An angel
released the martyrs from the pillars and took them to Lucanium.
St Vitus prayed that God would accept their souls in peace and not
deprive those who kept their memory of His benefaction. A Voice came
from Heaven, "Thy prayer is heard." Then the saints joyfully
surrendered their souls to God.
The holy martyrs Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia suffered for Christ in
the year 303. These saints are also commemorated on June 15.
The relics of Saint Vitus were transferred to Prague. The Holy Prince
Vyacheslav (Wenceslaus) of the Czechs (September 28) built a church in
honor of St Vitus, in which he was afterwards buried.
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Martyr Modestus at Lucania
Saint Modestus suffered for Christ during the reign of Emperor
Diocletian (284-305) with the holy martyrs Vitus and Crescentia.
The boy's tutor St Modestus and his governess St Crescentia, who were
Christians, secretly took him from his parental home. They found a
boat at the river, and an angel entered the boat with them. They
reached the Italian district of Lucanium, where the saints lived
quietly, hiding from those who would persecute them. St Vitus
continued to heal the sick and convert pagans to Christianity. His
fame soon spread throughout the region.
Sts Vitus and Modestus were arrested and thrown into prison, then
Diocletian had them tortured. St Crescentia came out of the crowd of
spectators and confessed herself a Christian. She reproached the
emperor for his cruelty, and he also sentenced her to torture.
St Vitus called out to God, "O God, save us by Thy power and deliver
us." Then an earthquake struck, and many pagans perished beneath the
collapsed buildings. Diocletian fled to his chambers in fear. An angel
released the martyrs from the pillars and took them to Lucanium.
St Vitus prayed that God would accept their souls in peace and not
deprive those who kept their memory of His benefaction. A Voice came
from Heaven, "Thy prayer is heard." Then the saints joyfully
surrendered their souls to God.
The holy martyrs Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia suffered for Christ in
the year 303. These saints are also commemorated on June 15.
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Martyr Crescentia at Lucania
Saint Crescentia suffered for Christ during the reign of Emperor
Diocletian (284-305) with the holy martyrs Vitus and Modestus. She was
the governess of St Vitus, and tried to save the boy when his father
wanted to kill him because he would not abandon his faith in Christ.
St Crescentia and the boy's tutor St Modestus, who were Christians,
secretly took him from his parental home. They found a boat at the
river, and an angel entered the boat with them. They reached the
Italian district of Lucanium, where the saints lived quietly, hiding
from those who would persecute them. The holy youth continued to heal
the sick and convert pagans to Christianity. His fame soon spread
throughout the region.
Sts Vitus and Modestus were arrested and thrown into prison, then
Diocletian had them tortured. St Crescentia came out of the crowd of
spectators and confessed herself a Christian. She reproached the
emperor for his cruelty, and he also sentenced her to torture.
St Vitus called out to God, "O God, save us by Thy power and deliver
us." Then an earthquake struck, and many pagans perished beneath the
collapsed buildings. Diocletian fled to his chambers in fear. An angel
released the martyrs from the pillars and took them to Lucanium.
St Vitus prayed that God would accept their souls in peace and not
deprive those who kept their memory of His benefaction. A Voice came
from Heaven, "Thy prayer is heard." Then the saints joyfully
surrendered their souls to God.
The holy martyrs Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia suffered for Christ in
the year 303. These saints are also commemorated on June 15.
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Blessed Child Musa of Rome
Saint Musa lived during the fifth century. She was distinguished for
her pure life. St Gregory Dialogus included her story in his
DIALOGUES, saying that he had heard these things from Musa's brother
Probus.
The Most Holy Theotokos once appeared to Musa in a dream, surrounded
by girls dressed in white. She asked her, "Do you wish to live
together with these maidens in my court?"
"Yes, I do," the girl replied.
"Do not do anything silly, as little girls often do. Avoid frivolity
and joking. In thirty days I shall come for you and you will be with
us."
>From that moment, Musa's character was changed. She began to pray
earnestly and lived a strict life. In answer to the questions of her
astonished parents, St Musa told them about the vision.
On the twenty-fifth day the maiden developed a fever, and on the
thirtieth day she again saw the Mother of God coming to her with the
same girls as before. The blessed child reposed with the words, "I am
coming, I am coming to you, my Lady!"
St Musa departed this earthly life and was gathered into the heavenly
Kingdom, where she glorifies the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
unto ages of ages.
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St George the Bishop of Mitylene
Saint George was made Bishop of Mytilene in the years 820-829, during
the Iconoclast controversy. He died in 842 at Mytilene. In the twelfth
century his holy relics were seen by the Russian igumen Daniel, who
was journeying through the East and recording what he saw on his
journey.
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Venerable Priestmartyrs of St Sava Lavra
Forty-four monks of the St Sava Lavra received the unfading crown of
martyrdom about 614, during the reign of the emperor Heraclius.
The monastery was attacked by Arabs in search of plunder. When they
were unable to find the treasure they expected, they became angry and
murdered the defenseless Fathers. Some were beheaded, while others
were hacked to pieces.
St Antiochus (December 24) has preserved an account of the martyrs in
his "107th Homily." Dositheus also mentions them in his DODEKABIBLOS.
The saints commemorated today should not be confused with other
martyrs of the St Sava Lavra, who suffered in 796 (March 20). The two
dates reflect separate attacks on the monastery at different times.
History tells us that barbarians raided the St Sava Lavra on several
occasions.
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Venerable Monkmartyrs of St Sava Lavra
Forty-four monks of the St Sava Lavra received the unfading crown of
martyrdom about 614, during the reign of the emperor Heraclius
(610-641).
The monastery was attacked by Arabs in search of plunder. When they
were unable to find the treasure they expected, they became angry and
murdered the defenseless Fathers. Some were beheaded, while others
were hacked to pieces.
St Antiochus (December 24) has preserved an account of the martyrs in
his "107th Homily." Dositheus also mentions them in his DODEKABIBLOS.
The saints commemorated today should not be confused with other
martyrs of the St Sava Lavra, who suffered in 796 (March 20). The two
dates reflect separate attacks on the monastery at different times.
History tells us that barbarians raided the St Sava Lavra on several
occasions.
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St Theodore of Vrsac, Serbia
No information available at this time.
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New Martyr Vukasin of Klepci, Serbia
No information available at this time.
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St Vukasin the Martyr
No information available at this time.
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