[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

Mon May 28 08:07:12 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon May 28 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Ephesians 5:9-19
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 1 of 2

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Matthew 18:10-20
10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I
say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My
Father who is in heaven.
11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them
goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains
to seek the one that is straying?
13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more
over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one
of these little ones should perish.
15 Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his
fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your
brother.
16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by
the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'
17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he
refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and
a tax collector.
18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound
in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning
anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in
heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there
in the midst of them.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Trinity Week - Day of the Holy Spirit
On the day after every Great Feast, the Orthodox Church honors the one
through whom the Feast is made possible. On the day following the
Nativity of the Lord, for example, we celebrate the Synaxis of the
Most Holy Theotokos (December 26). On the day after Theophany, we
commemorate St John the Baptist (January 7), and so on.
Today we honor the all-Holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, Who
descended upon the Apostles at Pentecost in the form of fiery tongues
in fulfillment of the Lord's promise to send the Comforter to His
disciples (JN 14:16). That same Holy Spirit remains within the Church
throughout the ages, guiding it "into all truth" (JN 16:13).
One of the hymns at Vespers on Saturday evening tells us that the Holy
Spirit "provides all things. He gushes forth prophecy, He perfects the
priesthood, ... He holds together the whole institution of the
Church."
At Vespers on the day of Pentecost, we hear that the Holy Spirit is
"the Fountain of goodness, through Whom the Father is known, and the
Son is glorified." He is "the living Fountain of spiritual gifts" Who
"purifies us from our sins." It is by the Holy Spirit that "the
prophets, divine Apostles, and martyrs are crowned." He is the source
of life and of sanctification.
In the services of this day, we sing the same hymns as on Pentecost,
except the Canon of the Holy Spirit, which is sung at Compline. The
Vigil is not prescribed for the eve of today's feast. We sing the
Great Doxology at Matins, but not the Polyeleos. The Irmos of the
Ninth Ode ("Hail, O Queen, glory of mothers and virgins") is sung in
place of the Song of the Theotokos ("My soul magnifies the Lord...").
At the Liturgy, the priest or deacon chants the Entrance Verse ("Be
exalted in Thy strength, O Lord. We will sing and praise Thy power.")
as on the day of Pentecost. "Holy God" replaces "As many as have been
baptized." The dismissal of Pentecost is also used.
This whole week is fast-free, and the Leave-taking of Pentecost occurs
on Saturday.
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St Nicetas the Bishop of Chalcedon
St Nicetas, Bishop of Chalcedon, lived during the second half of the
eighth century. For his God-pleasing life he was consecrated as Bishop
of Chalcedon.
St Nicetas distinguished himself by his charity, he always helped the
poor, he lodged travelers in his home, he cared for orphans and
widows, and he interceded for those who had been wronged.
During the reign of the iconoclast Leo the Armenian (813-820), St
Nicetas bravely denounced the Iconoclast heresy and urged his flock to
venerate the holy icons of Christ, the Theotokos, and the saints. St
Nicetas endured much suffering from the impious emperor and his
like-minded cohorts. He was subjected to tortures and sent off to
exile.
The holy confessor Nicetas died at the beginning of the ninth century.
>From his relics occurred many miracles of healing. The Canon of the
service, written by the priest Joseph of Constantinople, also includes
St Nicetas's brother, St Ignatius, among the saints.
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St Ignatius the Bishop and Wonderworker of Rostov
Saint Ignatius was Bishop of Rostov, and shepherded his flock for
twenty-six years. After his death on May 28, 1288, his body was broght
to the church. Some people saw him leave his coffin, and float in the
air above the church. He blessed the people and the city, then went
back to his coffin.
Many miracles took place at his grave.
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St Eutychius the Bishop of Melitene
The Hieromartyr Eutychius, Bishop of Melitene, was a co-worker with
the Holy Apostles, and he suffered for Christ in the city of Melitene
during the first century.
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Martyr Heliconis of Thessalonica
The Holy Martyr Heliconis lived during the third century in the city
of Thessalonica. St Heliconis arrived in the city of Corinth during a
persecution of Christians, and urged the pagans to stop serving
senseless idols and instead to worship the one true God, the Creator
of the universe.
She was arrested and brought before the governor Perinus, who vainly
attempted to persuade the saint to offer sacrifice to idols, both by
flattery and by threats. The holy martyr was subjected to tortures,
but she bravely endured them. Then they threw her into a hot furnace,
but she emerged from it unharmed, because an angel of the Lord had
cooled the flames.
Thinking the saint was a sorceress, the governor invented new torments
for her. They tore the skin from her head, and burned her breasts and
head with fire. After halting the torture, the judge again attempted
to urge St Heliconis to offer sacrifice to the idols, promising her
honors and the title of priestess. The saint seemed to consent, and
the pagan priests and the people led her to the pagan temple with the
sounds of trumpet and drum.
At the saint's request, they left her there alone. St Heliconis,
filled with heroic strength, cast down and smashed all the idols. When
some time had passed, the pagan priests entered their temple. Seeing
the destruction, they were even more enraged and cursed the holy
virgin shouting, "Put the sorceress to death!" They beat the holy
martyr, and then they threw her into prison, where she spent five
days.
Christ the Savior and the holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel appeared
to the holy martyr in prison and healed her of her wounds. Finally,
they sent the saint to be torn apart by wild beasts. They set loose
three hungry lions upon her, but the beasts came up to the martyr
meekly and lay down at her feet. The pagan mob shouted and cried,
"Death to the sorceress."
But at this point the lions jumped out of the arena and pounced on the
people, who fled in terror. Not knowing what else to do, the governor
ordered that St Heliconis be beheaded. The saint went to execution
with joy and heard a Voice summoning her to the heavenly habitations.
She contested in the year 244, and her body was reverently buried by
Christians.
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Hieromartyr Helladius the Bishop in the East
The Hieromartyr Helladius the Bishop was thrown into fire because of
his faith in Christ, but he remained unharmed. He died as a martyr
from the terrible beating inflicted upon him.
In the Service to St Helladius it is said that the Lord Jesus Christ
visited him in prison and healed him of his wounds. According to
certain sources, St Helladius suffered under the Persians during their
invasion into the Eastern part of the Roman Empire in the fourth
century.
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St Germanus the Bishop of Paris
Saint Germanus was born near Autun in 496. He was abbot of St
Symphorian's monastery at Autun, and was made Bishop of Paris around
536. He was tireless and courageous in his efforts to end civil strife
and to restrain the viciousness of the Frankish kings, though he was
not very successful in this. St Radegund (August 13) appealed to him
for protection from her cruel husband King Chlotar I.
St Germanus founded a monastery at Paris, and was buried in its church
after his death in 576. This is the renowned monastery of Saint
Germaine-des-Pres.
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Icon of the Mother of God "the Softener of Evil Hearts"
The "Softener (or "Consoler") of Evil Hearts" Icon of the Mother of
God is similar to the "Seven Swords" Icon (August 13). It depicts the
Theotokos with seven swords piercing Her heart (Luke 2:35). There are
three swords on the right side, three on the left, and one from below.
The icon appears to be of Western origin.
The "Softner of Evil Hearts" icon is commemorated on the Sunday of All
Saints.
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Icon of the Mother of God "the Unbreakable Wall"
The "Unbreakable (or "Indestructible") Wall" Icon of the Most Holy
Theotokos is commemorated on the Sunday of All Saints. It is an icon
of the Blachernae type, in which the Virgin is shown with Her hands
raised and the palms facing forward. Christ is depicted within a
roundel, or mandorla. This is an oval or circle symbolizing the glory
of Heaven, or Divine Light.
Perhaps the name of this particular Icon is derived from Amos 7:7
where the Lord is said to be standing on "a wall of adamant" (LXX).
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St Sophronius the Bulgarian
No information available at this time.
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New Martyr Demetrius
No information available at this time.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Nicea
No information available at this time.
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Hieromartyr Helladius, Bishop in the East
No information available at this time.
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