[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Nov 1 2007

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


-----------------------------
                                      
1 Thessalonians 2:9-14
9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night
and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to
you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and
blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one
of you, as a father does his own children,
12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own
kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you
received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not
as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also
effectively works in you who believe.
14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which
are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things
from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,
Scripture Reading 1 of 2


-----------------------------
                                      
Luke 11:47-12:1
47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your
fathers killed them.
48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your
fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.
49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets
and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,'
50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the
foundation of the world may be required of this generation,
51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished
between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be
required of this generation.
52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge.
You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you
hindered.
53 And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees
began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many
things,
54 lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He
might say, that they might accuse Him.
1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had
gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say
to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,
which is hypocrisy.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2



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


Wonderworker and Unmercenary Cosmas of Asia Minor
The Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian
and their mother St Theodota were natives of Asia Minor (some sources
say Mesopotamia). Their pagan father died while they were still quite
small children. Their mother raised them in Christian piety. Through
her own example, and by reading holy books to them, St Theodota
preserved her children in purity of life according to the command of
the Lord, and Cosmas and Damian grew up into righteous and virtuous
men.
Trained and skilled as physicians, they received from the Holy Spirit
the gift of healing people's illnesses of body and soul by the power
of prayer. They even treated animals. With fervent love for both God
and neighbor, they never took payment for their services. They
strictly observed the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Freely have
you received, freely give." (Mt. 10:8). The fame of Sts Cosmas and
Damian spread throughout all the surrounding region, and people called
them unmercenary physicians.
Once, the saints were summoned to a grievously ill woman named
Palladia, whom all the doctors had refused to treat because of her
seemingly hopeless condition. Through faith and through the fervent
prayer of the holy brothers, the Lord healed the deadly disease and
Palladia got up from her bed perfectly healthy and giving praise to
God. In gratitude for being healed and wishing to give them a small
gift, Palladia went quietly to Damian. She presented him with three
eggs and said, "Take this small gift in the Name of the Holy
Life-Creating Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." Hearing the
Name of the Holy Trinity, the unmercenary one did not dare to refuse.
When St Cosmas learned what had happened, became very sad, for he
thought that his brother had broken their strict vow. On his deathbed
he gave instructions that his brother should not be buried beside him.
St Damian also died shortly afterward, and everyone wondered where St
Damian's grave should be. But through the will of God a miracle
occurred. A camel, which the saints had treated for its wildness,
spoke with a human voice saying that they should have no doubts about
whether to place Damian beside Cosmas, because Damian did not accept
the eggs from the woman as payment, but out of respect for the Name of
God. The venerable relics of the holy brothers were buried together at
Thereman (Mesopotamia).
Many miracles were worked after the death of the holy unmercenaries.
There lived at Thereman, near the church of Cosmas and Damian, a
certain man by the name of Malchus. One day he went on a journey,
leaving his wife all alone for what would be a long time. He
prayerfully entrusted her to the heavenly protection of the holy
brothers. But the Enemy of the race of mankind took on the appearance
of one of Malchus' friends, and planned to kill the woman. A certain
time went by, and this man went to her at home and said that Malchus
had sent him to bring her to him. The woman believed him and went
along. He led her to a solitary place intending to kill her. The
woman, seeing that disaster threatened her, called upon God with deep
faith.
Two fiercesome men then appeared, and the devil let go of the woman
and fled, falling off a cliff. The two men led the woman home. At her
own home, bowing to them deeply she asked, " My rescuers, to whom I
shall be grateful to the end of my days, what are your names?"
They replied, "We are the servants of Christ, Cosmas and Damian," and
became invisible. The woman with trembling and with joy told everyone
about what had happened to her. Glorifying God, she went up to the
icon of the holy brothers and tearfully offered prayers of
thanksgiving for her deliverance. And from that time the holy brothers
were venerated as protectors of the holiness and inviolability of
Christian marriage, and as givers of harmony to conjugal life. From
ancient times, their veneration spread also to Russia.
The Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia Minor should not be
confused with the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Rome (July
1), or the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Arabia (October
17).
_________________________________________________________________
Wonderworker and Unmercenary Damian of Mesopotamia
The Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian
and their mother St Theodota were natives of Asia Minor (some sources
say Mesopotamia). Their pagan father died while they were still quite
small children. Their mother raised them in Christian piety. Through
her own example, and by reading holy books to them, St Theodota
preserved her children in purity of life according to the command of
the Lord, and Cosmas and Damian grew up into righteous and virtuous
men.
Trained and skilled as physicians, they received from the Holy Spirit
the gift of healing people's illnesses of body and soul by the power
of prayer. They even treated animals. With fervent love for both God
and neighbor, they never took payment for their services. They
strictly observed the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Freely have
you received, freely give." (Mt. 10:8). The fame of Sts Cosmas and
Damian spread throughout all the surrounding region, and people called
them unmercenary physicians.
Once, the saints were summoned to a grievously ill woman named
Palladia, whom all the doctors had refused to treat because of her
seemingly hopeless condition. Through faith and through the fervent
prayer of the holy brothers, the Lord healed the deadly disease and
Palladia got up from her bed perfectly healthy and giving praise to
God. In gratitude for being healed and wishing to give them a small
gift, Palladia went quietly to Damian. She presented him with three
eggs and said, "Take this small gift in the Name of the Holy
Life-Creating Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." Hearing the
Name of the Holy Trinity, the unmercenary one did not dare to refuse.
When St Cosmas learned what had happened, became very sad, for he
thought that his brother had broken their strict vow. On his deathbed
he gave instructions that his brother should not be buried beside him.
St Damian also died shortly afterward, and everyone wondered where St
Damian's grave should be. But through the will of God a miracle
occurred. A camel, which the saints had treated for its wildness,
spoke with a human voice saying that they should have no doubts about
whether to place Damian beside Cosmas, because Damian did not accept
the eggs from the woman as payment, but out of respect for the Name of
God. The venerable relics of the holy brothers were buried together at
Thereman (Mesopotamia).
Many miracles were worked after the death of the holy unmercenaries.
There lived at Thereman, near the church of Cosmas and Damian, a
certain man by the name of Malchus. One day he went on a journey,
leaving his wife all alone for what would be a long time. He
prayerfully entrusted her to the heavenly protection of the holy
brothers. But the Enemy of the race of mankind took on the appearance
of one of Malchus' friends, and planned to kill the woman. A certain
time went by, and this man went to her at home and said that Malchus
had sent him to bring her to him. The woman believed him and went
along. He led her to a solitary place intending to kill her. The
woman, seeing that disaster threatened her, called upon God with deep
faith.
Two fiercesome men then appeared, and the devil let go of the woman
and fled, falling off a cliff. The two men led the woman home. At her
own home, bowing to them deeply she asked, " My rescuers, to whom I
shall be grateful to the end of my days, what are your names?"
They replied, "We are the servants of Christ, Cosmas and Damian," and
became invisible. The woman with trembling and with joy told everyone
about what had happened to her. Glorifying God, she went up to the
icon of the holy brothers and tearfully offered prayers of
thanksgiving for her deliverance. And from that time the holy brothers
were venerated as protectors of the holiness and inviolability of
Christian marriage, and as givers of harmony to conjugal life. From
ancient times, their veneration spread also to Russia.
The Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Asia Minor should not be
confused with the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Rome (July
1), or the Unmercenary Saints Cosmas and Damian of Arabia (October
17).
_________________________________________________________________
St Theodota the Mother of the Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian
Saint Theodota was the mother of Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries
Cosmas and Damian of Mesopotamia. They were all natives of Asia Minor.
Her pagan husband died while her children were still quite small, but
she raised them in Christian piety. Through her own example, and by
reading holy books to them, St Theodota preserved her children in
purity of life according to the command of the Lord, and Cosmas and
Damian grew up into righteous and virtuous men.
_________________________________________________________________
Hieromartyr John the Bishop of Persia
Saint John the bishop was martyred in Persia about 345, at the time of
King Sapor II.
_________________________________________________________________
Hieromartyr James the Presbyter of Persia
Saint James the presbyter (known as "the Zealot") was martyred in
Persia around 345, at the time of King Sapor II.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Cyrenia in Cilicia
The Holy Martyrs Cyrenia and Juliana of Clicia were arrested for
confessing the Christian Faith under the governor of Cilicia, Marcian,
during the reign of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311). They led
St Cyrenia, stripped and with shorn head, around Tarsus to be mocked,
and then they went to the city of Rosa with St Juliana, where the
martyrs were burned alive.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Juliana in Cilicia
The Holy Martyrs Juliana and Cyrenia of Clicia were arrested for
confessing the Christian Faith under the governor of Cilicia, Marcian,
during the reign of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311). They led
St Cyrenia, stripped and with shorn head, around Tarsus to be mocked,
and then they went to the city of Rosa with St Juliana, where the
martyrs were burned alive
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Hermeningilda the Goth of Spain
The Holy Martyr Hermeningilda, Prince of the Goths in Spain (+ 586),
abandoned the Arian heresy and was converted to Orthodoxy. His father,
Leovigild, was King of the Goths, and an Arian. Neither by flattery
nor by threats was he able to sway his son to return to his former
faith. Therefore, Leovigild gave orders to throw him into prison.
On Pascha, as Hermeningilda lay there in his fetters, Leovigild sent
an Arian bishop to the prison so that his son might receive the vile
communion of the heretics. The king offered to free Hermeningilda and
restore him to his former position if he would partake of that
communion. The saint, however, drove the Arian bishop away, upbraiding
him for his heresy. An Orthodox priest came to the prison secretly and
imparted the Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ to St Hermeningilda.
When the Arian bishop reported St Hermeningilda's words to the king,
he ordered him to be executed. After he was beheaded, angels were
heard singing over his holy relics. The faithful glorified God when
they heard of this, and the martyr's father repented of his evil deed.
Although he did not accept Orthodoxy himself, he nonetheless permitted
the holy Bishop Leander to convert his successor Rekhardt to the true
Faith. After he became king, Rekhardt affirmed Orthodoxy in his
domain.
The full account of St Hermeningilda may be found in St Gregory the
Great's Dialogues (Book I, Ch. 31).
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Caesarius at Damascus
Saint Caesarius suffered martyrdom with Sts Adrian, Dacius, Savas,
Sabinian, Agrippa, and Thomas at Damascus in the seventh century.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Dacius at Damascus
Saint Dacius suffered martyrdom with Sts Caesarius, Adrian, Savas,
Sabinian, Agrippa, and Thomas at Damascus in the seventh century.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Sava at Damascus
Saint Sava suffered martyrdom with Sts Adrian, Dacius, Caesarius,
Sabinian, Agrippa, and Thomas at Damascus in the seventh century.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Sabinian at Damascus
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Agrippa at Damascus
Saint Agrippa suffered martyrdom with Sts Caesarius, Adrian, Savas,
Sabinian, Dacius, and Thomas at Damascus in the seventh century.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Adrian at Damascus
Saint Adrian suffered martyrdom with Sts Caesarius, Dacius, Savas,
Sabinian, Agrippa, and Thomas at Damascus in the seventh century.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Thomas at Damascus
Saint Thomas suffered martyrdom with Sts Caesarius, Dacius, Savas,
Sabinian, Agrippa, and Adrian at Damascus in the seventh century.
_________________________________________________________________
Monkmartyr James of Prodromou on Mt Athos
The monastic martyrs James of Kastoria and his disciples, the Deacon
James and Dionysius of Prodromou Monastery on Mt. Athos. St James was
tonsured on Mt. Athos at the Docheiariou monastery. Transferring to
the neglected Georgian skete of St John the Baptist, the monk restored
it under the supervision of the Elder Ignatius.
Fulfilling various obediences in the monastery, St James scaled the
heights of purity. He was granted heavenly revelations, just like the
Apostle Paul, so the saint also saw the mansions of Paradise and the
depths of Hades. By a gift from above, St James perceived the heart's
mysteries and the secret thoughts of those who came to him.
The saint also was found worthy of the gift of wonderworking. Visiting
with disciples in Aetolia, he worked many miracles, healing the sick
and instructing all. The Turkish authorities, fabricated false charges
against the monk that he allegedly intended to foment rebellion. In
this manner, they attempted to force the saint into renouncing
Orthodoxy. But St James and both his disciples, Deacon James and St
Dionysius, endured the fiercest of torments over a period of many
days. They suffered martyrdom on November 1, 1520.
The relics of the Monkmartyrs, glorified by miraculous healings, were
placed in the monastery of St Anastasia, Deliverer from Potions in the
small town of Galatista, near Thessalonica. In a short time, the fame
of the holy relics attractedabout 100 brethren to the monastery under
St Theonas (April 4), who himself was a disciple of St James.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr James the Deacon of Prodromou of Mt Athos
The holy monastic martyr Deacon James was a disciple of St James of
Kastoria of Prodromou Monastery on Mt. Athos.
The Turkish authorities in Aetolia, fabricated false charges against
St James of Kastoria that he intended to foment rebellion. In this
manner, they attempted to force the saint into renouncing Orthodoxy.
But St James and both his disciples, Deacon James and St Dionysius,
endured the fiercest of torments over a period of many days. They
suffered martyrdom on November 1, 1520.
The relics of the Monkmartyrs, glorified by miraculous healings, were
placed in the monastery of St Anastasia, Deliverer from Potions in the
small town of Galatista, near Thessalonica. In a short time, the fame
of the holy relics attractedabout 100 brethren to the monastery under
St Theonas (April 4), who himself was a disciple of St James.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Dionysius of Prodromou of Mt Athos
The monastic martyrs James of Kastoria and his disciples, the Deacon
James and Dionysius of Prodromou Monastery on Mt. Athos. St James was
tonsured on Mt. Athos at the Docheiariou monastery. Transferring to
the neglected Georgian skete of St John the Baptist, James restored it
under the supervision of the Elder Ignatius.
Fulfilling various obediences in the monastery, St James scaled the
heights of purity. He was granted heavenly revelations, just like the
Apostle Paul, so the saint also saw the mansions of Paradise and the
depths of Hades. By a gift from above, St James perceived the heart's
mysteries and the secret thoughts of those who came to him.
The saint also was found worthy of the gift of wonderworking. Visiting
with disciples in Aetolia, he worked many miracles, healing the sick
and instructing all. The Turkish authorities, fabricated false charges
against the monk that he allegedly intended to foment rebellion. In
this manner, they attempted to force the saint into renouncing
Orthodoxy. But St James and both his disciples, Deacon James and St
Dionysius, endured the fiercest of torments over a period of many
days. They suffered martyrdom on November 1, 1520.
The relics of the Monkmartyrs, glorified by miraculous healings, were
placed in the monastery of St Anastasia, Deliverer from Potions in the
small town of Galatista, near Thessalonica. In a short time, the fame
of the holy relics attractedabout 100 brethren to the monastery under
St Theonas (April 4), who himself was a disciple of St James.
_________________________________________________________________
Synaxis of the Holy Unmercenaries
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________