[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Fri Nov 2 05:00:13 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri Nov 2 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 Thessalonians 2:14-19
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,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have
persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,
16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so
as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come
upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time
in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face
with great desire.
18 Therefore we wanted to come to you-even I, Paul, time and again-but
Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even
you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Luke 12:2-12
2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden
that will not be known.
3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the
light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be
proclaimed on the housetops.
4 And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the
body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has
killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them
is forgotten before God.
7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear
therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
8 Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of
Man also will confess before the angels of God.
9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of
God.
10 And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be
forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it
will not be forgiven.
11 Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and
authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what
you should say.
12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought
to say.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Martyr Acindynus of Persia
Saint Acindynus suffered martyrdom in Persia along with Sts Pegasias,
Aphthonius, Elpidephorus, Anempodistus, and 7,000 and 7,000 other
Christians at the time of King Sapor II (310-381). These saints were
Sapor's courtiers, and were secret Christians. When the king began his
persecution against Christians, envious pagans denounced them to him.
Summoned to Sapor's presence for trial, the holy martyrs fearlessly
confessed their faith in the Holy Trinity. The king ordered them to be
beaten with whips.
Sapor told the people that Sts Acindynus, Pegasias, Anempodistus and
Elpidephorus would have their heads cut off, and that he would not
permit the Christians to bury their bodies.
A tremendous crowd accompanied these saints as they were led outside
the city walls for execution, glorifying Christ. On Sapor's orders,
soldiers massacred all the Christians in the procession (about 7,000),
including St Elpidephorus.
Acindynus, Pegasias, and Anempodistus were burned on the following day
with the mother of the emperor. Christians, came secretly by night to
the place of execution, found the bodies of the holy martyrs unharmed
by the fire, and they buried them with reverence.
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Martyr Pegasias of Persia
Saint Pegasias suffered martyrdom in Persia along with Sts Acindynus,
Aphthonius, Elpidephorus, Anempodistus and 7,000 other Christians at
the time of King Sapor II (310-381). These saints were Sapor's
courtiers, and were secret Christians. When the king began his
persecution against Christians, envious pagans denounced them to him.
Summoned to Sapor's presence for trial, the holy martyrs fearlessly
confessed their faith in the Holy Trinity. The king ordered them to be
beaten with whips.
Sapor told the people that Sts Acindynus, Pegasias, Anempodistus and
Elpidephorus would have their heads cut off, and that he would not
permit the Christians to bury their bodies.
A tremendous crowd accompanied these saints as they were led outside
the city walls for execution, glorifying Christ. On Sapor's orders,
soldiers massacred all the Christians in the procession (about 7,000),
including St Elpidephorus.
Acindynus, Pegasias, and Anempodistus were burned on the following day
with the mother of the emperor. Christians, came secretly by night to
the place of execution, found the bodies of the holy martyrs unharmed
by the fire, and they buried them with reverence.
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Martyr Aphthonius of Persia
Saint Aphthonius suffered martyrdom in Persia along with Sts
Acindynus, Elpidephorus, Anempodistus, Pegasias, and 7,000 other
Christians at the time of King Sapor II (310-381). These saints were
Sapor's courtiers, and were secret Christians. When the king began his
persecution against Christians, envious pagans denounced them to him.
Summoned to Sapor's presence for trial, the holy martyrs fearlessly
confessed their faith in the Holy Trinity. The king ordered them to be
beaten with whips.
Sapor told the people that Sts Acindynus, Pegasias, Anempodistus and
Elpidephorus would have their heads cut off, and that he would not
permit the Christians to bury their bodies.
A tremendous crowd accompanied these saints as they were led outside
the city walls for execution, glorifying Christ. On Sapor's orders,
soldiers massacred all the Christians in the procession (about 7,000),
including St Elpidephorus.
Acindynus, Pegasias, and Anempodistus were burned on the following day
with the mother of the emperor. Christians, came secretly by night to
the place of execution, found the bodies of the holy martyrs unharmed
by the fire, and they buried them with reverence.
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Martyr Elpidephorus of Persia
Saint Elpidephorus suffered martyrdom in Persia along with Sts
Acindynus, Aphthonius, Anempodistus, Pegasias, and 7,000 other
Christians at the time of King Sapor II (310-381). These saints were
Sapor's courtiers, and were secret Christians. When the king began his
persecution against Christians, envious pagans denounced them to him.
Summoned to Sapor's presence for trial, the holy martyrs fearlessly
confessed their faith in the Holy Trinity. The king ordered them to be
beaten with whips.
Sapor told the people that Sts Acindynus, Pegasias, Anempodistus and
Elpidephorus would have their heads cut off, and that he would not
permit the Christians to bury their bodies.
A tremendous crowd accompanied these saints as they were led outside
the city walls for execution, glorifying Christ. On Sapor's orders,
soldiers massacred all the Christians in the procession (about 7,000),
including St Elpidephorus.
Acindynus, Pegasias, and Anempodistus were burned on the following day
with the mother of the emperor. Christians, came secretly by night to
the place of execution, found the bodies of the holy martyrs unharmed
by the fire, and they buried them with reverence.
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Martyr Anempodistus of Persia
Saint Anempodistus suffered martyrdom in Persia along with Sts
Acindynus, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus, Pegasias, and 7,000 other
Christians at the time of King Sapor II (310-381). These saints were
Sapor's courtiers, and were secret Christians. When the king began his
persecution against Christians, envious pagans denounced them to him.
Summoned to Sapor's presence for trial, the holy martyrs fearlessly
confessed their faith in the Holy Trinity. The king ordered them to be
beaten with whips.
Sapor told the people that Sts Acindynus, Pegasias, Anempodistus and
Elpidephorus would have their heads cut off, and that he would not
permit the Christians to bury their bodies.
A tremendous crowd accompanied these saints as they were led outside
the city walls for execution, glorifying Christ. On Sapor's orders,
soldiers massacred all the Christians in the procession (about 7,000),
including St Elpidephorus.
Acindynus, Pegasias, and Anempodistus were burned on the following day
with the mother of the emperor. Christians, came secretly by night to
the place of execution, found the bodies of the holy martyrs unharmed
by the fire, and they buried them with reverence.
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St Marcian of Cyrrhus
Saint Marcian of Cyrrhus lived during the fourth century. He went into
the desert, where he lived for many years in solitude, unceasing
prayer, and strict fasting. He built a small cell, and settled in it.
The saint never lit candles for reading at night when he fulfilled his
Rule of prayer, for the cell was filled with a divine light.
After several years the monk accepted two disciples, settling them
beside him, but he continued to live as a hermit. The Patriarch
Flavian of Antioch (February 18) and other bishops entreated the monk
to abandon his strict solitude for the benefit of Christians, but he
would not agree.
However, while not quitting his cell, he taught those coming to him
for instruction and he turned many away from heresy and led them to
the Orthodox Faith. Before his end, St Marcian instructed his disciple
Eusebius to bury him secretly far from his cell, in order to shun
posthumous glory and avoid contention among those wanting his relics
for nearby churches. St Marcian died in the year 388.
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Ozerianka Icon of God of Shuiu-Smolensk
The Shuiu-Smolensk Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God was painted
in the years 1654-1655 in the Resurrection parish of the city of
Shuiu, where an unrelenting pestilence raged. Trusting in the mercy of
God and the intercession of the Mother of God, the parishioners of the
Resurrection church commissioned a certain pious monk to paint the
icon of the Smolensk Mother of God, an icon long attributed with being
a rescuer of the Russian people from enemies and misfortune.
The parishioners spent the whole week in prayer and fasting while the
image was being painted. When the icon was finished, the priest and
the people took it to the church and set it in a specially built
place. From that time the pestilence began to ease, at first in the
area of the Resurrection parish, and then also in all the city.
>From the Icon of the Mother of God many miracles of healing took
place, especially of eye diseases. The icon is also celebrated on July
11, July 28, and Bright Tuesday.
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7,000 Martyrs who suffered in Persia
These 7,000 martyrs of Christ suffered in Persia with Sts Acindynus,
Pegasias, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus, and Anempodistus during the reign
of King Sapor II (310-381).
A tremendous crowd accompanied these saints as they were led outside
the city walls for execution, glorifying Christ. On Sapor's orders,
soldiers massacred all the Christians in the procession (about 7,000).
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