[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed Nov 7 05:00:20 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed Nov 7 2007

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

-----------------------------

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that
you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you
ought to walk and to please God;
2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should
abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in
sanctification and honor,
5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this
matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also
forewarned you and testified.
7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has
also given us His Holy Spirit.
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write
to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all
Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own
business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that
you may lack nothing.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

-----------------------------

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8  (Thursday)
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need
that I should write to you.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes
as a thief in the night.
3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes
upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not
escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should
overtake you as a thief.
5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the
night nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be
sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are
drunk at night.
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate
of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

-----------------------------

Luke 12:48-59
48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes,
shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him
much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him
they will ask the more.
49 I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already
kindled!
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am
till it is accomplished!
51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not
at all, but rather division.
52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against
two, and two against three.
53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother
against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against
her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
54 Then He also said to the multitudes, "Whenever you see a cloud
rising out of the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming'; and
so it is.
55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be hot
weather'; and there is.
56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth,
but how is it you do not discern this time?
57 Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?
58 When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every
effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the
judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you
into prison.
59 I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the
very last mite.
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

-----------------------------

Luke 13:1-9  (Thursday)
1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these
Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they
suffered such things?
3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them,
do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt
in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
6 He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in
his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I
have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down;
why does it use up the ground?'
8 But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also,
until I dig around it and fertilize it.
9 'And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it
down.' "
Scripture Reading 4 of 4

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

33 Holy Martyrs of Melitene
The Holy Martyr Hieron of Melitene and Those with him The holy martyr
Hieron was born in the city of Tiana in great Cappadocia. Raised by a
pious mother, he was a kindly and good Christian.
The co-ruling emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (284-305)sent
a large military detachment headed by Lysias to Cappadocia to
eradicate Christianity there, and also to conscript healthy and strong
men into the imperial army. Among those pressed into service, Lysias
also ordered his men to draft Hieron, who was distinguished by his
great physical strength and dexterity. But Hieron refused to serve
emperors who persecuted Christians. When they attempted to seize him
by force and bring him to Lysias, he took a stick and started beating
the soldiers who had been sent to bring him. The soldiers scattered,
ashamed of being defeated by a single man. Hieron then hid himself in
a cave with eighteen other Christians. Lysias would not risk losing
his soldiers by storming the cave.
Upon the advice of Cyriacus, one of Hieron's friends, Lysias lifted
the siege of the cave and withdrew his detachment. Then Cyriacus
persuaded Hieron not to offer resistance to the authorities. He and
the other new conscripts and accompanying soldiers were sent to the
nearby city of Melitene.
Soon Hieron had a vision in his sleep, in which his impending
martyrdom was foretold. Lysias told the soldiers gathered at Melitene
to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Hieron and another thirty-two
soldiers refused to do this, and openly confessed their faith in
Christ. Then the persecutor gave orders to beat the martyrs, and to
cut off Hieron's arm at the elbow. After cruel tortures they threw the
martyrs into prison barely alive, and they beheaded them four days
later.
A certain rich and illustrious Christian by the name of Chrysanthus
ransomed Hieron's head from Lysias. When the persecutions finally
ceased, he built a church on the place where they executed the holy
martyrs, and he placed the venerable head in it. The bodies of all the
executed saints were secretly buried by Christians. In reign of the
emperor Justinian, during the construction of the church of Hagia
Eirene (Holy Peace), the venerable relics were uncovered and found
incorrupt.
The other martyrs are: Hesychius, Nicander, Athanasius, Mamas,
Barachius, Callinicus, Theogenes, Nikon, Longinus, Theodore, Valerius,
Xanthius, Theodoulus, Callimachus, Eugene, Theodochus, Ostrychius,
Epiphanius, Maximian, Ducitius, Claudian, Theophilus, Gigantius,
Dorotheus, Theodotus, Castrichius, Anicletus, Themelius, Eutychius,
Hilarion, Diodotus and Amonitus.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Hieron of Melitene
The Holy Martyr Hieron of Melitene and Those with him The holy martyr
Hieron was born in the city of Tiana in great Cappadocia. Raised by a
pious mother, he was a kindly and good Christian.
The co-ruling emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (284-305)sent
a large military detachment headed by Lysias to Cappadocia to
eradicate Christianity there, and also to conscript healthy and strong
men into the imperial army. Among those pressed into service, Lysias
also ordered his men to draft Hieron, who was distinguished by his
great physical strength and dexterity. But Hieron refused to serve
emperors who persecuted Christians. When they attempted to seize him
by force and bring him to Lysias, he took a stick and started beating
the soldiers who had been sent to bring him. The soldiers scattered,
ashamed of being defeated by a single man. Hieron then hid himself in
a cave with eighteen other Christians. Lysias would not risk losing
his soldiers by storming the cave.
Upon the advice of Cyriacus, one of Hieron's friends, Lysias lifted
the siege of the cave and withdrew his detachment. Then Cyriacus
persuaded Hieron not to offer resistance to the authorities. He and
the other new conscripts and accompanying soldiers were sent to the
nearby city of Melitene.
Soon Hieron had a vision in his sleep, in which his impending
martyrdom was foretold. Lysias told the soldiers gathered at Melitene
to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Hieron and another thirty-two
soldiers refused to do this, and openly confessed their faith in
Christ. Then the persecutor gave orders to beat the martyrs, and to
cut off Hieron's arm at the elbow. After cruel tortures they threw the
martyrs into prison barely alive, and they beheaded them four days
later.
A certain rich and illustrious Christian by the name of Chrysanthus
ransomed Hieron's head from Lysias. When the persecutions finally
ceased, he built a church on the place where they executed the holy
martyrs, and he placed the venerable head in it. The bodies of all the
executed saints were secretly buried by Christians. In reign of the
emperor Justinian, during the construction of the church of Hagia
Eirene (Holy Peace), the venerable relics were uncovered and found
incorrupt.
The other martyrs are: Hesychius, Nicander, Athanasius, Mamas,
Barachius, Callinicus, Theogenes, Nikon, Longinus, Theodore, Valerius,
Xanthius, Theodoulus, Callimachus, Eugene, Theodochus, Ostrychius,
Epiphanius, Maximian, Ducitius, Claudian, Theophilus, Gigantius,
Dorotheus, Theodotus, Castrichius, Anicletus, Themelius, Eutychius,
Hilarion, Diodotus and Amonitus.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Hesychius of Melitene
Saint Hesychius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Nicander of Melitene
Saint Nicander was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Athanasius of Melitene
Saint Athanasius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Mamas of Melitene
Saint Mamas was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St Hieron
of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Barachius of Melitene
Saint Barachius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Callinicus of Melitene
Saint Callinicus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theogenes of Melitene
Saint Theogenes was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Icon of the Mother of God of Melitene
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Longinus of Melitene
Saint Longinus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theodore of Melitene
Saint Theodore was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Valerius of Melitene
Saint Valerius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Xanthius of Melitene
Saint Xanthius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theodoulus of Melitene
Saint Theodoulus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Callimachus of Melitene
Saint Callimachus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Eugene of Melitene
Saint Eugene was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theodochus of Melitene
Saint Theodochus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Ostrychius of Melitene
Saint Ostrychius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Epiphanius of Melitene
Saint Epiphanius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Maximian of Melitene
Saint Maximian was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Ducitius of Melitene
Saint Ducitius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Claudian of Melitene
Saint Claudian was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theophilus of Melitene
Saint Theophilus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Gigantius of Melitene
Saint Gigantius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Dorotheus of Melitene
Saint Dorotheus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theodotus of Melitene
Saint Theodotus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Castrychius of Melitene
Saint Castrychius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Anicletus of Melitene
Saint Anicletus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theomelius of Melitene
Saint Theomelius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Eutychius of Melitene
Saint Eutychius was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Hilarion of Melitene
Saint Hilarion was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Diodotus of Melitene
Saint Diodotus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Amonitus of Melitene
Saint Amonitus was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St
Hieron of Melitene.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Lazarus the Wonderworker of Mt. Galesius Near
Ephesus
Saint Lazarus the Wonderworker of Mt Galesius near Ephesus was born in
Lydia, in the city of Magnesium. An educated young man who loved God,
Lazarus became a monk at the monastery of St Sava, the founder of
great ascetic piety in Palestine. He spent ten years within the walls
of the monastery, winning the love and respect of the brethren for his
intense monastic struggles.
Ordained to the holy priesthood by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, St
Lazarus returned to his native country and settled near Ephesus, on
desolate Mount Galesius. Here he saw a wondrous vision: a fiery
pillar, rising up to the heavens, was encircled by angels singing,
"Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered."
On the place where the saint beheld this vision, he built a church in
honor of the Resurrection of Christ and took upon himself the feat of
pillar-dwelling. Monks soon began to flock to the great ascetic,
thirsting for spiritual nourishment by the divinely-inspired words and
blessed example of the saint, and a monastery was established there.
Having received a revelation about the day of his death, the saint
told the brethren. Through the tearful prayers of all the monks, the
Lord prolonged the earthly life of St Lazarus for another fifteen
years.
St Lazarus died at 72 years of age, in the year 1053. The brethren
buried the body of the saint at the pillar upon which he had struggled
in asceticism. He was glorified by many miracles after his death.
St Lazarus is also commemorated on July 17.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Zosimas the Abbot of Vorbozomsk
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Finding of the relics of the Venerable Cyril the Abbot of
Novoezersk, Vologda
Saint Cyril of New Lake was born into a pious family. The Lord marked
him as one of the chosen even before he was born. Cyril's mother was
praying in church during the Divine Liturgy, and the infant in her
womb cried out, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabaoth!"
>From his childhood the saint was fond of solitude and prayer, and he
dreamt of monastic life. At fifteen years of age Cyril secretly left
his parental home, intending to enter the Pskov Caves monastery. He
did not know the way to the monastery, and took nothing from home for
the journey. He went his way, putting all his trust in the Lord and
His All-Pure Mother. Twenty versts from the city the youth met a
magnificent monastic Elder, who led him to the monastery. As he left,
he blessed him with the words, "May God bless you, my child, and grant
you the angelic schema, and may you be a chosen vessel of the Divine
Spirit." Having said this, the Elder became invisible. The boy
realized that this had been a messenger from God, and he gave thanks
to the Lord.
The igumen St Cornelius (February 20) saw with his clairvoyant eye the
grace manifest in the young man. He provided him with much guidance
and tonsured him into the monastic schema with the name Cyril. The
fifteen-year-old monk astonished the brethren with his efforts. He
emaciated the flesh through fasting and prayer, and zealously
fulfilled obediences. Day and night he was ready to study the Word of
God. Even then he thought to end his days in solitude in the
wilderness.
The boy's parents mourned him as one dead, but once an Elder of the
monastery of St Cornelius came to them and told them about their son
and his life at the monastery. The joyful news confirmed in Cyril's
mother her love for God. She spoke with her husband about leaving to
the monastery her portion of the inheritance, then left the world and
became a nun with the name Elena (Helen). She died in peace a short
time later.
The saint's father came to the monastery, and Igumen Cornelius told
Cyril to meet with him. The saint was troubled, but not daring to
disobey the igumen, he fell down at his father's feet, imploring
forgiveness for secretly leaving home. The father forgave his son, and
he himself remained at the monastery. St Cornelius tonsured him into
monasticism with the name Barsanuphius, and gave him to his son for
instruction.
Three years later, he peacefully fell asleep in the Lord. His son
continued to toil more fervently for the Lord, disdaining his own
will, and in was obedient not only to the igumen, but also to the
brethren. He thirsted to go about all the Russian land, venerating its
holy shrines and to find for himself a wilderness place for a life of
silence.
With the blessing of St Cornelius, St Cyril left the monastery in
which he had grown strong spiritually, and he went to the coastal
regions, roaming through the forests and the wild places, eating tree
roots and berries. The saint spent about twenty years in this
difficult exploit of wanderer, and he went to the outskirts of Moscow,
Novgorod and Pskov, but he never entered any house nor did he accept
alms. He wandered about during the day, and spent his nights at prayer
on church porches, and he attended the church services.
Once while at prayer, St Cyril saw a heavenly light indicating the
direction where he should found a monastery. He set off on his way at
once, and having reached the Tikhvin monastery, he spent three days
and three nights there in ceaseless prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos.
The Mother of God appeared to him in a dream. Showing Her approval of
him, She said, "My servant Cyril, pleaser of the Most Holy Trinity, go
to the Eastern region of White Lake, and the Lord My Son will show you
the place of rest for your old age."
The saint proceeded to White Lake, weeping copious tears at the
miraculous vision. On the lake he saw a small island, from which a
pillar of fire rose up to the sky. There, beneath a centuries old
spruce tree, St Cyril built a hut, and then set up two cells: one for
himself, the other for future brethren. The hermit also constructed
two small churches, one in honor of the Resurrection of Christ and the
other in honor of the Mother of God Hodigitria. He underwent many
temptations from invisible enemies, and from idlers roving about, but
he overcame everything by brave endurance and constant prayer. News of
his holy life spread everywhere, and brethren gathered around him.
There were many instances of healing through his prayers, and the Lord
also granted His saint the gift of foresight. Sensing his impending
end, St Cyril summoned the brethren. With tears of humility the saint
instructed his spiritual children one last time, until his voice gave
out. For a long time then he was silent, but suddenly he cried out
with loud sobbing, "I go to the Lord into life eternal, but I entrust
you to God the Word and His Grace, bestowing an inheritance and
sanctification upon all. May it help you. But I beseech you, do not
become lax in fasting and prayers, guard yourself from the snares of
the Enemy, and the Lord in His ineffable mercy will not condemn your
humility."
Having said this, the saint gave a final kiss to the brethren,
received the Holy Mysteries, signed himself with the Sign of the
Cross, and with the words "Glory to God for everything!" he gave up
his pure soul to the Lord on February 4, 1532.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Melasippus with his wife and son at Ancyra
The Martyrs Melasippus and Karina and their son Antoninus, and 40
children converted by their martyrdom at Ancyra suffered during the
reign of the emperor Julian the Apostate in the city of Ancyra in
Phrygia in the year 363. The holy Martyrs Melasippus and Karina,
lacerated by iron hooks and exhausted, died under torture.
Their son Antoninus, whom the persecutor forced to watch the torture
of his parents, spat in the face of the apostate emperor. For this he
was subjected to cruel tortures, but he remained unharmed, and then he
was beheaded. Forty other youths, seeing that the Lord had preserved
His confessor Antoninus unharmed by tortures, believed in Christ, and
they openly confessed their faith and endured martyrdom..
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Karina with her husband and son at Ancyra
The Martyrs Karina and her husband Melasippus suffered during the
reign of the emperor Julian the Apostate in the city of Ancyra in
Phrygia in the year 363. They were lacerated by iron hooks and died
under torture.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Antoninus with his parents at Ancyra
Saint Antoninus was the son of Sts Melasippus and Karina. When the
persecutor forced him to watch the torture of his parents, he spat in
the face of the apostate emperor. For this he was subjected to cruel
tortures, but he remained unharmed, and then he was beheaded.
_________________________________________________________________
40 Martyred Children converted by the Martyrdom of
Melasippus, Karina and Antoninus, at Ancyra
Forty holy children were converted by the martyrdom of Sts Melasippus,
Karina and their son Antoninus at Ancyra in Phrygia in the year 363
during the reign of the emperor Julian the Apostate.
The forty youths, seeing that the Lord had preserved St Antoninus
unharmed by tortures, believed in Christ, confessed their faith and
endured martyrdom.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Auctus at Amphipolis in Macedonia
Saints Auctus suffered martyrdom with Sts Taurion and Thessalonica,
the daughter of a pagan priest. When the impious father learned that
his daughter had become a Christian, he ruthlessly beat her and threw
her out of the house, with no means of providing for herself. Sts
Auctus and Taurion attempted to intercede for the girl, and to reason
with the embittered father. The pagan priest denounced them both to
the authorities, and they were arrested.
After confessing their faith in Christ before the torturers and
undergoing cruel torments, the saints were then beheaded. Soon after
their martyric death, St Thessalonica also died. Her body was
reverently buried in the city of Amphypolis in Macedonia, together
with the holy Martyrs Auctus and Taurion.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Taurion at Amphipolis in Macedonia
Saints Taurion and Auctus suffered martyrdom with Thessalonica, the
daughter of a pagan priest Cleon. When the impious father learned that
his daughter had become a Christian, he ruthlessly beat her and threw
her out of the house, with no means of providing for herself. Sts
Auctus and Taurion attempted to intercede for the girl, and to reason
with the embittered father. Cleon denounced them both to the
authorities, and they were arrested.
After confessing their faith in Christ before the torturers and
undergoing cruel torments, the saints were then beheaded. Soon after
their martyric death, St Thessalonica also died. Her body was
reverently buried in the city of Amphypolis in Macedonia, together
with the holy Martyrs Auctus and Taurion.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Thessalonica at Amphipolis in Macedonia
Saint Thessalonica was the daughter of the pagan priest Cleon. When
the impious father learned that his daughter had become a Christian,
he ruthlessly beat her and threw her out of the house, with no means
of providing for herself. Sts Auctus and Taurion attempted to
intercede for the girl, and to reason with the embittered father.
Cleon denounced them both to the authorities, and they were arrested.
After confessing their faith in Christ before the torturers and
undergoing cruel torments, the saints were then beheaded. Soon after
their martyric death, St Thessalonica also died. Her body was
reverently buried in the city of Amphypolis in Macedonia, together
with the holy Martyrs Auctus and Taurion.
_________________________________________________________________
Icon of the Mother of God "the Joyful"
The "Joyful" (Vzigranie) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos appeared near
Moscow on November 7, 1795 . Nothing is known of the history of the
icon, except that many miracles have taken place before it.
Icons of this name are found in the Novodevichy Monastery in Moscow,
and in the Vatopedi Monastery on Mt Athos. In appearance, the "Joyful"
Icon resembles the "Pelagonitissa" Icon, a variant of the
Glykophylousa ("Sweet-Kissing") or Eleousa type.
The Icon is sometimes called "Child Leaping for Joy."
_________________________________________________________________