[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Nov 15 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren
beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for
salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the
truth,
14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the
glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you
were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who
has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by
grace,
17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run
swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,
2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for
not all have faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from
the evil one.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do
and will do the things we command you.
5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into
the patience of Christ.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4


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2 Thessalonians 3:6-18  (Friday)
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not
according to the tradition which he received from us.
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not
disorderly among you;
8 nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor
and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,
9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an
example of how you should follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone
will not work, neither shall he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly
manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus
Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.
14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that
person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every
way. The Lord be with you all.
17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every
epistle; so I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4


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Luke 16:1-9
1 He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had
a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was
wasting his goods.
2 So he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you?
Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be
steward.'
3 Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my
master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am
ashamed to beg.
4 'I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the
stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.'
5 So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to
the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
6 And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, 'Take
your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'
7 Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A
hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and
write eighty.'
8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt
shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their
generation than the sons of light.
9 And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon,
that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.
Scripture Reading 3 of 4


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Luke 16:15-18; 17:1-4  (Friday)
15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before
men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men
is an abomination in the sight of God.
16 The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the
kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one
tittle of the law to fail.
18 Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and
whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
1 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses
should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck,
and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of
these little ones.
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke
him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in
a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him.
Scripture Reading 4 of 4



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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Martyr and Confessor Gurias of Edessa
The Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas and Habibus: during
the persecution against Christians under the emperors Diocletian
(284-305) and Maximian (305-311). The two friends Gurias and Samonas,
preachers of the Word of God, were arrested in the city of Edessa.
The saints refused to offer sacrifice to the gods, and boldly
confessed their faith in Christ. For this they were subjected to cruel
tortures: they were beaten, hung up by their hands, heavy weights were
tied to their feet, and they were cast into a stifling prison.
The martyrs endured everything with firmness and Samonas uttered a
prayer to the Lord, which one of the witnesses to their death wrote
down: "O Lord my God, against Whose will not a single sparrow falls
into the snare. It was You Who made room for David in his sorrow (Ps.
4:1), Who proved the Prophet David stronger than lions (Dan. ch. 6),
and granted a child of Abraham to be victor over torture and flames
(Dan. ch. 3, ch. 14). You know also, Lord, the infirmity of our
nature, You see the struggle set before us. Our foe strives to snatch
us, the work of Your right hand, away from You and to deprive us of
the glory which is in You. With Your compassionate eye watching over
us, preserve in us the inextinguishable light of Your Commandments.
Guide our steps by Your light, and make us worthy of Your Kingdom, for
You are blessed unto ages of ages." By night, they took the martyrs
out beyond the city and beheaded them (+ 299-306). Christians buried
their holy bodies with reverence.
After some years, the last pagan emperor, Licinius (311-324), began a
persecution against Christians. Habibus, a deacon of the Church of
Edessa whom the emperor ordered to be arrested for his zealous
spreading of the true Faith, presented himself before the executioners
when he learned they were searching for him. The saint confessed his
faith in Christ and was sentenced to be burned alive. The martyr went
willingly into the fire and with a prayer surrendered his soul to the
Lord. When the fire went out, the mother and relatives of the saint
found his body unharmed. They buried the martyr next to Sts Gurias and
Samonas.
After the death of the saints, numerous miracles were wrought by them
for those who entreated their help with faith and love. Once, a
certain Gothic soldier, sent to serve at Edessa, took the pious virgin
Euphemia as his wife. Before this the barbarian vowed to her mother
Sophia at the graves of the Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Habibus that
he would do his spouse no harm, and would never insult her, but would
always love and cherish her.
At the completion of his service in Edessa, he took Euphemia with him
back to his native land. It turned out that he had deceived her, for
he already had a wife at home, and Euphemia became her slave. Her evil
husband threatened to kill her if she revealed to anyone that they
were married. Euphemia suffered much abuse and humiliation. When she
gave birth to a son, the jealous Gothic woman poisoned him. Euphemia
turned with prayer to the holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Habibus,
the witnesses to the perjurer's oath, and the Lord delivered Euphemia
from her suffering and miraculously returned her to Edessa, where she
was welcomed by her mother.
After a certain while the Goth was again sent to serve in Edessa. The
whole city learned of his misdeeds after he was denounced by Sophia.
The Goth was executed by order of the prefect of the city.
In an Akathist, the Holy Church addresses the martyrs: "Rejoice,
Gurias, Samonas and Habibus, Heavenly Patrons of honorable marriage."
We pray to them for deliverance from family turmoil, and from marital
difficulties, especially where one spouse hates the other without
cause.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Samonas of Edessa
The Holy Martyrs and Confessors Samonas, Gurias, and Habibus suffered
during the persecution against Christians under the emperors
Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311). The two friends Gurias
and Samonas, preachers of the Word of God, were arrested in the city
of Edessa.
The saints refused to offer sacrifice to the gods, and boldly
confessed their faith in Christ. For this they were subjected to cruel
tortures: they were beaten, hung up by their hands, heavy weights were
tied to their feet, and they were cast into a stifling prison.
The martyrs endured everything with firmness and Samonas uttered a
prayer to the Lord, which one of the witnesses to their death wrote
down: "O Lord my God, against Whose will not a single sparrow falls
into the snare. It was You Who made room for David in his sorrow (Ps.
4:1), Who proved the Prophet David stronger than lions (Dan. ch. 6),
and granted a child of Abraham to be victor over torture and flames
(Dan. ch. 3, ch. 14). You know also, Lord, the infirmity of our
nature, You see the struggle set before us. Our foe strives to snatch
us, the work of Your right hand, away from You and to deprive us of
the glory which is in You. With Your compassionate eye watching over
us, preserve in us the inextinguishable light of Your Commandments.
Guide our steps by Your light, and make us worthy of Your Kingdom, for
You are blessed unto ages of ages."
The martyrs were taken by night and led outside the city, where they
were beheaded (+ 299-306). Christians buried their holy bodies with
reverence.
After the death of the saints, numerous miracles were wrought by them
for those who entreated their help with faith and love. Once, a
certain Gothic soldier, sent to serve at Edessa, took the pious virgin
Euphemia as his wife. Before this the barbarian vowed to her mother
Sophia at the graves of the Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Habibus that
he would do his spouse no harm, and would never insult her, but would
always love and cherish her.
At the completion of his service in Edessa, he took Euphemia with him
back to his native land. It turned out that he had deceived her, for
he already had a wife at home, and Euphemia became her slave. Her evil
husband threatened to kill her if she revealed to anyone that they
were married. Euphemia suffered much abuse and humiliation. When she
gave birth to a son, the jealous Gothic woman poisoned him. Euphemia
turned with prayer to the holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Habibus,
the witnesses to the perjurer's oath, and the Lord delivered Euphemia
from her suffering and miraculously returned her to Edessa, where she
was welcomed by her mother.
After a certain while the Goth was again sent to serve in Edessa. The
whole city learned of his misdeeds after he was denounced by Sophia.
The Goth was executed by order of the prefect of the city.
In an Akathist, the Holy Church addresses the martyrs: "Rejoice,
Gurias, Samonas and Habibus, Heavenly Patrons of honorable marriage."
We pray to them for deliverance from family turmoil, and from marital
difficulties, especially where one spouse hates the other without
cause.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Habibus of Edessa
The Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas and Habibus: during
the persecution against Christians under the emperors Diocletian
(284-305) and Maximian (305-311). The two friends Gurias and Samonas,
preachers of the Word of God, were arrested in the city of Edessa.
The saints refused to offer sacrifice to the gods, and boldly
confessed their faith in Christ. For this they were subjected to cruel
tortures: they were beaten, hung up by their hands, heavy weights were
tied to their feet, and they were cast into a stifling prison.
The martyrs endured everything with firmness and Samonas uttered a
prayer to the Lord, which one of the witnesses to their death wrote
down: "O Lord my God, against Whose will not a single sparrow falls
into the snare. It was You Who made room for David in his sorrow (Ps.
4:1), Who proved the Prophet David stronger than lions (Dan. ch. 6),
and granted a child of Abraham to be victor over torture and flames
(Dan. ch. 3, ch. 14). You know also, Lord, the infirmity of our
nature, You see the struggle set before us. Our foe strives to snatch
us, the work of Your right hand, away from You and to deprive us of
the glory which is in You. With Your compassionate eye watching over
us, preserve in us the inextinguishable light of Your Commandments.
Guide our steps by Your light, and make us worthy of Your Kingdom, for
You are blessed unto ages of ages." By night, they took the martyrs
out beyond the city and beheaded them (+ 299-306). Christians buried
their holy bodies with reverence.
After some years, the last pagan emperor, Licinius (311-324), began a
persecution against Christians. Habibus, a deacon of the Church of
Edessa whom the emperor ordered to be arrested for his zealous
spreading of the true Faith, presented himself before the executioners
when he learned they were searching for him. The saint confessed his
faith in Christ and was sentenced to be burned alive. The martyr went
willingly into the fire and with a prayer surrendered his soul to the
Lord. When the fire went out, the mother and relatives of the saint
found his body unharmed. They buried the martyr next to Sts Gurias and
Samonas.
After the death of the saints, numerous miracles were wrought by them
for those who entreated their help with faith and love. Once, a
certain Gothic soldier, sent to serve at Edessa, took the pious virgin
Euphemia as his wife. Before this the barbarian vowed to her mother
Sophia at the graves of the Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Habibus that
he would do his spouse no harm, and would never insult her, but would
always love and cherish her.
At the completion of his service in Edessa, he took Euphemia with him
back to his native land. It turned out that he had deceived her, for
he already had a wife at home, and Euphemia became her slave. Her evil
husband threatened to kill her if she revealed to anyone that they
were married. Euphemia suffered much abuse and humiliation. When she
gave birth to a son, the jealous Gothic woman poisoned him. Euphemia
turned with prayer to the holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Habibus,
the witnesses to the perjurer's oath, and the Lord delivered Euphemia
from her suffering and miraculously returned her to Edessa, where she
was welcomed by her mother.
After a certain while the Goth was again sent to serve in Edessa. The
whole city learned of his misdeeds after he was denounced by Sophia.
The Goth was executed by order of the prefect of the city.
In an Akathist, the Holy Church addresses the martyrs: "Rejoice,
Gurias, Samonas and Habibus, Heavenly Patrons of honorable marriage."
We pray to them for deliverance from family turmoil, and from marital
difficulties, especially where one spouse hates the other without
cause.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Elpidius who suffered under Julian the Apostate
The Holy Martyrs Elpidius, Marcellus and Eustochius suffered under the
emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363). St Elpidius was a senator. They
tried him before the imperial judge on charges of being a Christian.
The martyrs endured many terrible torments, and they died after being
thrown into a fire. At the place where Christians buried the relics of
the saints, Christ appeared with an host of angels and resurrected
Elpidius. Then the emperor gave orders to arrest the holy martyr
again.
During the torture, idols standing nearby crumbled into dust through
the prayer of the saint. More than six thousand pagans witnessed this
miracle and were converted to Christ. St Elpidius was burned again.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Marcellus who suffered under Julian the Apostate
The Holy Martyrs Marcellus, Elpidius, and Eustochius suffered under
the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363).
The martyrs endured many terrible torments, and they died after being
thrown into a fire.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Eustochius who suffered under Julian the Apostate
The Holy Martyrs Elpidius, Marcellus and Eustochius suffered under the
emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363). St Elpidius was a senator. They
tried him before the imperial judge on charges of being a Christian.
The martyrs endured many terrible torments, and they died after being
thrown into a fire. At the place where Christians buried the relics of
the saints, Christ appeared with a host of angels and resurrected
Elpidius. Then the emperor gave orders to arrest the holy martyr
again.
During the torture, idols standing nearby crumbled into dust through
the prayer of the saint. More than six thousand pagans witnessed this
miracle and were converted to Christ. St Elpidius was burned again.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Demetrius of Thrace
No information available at this time.
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Venerable Paisius Velichkovsky
Saint Paisius Velichkovsky was born in Poltava in Little Russia on
December 21, 1722, and was the eleventh of twelve children. His father
John was a priest, who named him Peter at his Baptism, in honor of St
Peter the Metropolitan of Moscow, on whose Feast he was born.
After the children's father died, their mother Irene raised them in
piety. Peter was sent to study at the Moghila Academy in Kiev in 1735.
After four years, Peter decided to leave the world and become a monk.
At the age of seventeen, he went in search of a monastery and a good
spiritual Father. For seven years Peter visited various monasteries,
including the Kiev Caves Lavra, but he did not feel drawn to any of
the monasteries of Ukraine.
After being made a rassophore monk (one blessed to wear the rasson,
but not yet tonsured "into the mantle") at the St Nicholas Medvedevsky
Monastery with the name Platon, he found that there was no experienced
Elder there who could teach him obedience or give him spiritual
direction. Not wishing to begin his monastic life without such
guidance, he left the monastery a week after his tonsure with the
blessing of his Elder.
At first, he went to Kiev, where he happened to meet his
sister-in-law, the widow of his older brother Archpriest John. She
informed him of his mother's sorrow when he left Kiev, and her mind
seemed to be affected by her grief. Then one day an angel appeared to
her and told her that instead of loving the Creator with her whole
heart and soul, she loved His creation (her son) more. Because of this
excessive love, the angel went on, she was thinking of starving
herself to death, which would result in her eternal condemnation. The
angel said that by God's grace, her son would become a monk, and that
she should also renounce the world and become a nun. After this, she
became calm and accepted God's will. She entered a convent and was
tonsured with the name Juliana. After about ten years, she departed to
the Lord.
While at Kiev, Platon met two monks from Romania who were about to
return to their country. After crossing the border into Moldavia, they
came to Vlachia and the Skete of St Nicholas, which is called
Treisteny, around 1745. The Elder of the Skete, Hieroschemamonk
Michael, was away on business in Ukraine, so Platon and his companions
were welcomed by the Superior, Fr Demetrius. Platon was placed under a
general obedience and given a cell near the Skete, from which the
church was visible.
As he was sleeping one night, the semantron was sounded calling the
monks to Sunday Matins, but Platon did not hear it. He woke up and ran
to the church, only to find that the Gospel had already been read, and
the Canon was being sung. In his grief and shame, he did not enter the
church, but returned to his cell and wept bitter tears. After the
Liturgy, when it was time for the meal, the Superior and the Elder
were surprised that Platon had not been seen at the services. The
Elder ordered that the meal be delayed while he sent a Fr Athanasius
to find out what had happened to Platon. Fr Athanasius found him and
asked why he was weeping. With difficulty, Platon was able to tell him
the cause of his sorrow. Fr Athanasius tried to console him and urged
him to come to the Skete, where the others were waiting for him.
Finally, he was persuaded to go.
Seeing the brethren at table but not eating, Platon fell down before
them weeping and asking forgiveness. The Elder and the Superior lifted
him up and heard from Fr Athanasius the reason for his sorrow. The
Elder told Platon not to grieve so over something that had happened
involuntarily, and did his best to console him. From that time,
however, the saint would not sleep lying down in bed, but sitting up
on a bench.
One day the Elder Onuphrius of Kyrkoul visited the Skete and spoke
about his Skete at Kyrkoul. Platon long to see Kyrkoul, and so he
returned there with Fr Onuphrius. He remained there for a time,
conversing with Fr Onuphrius about overcoming the passions, the
struggle with demons, unceasing prayer, and other soul-profiting
topics. This seed fell on good ground, later bearing spiritual fruit a
hundredfold.
The time came when Platon was filled with a longing to visit Mount
Athos. He asked the brethren of the Skete, and those of other Sketes,
for their forgiveness and blessing for the journey. He also thanked
them for their kindness and their paternal instruction. They blessed
him and let him go in peace. At that time he was just twenty-four
years old.
Platon went to Mount Athos in 1746, arriving at the Great Lavra on
July 4, the eve of the Feast of St Athanasius of Athos. His traveling
companion, Hieromonk Tryphon fell ill and died after four days. Platon
would have died from the same illness, if not for the care of the
Russian monks. He recovered and lived in solitude in a cell called
Kaparis near the Pantokrator Monastery. He went around visiting the
ascetics and solitaries, looking for a spiritual Father, but was
unable to find anyone suitable.
In 1750 St Basil of Poiana Marului (April 15) visited the Holy
Mountain and spent some time with Platon, who asked him for monastic
tonsure. Elder Basil granted his request, giving him the name Paisius.
Then Fr Basil returned to his Skete at Vlachia. About three months
later, a young monk named Bessarion came to the Holy Mountain from
Vlachia. He went around to the monasteries searching for an
instructor, but did not find one. He also came to Fr Paisius and asked
him to tell him something about saving his soul. Fr Paisius sighed and
told him that he himself had been looking for an instructor without
success. Yet, feeling compassion for Fr Bessarion, he talked to him a
little about the qualifications necessary for a true instructor, and
about the Jesus Prayer. After hearing him, Fr Bessarion said, "What
more do I seek?" He fell down at the feet of Fr Paisius, entreating
him to be his Elder. Fr Paisius did not want to be anyone's Elder,
wishing instead to be under authority himself. Fr Bessarion remained
for three days weeping until Fr Paisius agreed to accept him as a
friend, and not as a disciple. For about four years they lived
together fulfilling God's commandments, cutting off their own will and
obeying one another as equals.
Other disciples began to join them, and their number continued to
increase. Since they needed a priest and a confessor, they begged Fr
Paisius to accept ordination. He did not want to hear of this, and
repeatedly refused to consent. They did not give up, however. They
asked him how he could expect to teach the brethren obedience and
cutting off their own will, when he disobeyed the tearful entreaties
of those who wanted him to accept. Finally, he said, "May the will of
God be done."
In 1754 Fr Paisius was ordained to the holy priesthood and was given
the Skete of the Prophet Elias, where he began to accept even more
disciples. St Paisius remained on Mt Athos for a total of seventeen
years, copying Greek patristic books and translating them into
Slavonic.
In 1763 Fr Paisius went to Moldavia with sixty-four disciples, and was
given the Dragomirna Monastery near the city of Sochava and on the
border between Bukovina and Moldavia. Here he remained for twelve
years, and the number of monks increased to three hundred and fifty.
His friend Hieromonk Alexius came to visit him from Vlachia, and Fr
Paisius asked him to tonsure him into the Schema. Fr Alexius did so,
but without changing his name. While at Dragomirna, Fr Paisius
corrected the Slavonic translations of patristic books by comparing
them to the Greek manuscripts he had copied on Mt Athos.
The Russo-Turkish war broke out in 1768, and Moldavia and Vlachia saw
many battles. Dragomirna and the forests around it became filled with
refugees from the villages near the battlegrounds. Another catastrophe
appeared in 1771 with the outbreak of plague. When Dragomirna and
Bukovina came under the control of Austrian Catholics, St Paisius and
his flock fled to Moldavia. In October of 1775, he went to Secu
("Beheading") Monastery, which was dedicated to St John the Baptist,
with many of his monks.
Secul was too small for the number of brethren, who were crowded with
three to five monks in a cell. In the spring, more brethren were due
to arrive from Dragomirna, so new cells had to be built. After three
years of labor one hundred cells were completed, and everyone had a
place. Still, the numbers increased and they had to look for a larger
monastery.
Prince Constantine Muruz wrote to the Elder saying that there was no
larger monastery than Neamts, about two hours from Secul. On August
14, 1779, St Paisius moved to Neamts Monastery where he spent the last
fifteen years of his life translating the writings of the Holy
Fathers. He organized the community according to the Typikon (Rule) of
Mt Athos. He gathered about a thousand monks in the monastery,
instructing them in the unceasing prayer of the heart.
Archbishop Ambrose visited St Paisius at Neamts in 1790, staying for
two days to converse with the Elder. During the Sunday Liturgy, he
raised St Paisius to the rank of Archimandrite. He remained two more
days, then departed after blessing everyone.
St Paisius fell asleep in the Lord on November 15, 1794 at the age of
seventy-two. It is possible that God revealed the date of his death to
him beforehand, for he stopped translating books. He only reviewed and
corrected what had already been translated.
He was ill for four days, but felt well enough to attend the Liturgy
on Sunday. After the service, he asked everyone to come and receive
his blessing. He said farewell to them all, then returned to his cell
and would not receive anyone. A few days later, on November 15, he
received the Holy Mysteries again and surrendered his soul to God. His
funeral was conducted by Bishop Benjamin of Tuma, and was attended by
multitudes of priests, monks, laymen, nobles and ordinary people.
The holy relics of St Paisius were uncovered in 1846, 1853, 1861 and
1872, and were found to be incorrupt.
St Paisius has had an enormous influence, not only in Romania, but
throughout the Orthodox world. His disciples traveled to Russia,
sparking the spiritual revival of the nineteenth century with Slavonic
translations of the PHILOKALIA and the tradition of eldership which
they had learned from St Paisius. This influence has been felt even in
America through St Herman of Alaska (December 13). St Herman was
taught by Elders whose spiritual formation was guided by St Paisius.
He first met Fr Nazarius, who became his Elder at Valaam, at Sarov,
then followed him to Sanaxar when St Theodore (February 19) was their
igumen.
One of the books that St Herman brought with him to America was the
Slavonic PHILOKALIA, printed in 1794. He absorbed the spiritual wisdom
that it contained, and imparted it to others.
_________________________________________________________________
Icon of the Mother of God of Kupyatitich
The Kupyatitch Icon of the Mother of God appeared in the year 1180
near the village of Kupyatich in the area of the former Pinsk district
of the Minsk governance. The icon was found in the forest on a tree by
the peasant girl Anna, a cattle herder. The image, in the form of a
cross, shone with an unusual light.
On the spot of the miraculous appearance of the icon, peasants built a
church in the name of the Most Holy Theotokos, and placed the icon
within it. After some years, Tatars burned the church. The icon was
found a second time after many years by a traveler named Joachim.
Peasants transferred the cruciform-icon to the village church. Joachim
remained at the church as church attendant, by God's will.
At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Kupyatitch monastery
was built next to the church, which the Roman Catholics seized at the
end of the century, and later on, Uniate monks. Orthodox monks, when
they abandoned the monastery, took with them the holy icon of the
Kupyatitch Mother of God. They transferred the wonderworking icon to
the Kiev Sophia cathedral.
The Kupyatitch Icon is a small copper cross. On one side of the cross
the Mother of God is depicted with the Pre-eternal Infant, and on the
other side, the Crucifixion.
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St Philip of Rabanga
Saint Philip of Rabanga was the founder of the Savior-Transfiguration
monastery, near Kadnikov to the northeast of Vologda. He spent the
beginning of his monastic life in the monastery of St Dionysius of
Glushitsa (June 1), and was one of his closest disciples.
Upon the death of his teacher and spiritual Father, St Philip left the
Glushitsa monastery and settled in a sparsely populated area at the
confluence of the Sukhona and Rabanga Rivers. The saint wanted to lead
his life in complete solitude. The local inhabitants learned about
him, and seeking his guidance to become monks, they began to come to
him in the wilderness. Accepting this as a mandate from above, St
Philip traveled to Rostov to the holy Archbishop Ephraim (March 27)
and asked the saint's blessing to found a monastery and to build a
church in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord (the temple was
built in 1447).
Tradition relates that the holy founder of the Savior-Transfiguration
monastery was extremely strict with himself, but lenient towards the
infirmities of others. St Philip died on November 15, 1457 and was
buried in the monastery he founded.
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