[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Thu Nov 22 05:00:13 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Nov 22 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Colossian 2:13-20
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of
your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you
all trespasses,
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against
us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way,
having nailed it to the cross.
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public
spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a
festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of
Christ.
18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false
humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he
has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished
and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase
that is from God.
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the
world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves
to regulations-
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a
bishop, he desires a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate,
sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle,
not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission
with all reverence
5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he
take care of the church of God?);
6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same
condemnation as the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside,
lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to
much wine, not greedy for money,
9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons,
being found blameless.
11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate,
faithful in all things.
12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and
their own houses well.
13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a
good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ
Jesus.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3

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Luke 18:31-34
31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are
going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets
concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.
32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and
insulted and spit upon.
33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise
again.
34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden
from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.
Scripture Reading 2 of 3

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Afterfeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into
the Temple
No information available at this time.
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Apostle Philemon of the Seventy
The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Philemon and his wife Apphia lived in
the city of Colossa in Phrygia. After they were baptized by the holy
Apostle Paul, they converted their house into a house of prayer, where
all those who believed in Christ gathered and attended services. They
devoted themselves to serving the sick and downcast.
St Philemon became bishop of the city of Gaza, and he preached the
Word of God throughout Phrygia. The holy Apostle Paul continued to be
his guide, and addressed to him his Epistle filled with love, and in
which he sends blessings "to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow
laborer, and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow
soldier, and to the church in thy house" (Phil 1:1-3).
St Onesimus (February 15), also mentioned in the Epistle, was St
Philemon's former slave.
Sts Philemon and Apphia, and also St Archippus (who also lived at
Colossa), all received the crown of martyrdom during the persecution
of Nero (54-68). During a pagan festival an enraged crowd rushed into
the Christian church when services were going on. All fled in terror,
and only Sts Philemon, Archippus and Apphia remained. They seized them
and led them off to the city prefect. The crowd beat and stabbed St
Archippus with knives, and he died on the way to the court. Sts
Philemon and Apphia were stoned to death by order of the prefect.
The memory of the holy Apostles Archippus, Philemon, and Apphia is
celebrated also on February 19.
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Apostle Archippus the Martyr of the Seventy
The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Philemon and his wife Apphia lived in
the city of Colossa in Phrygia. After they were baptized by the holy
Apostle Paul, they converted their house into a house of prayer, where
all those who believed in Christ gathered and attended services. They
devoted themselves to serving the sick and downcast.
St Philemon became bishop of the city of Gaza, and he preached the
Word of God throughout Phrygia. The holy Apostle Paul continued to be
his guide, and addressed to him his Epistle filled with love, and in
which he sends blessings "to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow
laborer, and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow
soldier, and to the church in thy house" (Phil 1:1-3).
St Onesimus (February 15), also mentioned in the Epistle, was St
Philemon's former slave.
Sts Philemon and Apphia, and also St Archippus (who also lived at
Colossa), all received the crown of martyrdom during the persecution
of Nero (54-68). During a pagan festival an enraged crowd rushed into
the Christian church when services were going on. All fled in terror,
and only Sts Philemon, Archippus and Apphia remained. They seized them
and led them off to the city prefect. The crowd beat and stabbed St
Archippus with knives, and he died on the way to the court. Sts
Philemon and Apphia were stoned to death by order of the prefect.
The memory of the holy Apostles Archippus, Philemon, and Apphia is
celebrated also on February 19.
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St Apphia the wife of Philemon and Equal of the Apostles
The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Philemon and his wife Apphia lived in
the city of Colossa in Phrygia. After they were baptized by the holy
Apostle Paul, they converted their house into a house of prayer, where
all those who believed in Christ gathered and attended services. They
devoted themselves to serving the sick and downcast.
St Philemon became bishop of the city of Gaza, and he preached the
Word of God throughout Phrygia. The holy Apostle Paul continued to be
his guide, and addressed to him his Epistle filled with love, and in
which he sends blessings "to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow
laborer, and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow
soldier, and to the church in thy house" (Phil 1:1-3).
St Onesimus (February 15), also mentioned in the Epistle, was St
Philemon's former slave.
Sts Philemon and Apphia, and also St Archippus (who also lived at
Colossa), all received the crown of martyrdom during the persecution
of Nero (54-68). During a pagan festival an enraged crowd rushed into
the Christian church when services were going on. All fled in terror,
and only Sts Philemon, Archippus and Apphia remained. They seized them
and led them off to the city prefect. The crowd beat and stabbed St
Archippus with knives, and he died on the way to the court. Sts
Philemon and Apphia were stoned to death by order of the prefect.
The memory of the holy Apostles Archippus, Philemon, and Apphia is
celebrated also on February 19.
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St Onesimus the Disciple of St Paul
The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Philemon and his wife Apphia lived in
the city of Colossa in Phrygia. After they were baptized by the holy
Apostle Paul, they converted their house into a house of prayer, where
all those who believed in Christ gathered and attended services. They
devoted themselves to serving the sick and downcast.
St Philemon became bishop of the city of Gaza, and he preached the
Word of God throughout Phrygia. The holy Apostle Paul continued to be
his guide, and addressed to him his Epistle filled with love, and in
which he sends blessings "to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow
laborer, and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow
soldier, and to the church in thy house" (Phil 1:1-3).
St Onesimus (February 15), also mentioned in the Epistle, was St
Philemon's former slave.
Sts Philemon and Apphia, and also St Archippus (who also lived at
Colossa), all received the crown of martyrdom during the persecution
of Nero (54-68). During a pagan festival an enraged crowd rushed into
the Christian church when services were going on. All fled in terror,
and only Sts Philemon, Archippus and Apphia remained. They seized them
and led them off to the city prefect. The crowd beat and stabbed St
Archippus with knives, and he died on the way to the court. Sts
Philemon and Apphia were stoned to death by order of the prefect.
The memory of the holy Apostles Archippus, Philemon, and Apphia is
celebrated also on February 19.
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Martyr Michael the Prince of Tver
The Holy Right-Believing Prince Michael of Tver was born in the year
1272, already after the death of his father Great Prince Yaroslav
Yaroslavich, a brother of holy Prince Alexander Nevsky (November 23).
On the journey to the Horde, Prince Yaroslav fell ill, and was
tonsured a monk with the name Athanasius, then died. Michael's mother,
Xenia, raised her son in fervent love for God. Michael was educated
and studied under the guidance of the Archbishop (probably Clement) of
Novgorod. He took the place of his older brother Svyatoslav in the
principality of Tver.
In 1285 he built a stone church in honor of the Savior's
Transfiguration in place of the wooden church of Sts Cosmas and
Damian. Upon the death of Great Prince Andrew Alexandrovich (+1305),
Michael went to the Horde and received the grant to the great princely
throne by right of seniority. But Prince Yurii Danilovich of Moscow
would not submit to this, because he sought the princely rule for
himself. He was often at the Golden Horde of the new Khan Uzbek, who
had accepted Mohammedanism and was distinguished by his cruelty and
fanaticism. Prince Yurii knew how to please the Khan, and he married
his sister Konchaka and became Great Prince.
Even then he did not calm down, but instead began an internecine war
with Tver. In Yurii's army was a detachment of Tatars sent by Uzbek,
with Kavgadi at the head. But the men of Tver, with holy Prince
Michael at the head, on December 22, 1317 defeated Yurii. Many
captives were taken, including Kavgadi, whom St Michael released, and
the Moscow prince's wife Konchaka, who unexpectedly died at Tver.
Prince Yurii slandered St Michael before the Khan, accusing him of
poisoning Konchaka. The Khan became enraged, threatening to destroy St
Michael's princely holding, and demanded that he appear to give an
account. Not wishing to spill Russian blood in an unequal struggle
with the Khan, St Michael humbly went to the Horde, knowing that this
meant death for him. He bid his his family and the Tver people
farewell, and received a blessing for his exploit of martyrdom from
his spiritual Father Igumen John.
"Father," said the saint, "I was much concerned for the peace of
Christians, but through my sins, I was not able to stop internecine
war. Now give me your blessing, so that if my blood is spilled for
them, they might have some respite, and that the Lord will forgive my
sins."
At the Horde an unjust trial was held, which found the saint guilty of
disobedience to the Khan, and sentenced him to death. They removed him
under guard and put him in a heavy wooden stock. As was his habit, St
Michael constantly read the Psalter in prison and blessed the Lord for
granting him to suffer for Him. He asked not to be abandoned in his
present torments. Since the hands of the holy sufferer were secured in
the stock, a boy sat before him and turned the pages of the Psalter.
The holy captive languished at the Horde for a long time, enduring
beatings and ridicule. They suggested that he flee, but the saint
bravely answered, "In all my life I never fled from an enemy. If I
save myself and my people remain in peril, what glory is that to me?
No, let it be as the Lord wills."
Through the mercy of God, he was not deprived of Christian solace:
Orthodox priests attended to him, the igumens Alexander and Mark. Each
week he made his Confession and received the Holy Mysteries of Christ,
thus receiving a Christian preparation for his death. At the
instigation of Prince Yurii and Kavgadi, who took revenge on the holy
prince for their defeat, assassins rushed into the encampment where
the captive was held. They fiercely beat the martyr and kicked him
with their feet, then one of them stabbed St Michael with a knife.
The holy martyr's naked body was exposed for abuse, and later they
covered him with a cloth and placed him on a large board attached to a
cart. By night two guards were set to watch the body, but fear seized
them and they fled. In the morning, his body was not on the board.
On the previous night many, not only Orthodox but also Tatars, had
seen two radiant clouds shining over the place where the body of the
martyr lay. Although many wild animals roamed the steppes, not one of
them had touched him. In the morning everyone said, "Prince Michael is
a saint, and was innocently murdered." From the Horde the body of the
prince was transferred to Moscow, where they buried him in the church
of the Savior-Wood in the Kremlin.
Just a year later, in 1319, the people of Tver learned the fate of
their prince. At the wish of his wife, the right-believing Princess
Anna of Kashin (October 2), and at the request of the people of Tver,
the relics of St Michael were transferred to his native city, and on
September 6, 1320 were placed in the church he built in honor of the
Transfiguration of the Lord. Local veneration of the holy Prince began
soon after the transfer of his relics to Tver, and the general Church
glorification of the saint took place at a 1549 Council.
On November 24, 1632 the incorrupt relics of St Michael were
uncovered. The holy Prince has often helped the Russian land. In 1606
the Polish and Lithuanians besieging Tver repeatedly saw a wondrous
horseman ride out from the city upon a white horse with sword in hand
, turning them to flight. Later, when they saw an icon of holy Prince
Michael, they affirmed with an oath to Archbishop Theoctistus of Tver
that the horseman was indeed St Michael himself.
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Blessed Yaropolk the Prince of Vladimir-Volhynia, in Holy
Baptism Peter
Holy Prince Yaropolk Izyaslavich, in Holy Baptism Peter, was the
grandson of Yaroslav the Wise, and great-grandson of St Vladimir. He
shared the sad fate of his father, the Kievan Great Prince Izyaslav,
expelled by his brothers from Kiev.
Yaropolk journeyed on various missions for his father to the Polish
king, the German emperor, and the Bishop of Rome St Gregory VII
(1073-1085). Upon the death of Great Prince Svyatoslav in 1078, Prince
Izyaslav was restored to his principality, and Yaropolk received
Vyzhgorod. After the death of his father, he was given as his appanage
the city of Vladimir-Volynsk, from which the Rostislavichi attempted
to displace him.
On the way from Vladimir to Zvenigorod-Galitsk, Yaropolk was
treacherously murdered by Neryadets, one of his retainers (+1086). The
murderer indeed had been bribed by the Rostislavichi. The body of
Yaropolk was transferred to Kiev and on December 5 was buried at the
monastery of St Demetrius in the church of St Peter, which he himself
had begun to build. Many Church memorials, beginning with the
Chronicle of St Nestor, testify that the murdered Prince Yaropolk be
venerated in the rank of saints well-pleasing to God.
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Martyr Cecilia at Rome
The Holy Virgin Martyr Cecilia and the Holy Martyrs Valerian,
Tiburtius and Maximus: St Cecilia was born in Rome of wealthy and
illustrious parents. From her youth she was raised in the Christian
Faith. She prayed fervently, she helped those in need, and beneath her
fine clothing she wore a hairshirt.
Though she had vowed to preserve her virginity for Christ, her parents
decided to give her in marriage to the noble pagan Valerian. The saint
did not dare oppose the will of her parents, but with tears she prayed
to God that her betrothed would believe in Christ, and that He would
send an angel to preserve her virginity.
On the night of their marriage, Cecilia told her husband that an angel
stood by to guard her. She warned him that he would be slain if he
dared to touch her. Valerian asked to see this angel, but his bride
told him that he could not see the angel until he had been cleansed of
the impurity of unbelief.
"How may I be cleansed?" he asked. She said that if he asked Bishop
Urban for Baptism, he would be able to see the angel. The saint
persuaded her fiancé to go with her to Bishop Urban, who was hiding
from the persecution in a cave along the Appian Way. The instructions
of the wise bishop permeated the soul of Valerian, and both he and his
brother Tiburtius believed in Christ and were converted to
Christianity. The brothers distributed part of their inheritance to
the poor, cared for the sick, and buried Christians tortured to death
by the persecutors.
The governor Almachius, having learned of this, gave orders to arrest
the brothers and bring them to trial. He demanded that the saints
renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, and the
brothers refused. Then they mercilessly began to scourge the brothers.
St Valerian under torture urged Christians not to be afraid of
torments, but to stand firm for Christ.
The governor, wanting to prevent the holy preacher from influencing
the people, ordered that the martyrs be taken outside the city limits
and executed there. The detachment of soldiers accompanying the
martyrs to execution was commanded by Maximus. He was amazed at the
courage of the saints, and asked them why they did not fear death. The
holy brothers answered that they were relinquishing this temporal life
for life eternal. Maximus wanted to learn the teaching of Christians
in detail. He took Sts Valerian and Tiburtius to his own house and
conversed with them all night. When she heard of this, St Cecilia went
with a priest to Maximus, and he with all his family accepted holy
Baptism.
On the following day when they beheaded the Martyrs Valerian and
Tiburtius, St Maximus confessed before everyone that he saw how their
holy souls had gone up to Heaven. For this confession the holy Martyr
Maximus was scourged to death with whips.
The governor wanted to confiscate the property of the executed, but
when he was told that St Cecilia had already distributed all her
remaining wealth to the poor and by her preaching had converted 400
men, he ordered her execution. For three days they tormented her with
fire and smoke in a red-hot bath-house, but the grace of God helped
her. Then they decided to behead her. The executioner struck the saint
three times with a sword, but only wounded her. The holy Martyr lived
three more days in full consciousness, encouraging those around her,
and died with prayer on her lips.
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Martyr Valerian at Rome
The Holy Virgin Martyr Cecilia and the Holy Martyrs Valerian,
Tiburtius and Maximus: St Cecilia was born in Rome of wealthy and
illustrious parents. From her youth she was raised in the Christian
Faith. She prayed fervently, she helped those in need, and beneath her
fine clothing she wore a hairshirt.
Though she had vowed to preserve her virginity for Christ, her parents
decided to give her in marriage to the noble pagan Valerian. The saint
did not dare oppose the will of her parents, but with tears she prayed
to God that her betrothed would believe in Christ, and that He would
send an angel to preserve her virginity.
On the night of their marriage, Cecilia told her husband that an angel
stood by to guard her. She warned him that he would be slain if he
dared to touch her. Valerian asked to see this angel, but his bride
told him that he could not see the angel until he had been cleansed of
the impurity of unbelief.
"How may I be cleansed?" he asked. She said that if he asked Bishop
Urban for Baptism, he would be able to see the angel. The saint
persuaded her fiancé to go with her to Bishop Urban, who was hiding
from the persecution in a cave along the Appian Way. The instructions
of the wise bishop permeated the soul of Valerian, and both he and his
brother Tiburtius believed in Christ and were converted to
Christianity. The brothers distributed part of their inheritance to
the poor, cared for the sick, and buried Christians tortured to death
by the persecutors.
The governor Almachius, having learned of this, gave orders to arrest
the brothers and bring them to trial. He demanded that the saints
renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, and the
brothers refused. Then they mercilessly began to scourge the brothers.
St Valerian under torture urged Christians not to be afraid of
torments, but to stand firm for Christ.
The governor, wanting to prevent the holy preacher from influencing
the people, ordered that the martyrs be taken outside the city limits
and executed there. The detachment of soldiers accompanying the
martyrs to execution was commanded by Maximus. He was amazed at the
courage of the saints, and asked them why they did not fear death. The
holy brothers answered that they were relinquishing this temporal life
for life eternal. Maximus wanted to learn the teaching of Christians
in detail. He took Sts Valerian and Tiburtius to his own house and
conversed with them all night. When she heard of this, St Cecilia went
with a priest to Maximus, and he with all his family accepted holy
Baptism.
On the following day when they beheaded the Martyrs Valerian and
Tiburtius, St Maximus confessed before everyone that he saw how their
holy souls had gone up to Heaven. For this confession the holy Martyr
Maximus was scourged to death with whips.
The governor wanted to confiscate the property of the executed, but
when he was told that St Cecilia had already distributed all her
remaining wealth to the poor and by her preaching had converted 400
men, he ordered her execution. For three days they tormented her with
fire and smoke in a red-hot bath-house, but the grace of God helped
her. Then they decided to behead her. The executioner struck the saint
three times with a sword, but only wounded her. The holy Martyr lived
three more days in full consciousness, encouraging those around her,
and died with prayer on her lips.
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Martyr Tiburtius at Rome
The Holy Martyr Tiburtius was the brother of St Valerian, and the
brother-in-law of St Cecilia.
When St Valerian and his brother Tiburtius converted to Christianity,
they distributed part of their inheritance to the poor, cared for the
sick, and buried Christians who had been killed by the persecutors.
The governor Almachius ordered the arrest of the brothers and brought
them to trial. He demanded that the saints renounce Christ and offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods, but the brothers refused. Then they
mercilessly began to scourge the brothers. St Valerian urged
Christians not to be afraid of torments, but to stand firm for Christ.
The governor, hoping to prevent the holy preacher from influencing the
people, ordered that the martyrs be taken outside the city limits and
executed there. The detachment of soldiers accompanying the martyrs to
execution was commanded by Maximus. He was amazed at the courage of
the saints, and asked them why they did not fear death. The holy
brothers answered that they were relinquishing this temporal life for
life eternal. Maximus wanted to learn the teaching of Christians in
detail. He took Sts Valerian and Tiburtius to his own house and
conversed with them all night. When she heard of this, St Cecilia went
with a priest to Maximus, and he and his whole family received holy
Baptism.
On the following day when they beheaded the Martyrs Valerian and
Tiburtius, St Maximus confessed before everyone that he saw how their
holy souls had gone up to Heaven. For this testimony the holy Martyr
Maximus was scourged to death with whips.
The governor wanted to confiscate the property of the executed, but
when he was told that St Cecilia had already distributed all her
remaining wealth to the poor and by her preaching had converted 400
men, he ordered her execution. For three days they tormented her with
fire and smoke in a red-hot bath-house, but the grace of God helped
her. Then they decided to behead her. The executioner struck the saint
three times with a sword, but only wounded her. The holy Martyr lived
three more days in full consciousness, encouraging those around her,
and died with prayer on her lips.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Maximus at Rome
Saint Maximus led the detachment of soldiers accompanying St Cecilia
and those with her to execution. He was amazed at the courage of the
saints, and asked them why they did not fear death. The holy brothers
answered that they were relinquishing this temporal life for life
eternal. Maximus wanted to learn the teaching of Christians in detail.
He took Sts Valerian and Tiburtius to his own house and conversed with
them all night. When she heard of this, St Cecilia went with a priest
to Maximus, and he with all his family accepted holy Baptism.
On the following day when they beheaded the Martyrs Valerian and
Tiburtius, St Maximus confessed before everyone that he saw how their
holy souls had gone up to Heaven. For this confession the holy Martyr
Maximus was scourged to death with whips.
The governor wanted to confiscate the property of the executed, but
when he was told that St Cecilia had already distributed all her
remaining wealth to the poor and by her preaching had converted 400
men, he ordered her execution. For three days they tormented her with
fire and smoke in a red-hot bath-house, but the grace of God helped
her. Then they decided to behead her. The executioner struck the saint
three times with a sword, but only wounded her. The holy Martyr lived
three more days in full consciousness, encouraging those around her,
and died with prayer on her lips.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Procopius the Reader at Caesarea, in Palestine
The Holy Martyr Procopius was a reader in the Church of Jerusalem. He
led a strict ascetic life, for which he received from the Lord the
ability to cast out demons. The zealous preacher of the Word of God
was arrested and brought to trial in Palestinian Caesarea. For his
refusal to offer sacrifice to idols, he was beheaded.
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Martyr Menignus at Parium
The Holy Martyr Menignus was a simple worker, a linen-bleacher. The
Lord granted him His special mercy. Twice in his life, he heard a
voice from Heaven calling on him to suffer for Christ.
During the persecution of Christians under the emperor Decius
(249-251) a miracle occurred: an angel led Christians out of prison.
Having learned of this, St Menignus rejoiced and loved the Savior with
all his heart. Calling to mind the heavenly summons to suffer for
Christ, he tore up the decree of the impious Decius which hung in the
city square, and which ordered the persecution of Christians. The
saint declared himself a follower of Christ. For this he was arrested
and after fierce tortures he was beheaded.
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St Agabbas of Syria
Saint Agabbas was by birth an Ishmaelite (Arab) and pursued asceticism
in Syria. He was a novice under the Monk Eusebius, from whom he
learned inner prayer and silence, and he lived thirty-eight years as a
hermit. The saint always went barefoot, wore chains on his loins and
never sat nor lay down. St Agabbas spent both day and night standing
or kneeling, constantly at prayer. He finished his ascetic life in
peace.
_________________________________________________________________
Righteous Michael the soldier of Potouka, Bulgaria
Saint Michael the Soldier of Bulgaria, was among the first of the
Bulgarians to become Christian, and lived in the city of Potuka during
the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Michael III (855-867). While still
an infant, he was known as a "saintly child." From his youth he led a
blameless life, possessed the fear of God, fasted, generously
distributed alms to the poor, visited the sick, and was meek and
humble.
At twenty-four years of age St Michael was made commander of a troop
of soldiers. At that time, the Turks were warring against Christians,
and St Michael inspired his troops by his bravery in battle. When the
allies of the Bulgarians, the Greeks, fled from the field of battle,
he fell to the ground and prayed with tears for the deliverance of the
Christians. Then he led his own soldiers against the enemy. Rushing
into the center of the enemy formation, he put them into disarray, and
remained unharmed himself.
Returning homeward after a battle, he rescued the inhabitants of a
certain city in the Raipha wilderness from a huge beast which emerged
from a lake and attacked children. People came to see this brave
soldier when they heard that he had slain the beast they once
worshiped as a god. He preached the Gospel to them, and turned them
from demon worship and human sacrifice.
Soon after he returned home, St Michael surrendered his soul to the
Lord, Whom he had loved since his youth. He wrought many miracles
after death, healing those who came to him with faith.
The transfer of the relics of the saint from Potuka to Trnovo occurred
in the year 1206, and at the beginning of the nineteenth century, they
were transferred to Wallachia.
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Venerable Callistus Xanthopoulos of Mt Athos
Saint Callistus II, pursued asceticism at the Magul skete on Holy
Mount Athos (opposite the monastery of Philotheou), living there for
twenty-eight years. He was the disciple of St Gregory of Sinai (August
8), whose Life he wrote.
Working with his fellow ascetic Ignatius of Xanthopoulos, he compiled
the "Directions to Hesychasts in One Hundred Chapters" found in the
second part of the Slavonic edition of the PHILOKALIA (English
translation in Kadlubovsky and Palmer, WRITINGS FROM THE PHILOKALIA ON
PRAYER OF THE HEART). As their contemporary, St Simeon of Thessalonica
(September 15) asserts, Sts Callistus and Ignatius of Xanthopoulos
beheld the Uncreated Light, as the apostles had done on Mount Tabor.
Their faces seemed to "shine like the sun."
In 1397 he was elevated to the patriarchal throne, and was hierarch
during the days of Manuel Paleologos (1391-1425). He agreed to journey
to Serbia in order to bring peace to that church, stopping along the
way at Mt Athos. There, the Patriarch was told that he would not see
his flock again. Upon reaching Serbia, he exchanged this temporal life
for life eternal.
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New Hieromartyr Alexis (Benemanskii) of Tver
No information available at this time.
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New Hieromartyr Elias (Gromoglasov) of Tver
No information available at this time.
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