[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Mon Nov 26 05:00:12 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Nov 26 2007

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1 Timothy 5:1-10
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men
as brothers,
2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
3 Honor widows who are really widows.
4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn
to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and
acceptable before God.
5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and
continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
7 And these things command, that they may be blameless.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those
of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an
unbeliever.
9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number,
and not unless she has been the wife of one man,
10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if
she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she
has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good
work.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Luke 19:37-44
37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of
Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and
praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
38 saying: " 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!'
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher,
rebuke Your disciples."
40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should
keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."
41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,
42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day,
the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your
eyes.
43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an
embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,
44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and
they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not
know the time of your visitation.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Venerable Alypius the Stylite of Adrianopolis
Saint Alypius the Stylite was born in the city of Adrianopolis in
Paphlagonia. His mother, a Christian, was widowed early, and she sent
her son to be educated by Bishop Theodore. She distributed her
substance to the poor, then began to live an ascetic life near the
church as a deaconess.
St Alypius, from his early years, wanted to devote his life to God and
yearned for the solitary life, although Bishop Theodore would not give
him permission to do so. Once, when St Alypius was accompanying his
bishop to Constantinople, the holy Martyr Euphemia (September 16)
appeared to him in a vision, summoning St Alypius to return to
Adrianopolis and found a church in her name.
With contributions offered by believers in Adrianopolis, St Alypius
did build a church in the name of the holy Martyr Euphemia, on the
site of a dilapidated pagan temple infested by legions of devils.
Beside the church, under the open sky, the saint erected a pillar over
a pagan tomb. For fifty-three years St Alypius struggled upon the
pillar, praying to God and teaching those who came to him.
The demons which infested the pagan cemetery fell upon the ascetic by
night and pelted him with stones. St Alypius, wanted nothing to stand
in the way of the attacks of the spirits of darkness, then even took
down the boards that served him as a roof, protecting him from the
rain and wind. In the face of the saint's conquering steadfastness,
the demons fled the place forever, which had been sanctified by his
deed of voluntary martyrdom.
Fourteen years before his death, St Alypius was no longer able to
stand. He was compelled to lie on his side because of the weakness of
his legs, and endured grievous sufferings with humble gratitude.
Around the saint's pillar two monasteries sprang up: a men's monastery
on the one side, and a women's monastery on the other. St Alypius
introduced strict monastic rules for both monasteries and he directed
both monasteries until his death. St Alypius reposed in the year 640,
at age 118. The body of the venerable stylite was buried in the church
he founded in honor of the holy Martyr Euphemia. The relics of the
saint of God healed many of those who came in faith.
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Dedication of the Church of the Greatmartyr George at Kiev
The Consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr George at Kiev:
Beginning with the holy Prince Vladimir (July 15), it was the pious
custom of Russian princes to build a church in honor of their patron
saint. Thus, St Vladimir (in Baptism Basil) built at Kiev and
Vyshgorod temples dedicated to St Basil the Great (January 1).
Prince Izyaslav I (1054-1068) (in Baptism Demetrius) built a church
and monastery at Kiev in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius
(October 26). Prince Yaroslav the Wise (in Baptism George) started to
build a church and men's monastery in honor of his patron saint, the
Holy Great Martyr George (April 23). He also built a church named for
his wife's patron saint, the Holy Great Martyr Irene (May 5). The
temple in honor of the Great Martyr George was consecrated by St
Hilarion, Metropolitan of Kiev (October 21), and a yearly
commemoration was established in honor of this event.
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Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk
Saint Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk, (in the world John) was descended
from the noble Kulchitsky family. His parents moved from Volhynia to
the Chernigov region in the mid-seventeenth century. The saint was
born in about the year 1680, and educated at the Kiev Spiritual
Academy. He accepted monastic tonsure in 1710 and was appointed an
instructor at the Moscow Slavonic-Greek-Latin Academy as prefect and
professor of theology.
In 1719 St Innocent transferred to the St Peterburg Alexander Nevsky
Lavra, and was appointed chief naval chaplain. In 1720 he served as
vice-regent of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
On February 14, 1721, hieromonk Innocent was consecrated as Bishop of
Pereyaslavl and appointed to the Peking Spiritual Mission in China.
But the Chinese government refused to allow him to enter the country,
because the Senate Commission on External Affairs had indiscretely
characterized him as "a spiritual personage, a great lord." The saint
was compelled to spend three years at Selingin on the Chinese border,
suffering much deprivation because of the uncertainty of his position,
and grief from the disarray of the civil government in Siberia.
Diplomatic blunders of the Russian Mission in China by Graf
Raguzinsky, and intrigues by the Irkutsk archimandrite Anthony
Platkovsky led to the appointment of Archimandrite Anthony in China.
By decree of the Most Holy Synod St Innocent was named in 1727 to be
Bishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk. And so he entered into the governance
of the newly-formed dioceses.
The proximity of the Chinese border, the expanse and sparsely-settled
dioceses, the great number of diverse nationalities (Buryat, Mongol,
and others), mostly unenlightened by the Christian Faith, the lack of
roads and the poverty - all this made St Innocent's pastoral work
burdensome and his life full of deprivations. Through a strange
oversight of the Senate, he did not receive any money until the time
of his death, and he endured extreme want. In these difficult
condition of scant funds the Irkutsk Ascension monastery still
maintained two schools opened under him, one Mongol and the other
Russian. The constant concern of the saint was directed towards the
schools: the selection of worthy teachers, and providing the necessary
books, clothing and other provisions for students.
The saint toiled tirelessly at organizing the diocese, and
strengthening its spiritual life. His many sermons, pastoral letters
and directives bear witness to this. In his work and deprivations St
Innocent found spiritual strength, humility, and insight.
In the spring of 1728, the Baikal region began to suffer a drought.
Famine from a poor grain harvest had threatened the diocese already
back in 1727. With the blessing of the holy hierarch, in May within
the churches of Irkutsk and the Irkutsk region they began to include a
Molieben for an end to the drought at each Liturgy. On Saturdays they
sang an Akathist to the Mother of God, and on Sundays they served a
Molieben. "The supplications," said the saint, "should end on the
Feast of St Elias" (July 20). Indeed, on that very day a storm raged
at Irkutsk with such strong rains, that in the streets of the city
water stood up to people's knees, and thus the drought ended.
Through the efforts of St Innocent, construction was started on a
stone church to replace the wooden one at the Ascension monastery, and
the boundaries of the diocese were expanded to include not only
Selingin, but also the Yakutsk and Ilimsk surroundings.
The saint, not noted for robust health, and under the influence of the
severe climate and his afflictions, departed to the Lord at a rather
young age (51). He reposed on the morning of November 27, 1731.
In the year 1764, the body of the saint was discovered incorrupt
during restoration work on the monastery's Tikhvin church. Many
miracles occurred not only at Irkutsk, but also in remote places of
Siberia, for those who flocked to the saint with prayer. This moved
the Most Holy Synod to uncover the relics and to glorify the saint in
the year 1800.
In the year 1804, a feastday was established to celebrate his memory
throughout all Russia on November 26, since the Sign Icon of the
Mother of God is commemorated on the actual day of his repose
(November 27). St Innocent is also remembered on February 9.
In 1921, the relics of St Innocent were taken from their shrine and
placed in a Soviet anti-religious museum. They were moved to another
museum in Yaroslav in 1939, and were exhibited as "mummified remains
of an unknown man." In 1990, they were brought to the newly-reopened
Tolga Monastery in the Yaroslav diocese. In September of 1990, the
holy relics arrived in Irkutsk and were placed in the cathedral, to
the joy of all the faithful.
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Venerable James the Solitary of Syria
Saint James the Hermit was the disciple of St Maron (February 14). He
lived in asceticism on a mountain not far from the city of Cyrrhus in
Syria. He suffered grievous ills, but he always wore chains, ate food
only in the evening, and prayed constantly. By such efforts he
attained to high spiritual perfection, receiving from the Lord power
over demons, the gift of healing and even of raising the dead. St
James peacefully fell asleep in the Lord.
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Venerable Stylianus of Paphlagonia
Saint Stylianus was born in Paphlagonia of Asia Minor sometime between
the fourth and sixth centuries. He inherited a great fortune from his
parents when they died, but he did not keep it. He gave it away to the
poor according to their need, desiring to help those who were less
fortunate.
Stylianus left the city and went to a monastery, where he devoted his
life to God. Since he was more zealous and devout than the other
monks, he provoked their jealousy and had to leave. He left the
monastery to live alone in a cave in the wilderness, where he spent
his time in prayer and fasting.
The goodness and piety of the saint soon became evident to the
inhabitants of Paphlagonia, and they sought him out to hear his
teaching, or to be cured by him. Many were healed of physical and
mental illnesses by his prayers.
St Stylianus was known for his love of children, and he would heal
them of their infirmities. Even after his death, the citizens of
Paphlagonia believed that he could cure their children. Whenever a
child became sick, an icon of St Stylianus was painted and was hung
over the child's bed.
At the hour of his death, the face of St Stylianus suddenly became
radiant, and an angel appeared to receive his soul.
Known as a protector of children, St Stylianus is depicted in
iconography holding an infant in his arms. Pious Christians ask him to
help and protect their children, and childless women entreat his
intercession so that they might have children.
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Venerable Nikon "Metanoeite," the Preacher of Repentance
Saint Nikon Metanoeite ("the Preacher of Repentance") was born at
Pontus Polemoniacus at the beginning of the tenth century. He was the
son of a wealthy landowner, and he was given the name Nicetas in
Baptism.
Since he had no desire to take over the management of his family's
wealth and estates, Nicetas entered the monastery of Chrysopetro,
where he shone forth in prayer and asceticism. When he received the
monastic tonsure, he was given the new name Nikon. The new name
symbolizes a new life in the Spirit (Romans 7:6), and the birth of the
new man (Ephesians 4:24). A monk is expected to stop associating
himself with the old personality connected to his former life in the
world, and to devote himself entirely to God.
St Nikon had a remarkable gift for preaching. When he spoke of virtue
and spiritual matters, his listeners were filled with heartfelt
compunction and love for God. His words produced such spiritual fruit
in those who heard him that he was asked to travel through the eastern
regions to preach. He visited Armenia, Crete, Euboea, Aegina, and the
Peloponnesus, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.
"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." This was the message
of St John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2), and of Christ Himself (Matthew
4:17). This was also the message of St Nikon. Wherever he went, he
would begin his sermons with "Repent," hence he was called "Nikon
Metanoeite," or "Nikon, the Preacher of Repentance."
At first, people paid little heed to his message. Then gradually he
won their hearts through his preaching, his miracles, and his gentle,
loving nature. He stressed the necessity for everyone to repent,
warning that those who utter a few sighs and groans and think that
they have achieved true repentance have deluded themselves. St Nikon
told the people that true sorrow for one's sins is cultivated by
prayer, self-denial, almsgiving, ascetical efforts, and by confession
to one's spiritual Father.
After sowing the seeds of piety, St Nikon began to see them bear
fruit. People started to change their lives, but he urged them to
strengthen their souls in virtue and good works so that they would not
be overwhelmed by the cares of this world.
Eventually, St Nikon settled in a cave outside Sparta. Soon he moved
into the city, because so many people were coming to hear him. In the
center of Sparta, he built a church dedicated to Christ the Savior. In
time a monastery grew up around the church.
St Nikon never ceased to preach the Word of God, and to lead people
back to the spiritual life of the Church. He also healed the sick, and
performed many other miracles.
St Nikon fell asleep in the Lord in 998, and his memory was honored by
the people around Sparta. During the Turkish occupation of Greece,
however, he was all but forgotten, except in Sparta. After the Greek
Revolution in 1821, a service to St Nikon was composed by Father
Daniel Georgopoulos, and was based on the saint's Life, which had been
written by Igumen Gregory of St Nikon's Monastery in 1142.
St Nikon was recognized as the patron saint of the diocese of
Monemvasia and Lakedaimonia in 1893 when the cathedral church in
Sparta was dedicated to St Nikon, the Preacher of Repentance.
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St Athanasius, "the Iron Staff" and disciple of St Sergius of
Radonezh
Saints Athanasius ("the Iron Staff") and Theodosius of Cherepovets
were disciples of St Sergius of Radonezh. They settled in the region
of Novgorod at the border of Cherepovets where the Rivulet Yagorba
flows into the River Sheksna. Here they labored in monastic struggles.
They built a church in honor of the Most Holy Trinity, and founded the
Cherepovets Resurrection monastery.
The saints died in the year 1388, and were buried in the monastery's
cathedral church. Their memory is also celebrated on September 25.
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St Theodosius of Cherepovets
Saints Athanasius ("the Iron Staff") and Theodosius of Cherepovets
were disciples of St Sergius of Radonezh. They settled in the region
of Novgorod at the border of Cherepovets where the Rivulet Yagorba
flows into the River Sheksna. Here they labored in monastic struggles.
They built a church in honor of the Most Holy Trinity, and founded the
Cherepovets Resurrection monastery.
The saints died in the year 1388, and were buried in the monastery's
cathedral church. Their memory is also celebrated on September 25.
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