[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Tue Oct 2 05:00:17 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Tue Oct 2 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Philippians 1:1-7  (Monday)
1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in
Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good
work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have
you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and
confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

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Philippians 1:8-14
8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the
affection of Jesus Christ.
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in
knowledge and all discernment,
10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be
sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus
Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to
me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all
the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my
chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

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Luke 6:24-30  (Monday)
24 But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your
consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh
now, For you shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers
to the false prophets.
27 But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who
hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use
you.
29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And
from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your
goods do not ask them back.
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

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Luke 6:37-45
37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall
not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For
with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
39 And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will
they not both fall into the ditch?
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly
trained will be like his teacher.
41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not
perceive the plank in your own eye?
42 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the
speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank
that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your
own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your
brother's eye.
43 For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear
good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather
figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good;
and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth
evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Scripture Reading 4 of 4

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Hieromartyr Cyprian of Nicomedia
Hieromartyr Cyprian, Virgin Martyr Justina and Martyr Theoctistus
suffered for Christ at Nicomedia in the year 304.
St Cyprian was a pagan and a native of Antioch. From his early
childhood his misguided parents dedicated him to the service of the
pagan gods. From age seven until thirty, Cyprian studied at the most
outstanding centers of paganism: on Mount Olympus, in the cities of
Argos and Tauropolis, in the Egyptian city of Memphis, and at Babylon.
Once he attained eminent wisdom in pagan philosophy and the sorcerer's
craft, he was consecrated into the pagan priesthood on Mount Olympus.
Having discovered great power by summoning unclean spirits, he beheld
the Prince of Darkness himself, and spoke with him and received from
him a host of demons in attendance.
After returning to Antioch, Cyprian was revered by the pagans as a
prominent pagan priest, amazing people by his ability to cast spells,
to summon pestilence and plagues, and to conjure up the dead. He
brought many people to ruin, teaching them to serve demons and how to
cast magic spells.
The holy virgin Justina lived in Antioch. After turning her own father
and mother away from pagan error and leading them to the true faith in
Christ, she dedicated herself to the Heavenly Bridegroom and spent her
time in fasting and prayer. When the youth Aglaides proposed marriage
to her, the saint refused, for she wished to remain a virgin. Agalides
sought Cyprian's help and asked for a magic spell to charm Justina
into marriage. But no matter what Cyprian tried, he could accomplish
nothing, since the saint overcame all the wiles of the devil through
her prayers and fasting.
Cyrian sent demons to attack the holy virgin, trying to arouse fleshly
passions in her, but she dispelled them by the power of the Sign of
the Cross and by fervent prayer to the Lord.
Even though one of the demonic princes and Cyprian himself, assumed
various guises by the power of sorcery, they were not able to sway St
Justina, who was guarded by her firm faith in Christ. All the spells
dissipated, and the demons fled at the mere mention of the saint's
name.
Cyprian, in a rage, sent down pestilence and plague upon Justina's
family and upon all the city, but this was thwarted by her prayer.
Cyprian's soul, corrupted by its domination over people and by his
incantations, was shown in all the depth of his downfall, and also the
abyss of nothingness of the evil that he served.
"If you take fright at even the mere shadow of the Cross and the Name
of Christ makes you tremble," said Cyprian to Satan, "then what will
you do when Christ Himself stands before you?" The devil then flung
himself upon the pagan priest who had begun to repudiate him, and
attempted to beat and strangle him.
St Cyrian then first tested for himself the power of the Sign of the
Cross and the Name of Christ, guarding himself from the fury of the
enemy. Afterwards, with deep repentance he went to the local bishop
Anthimus and threw all of his books into the flames. The very next
day, he went into the church, and did not want to leave it, though he
had not yet been baptized.
By his efforts to follow a righteous manner of life, St Cyprian
discerned the great power of fervent faith in Christ, and made up for
more than thirty years of service to Satan. Seven days after Baptism
he was ordained reader, on the twelfth day, sub-deacon, on the
thirtieth, deacon. After a year, he was ordained priest. In a short
time St Cyprian was elevated to the rank of bishop.
The Hieromartyr Cyprian converted so many pagans to Christ that in his
diocese there was no one left to offer sacrifice to idols, and the
pagan temples fell into disuse. St Justina withdrew to a monastery and
there was chosen Abbess.
During the persecution against Christians under the emperor
Diocletian, Bishop Cyprian and Abbess Justina were arrested and
brought to Nicomedia, where after fierce tortures they were beheaded
with the sword. St Cyprian, fearful that the holy virgin's courage
might falter if she saw him put to death, asked for time to pray. St
Justina joyfully inclined her neck and was beheaded first.
The soldier Theoctistus, seeing the guiltless sufferings of St
Justina, fell at Cyprian's feet and declared himself a Christian, and
was beheaded with them.
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Virginmartyr Justina of Nicomedia
The holy Virgin Martyr Justina suffered for Christ in Nicomedia with
the Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Martyr Theoctistus in 304.
At first St Cyprian was a pagan sorcerer, and tried to corrupt Juliana
through his magic spells. The holy virgin Justina lived in Antioch.
After turning her own father and mother away from pagan error and
leading them to the true faith in Christ, she dedicated herself to the
Heavenly Bridegroom and spent her time in fasting and prayer. When the
youth Aglaides proposed marriage to her, the saint refused, for she
wished to remain a virgin. Agalides sought Cyprian's help and asked
for a magic spell to charm Justina into marriage. But no matter what
Cyprian tried, he could accomplish nothing, since the saint overcame
all the wiles of the devil through her prayers and fasting.
Cyrian sent demons to attack the holy virgin, trying to arouse fleshly
passions in her, but she dispelled them by the power of the Sign of
the Cross and by fervent prayer to the Lord.
Even though one of the demonic princes and Cyprian himself, assumed
various guises by the power of sorcery, they were not able to sway St
Justina, who was guarded by her firm faith in Christ. All the spells
dissipated, and the demons fled at the mere mention of the saint's
name.
Cyprian, in a rage, sent down pestilence and plague upon Justina's
family and upon all the city, but this was thwarted by her prayer.
Cyprian's soul, corrupted by its domination over people and by his
incantations, was shown in all the depth of his downfall, and also the
abyss of nothingness of the evil that he served.
Once he realized the powerlessness of the demons, St Cyprian rejected
them and became a Christian. He was baptized, and after a time, he was
consecrated as a bishop. The Hieromartyr Cyprian converted so many
pagans to Christ that in his diocese there was no one left to offer
sacrifice to idols, and the pagan temples fell Into disuse. St Justina
withdrew to a monastery and was chosen Abbess.
During the persecution against Christians under the emperor
Diocletian, Bishop Cyprian and Abbess Justina were arrested and
brought to Nicomedia, where after fierce tortures they were beheaded
with the sword. St Cyprian, fearful that the holy virgin's courage
might falter if she saw him put to death, asked for time to pray. St
Justina joyfully inclined her neck and was beheaded first.
The soldier Theoctistus, seeing the guiltless sufferings of St
Justina, fell at Cyprian's feet and declared himself a Christian, and
was beheaded with them.
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Martyr Theoctistus of Nicomedia
Saint Theoctistus was a soldier who witnessed the guiltless sufferings
of St Justina, then fell at St Cyprian's feet and declared himself a
Christian, and was beheaded with them.
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Blessed Andrew the Fool-For-Christ at Constantinople
Blessed Andrew, Fool-for-Christ, was a Slav and lived in the tenth
century at Constantinople. From his early years, he loved God's Church
and the Holy Scriptures. Once during a dream, the saint beheld a
vision of two armies. In the one were men in radiant garb, in the
other, black and fiercesome devils. An angel of God, who held wondrous
crowns, said to Andrew, that these crowns were not adornments from the
earthly world, but rather a celestial treasure, with which the Lord
rewards His warriors, victorious over the dark hordes. "Proceed with
this good deed," the angel said to Andrew. "Be a fool for My sake and
you will receive much in the day of My Kingdom."
The saint perceived that it was the Lord Himself summoning him to this
deed. From that time Andrew began to go about the streets in rags, as
though his mind had become muddled. For many years the saint endured
mockery and insults. With indifference he underwent beatings, hunger
and thirst, cold and heat, begging alms and giving them away to the
poor. For his great forebearance and humility the saint received from
the Lord the gift of prophecy and wisdom, saving many from spiritual
perils, and he unmasked the impiety of many.
While praying at the Blachernae church, St Andrew beheld the Most Holy
Mother of God, holding her veil over those praying under her
Protection (October 1). Blessed Andrew died in the year 936.
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Repose of the Holy Right-believing Princess Anna of Kashin
The Holy Right-believing Princess Anna of Kashin, a daughter of the
Rostov prince Demetrius Borisovich, in 1294 became the wife of the
holy Great Prince Michael Yaroslavich of Tver, who was murdered by the
Mongol-Tatars of the Horde in 1318, (November 22). After the death of
her husband, Anna withdrew into Tver's Sophia monastery and accepted
tonsure with the name Euphrosyne. Later, she transferred to the Kashin
Dormition monastery, and became a schemanun with the name Anna. She
fell asleep in the Lord on October 2, 1338.
St Anna's sons also imitated their father's steadfast confession of
faith in Christ. Demetrius Mikhailovich ("Dread Eyes") was murdered at
the Horde on September 15, 1325; and later, Alexander Mikhailovich,
Prince of Tver, was murdered together with his son Theodore on October
29, 1339.
Miracles at St Anna's grave began in 1611, during the siege of Kashin
by Polish and Lithuanian forces. There was also a great fire in the
city which died down without doing much damage. The saint, dressed in
the monastic schema, appeared to Gerasimus, a gravely ill warden of
the Dormition cathedral. She promised that he would recover, but
complained, "People show no respect for my tomb. They ignore it and my
memory! Do you not know that I am supplicating the Lord and His Mother
to deliver the city from the foe, and that you be spared many
hardships and evils?" She ordered him to tell the clergy to look after
her tomb, and to light a candle there before the icon of Christ
Not-Made-By-Hands.
At the Council of 1649 it was decided to uncover her relics for
general veneration and to glorify the holy Princess Anna as a saint.
But in 1677 Patriarch Joachim proposed to the Moscow Council that her
veneration throughout Russia should be discontinued because of the Old
Believers Schism, which made use of the name of St Anna of Kashin for
its own purposes. When she was buried her hand had been positioned to
make the Sign of the Cross with two fingers, rather than three.
However, the memory of St Anna, who had received a crown of glory from
Christ, could not be erased by decree. People continued to love and
venerate her, and many miracles took place at her tomb.
On June 12, 1909 her second glorification took place, and her
universally observed Feast day was established. Her Life describes her
as a model of spiritual beauty and chastity, and an example to future
generations.
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Venerable Cassian of Uglich
Saint Cassian the Greek of Uglich, in the world Constantine, was a
descendant of the Greek Mangupa princes. He arrived in Moscow as part
of the delegation to Great Prince Ivan III, together with the daughter
of the Byzantine emperor, Sophia Paleologa.
Having decided to devote his life to the service of God, the saint
declined the offer to remain at the court of the Great Prince, and he
resettled near Bishop Joasaph of Rostov. When the bishop withdrew to
the Therapon monastery for solitude, Constantine followed him, and he
led a strict ascetic life.
He accepted monasticism after a miraculous vision by night of St
Martinian, urging him to take monastic tonsure. After a certain period
of time, St Cassian left the monastery going not far from the city of
Uglich, near the confluence of the Volga and Uchma Rivers, where he
founded a monastery in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
Reports of the monk spread widely, and many people began to come to
receive his blessing, to see the wilderness habitation and converse
with him. St Cassian accepted everyone with love, guiding them on the
way to salvation with quiet words.
The monk died in great old age on October 2, 1504. In the Uglich
Chronicles many miracles of the saint were recorded. In particular,
the protection of his monastery from Polish soldiers in the years
1609-1611 by his prayers.
The memory of St Cassian of Uglich is celebrated also on May 21, the
day he shares with his namesake, the holy Emperor Constantine the
Great.
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Martyr David the Prince of Georgia
The 8th century was extremely difficult for the Georgian people.
Marwan bin Muhammad (called the Deaf by the Georgians and the Blind by
the Armenians), the Persian ruler and military leader for the Arab
caliph, invaded eastern parts of the Byzantine Empire, then Armenia
and Georgia.
With fire and the sword he fought his way across Georgia from the east
to the city of Tskhumi (now Sokhumi) in the region of Abkhazeti. The
princes David and Constantine Mkheidze of Argveti were faithful
Christians and skilled military leaders. When they heard about the
enemys invasion, the brothers prayed to God for protection, assembled
their armies, and urged their people to pray fervently for Gods help.
The Persian warriors approached Argveti from Samtskhe and attacked the
Georgians on Persati Mountain. The Georgian army won the battle, with
David and Constantine leading the resistance against the fearsome
conquerors.
But before long the enraged Marwan the Deaf gathered an enormous army
and marched toward Argveti to take revenge. This time the enemy routed
the Georgian army. Many were killed and those who survived were forced
to flee to the forests. The commanders David and Constantine were
taken captive.
The Persian soldiers bound David and Constantine and brought them
before Marwan the Deaf, who began to mock them. But they reacted with
complete composure, saying, Your laughter and boasting are in vain,
since earthly glory is fleeting and soon fades away. It is not your
valor that has captured us, but our own sins. For the atonement of
these sins have we fallen into the hands of the godless enemy!
The furious Marwan ordered that the brothers be beaten without mercy,
but they steadfastly endured the suffering. Stunned by the brothers
resolve, Marwan decided to win them over with flattery instead.
Promising him great honors and command of the armies, he turned to the
older brother, David, saying, I have heard of your valor, and I advise
you to abandon your erroneous faith and submit yourself to the faith
of Muhammad!
St. David crossed himself and answered, Let not this disgrace come
upon us, that we would depart from the light and draw nearer to the
darkness! Then he condemned the error of the Islamic faith: Muhammad
converted you from the worship of fire, but he could not instill in
you the knowledge of the True God. Therefore it appears as though you
suffered a shipwreck and saved yourselves from the depths of the sea,
but drowned in the shallow waters of the coast.
Enraged at this reply, Marwan turned to the younger brother,
Constantine, hoping to win him over to his side. But Constantine was
also unbending, and he fearlessly glorified the Most Holy Trinity: My
brother David and I believe and follow the one Faith and one doctrine
in which we have been instructed. Our faith is in the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit, and we will die for the sake of the One True
God!
Marwan ordered that the brothers be starved to death. After they had
suffered for ten days, Marwan sent sorcerers and charmers to arouse in
them a desire to convert to Islam, but their efforts were in vain.
Finally the holy brothers David and Constantine were led to the
riverbank near the Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian. There they were
brutally beaten and bound. Heavy rocks were hung from their necks, and
they were drowned in the river.
That night three beams of light descended from the heavens and lit up
the place where the brothers had been drowned. According to Gods holy
will, the ropes binding the holy martyrs were loosed, and their bodies
floated to the surface. A group of faithful Christians carried them
out of the river and buried them on the bank of the Tsqaltsitela
River, in a church that Marwan the Deaf had devastated.
The place of their burial remained concealed until the beginning of
the 12th century, during the reign of King Bagrat the Great
(10721117). Then, in fulfillment of King Bagrats decree, the Monastery
of the Martyrs (Motsameta) was built over that place, and the
incorrupt relics of the Great Martyrs are still preserved there.
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Martyr Constantine the Prince of Georgia
The 8th century was extremely difficult for the Georgian people.
Marwan bin Muhammad (called the Deaf by the Georgians and the Blind by
the Armenians), the Persian ruler and military leader for the Arab
caliph, invaded eastern parts of the Byzantine Empire, then Armenia
and Georgia.
With fire and the sword he fought his way across Georgia from the east
to the city of Tskhumi (now Sokhumi) in the region of Abkhazeti. The
princes David and Constantine Mkheidze of Argveti were faithful
Christians and skilled military leaders. When they heard about the
enemys invasion, the brothers prayed to God for protection, assembled
their armies, and urged their people to pray fervently for Gods help.
The Persian warriors approached Argveti from Samtskhe and attacked the
Georgians on Persati Mountain. The Georgian army won the battle, with
David and Constantine leading the resistance against the fearsome
conquerors.
But before long the enraged Marwan the Deaf gathered an enormous army
and marched toward Argveti to take revenge. This time the enemy routed
the Georgian army. Many were killed and those who survived were forced
to flee to the forests. The commanders David and Constantine were
taken captive.
The Persian soldiers bound David and Constantine and brought them
before Marwan the Deaf, who began to mock them. But they reacted with
complete composure, saying, Your laughter and boasting are in vain,
since earthly glory is fleeting and soon fades away. It is not your
valor that has captured us, but our own sins. For the atonement of
these sins have we fallen into the hands of the godless enemy!
The furious Marwan ordered that the brothers be beaten without mercy,
but they steadfastly endured the suffering. Stunned by the brothers
resolve, Marwan decided to win them over with flattery instead.
Promising him great honors and command of the armies, he turned to the
older brother, David, saying, I have heard of your valor, and I advise
you to abandon your erroneous faith and submit yourself to the faith
of Muhammad!
St. David crossed himself and answered, Let not this disgrace come
upon us, that we would depart from the light and draw nearer to the
darkness! Then he condemned the error of the Islamic faith: Muhammad
converted you from the worship of fire, but he could not instill in
you the knowledge of the True God. Therefore it appears as though you
suffered a shipwreck and saved yourselves from the depths of the sea,
but drowned in the shallow waters of the coast.
Enraged at this reply, Marwan turned to the younger brother,
Constantine, hoping to win him over to his side. But Constantine was
also unbending, and he fearlessly glorified the Most Holy Trinity: My
brother David and I believe and follow the one Faith and one doctrine
in which we have been instructed. Our faith is in the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit, and we will die for the sake of the One True
God!
Marwan ordered that the brothers be starved to death. After they had
suffered for ten days, Marwan sent sorcerers and charmers to arouse in
them a desire to convert to Islam, but their efforts were in vain.
Finally the holy brothers David and Constantine were led to the
riverbank near the Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian. There they were
brutally beaten and bound. Heavy rocks were hung from their necks, and
they were drowned in the river.
That night three beams of light descended from the heavens and lit up
the place where the brothers had been drowned. According to Gods holy
will, the ropes binding the holy martyrs were loosed, and their bodies
floated to the surface. A group of faithful Christians carried them
out of the river and buried them on the bank of the Tsqaltsitela
River, in a church that Marwan the Deaf had devastated.
The place of their burial remained concealed until the beginning of
the 12th century, during the reign of King Bagrat the Great
(10721117). Then, in fulfillment of King Bagrats decree, the Monastery
of the Martyrs (Motsameta) was built over that place, and the
incorrupt relics of the Great Martyrs are still preserved there.
_________________________________________________________________
Righteous Admiral Theodore Ushakov of the Russian Naval Fleet
St Theodore, one of Russia's greatest naval heroes of the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries, was born in 1745.
The unvanquished Admiral was the terror of his country's enemies, and
the deliverer of those whom the barbarians had taken captive. He
served during the Russo-Turkish War (1787 - 1791), and also fought
against the French. Although he fought many naval battles in the Black
Sea and in the Mediterranean, he never lost a single one, and he was
never wounded.
St Theodore once visited the Greek island of Kerkyra (Corfu), where he
venerated the relics of St Spyridon of Tremithus (December 12), and
gave support and encouragement to the Orthodox Christians in that
place.
Since his naval reforms were unpopular with his superiors, St Theodore
was forced to retire in 1807 by Tsar Alexander I. Having neither wife
nor children, the admiral settled in the town of Alekseevo near the
Sanaxar Monastery, where he regularly attended services on Sundays and
Feast Days. During Great Lent he would stay in the monastery, fasting
with the monks and attending the services.
Igumen Nathaniel of Sanaxar regarded St Theodore as "a neighbor and a
significant patron" of the monastery. In addition to his generous
gifts to the monastery, the admiral frequently gave alms to the poor
and needy. He never sought earthly glory or riches, but spent his life
in serving God and his neighbor.
St Theodore died in 1817 at the age of seventy-two. After navigating
the sea of life with all its storms and struggles, he entered the calm
harbor of eternal rest. He was buried at Sanaxar Monastery beside the
church. The monastery was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in
1991, and St Theodore's grave was found in 1994.
St Theodore was glorified by the Orthodox Church of Russia in 2004,
and a reliquary in the shape of a naval vessel was made to enshrine
his holy relics.
The holy Admiral Theodore should not be confused with his relative St
Theodore (Ushakov) of Sanaxar Monastery (February 19 and April 21), a
monastic saint who lived from 1719 to 1791.
St Theodore is honored as a great military leader who defended Russia
just as St Alexander Nevsky (November 23) and St Demetrius of the Don
(May 19) did before him. One of the Russian Navy's atomic cruisers has
been named for him, and a movie has been made about his life and
career. The composer Khachaturian has also written a musical piece
called "Admiral Ushakov."
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