[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed Oct 3 05:00:12 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed Oct 3 2007

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Philippians 1:12-20
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.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also
from goodwill:
16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely,
supposing to add affliction to my chains;
17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the
defense of the gospel.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth,
Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your
prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I
shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ
will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Luke 6:46-7:1
46 But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I
say?
47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will
show you whom he is like:
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the
foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat
vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was
founded on the rock.
49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on
the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat
vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was
great.
1 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people,
He entered Capernaum.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite the Bishop of Athens
The Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite, Bishop of Athens St
Dionysius lived originally in the city of Athens. He was raised there
and received a classical Greek education. He then went to Egypt, where
he studied astronomy at the city of Heliopolis. It was in Heliopolis,
along with his friend Apollophonos where he witnessed the solar
eclipse that occurred at the moment of the death of the Lord Jesus
Christ by Crucifixion. "Either the Creator of all the world now
suffers, or this visible world is coming to an end," Dionysius said.
Upon his return to Athens from Egypt, he was chosen to be a member of
the Areopagus Council (Athenian high court).
When the holy Apostle Paul preached at the place on the Hill of Ares
(Acts 17:16-34), Dionysius accepted his salvific proclamation and
became a Christian. For three years St Dionysius remained a companion
of the holy Apostle Paul in preaching the Word of God. Later on, the
Apostle Paul selected him as bishop of the city of Athens. And in the
year 57 St Dionysius was present at the repose of the Most Holy
Theotokos.
During the lifetime of the Mother of God, St Dionysius had journeyed
from Athens to Jerusalem to meet Her. He wrote to his teacher the
Apostle Paul: "I witness by God, that besides the very God Himself,
there is nothing else filled with such divine power and grace. No one
can fully comprehend what I saw. I confess before God: when I was with
John, who shone among the Apostles like the sun in the sky, when I was
brought before the countenance of the Most Holy Virgin, I experienced
an inexpressible sensation. Before me gleamed a sort of divine
radiance which transfixed my spirit. I perceived the fragrance of
indescribable aromas and was filled with such delight that my very
body became faint, and my spirit could hardly endure these signs and
marks of eternal majesty and heavenly power. The grace from her
overwhelmed my heart and shook my very spirit. If I did not have in
mind your instruction, I should have mistaken Her for the very God. It
is impossible to stand before greater blessedness than this which I
beheld."
After the death of the Apostle Paul, St Dionysius wanted to continue
with his work, and therefore went off preaching in the West,
accompanied by the Presbyter Rusticus and Deacon Eleutherius. They
converted many to Christ at Rome, and then in Germany, and then in
Spain. In Gaul, during a persecution against Christians by the pagan
authorities, all three confessors were arrested and thrown into
prison. By night St Dionysius celebrated the Divine Liturgy with
angels of the Lord. In the morning the martyrs were beheaded.
According to an old tradition, St Dionysius took up his head,
proceeded with it to the church and fell down dead there. A pious
woman named Catulla buried the relics of the saint.
The writings of St Dionysius the Areopagite hold great significance
for the Orthodox Church. Four books of his have survived to the
present day:
On the Celestial Hierarchy On the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy On the
Names of God On Mystical Theology In additional, there are ten
letters to various people.
The book On the Celestial Hierarchies was written actually in one of
the countries of Western Europe, where St Dionysius was preaching. In
it he speaks of the Christian teaching about the angelic world. The
angelic (or Celestial-Heavenly) hierarchy comprises the nine angelic
Ranks:
Seraphim Cherubim Thrones Dominions Powers Authorities Principalities
Archangels Angels
The account of the Synaxis of the Bodiless Powers of Heaven is located
under November 8.
The purpose of the divinely-established Angelic Hierarchy is the
ascent towards godliness through purification, enlightenment and
perfection. The highest ranks are bearers of divine light and divine
life for the lower ranks. And not only are the sentient, bodiless
angelic hosts included in the spiritual light-bearing hierarchy, but
also the human race, created anew and sanctified in the Church of
Christ.
The book of St Dionysius On the Ecclesiastical Hierarchies is a
continuation of his book On the Celestial Hierarchies. The Church of
Christ, like the Angelic ranks, in its universal service is set upon
the foundation of priestly principles established by God.
In the earthly world, for the children of the Church, divine grace
comes down indescribably in the holy Mysteries of the Church, which
are spiritual in nature, though perceptible to the senses in form.
Few, even among the holy ascetics, were able to behold with their
earthly eyes the fiery vision of the Holy Mysteries of God. But
outside of the Church's sacraments, outside of Baptism and the
Eucharist, the light-bearing saving grace of God is not found, neither
is divine knowledge nor theosis (deification).
The book On the Names of God expounds upon the way of divine knowledge
through a progression of the Divine Names.
St Dionysius' book On Mystical Theology also sets forth the teaching
about divine knowledge. The theology of the Orthodox Church is totally
based upon experience of divine knowledge. In order to know God it is
necessary to be in proximity to Him, to have come near to Him in some
measure, so as to attain dommunion with God and deification (theosis).
This condition is accomplished through prayer. This is not because
prayer in itself brings us close to the incomprehensible God, but
rather that the purity of heart in true prayer brings us closer to
God.
The written works of St Dionysius the Areopagite are of extraordinary
significance in the theology of the Orthodox Church, and also for late
Medieval Western theology. For almost four centuries, until the
beginning of the sixth century, the works of this holy Father of the
Church were preserved in an obscure manuscript tradition, primarily by
theologians of the Alexandrian Church. The concepts in these works
were known and utilized by Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Dionysius
the Great, pre-eminent figures of the catechetical school in
Alexandria, and also by St Gregory the Theologian. St Dionysius of
Alexandria wrote to St Gregory the Theologian a Commentary on the
"Areopagitum." The works of St Dionysius the Areopagite received
general Church recognition during the sixth-seventh centuries.
Particularly relevant are the Commentaries written by St Maximus the
Confessor (January 21). (trans. note: although many scholars suggest
that the "Areopagitum" was actually written by an anonymous sixth
century figure who employed the common ancient device of piously
borrowing an illustrious name, this in no way diminishes the profound
theological significance of the works.)
In the Russian Orthodox Church the teachings of St Dionysius the
Areopagite about the spiritual principles and deification were at
first known through the writings of St John of Damascus (December 4).
The first Slavonic translation of the "Areopagitum" was done on Mt.
Athos in about the year 1371 by a monk named Isaiah. Copies of it were
widely distributed in Russia. Many of them have been preserved to the
present day in historic manuscript collections, among which is a
parchment manuscript "Works of St Dionysius the Areopagite" belonging
to St Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus (September 16) in his
own handwriting.
According to one tradition, he was killed at Lutetia (ancient name of
Paris, France) in the year 96 during the persecution under the Roman
emperor Dometian (81-96). Today most scholars and theologians believe
that St Dionysius the Areopagite did not die in Gaul, and that St
Dionysius (or Denys) of Paris is a different saint with the same name.
St Demetrius of Rostov says that the Hieromartyr Dionysius was
beheaded in Athens, and that many miracles were worked at his grave.
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Martyr Rusticus the Presbyter
Saint Rusticus was a disciple of St Dionysius the Areopagite. He
suffered martyrdom in Athens during the persecution of the emperor
Domitian (81-96).
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Martyr Eleutherius the Deacon
Saint Eleutherius was a disciple of St Dionysius the Areopagite. He
suffered martyrdom in Athens during the persecution of the emperor
Domitian (81-96).
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Venerable Dionysius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves
Saint Dionysius, Hermit of the Kiev Caves, Far Caves, called Schepa,
is mentioned briefly in the Kiev Caves Paterikon. In the year 1463
during Paschal Matins, Dionysius went around censing the relics of the
God-pleasers buried in the Kiev Caves. When the monk cried out: "Holy
Fathers and brethren, today is the great day! Christ is Risen!" their
reply resounded like thunder: "Truly, He is Risen!"
>From that very day St Dionysius lived as a recluse, and after many
labors he fell asleep in the Lord. The miracle involving St Dionysius
is mentioned in the 8th Ode of the Canon of the Kiev Caves Saints. He
is also commemorated on August 28, and on the second Sunday of Great
Lent.
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St John the Chozebite the Bishop of Caesarea, in Palestine
Saint John the Chozebite, Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine (587-596),
was famed for his struggle against the Eutychian heresy, and also for
his grace-filled gifts of discernment and wonderworking. He was born
in the Egyptian city of Thebes and while still a youth he spent a long
time in the Thebaid desert with his uncle, who was an ascetic,.
The emperor, who learned of John's holy life, decided to make him
bishop of the city of Caesarea. But the saint, yearning for solitude,
left his cathedra and withdrew into the Chozeba wilderness (between
Jerusalem and Jericho) where he struggled in asceticism until the end
of his life.
Once, while on his way to visit some of the brethren, he met a woman
on the road. She entreated him to follow her to her home so that he
might bless it and sanctify it by his prayers. Once they entered the
house, however, the vile woman locked the door and removed all her
clothing, and tried to tempt the saint into sinning with her. He
opened the door and fled from the place.
. After this, he performed many miracles until he fell asleep in the
Lord. It is said that whenever he served the Divine Liturgy, he would
see a heavenly light in the altar.
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Venerable Hesychius of Mt. Horeb
Saint Hesychius the Silent of Mt. Horeb, lived during the sixth
century at one of the monasteries on Mt. Horeb, and at first he was
not a very fervent monk. Hesychius died after a serious illness, but
through a wondrous act of Divine Providence, he came back to life an
hour later. After this, the saint secluded himself in his cell as a
recluse, and for twelve years he dwelt in complete solitude. He would
not converse with any of the brethren, but devoted himself to the
singing of Psalms and penitential weeping. Before his death, Blessed
Hesychius said to the assembled monks: "Forgive me, brethren. He who
acquires the remembrance of death cannot sin."
The holy hesychasts (those who keep silence) are the spiritual
descendants of St Hesychius. These ascetics devote themselves to
contemplating God, and to unceasing prayer of the heart.
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