[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Mon Oct 8 05:00:18 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Oct 8 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Philippians 2:12-16
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good
pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without
fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom
you shine as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of
Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

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Philippians 2:17-23  (Tuesday)
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the
sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you
all.
18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that
I also may be encouraged when I know your state.
20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your
state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he
served with me in the gospel.
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes
with me.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

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Luke 7:36-50
36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to
the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.
37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew
that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an
alabaster flask of fragrant oil,
38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His
feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she
kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to
himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and
what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a
sinner."
40 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say
to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it."
41 There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five
hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave
them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?
43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more."
And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."
44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this
woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she
has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her
head.
45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet
since the time I came in.
46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My
feet with fragrant oil.
47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for
she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.
48 Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves,
"Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50 Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

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Luke 8:1-3  (Tuesday)
1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and
village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of
God. And the twelve were with Him,
2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and
infirmities-Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,
3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many
others who provided for Him from their substance.
Scripture Reading 4 of 4

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Venerable Pelagia the Penitent
Saint Pelagia the Penitent was converted to Christianity by St Nonnus,
Bishop of Edessa (Saturday of Cheesefare Week). Before her acceptance
of Christianity through Baptism, Pelagia was head of a dance troupe in
Palestinian Antioch, living a life of frivolity and prostitution.
One day Pelagia, elegantly dressed, was making her way past a church
where St Nonnus was preaching a sermon. Believers turned their faces
away from the sinner, but the bishop glanced after her. Struck by the
outer beauty of Pelagia and having foreseen the spiritual greatness
within her, the saint prayed in his cell for a long time to the Lord
for the sinner. He told his fellow bishops that the prostitute put
them all to shame. He explained that she took great care to adorn her
body in order to appear beautiful in the eyes of men. "We... take no
thought for the adornment of our wretched souls," he said.
On the following day, when St Nonnus was teaching in the church about
the dread Last Judgment and its consequences, Pelagia came. The
teaching made a tremendous impression upon her.With the fear of God
and weeping tears of repentance, she asked the saint for Baptism.
Seeing her sincere and full repentance, Bishop Nonnus baptized her.
By night the devil appeared to Pelagia, urging her to return to her
former life. The saint prayed, signed herself with the Sign of the
Cross, and the devil vanished.
Three days after her baptism, St Pelagia gathered up her valuables and
took them to Bishop Nonnus. The bishop ordered that they be
distributed among the poor saying, "Let this be wisely dispersed, so
that these riches gained by sin may become a wealth of righteousness."
After this St Pelagia journeyed to Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives.
She lived there in a cell, disguised as the monk Pelagius, living in
ascetic seclusion, and attaining great spiritual gifts. When she died,
she was buried in her cell.
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Venerable Dositheus the Abbot of Verkneostrov, Pskov
Saint Dositheus, Abbot of Verkhneostrov and Pskov was a disciple of St
Euphrosynus of Spasoeleazarov and Pskov (May 15). In 1470, he founded
the Peter and Paul Verkhneostrov monastery at Lake Pskova, where he
was igumen.
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Venerable Tryphon the Abbot of Vyatka
Saint Tryphon, Archimandrite of Vyatka, came of pious parents, living
in the Archangelsk diocese. His parents intended to marry Tryphon off,
but from his youth, he desired the monastic life, and he secretly left
his home for the city of Ustiug, where he took up residence with a
parish priest who dwelt in strict fasting and prayer. He then lived in
the town of Orletsa near the church, enduring hunger and cold, and
from there he moved on to the Pyshkorsk monastery at the River Kama.
Here St Tryphon was received into the monastic life and was tonsured
under Igumen Barlaam. The 22-year-old monk did not miss a single
church service, and he performed his obedience in the bakery. When he
fell grievously ill, St Nicholas appeared to him and healed him,
encouraging him in ascetic effort.
In search of solitude, the monk went to the Mulyanka River and settled
at the place where the city Perm is now. Here he converted to
Christianity the pagan Ostyaks and Voguli. Then St Tryphon withdrew to
the River Chusova and founded a monastery in honor of the Dormition of
the Most Holy Theotokos.
In 1580 he arrived in the city of Khynov in Vyatsk diocese, and he
also founded a monastery there in honor of the Dormition and was made
Archimandrite. Being a strict ascetic, he wore an hairshirt on his
body and also heavy chains. The soul of the Elder longed to enlighten
the lost with the light of faith in Christ. He devoted all his energy
to this holy effort.
Before his death, St Tryphon wrote a last testament to the brethren,
in which he says, "Fathers and brethren, the flock gathered about
Christ! Heed me, a sinner. Though I am coarse and worse than any, God
and His All-Pure Mother have permitted me, a sinner, to manage His
household. I beseech you, for the sake of the Lord and His Mother, to
have spiritual love among yourselves. Without this no virtue is
complete before God. The lips of Christ spoke to the disciples, "Love
one another" (John. 13:34). And in the words of the Apostle Paul,
"Bear one another's burdens" (Gal. 6: 2). Do not condemn one another
before God, whether in the temple or in the cell, either alone or in
common with the brethren. Pray with the fear of God. And by no means
neglect church singing; although there are other matters, hasten to
church to God for spiritual song. First give to God what is God's, and
then fulfill the other matters." St Tryphon fell asleep in the Lord in
old age in 1612. He was buried in the Vyatka monastery he founded.
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Venerable Thais of Egypt
Saint Thais of Egypt, raised by her mother in a spirit far removed
from Christian piety, led a depraved and dissolute life. She was famed
for her beauty, leading many on the path to perdition.
The account about the prodigal Thais spread throughout all Egypt and
reached even St Paphnutius, a strict ascetic who had converted many to
salvation. Paphnutius dressed himself in worldly attire and went to
Thais, giving her money as though he wished to pay for her favors. He
pretended to be afraid that someone would see them, so he asked her if
there were a place they would not be discovered. Thais said that they
could lock the door and enjoy complete privacy. "But if you fear God,"
she said, "there is no place where you can hide from Him." Seeing that
she knew about God and the punishment of the wicked, the Elder asked
why she led a sinful life and enticed others to ruin their souls. He
told her about the eternal punishment she would have to face for her
own sins, and for the people who had been corrupted and destroyed by
her.
The words of St Paphnutius so affected the sinner that she gathered up
all her riches acquired through her shameful life, then set them afire
in the city square. Then St Paphnutius shut her up in a small cell,
where for three years she dwelt in seclusion. Turning toward the East,
Thais constantly repeated the short prayer, "My Creator, have mercy on
me!"
"From the moment I entered into the cell," said Thais to the Elder
before her death, "all my sins constantly were before my eyes, and I
wept when I remembered them."
St Paphnutius replied "It is for your tears, and not for the austerity
of your seclusion, that the Lord has granted you mercy."
St Thais was ill for three days, then fell asleep in the Lord. So this
woman, who had been a harlot and a sinner, has entered the Kingdom of
God before us (Mt. 21:31). St Paul the Simple (October 4) saw in a
vision the place prepared for the penitant Thais in Paradise.
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Virginmartyr Pelagia of Antioch
The holy Virgin Martyr Pelagia was a fifteen-year-old girl when she
suffered martyrdom in Antioch during the Diocletian persecution.
When soldiers came to her home to seize her, St Pelagia jumped out the
window in order to avoid defilement.
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New Martyr Ignatius the Monk of Bulgaria
The holy New Martyr Ignatius was born in the village of Eski Zagora in
the Trnovo region of Bulgaria, and was named John in Baptism. While he
was still a young child, his parents George and Maria moved to the
city of Philippopolis and enrolled him in a school there.
Although he did well at school, he had a strong desire for the
monastic life. Upon reaching adulthood, he entered the Rila monastery
in western Bulgaria. There he was assigned to an Elder, with whom he
lived in obedience for six years. When the Elder's strictness became
unbearable, John returned home.
About that time the Serbs rose in revolt against the Moslem
government. John's father was asked to take command of an Ottoman
brigade, but he refused to fight against other Orthodox Christians.
The Moslems attacked George with furious anger. He was stabbed and
then beheaded. John's mother and sisters were also taken by the
Hagarenes, and they ultimately agreed to convert to Islam.
John fled and hid in the home of an elderly Orthodox woman. His mother
and sisters learned where he was hiding, and they told the Moslems.
Those sent to capture him did not know what he looked like, so the old
woman told them she did not know him. The woman helped him escape to
Bucharest, Romania, where he became acquainted with St Euthymius, who
would also endure martyrdom.
John did not wish to stay in Bucharest, however, and so he left for
Mt. Athos. On the way he visited the village of Soumla, where he ran
into his friend Fr Euthymius again. Learning that Euthymius had denied
Christ and beome a Moslem, John became very sad and left the village.
He had not gotten very far when Turkish soldiers stopped him and took
all his possessions. They demanded that he convert to Islam, and in
his fright he told them that he would do so. Satisfied with this
reply, they let him go.
John reached the village of Eski Zagora, where he met an Athonite monk
from the monastery of Grigoriou. They journeyed to the Holy Mountain
together, and John settled in the Skete of St Anna. There he met Fr
Basil.
One day John and Fr Basil traveled to Thessalonica on monastery
business. While they were there the monks David and Euthymius of
Demetsana suffered martyrdom because they were Christians. John was
inflamed with the desire for martyrdom. Fr Basil, however, urged him
to postpone his intention, and so they returned to the Holy Mountain.
A short time after this, Fr Basil died.
When a monk from the Skete of St Anna told him of the martyrdom of the
New Martyr Euthymius (March 22), John was once more filled with zeal
for martyrdom. He was placed under the spiritual direction of the
Elder Acacius, who prescribed for him prayer, prostrations, and
reading the Gospel.
In time, John was found worthy of monastic tonsure, and was given the
new name Ignatius. The Elder Acacius blessed him to travel to
Constantinople with the monk Gregory in order to bear witness to
Christ. After receiving the Holy Mysteries in Constantinople, Ignatius
felt he was ready for his ordeal.
Dressed in Moslem garb, Ignatius went before the kadi and proclaimed
his faith in Christ. He told him how he had promised to become a
Moslem when he was younger, but now he threw his turban at the kadi's
feet and said that he would never deny Christ.
Thinking that Ignatius was insane, the kadi warned him that if he did
not come to his senses he would endure horrible torments before being
put to death. On the other hand, if he embraced Islam, he would
receive rich gifts and great honor from them.
The courageous martyr told the kadi to keep his gifts, for they were
merely temporal gifts. "Your threats of torture and death are nothing
new," he said, "and I knew of them before I came here. In fact, I came
here because of them, so that I might die for my Christ."
St Ignatius went on to call Mohammed "a false prophet, a teacher of
perdition, and a friend of the devil." Then he invited the Moslems to
believe in Christ, the only true God.
The kadi then became so angry he could not speak, so he motioned for a
servant to lead St Ignatius out of the room. Ignatius turned and
struck the servant, then knelt before the kadi and bent his neck, as
if inviting him to behead him then and there. Other servants entered
the room, however, and dragged him off to prison.
Later, Ignatius was brought before the kadi for questioning. When
asked who had brought him to Constantinople, he replied, "My Lord
Jesus Christ brought me here."
Again the kadi urged him to reconsider, for he was about to experience
unimaginable tortures. "Do not expect to be beheaded so that the
Christians can collect your blood as a blessing," he said, "for I
intend to hang you."
Ignatius replied, "You will be doing me a great service whether you
hang me or put me to the sword. I accept everything for the love of
Christ."
Seeing that he could not turn Ignatius from his Christian Faith, the
kadi ordered him to be hanged. He was taken to a place called
Daktyloporta, where the sentence was carried out. The martyr's body
remained hanging there for three days, then some pious Christians paid
a ransom for it and took it to the island of Prote for burial.
St Ignatius gave his life for Christ on October 8, 1814. He is also
commemorated on May 1 with Sts Acacius and Euthymius.
The head of St Ignatius is in the Monastery of St Panteleimon on Mt
Athos.
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Venerable Philotheus the Patriarch of Constantinople
Saint Philotheus was a native of Thessalonica, and received the
monastic tonsure at an early age. After living for a time at Mt Sinai,
he went to Mt Athos and became the igumen of the Great Lavra.
In 1347 he became Metropolitan of Heraclea, Thrace. Later, he served
as Patriarch of Constantinople from 1354-1355, and again from
1364-1376.
While living on the Holy Mountain and even after he left there, St
Philotheus wrote religious books which reveal his great learning and
spirituality. Many of his works are directed against the
anti-hesychasts, and he also wrote on liturgical and hagiographical
themes.
St Philotheus ordained that St Gregory Palamas (November 14) be
commemorated on the second Sunday of Great Lent, presided at his
glorification as a saint, and even composed the Service in his honor.
St Philotheus fell asleep in the Lord in 1379.
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