[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed Oct 10 05:00:11 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed Oct 10 2007

----------------------------------------------------
------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------

Philippians 2:24-30
24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my
brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the
one who ministered to my need;
26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you
had heard that he was sick.
27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him,
and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon
sorrow.
28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again
you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such
men in esteem;
30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not
regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward
me.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

-----------------------------

Luke 8:22-25
22 Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His
disciples. And He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side
of the lake." And they launched out.
23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the
lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are
perishing!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the
water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid,
and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands
even the winds and water, and they obey Him!"
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

----------------------------------------------------
------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

Martyr Eulampius at Nicomedia
Saints Eulampius and Eulampia were brother and sister. They lived at
the beginning of the fourth century in the city of Nicomedia.
Eulampius became upset after reading the decree of the emperor
Maximiam (284-305) sentencing all Christians to execution. Eulampius
was horrified that the emperor was taking up arms against his own
subjects rather than fighting the enemies of his country.
The youth was brought to trial and commanded to renounce the Christian
Faith. When he refused, they first raked him with iron hooks, and then
placed him upon a red-hot bed of coals. All of a sudden the sufferer
expressed a wish to visit the pagan temple. The judges were delighted,
supposing that they had turned him from Christianity. In the pagan
temple of Mars the saint approached the idol and cried out, "In the
Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I command you to fall to the floor and
crumble into dust!" The idol immediately crashed down to the floor and
was destroyed.
The people exclaimed, "The Supreme God is the Christian God, Who is
great and mighty!" St Eulampius was again taken away for torture. This
time his sister, Eulampia, appeared before the judges and declared
that she also was a Christian. Eulampius told her, "Sister, do not
fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul"
(Mt.10:28).
The martyrs were tortured and thrown into a red-hot furnace, but the
Lord protected them from the fire. Finally, they beheaded Eulampius,
but Eulampia died from her torments before she could be beheaded.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Eulampia at Nicomedia
Saints Eulampia and Eulampius were brother and sister. They lived at
the beginning of the fourth century in the city of Nicomedia.
Eulampius became upset after reading the decree of the emperor
Maximiam (284-305) sentencing all Christians to execution. Eulampius
was horrified that the emperor was taking up arms against his own
subjects rather than fighting the enemies of his country.
The youth was brought to trial and commanded to renounce the Christian
Faith. When he refused, they subjected him to many tortures. His
sister Eulampia also appeared before the judges and declared that she
was a Christian. Eulampius told her, "Sister, do not fear those who
kill the body but are unable to kill the soul" (Mt.10:28).
The martyrs were tortured and thrown into a red-hot furnace, but the
Lord protected them from the fire. Finally, they beheaded Eulampius,
but Eulampia died from her torments before she could be beheaded.
_________________________________________________________________
200 Martyrs with Eulampius and Eulampia at Nicomedia
These two hundred martyrs were converted to Christ after seeing the
miracles of St Eulampius and St Eulampia as they were being tortured.
They were also put to death and received the crown of martyrdom.
_________________________________________________________________
St Amphilochius the Bishop of Vladimir, in Volhynia
Saint Amphilochius, Bishop of Vladimir-Volhynia was the third bishop
of one of the oldest of Russian dioceses, Vladimir-Volhynia, which was
established in the time of St Vladimir. The first Vladimir-Volhynia
bishop was Stephen, elected under St Vladimir himself; the next in
succession was Igumen Stephen of the Kiev Caves (April 27), who became
the igumen after St Theodosius (May 3). St Amphilochius was
consecrated bishop on August 27, 1105 by the Metropolitan of Kiev,
Nicephorus (1103-1121).
For seventeen years Bishop Amphilochius guided the Vladimir-Volhynia
flock. Only a couple of generations separate his time from that of the
Baptism of Kievan Rus, and the saint toiled tirelessly for the
conversion of pagans to Christ. He also worked to root out pagan
superstitions among the newly-baptized, while pacifying the strife
among the princes of the region.
Resigning as hierarch, he continued his service to God in the Kiev
Caves monastery, where he died in the year 1122. The October 10
celebration of his memory, together with the other holy hierarchs of
the Volhynia region, was established in the year 1831, after the
restoration of the Pochaev Lavra in Volhynia to Orthodoxy.
_________________________________________________________________
Synaxis of the Saints of Volhynia
The Synaxis of the Saints of Volhynia commemorates all the saints of
that region, including
St Amphilochius, Bishop of Vladimir in Volhynia (October 10) St Job of
Pochaev (August 28, October 28) St Juliana Olshanskaya (July 6)
StMacarius of Kanev (May 13, September 7) StStephen, Bishop of
Vladimir in Volhynia (April 27) StTheodore (Theodosius, in
monasticism) (August 11) St Yaropolk, prince of Vladimir, Volhynia
(November 22)
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Job the Abbot of Pochaev
Saint Job, the Igumen of Pochaev Monastery, is also commemorated on
August 28 (uncovering of relics) and October 28 (repose).
_________________________________________________________________
St Stephen
Saint Stephen was the Igumen of the Kiev Caves, and became Bishop of
Vladimir, Volhynia. He is also commemorated on April 27.
_________________________________________________________________
Hieromartyr Macarius the Archimandrite of Kanev
Saint Macarius the Archimandrite of Kanev is also commemorated on
September 7 (martyrdom) and May 13 (translation of his relics).
_________________________________________________________________
St Yaropolk the Prince of Vladimir-Volhynia
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.
St Yaropolk is also commemorated on November 22.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Theodore (In monasticism Theodosius) the Prince of
Ostrog
Saint Theodore (the monk Theodosius) was Prince of Ostrog. He is also
commemorated on August 11.
_________________________________________________________________
Blessed Virgin Princess Juliana of Olshansk
Saint Juliana Olshanskaya was the daughter of Prince George Olshansky,
and lived in the sixteenth century. This holy God-pleasing virgin is
also commemorated on July 6 (uncovering of relics).
_________________________________________________________________
Blessed Andrew of Totma the Fool-For-Christ
Blessed Andrew of Totma, the Fool-for-Christ was born in the year 1638
in the village of Ust-Totma and chose to leave the world while still a
child. With the blessing of Stephen, igumen of the Resurrection
monastery in Galich, Andrew took upon himself the arduous calling of
fool-for-Christ. He lived at the church of the Resurrection of Christ
in the city of Totma on the banks of the River Sukhona.
Walking barefoot in both winter and summer, Andrew wore tattered
clothing, and ate only bread and water, and that in such a small
quantity that it just barely kept him from starving. He prayed both
day and night, and if anyone gave him anything, he would give it away
to the poor. For his efforts and toil the Blessed Andrew acquired the
gift of wonderworking.
One winter a blind man by the name of Azhibokai came to the blessed
fool, asking for healing while offering him a large sum of money. But
the fool fled away. Azhibokai then washed his eyes with snow from
where the saint had stood. In doing so, he was able to see.
The time of his own death was revealed to the Blessed Andrew. He made
his confession, received the Holy Mysteries and peacefully fell asleep
in the Lord in 1673. Over his grave was built the bell-tower church of
the holy Martyr Andrew Stratelates (August 19), whose name he bore.
Many miracles were witnessed at the grave of the Blessed Andrew.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theotecnus of Antioch
Saint Theotecnus of Antioch was a renowned military commander at
Antioch under the emperor Maximian (305-311). One time the emperor
arrived in Antioch, demanding that all the inhabitants offer sacrifice
to the pagan gods. As a Christian, Theotecnus refused to fulfill the
order. The emperor, scoffing at the Christian Faith, gave orders to
dress Theotecnus in women's clothing and put him among the slave
women. Three weeks later the emperor summoned Theoteknos to him,
thinking that the humiliation would break his spirit, but again he
heard the martyr confess Christ.
"You put your life in peril, if you do not submit", growled Maximian.
Theotecnus was silent. In a fury, the emperor, gave orders to cut the
tendons and burn the feet of the martyr, and then throw him in a
kettle of boiling tar. But just as soon as Theotecnus went into the
kettle, the flames beneath it went out, and the heat of the kettle
went cool instantly. Terror seized the emperor. Not wanting to torture
the martyr further, he sent him to prison and entrusted his own
centurion to deal with the saint.
In prison with Theotecnus was a Christian confessor named Alexander.
Theotecnus helped him escape from the prison. Learning of this, the
centurion subjected Theotecnus to brutal torments, and eventually gave
orders to throw the saint into the sea with a stone about his neck.
After a while, the relics of St Theotecnus were found, near the city
of Rusob on the Cilician seacoast, and given Christian burial.
_________________________________________________________________
St Bassian of Constantinople
Saint Bassian of Constantinople was born in eastern Syria and became
an ascetic in Constantinople, where the pious emperor Marcian
(450-457) ruled. The venerable Bassian was the igumen at a monastery
where there were three hundred monks. Among them also was St Matrona
(November 9), who dressed in men's attire. St Bassian lived in his
monastery to an old age, famed for his virtuous life and numerous
miracles, and peacefully fell asleep in the Lord.
_________________________________________________________________
St Theophilus the Confessor of Bulgaria
Saint Theophilus the Confessor of Bulgaria came from the area
surrounding Tiberiada. When he was thirteen, the saint secretly left
his home to go off to the monastery on Mount Selenteia. There he
matured spiritually under the guidance of the Elder, St Stephen. After
three years St Theophilus was tonsured into monasticism. When the
parents of the saint learned where their son was, they went to the
monastery and asked the igumen to send Theophilus and several of the
brethren to establish a new monastery closer to the their home. The
igumen bade all the monks to fast and to pray, so that a sign might be
received. On the third day a voice was heard in the church giving the
blessing for Theophilus to start a new monastery, since he would
become renowned for his many spiritual exploits.
During the period of the iconoclast controversy culminating in the
reign of the iniquitous iconoclast emperor, Leo the Isaurian
(717-741), St Theophilus openly revolted against the iconoclast folly.
In accord with the emperor's orders, the saint was subjected to
beatings and led through the city tied up like a criminal. The emperor
then gave Theophilus over into the charge of the official, Hypatius
who tried repeatedly to compel the confessor to renounce holy icons.
Theophilus remained steadfast. Instead, he succeeded in converting
Hypatius.
As proof of the validity of icons, Theophilus cited the brass serpent
set up by Moses (Num 21:9), the corroboration of the Cherubim atop the
Ark of the Covenant, and finally how the Savior Himself had given to
Abgar, the Prince of Edessa, His Icon Not Made by Hands (August 16).
Persuaded by this evidence, Hypatius gained the emperor's permission
to set the saint free. The confessor returned to his monastery. He
lived only a short time longer, and in the year 716 St Theophilus fell
asleep peacefully in the Lord.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Ambrose of Optina
Saint Ambrose of Optina
br> Alexander Michailovich Grenkov was born Nov. 23, 1812 in the
Russian province of Tambov. His parents raised him strictly and with
fervent piety. Since he was of a priestly family, it was no surprise
when he entered the Tambov theological seminary in 1830. He did well
in his studies and was ranked among the top students.
br> About a year before graduation Alexander became seriously ill. He
promised that if God healed him, he would become a monk. Although his
prayer was answered, Alexander seemed to forget his promise.
br> After graduation from the seminary he took a position as tutor to
the children of a certain landowner and remained with this family for
a year and a half. After this he became a teacher at the local
parochial school.
br> One day in 1839 Alexander and a friend visited the famous hermit
Father Hilarion to ask him what they should do with their lives.
Alexander was surprised when he was told to go to the monastery of
Optina Pustin, where they had great need of him. In September of that
same year, however, he seemed to be prepared to continue with his
teaching career.
One night he was invited to spend a pleasant evening with some
friends. His conversation was witty and brilliant, and all his jokes
and puns were on the mark. Although his hosts were amused and
impressed by him, Alexander was disgusted by his own frivolity.
Perhaps his unfulfilled promise to become a monk weighed on his
conscience.
br> The next morning he quit his job and arrived at Optina in October
of 1839. After a trial period he decided to remain in the monastery
and dedicate his life to God. He received the monastic tonsure in
1842, and was given the name Ambrose in honor of St Ambrose of Milan
(December 7). Ambrose knew the famous spiritual directors Elder Leonid
and Elder Macarius. He was the cell attendant of Elder Macarius, who
undoubtedly influenced the young monk's spiritual development.
br> Ordained as a priest in 1845, Father Ambrose's reverence and piety
in celebrating the divine services were noticed by the other monks.
His health began to decline shortly afterward, and he had to ask to be
relieved of all duties. In 1846 he was so ill that the Mystery of Holy
Unction was administered to him. He bore his illness without complaint
and slowly regained his strength. By 1848 he was able to walk with the
aid of a cane.
br> Father Ambrose began to help Elder Macarius with his
correspondence and in preparing the Russian edition of St John
Climacus's LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT, which was published by the
monastery.
br> When Father Macarius had to go to Moscow in 1852, he designated
Father Ambrose to take his place until his return. Father Ambrose
never gave his personal opinions when he was asked for advice, but
always referred people to the writings of the Fathers. If someone did
not understand the text he was given to read, Father Ambrose would
explain it in simple terms.
br> Father Macarius died in 1860 without naming anyone to succeed him
as Elder. By divine providence, all the other possible candidates
either died or were appointed as abbots of other monasteries. This
left Father Ambrose as the undisputed spiritual director of the
monastery. In his role as Elder, Father Ambrose had to receive many
people each day to hear confessions and give advice. He used to say,
"The Lord has arranged it so that I would have to talk to people all
my life. Now I would be happy to remain silent, but I cannot."
br> An average day in St Ambrose's life began at 4 A.M. when his cell
attendant came into his cell to read the morning Rule of prayer for
him. After this he would wash and have some tea, then he would dictate
replies to the many letters he received every day. Visitors would be
lining up even as he was having breakfast. Sometimes he would take a
break after two hours, but more often he would continue seeing people
until noon when he had his lunch.
br> After lunch he would go out into the next room and greet more
visitors. People would call out questions and he would give an
appropriate response. He took a short rest at 3 P.M. then talked to
people until the evening. At 8 P.M. he had dinner then received more
visitors until 11 P.M. At that hour the evening Rule of prayer was
read, and Father Ambrose begged forgiveness of the brethren whom he
may have offended by thought, word, or deed. After three or four hours
of sleep it would all begin again. This routine would fatigue a strong
man. It is remarkable that St Ambrose, who was often in poor health,
was able to keep it up for so many years.
br> From all over Russia, people flocked to the venerable Elder. The
writer Tolstoy visited him on at least three occasions, and left
impressed by the wisdom of the holy monk. Fyodor Dostoevsky came to
Optina in 1878 after the death of his son Alyosha and was profoundly
affected by his meeting with St Ambrose. The novelist used Father
Ambrose as a model for Starets Zosima in The Brothers Karamazov.
br> The saint founded Shamordino convent in 1884. This convent, which
was near Optina, opened its doors to women who were poor, sickly, or
even blind. Most convents were very poor and had to rely on the
incomes of women who had a certain personal wealth in order to remain
open. St Ambrose made it possible for any woman who wished to become a
nun to follow this path of salvation.
br> Shamordino began to decline after the death of the first abbess,
Mother Sophia. St Ambrose went there in June 1890 to straighten out
the convent's affairs. He was unable to return to Optina due to
illness, then winter made it impossible for him to travel. Father
Ambrose continued to see visitors at Shamordino, even though his
health continued to deteriorate in 1891.
br> By September, it was clear that he had not long to live. He fell
asleep in the Lord at 11:30 A.M. on the morning of October 10 1891.
Throngs of people attended his funeral and also his burial at Optina.
Fathers Joseph, Anthony, Benedict, and Anatole succeeded him as Elder
until the monastery was closed after the Russian Revolution.
The Moscow Patriarchate authorized local veneration of the Optina
Elders on June 13,1996. The work of uncovering the relics of Sts
Leonid, Macarius, Hilarion, Ambrose, Anatole I, Barsanuphius and
Anatole II began on June 24/July 7, 1998 and was concluded the next
day. However, because of the church Feasts (Nativity of St John the
Baptist, etc.) associated with the actual dates of the uncovering of
the relics, Patriarch Alexey II designated June 27/July 10 as the date
for commemorating this event. The relics of the holy Elders now rest
in the new church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
The Optina Elders were glorified by the Moscow Patriarchate for
universal veneration on August 7, 2000.
St Ambrose was glorified in 1988 by the Patriarchate of Moscow as part
of the Millennium celebration of the Baptism of Rus.
_________________________________________________________________
Icon of the Mother of God "of the Akathist" of the Zographou
Monastery
The Zographou Icon "Of the Akathist" is not to be confused with the
Hilandar Icon "Of the Akathist" (January 12).
_________________________________________________________________
26 Martyrs of the Zographou Monastery on Mt. Athos at the
hands of the Crusaders
26 Monkmartyrs of the Zographou Monastery on Mount Athos In the year
1274 at the Council of Lyons (in France), the Byzantine emperor
Michael VIII Paleologos decided to buttress his waning power by
forming a union with Catholic Rome. This step evoked universal
discontent. In 1278, the emperor issued a decree to introduce the
Union at Constantinople by forceful measures, if necessary.
Mt. Athos stood in firm opposition to the Union. The Athonite monks
sent a letter to Michael pointing out that the primacy of the Pope,
his commemoration in the churches, celebrating the Eucharist with
unleavened bread, the insertion of the "filioque" ["and from the Son"]
into the Creed, could not be accepted by Orthodox, and they asked the
emperor to change his mind. "We clearly see," the letter said, "that
you are becoming a heretic, but we implore you to forsake all this and
abide in the teachings that were handed down to you.... Reject the
unholy and novel teachings of a false knowledge, speculations, and
additions to the Faith."
The Crusaders pushed out of Palestine and finding refuge in the
Byzantine Empire, declared to the emperor their readiness to affirm
the power of the Pope by fire and sword, if necessary. In addition,
Michael had hired mercenaries, both Turks and Tatars, to enforce his
decree.
The emperor despised the monks of Mt. Athos for their opposition.
Since he did not want to provoke the Greeks, he decided to vent his
spite upon the Athonite Slavs. By Michael's order, the servants of the
Pope descended upon the Bulgarian Zographou monastery. When the demand
to accept the Union was presented before the Zographou monks, they
refused to listen. They adhered to the doctrines of the Fathers, and
fearlessly censured those who accepted the Latin teachings. The
majority of the Zographou monks left the monastery, but the most
steadfast, twenty-six in number, remained within the monastery tower.
These were:Igumen Thomas, and the monks Barsanuphius, Cyril, Michael,
Simon, Hilarion, James, Job, Cyprian, Sava, Jacob, Martinian, Cosmas,
Sergius, Menas, Joasaph, Joannicius, Paul, Anthony, Euthymius,
Dometian, Parthenius, and four laymen.
The holy martyrs for their Orthodox Faith, were burned in the
monastery tower on October 10, 1284. (also September 22).
_________________________________________________________________