[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri Oct 12 2007

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Philippians 3:8-19
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from
the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness
which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the
fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I
press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also
laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing
I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to
those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in
Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in
anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us
walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk,
as you have us for a pattern.
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even
weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory
is in their shame-who set their mind on earthly things.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2


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Luke 9:12-18
12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him,
"Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns
and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted
place here."
13 But He said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they
said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and
buy food for all these people."
14 For there were about five thousand men. Then He said to His
disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of fifty."
15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.
16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to
heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to
set before the multitude.
17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover
fragments were taken up by them.
18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined
Him, and He asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
Scripture Reading 2 of 2



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Martyr Tarachus at Tarsus, in Cilicia
The Martyrs Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus suffered for Christ in
the year 304 at Tarsus in Cilicia. When the pagans ordered him to
offer sacrifice to idols, the old soldier Tarachus replied that he
would offer a pure heart to the one true God instead of sacrifices of
blood. Seeing the firmness of the saint's confession the true Faith,
the proconsul gave them all over to torture.
The tormentors subjected the martyrs to various tortures, and then
they tore the bodies of the saints apart. Christians secretly took up
the relics of the saints and buried them.
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Martyr Probus at Tarsus, in Cilicia
The Martyrs Probus, Tarachus and Andronicus suffered for Christ in the
year 304 at Tarsus in Cilicia. When the pagans ordered him to offer
sacrifice to idols, the old soldier Tarachus replied that he would
offer a pure heart to the one true God instead of sacrifices of blood.
Seeing the firmness of the saint's confession the true Faith, the
proconsul gave them all over to torture.
"When my body suffers," St Probus said to the idol worshippers, "then
my soul is healed and invigorated." The tormentors refined their
tortures, such as their rage could invent, and then they tore the
bodies of the saints apart. Christians secretly took up the relics of
the saints and buried them.
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Martyr Andronicus at Tarsus, in Cilicia
The Martyrs Andronicus, Tarachus and Probus suffered for Christ in the
year 304 at Tarsus in Cilicia. When the pagans ordered him to offer
sacrifice to idols, the old soldier Tarachus replied that he would
offer a pure heart to the one true God instead of sacrifices of blood.
Seeing the firmness of the saint's confession the true Faith, the
proconsul gave them all over to torture.
The tormentors subjected the martyrs to various tortures, and then
they tore the bodies of the saints apart. Christians secretly took up
the relics of the saints and buried them.
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St Cosmas the Hymnographer the Bishop of Maiuma
Saint Cosmas the Hymnographer, Bishop of Maiuma, was a native of
Jerusalem. He was raised by the parents of St John of Damascus
(December 4) together with their son, and he received a fine
education. When St Cosmas came of age, he set out to one of the
monasteries of Palestine, where he attained renown for his monastic
exploits.
During a time of persecution against holy icons St Cosmas, and the
venerable John, came forward to defend Orthodoxy. In the year 743
Cosmas was made Bishop of Maiuma. He died in old age, leaving behind
many canons for feast days and a Triodion for four days of Holy Week.
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Venerable Amphilochius the Abbot of Glushetsa
Saint Amphilochius, Abbot of Glushetsa, already a monk of priestly
rank, came from Ustiug to St Dionysius of Glushetsa (July 1) in the
year 1417. St Dionysius, learning of the wish of Amphilochius to
become an ascetic, told him of the severity and harshness of life in
his monastery, but this did not deter the newcomer. Then St Dionysius
said, "If you wish to dwell here, then we shall make an accord not to
be distinct one from another while we dwell upon the earth."
Amphilochius joyfully agreed and vowed to fulfill the rule of the
monastery.
The venerable Amphilochius spent twenty years in deeds of fasting,
prayer and obedience under the guidance of St Dionysius, striving to
imitate him in all things and assisting in the work of building up the
monastery.
After the death of St Dionysius, St Amphilochius was the abbot of the
Glushetsa monastery for fifteen years. He died peacefully in the year
1452, and was buried alongside his mentor.
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Martyr Domnina of Anazarbus
The Martyr Domnina of Anazarbus lived in the region of Cilicia, and
suffered for confessing Christianity. She was beaten for a long time,
by order of the governor Licius, and they also burned her with fire.
Completely tormented, St Domnina was thrown into prison, where she
died in 286.
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St Edwin, King and Martyr
Saint Edwin (Eadwine) was the son of Alla, King of Deira, and was born
around 584. When his father died, Edwin was cheated out of his kingdom
by King Ethelred of Bernicia, who united Bernicia and Deira into a
single kingdom of Northumbria.
Edwin fled to East Anglia and took refuge with King Redwald. Redwald,
because of the threats and promises he had received, was persuaded to
give Edwin up to his enemies. Edwin was warned by a friend of the
danger he faced. That night, a stranger promised that his kingdom
would be restored to him if Edwin would do as he taught him. Edwin
agreed, and the stranger laid his hand on Edwin's head, telling him to
remember the gesture.
In time, Edwin became ruler of the entire north of England and, by
force of arms, obliged the other kings to acknowledge him as
sovereign. He married Ethelburga, the daughter of St Ethelbert
(February 25), the first Christian king in England. Ethelburga was
also the sister of King Ealbald of Kent.
There was an attempt on Edwin's life in 626, on the eve of Pascha.
That night the queen gave birth to a baby girl, and King Quichelm of
the West Saxons sent an assassin named Eumer to kill Edwin with a
poisoned dagger. Eumer was admitted to Edwin's presence and tried to
stab him. He would have succeeded if it had not been for Lilla, King
Edwin's faithful minister, who placed himself between the king and the
assassin. The blade passed through his body, however, and wounded the
king. The assassin was killed, and Lilla saved Edwin's life at the
cost of his own. This event is commemorated by a stone cross which
stands on Lilla Howe near Flyingdales Ballistic Missle Early Warning
System on the North Yorkshire Moors. Before the Pickering-Whitby road
was built in 1759, this cross served as a guide for those who walked
across the moors from Robin Hood's Bay to Saltergate.
Edwin thanked his gods that he had been spared, but he was told by
Bishop Paulinus of York (October 10) that he had been saved by the
prayers of his queen. The bishop said that he should show his
gratitude to the true God by allowing his newborn daughter to be
baptized. The child was baptized on Pentecost, and was given the name
Eanfleda.
The king, who had been slightly wounded in the attack, promised Bishop
Paulinus that he would become a Christian if he were restored to
health, and if he would triumph over those who conspired to kill him.
As soon as his wound healed, King Edwin marched against the King of
the West Saxons with an army. He vanquished the opposing army, killing
or capturing those involved in the plot against him. He no longer
followed the pagan religion, but he put off his promise to embrace
Christianity, and it was many years before Edwin converted. He would
sit alone for hours trying to decide which religion he should follow.
St Paulinus, informed by a revelation about the stranger's promise to
the king, went to Edwin and laid his hand upon his head. "Do you
remember this gesture?" he asked.
The king trembled with astonishment, and would have fallen at the
bishop's feet. St Paulinus gently raised him up and said, "You see
that God has delivered you from your enemies. Moreover, He offers you
His everlasting Kingdom. See that you fulfill your promise to become a
Christian and keep the commandments of God."
King Edwin said that he would seek the counsel of his advisers and
urge them to convert with him. He asked them what he should do. Coifi,
a pagan priest, said it was readily apparent that their gods had no
power. Another person said that this brief life was inconsequential,
compared to eternity.
St Paulinus addressed the gathering, and when he had finished, Coifi
told the king that the altars and temples of their false gods should
be burned. The king asked him who should be the first to profane them.
Coifi replied that he should be the first, since he had been foremost
in leading their worship. The chief priest of the pagans was not
permitted to bear arms or to ride a horse. It was customary that he
ride a mare. Coifi, however, asked for a horse and for arms. Mounted
on the king's own horse, Coifi threw a spear into their temple,
commanding the others to pull it down and set it afire. This place was
not far from York, and today it is known as Godmanham.
In 627, the eleventh year of his reign, St Edwin was baptized by St
Paulinus of York in the wooden church of St Peter. St Edwin began the
construction of a new stone church, which was completed by his
successor St Oswald (August 5).
St Edwin ruled his kingdom in peace for six more years, and continued
to practice and promote Christianity. He was killed in a battle with
Penda of Mercia and Cadwalla of Wales in 633, when he was forty-eight
years old, at a place now known as Hatfield.
St Edwin's body was buried at Whitby, but his head was buried at York
in the church he had built. Most of the early English calendars list
St Edwin as a martyr.
After the death of St Edwin, his wife St Ethelburga (April 5) returned
to Kent, where she became the abbess of a monastery which she founded
at Lyminge.
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Icon of the Mother of God "Jerusalem"
The Jerusalem Icon of the Mother of God, by tradition, was painted by
the holy Evangelist Luke fifteen years after the Ascension of the Lord
at Gethsemane.
In the year 463, the icon was transferred to Constantinople. The
Byzantine army carried the Jerusalem Icon into battle when they turned
back an invasion of the Scythians. In 988 the icon was transferred to
Korsun and given to the holy Prince Vladimir. When the people of
Novgorod accepted Christianity, St Vladimir sent them this icon. In
1571, Ivan the Terrible transferred the icon to the Moscow Dormition
cathedral. During the Napoleonic invasion of 1812, the original was
stolen by the French and brought to Paris. An authenticated copy was
placed in the Dormition cathedral.
The Jerusalem Icon is also commemorated on November 13, and on the
Fifth Saturday of Great Lent.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Rudens
The Rudens Icon of the Mother of God appeared in the year 1687 in the
Rudno locale of Mogilevsk diocese. In 1712 the icon was transferred to
the Florovsk Ascension monastery in Kiev, where now it is located.
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Translation of a Particle of the Life Giving Cross from Malta
to Gatchina
The Translation from Malta to Gatchina of a Portion of the
Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, together with the Philermos Icon of
the Mother of God, and the right hand of St John the Baptist took
place in the year 1799. These holy things were preserved on the island
of Malta by the Knights of the Catholic Order of St John of Jerusalem.
In 1798, when the French seized the island, the Maltese knights turned
to Russia for defense and protection. On October 12, 1799 they offered
these ancient holy things to the emperor Paul I, who at this time was
at Gatchina. In the autumn of 1799 the holy items were transferred to
St Petersburg and placed in the Winter Palace within the church
dedicated to the Icon of the Savior Not-Made-by-Hands. The Feast for
this event was established in 1800.
By ancient tradition, the Philermos Icon of the Mother of God was
painted by the holy Evangelist Luke. From Jerusalem it was transferred
to Constantinople, where it was situated in the Blachernae church. In
the thirteenth century it was taken from there by crusaders, and from
that time was kept by the Knights of the Order of St John.
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Translation of the Filersk Icon of the Mother of God
The Philermos Icon of the Mother of God is from Mount Philermos on the
Greek island of Rhodes.
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Translation of the relic of the Right Hand of John the
Baptist
The Translation from Malta to Gatchina of a Portion of the
Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, together with the Philermos Icon of
the Mother of God, and the right hand of Saint John the Baptist took
place in the year 1799. These holy things were preserved on the island
of Malta by the Knights of the Catholic Order of St John of Jerusalem.
In 1798, when the French seized the island, the Maltese knights turned
to Russia for defense and protection. On October 12, 1799 they offered
these ancient holy things to the emperor Paul I, who at this time was
at Gatchina. In the autumn of 1799 the holy items were transferred to
St Petersburg and placed in the Winter Palace within the church
dedicated to the Icon of the Savior Not-Made-by-Hands. The Feast for
this event was established in 1800.
By ancient tradition, the Philermia Icon of the Mother of God was
painted by the holy Evangelist Luke. From Jerusalem it was transferred
to Constantinople, where it was situated in the Blachernae church. In
the thirteenth century it was taken from there by crusaders, and from
that time was kept by the Knights of the Order of St John.
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New Martyr John, Archbishop of Riga and Latvia
No information available at this time.
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St Tarasius of Glushetsa
Saint Tarasius of Glushetsa was abbot of a monastery built by St
Stephen of Perm (April 26), and he zealously spread and affirmed the
Orthodox Faith among the Zyryani people.
In 1427, under the successor of St Stephen, Bishop Gerasimus (January
29), St Tarasius voluntarily gave up leading the monastery and went to
the Glushetsa monastery under the guidance of St Dionysius.
St Dionysius, seeing Tarasius' deep humility, accepted him. The former
igumen Tarasius toiled alongside the novices as an equal at the
monastery and he led a strict ascetic life. He was buried at the
Dionysiev monastery in 1440.
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St Macarius, Abbot of Glushetsa
Saint Macarius, Abbot of Glushetsa (in the world Matthew), was born in
Rostov. As a twelve-year-old boy he was given to St Dionysius to be
raised. Growing up under the guidance of the great Elder, the saint
was distinguished by a rare purity of soul. St Macarius, already a
hieromonk, was chosen by the brethren as igumen of the monastery after
the death of St Amphilochius. St Macarius fell asleep in the Lord on
May 13 (not earlier than 1462).
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Icon of the Mother of God of Yaroslav-Smolensk
The Yaroslav-Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was the cell icon of
the archimandrite of the Trinity-St Sergius Lavra, Anthony. On October
12, 1642 while he was praying, he heard a voice from the Smolensk
Hodigitria (Directress) icon saying, "Go, go to the limits of the city
of Yaroslavl, to a newly-made monastery in My name." Archimandrite
Anthony sent this icon with the Venerable Gersaim to the indicated
monastery, being built in the forest, not far from Yaroslavl'. The
wonderworking icon was set in the monastery church in the altar area.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Kaluga
The Kaluga Icon of the Mother of God appeared in the year 1748
(September 2). In 1812 many Russian and French soldiers beheld the
Kaluga icon of the Mother of God, standing in the air. Thus also it
was around Kaluga and Maloyaroslavl. During such appearances the
Russian armies were always victorious. This vision was also granted to
the peasant Paraskeva Alekseeva.
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St Martin the Merciful the Bishop of Tours
Saint Martin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours, was born at Sabaria in
Pannonia (modern Hungary) in 316. Since his father was a Roman
officer, he also was obliged to serve in the army. Martin did so
unwillingly, for he considered himself a soldier of Christ, though he
was still a catechumen.
At the gates of Amiens, he saw a beggar shivering in the severe winter
cold, so he cut his cloak in two and gave half to the beggar. That
night, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the saint wearing Martin's
cloak. He heard the Savior say to the angels surrounding Him, "Martin
is only a catechumen, but he has clothed Me with this garment." The
saint was baptized soon after this, and reluctantly remained in the
army.
Two years later, the barbarians invaded Gaul and Martin asked
permission to resign his commission for religious reasons. The
commander charged him with cowardice. St Martin demonstrated his
courage by offering to stand unarmed in the front line of battle,
trusting in the power of the Cross to protect him. The next day, the
barbarians surrendered without a fight, and Martin was allowed to
leave the army.
He traveled to various places during the next few years, spending some
time as a hermit on an island off Italy. He became friendly with St
Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers (January 14), who made Matrin an exorcist.
After several years of the ascetic life, St Martin was chosen to be
Bishop of Tours in 371. As bishop, St Martin did not give up his
monastic life, and the place where he settled outside Tours became a
monastery. In fact, he is regarded as the founder of monasticism in
France. He conversed with angels, and had visions of Sts Peter and
Paul (June 29) and of other saints. He is called the Merciful because
of his generosity and care for the poor, and he received the grace to
work miracles.
After a life of devoted service to Christ and His Church, the saint
fell ill at Candes, a village in his diocese, where he died on
November 8, 397. He was buried three days later (his present Feast) at
Tours. During the Middle Ages, many Western churches were dedicated to
St Martin, including St Martin's in Canterbury, and St
Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
In 1008, a cathedral was built at Tours over the relics of St Martin.
This cathedral was destroyed in 1793 during the French Revolution,
together with the relics of St Martin and St Gregory of Tours
(November 17). A new cathedral was built on the site many years later.
Some fragments of the relics of St Martin were recovered and placed in
the cathedral, but nothing remains of St Gregory's relics.
St Martin's name appears on many Greek and Russian calendars. His
commemoration on October 12 in the Russian calendar appears to be an
error, since ancient sources give the November date.
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