[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sat Oct 13 05:00:15 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat Oct 13 2007

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2 Corinthians 1:8-11
8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble
which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above
strength, so that we despaired even of life.
9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not
trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in
whom we trust that He will still deliver us,
11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be
given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through
many.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Luke 6:1-10
1 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went
through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain
and ate them, rubbing them in their hands.
2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why are you doing what is
not lawful to do on the Sabbath?"
3 But Jesus answering them said, "Have you not even read this, what
David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:
4 how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and
also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the
priests to eat?
5 And He said to them, "The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."
6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the
synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was
withered.
7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would
heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.
8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered
hand, "Arise and stand here." And he arose and stood.
9 Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on
the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?"
10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,
"Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored as
whole as the other.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Martyr Carpus at Pergamus
The Martyrs Carpus, Papylus, Agathodorus and Agathonike suffered at
Pergamun during the persecution of Decius in the third century.
The governor of the district where the saints lived discovered that
Carpus and Papylus did not celebrate the pagan festivals. He ordered
that the transgressors be arrested and persuaded to accept the Roman
pagan religion. The saints replied that they would never worship false
gods. The judge then ordered them to be bound in iron chains and led
through the city, and then to be tied to horses and dragged to the
nearby city of Sardis.
Agathodorus and Agathonike voluntarily followed after Carpus and
Papylus. St Agathonike was choked to death with ox sinews and Sts
Carpus, Papylus and Agathodorus were beheaded in Sardis.
During his life St Papylus was known for his gift of curing the sick.
Since his martyrdom, he has granted healing to all who pray to him
with faith.
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Martyr Papylus at Pergamus
The Martyrs Papylus, Carpus, Agathodorus and Agathonike suffered at
Pergamun during the persecution of Decius in the third century.
The governor of the district where the saints lived discovered that
Carpus and Papylus did not celebrate the pagan festivals. He ordered
that the transgressors be arrested and persuaded to accept the Roman
pagan religion. The saints replied that they would never worship false
gods. The judge then ordered them to be bound in iron chains and led
through the city, and then to be tied to horses and dragged to the
nearby city of Sardis.
Agathodorus and Agathonike voluntarily followed after Carpus and
Papylus. St Agathonike was choked to death with ox sinews and Sts
Carpus, Papylus and Agathodorus were beheaded in Sardis.
During his life St Papylus was known for his gift of curing the sick.
Since his martyrdom, he has granted healing to all who pray to him
with faith.
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Martyr Agathadorus at Pergamus
The Martyrs Carpus, Papylus, Agathodorus and Agathonike suffered at
Pergamun during the persecution of Decius in the third century.
The governor of the district where the saints lived discovered that
Carpus and Papylus did not celebrate the pagan festivals. He ordered
that the transgressors be arrested and persuaded to accept the Roman
pagan religion. The saints replied that they would never worship false
gods. The judge then ordered them to be bound in iron chains and led
through the city, and then to be tied to horses and dragged to the
nearby city of Sardis.
Agathodorus and Agathonike voluntarily followed after Carpus and
Papylus. St Agathonike was choked to death with ox sinews and Sts
Carpus, Papylus and Agathodorus were beheaded in Sardis.
During his life St Papylus was known for his gift of curing the sick.
Since his martyrdom, he has granted healing to all who pray to him
with faith.
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Martyr Agathonike at Pergamus
The Martyrs Agathonike, Carpus, Papylus, Agathodorus and suffered at
Pergamun during the persecution of Decius in the third century.
The governor of the district where the saints lived discovered that
Carpus and Papylus did not celebrate the pagan festivals. He ordered
that the transgressors be arrested and persuaded to accept the Roman
pagan religion. The saints replied that they would never worship false
gods. The judge then ordered them to be bound in iron chains and led
through the city, and then to be tied to horses and dragged to the
nearby city of Sardis.
Agathodorus and Agathonike voluntarily followed after Carpus and
Papylus. St Agathonike was choked to death with ox sinews and Sts
Carpus, Papylus and Agathodorus were beheaded in Sardis.
During his life St Papylus was known for his gift of curing the sick.
Since his martyrdom, he has granted healing to all who pray to him
with faith.
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Venerable Benjamin of the Kiev Caves
Saint Benjamin of the Kiev Caves, Far Caves lived during the
fourteenth century and before accepting monasticism was "an important
merchant." Once at the time of divine services St Benjamin felt deeply
in his heart the words of the Savior: a rich man shall hardly enter
into the Kingdom of God (Mt. 19:23). After distributing his wealth to
the needy, St Benjamin became a monk, "pleasing the Lord by fasting
and prayers even unto death." He was buried in the Caves of St
Theodosius. His memory is also celebrated on August 28 and the second
Sunday of Great Lent.
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Martyr Florentius of Thessalonica
The Martyr Florentius was a native of Thessalonica. Zealous for the
glory of God, he fearlessly unmasked the darkness of idolatry and led
many to the light of true knowledge of God. He taught faith in Christ
and fulfilled the will of God. For this the pagans subjected him to
cruel tortures, and then burned him.
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Martyr Benjamin the Deacon of Persia
The Martyr Benjamin the Deacon of Persia converted many pagan Persians
to Christianity, and for his zeal and evangelic preaching he suffered
in Persia during the fifth century.
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St Nicetas the Confessor of Paphlagonia
Saint Nicetas the Confessor of Paphlagonia was a patrician at the
imperial court during the reigns of the empress Irene and her son
Constantine. He represented the empress Irene at the Seventh
Ecumenical Council in 787, though his name does not appear in the Acts
of the Council. He also assisted at the transfer of the relics of St
Euphemia (September 16).
Renouncing all positions and honors, Nicetas decided to become a monk.
At the request of the emperor, he did not go into the wilderness, but
rather remained in a monastery in the capital. When the Iconoclast
Theophilus occupied the imperial throne, the venerable Nicetas was
banished from the monastery by the heretics for opposing the heresy.
He wandered for a long time throughout the country.
St Nicetas died at the age of seventy-five about the year 838. During
his life and after his death he worked many miracles.
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New Martyr Chryse (Zlata) of Meglena, Bulgaria
New Martyr Zlata (Chryse) This "golden vessel of virginity and
undefiled bride of Christ," was born in the village of Slatena,
Meglena diocese, on the border of Bulgaria and Serbia, while Bulgaria
was under the Turkish Yoke.
>From her youth Zlata displayed an unusually strong character, a firm
faith in Christ, and was both chaste and beautiful. A certain Turk was
obsessed with her, and seized her one day as she was gathering wood.
He carried her off to his house, and repeatedly tried to seduce the
maiden and force her to accept Islam. Since persuasion did not work,
he began to threaten her with grievous tortures.
The glorious martyr was not frightened by these threats, but said she
would never deny Christ no matter what they did to her. For six months
the impious Hagarenes tried to make Zlata accept their religion, but
she remained steadfast. Then they ordered the saint's parents and
sisters to convince her to become a Moslem. Otherwise, they said, they
would kill Zlata and torture them.
The parents and sisters of the saint wept and urged her to deny Christ
"just for the sake of appearances," so that they all might be spared
torments and death. St Zlata was unmoved by their pleas, and replied,
"You who incite me to deny Christ are no longer my parents and
sisters. Instead, I have the Lord Jesus Christ as my father, the
Theotokos as my mother, and the saints as my brothers and sisters!"
When the Moslems saw that they could not weaken the resolve of the
saint, they tormented her for three months, beating her with clubs.
Later, they peeled strips of skin from her body so that the earth was
reddened by her blood. Then they heated a skewer and passed it through
her ears.
Nearby was her spiritual Father, the hieromonk Timothy of Stavronikita
Monastery on Mt. Athos. She sent word to him to pray that she would
successfully complete the course of martyrdom. It was he who recorded
her martyrdom.
Finally, the Moslems fell into a fury at having been conquered by a
woman, so they tied her to a tree and cut her to pieces with their
knives. Her pure soul was received by Christ, Who bestowed on her the
double crowns of virginity and martyrdom. Certain Christians gathered
her relics secretly and buried them with reverence. St Zlata suffered
for Christ in the year 1795.
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Translation of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God to Moscow
The Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, located on Mount Athos, has been
glorified by many miracles. Accounts of the wonderworking image were
spread throughout Russia by pilgrims. His Holiness Patriarch Nikon
(then still Abbot of the Novospasky monastery) asked Abbot Pachomius
of the Iveron Monastery on Mt Athos, (who was in Moscow collecting
alms for the Athonite monasteries) to supply a copy of the
wonderworking Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The Athonite monk Iamblichos painted the copy of the Iveron Icon, and
after a year the icon was taken to Moscow, accompanied by monks of
Athos. On October 13, 1648 it was solemnly greeted by a multitude of
the people. The Iveron Icon of the Russian Orthodox Church was also
glorified by the Lord with many miracles (February 12).
The Iveron Icon is also commemorated on February 12, March 31, and
Bright Tuesday.
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Icon of the Mother of God of the Seven Lakes
The Seven Lakes Icon of the Mother of God was brought from Ustiug near
Kazan on October 13, 1615 by the monk Euthymius, founder of the Seven
Lakes Mother of God monastery. He blessed the place of the future
monastery with this icon.
Feastdays of the Seven Lakes Icon were established in memory of its
transfer from Ustiug, in memory of the deliverance of Kazan from a
plague epidemic in 1654 and 1655 (June 26), and again from pestilence
in 1771 (July 28).
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St Jacob the Elder, and disciple of St Anthony of Chkondidi
Saint Anthony of Chqondidi was born to the family of Otia Dadiani, the
prince of Egrisi (now Samegrelo). Anthonys mother, Gulkan, was the
daughter of the prince Shoshita III of Racha. There were six children
in the family: five boys and one girl. Anthonys sister, Mariam, later
married King Solomon the Great of Imereti.
The children received their primary education from their mother, who
was raised in the Christian Faith and transmitted the Faith to her
children. Her vibrant faith and valorous labors were an example for
all who surrounded her. After his fathers death, young Anthony was
raised by his older brother Katsia. His family was preparing Anthony
for a diplomatic career, and therefore they devoted special attention
to his study of philosophy, literature, the fundamentals of poetry and
art, and foreign languages (particularly Turkish and Persian).
>From the beginning of the 17th century, the rulers of Egrisi appointed
only their own relatives to the Chqondidi diocese. Nicholas, one of
Anthonys older brothers, was prepared for the bishopric, but he was
too attached to the world to commit to the heavy yoke of asceticism.
The young Anthony, however, was zealous for the monastic life, and
soon he was tonsured.
The new monk Anthony sensed the imperfection of his spiritual
education and asked the monks of Martvili Monastery in Egrisi to help
him make up for his insufficient knowledge. A group of French
missionaries arrived to instruct him in the foundations of Scholastic
philosophy, which was very fashionable in Europe at that time.
Anthony, however, recognized that his foreign tutors had tainted
Orthodox doctrine with the poison of heresy. Once, during a meal,
Anthony turned to a certain Frenchman and asked, Can you pour wine
into this water-filled cup and keep it from mixing with the water?
The Catholic priest answered that it was impossible, and Anthony
replied, As it is impossible to pour water and wine into a single
vessel and keep them from mixing, so it is impossible to accommodate
both Orthodox doctrine and heresy! From that day Anthony parted with
the French missionaries.
The thirst for learning would not give the young monk any rest. To
deepen his knowledge, St. Anthony traveled to Tbilisi, to the court of
King Erekle II. The kings wife, Queen Darejan, was Anthonys cousina
child of his uncle, Katsia Dadiani.
In 1761 St. Anthony was consecrated bishop of Tsageri (in lower
Svaneti). He soon became famous for his eloquent sermons, which
inspired even the Catholicos of Georgia himself.
Grown weary from fasting, St. Anthonys face began to resemble that of
an angel. In accordance with his orders, a daily meal was prepared for
the poor at the Chqondidi residence. Every subsequent bishop of
Chqondidi has continued this practice.
In the 18th century many feudal lords in western Georgia (in Egrisi
especially) began to trade slaves for profit. Bishop Anthony boldly
opposed this immoral activity, and in the years 1792 to 1794 he
convened a series of Church councils to publicly condemn the slave
traders.
In 1788 Anthony approved vast land grants to the monasteries of
Martvili, Nakharebou, and Sairme. He persuaded the Dadianis to exempt
these lands from taxation.
In 1789 Anthony, now a metropolitan, left Chqondidi for Nakharebou
Monastery, which he had built. He enriched the monastery with sacred
objects, ancient icons and lands. There he spent the remainder of his
days.
St. Anthony of Chqondidi reposed in 1815 at a very old age and was
buried at Nakharebou Monastery.
St. Anthonys spiritual son, devoted friend, and helper, Hieromonk
Jacob, also dwelt as a saint in this world and was received into the
Heavenly Kingdom.
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St Anthony, Metropolitan of Chkondidi
Saint Anthony of Chqondidi was born to the family of Otia Dadiani, the
prince of Egrisi (now Samegrelo). Anthonys mother, Gulkan, was the
daughter of the prince Shoshita III of Racha. There were six children
in the family: five boys and one girl. Anthonys sister, Mariam, later
married King Solomon the Great of Imereti.
The children received their primary education from their mother, who
was raised in the Christian Faith and transmitted the Faith to her
children. Her vibrant faith and valorous labors were an example for
all who surrounded her. After his fathers death, young Anthony was
raised by his older brother Katsia. His family was preparing Anthony
for a diplomatic career, and therefore they devoted special attention
to his study of philosophy, literature, the fundamentals of poetry and
art, and foreign languages (particularly Turkish and Persian).
>From the beginning of the 17th century, the rulers of Egrisi appointed
only their own relatives to the Chqondidi diocese. Nicholas, one of
Anthonys older brothers, was prepared for the bishopric, but he was
too attached to the world to commit to the heavy yoke of asceticism.
The young Anthony, however, was zealous for the monastic life, and
soon he was tonsured.
The new monk Anthony sensed the imperfection of his spiritual
education and asked the monks of Martvili Monastery in Egrisi to help
him make up for his insufficient knowledge. A group of French
missionaries arrived to instruct him in the foundations of Scholastic
philosophy, which was very fashionable in Europe at that time.
Anthony, however, recognized that his foreign tutors had tainted
Orthodox doctrine with the poison of heresy. Once, during a meal,
Anthony turned to a certain Frenchman and asked, Can you pour wine
into this water-filled cup and keep it from mixing with the water?
The Catholic priest answered that it was impossible, and Anthony
replied, As it is impossible to pour water and wine into a single
vessel and keep them from mixing, so it is impossible to accommodate
both Orthodox doctrine and heresy! From that day Anthony parted with
the French missionaries.
The thirst for learning would not give the young monk any rest. To
deepen his knowledge, St. Anthony traveled to Tbilisi, to the court of
King Erekle II. The kings wife, Queen Darejan, was Anthonys cousina
child of his uncle, Katsia Dadiani.
In 1761 St. Anthony was consecrated bishop of Tsageri (in lower
Svaneti). He soon became famous for his eloquent sermons, which
inspired even the Catholicos of Georgia himself.
Grown weary from fasting, St. Anthonys face began to resemble that of
an angel. In accordance with his orders, a daily meal was prepared for
the poor at the Chqondidi residence. Every subsequent bishop of
Chqondidi has continued this practice.
In the 18th century many feudal lords in western Georgia (in Egrisi
especially) began to trade slaves for profit. Bishop Anthony boldly
opposed this immoral activity, and in the years 1792 to 1794 he
convened a series of Church councils to publicly condemn the slave
traders.
In 1788 Anthony approved vast land grants to the monasteries of
Martvili, Nakharebou, and Sairme. He persuaded the Dadianis to exempt
these lands from taxation.
In 1789 Anthony, now a metropolitan, left Chqondidi for Nakharebou
Monastery, which he had built. He enriched the monastery with sacred
objects, ancient icons and lands. There he spent the remainder of his
days.
St. Anthony of Chqondidi reposed in 1815 at a very old age and was
buried at Nakharebou Monastery.
St. Anthonys spiritual son, devoted friend, and helper, Hieromonk
Jacob, also dwelt as a saint in this world and was received into the
Heavenly Kingdom.
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