[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Oct 15 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Philippians 4:10-23
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for
me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked
opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever
state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and
in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to
abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel,
when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning
giving and receiving but you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my
necessities.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your
account.
18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from
Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an
acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in
glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me
greet you.
22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's
household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2


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Luke 9:18-22
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?"
19 So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah;
and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again."
20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and
said, "The Christ of God."
21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one,
22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by
the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised
the third day."
Scripture Reading 2 of 2



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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Venerable Euthymius the New of Thessalonica, and Monk of Mt
Athos
Saint Euthymius the New of Thessalonica and Mt Athos, in the world was
named Nicetas, and he was a native of the city of Ancyra in Galatia.
His parents, Epiphanius and Anna, led virtuous Christian lives, and
from childhood their son was meek, pious and obedient. At age seven he
was left fatherless and he soon became the sole support of his mother
in all matters. Having entered military service, Nicetas married, on
the insistence of his mother. After the birth of a daughter, he
secretly left home in order to enter a monastery. For fifteen years
the venerable Euthymius lived the ascetic life on Mount Olympus, where
he learned monastic deeds from the Elders.
The monk went to resettle on Mount Athos. On the way he learned that
his mother and wife were in good health. He informed them that he had
become a monk, and he sent them a cross, calling on them to follow his
example. On Mt Athos he was tonsured into the Great Schema and lived
for three years in a cave in total silence, struggling with
temptations. St Euthymius also lived for a long time as a stylite, not
far from Thessalonica, instructing those coming to him for advice and
healing the sick.
The monk cleansed his mind and heart to such an extent that he was
granted divine visions and revelations. At the command of the Lord, St
Euthymius founded two monasteries in 863 on Mount Peristeros, not far
from Thessalonica, which he guided for 14 years, with the rank of
deacon. In one of these his wife and mother received monastic tonsure.
Before his death he settled on Hiera, an island of Mt Athos, where he
reposed in 898. His relics were transferred to Thessalonica. St
Euthymius is called "the New" to distinguish him from St Euthymius the
Great (January 20).
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Martyr Lucian the Presbyter of Antioch
The Hieromartyr Lucian, Presbyter of Antioch, was born in the Syrian
city of Samosata. At twelve years of age he was left orphaned. Lucian
distributed his possessions to the poor, and went to the city of
Edessa to the confessor Macarius, under the guidance of whom he
diligently read Holy Scripture and learned the ascetic life. For his
pious and zealous spreading of Christianity among the Jews and pagans,
Lucian was made a presbyter.
In Antioch St Lucian opened a school where many students gathered. He
taught them how to understand the Holy Scriptures, and how to live a
virtuous life. St Lucian occupied himself with teaching, and he
corrected the Greek text of the Septuagint, which had been corrupted
in many places by copyists and by heretics who deliberately distorted
it in order to support their false teachings. The entire Greek text of
the Bible which he corrected was hidden in a wall at the time of his
confession of Christ, and it was found during the lifetime of St
Constantine the Great.
During the persecution of Diocletian, St Lucian was arrested and was
sent to prison in Nicomedia, where for nine years he encouraged other
Christians with him to remain steadfast in their confession of Christ,
urging them not to fear tortures or death.
St Lucian died in prison from many terrible tortures and from hunger.
Before his death, he wished to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ
on the Feast of Theophany. Certain Christians who visited him brought
bread and wine for the Eucharist. The hieromartyr, bound by chains and
lying on a bed of sharp potsherds, was compelled to offer the
Bloodless Sacrifice upon his chest, and all the Christians there in
prison received Communion. The next day the emperor sent people to see
if the saint was still alive. St Lucian said three times, "I am a
Christian," then surrendered his soul to God. The body of the holy
martyr was thrown into the sea, but after thirty days dolphins brought
it to shore. Believers reverently buried the body of the
much-suffering St Lucian.
St Lucian was originally commemorated on January 7, the day of his
death. Later, when the celebration of the Synaxis of St John the
Baptist was appointed for this day, the feast of St Lucian was
transferred to October 15. The October date may be associated with the
dedication of a church which was built in Antioch by St Helen (May 21)
over St Lucian's holy relics.
Although he was only a priest, sometimes St Lucian is depicted in the
vestments of a bishop. The Stroganov Guide for Iconographers was
published in Russia in 1869, based on a 1606 manuscript. There St
Lucian is depicted wearing a phelonion and holding a Gospel. He does
not wear the omophorion of a bishop, however. Another handbook, the
Litsevoy Podlinnik, states that St Lucian is to be depicted with the
omophorion.
It may be that the Russians thought of St Lucian as a bishop because
of his importance to the Church, and so that is how they depicted him.
Similarly, St Charalampus (February 10) is depicted as a priest in
Greek icons, and as a bishop in Russian icons.
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St John the Bishop of Suzdal
Saint John, Bishop of Suzdal, entered one of the monasteries of Suzdal
while a youth. For his virtuous and humble life, the saint was made
the first Bishop of Suzdal and Nizhegorod in 1350. Bishop John merited
a great mercy of God: Prince Boris of Suzdal saw how an angel of God
attended the saint during the Divine Liturgy.
St John was known for his love towards the destitute and the sick; he
interceded for the poor before the princes to lower their taxes. He
also built poor houses and hospices for the sick. The saint was very
concerned about enlightening the pagan Mordvians with the Christian
Faith. After the annexation of Suzdal to the Moscow Diocese, St John
took the monastic schema and withdrew to the Bogoliub monastery. He
lived there in seclusion and died in peace. Numerous miracles were
took place at his grave.
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Hieromartyr Lucian the Presbyter of the Kiev Caves
Saint Lucian is also commemorated on August 28 with the holy Fathers
of Kiev's Far Caves of St Theodosius.
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Martyr Sarbelus of Edessa
The Holy Martyrs Sarbelus and Bebaia of Edessa were brother and
sister, suffering in the second century under the emperor Trajan for
confessing Christianity. St Sarbelus was a priest of the idols at
Edessa, but was converted to Christ by a certain bishop, then he and
his sister were baptized. Pagans tortured the saints for a long while,
and then beheaded them.
These saints are also commemorated on January 29. St Sarbelus may be
the same one who is commemorated on September 5.
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Martyr Bebaia (Barbea) of Edessa
The Holy Martyr Bebaia of Edessa was the sister of St Sarbelus, and
suffered in the second century under the emperor Trajan for confessing
Christianity. St Sarbelus was a priest of the idols at Edessa, but was
converted to Christ by a certain bishop, then he and his sister were
baptized. Pagans tortured the saints for a long while, and then
beheaded them.
These saints are also commemorated on January 29.
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St Sabinus the Bishop of Catania
Saint Sabinus, Bishop of Catania in Sicily, fervently desiring to
serve the Lord, withdrew into the wilderness. Here he led a strict
ascetic life and received from the Lord gifts of wonderworking and
discernment.
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Icon of the Mother of God the "Multiplier of Wheat"
The Icon of the Mother of God, the "Multiplier of Wheat", was painted
at the blessing of the Elder Ambrose (October 10) of the Visitation
Optina wilderness monastery. St Ambrose, a great Russian ascetic of
the nineteenth century, was ardent with a childlike faith towards the
Mother of God. In particular, he revered all the Feastdays of the
Mother of God, and on these days he redoubled his prayer. With the
icon, "Multiplier of Wheat," St Ambrose blessed the Shamordino women's
monastery established in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God,
which he had founded not far from the Optina monastery.
On this icon, the Mother of God is depicted sitting upon the clouds,
and Her hands are extended in blessing. Beneath her is a compressed
field, and on it amidst the grass and flowers stand and lay sheaves of
rye. Elder Ambrose himself decreed the day of celebration, October 15,
and called the icon "Multiplier of Wheat", indicating by this, that
the Most Holy Theotokos "is a Helper for people in their labors for
the acquiring of their daily bread."
Before his blessed repose, St Ambrose ordered many copies of this icon
and sent them to his spiritual children. For the Akathist to this
icon, the Elder composed a particular response, "Hail, Full of Grace,
the Lord is with You! Grant unto us unworthy ones the dew of Your
grace and the showing forth of Your mercy!"
St Ambrose's burial took place on October 15, the Feastday of the
icon. The first miracle from the holy icon was witnessed in 1891, when
throughout Russia there was a famine because of crop failure. In the
Kaluga district and on the fields of the Shamordino monastery,
however, grain was produced. In 1892, already after the death of St
Ambrose, his attendant John Cherepanov sent a copy of the icon to the
Pyatnitsa women's monastery in Voronezh district. In this locale there
was a threat of drought and famine, but soon after a Molieben was
celebrated before the icon "The Multiplier of Wheat", rain fell and
ended the drought.
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