[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sat Oct 20 05:00:17 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat Oct 20 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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2 Corinthians 3:12-18
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of
speech-
13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of
Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.
14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil
remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil
is taken away in Christ.
15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their
heart.
16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory
of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to
glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

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1 Thessalonians 4:13-17  (Departed)
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those
who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will
bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are
alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede
those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead
in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall
always be with the Lord.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

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Luke 7:1-10
1 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people,
He entered Capernaum.
2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and
ready to die.
3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him,
pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that
the one for whom He should do this was deserving,
5 for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the
house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not
trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my
roof.
7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say
the word, and my servant will be healed.
8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under
me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and
he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it.
9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around
and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not
found such great faith, not even in Israel!"
10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant
well who had been sick.
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

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John 5:24-30  (Departed)
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in
Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into
judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when
the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear
will live.
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to
have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is
the Son of Man.
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are
in the graves will hear His voice
29 and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of
life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of
condemnation.
30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is
righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the
Father who sent Me.
Scripture Reading 4 of 4

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Memorial Saturday of St Demetrius
In the spiritual experience of the Russian Church, veneration of the
holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica is closely linked with the
memory of the defense of the nation and Church by the Great Prince of
Moscow, Demetrius of the Don (May 19).
St Demetrius of the Don smashed the military might of the Golden Horde
at the Battle of Kulikovo Field on September 8, 1380 (the Feast of the
Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos), set between the Rivers Don and
Nepryadva. The Battle of Kulikovo, for which the nation calls him
Demetrius of the Don, became the first Russian national deed, rallying
the spiritual power of the Russian nation around Moscow. The
"Zadonschina," an inspiring historic poem written by the priest
Sophronius of Ryazem (1381), is devoted to this event.
Prince Demetrius of the Don was greatly devoted to the holy Great
Martyr Demetrius. In 1380, on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo, he
solemnly transferred from Vladimir to Moscow the most holy object in
the Dimitriev cathedral of Vladimir: the icon of the Great Martyr
Demetrius of Thessalonica, painted on a piece of wood from the saint's
grave. A chapel in honor of the Great Martyr Demetrius was built at
Moscow's Dormition Cathedral.
The St Demetrius Memorial Saturday was established for the churchwide
remembrance of the soldiers who fell in the Battle of Kulidovo. This
memorial service was held for the first time at the Trinity-St Sergius
monastery on October 20, 1380 by St Sergius of Radonezh, in the
presence of Great Prince Demetrius of the Don . It is an annual
remembrance of the heroes of the Battle of Kulikovo, among whom are
the schemamonks Alexander (Peresvet) and Andrew (Oslyab).
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Greatmartyr Artemius at Antioch
Holy Great Martyr Artemius of Antioch was a prominent military leader
during the reigns of the emperor Constantine the Great (May 21), and
his son and successor Constantius (337-361). Artemius received many
awards for distinguished service and courage. He was appointed viceroy
of Egypt. In this official position he did much for the spreading and
strengthening Christianity in Egypt.
St Artemius was sent by the emperor Constantius to bring the relics of
the holy Apostle Andrew from Patras, and the relics of the holy
Apostle Luke from Thebes of Boeotia, to Constantinople. The holy
relics were placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles beneath the
table of oblation. The emperor rewarded him by making him ruler of
Egypt.
The emperor Constantius was succeeded on the throne by Julian the
Apostate (361-363). Julian in his desire to restore paganism was
extremely antagonistic towards Christians, sending hundreds to their
death. At Antioch he ordered the torture of two bishops unwilling to
forsake the Christian Faith.
During this time, St Artemius arrived in Antioch and publicly
denounced Julian for his impiety. The enraged Julian subjected the
saint to terrible tortures and threw the Great Martyr Artemius into
prison. While Artemius was praying, Christ, surrounded by angels,
appeared to him and said, "Take courage, Artemius! I am with you and
will preserve you from every hurt which is inflicted upon you, and I
already have prepared your crown of glory. Since you have confessed Me
before the people on earth, so shall I confess you before My Heavenly
Father. Therefore, take courage and rejoice, you shall be with Me in
My Kingdom." Hearing this, Artemius rejoiced and offered up glory and
thanksgiving to Him.
On the following day, Julian demanded that St Artemius honor the pagan
gods. Meeting with steadfast refusal, the emperor resorted to further
tortures. The saint endured all without a single moan. The saint told
Julian that he would be justly recompensed for his persecution of
Christians. Julian became furious and resorted to even more savage
tortures, but they did not break the will of the saint. Finally the
Great Martyr Artemius was beheaded.
His relics were buried by Christians. After the death of St Artemius,
his prophecy about Julian the Apostate's impending death came true.
Julian left Antioch for a war with the Persians. Near the Persian city
of Ctesiphon, Julian came upon an elderly Persian, who agreed to
betray his countrymen and guide Julian's army. The old man deceived
Julian and led his army into the Karmanite wilderness, where there was
neither food nor water. Tired from hunger and thirst, Julian's army
battled against fresh Persian forces.
Divine retribution caught up with Julian the Apostate. During the
battle he was mortally wounded by an unseen hand and an unseen weapon.
Julian groaned deeply said, "You have conquered, Galilean!" After the
death of the apostate emperor, the relics of the Great Martyr Artemius
were transferred with honor from Antioch to Constantinople.
St Artemius is invoked by those suffering from hernias.
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Righteous Child Artemius of Verkhol
Holy Righteous Artemius of Verkola was born in the village of Dvina
Verkola around the year 1532. The son of pious parents, Artemius was a
child who was courageous, meek and diligent for every good deed. On
June 23, 1545 the twelve-year-old Artemius and his father were taken
by surprise in a field by a thunderstorm. A clap of thunder broke
right over their heads, and the child Artemius fell dead. People
thought that this was a sign of God's judgment, therefore they left
the body in a pine forest without a funeral, and without burial.
Some years later, the village reader beheld a light over the place
where the incorrupt body of the Righteous Artemius lay. Taken to the
church of St Nicholas in 1577, the holy relics were shown to be a
source of numerous healings. In this village a monastery was later
built, called the Verkola. In 1918, the impious Soviets chopped the
holy relics into pieces and threw them into a well. The memory of St
Artemius is also celebrated on October 20.
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Venerable Gerasimus the New Ascetic of Cephalonia
Saint Gerasimus the New Ascetic of Cephalonia was born in the village
of Trikkala in the Peloponessos. As a young adult, he became a monk on
the island of Zakynthos. On the Holy Mountain he became a schemamonk
and studied with the ascetics of Mt Athos. Receiving a blessing from
the Elders, the monk went to Jerusalem to worship at the Life-bearing
Tomb of the Savior. After visiting many holy places in Jerusalem,
Mount Sinai, Antioch, Damascus, Alexandria and Egypt, he returned to
Jerusalem where he became a lamp-lighter at the Sepulchre of the Lord.
The monk was ordained a deacon and then a priest by the Patriarch of
Jerusalem, Germanus (1534-1579). St Gerasimus maintained the
discipline of an ascetic. For solitude he withdrew to the Jordan,
where he spent forty days without respite. Having received the
Patriarch's blessing for a life of silence, St Gerasimus withdrew to
Zakynthos in solitude, eating only vegetation.
After five years he was inspired to go the island of Cephalonia, where
he lived in a cave. He restored a church at Omala, and he founded a
women's monastery where he lived in constant toil and vigil for thirty
years. He prayed on bent knees stretched out on the ground. For his
exalted life he was granted a miraculous gift: the ability to heal the
sick and cast out unclean spirits.
At 71 years of age, the venerable Gerasimus knew that he would soon
die. He gave his blessing to the nuns and peacefully fell asleep in
the Lord on August 15, 1579. Two years later, his grave was opened and
his holy relics were found fragrant and incorrupt with a healing
power.
Since the Feast of the Dormition falls on August 15, St Gerasimus is
commemorated on August 16th. Today's Feast celebrates the uncovering
of his holy relics in 1581.
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Venerable Matrona of Chios
Saint Matrona was born in the village of Volissos on Chios of wealthy
and pious parents, Leon and Anna sometime in the fourteenth century.
>From her youth she showed an inclination for monasticism. One day she
left her parents and went to live in an unpopulated area, where she
founded a small monastery for women. Soon other nuns joined her in her
ascetical struggles.
St Matrona worked many miracles both during her life and after her
death, and was revered throughout Chios for her virtuous life and
holiness. She showed charity to the poor, and was able to heal the
sick.
The service to St Matrona was composed by Metropolitan Niketas of
Rhodes. It was found in a codex from 1455, which would indicate that
she died sometime before this date.
St Matrona is also commemorated on July 15 (the finding of her head).
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Icon of the Mother of God of Filersk
No information available at this time.
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