[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Oct 29 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in
God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from
God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in
our prayers,
3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and
patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and
Father,
4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power,
and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of
men we were among you for your sake.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2


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Luke 11:29-33
29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to
say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be
given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man
will be to this generation.
31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of
this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the
earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon
is here.
32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this
generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of
Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
33 No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under
a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the
light.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2



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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Martyr Anastasia the Roman
The Martyr Anastasia the Roman lost her parents in infancy, and was
then taken to be reared by the abbess of a women's monastery, named
Sophia. She raised Anastasia in fervent faith, in the fear of God and
obedience.
The persecution against Christians by the emperor Decius (249-251)
began at that time. The city administrator, Probus, on the orders of
the emperor commanded that Anastasia be brought to him. Blessed by her
abbess to suffer for Christ, the young martyr Anastasia humbly came
out to meet the armed soldiers. Seeing her youth and beauty, Probus
first attempted flattery to make her deny Christ.
"Why waste your youth, deprived of pleasure? What is there to gain by
enduring tortures and death for the Crucified? Worship our gods, marry
a handsome husband, and live in glory and honor."
The saint steadfastly replied, "My spouse, my riches, my life and my
happiness are my Lord Jesus Christ, and you will not turn me away from
Him by your deceit!"
Probus subjected Anastasia to fierce tortures. The holy martyr bravely
endured them, glorifying and praising the Lord. In anger the torturers
cut out her tongue.
The people, seeing the inhuman and disgusting treatment of the saint,
became indignant, and the ruler was compelled to end the tortures by
beheading the martyr. In this manner, St Anastasia received the crown
of martyrdom.
The body of the saint was thrown out beyond the city to be eaten by
wild animals, but the Lord did not permit her holy relics to be
dishonored. At the command of a holy angel, Abbess Sophia went to find
St Anastasia's mutilated body. With the help of two Christians, she
buried it in the earth.
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Venerable Abramius the Recluse of Mesopotamia
Saint Abramius the Hermit and Blessed Maria, his niece of Mesopotamia,
lived the ascetic life in the village of Chidan, near the city of
Edessa. They were contemporaries and fellow countrymen of St Ephraim
the Syrian (January 28), who afterwards wrote about their life.
St Abramius began his difficult exploit of the solitary life in the
prime of youth. He left his parents' home and settled in a desolate
wilderness place, far from worldly enticements, and he spent his days
in unceasing prayer. After the death of his parents, the saint refused
his inheritance and requested his relatives to give it away to the
poor. By his strict ascetic life, fasting, and love for mankind,
Abramius attracted to him many seeking after spiritual enlightenment,
prayer and blessing.
Soon his faith was put to a serious test, as he was appointed
presbyter in one of the pagan villages of Mesopotamia. For three
years, and sparing no efforts, the saint toiled over the enlightenment
of the pagans. He tore down a pagan temple and built a church. Humbly
enduring derision and even beatings from obstinate idol-worshippers,
he entreated the Lord, "Look down, O Master, upon Your servant, hear
my prayer. Strengthen me and set Your servants free from diabolical
snares, and grant them to know You, the one true God." The zealous
pastor was granted the happiness to see the culmination of his
righteous efforts: the pagans came to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, and St Abramius baptized them himself.
Having fulfilled his priestly duty, Abramius again withdrew into his
wilderness, where he continued to glorify God, and doing His holy
will. The devil, put to shame by the deeds of St Abramius, tried to
entrap him with proud thoughts. Once at midnight, when St Abramius was
at prayer in his cell, suddenly a light shone and a voice was heard,
"Blessed are you, Abramius, for no other man has done my will as you
have!" Confuting the wiles of the enemy, the saint said: "I am a
sinful man, but I trust in the help and grace of my God. I do not fear
you, and your illusions do not scare me." Then he ordered the devil to
depart, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Another time, the devil appeared before the saint in the form of a
youth, lit a candle and began to sing Psalm 118/119, "Blessed are the
blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord." Perceiving
that this also was a demonic temptation, the Elder crossed himself and
asked, "If you know that the blameless are blessed, then why trouble
them?"
The temper answered, "I provoke them in order to conquer them and turn
them away from every good deed." To this the saint replied, "You gain
victory over those who, like yourself, have fallen away from God. You
are forced to vanish, like smoke in the wind, from before the face of
those who love God." After these words the devil vanished. Thus St
Abramius defeated the Enemy, being strengthened by divine grace. After
fifty years of ascetic life, he peacefully fell asleep in the Lord.
St Abramius's niece, the Nun Maria, grew up being edified by his
spiritual instruction. Her father died when she was seven, and so she
was raised by her saintly uncle. But the Enemy of the race of man
tried to turn her from the true path. At twenty-seven years of age she
fell into sin with a man. Thoroughly ashamed, she left her cell, went
to another city and began to live in a brothel. Two years later, when
he learned of this, St Abramius clad himself in soldier's garb, so
that he should not be recognized, and he went to the city to find his
niece. Pretending to be one of her "clients," he revealed his identity
once they were alone. With many tears and exhortations, he brought her
to repentance and took her back to her cell.
St Maria returned to her cell and spent the rest of her days in prayer
and tears of repentance. The Lord forgave her and even granted her the
gift of healing the sick. She died five years after St Abramius.
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Blessed Maria the Niece of Abramius the Recluse of
Mesopotamia
Saint Abramius the Hermit and Blessed Maria, his niece of Mesopotamia,
lived the ascetic life in the village of Chidan, near the city of
Edessa. They were contemporaries and fellow countrymen of St Ephraim
the Syrian (January 28), who afterwards wrote about their life.
St Abramius began his difficult exploit of the solitary life in the
prime of youth. He left his parents' home and settled in a desolate
wilderness place, far from worldly enticements, and he spent his days
in unceasing prayer. After the death of his parents, the saint refused
his inheritance and requested his relatives to give it away to the
poor. By his strict ascetic life, fasting, and love for mankind,
Abramius attracted to him many seeking after spiritual enlightenment,
prayer and blessing.
Soon his faith was put to a serious test, as he was appointed
presbyter in one of the pagan villages of Mesopotamia. For three
years, and sparing no efforts, the saint toiled over the enlightenment
of the pagans. He tore down a pagan temple and built a church. Humbly
enduring derision and even beatings from obstinate idol-worshippers,
he entreated the Lord, "Look down, O Master, upon Your servant, hear
my prayer. Strengthen me and set Your servants free from diabolical
snares, and grant them to know You, the one true God." The zealous
pastor was granted the happiness to see the culmination of his
righteous efforts: the pagans came to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, and St Abramius baptized them himself.
Having fulfilled his priestly duty, Abramius again withdrew into his
wilderness, where he continued to glorify God, and doing His holy
will. The devil, put to shame by the deeds of St Abramius, tried to
entrap him with proud thoughts. Once at midnight, when St Abramius was
at prayer in his cell, suddenly a light shone and a voice was heard,
"Blessed are you, Abramius, for no other man has done my will as you
have!" Confuting the wiles of the enemy, the saint said: "I am a
sinful man, but I trust in the help and grace of my God. I do not fear
you, and your illusions do not scare me." Then he ordered the devil to
depart, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Another time, the devil appeared before the saint in the form of a
youth, lit a candle and began to sing Psalm 118/119, "Blessed are the
blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord." Perceiving
that this also was a demonic temptation, the Elder crossed himself and
asked, "If you know that the blameless are blessed, then why trouble
them?"
The temper answered, "I provoke them in order to conquer them and turn
them away from every good deed." To this the saint replied, "You gain
victory over those who, like yourself, have fallen away from God. You
are forced to vanish, like smoke in the wind, from before the face of
those who love God." After these words the devil vanished. Thus St
Abramius defeated the Enemy, being strengthened by divine grace. After
fifty years of ascetic life, he peacefully fell asleep in the Lord.
St Abramius's niece, the Nun Maria, grew up being edified by his
spiritual instruction. Her father died when she was seven, and so she
was raised by her saintly uncle. But the Enemy of the race of man
tried to turn her from the true path. At twenty-seven years of age she
fell into sin with a man. Thoroughly ashamed, she left her cell, went
to another city and began to live in a brothel. Two years later, when
he learned of this, St Abramius clad himself in soldier's garb, so
that he should not be recognized, and he went to the city to find his
niece. Pretending to be one of her "clients," he revealed his identity
once they were alone. With many tears and exhortations, he brought her
to repentance and took her back to her cell.
St Maria returned to her cell and spent the rest of her days in prayer
and tears of repentance. The Lord forgave her and even granted her the
gift of healing the sick. She died five years after St Abramius.
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Venerable Abramius the Archimandrite of Rostov
Saint Abramius, Archimandrite of Rostov, in the world Abercius, left
his parents' home in his youth and entered upon the path of Christian
asceticism. Having assumed the monastic schema, Abramius settled at
Rostov on the shore of Lake Nero. In the Rostov lands there were not
many pagans, and the saint worked intensely at spreading the true
Faith.
Not far from the cell of the saint was a pagan temple, where the
pagans worshipped a stone idol of Veles (Volos), which caused fright
among the inhabitants of Rostov. In a miraculous vision the Apostle
John the Theologian stood before Abramius, and gave him a staff with a
cross on top, with which the venerable one destroyed the idol. At the
place of the pagan temple, St Abramius founded a monastery in honor of
the Theophany and became its head.
In memory of the miraculous appearance, the holy monk built a church
named for St John the Theologian. Many of the pagans were persuaded
and baptized by St Abramius. Particularly great was his influence with
the children whom he taught the ability to read and write, instructing
them in the law of God, and tonsured monastics from among them.
Everyone who came to the monastery was accepted with love. The saint's
life was a constant work of prayer and toil for the benefit of the
brethren: he chopped firewood for the oven, he laundered the monks'
clothing and carried water for the kitchen. St Abramius reposed in old
age and was buried in the church of the Theophany.
His holy relics were uncovered in the time of Great Prince Vsevolod
(1176-1212). In the year 1551, Tsar Ivan the Terrible, before his
campaign against Kazan, made the rounds of holy places. At the
Theophany-Abramiev monastery the monks showed him the staff with which
St Abramius had destroyed the idol of Veles. The Tsar took the staff
with him on the campaign, but the cross remained at the monastery. And
returning again after the subjugation of the Khan, Ivan the Terrible
gave orders to build a new stone church at the Abramiev monastery in
honor of the Theophany, with four chapels, and he also supplied it
with books and icons.
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Martyr Claudius of Aegae in Cilicia
The Martyrs Claudius, Asterius, Neones and Theonilla of Aegae in
Cilicia suffered for Christ in the year 285 during the reign of the
emperor Diocletian (284-311). After their father's death, the
stepmother, who did not want to give the children their inheritance,
betrayed them to the persecutors of Christians. The governor of
Cilicia, who was named Licius, urged the martyrs to renounce Christ
and instead to worship idols, and he employed various means of
torture. They crucified the unyielding brothers, and St Theonilla was
thrown into the sea after torture.
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Martyr Asterius of Aegae in Cilicia
The Martyrs Asterius, Claudius, Neones and Theonilla of Aegae in
Cilicia suffered for Christ in the year 285 during the reign of the
emperor Diocletian (284-311). After their father's death, the
stepmother, who did not want to give the children their inheritance,
betrayed them to the persecutors of Christians. The governor of
Cilicia, who was named Licius, urged the martyrs to renounce Christ
and instead to worship idols, and he employed various means of
torture. They crucified the unyielding brothers, and St Theonilla was
thrown into the sea after torture.
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Martyr Neones of Aegae in Cilicia
The Martyrs Neones, Claudius, Asterius, and Theonilla of Aegae in
Cilicia suffered for Christ in the year 285 during the reign of the
emperor Diocletian (284-311). After their father's death, the
stepmother, who did not want to give the children their inheritance,
betrayed them to the persecutors of Christians. The governor of
Cilicia, who was named Licius, urged the martyrs to renounce Christ
and instead to worship idols, and he employed various means of
torture. They crucified the unyielding brothers, and St Theonilla was
thrown into the sea after torture.
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Martyr Theonilla of Aegae in Cilicia
The Martyrs Theonilla, Claudius, Asterius, and Neones of Aegae in
Cilicia suffered for Christ in the year 285 during the reign of the
emperor Diocletian (284-311). After their father's death, the
stepmother, who did not want to give the children their inheritance,
betrayed them to the persecutors of Christians. The governor of
Cilicia, who was named Licius, urged the martyrs to renounce Christ
and instead to worship idols, and he employed various means of
torture. They crucified the unyielding brothers, and StTheonilla was
hung up by her hair and flogged, had burning coals placed on her
chest. When she departed to the Lord, her body was thrown into the
sea.
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Righteous Anna of Constantinople
Saint Anna and her son Saint John lived in the ninth century. St Anna
was the daughter of a deacon of the Blachernae church in
Constantinople. After the death of her husband, she dressed in men's
clothing and called herself Euthymianus. She and her son St John lived
in asceticism in one of the Bythinian monasteries near Olympus.
St Anna died in Constantinople in 826. Her memory is also celebrated
on October 29.
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Monkmartyr Timothy of Esphigmenou on Mt Athos
No information available at this time.
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St Serapion of Zarzma
Saint Serapion of Zarzma was the son of a Klarjeti aristocrat famed
for his wealth and good deeds. Serapion had two brothers, who were
still young when their mother died.
Their father also reposed soon after.
>From childhood St. Serapion longed to lead the life of a hermit. With
his younger brother, John, he set off for Parekhi Monastery, where he
requested the spiritual guidance of the spiritual father and teacher
of orphans, the great wonderworker Michael of Parekhi.
The older brother remained at home to continue the family tradition of
caring for wanderers and the poor.
St. Michael perceived in the young Serapion true zeal for a divine
ministry and blessed him to enter the priesthood.
Once, while he was praying, St. Michael was instructed in a vision to
send his disciples Serapion and John to Samtskhe to found a monastery.
Serapion was alarmed at the thought of such a great responsibility,
but he submitted to his spiritual fathers will and set off for
Samtskhe with several companions. He took with him a wonder-working
icon of our Lords Transfiguration.
The monks climbed to the peak of a very high mountain and, having
looked around at their environs, decided to settle there and begin
construction of the monastery. But soon the villagers chased the monks
away, and the holy fathers located the exact place that their
shepherd, St. Michael, had seen in the vision. At that time a faithful
nobleman named George Chorchaneli ruled in this mountainous region.
Once, while he was out hunting, George saw smoke over the dense forest
and sent a servant to discover the cause. He was soon informed that
two remarkable monks had settled in that place. Immediately he set off
for the spot, humbly greeted the monks, venerated the wonder-working
icon, and asked for the fathers blessings.
Overjoyed and inspired by Serapions preaching, the prince fell on his
knees before him and promised to help him in every way to establish
the new monastery. Having donated this land and the surrounding area
to the monastery, he presented the monks with a deed assigning
ownership of all the territory the monks could cover on foot in one
day to the future monastery. The prince sent his servant to accompany
them.
The brothers walked over unexplored territory, through dense forests,
and over rocky paths. Two local residents, the God-fearing Ia and
Garbaneli, accompanied them. But not all the local people received the
monks so warmly: the residents of Tsiskvili met them with hostility
and tried to block their path.
That very same night a miracle occurred: an earthquake split the rocks
that were holding back Lake Satakhve and washed away the entire
village of Tsiskvili. Only two brothers survived. To this day this
place has been called Zarzma [the word zari is often used to denote a
tragic occurrence].
The brethren began to search for a suitable place to build their
church. St. Serapion wanted to construct the church on a high hill,
but John and the other brothers objected. It is not necessary, Holy
Father, to build in this place, they said. It is high and cold here,
and the brothers are dressed only in rags.
To resolve this question, the holy fathers filled two small icon lamps
with equal amounts of oil. Serapion placed one of them at the top of
the hill, John placed the other near a stream on the southern side of
the hill, and they began to pray. At daybreak Serapions lamp had
already gone out, but Johns lamp continued to burn until midday. Thus
they began to build the church in the place that John had chosen.
The monks faced many obstacles in the construction of their church.
The area was covered with dense forest, and the stones necessary for
building could be found only in the river. At George Chorchanelis
suggestion, they salvaged the stone from a church that had been
destroyed by the earthquake.
After three years of construction, the monastery was completed, and
the wonder-working icon of the Transfiguration was placed in the altar
of the church. The monks fashioned cells, and St. Serapion established
the rules of the monastery.
When he was approaching death, Michael of Parekhi sent two of his
disciples to Serapion and John. When he learned that the construction
of the monastery was completed, he rejoiced exceedingly and blessed
its benefactor, George Chorchaneli. Then he took the withered branch
of a box tree and presented it to him, saying, My son, plant this tree
near the church and, if it blossoms again, know that it is Gods will
that you zealously continue the work you have begun in His name. After
some time the branch blossomed, and this miracle became known to many.
When the blessed Serapion sensed the approach of death, he summoned
the brothers, bade them farewell, and appointed Hieromonk George his
successor as abbot. He was buried with great honor on the eastern side
of the altar at the monastery church.
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