[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Tue Sep 4 05:00:13 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Tue Sep 4 2007

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Galatians 2:21-3:7
21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes
through the law, then Christ died in vain.
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey
the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among
you as crucified?
2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by
the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being
made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have you suffered so many things in vain-if indeed it was in vain?
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among
you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of
faith?-
6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness."
7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Mark 6:1-7
1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His
disciples followed Him.
2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue.
And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get
these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such
mighty works are performed by His hands!
3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James,
Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? So they
were offended at Him.
4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in
his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."
5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands
on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the
villages in a circuit, teaching.
7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two
by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Hieromartyr Babylas the Bishop of Antioch
The Hieromartyr Babylas and with him the three youths Urban,
Prilidian, Epolonius and their mother Christodoula died as martyrs
under the emperor Decius (249-251). During his stay in their city of
Antioch, the emperor arranged for a large festival in honor of the
pagan gods.
At the same time, Babylas, the holy and God-fearing Bishop of Antioch,
was serving the Divine Liturgy in church. He prayed for his flock and
taught them to endure all tribulations for Christ with courage. The
idolater Decius, curious to witness the Divine Mysteries, decided to
enter the church.
News of this reached the bishop, so he went out to meet Decius and
blocked the path to the church, for he was unwilling to permit impiety
in the temple of God. When the emperor approached the church doors, St
Babylas refused to let him enter, so the emperor had to abandon his
intention. He wanted to take revenge on the saint right away, but when
he saw the large throng of Christians, he feared they might riot.
The next day the angry emperor ordered that the church be set on fire,
and for Bishop Babylas to be brought before him. When asked why he had
insulted the imperial dignity by not allowing the emperor to enter the
church, the holy bishop answered, "Anyone who would rise up against
God and want to desecrate His sanctuary, is not worthy of respect, but
has become the enemy of the Lord."
Decius declared that the holy bishop must worship the idols in order
to make up for his lack of respect for the emperor, or else face
execution. After convincing himself that the martyr would remain
steadfast in his faith, he commanded the military commander Victorinus
to put him in heavy chains and lead him through the city in disgrace.
The holy martyr replied, "Emperor, these chains are as venerable for
me as your imperial crown is for you. For me, suffering for Christ is
as desirable as the imperial power is for you. Death for the Immortal
King is as precious to me as your life is to you."
At the trial with Bishop Babylas were three young brothers, who did
not forsake him even in this most difficult moment. Seeing them, the
emperor asked, "Who are these children? "
"These are my spiritual children," the saint replied, "and I have
raised them in piety, I have given them an education, cultivated them
with guidance, and here before you in a small body are these great
young men and perfect Christians. Test them and see."
The emperor tried in all sorts of ways to entice the youths and their
mother Christodoula to renounce Christ, but in vain. Then, in a rage,
he ordered each of them to be whipped with a number of blows
corresponding to their age. The first received twelve blows, the
second, ten, and the third, seven. Dismissing the mother and children,
the torturer again summoned the bishop, telling him that the children
had renounced Christ. He did not believe the lie, however.
Then he commanded all the martyrs be tied to a tree and burned with
fire. Seeing the stoic bravery of the saints, the emperor finally
condemned them to be beheaded with the sword.
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Martyr Urban
Saint Urban suffered martyrdom with his brothers Epolonius and
Prilidian, their mother Christodoula, and the hieromartyr Babylas in
the reign of the emperor Decius (249-251).
The three young brothers were put on trial with Bishop Babylas,
remaining with him even in this difficult moment. Seeing them, the
emperor asked, "Who are these children? "
"These are my spiritual children," the saint replied, "and I have
raised them in piety, I have given them an education, cultivated them
with guidance, and here in a small body before you are these great
young men and perfect Christians. Test them and see."
The emperor tried in all sorts of ways to entice the youths and their
mother Christodoula to renounce Christ, but in vain. Then, in a rage,
he ordered each of them to be whipped with a number of blows
corresponding to their age. The first received twelve blows, the
second, ten, and the third, seven. Dismissing the mother and children,
the torturer again summoned the bishop, telling him that the children
had renounced Christ. He did not believe this lie, however.
Then he commanded all the martyrs be tied to a tree and burned with
fire. Seeing the stoic bravery of the saints, the emperor finally
condemned them to be beheaded with the sword.
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Martyr Prilidian
Saint Prilidian suffered martyrdom with his brothers Urban and
Epolonius, their mother Christodoula, and the hieromartyr Babylas in
the reign of the emperor Decius (249-251).
The three young brothers were put on trial with Bishop Babylas,
remaining with him even in this difficult moment. Seeing them, the
emperor asked, "Who are these children? "
"These are my spiritual children," the saint replied, "and I have
raised them in piety, I have given them an education, cultivated them
with guidance, and here in a small body before you are these great
young men and perfect Christians. Test them and see."
The emperor tried in all sorts of ways to entice the youths and their
mother Christodoula to renounce Christ, but in vain. Then, in a rage,
he ordered each of them to be whipped with a number of blows
corresponding to their age. The first received twelve blows, the
second, ten, and the third, seven. Dismissing the mother and children,
the torturer again summoned the bishop, telling him that the children
had renounced Christ. He did not believe this lie, however.
Then he commanded all the martyrs be tied to a tree and burned with
fire. Seeing the stoic bravery of the saints, the emperor finally
condemned them to be beheaded with the sword.
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Martyr Epolonius
Saint Epolonius suffered martyrdom with his brothers Urban and
Prilidian, their mother Christodoula, and the hieromartyr Babylas in
the reign of the emperor Decius (249-251).
The three young brothers were put on trial with Bishop Babylas,
remaining with him even in this difficult moment. Seeing them, the
emperor asked, "Who are these children? "
"These are my spiritual children," the saint replied, "and I have
raised them in piety, I have given them an education, cultivated them
with guidance, and here in a small body before you are these great
young men and perfect Christians. Test them and see."
The emperor tried in all sorts of ways to entice the youths and their
mother Christodoula to renounce Christ, but in vain. Then, in a rage,
he ordered each of them to be whipped with a number of blows
corresponding to their age. The first received twelve blows, the
second, ten, and the third, seven. Dismissing the mother and children,
the torturer again summoned the bishop, telling him that the children
had renounced Christ. He did not believe this lie, however.
Then he commanded all the martyrs be tied to a tree and burned with
fire. Seeing the stoic bravery of the saints, the emperor finally
condemned them to be beheaded with the sword.
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Martyr Christodoula the Mother of Urban, Prilidian, Epolonius
Saint Christodoula was the mother of the three youths Urban,
Prilidian, Epolonius who suffered martyrdom with the hieromartyr
Babylas under the emperor Decius (249-251).
The emperor tried in all sorts of ways to entice the youths and their
mother to renounce Christ, but in vain. Then, in a rage, he ordered
each of them to be whipped with a number of blows corresponding to
their age. The first received twelve blows, the second, ten, and the
third, seven. Then he commanded all the martyrs be tied to a tree and
burned with fire. Seeing the stoic bravery of the saints, the emperor
finally condemned them to death by beheading with the sword.
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Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses
The Holy Prophet and God-Seer Moses was of the tribe of Levi, the son
of Abram and Jochabed (Exodus 6:20). His life is described in the
Bible (Exodus 2 through Deuteronomy 34:12).
Moses was born in Egypt around 1689 B.C. When Pharaoh ordered all male
children of the Hebrew slaves to be killed (Exodus 1:22), Moses'
mother placed him in a basket of papyrus coated with pitch, and set
him adrift on the Nile. Pharaoh's daughter found him and raised him as
her own son.
At the age of eighty, Moses fled to Midian, where he spoke to God in
the Burning Bush on Mt. Horeb (Exodus 3:2). God chose Moses to lead
His people from the slavery of Egypt. They crossed the Red Sea as if
it were dry land, and for forty years they wandered in the desert.
Arriving in the land of Moab, Moses went to the top of Mt. Nabau, or
Nebo (Deuteronomy 32:49), which is called Phasga (Deut. 34:1). There,
according to the will of God, he died in 1569 B.C. at the age of 120
without entering the Promised Land.
The first two Biblical Odes are attributed to Moses: "Let us sing to
the Lord" (Exodus 15:1-9), which was sung on the shores of the Red Sea
after the Hebrews had crossed it. "Attend, O heaven" (Deut. 32:1-43)
was sung in the land of Moab, a few days before Moses' death. He is
also regarded as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of
the Old Testament).
The holy Prophet Moses performed many miracles during his lifetime,
and also after his death. He appeared on Tabor with the Prophet Elias
at the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6).
On the day that St John of the Ladder (March 30) was installed as
abbot of Mt. Sinai, the Prophet Moses was seen going around and giving
orders to the cooks, stewards, and servants. When the guests had gone
and the monks were sitting at table, they wondered what had become of
the stranger who had been giving orders. St John said, "Our Lord Moses
does nothing strange by serving in the place which belongs to him."
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Uncovering of the relics of St Joasaph the Bishop of Belgorod
Saint Joasaph was born at Proluka, in the former Poltava governance,
on September 8, 1705, the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy
Theotokos. He was descended from the old and venerable Little Russian
(Ukrainian) lineage of the Gorlenkovi. At Baptism he was named
Joachim.
In 1712, his father enrolled the seven-year-old Joachim in the Kiev
Spiritual Academy. Within the walls of the academy he felt attracted
to monastic life.For seven years he studied it further, and finally
revealed his intention to his parents.
For a long time his mother and father pleaded with their first-born
son not to accept monastic tonsure. But in 1725, unknown to them, he
became a "rasophore" ("robe-wearing novice") with the name Hilarion at
the Kiev Mezhigorsk monastery, and on 21 November 1727 he was tonsured
in the mantya with the name Joasaph at the Kievo-Bratsk monastery.
This event co-incided with the completion of his studies at the
spiritual academy.
After the death of His Grace Barlaam, the See of Kiev was governed by
Archbishop Raphael Zaborovsky. Archbishop Raphael noticed the
abilities of the young ascetic and assigned him to greater service to
the Church. He was entrusted with the responsibility of the office of
examiner of the Kiev archbishopric.
In November 1734, Archbishop Raphael ordained the hierodeacon Joasaph
as hieromonk, and he was transferred from the Bratsk monastery school
to the Kiev-Sophia archbishop's house. At the same time, he was
appointed a member of the Kiev religious consistory.
In fulfilling the office of examiner, he exerted much effort towards
the correction of moral deficiencies among the parish clergy. The
saint's service in the consistory office enabled him to develop his
administrative abilities. During this time, he made a good study of
the needs of clergy-servers, noting both the good points and the
failings of the diocese. His talent for administration was combined
with his great spiritual effort. He quickly ascended the ladder of
spiritual perfection, which can be seen in his work, "The Conflict of
the Seven Venerable Virtues with the Seven Deadly Sins."
On June 24, 1737 Hieromonk Joasaph was appointed head of the Holy
Transfiguration Mgarsk monastery, and elevated to the rank of igumen.
Here he worked with all his strength to put the monastery in good
order, for it was an old bastion of Orthodoxy in the struggle with the
Unia. In this monastery were relics of St Athanasius, Patriarch of
Constantinople and Wonderworker of Lubny (May 2). Several times St
Athanasius appeared to Igumen Joasaph, as a sign of his patronal
protection.
In 1744 Metropolitan Raphael elevated Igumen Joasaph to the dignity of
archimandrite. Towards the end of that same year he was called to
Moscow and soon, at the direction of the Most Holy Synod, he was
appointed vicar of the Holy Trinity Sergiev Lavra monastery. At this
monastery of St Sergius he also unstintingly fulfilled obedience to
the Church (this year required much exertion for the rebuilding of the
monastery after a fire).
On June 2, 1748 at the Peter and Paul cathedral in Peterburg,
Archimandrite Joasaph was ordained Bishop of Belgorod. Ascending the
archbishop's throne, St Joasaph strictly concerned himself with piety
and the condition of the churches, with the proper celebration of
divine services, and especially with the moral condition of his flock.
The saint devoted great attention to the education of the clergy, and
the correct observance of churchly norms and traditions. Just as
before, the saint worked with all his strength in his archpastoral
service, without regard for his health.
On the eve of his repose, the saint forbade his cell attendant Stephen
to aspire to the priesthood, and he predicted that if he did not obey
him, he would meet with an untimely end. To another cell attendant
Basil, the saint indicated that he would be a deacon, but would never
become a priest. Later, this prediction was fulfilled. St Joasaph died
on December 10, 1754, and was glorified on September 4, 1911.
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Martyr Hermione the Daughter of St Philip the Deacon
The Holy Martyr Hermione was a daughter of St Philip the Deacon
(October 11). Wishing to see the holy Apostle John the Theologian,
Hermione with her sister Eutychia went to Asia Minor in search of the
saint. During their journey, they learned the saint had died.
Continuing on, the sisters met a disciple of St Paul named Petronius,
and imitating him in everything, they became his disciples. St
Hermione, having mastered the healing arts, rendered help to many
Christians and healed the sick by the power of Christ.
During this period, the emperor Trajan (98-117) waged war against the
Persians and he came with his army through the village where the saint
lived. When they accused Hermione of being a Christian, he gave orders
to bring her to him.
At first the emperor, with casual admonitions, sought to persuade the
saint to renounce Christ. When this did not succeed, he commanded that
she should be struck on the face for several hours, but she joyfully
endured this suffering. Moreover, she was comforted by a vision of the
Lord, in the form of Petronius, sitting upon the throne of judgment.
Convincing himself that she was steadfast in her faith, Trajan sent
her away. Hermione later built a hospice in which she took in the
sick, treating their infirmities both of body and soul.
Trajan's successor, Hadrian, again commanded that the saint be brought
to trial for confessing the Christian Faith. At first, the emperor
commanded that she be beaten mercilessly, then they pierced the soles
of her feet with nails, and finally they threw her into a cauldron
with boiling tar, lead and sulphurous brimstone. The saint bore
everything, giving thanks to God.
And the Lord granted her His mercy: the fire went out, the lead
spilled out, and the saint remained unharmed. Hadrian in surprise went
up to the place of torture and touched at the cauldron, to ascertain
whether it had cooled. When he touched at the cauldron, he burned the
skin on his hand, but even this did not dissuade the torturer.
He gave orders to heat a sort of skillet and put the holy martyr in it
naked. Here again another miracle took place. An angel of the Lord
scattered the hot coals and burned many who stood by the fire. The
saint stood in the skillet, as though on green grass, singing hymns of
praise to the Lord.
When she was removed from the skillet, the holy martyr seemed to be
willing to offer sacrifice to the pagan god Hercules. The delighted
emperor gave orders to take her off to the temple. When the saint
prayed to God, a loud thunderclap was heard, and all the idols in the
pagan temple fell and shattered.
In a rage, the emperor ordered that Hermione be led out of the city
and beheaded. Two servants, Theodulus and Theotimos, were entrusted to
carry out the execution. Since they were in such a hurry to execute
the saint, not allowing her time for prayer, their hands withered.
Then they believed in Jesus Christ and with repentance they fell at
the feet of St Hermione. They besought her to pray that the Lord would
call them to Himself before her. This is what transpired, through her
prayers. After this, she also fell asleep in the Lord.
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Martyr Babylas of Nicomedia
The Martyr Babylas and 84 disciples with him suffered in the city of
Nicomedia for confessing Christianity during the reign of the emperor
Maximian (284-305). The emperor, who was then in Nicomedia, renewed
the persecution against Christians.
Like many other believers, St Babylas was denounced as someone who was
instructing children in Christian piety. When Babylas was brought
before the emperor, and after his confession of faith in the true God,
he was given over to many torments.
During his sufferings the holy martyr cried to God, "I thank You, O
Lord, that You have made me, who am old and infirm, to be young and
strong." After being pelted with stones, he was clapped in irons and
they took him to prison.
Then the saint 's young disciples were brought before the emperor.
Neither flattery nor promise of gifts were able to alter the Christian
convictions of the children. Two of them, Ammonias and Donatus, firmly
declared, "We are Christians, and we will not offer sacrifice to deaf
and dumb devils."
The emperor flew into a rage over the unexpected and firm rebuke from
the children. At first, he ordered them to be whipped, and later to be
put to death by beheading, together with their teacher. On the way to
execution, the holy Martyr Babylas quoted Isaiah, "Behold, I and the
children which God has given me" (Isaiah 8:18). With spiritual
rejoicing, first St Babylas, and then his 84 disciples, received the
crown of martyrdom.
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84 Martyred Children with Babylas at Nicomedia
These 84 children suffered in Nicomedia with the Martyr Babylas during
the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305).
St Babylas was denounced for instructing children in Christian piety.
He was brought before the emperor, and tortured. After being pelted
with stones, he was clapped in irons and they took him to prison.
Then the saint 's young disciples were brought before the emperor.
Neither flattery nor promise of gifts were able to alter their
Christian convictions. Two of them, Ammonias and Donatus, firmly
declared, "We are Christians, and we will not offer sacrifice to deaf
and dumb devils."
The emperor flew into a rage over the unexpected and firm rebuke from
the children. At first, he ordered them to be whipped, and later to be
put to death by beheading, together with their teacher. On the way to
execution, the holy Martyr Babylas quoted Isaiah, "Behold, I and the
children which God has given me" (Isaiah 8:18). With spiritual
rejoicing, first St Babylas, and then his 84 disciples, received the
crown of martyrdom.
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Martyr Theodore of Nicomedia
The Holy Martyrs Theodore, Mianus, Julian and Kion lived during the
reign of Maximian (284-305)and were from the village of Quandababa
(near Nicomedia). For confessing faith in Christ they were arrested
and given over to torture.
At first their bodies were torn with sharp iron hooks, and then they
were locked into a hot and flooded bath-house. The doors were locked
and sealed with the imperial signet ring so that they should not
escape. An angel of the Lord freed them, however.
Soldiers arrested the martyrs again and led them outside the city for
execution. The saints at their request were given time for prayer, and
then they surrendered their souls to the Lord. Their bodies were
hacked into pieces and thrown into a fire.
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Martyr Mianus (Ammianus) of Nicomedia
The Holy Martyrs Mianus, Julian, Theodore, and Kion lived during the
reign of Maximian (284-305)and were from the village of Quandababa
(near Nicomedia). For confessing faith in Christ they were arrested
and given over to torture.
At first their bodies were torn with sharp iron hooks, and then they
were locked into a hot and flooded bath-house. The doors were locked
and sealed with the imperial signet ring so that they should not
escape. An angel of the Lord freed them, however.
Soldiers arrested the martyrs again and led them outside the city for
execution. The saints requested and were given time for prayer, and
then they surrendered their souls to the Lord. Their bodies were
hacked into pieces and thrown into a fire.
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Martyr Julian of Nicomedia
The Holy Martyrs Julian, Theodore, Mianus, and Kion lived during the
reign of Maximian (284-305)and were from the village of Quandababa
(near Nicomedia). For confessing faith in Christ they were arrested
and given over to torture.
At first their bodies were torn with sharp iron hooks, and then they
were locked into a hot and flooded bath-house. The doors were locked
and sealed with the imperial signet ring so that they should not
escape. An angel of the Lord freed them, however.
Soldiers arrested the martyrs again and led them outside the city for
execution. The saints requested and were given time for prayer, and
then they surrendered their souls to the Lord. Their bodies were
hacked into pieces and thrown into a fire.
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Martyr Kion (Oceanus) of Nicomedia
The Holy Martyrs Kion, Theodore, Mianus, and Julian lived during the
reign of Maximian (284-305)and were from the village of Quandababa
(near Nicomedia). For confessing faith in Christ they were arrested
and given over to torture.
At first their bodies were torn with sharp iron hooks, and then they
were locked into a hot and flooded bath-house. The doors were locked
and sealed with the imperial signet ring so that they should not
escape. An angel of the Lord freed them, however.
Soldiers arrested the martyrs again and led them outside the city for
execution. The saints requested and were given time for prayer, and
then they surrendered their souls to the Lord. Their bodies were
hacked into pieces and thrown into a fire.
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Martyr Centurionus of Nicomedia
Saint Centurionus endured martyrdom with StsTheodore, Mianus, Julian
and Kion during the reign of Maximian (284-305)They were from the
village of Quandababa (near Nicomedia). Because of their faith in
Christ, they were arrested and given over to torture.
At first their bodies were torn with sharp iron hooks, and then they
were locked into a hot and flooded bath-house. The doors were locked
and sealed with the imperial signet ring so that they should not
escape. An angel of the Lord freed them, however.
Soldiers arrested the martyrs again and led them outside the city for
execution. The saints requested and were given time for prayer, and
then they surrendered their souls to the Lord. Their bodies were
hacked into pieces and thrown into a fire.
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Icon of the Mother of God "the Unburnt Bush"
The Unburnt Bush Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos is based on the
miracle witnessed by Moses in the Old Testament. In Chapter 3 of
Exodus God calls Moses on Mt. Horeb from the midst of a bush which
"was burning, yet it was not consumed" (Ex. 3:2). Moses is informed
that he will lead the Hebrews out of their slavery in Egypt, and then
God tells him His name, "I am Who am" (Ex. 3:14).
The Church has always regarded the Unburnt Bush on Horeb as a type of
the Most Holy Theotokos giving birth to the Savior Christ, while
remaining a Virgin. This imagery is to be found in the Church's
hymnography (for example, the Dogmatikon at Saturday Vespers in Tone
2), and also in iconography.
One of the earliest depictions of the Mother of God as the Unburnt
Bush shows her holding her divine Son in the midst of a burning bush.
Moses is shown to one side, removing his sandals, for that place was
holy (Ex. 3:5).
Most icons now depict the bush in a symbolic fashion. There are two
overlapping diamonds: one red (representing the fire), the other green
(representing the bush), forming an eight pointed star. The Theotokos
is shown in the center.
In the four corners of the green diamond are the symbols of the four
Evangelists: a man (St Matthew), a lion (St Mark), an ox (St Luke),
and an eagle (St John). These symbols are derived from Ezekiel 1:10
and Revelation 4:7. Archangels are depicted in the four corners of the
red diamond.
The design of the icon has become more complex over time. Now we can
see archangels, Moses and the burning bush (Ex. 3:2), Isaiah and the
seraphim with the burning coal (Is. 6:7), Ezekiel and the gate through
which only the Lord may enter (Ez. 44:2), and Jacob with the ladder
(Gen. 28:12). The Theotokos is shown holding Jacob's ladder which
leads from earth to heaven. Sometimes the Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1)
is shown in the center of the icon's lower border.
There is an old story about a fire which was consuming several wooden
buildings. In the midst of the fire an old woman stood in front of her
house holding an icon of the "Unburnt Bush." A witness happened to see
her there, and marveled at her faith. The next day he returned to the
spot and was astonished to see the old woman's home completely
unscathed by the fire, while all the other houses around it were
destroyed. This may explain why the Mother of God, through her Icon of
the Unburnt Bush, is regarded as the protector of homes from fire.
It is believed that the earliest icons of the Unburnt Bush originated
at St Catherine's Monastery on Mt. Sinai.
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Second finding of the relics of St Metrophanes the Bishop of
Vorenzh
The Second finding of the relics of St Metrophanes of Voronezh took
place in 1989. On March 22, 1998 Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow gave
his blessing for the celebration of this Feast.
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Hieromartyr Peter the Metropolitan of Serbia
No information available at this time.
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Hieromartyr Peter, Metropolitan of Dabro-Bosnia
No information available at this time.
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Venerable Parthenius, Igumen of Kiziltachsk
No information available at this time.
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Venerable Simeon the Wonderworker
Saint Simeon was raised at Davit-Gareji Monastery. He labored as a
simple monk until he reached an advanced age, and was chosen to be
abbot. Outstanding in virtue and humility, St. Simeon was endowed by
the Lord with the ability to work miracles.
Once St. Simeon became deathly ill and lay lifeless for more than an
hour. Then, by Divine Providence, he arose and distributed all of his
possessions to the fathers of the monastery to keep him in
remembrance.
When St. Serapion heard about this miracle, he hastened to Abbot
Simeon, his spiritual father, and, enlightened with prophetic grace,
comforted him: O honorable Father, give me your holy hands that I may
kiss them. How I desire for these hands to bury the dust of my
worthless bodybut now you are departing this world ahead of me. You
will go, Father, but without you I will not remain long on this earth;
soon I will follow after you!
So the fathers bade him farewell for the last time.
St. Simeon settled his affairs at the monastery, and in 1773 he
reposed in peace, exactly one week after he had recovered from his
deathly illness.
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