[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sat Sep 15 05:00:23 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat Sep 15 2007

----------------------------------------------------
------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------

1 Corinthians 1:26-29  (Saturday After)
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to
the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame
the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to
shame the things which are mighty;
28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised
God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the
things that are,
29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
Scripture Reading 1 of 6

-----------------------------

Ephesians 1:7-17  (Friday)
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of His grace
8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His
good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven
and which are on earth-in Him.
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined
according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the
counsel of His will,
12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His
glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the
purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and
your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may
give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of
Him,
Scripture Reading 2 of 6

-----------------------------

John 8:21-30  (Saturday After)
21 Then Jesus said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek
Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come."
22 So the Jews said, "Will He kill Himself, because He says, 'Where I
go you cannot come'?"
23 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You
are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you
do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.
25 Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just
what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who
sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard
from Him.
27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.
28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you
will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My
Father taught Me, I speak these things.
29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone,
for I always do those things that please Him.
30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
Scripture Reading 3 of 6

-----------------------------

Mark 8:1-10
1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to
eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them,
2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued
with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint
on the way; for some of them have come from afar.
4 Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people
with bread here in the wilderness?"
5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said,
"Seven."
6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took
the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His
disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.
7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to
set them also before them.
8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of
leftover fragments.
9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them
away,
10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the
region of Dalmanutha.
11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking
from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him.
Scripture Reading 4 of 6

-----------------------------

1 Corinthians 10:23-28
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all
things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for
conscience' sake;
26 for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness."
27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you
desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for
conscience' sake.
28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat
it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for
"the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness."
Scripture Reading 5 of 6

-----------------------------

Matthew 24:34-44
34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away
till all these things take place.
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass
away.
36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of
heaven, but My Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of
Man be.
38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the
ark,
39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so
also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other
left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the
other left.
42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour
the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house
to be broken into.
44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an
hour you do not expect.
Scripture Reading 6 of 6

----------------------------------------------------
------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

Afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross
>From September 15 until the Leavetaking, we sing "O come, let us
worship and fall down before Christ. O son of God crucified in the
flesh, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia" at weekday Liturgies
following the Little Entrance.
_________________________________________________________________
Greatmartyr Nicetas the Goth
The Holy Great Martyr Nicetas was a Goth (a Germanic tribe). He was
born and lived on the banks of the Danube River, and suffered for
Christ in the year 372. The Christian Faith was then already widely
spread throughout the territory of the Goths. St Nicetas believed in
Christ and accepted Baptism from the Gothic bishop Theophilus, a
participant in the First Ecumenical Council. Pagan Goths began to
oppose the spread of Christianity, which resulted in internecine
strife.
After the victory of Fritigern, heading a Christian army and
inflicting defeat on the pagan Athanaric, the Christian Faith began to
spread increasingly among the Goths. The Arian bishop Ulfilas, the
successor to Bishop Theophilus, created a Gothic alphabet and
translated into the Gothic language many priestly books. St Nicetas
worked intensely among his fellow Goths at spreading Christianity. By
his personal example and inspired words he brought many pagans to the
Christian Faith.
However, after his defeat Athanaric again contrived to gather his own
forces, return to his own country and regain his former power. Since
he remained a pagan, he continued to hate Christians and persecute
them.
St Nicetas endured many tortures, and died after being thrown into a
fire. His body remained unharmed by the fire and was illumined by a
miraculous light. By night, a friend of the martyr, a Christian named
Marianus, retrieved the body of St Nicetas,and buried it in Cilicia.
Afterwards, it was transferred to Constantinople. Part of the relics
of the Great Martyr Nicetas were later transferred to the monastery of
Vysokie Dechani in Serbia. St Nicetas received an unfading crown of
glory from Christ in the year 372.
We pray to St Nicetas for the preservation of children from birth
defects.
_________________________________________________________________
Uncovering of the relics St Acacius the Bishop of Melitene
Saint Acacius the Confessor lived during the Decian persecution, and
was Bishop of Melitene, Armenia.
Arrested as a Christian, St Acacius was brought before the governor
Marcianus, who ordered that he be tortured. He was not put to death,
but was set free after a while, bearing the wounds of Christ on his
body. He died in peace.
St Acacius the Confessor is also commemorated on March 31. He should
not be confused with another St Acacius of Melitene (April 17) who
lived in the fifth century.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theodotus of Adrianopolis
The Holy Martyr Theodotus suffered with Sts Maximus, Asklepiodote, at
the beginning of the fourth century under the emperor Maximian
Galerius (305-311). Eminent citizens of the city of Marcianopolis,
Maximus and Asklepiodote led a devout Christian life. By their example
they brought many to faith in Christ and to holy Baptism.
During the persecution Tiris, the governor of Thrace, went around the
city subject to him and persecuted those believing in Christ. He
summoned Maximus and Asklepiodote before him and demanded they abandon
the Christian Faith. When the martyrs refused, he ordered that they be
beaten.
Then a certain pious man named Theodotus, began to reproach the
governor for his inhumanity and cruelty. They seized him also, and
hanging him on a tree, they tortured him with iron hooks. After this,
they threw the three martyrs into prison. Tiris traveled for two weeks
more and took the holy martyrs along with him.
In the city of Adrianopolis he put them to still greater tortures,
commanding that their bodies be scorched with white-hot plates. In the
midst of their suffering they heard a Voice from Heaven encouraging
them to persevere. After several days of torture they threw the
martyrs to be eaten by wild beasts in the circus, but instead the
she-bear released upon Sts Maximus and Theodotus began to cuddle up to
them.
St Asklepiodote was tied to a bull, but she seemed to be rooted to the
spot, and did not budge. Tiris resumed the journey and stopped in the
village of Saltis before reaching the city of Philippopolis. Again he
urged the martyrs to renounce Christ. When they refused, he ordered
them to be beheaded. God's wrath overtook him when a bolt of lightning
struck him as he sat upon the judgment seat.
_________________________________________________________________
Womanmartyr Asclepiodote of Adrianopolis
The Holy Martyr Asklepiodote suffered with Sts Maximus and Theodotus
at the beginning of the fourth century under the emperor Maximian
Galerius (305-311). Eminent citizens of the city of Marcianopolis,
Maximus and Asklepiodote led a devout Christian life. By their example
they brought many to faith in Christ and to holy Baptism.
During the persecution Tiris, the governor of Thrace, went around the
city subject to him and persecuted those believing in Christ. He
summoned Maximus and Asklepiodote before him and demanded they abandon
the Christian Faith. When the martyrs refused, he ordered that they be
beaten.
Then a certain pious man named Theodotus, began to reproach the
governor for his inhumanity and cruelty. They seized him also, and
hanging him on a tree, they tortured him with iron hooks. After this,
they threw the three martyrs into prison. Tiris traveled for two weeks
more and took the holy martyrs along with him.
In the city of Adrianopolis he put them to still greater tortures,
commanding that their bodies be scorched with white-hot plates. In the
midst of their suffering they heard a Voice from Heaven encouraging
them to persevere. After several days of torture they threw the
martyrs to be eaten by wild beasts in the circus, but instead the
she-bear released upon Sts Maximus and Theodotus began to cuddle up to
them.
St Asklepiodote was tied to a bull, but she seemed to be rooted to the
spot, and did not budge. Tiris resumed the journey and stopped in the
village of Saltis before reaching the city of Philippopolis. Again he
urged the martyrs to renounce Christ. When they refused, he ordered
them to be beheaded. God's wrath overtook him when a bolt of lightning
struck him as he sat upon the judgment seat.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Maximus of Adrianopolis
The Holy Martyrs Maximus, Asklepiodote, and Theodotus suffered at the
beginning of the fourth century under the emperor Maximian Galerius
(305-311). Eminent citizens of the city of Marcianopolis, Maximus and
Asklepiodote led a devout Christian life. By their example they
brought many to faith in Christ and to holy Baptism.
During the persecution Tiris, the governor of Thrace, went around the
city subject to him and persecuted those believing in Christ. He
summoned Maximus and Asklepiodote before him and demanded they abandon
the Christian Faith. When the martyrs refused, he ordered that they be
beaten.
Then a certain pious man named Theodotus, began to reproach the
governor for his inhumanity and cruelty. They seized him also, and
hanging him on a tree, they tortured him with iron hooks. After this,
they threw the three martyrs into prison. Tiris traveled for two weeks
more and took the holy martyrs along with him.
In the city of Adrianopolis he put them to still greater tortures,
commanding that their bodies be scorched with white-hot plates. In the
midst of their suffering they heard a Voice from Heaven encouraging
them to persevere. After several days of torture they threw the
martyrs to be eaten by wild beasts in the circus, but instead the
she-bear released upon Sts Maximus and Theodotus began to cuddle up to
them.
St Asklepiodote was tied to a bull, but she seemed to be rooted to the
spot, and did not budge. Tiris resumed the journey and stopped in the
village of Saltis before reaching the city of Philippopolis. Again he
urged the martyrs to renounce Christ. When they refused, he ordered
them to be beheaded. God's wrath overtook him when a bolt of lightning
struck him as he sat upon the judgment seat.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Porphyrius the Actor
The Holy Martyr Porphyrius suffered during the reign of Julian the
Apostate (361-363). Porphyrius was an actor and on the emperor's
birthday he was performing a role at the theater, where he was
supposed to mock the mystery of holy Baptism.
During the play Porphyrius was immersed in water and said: "The
servant of God, Porphyrius, is baptized in the Name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Through divine grace, he emerged
from the water and confessed himself a Christian. Julian ordered him
to be tortured, and after the torments, to be beheaded. This took
place in the city of Ephesus in the year 361.
_________________________________________________________________
Uncovering of the relics of the Holy Protomartyr and
Archdeacon Stephen
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
St Philotheus the Presbyter in Asia Minor
The Holy Presbyter and Wonderworker Philotheus lived in the tenth
century in the village of Mravin (or Myrmix) located in Bythnia in
Asia Minor. He was a married priest, and had children. He devoted
himself to deeds of prayer and fasting, and works of charity. Because
of his holy life, St Philotheus received from God the gift of working
miracles. The ascetic continually fed the hungry and helped the needy.
St Philotheus died in peace. Myrrh flowed from his relics.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Joseph, Abbot of Alaverdi, Georgia
Blessed Abba Joseph of Alaverdi was a disciple and companion of St.
John of Zedazeni, who in the 6th century arrived in Georgia with
twelve Syrian ascetics to spread the Christian Faith.
With the blessing of his teacher, Fr. Joseph settled in the village of
Alaverdi in eastern Georgia. According to tradition, he carried with
him a cross formed from the wood of the Life-giving Cross of our
Savior.
At that time the region around Alaverdi was deserted and barren. One
day the Lord sent a nobleman to hunt in the valley where the pious
hermit dwelt among the wild animals. Seeing the saint, the nobleman
guessed immediately that before him stood a holy man. He bowed before
him, kissed him, and humbly asked what had brought him to this
deserted place.
With the help of God, St. Joseph aroused in the nobleman a divine love
and an unquenchable desire for the Truth. The nobleman vowed to erect
a church in the Alaverdi Wilderness, and he laid the foundations of
Alaverdi Monastery in fulfillment of this vow. Venerable Joseph was
overjoyed at the accomplishment of this God-pleasing work.
Soon the people began to hear stories about the holy elder who was
laboring in Alaverdi. Crowds of the faithful flocked there to see him
with their own eyes and hear the blessed Josephs preaching. As a
result of his unceasing efforts, unbelief was uprooted, and the divine
services of the Church were firmly established in that region. Many of
the faithful were so drawn to Abba Josephs holy life, boundless love,
and miracles that they left the world to join in his labors.
Gradually the number of hermits increased, and a large community was
formed. Fr. Joseph was the first abbot of this brotherhood. Utterly
exhausted from a life of God-pleasing ascesis and labors, St. Joseph
sensed the approach of death and prepared to stand before the Lord
God. He gathered his disciples, blessed them, instructed them for the
last time, appointed a new abbot, and peacefully departed to the Lord.
With great honor Fr. Josephs disciples buried him at the Alaverdi
Church. Many miracles have since occurred over the grave of the
venerable elder.
_________________________________________________________________
St Joseph the New of Partos the Metropolitan of Timishoara
(Romania)
Saint Joseph the New was born in 1568 at Raguza in Dalmatia, and was
given the name Jacob at his Baptism. When he was very young, his
father died, and he was raised by his mother. At the age of twelve, he
was sent to Ochrid to be schooled.
The young Jacob was called to live the monastic life when he was
fifteen, and entered the monastery of the Mother of God. After five
years, he traveled to Mount Athos, and was tonsured at the Pantokrator
Monastery with the new name of Joseph. He fulfilled his various
obediences in an exemplary manner, becoming perfected in virtue and
holiness. He attained unceasing prayer of the heart, receiving from
God the gift of tears. He also performed many miracles, healing the
sick and the crippled. Some of the monasteries of the Holy Mountain
would send for him so that he could heal those monks who were
afflicted with severe bodily suffering.
On July 20, 1650, at the age of eighty-two, St Joseph was elected as
Metropolitan of Timishoara. He was a wise and good shepherd to his
flock, healing their physical and spiritual illnesses. Once he
extinguished a fire in the western part of Timishoara by his prayers,
when God sent a heavy rainfall.
After three years of archpastoral labors, he retired to the Partosh
Monastery, where he was often visited by many of the faithful. The
monastery was an important center of church activity in those days,
and even had a school for training priests.
Metropolitan Joseph fell asleep in the Lord on August 15, 1656 when he
was eighty-eight years old, and he was buried in the monastery church.
He is commemorated on September 15.
He worked many miracles during his lifetime, and there are reports
that his relics remained incorrupt after his death.
For more than 300 years the monks reverently tended his grave, then at
his glorification on October 7, 1956 St Joseph's relics were
transferred into the cathedral at Timishoara. The casket containing
his holy relics is adorned with carvings depicting scenes from his
life.
An Akathist composed to honor St Joseph speaks of his many virtues.
_________________________________________________________________
St Joseph of Temisoara
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
St Bessarion, Archbishop of Larissa
Saint Bessarion, Archbishop of Larissa, lived during the sixteenth
century and founded the Dusika monastery in Thessaly.
_________________________________________________________________
St Gerasimus
Saint Gerasimus founded a monastery in honor of the Holy Trinity near
Makrinitsa in Zagora (Mizia). This monastery received the name Zurvia
(Survias).
_________________________________________________________________
New Martyr John of Crete
The New Martyr John was from Crete, and worked as a farmer at New
Ephesus (Kusantasi) in Asia Minor. He was a young man, and was engaged
to be married.
On August 29, John and two friends from Crete went to a festival to
celebrate the Feast of St John the Baptist. They were stopped by the
Turks, and the two visitors were ordered to pay the head tax. The
Cretans refused to pay, and got into a scuffle with the aga's men. The
Turks took a gun belonging to one of the Cretans, but then he grabbed
it back from the Moslem. In the confusion, one of the aga's men was
killed and some of the others were stabbed.
Since John was not involved in the incident, he went back to his farm.
The brother of the dead Moslem, however, wanted revenge. He knew that
John was present when his brother was killed, so he had him arrested.
John was thrown into prison, beaten, and was not allowed to have any
visitors.
St John remained in prison for sixteen days. Then he was given the
choice of saving his life by converting to Islam, or to remain a
Christian and die. John stated, "I was born as an Orthodox Christian,
and I shall die as an Orthodox Christian."
Since John was an attractive young man, the kadi's daughter became
interested in him. If he were willing to convert, he could marry the
girl and enjoy both wealth and position as a member of the kadi's
family. Even this was not enough to make him deny Christ.
Finally the Hagarenes grew tired of trying to convert John, and he was
sentenced to death by hanging. As he was led to the place of
execution, he kept saying, "Most Holy Theotokos, help me." He also
asked forgiveness of the Christians he met along the way.
St John suffered for Christ on September 15, 1811, and received the
incorruptible crown of martyrdom. That night the martyr's body shone
with a bright light. After three days, permission was granted to bury
his holy relics in the courtyard of the church of St George.
_________________________________________________________________
Icon of the Mother of God of Novonikita
The Novonikita Icon is one of the ancient icons of the Mother of God.
It appeared to the holy Great Martyr Nikita (+ 372). St Nikita was a
former soldier and disciple of Theophilus, Bishop of the Goths. Prior
to his Baptism, Nikita saw a Child in a dream, holding His Cross in
His hand. He awoke and pondered the meaning of the vision for a long
time.
A certain Christian girl by the name of Juliana, inspired by God, told
the youth that he should look at his own chest. To his unspeakable
astonishment he discovered there an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos
with the Pre-eternal Christ Child, standing on His Mother's knees and
holding the Cross in His hand.
"This is the same image I saw in the dream," cried St Nikita. The
appearance of the icon produced such an effect on him that he quickly
received holy Baptism. Soon there was a persecution against
Christians, and St Nikita received a martyr's crown, together with a
number of other confessors.
_________________________________________________________________