[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Mon Sep 17 05:00:12 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Sep 17 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Ephesians 1:22-2:3
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over
all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now
works in the sons of disobedience,
3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were
by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Luke 3:19-22
19 But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias,
his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
20 also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.
21 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also
was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.
22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him,
and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in
You I am well pleased."
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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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.
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Martyr Sophia and her three daughters at Rome
The Holy Martyrs Saint Sophia and her Daughters Faith, Hope and Love
were born in Italy. Their mother was a pious Christian widow who named
her daughters for the three Christian virtues. Faith was twelve, Hope
was ten, and Love was nine. St Sophia raised them in the love of the
Lord Jesus Christ. St Sophia and her daughters did not hide their
faith in Christ, but openly confessed it before everyone.
An official named Antiochus denounced them to the emperor Hadrian
(117-138), who ordered that they be brought to Rome. Realizing that
they would be taken before the emperor, the holy virgins prayed
fervently to the Lord Jesus Christ, asking that He give them the
strength not to fear torture and death. When the holy virgins and
their mother came before the emperor, everyone present was amazed at
their composure. They looked as though they had been brought to some
happy festival, rather than to torture. Summoning each of the sisters
in turn, Hadrian urged them to offer sacrifice to the goddess Artemis.
The young girls remained unyielding.
Then the emperor ordered them to be tortured. They burned the holy
virgins over an iron grating, then threw them into a red-hot oven, and
finally into a cauldron with boiling tar, but the Lord preserved them.
The youngest child, Love, was tied to a wheel and they beat her with
rods until her body was covered all over with bloody welts. After
undergoing unspeakable torments, the holy virgins glorified their
Heavenly Bridegroom and remained steadfast in the Faith.
They subjected St Sophia to another grievous torture: the mother was
forced to watch the suffering of her daughters. She displayed adamant
courage, and urged her daughters to endure their torments for the sake
of the Heavenly Bridegroom. All three maidens were beheaded, and
joyfully bent their necks beneath the sword.
In order to intensify St Sophia's inner suffering, the emperor
permitted her to take the bodies of her daughters. She placed their
remains in coffins and loaded them on a wagon. She drove beyond the
city limits and reverently buried them on a high hill. St Sophia sat
there by the graves of her daughters for three days, and finally she
gave up her soul to the Lord. Even though she did not suffer for
Christ in the flesh, she was not deprived of a martyr's crown.
Instead, she suffered in her heart. Believers buried her body there
beside her daughters.
The relics of the holy martyrs have rested at El'zasa, in the church
of Esho since the year 777.
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Martyr Faith with her mother and sisters at Rome
The Holy Martyrs Saint Sophia and her Daughters Faith, Hope and Love
were born in Italy. Their mother was a pious Christian widow who named
her daughters for the three Christian virtues. Faith was twelve, Hope
was ten, and Love was nine. St Sophia raised them in the love of the
Lord Jesus Christ. St Sophia and her daughters did not hide their
faith in Christ, but openly confessed it before everyone.
An official named Antiochus denounced them to the emperor Hadrian
(117-138), who ordered that they be brought to Rome. Realizing that
they would be taken before the emperor, the holy virgins prayed
fervently to the Lord Jesus Christ, asking that He give them the
strength not to fear torture and death. When the holy virgins and
their mother came before the emperor, everyone present was amazed at
their composure. They looked as though they had been brought to some
happy festival, rather than to torture. Summoning each of the sisters
in turn, Hadrian urged them to offer sacrifice to the goddess Artemis.
The young girls remained unyielding.
Then the emperor ordered them to be tortured. They burned the holy
virgins over an iron grating, then threw them into a red-hot oven, and
finally into a cauldron with boiling tar, but the Lord preserved them.
The youngest child, Love, was tied to a wheel and they beat her with
rods until her body was covered all over with bloody welts. After
undergoing unspeakable torments, the holy virgins glorified their
Heavenly Bridegroom and remained steadfast in the Faith.
They subjected St Sophia to another grievous torture: the mother was
forced to watch the suffering of her daughters. She displayed adamant
courage, and urged her daughters to endure their torments for the sake
of the Heavenly Bridegroom. All three maidens were beheaded, and
joyfully bent their necks beneath the sword.
In order to intensify St Sophia's inner suffering, the emperor
permitted her to take the bodies of her daughters. She placed their
remains in coffins and loaded them on a wagon. She drove beyond the
city limits and reverently buried them on a high hill. St Sophia sat
there by the graves of her daughters for three days, and finally she
gave up her soul to the Lord. Even though she did not suffer for
Christ in the flesh, she was not deprived of a martyr's crown.
Instead, she suffered in her heart. Believers buried her body there
beside her daughters.
The relics of the holy martyrs have rested at El'zasa, in the church
of Esho since the year 777.
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Martyr Hope with her mother and sisters at Rome
The Holy Martyrs Saint Sophia and her Daughters Faith, Hope and Love
were born in Italy. Their mother was a pious Christian widow who named
her daughters for the three Christian virtues. Faith was twelve, Hope
was ten, and Love was nine. St Sophia raised them in the love of the
Lord Jesus Christ. St Sophia and her daughters did not hide their
faith in Christ, but openly confessed it before everyone.
An official named Antiochus denounced them to the emperor Hadrian
(117-138), who ordered that they be brought to Rome. Realizing that
they would be taken before the emperor, the holy virgins prayed
fervently to the Lord Jesus Christ, asking that He give them the
strength not to fear torture and death. When the holy virgins and
their mother came before the emperor, everyone present was amazed at
their composure. They looked as though they had been brought to some
happy festival, rather than to torture. Summoning each of the sisters
in turn, Hadrian urged them to offer sacrifice to the goddess Artemis.
The young girls remained unyielding.
Then the emperor ordered them to be tortured. They burned the holy
virgins over an iron grating, then threw them into a red-hot oven, and
finally into a cauldron with boiling tar, but the Lord preserved them.
The youngest child, Love, was tied to a wheel and they beat her with
rods until her body was covered all over with bloody welts. After
undergoing unspeakable torments, the holy virgins glorified their
Heavenly Bridegroom and remained steadfast in the Faith.
They subjected St Sophia to another grievous torture: the mother was
forced to watch the suffering of her daughters. She displayed adamant
courage, and urged her daughters to endure their torments for the sake
of the Heavenly Bridegroom. All three maidens were beheaded, and
joyfully bent their necks beneath the sword.
In order to intensify St Sophia's inner suffering, the emperor
permitted her to take the bodies of her daughters. She placed their
remains in coffins and loaded them on a wagon. She drove beyond the
city limits and reverently buried them on a high hill. St Sophia sat
there by the graves of her daughters for three days, and finally she
gave up her soul to the Lord. Even though she did not suffer for
Christ in the flesh, she was not deprived of a martyr's crown.
Instead, she suffered in her heart. Believers buried her body there
beside her daughters.
The relics of the holy martyrs have rested at El'zasa, in the church
of Esho since the year 777.
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Martyr Love with her mother and sisters at Rome
The Holy Martyrs Saint Sophia and her Daughters Faith, Hope and Love
were born in Italy. Their mother was a pious Christian widow who named
her daughters for the three Christian virtues. Faith was twelve, Hope
was ten, and Love was nine. St Sophia raised them in the love of the
Lord Jesus Christ. St Sophia and her daughters did not hide their
faith in Christ, but openly confessed it before everyone.
An official named Antiochus denounced them to the emperor Hadrian
(117-138), who ordered that they be brought to Rome. Realizing that
they would be taken before the emperor, the holy virgins prayed
fervently to the Lord Jesus Christ, asking that He give them the
strength not to fear torture and death. When the holy virgins and
their mother came before the emperor, everyone present was amazed at
their composure. They looked as though they had been brought to some
happy festival, rather than to torture. Summoning each of the sisters
in turn, Hadrian urged them to offer sacrifice to the goddess Artemis.
The young girls remained unyielding.
Then the emperor ordered them to be tortured. They burned the holy
virgins over an iron grating, then threw them into a red-hot oven, and
finally into a cauldron with boiling tar, but the Lord preserved them.
The youngest child, Love, was tied to a wheel and they beat her with
rods until her body was covered all over with bloody welts. After
undergoing unspeakable torments, the holy virgins glorified their
Heavenly Bridegroom and remained steadfast in the Faith.
They subjected St Sophia to another grievous torture: the mother was
forced to watch the suffering of her daughters. She displayed adamant
courage, and urged her daughters to endure their torments for the sake
of the Heavenly Bridegroom. All three maidens were beheaded, and
joyfully bent their necks beneath the sword.
In order to intensify St Sophia's inner suffering, the emperor
permitted her to take the bodies of her daughters. She placed their
remains in coffins and loaded them on a wagon. She drove beyond the
city limits and reverently buried them on a high hill. St Sophia sat
there by the graves of her daughters for three days, and finally she
gave up her soul to the Lord. Even though she did not suffer for
Christ in the flesh, she was not deprived of a martyr's crown.
Instead, she suffered in her heart. Believers buried her body there
beside her daughters.
The relics of the holy martyrs have rested at El'zasa, in the church
of Esho since the year 777.
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Martyr Theodota at Nicea
The Holy Martyr Theodota, a native of Cappadocia, suffered in the city
of Nicea during the reign of the emperor Alexander Severus (222-235).
At this time the governor of Cappadocia was a certain Symblicius. They
told him that a rich woman named Theodota was confessing Christ. The
governor summoned Theodota and for a long time urged her to turn from
the true Faith.
Seeing the futility of his attempts, he gave Theodota over to torture.
They suspended her and began to rake her with iron hooks, but she did
not feel any pain. Then they put her in chains and led her away to a
prison cell.
After eight days, when they led the saint out for new tortures, only
faint traces of the tortures already endured remained on her body. The
governor was amazed and asked, "Who are you?" The saint answered:
"Your mind is darkened, but if you were sober, then you would have
realized that I am Theodota."
Symblicius commanded the martyr to be cast into a red-hot furnace.
Flames shot out from the furnace and scorched those standing nearby,
while those remaining unharmed shut the furnace and scattered in
fright. After a certain while, pagan priests came and opened the
furnace to scatter the ashes of the martyr, but they too were burned
by the flames. Those remaining unhurt saw St Theodota unharmed. She
stood in the midst of the flames between two youths in white raiment,
and was glorifying the Lord. This apparition so terrified the pagans
that they fell down as if dead. Later, they returned the saint to
prison.
The invincibility of the martyr gave Symblicius no peace. He made a
journey to Byzantium, on the return trip he stopped over at Ancyra and
tried to get the better of Theodota. He gave orders to throw her all
at once onto red-hot iron, but again the martyr remained unharmed.
Then Symblicius gave orders that the saint be taken to Nicea. There,
in a pagan temple he wanted to compel her to offer sacrifice to the
idols, but through the prayer of the saint, the idols fell and were
shattered. The outraged governor gave orders to stretch the martyr out
and saw through her body, but here also the power of God preserved the
saint. The saw caused Theodota no harm, and the servants became
exhausted. Finally, they beheaded the saint. Bishop Sophronius of
Nicea buried her body.
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Martyr Agathocleia
The Holy martyr Agathocleia was a servant in the home of a certain
Christian named Nicholas. His wife Paulina was a pagan. For eight
years Agathocleia underwent abuse from her mistress because of her
faith. Paulina fiercely beat the servant, and made her walk barefoot
over sharp stones.
Once in a fit of nastiness, Paulina broke her rib with a blow from a
hammer, and then cut out her tongue. Nothing could make the saint give
in to the demand of her mistress to worship idols. Then Paulina locked
the martyr in prison and exhausted her with hunger. But Agathocleia
did not perish: birds brought her food each day. Finally, in a fit of
evil, Paulina went to the prison and murdered the holy martyr.
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156 Martyrs in Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Peleus and Nilus, Bishops of Egypt, Presbyter Zeno,
Patermuthius, Elias and another 151 Martyrs suffered during the reign
of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311). The majority of them were
Egyptians, but there were also some Palestinians among them.
Firmilian, the governor of Palestine, arrested 156 Christians. They
gouged out the eyes of the holy martyrs, cut the tendons of their
feet, and subjected them to all manner of tortures. They beheaded 100
of the martyrs, and burned the rest.
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Martyr Peleus the Bishop of Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Peleus and Nilus, Bishops of Egypt, Presbyter Zeno,
Patermuthius, Elias and another 151 Martyrs suffered during the reign
of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311). The majority of them were
Egyptians, but there were also some Palestinians among them.
Firmilian, the governor of Palestine, arrested 156 Christians. They
gouged out the eyes of the holy martyrs, cut the tendons of their
feet, and subjected them to all manner of tortures. They beheaded 100
of the martyrs, and burned the rest.
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Martyr Nilus the Bishop of Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Peleus and Nilus, Bishops of Egypt, Presbyter Zeno,
Patermuthius, Elias and another 151 Martyrs suffered during the reign
of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311). The majority of them were
Egyptians, but there were also some Palestinians among them.
Firmilian, the governor of Palestine, arrested 156 Christians. They
gouged out the eyes of the holy martyrs, cut the tendons of their
feet, and subjected them to all manner of tortures. They beheaded 100
of the martyrs, and burned the rest.
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Martyr Zeno the Presbyter of Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Peleus and Nilus, Bishops of Egypt, Presbyter Zeno,
Patermuthius, Elias and another 151 Martyrs suffered during the reign
of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311). The majority of them were
Egyptians, but there were also some Palestinians among them.
Firmilian, the governor of Palestine, arrested 156 Christians. They
gouged out the eyes of the holy martyrs, cut the tendons of their
feet, and subjected them to all manner of tortures. They beheaded 100
of the martyrs, and burned the rest.
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Martyr Patermuthius the Nobleman of Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Peleus and Nilus, Bishops of Egypt, Presbyter Zeno,
Patermuthius, Elias and another 151 Martyrs suffered during the reign
of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311). The majority of them were
Egyptians, but there were also some Palestinians among them.
Firmilian, the governor of Palestine, arrested 156 Christians. They
gouged out the eyes of the holy martyrs, cut the tendons of their
feet, and subjected them to all manner of tortures. They beheaded 100
of the martyrs, and burned the rest.
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Martyr Elias the Nobleman of Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Peleus and Nilus, Bishops of Egypt, Presbyter Zeno,
Patermuthius, Elias and another 151 Martyrs suffered during the reign
of the emperor Maximian Galerius (305-311). The majority of them were
Egyptians, but there were also some Palestinians among them.
Firmilian, the governor of Palestine, arrested 156 Christians. They
gouged out the eyes of the holy martyrs, cut the tendons of their
feet, and subjected them to all manner of tortures. They beheaded 100
of the martyrs, and burned the rest.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Constantinople
The Constantinople Icon commemorated today is probably the prototype
of another Constantinople Icon (April 25) venerated at Moscow's
Dormition church on Malaya Dimitrovka.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Macariev
The Makariev "Directress" Icon of the Mother of God appeared during
the reign of Prince Basil the Dark (1425-1462) to St Macarius the
Wonderworker, who labored in asceticism on the desolate shores of the
River Unzha.
On September 17, 1442 at about the third hour of the morning, when St
Macarius was finishing his usual morning Akathist to the Most Holy
Theotokos, his cell was illumined suddenly by an unknown light. The
monk became confused in spirit and fervently began to pray.
Beyond the cell walls he heard the angelic refrain: "Hail, Full of
Grace, O Virgin Mother!" With fear and astonishment the monk went out
from his cell and on the northwest horizon he saw the icon of the
Mother of God, surrounded by a luminous radiance.
The icon approached towards the cell of the ascetic. With joyful
trembling the monk fell to the ground and cried out: "Hail, Mother of
God! Hail, Ever-Flowing Fountain issuing salvation to all the world
and assuring protection and intercession to all the land of Galicia!"
He reverently took up the icon and placed it in his cell, thus it also
came to be named the "Cell-Icon." Afterwards, the disciples of the
monk gave it the title of "Makariev." On the place of the appearance
of the holy icon a monastery was founded, and was also named Makariev.
Copies of the Makariev Icon of the Mother of God were made, which
became as renowned as the original.
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