[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Thu Sep 20 05:00:13 CDT 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Sep 20 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Ephesians 4:14-19
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the
cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him
who is the head-Christ-
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every
joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part
does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself
in love.
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no
longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their
mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life
of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the
blindness of their heart;
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to
work all uncleanness with greediness.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Luke 4:16-22
16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His
custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood
up to read.
17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had
opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To
preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the
brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of
sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat
down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in
your hearing."
22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words
which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's
son?"
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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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.
_________________________________________________________________
Greatmartyr Eustathius (Eustace) Placidas with his wife and
children of Rome
The Holy Great Martyr Eustathius was named Placidas before his
Baptism. He was a military commander under the emperors Titus (79-81)
and Trajan (98-117). Even before he came to know Christ, Placidas
performed acts of charity, helping the poor and destitute. Therefore,
the Lord did not leave the virtuous pagan remain in the darkness of
idolatry.
Once while hunting in a forest, he saw a stag which would stop now and
then to look him right in the eye. Placidas pursued it on horseback,
but could not catch up. The stag leaped over a chasm and stood on the
other side facing him. Placidas suddenly saw a radiant Cross between
its antlers. In surprise the military commander heard a voice coming
from the Cross saying, "Why do you pursue Me, Placidas?"
"Who are You, Master?" asked Placidas.The Voice replied, "I am Jesus
Christ, Whom you do not know, yet you honor Me by your good deeds. I
have appeared here on this creature for your sake, to capture you in
the net of My love for mankind. It is not fitting that one as
righteous as you should worship idols and not know the truth. It was
to save mankind that I came into the world."
Placidas cried out, "Lord, I believe that You are the God of Heaven
and earth, the Creator of all things. Master, teach me what I should
do." Again the Lord replied, "Go to the bishop of your country and
receive Baptism from him, and he will instruct you."
Placidas returned home and joyfully recounted everything to his wife
Tatiana. She in turn told him how the evening before, in a mysterious
dream, she had been told, "Tomorrow you, your husband and your sons
shall come to Me and know that I am the true God. The spouses then
proceeded to do as they had been bidden.
They hastened to the Christian bishop, who baptized all their family,
and communed them with the Holy Mysteries. Placidas was renamed
Eustathius, his wife was called Theopiste, and their children, Agapius
and Theopistus.
On the following day, St Eustathius set out to the place of his
miraculous conversion and in fervent prayer he offered up thanks to
the Lord for having called him onto the path of salvation.
Again St Eustathius received a miraculous revelation. The Lord Himself
foretold his impending tribulations: "Eustathius, you shall suffer
many misfortunes, as did Job, but in the end you will conquer the
devil."
Soon St Eustathius was plunged into misfortune: all his servants died
of the plague and his cattle perished. Brought to ruin, but not
despairing in spirit, St Eustathius and his family secretly abandoned
their home, to live unknown, humble and in poverty.
They went to Egypt to board a ship sailing for Jerusalem. During the
voyage a new woe beset the saint. The ship owner, enchanted by
Theopiste's beauty, cruelly set Eustathius and his children ashore,
keeping the wife for himself.
In great sorrow the saint continued on his way, and new woe beset him.
Coming to a tempestuous river, he went to carry his two sons across in
turn. When he had brought one across, the other was seized by a lion
and carried off into the wilderness. As he turned back towards the
other, a wolf dragged that child into the forest.
Having lost everything, St Eustathius wept bitterly, but he realized
that Divine Providence had sent him these misfortunes to test his
endurance and devotion to God. In his inconsolable grief, St
Eustathius went on farther, prepared for new tribulations.
In the village of Badessos he found work and spent five years in
unremitting toil. St Eustathius did not know then that through the
mercy of God, shepherds and farmers had saved his sons, and they lived
right near him. He also did not know that the impudent shipowner had
been struck down with a terrible disease and died, leaving St
Theopiste untouched. She lived in peace and freedom at the place where
the ship landed.
During this time it had become difficult for the emperor Trajan to
raise an army for Rome to deal with a rebellion, for the soldiers
would not go into battle without their commander Placidas. They
advised Trajan to send men out to all the cities to look for him.
Antiochus and Acacius, friends of Placidas, sought him in various
places. Finally, they arrived in the village where St Eustathius
lived. The soldiers found Eustathius, but they did not recognize him
and they began to tell him of the one whom they sought, asking his
help and promising a large reward. St Eustathius, immediately
recognized his friends, but did not reveal his identity to them.
He borrowed money from one of his friends and fed the visitors. As
they looked at him, the travellers noted that he resembled their
former commander. When they saw a scar on his shoulder from a deep
sword-wound, they realized that it was their friend there before them.
They embraced him with tears and told him why they were seeking him.
St Eustathius returned to Rome with them and again became a general.
Many new recruits were drafted into the army from all over the empire.
He did not know that two young soldiers who served him, and whom he
loved for their skill and daring, were actually his own sons. They did
not know that they were serving under the command of their own father,
nor that they were brothers by birth.
While on campaign, the army led by Eustathius halted at a certain
settlement. The soldier-brothers were talking in their tent. The elder
one spoke about his life, how he had lost his mother and brother, and
how in a terrifying way he had been parted from his father. The
younger brother then realized that before him was his very own
brother, and told him how he had been rescued from the wolf.
A woman overheard the soldiers' conversation, since their tent was
pitched right next to her house, and this woman realized that these
were her sons. Still not identifying herself to them, but not wanting
to be separated from them, she went to their commander, St Eustathius,
to ask him to take her to Rome with him. She said she had been a
prisoner, and wanted to go home. Then she came to recognize the
commander as her husband, and with tears she told him about herself
and about the two soldiers who were actually their sons. Thus, through
the great mercy of the Lord, the whole family was happily reunited.
Soon thereafter the rebellion was crushed, and St Eustathius returned
to Rome with honor and glory. The emperor Trajan had since died, and
his successor Hadrian (117-138) wanted to celebrate the event of
victory with a solemn offering of sacrifice to the gods. To the
astonishment of everyone, St Eustathius did not show up at the pagan
temple. By order of the emperor they searched frantically for him.
"Why don't you want to worship the gods?" the emperor inquired. "You,
above all others, ought to offer thanks to them. They not only
preserved you in war and granted you victory, but also they helped you
find your wife and children." St Eustathius replied: "I am a Christian
and I glorify and give thanks to Him, and I offer sacrifice to Him. I
owe my life to Him. I do not know or believe in any other god than
Him."
In a rage, the emperor ordered him to take off his military belt and
brought him and his family before him. They did not succeed in
persuading the steadfast confessors of Christ to offer sacrifice to
idols. The whole family of St Eustathius was sentenced to be torn
apart by wild beasts, but the beasts would not touch the holy martyrs.
Then the cruel emperor gave orders to throw them all alive into a
red-hot brass bull, and St Eustathius, his wife Theopiste, and their
sons Agapius and Theopistus endured a martyr's death. Before being
placed in the bull, St Eustathius prayed, "Grant, O Lord, Thy grace to
our relics, and grant to those who call upon us a place in Thy
Kingdom. Though they call upon us when they are in danger on a river
or on the sea, we entreat Thee to come to their aid."
Three days later, they opened the brass bull, and the bodies of the
holy martyrs were found unscathed. Not one hair on their heads was
singed, and their faces shone with an unearthly beauty. Many seeing
this miracle came to believe in Christ. Christians then buried the
bodies of the saints.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theopiste with her husband and her children of Rome
Saint Theopiste was the wife of the Great Martyr Eustathius, and was
born in the first century.
Once while hunting in a forest, Placidas (the name of St Eustathius
before his Baptism) saw a stag with a radiant Cross between its
antlers. The military commander heard a voice coming from the Cross
saying, "Why do you pursue Me, Placidas?"
"Who are You, Master?" asked Placidas. The Voice repied, "I am Jesus
Christ, Whom you do not know, yet you honor Me by your good deeds. I
have appeared here on this creature for your sake, to capture you in
the net of My love for mankind. It is not fitting that one as
righteous as you should worship idols and not know the truth."
The Savior told him to go to the bishop and be baptized. With joy
Placidas returned home and recounted everything to his wife Tatiana.
She in turn told him how the evening before in a mysterious dream she
had been told, "Tomorrow you, your husband and your sons shall come to
Me and know that I am the true God. The spouses then proceeded to do
as they had been bidden.
They hastened to the Christian bishop, who baptized all their family,
and communed them with the Holy Mysteries. Placidas was renamed
Eustathius, his wife was called Theopiste, and their children, Agapius
and Theopistus.
On the following day, St Eustathius set out to the place of his
miraculous conversion and in fervent prayer he offered up thanks to
the Lord for having called him onto the path of salvation.
Again St Eustathius received a miraculous revelation. The Lord Himself
foretold his impending tribulations: "Eustathius, you shall suffer
many misfortunes, as did Job, but in the end you will conquer the
devil."
Soon St Eustathius was plunged into misfortune: all his servants died
of the plague and his cattle perished. Brought to ruin, but not
despairing in spirit, St Eustathius and his family secretly abandoned
their home, to live unknown, humble and in poverty.
They went to Egypt to board a ship sailing for Jerusalem. During the
voyage a new woe beset the saint. The ship owner, enchanted by
Theopiste's beauty, cruelly set Eustathius and his children ashore,
keeping the wife for himself.
In great sorrow the saint continued on his way, and new woe beset him.
Coming to a tempestuous river, he went to carry his two sons across in
turn. When he had brought one across, the other was seized by a lion
and carried off into the wilderness. As he turned back towards the
other, a wolf dragged that child into the forest.
Having lost everything, St Eustathius wept bitterly, but he realized
that Divine Providence had sent him these misfortunes to test his
endurance and devotion to God. In his inconsolable grief, St
Eustathius went on farther, prepared for new tribulations.
In the village of Badessos he found work and spent five years in
unremitting toil. St Eustathius did not know then that through the
mercy of God, shepherds and farmers had saved his sons, and they lived
right near him. He also did not know that the impudent shipowner had
been struck down with a terrible disease and died, leaving St
Theopiste untouched. She lived at the place where the ship landed in
peace and freedom.
During this time it had become difficult for the emperor Trajan to
raise an army for Rome to deal with a rebellion, for the soldiers
would not go into battle without their commander Placidas. They
advised Trajan to send men out to all the cities to look for him.
Antiochus and Acacius, friends of Placidas, sought him in various
places. Finally, they arrived in the village where St Eustathius
lived. The soldiers found Eustathius, but they did not recognize him
and they began to tell him of the one whom they sought, asking his
help and promising a large reward. St Eustathius, immediately
recognized his friends, but did not reveal to them his identity.
He borrowed money from one of his friends and fed the visitors. As
they looked at him, the travellers noted that he resembled their
former commander. When they saw a scar on his shoulder from a deep
sword-wound, they realized that it was their friend there before them.
They embraced him with tears and told him why they were seeking him.
St Eustathius returned to Rome with them and again became a general.
Many new recruits were drafted into the army from all over the empire.
He did not know that two young soldiers who served him, and whom he
loved for their skill and daring, were actually his own sons. They did
not know that they were serving under the command of their own father,
nor that they were brothers by birth.
While on campaign, the army led by Eustathius halted at a certain
settlement. The soldier-brothers were talking in their tent. The elder
one spoke about his life, how he had lost his mother and brother, and
how in a terrifying way he had been parted from his father. The
younger brother then realized that before him was his very own
brother, and told him how he had been rescued from the wolf.
A woman overheard the soldiers' conversation, since their tent was
pitched right next to her house, and this woman realized that these
were her sons. Still not identifying herself to them, but not wanting
to be separated from them, she went to their commander, St Eustathius,
to ask him to take her to Rome with him. She said she had been a
prisoner, and wanted to go home. Then she came to recognize the
commander as her husband, and with tears she told him about herself
and about the two soldiers who were actually their sons. Thus, through
the great mercy of the Lord, the whole family was happily reunited.
Soon thereafter the rebellion was crushed, and St Eustathius returned
to Rome with honor and glory. The emperor Trajan had since died, and
his successor Hadrian (117-138) wanted to celebrate the event of
victory with a solemn offering of sacrifice to the gods. To the
astonishment of everyone, St Eustathius did not show up at the pagan
temple. By order of the emperor they searched frantically for him.
"Why don't you want to worship the gods?" inquired the emperor. "You,
above all others, ought to offer thanks to them. They not only
preserved you in war and granted you victory, but also they helped you
find your wife and children." St Eustathius replied: "I am a Christian
and I glorify and give thanks to Him, and I offer sacrifice to Him. I
owe my life to Him. I do not know or believe in any other god than
Him."
In a rage, the emperor ordered him to take off his military belt and
brought him and his family before him. They did not succeed in
persuading the steadfast confessors of Christ to offer sacrifice to
idols. The whole family of St Eustathius was sentenced to be torn
apart by wild beasts, but the beasts would not touch the holy martyrs.
Then the cruel emperor gave orders to throw them all alive into a
red-hot brass bull, and St Eustathius, his wife Theopiste, and their
sons Agapius and Theopistus endured a martyr's death. Before being
placed in the bull, St Eustathius prayed, "Grant, O Lord, Thy grace to
our relics, and grant to those who call upon us a place in Thy
Kingdom. Though they call upon us when they are in danger on a river
or on the sea, we entreat Thee to come to their aid."
Three days later, they opened the brass bull, and the bodies of the
holy martyrs were found unscathed. Not one hair on their heads was
singed, and their faces shone with an unearthly beauty. Many seeing
this miracle came to believe in Christ. Christians then buried the
bodies of the saints.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Agapius and his family of Rome
Sts Agapius and Theopistus were sons of the Holy Great Martyr
Eustathius, a military commander under the emperors Titus (79-81) and
Trajan (98-117).
The family went to Egypt to board a ship sailing for Jerusalem. During
the voyage a new woe beset the saint. The ship owner, enchanted by
Theopiste's beauty, cruelly set Eustathius and his children ashore,
keeping the wife for himself.
In great sorrow the saint continued on his way, and new woe beset him.
Coming to a tempestuous river, he went to carry his two sons across in
turn. When he had brought one across, the other was seized by a lion
and carried off into the wilderness. As he turned back towards the
other, a wolf dragged that child into the forest.
Having lost everything, St Eustathius wept bitterly. But he realized
that Divine Providence had sent him these misfortunes to test his
endurance and devotion to God. In his inconsolable grief, St
Eustathius went on farther, prepared for new tribulations.
In the village of Badessos he found work and spent five years in
unremitting toil. St Eustathius did not know then that through the
mercy of God, shepherds and farmers had saved his sons, and they lived
right near him. He also did not know that the impudent shipowner had
been struck down with a terrible disease and died, leaving St
Theopiste untouched. She lived at the place where the ship landed in
peace and freedom.
During this time it had become difficult for the emperor Trajan to
raise an army for Rome to deal with a rebellion, for the soldiers
would not go into battle without their commander Placidas. They
advised Trajan to send men out to all the cities to look for him.
Antiochus and Acacius, friends of Placidas, sought him in various
places. Finally, they arrived in the village where St Eustathius
lived. The soldiers found Eustathius, but they did not recognize him
and they began to tell him of the one whom they sought, asking his
help and promising a large reward. St Eustathius, immediately
recognized his friends, but did not reveal to them his identity.
He borrowed money from one of his friends and fed the visitors. As
they looked at him, the travellers noted that he resembled their
former commander. When they saw a scar on his shoulder from a deep
sword-wound, they realized that it was their friend there before them.
They embraced him with tears and told him why they were seeking him.
St Eustathius returned to Rome with them and again became a general.
Many new recruits were drafted into the army from all over the empire.
He did not know that two young soldiers who served him, and whom he
loved for their skill and daring, were actually his own sons. They did
not know that they were serving under the command of their own father,
nor that they were brothers by birth.
While on campaign, the army led by Eustathius halted at a certain
settlement. The soldier-brothers were talking in their tent. The elder
one spoke about his life, how he had lost his mother and brother, and
how in a terrifying way he had been parted from his father. The
younger brother then realized that before him was his very own
brother, and told him how he had been rescued from the wolf.
A woman overheard the soldiers' conversation, since their tent was
pitched right next to her house, and this woman realized that these
were her sons. Still not identifying herself to them, but not wanting
to be separated from them, she went to their commander, St Eustathius,
to ask him to take her to Rome with him. She said she had been a
prisoner, and wanted to go home. Then she came to recognize the
commander as her husband, and with tears she told him about herself
and about the two soldiers who were actually their sons. Thus, through
the great mercy of the Lord, the whole family was happily reunited.
Soon thereafter the rebellion was crushed, and St Eustathius returned
to Rome with honor and glory. The emperor Trajan had since died, and
his successor Hadrian (117-138) wanted to celebrate the event of
victory with a solemn offering of sacrifice to the gods. To the
astonishment of everyone, St Eustathius did not show up at the pagan
temple. By order of the emperor they searched frantically for him.
"Why don't you want to worship the gods?" inquired the emperor. "You,
above all others, ought to offer thanks to them. They not only
preserved you in war and granted you victory, but also they helped you
find your wife and children." St Eustathius replied: "I am a Christian
and I glorify and give thanks to Him, and I offer sacrifice to Him. I
owe my life to Him. I do not know or believe in any other god than
Him."
In a rage, the emperor ordered him to take off his military belt and
brought him and his family before him. They did not succeed in
persuading the steadfast confessors of Christ to offer sacrifice to
idols. The whole family of St Eustathius was sentenced to be torn
apart by wild beasts, but the beasts would not touch the holy martyrs.
Then the cruel emperor gave orders to throw them all alive into a
red-hot brass bull, and St Eustathius, his wife Theopiste, and their
sons Agapius and Theopistus endured a martyr's death. Before being
placed in the bull, St Eustathius prayed, "Grant, O Lord, Thy grace to
our relics, and grant to those who call upon us a place in Thy
Kingdom. Though they call upon us when they are in danger on a river
or on the sea, we entreat Thee to come to their aid."
Three days later, they opened the brass bull, and the bodies of the
holy martyrs were found unscathed. Not one hair on their heads was
singed, and their faces shone with an unearthly beauty. Many seeing
this miracle came to believe in Christ. Christians then buried the
bodies of the saints.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theopistus and his family of Rome
Sts Theopistus and Agapius were sons of the Holy Great Martyr
Eustathius, a military commander under the emperors Titus (79-81) and
Trajan (98-117).
The family went to Egypt to board a ship sailing for Jerusalem. During
the voyage a new woe beset the saint. The ship owner, enchanted by
Theopiste's beauty, cruelly set Eustathius and his children ashore,
keeping the wife for himself.
In great sorrow the saint continued on his way, and new woe beset him.
Coming to a tempestuous river, he went to carry his two sons across in
turn. When he had brought one across, the other was seized by a lion
and carried off into the wilderness. As he turned back towards the
other, a wolf dragged that child into the forest.
Having lost everything, St Eustathius wept bitterly. But he realized
that Divine Providence had sent him these misfortunes to test his
endurance and devotion to God. In his inconsolable grief, St
Eustathius went on farther, prepared for new tribulations.
In the village of Badessos he found work and spent five years in
unremitting toil. St Eustathius did not know then that through the
mercy of God, shepherds and farmers had saved his sons, and they lived
right near him. He also did not know that the impudent shipowner had
been struck down with a terrible disease and died, leaving St
Theopiste untouched. She lived at the place where the ship landed in
peace and freedom.
During this time it had become difficult for the emperor Trajan to
raise an army for Rome to deal with a rebellion, for the soldiers
would not go into battle without their commander Placidas. They
advised Trajan to send men out to all the cities to look for him.
Antiochus and Acacius, friends of Placidas, sought him in various
places. Finally, they arrived in the village where St Eustathius
lived. The soldiers found Eustathius, but they did not recognize him
and they began to tell him of the one whom they sought, asking his
help and promising a large reward. St Eustathius, immediately
recognized his friends, but did not reveal to them his identity.
He borrowed money from one of his friends and fed the visitors. As
they looked at him, the travellers noted that he resembled their
former commander. When they saw a scar on his shoulder from a deep
sword-wound, they realized that it was their friend there before them.
They embraced him with tears and told him why they were seeking him.
St Eustathius returned to Rome with them and again became a general.
Many new recruits were drafted into the army from all over the empire.
He did not know that two young soldiers who served him, and whom he
loved for their skill and daring, were actually his own sons. They did
not know that they were serving under the command of their own father,
nor that they were brothers by birth.
While on campaign, the army led by Eustathius halted at a certain
settlement. The soldier-brothers were talking in their tent. The elder
one spoke about his life, how he had lost his mother and brother, and
how in a terrifying way he had been parted from his father. The
younger brother then realized that before him was his very own
brother, and told him how he had been rescued from the wolf.
A woman overheard the soldiers' conversation, since their tent was
pitched right next to her house, and this woman realized that these
were her sons. Still not identifying herself to them, but not wanting
to be separated from them, she went to their commander, St Eustathius,
to ask him to take her to Rome with him. She said she had been a
prisoner, and wanted to go home. Then she came to recognize the
commander as her husband, and with tears she told him about herself
and about the two soldiers who were actually their sons. Thus, through
the great mercy of the Lord, the whole family was happily reunited.
Soon thereafter the rebellion was crushed, and St Eustathius returned
to Rome with honor and glory. The emperor Trajan had since died, and
his successor Hadrian (117-138) wanted to celebrate the event of
victory with a solemn offering of sacrifice to the gods. To the
astonishment of everyone, St Eustathius did not show up at the pagan
temple. By order of the emperor they searched frantically for him.
"Why don't you want to worship the gods?" inquired the emperor. "You,
above all others, ought to offer thanks to them. They not only
preserved you in war and granted you victory, but also they helped you
find your wife and children." St Eustathius replied: "I am a Christian
and I glorify and give thanks to Him, and I offer sacrifice to Him. I
owe my life to Him. I do not know or believe in any other god than
Him."
In a rage, the emperor ordered him to take off his military belt and
brought him and his family before him. They did not succeed in
persuading the steadfast confessors of Christ to offer sacrifice to
idols. The whole family of St Eustathius was sentenced to be torn
apart by wild beasts, but the beasts would not touch the holy martyrs.
Then the cruel emperor gave orders to throw them all alive into a
red-hot brass bull, and St Eustathius, his wife Theopiste, and their
sons Agapius and Theopistus endured a martyr's death. Before being
placed in the bull, St Eustathius prayed, "Grant, O Lord, Thy grace to
our relics, and grant to those who call upon us a place in Thy
Kingdom. Though they call upon us when they are in danger on a river
or on the sea, we entreat Thee to come to their aid."
Three days later, they opened the brass bull, and the bodies of the
holy martyrs were found unscathed. Not one hair on their heads was
singed, and their faces shone with an unearthly beauty. Many seeing
this miracle came to believe in Christ. Christians then buried the
bodies of the saints.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr and Confessor Michael the Wonderworker of Chernigov
The Holy Prince Michael of Chernigov, son of Vsevolod Ol'govich the
Dark-Red (+ 1212), was noted from childhood for his piety and
mildness. His health was very poor, but in 1186, trusting in the mercy
of God, the young prince asked for the holy prayers of St Nikita the
Stylite of Pereyaslavl (May 24), who during these years received
renown by his prayerful intercession before the Lord.
After he received a wooden staff from the holy ascetic, the prince was
healed at once. In 1223 Prince Michael took part in a council of
Russian princes at Kiev, debating whether to aid the Polovetsians
against the approaching Mongol-Tatar hordes. With the death of his
uncle, Mstislav of Chernigov in the Battle at the Kalka River in 1223,
St Michael became Prince of Chernigov.
In 1225 he was invited to be prince of the Novgorod people. Through
his sense of justice, compassion and firmness he gained the love and
respect of Old Novgorod. This was particularly important for the
Novgorodians, since the accession of Michael as prince signified a
reconciliation of Novgorod with the city of Vladimir's holy Great
Prince George Vsevolodovich (March 4), whose wife was the holy
princess Agatha, sister of Prince Michael.
But St Michael did not long remain prince at Novgorod. He soon
returned to his native Chernigov. To the stipulations and requests of
the Novgorodians to remain prince he answered that Chernigov and
Novgorod ought to become kindred lands, and their inhabitants like
brothers, and he would forge the bonds of friendship of these cities.
The noble prince assiduously concerned himself with the building up of
his appenage realm. But it was difficult for him in these troubled
times. His activity provoked unease in the Kursk Prince Oleg, and in
1227 internecine strife nearly erupted, but Metropolitan Cyril of Kiev
reconciled them. And in this same year Prince Michael peacefully
resolved a dispute between the Kiev Great Prince Vladimir Rurikovich
and the Galich prince. In 1235 Prince Michael occupied the throne of
Kiev.
Troublesome times ensued. In 1238 the Tatars (Mongols) laid waste to
Ryazan, Suzdal, and Vladimir. In 1239 they moved against South Russia,
and ravaged the left bank of the Dniepr River, and the lands of
Chernigov and Pereyaslavl. By the autumn of 1240 the Mongols were
coming close to Kiev. The khan's emissaries proposed that Kiev
surrender voluntarily, but the prince would not negotiate with them.
Prince Michael rode urgently to Hungary, to persuade the Hungarian
king Bela to organize allied forces to resist the common enemy. St
Michael tired to recruit both Poland, and the German emperor into the
struggle against the Mongols, but the moment for a combined resistance
was lost. Rus was devastated, and later Hungary and Poland. With no
foreign support, Prince Michael returned to the ruins of Kiev and for
a certain time he lived near the city on an island, and then he
resettled in Chernigov.
The prince did not abandon hope in the possibility of an united
Christian Europe against the Asiatic nomads. In 1245, at the Council
of Lyons in France, his co-worker Metropolitan Peter (Akerovich) was
sent as emissary by St Michael, calling for a crusade to march against
the pagan Horde. Catholic Europe in the persons of its chief spiritual
leaders, the Roman Pope and the German emperor, betrayed the interests
of Christianity. The Pope was involved in a war with the German
emperor, and the Germans took advantage of the Mongol invasion to
attack Rus themselves.
In these circumstances affecting Christianity in general, there is a
universal significance to the confessor's deed of the martyred
Orthodox Prince St Michael of Chernigov in the midst of the pagan
Horde. In Rus emissaries of the khan soon appeared, in order to
conduct a census of the Russian population and to impose taxes upon
it.
The prince was ordered to make full submission to the Tatar khan, and
for his princely realm, the khan would grant a special charter. The
emissaries informed Prince Michael that it was necessary for him to
journey to the Horde for an affirmation of rights to rule the
princedom under the khan's charter. Seeing the woeful plight of Rus,
Prince Michael recognized the need to obey the khan, but as a fervent
Christian he knew that he would not deny his faith before the pagans.
>From his spiritual Father, Bishop John, he received a blessing to
journey to the Horde and be a true confessor of the Name of Christ.
With the holy Prince Michael on the journey to the Horde went his
faithful friend and companion, the noble Theodore. At the Horde they
knew about Prince Michael's attempts to organize an uprising against
the Tatars in concert with Hungary and the other European powers. His
enemies had long sought the opportunity to destroy him.
In 1246 when Prince Michael and the boyar Theodore arrived at the
Horde, they were instructed on how to go to the khan, to proceed
through a fire to cleanse them of their evil intents, and to worship
the primal elements considered gods by the Mongols: the sun and fire.
In answer to the pagan priests commanding them to perform the pagan
rituals, the holy Prince replied, "A Christian worships only God, the
Creator of the world, and not creatures."
They reported to the khan about the firmness of the Russian Prince.
Batu's attendant El'deg delivered the conditions: either fulfill the
demands of the pagan priests, or die in torments. But this also was
followed by the resolute answer of holy Prince Michael, "I am prepared
to submit to the emperor, since that God has entrusted him with the
destiny of the earthly kingdoms, but as a Christian, I cannot worship
idols." The fate of the brave Christians was sealed.
Taking courage in the words of the Lord: "Whoever would save his life,
shall lose it, and whoever will lose his life for My sake shall save
it" (Mt.16:25), the holy prince and his devoted boyar prepared for a
martyr's death and received the Holy Mysteries, which their spiritual
Father gave them, foreseeing this possibility. The Tatar executioners
seized the prince and for a long time they beat him fiercely, until
the ground ran crimson with blood. Finally, Domanus, an apostate from
the faith in Christ, cut off the head of the holy martyr.
The Tatars deceitfully promised St Theodore great honor and his lord's
princely rank if he would fulfill the pagan ritual. But St Theodore
was not swayed by this, and he followed in the path of his prince.
After quite vicious torments they beheaded him. The bodies of the holy
passion-bearers were thrown to be eaten by dogs, but the Lord
miraculously guarded them for several days, until faithful Christians
could secretly bury them with reverence. Later on, the relics of the
holy martyrs were transferred to Chernigov.
The confessor's act of St Theodore amazed even his executioners.
Persuaded of the Russian people's steadfast fidelity to the Orthodox
Faith , and their readiness to die for Christ with joy, the Tatar
khans decided not to try the patience of God as before, and ceased
demanding that Russians at the Horde perform any pagan rituals. But
the struggle of the Russian nation and the Russian Church against the
Mongol Yoke continued for yet a long time. The Orthodox Church was
adorned in this struggle by new martyrs and confessors. Great Prince
Theodore was poisoned by the Mongols. Also martyred were St Roman of
Ryazan (+ 1270), St Michael of Tver (+ 1318), his sons Demetrius (+
1325) and Alexander (+ 1339). All of these took courage from the
example and holy prayers of the Russian Protomartyr of the Horde, St
Michael of Chernigov.
On February 14, 1572, at the wish of Tsar Ivan Vasilievich the
Terrible, and with the blessing of Metropolitan Anthony, the relics of
the holy martyrs were transferred to Moscow, to the temple dedicated
to them. From there in 1770 they were transferred to the Visitation
cathedral, and on November 21, 1774 to the Archangel cathedral of the
Moscow Kremlin.
The Lives and service to Sts Michael and Theodore were compiled in the
mid-sixteenth century by the renowned church writer, St Zenobios of
Otonsk.
"The generation of the upright shall be blessed," says the holy
Psalmodist David (Ps. 111/112:2). This occurred in full measure for St
Michael. He is at the head of many famous families in Russian history.
His children and grandchildren continued the holy Christian service of
St Michael. The Church also numbers his daughter St Euphrosyne of
Suzdal (September 25), and his grandson St Oleg of Briansk (September
20) among the saints.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Theodore the Counselor of Michael the Confessor the
Wonderworker of Chernigov
The Holy Prince Michael of Chernigov, son of Vsevolod Ol'govich the
Dark-Red (+ 1212), was noted from childhood for his piety and
mildness. His health was very poor, but in 1186, trusting in the mercy
of God, the young prince asked for the holy prayers of St Nikita the
Stylite of Pereyaslavl (May 24), who during these years received
renown by his prayerful intercession before the Lord.
After he received a wooden staff from the holy ascetic, the prince was
healed at once. In 1223 Prince Michael took part in a council of
Russian princes at Kiev, debating whether to aid the Polovetsians
against the approaching Mongol-Tatar hordes. With the death of his
uncle, Mstislav of Chernigov in the Battle at the Kalka River in 1223,
St Michael became Prince of Chernigov.
In 1225 he was invited to be prince of the Novgorod people. Through
his sense of justice, compassion and firmness he gained the love and
respect of Old Novgorod. This was particularly important for the
Novgorodians, since the accession of Michael as prince signified a
reconciliation of Novgorod with the city of Vladimir's holy Great
Prince George Vsevolodovich (March 4), whose wife was the holy
princess Agatha, sister of Prince Michael.
But St Michael did not long remain prince at Novgorod. He soon
returned to his native Chernigov. To the stipulations and requests of
the Novgorodians to remain prince he answered that Chernigov and
Novgorod ought to become kindred lands, and their inhabitants like
brothers, and he would forge the bonds of friendship of these cities.
The noble prince assiduously concerned himself with the building up of
his appenage realm. But it was difficult for him in these troubled
times. His activity provoked unease in the Kursk Prince Oleg, and in
1227 internecine strife nearly erupted, but Metropolitan Cyril of Kiev
reconciled them. And in this same year Prince Michael peacefully
resolved a dispute between the Kiev Great Prince Vladimir Rurikovich
and the Galich prince. In 1235 Prince Michael occupied the throne of
Kiev.
Troublesome times ensued. In 1238 the Tatars (Mongols) laid waste to
Ryazan, Suzdal, and Vladimir. In 1239 they moved against South Russia,
and ravaged the left bank of the Dniepr River, and the lands of
Chernigov and Pereyaslavl. By the autumn of 1240 the Mongols were
coming close to Kiev. The khan's emissaries proposed that Kiev
surrender voluntarily, but the prince would not negotiate with them.
Prince Michael rode urgently to Hungary, to persuade the Hungarian
king Bela to organize allied forces to resist the common enemy. St
Michael tired to recruit both Poland, and the German emperor into the
struggle against the Mongols, but the moment for a combined resistance
was lost. Rus was devastated, and later Hungary and Poland. With no
foreign support, Prince Michael returned to the ruins of Kiev and for
a certain time he lived near the city on an island, and then he
resettled in Chernigov.
The prince did not abandon hope in the possibility of an united
Christian Europe against the Asiatic nomads. In 1245, at the Council
of Lyons in France, his co-worker Metropolitan Peter (Akerovich) was
sent as emissary by St Michael, calling for a crusade to march against
the pagan Horde. Catholic Europe in the persons of its chief spiritual
leaders, the Roman Pope and the German emperor, betrayed the interests
of Christianity. The Pope was involved in a war with the German
emperor, and the Germans took advantage of the Mongol invasion to
attack Rus themselves.
In these circumstances affecting Christianity in general, there is a
universal significance to the confessor's deed of the martyred
Orthodox Prince St Michael of Chernigov in the midst of the pagan
Horde. In Rus emissaries of the khan soon appeared, in order to
conduct a census of the Russian population and to impose taxes upon
it.
The prince was ordered to make full submission to the Tatar khan, and
for his princely realm, the khan would grant a special charter. The
emissaries informed Prince Michael that it was necessary for him to
journey to the Horde for an affirmation of rights to rule the
princedom under the khan's charter. Seeing the woeful plight of Rus,
Prince Michael recognized the need to obey the khan, but as a fervent
Christian he knew that he would not deny his faith before the pagans.
>From his spiritual Father, Bishop John, he received a blessing to
journey to the Horde and be a true confessor of the Name of Christ.
With the holy Prince Michael on the journey to the Horde went his
faithful friend and companion, the noble Theodore. At the Horde they
knew about Prince Michael's attempts to organize an uprising against
the Tatars in concert with Hungary and the other European powers. His
enemies had long sought the opportunity to destroy him.
In 1246 when Prince Michael and the boyar Theodore arrived at the
Horde, they were instructed on how to go to the khan, to proceed
through a fire to cleanse them of their evil intents, and to worship
the primal elements considered gods by the Mongols: the sun and fire.
In answer to the pagan priests commanding them to perform the pagan
rituals, the holy Prince replied, "A Christian worships only God, the
Creator of the world, and not creatures."
They reported to the khan about the firmness of the Russian Prince.
Batu's attendant El'deg delivered the conditions: either fulfill the
demands of the pagan priests, or die in torments. But this also was
followed by the resolute answer of holy Prince Michael, "I am prepared
to submit to the emperor, since that God has entrusted him with the
destiny of the earthly kingdoms, but as a Christian, I cannot worship
idols." The fate of the brave Christians was sealed.
Taking courage in the words of the Lord: "Whoever would save his life,
shall lose it, and whoever will lose his life for My sake shall save
it" (Mt.16:25), the holy prince and his devoted boyar prepared for a
martyr's death and received the Holy Mysteries, which their spiritual
Father gave them, foreseeing this possibility. The Tatar executioners
seized the prince and for a long time they beat him fiercely, until
the ground ran crimson with blood. Finally, Domanus, an apostate from
the faith in Christ, cut off the head of the holy martyr.
The Tatars deceitfully promised St Theodore great honor and his lord's
princely rank if he would fulfill the pagan ritual. But St Theodore
was not swayed by this, and he followed in the path of his prince.
After quite vicious torments they beheaded him. The bodies of the holy
passion-bearers were thrown to be eaten by dogs, but the Lord
miraculously guarded them for several days, until faithful Christians
could secretly bury them with reverence. Later on, the relics of the
holy martyrs were transferred to Chernigov.
The confessor's act of St Theodore amazed even his executioners.
Persuaded of the Russian people's steadfast fidelity to the Orthodox
Faith , and their readiness to die for Christ with joy, the Tatar
khans decided not to try the patience of God as before, and ceased
demanding that Russians at the Horde perform any pagan rituals. But
the struggle of the Russian nation and the Russian Church against the
Mongol Yoke continued for yet a long time. The Orthodox Church was
adorned in this struggle by new martyrs and confessors. Great Prince
Theodore was poisoned by the Mongols. Also martyred were St Roman of
Ryazan (+ 1270), St Michael of Tver (+ 1318), his sons Demetrius (+
1325) and Alexander (+ 1339). All of these took courage from the
example and holy prayers of the Russian Protomartyr of the Horde, St
Michael of Chernigov.
On February 14, 1572, at the wish of Tsar Ivan Vasilievich the
Terrible, and with the blessing of Metropolitan Anthony, the relics of
the holy martyrs were transferred to Moscow, to the temple dedicated
to them. From there in 1770 they were transferred to the Visitation
cathedral, and on November 21, 1774 to the Archangel cathedral of the
Moscow Kremlin.
The Lives and service to Sts Michael and Theodore were compiled in the
mid-sixteenth century by the renowned church writer, St Zenobios of
Otonsk.
"The generation of the upright shall be blessed," says the holy
Psalmodist David (Ps. 111/112:2). This occurred in full measure for St
Michael. He is at the head of many famous families in Russian history.
His children and grandchildren continued the holy Christian service of
St Michael. The Church also numbers his daughter St Euphrosyne of
Suzdal (September 25), and his grandson St Oleg of Briansk (September
20) among the saints.
_________________________________________________________________
St Oleg the Prince of Briansk
Holy Prince Oleg Romanovich of Briansk (in Baptism Leontius) was
grandson of the holy martyr Prince Michael of Chernigov. According to
the chronicle histories, Prince Oleg together and his father, Prince
Roman Mikhailovich of Briansk, participated in a war against Lithuania
in 1274.
After 1274, he resigned as prince and became a monk with the name
Basil at the Briansk monastery of Sts Peter and Paul, built through
his generosity. The holy prince died at this monastery as a strict
ascetic in the year 1285, and was buried in the monastery church.
_________________________________________________________________
Monkmartyr Hilarion of St Anne Skete on Mt Athos
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________