[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed Apr 9 05:00:16 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed Apr 9 2008

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Isaiah 41:4-14  (6th Hour)
4 Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the
beginning? I, the Lord, am the first; And with the last I am He.
5 The coastlands saw it and feared, The ends of the earth were afraid;
They drew near and came.
6 Everyone helped his neighbor, And said to his brother, Be of good
courage!
7 So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the
hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, Saying, It is ready for the
soldering; Then he fastened it with pegs, That it might not totter.
8 But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The
descendants of Abraham My friend.
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from
its farthest regions, And said to you, You are My servant, I have
chosen you and have not cast you away:
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I
will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My
righteous right hand.
11 Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed
and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you
shall perish.
12 You shall seek them and not find them Those who contended with you.
Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing.
13 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you,
Fear not, I will help you.
14 Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you, says
the Lord And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3

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Genesis 17:1-9  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and
said to him, I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply
you exceedingly.
3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:
4 As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a
father of many nations.
5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be
Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.
6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of
you, and kings shall come from you.
7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your
descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting
covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which
you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting
possession; and I will be their God.
9 And God said to Abraham: As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you
and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
Scripture Reading 2 of 3

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Proverbs 15:20-16:9  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
20 A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his
mother.
21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of
understanding walks uprightly.
22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors
they are established.
23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due
season, how good it is!
24 The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away
from hell below.
25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish
the boundary of the widow.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, But the
words of the pure are pleasant.
27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates
bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of
the wicked pours forth evil.
29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the
righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, And a good report makes
the bones healthy.
31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds
rebuke gets understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor
is humility.
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the
tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs
the spirits.
3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be
established.
4 The Lord has made all for Himself,
5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they
join forces, none will go unpunished.
6 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the
fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
7 When a mans ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at
peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without
justice.
9 A mans heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Scripture Reading 3 of 3

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Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea, in Cappadocia
The Holy Martyr Eupsychius was born in the city of Caesarea in
Cappadocia and received a Christian upbringing by his illustrious
parents.
During the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363), St Eupsychius
entered into a Christian marriage.
At Caesarea there was a pagan temple to the goddess Fortuna, whom
Julian the Apostate revered. As Eupsychius was going to his wedding,
the pagans were offering sacrifice to the goddess Fortuna.
St Eupsychius was filled with zeal for the Lord, and he destroyed the
temple. He knew that this would inevitably result in his punishment.
St Eupsychius distributed all his possessions to the poor and prepared
himself for martyrdom.
The enraged emperor Julian loosed his wrath not only upon St
Eupsychius, but against all the inhabitants of this city. Some of the
citizens were executed, while the more respectable were sent into
exile. Christian clergy were drafted into military service, and he
looted the churches of anything valuable. The city was deprived of its
title Caesarea [i.e. "Imperial"] and resumed its original name of
Maza. He also imposed a severe tax on the inhabitants. The emperor
threatened to annihilate the city altogether, if the people did not
build a new pagan temple in place of the one destroyed.
Julian tried to compel St Eupsychius to offer sacrifice to idols. For
many days they tormented the saint on a rack, and also with iron
claws. But his faith was firm, and the judge sentenced the martyr to
be beheaded with a sword.
Then Julian embarked on a campaign against the Persians, marching
through Cappadocia and approaching Caesarea. Danger threatened the
city, since the emperor intended to raze it to its foundations. But
then St Basil the Great (January 1), showing Julian the proper respect
as sovereign authority, came out to meet him carrying with him three
loaves of barley bread, which he ate. The emperor ordered his
retainers to take the loaves, and to give St Basil a pinch of hay
saying, "You have given us barley, cattle fodder. Now receive hay from
us in return."
The saint answered, "O Emperor, we bring you that which we ourselves
eat, and you give us cattle feed. You mock us, since you, by your
might, are not able to transform hay into bread, the essential food of
mankind."
Julian angrily retorted, "I'll shove this hay down your throat when I
return here from Persia. I shall raze this city to its very
foundations, and plow over this ground and turn it into a field. I
know that it was on your advice that the people dared to destroy the
statues and temple of Fortuna."
After this the emperor continued on his way, but soon perished in his
campaign against the Persians. He was struck down in the year 363 by
the holy Great Martyr Mercurius (November 24).
After the emperor's demise, the Christians of the city of Caesarea
built a splendid church over the grave of St Eupsychius, and from his
holy relics they received help and healing.
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Martyr Desan the Bishop and 272 others in Persia
The Holy Martyrs Bishop Desan, Presbyter Mariabus, Abdiesus, and 270
Others were put to death under the Persian emperor Sapor II.
Imprisoned, they refused to turn away from the Christian Faith. In
their number also was the Martyr Ia, who is commemorated also on
September 11.
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Martyr Mariabus the Presbyter and 272 others in Persia
The Holy Martyrs Mariabus the presbyter, Bishop Desan, Abdiesus, and
270 others were put to death under the Persian emperor Sapor II.
Imprisoned, they refused to turn away from the Christian Faith. In
their number also was the Martyr Ia, who is commemorated on September
11.
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Martyr Abdiesus and 272 Others in Persia
The Holy Martyrs Bishop Desan, Presbyter Mariabus, Abdiesus, and 270
Others were put to death under the Persian emperor Sapor II.
Imprisoned, they refused to turn away from the Christian Faith. In
their number also was the Martyr Ia, who is commemorated also on
September 11.
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272 Martyrs in Persia with Desan the Bishop
The Holy Martyrs Bishop Desan, Presbyter Mariabus, Abdiesus, and 270
Others were put to death under the Persian emperor Sapor II.
Imprisoned, they refused to turn away from the Christian Faith. In
their number also was the Martyr Ia, who is commemorated also on
September 11.
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Monkmartyr Bademus (Vadim) of Persia
Monk Martyr Archimandrite Bademus (Vadim) was born in the fourth
century in the Persian city of Bithlapata, and was descended from a
rich and illustrious family. In his youth, he was enlightened with the
Christian teaching. The saint gave away all his wealth to the poor and
withdrew into the wilderness, where he founded a monastery. He would
go up on a mountain for solitary prayer, and once was permitted to
behold the Glory of God.
During this period the Persian emperor Sapor (310-381) began to
persecute Christians. They arrested St Bademus and his seven
disciples, and tortured them in prison, hoping that they would
renounce Christ and worship the sun and fire. But St Bademus and his
disciples held firmly to the Christian Faith. The confessors spent
four months in jail. All this time St Bademus was a spiritual leader
and support for the Christians living in Persia.
One of the associates of the emperor Sapor, Nirsanes, was a Christian
and suffered imprisonment for this. He did not hold up under torture
and denied Christ, promising to fulfill whatever the emperor
commanded. Sapor demanded that Nirsanes personally cut off the head of
St Bademus. For this he was promised a reprieve and great rewards.
Nirsanes was not able to overcome his fear of new tortures, and he
agreed to follow the path of betrayal walked by Judas.
When they brought St Bademus to him, he took the sword and turned
toward him, but overcome by conscience, he trembled and stood
petrified. St Bademus said to him, "Has your wickedness now reached
this point, Nirsanes, that you should not only renounce God, but also
murder His servants? Woe to you, accursed one! What will you do on
that day when you stand before the Dread Judgment Seat? What answer
will you give to God? I am prepared to die for Christ, but I don't
want to receive death at your hands."
Nirsanes struck with the sword, but his hands shook, and he could not
behead the saint immediately, and the fire-worshippers began to call
him a coward. The holy martyr Bademus stood motionless, enduring many
terrible blows, until the murderer succeeded in cutting off his head.
The just punishment for his misdeeds were not slow in overtaking the
hapless fellow. Tormented by his conscience, he did away with himself,
throwing himself on a sword. After the death of the emperor Sapor, the
seven disciples of St Bademus were released from prison.
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St Eleni (who was also called Susanna), New martyr of Lesbos
Saint Eleni (who was also called Susanna) is one of the New Martyrs of
Lesbos who are commemorated on Bright Tuesday. She was St. Irene's
older cousin, and suffered along with Sts Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene
on April 9, 1463 (Bright Tuesday).
On November 12, 1961 Mrs Basilike Rallis had a dream in which she saw
herself by the church at Karyes near the town of Thermi on the Greek
island of Lesbos. As she looked inside the church, she saw a young
girl about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a dark complexion and
dark hair. Since the girl was praying, Mrs Rallis also began to pray.
The girl turned to her and said, "Do you know who I am? I am a martyr.
Not like Renoula (a diminutive form of Irene), of course, but if you
only knew what I endured! I lived with the mayor's family, and I was
also with them when the Turks tortured them here. They mistreated me
and gave me such a horrib le beating that I died from the pains. My
name is Eleni."
The saint also told Mrs Rallis about an icon of the Mother of God that
she had been asking about, revealing to her the place where it would
be found.
When she awoke, Mrs Rallis was reluctant to mention this dream to
anyone. She said to herself, "If there really is another martyr named
Eleni, I'll see her again. Maybe someone else will see her, too, then
I'll tell. But who was this Eleni who lived with the mayor's family?
Perhaps she was thei r servant."
The next night, she dreamed that she was in the village church. She
saw three clerics coming out through the left door of the altar. She
made the Sign of the Cross at once, for she thought that Satan might
be tempting her. Then ;she saw the three clerics make the Sign of the
Cross, too. They looked at her and smiled as they slowly proceeded to
the center of the church.
"I recognized St. Raphael and St. Nicholas right away," Mrs Rallis
recalled, "but did not know the other saint. He was tall, middle-aged
with a long grey beard and a lordly air about him."
At that moment, a girl with a round face came out by the same door.
She was beautiful, and she wore a rose-colored dress. Mrs Rallis
approached her and, kneeling before her, she asked, "Are you also a
saint?"
"Yes," the girl replied. "Sit down beside me, watch quietly and I will
explain some things to you."
Then other people began to come out from the same door and approached
the saints. First, a man of medium height with civilian clothes and a
long grey jacket. The girl said to Mrs Rallis, "The teacher,
Theodore." He was followed by another well-formed man. The saint said,
"The mayor, Basil (St Irene's father)." Then a tall, stout woman of
about forty came forth with two girls whom Mrs Rallis recognized at
once.They were Sts Irene and Eleni, of whom she had dreamt the night
before.
The unknown saint who had appeared with Sts Raphael and Nicholas
identified the tall woman as Maria, the mayor's wife, and the two
girls as Renoula and Eleni. He asked Mrs Rallis, "Why, when you
dreamed abou t her last evening, did you say that you would not say
anything about it to anyone? Eleni is also a martyr, and she wishes to
be remembered. She was not the mayor's servant, but his orphaned niece
who lived with them. Her proper name, which she signed on papers, was
Eleni. However, they also called her Susanna. She also had that name."
Mrs Rallis slowly approached St Irene. She embraced her and began to
weep, saying, "O Renoula, my tortured little girl, how could these
heartless evil-doers burn you?" Then St Irene also started to cry.
When Mrs Rallis woke up, her eyes were filled with tears, and she
thought that she would faint. So powerful was the dream that she later
said, "Ah, that tortured child! How I ached for her! Every time I go
to Karyes I will sit by her little tomb and I will mourn as if she
were my own child. Just think, they tortured the child in front of her
father, in front of her mother who bore her. It seems to me that there
does not exist a more terrible martyrdom for parents."
The Newly-Appeared Martyrs of Lesbos are also commemorated on April 9.
Detailed accounts of these saints may be found in A GREAT SIGN (in
Greek) by Photios Kontoglou (Astir, 1964).
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New Martyr Raphael of Lesbos
Newly-Appeared Martyrs of Lesbos, Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene were
martyred by the Turks on Bright Tuesday (April 9, 1463) ten years
after the Fall of Constantinople. For nearly 500 years, they were
forgotten by the people of Lesbos, but "the righteous Judge... opened
the things that were hid" (2 Macc. 12:41).
For centuries the people of Lesbos would go on Bright Tuesday to the
ruins of a monastery near Thermi, a village northwest of the capital,
Mytilene. As time passed, however, no one could remember the reason
for the annual pilgrimage. There was a vague recollection that once
there had been a monastery on that spot, and that the monks had been
killed by the Turks.
In 1959, a pious man named Angelos Rallis decided to build a chapel
near the ruins of the monastery. On July 3 of that year, workmen
discovered the relics of St Raphael while clearing the ground. Soon,
the saints began appearing to various inhabitants of Lesbos and
revealed the details of their lives and martyrdom. These accounts form
the basis of Photios Kontoglou's 1962 book A GREAT SIGN (in Greek).
St Raphael was born on the island of Ithaka around 1410, and was
raised by pious parents. His baptismal name was George, but he was
named Raphael when he became a monk. He was ordained to the holy
priesthood, and later attained the offices of Archimandrite and
Chancellor.
In 1453, St Raphael was living in Macedonia with his fellow monastic,
the deacon Nicholas, a native of Thessalonica. In 1454, the Turks
invaded Thrace, so the two monks fled to the island of Lesbos. They
settled in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos near Thermi,
where St Raphael became the igumen.
In the spring of 1463, the Turks raided the monastery and captured the
monks. They were tortured from Holy Thursday until Bright Tuesday. St
Raphael was tied to a tree, and the ferocious Turks sawed through his
jaw, killing him. St Nicholas was also tortured, and he died while
witnessing his Elder's martyrdom. He appeared to people and indicated
the spot where his relics were uncovered on June 13, 1960.
St Irene was the twelve-year-old daughter of the village mayor, Basil.
She and her family had come to the monastery to warn the monks of the
invasion. The cruel Hagarenes cut off one of her arms and threw it
down in front of her parents. Then the pure virgin was placed in a
large earthen cask and a fire was lit under it, suffocating her
within. These torments took place before the eyes of her parents, who
were also put to death. Her grave and the earthen cask were found on
May 12, 1961 after Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene had appeared to
people and told them where to look.
Others who also received the crown of martyrdom on that day were St
Irene's parents Basil and Maria; Theodore, the village teacher; and
Eleni, the fifteen-year-old cousin of St Irene.
The saints appeared separately and together, telling people that they
wished to be remembered. They asked that their icon be painted, that a
church service be composed for them, and they indicated the place
where their holy relics could be found. Based on the descriptions of
those who had seen the saints, the master iconographer Photios
Kontoglou painted their icon. The ever-memorable Father Gerasimos of
Little St Anne Skete on Mt Athos composed their church service.
Many miracles have taken place on Lesbos, and throughout the world.
The saints hasten to help those who invoke them, healing the sick,
consoling the sorrowful, granting relief from pain, and bringing many
unbelievers and impious individuals back to the Church.
St Raphael is tall, middle-aged, and has a beard of moderate length.
His hair is black with some grey in it. His face is majestic,
expressive, and filled with heavenly grace. St Nicholas is short and
thin, with a small blond beard. He stands before St Raphael with great
respect. St Irene usually appears with a long yellow dress reaching to
her feet. Her blonde hair is divided into two braids which rest on
either side of her chest.
Sts Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene (and those with them) are also
commemorated on Bright Tuesday. Dr. Constantine Cavarnos has given a
detailed account of their life, miracles, and spiritual counsels in
Volume 10 of his inspirational series MODERN ORTHODOX SAINTS (Belmont,
MA, 1990).
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New Martyr Nicholas of Lesbos
Newly-Appeared Martyrs of Lesbos, Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene were
martyred by the Turks on Bright Tuesday (April 9, 1463) ten years
after the Fall of Constantinople. They began appearing to various
inhabitants of Lesbos in 1959 and revealed the details of their lives
and martyrdom. These accounts form the basis of Photios Kontoglou's
1962 book A GREAT SIGN (in Greek).
In 1453, St Nicholas was living in Macedonia with his fellow monastic,
St Raphael. Deacon Nicholas was a native of Thessalonica. In 1454, the
Turks invaded Thrace, so the two monks fled to the island of Lesbos.
They settled in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos near
Thermi, where St Raphael became the igumen.
In the spring of 1463, the Turks raided the monastery and captured the
monks. They were tortured from Holy Thursday until Bright Tuesday. St
Raphael was tied to a tree, and the ferocious Turks sawed through his
jaw, killing him. St Nicholas was also tortured, and he died while
witnessing his Elder's martyrdom. He appeared to people and indicated
the spot where his relics were uncovered on June 13, 1960.
St Nicholas is short and thin, with a small blond beard. He stands
before St Raphael with great respect. St Irene usually appears with a
long yellow dress reaching to her feet. Her blonde hair is divided
into two braids which rest on either side of her chest.
Sts Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene (and those with them) are also
commemorated on Bright Tuesday. Dr. Constantine Cavarnos has given a
detailed account of their life, miracles, and spiritual counsels in
Volume 10 of his inspirational series MODERN ORTHODOX SAINTS (Belmont,
MA, 1990).
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New Martyr Irene of Lesbos
The Newly-Appeared Martyrs of Lesbos, Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene
were martyred by the Turks on Bright Tuesday (April 9, 1463) ten years
after the Fall of Constantinople. They began appearing to various
inhabitants of Lesbos in 1959 and revealed the details of their lives
and martyrdom. These accounts form the basis of Photios Kontoglou's
1962 book A GREAT SIGN (in Greek).
St Irene was the twelve-year-old daughter of the village mayor, Basil.
In the spring of 1463, the Turks raided the monastery at Thermi and
captured the monks. She and her family had come to the monastery to
warn the monks of the invasion. The cruel Hagarenes cut off one of her
arms and threw it down in front of her parents. Then the pure virgin
was placed in a large earthen cask and a fire was lit under it,
suffocating her within. These torments took place before the eyes of
her parents, who were also put to death. Her grave and the earthen
cask were found on May 12, 1961 after Sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene
had appeared to people and told them where to look.
Others who also received the crown of martyrdom on that day were St
Irene's parents Basil and Maria; Theodore, the village teacher; and
Eleni, the fifteen-year-old cousin of St Irene.
St Irene usually appears with a long yellow dress reaching to her
feet. Her blonde hair is divided into two braids which rest on either
side of her chest.
Sts Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene (and those with them) are also
commemorated on Bright Tuesday. Dr. Constantine Cavarnos has given a
detailed account of their life, miracles, and spiritual counsels in
Volume 10 of his inspirational series MODERN ORTHODOX SAINTS (Belmont,
MA, 1990).
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St Vadim Piersidsk
No information available at this time.
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