[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Thu Apr 24 05:00:32 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Thu Apr 24 2008

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Luke 22:1-39  (Matins Gospel)
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called
Passover.
2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill
Him, for they feared the people.
3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among
the twelve.
4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and
captains, how he might betray Him to them.
5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.
6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the
absence of the multitude.
7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be
killed.
8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for
us, that we may eat."
9 So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"
10 And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man
will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house
which he enters.
11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to
you, Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My
disciples?" '
12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make
ready.
13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they
prepared the Passover.
14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with
Him.
15 Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat
this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled
in the kingdom of God.
17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and
divide it among yourselves;
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until
the kingdom of God comes.
19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them,
saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in
remembrance of Me."
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is
the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
21 But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.
22 And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to
that man by whom He is betrayed!
23 Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was
who would do this thing.
24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should
be considered the greatest.
25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship
over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called
'benefactors.'
26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among
you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is
it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who
serves.
28 But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.
29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one
upon Me,
30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on
thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you,
that he may sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and
when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.
33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to
prison and to death."
34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this
day before you will deny three times that you know Me."
35 And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack,
and sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing."
36 Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him
take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him
sell his garment and buy one.
37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be
accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For
the things concerning Me have an end.
38 So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to
them, "It is enough."
39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed,
and His disciples also followed Him.
Scripture Reading 1 of 9

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Jeremiah 11:18-12:5,9-11,14-15  (1st Hour)
18 The Lord made it known to me and I knew; then thou didst show me
their evil deeds.
19 But, I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know
it was against me they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the
tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living,
that his name be remembered no more."
20 But, O Lord of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart
and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I
committed my cause.
21 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of An'athoth, who
seek your life, and say, "Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, or
you will die by our hand"
22 therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: "Behold, I will punish
them; the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their
daughters shall die by famine;
23 and none of them shall be left. For I will bring evil upon men of
An'athoth, the year of their punishment."
1 Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I complain to thee; yet I would
plead my case before thee. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why
do all who are treacherous thrive?
2 Thou plantest them, and they take root; they grow and bring forth
fruit; thou art near in their mouth and far from their heart.
3 But thou, O Lord, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my mind
toward thee. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them
apart for the day of slaughter.
4 How long will the land mourn, and the grass of every field wither?
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds
are swept away, because men said, "He will not see our latter end."
5 If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how
will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you fall down, how
will you do in the jungle of the Jordan?
9 My heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture; The vultures all
around are against her. Come, assemble all the beasts of the field,
Bring them to devour!
10 "Many rulers have destroyed My vineyard, They have trodden My
portion underfoot; They have made My pleasant portion a desolate
wilderness.
11 They have made it desolate; Desolate, it mourns to Me; The whole
land is made desolate, Because no one takes it to heart.
14 Thus says the Lord: "Against all My evil neighbors who touch the
inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit--behold, I
will pluck them out of their land and pluck out the house of Judah
from among them.
15 Then it shall be, after I have plucked them out, that I will return
and have compassion on them and bring them back, everyone to his
heritage and everyone to his land.
Scripture Reading 2 of 9

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Exodus 19:10-19  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
10 Then the Lord said to Moses, Go to the people and consecrate them
today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the
Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, Take heed
to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base.
Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
13 Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot
with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live. When the
trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.
14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified
the people, and they washed their clothes.
15 And he said to the people, Be ready for the third day; do not come
near your wives.
16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there
were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain;
and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who
were in the camp trembled.
17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and
they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended
upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and
the whole mountaina quaked greatly.
19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder
and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.
Scripture Reading 3 of 9

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Job 38:1-23; 42:1-5  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall
answer Me.
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if
you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched
the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God
shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued
from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling
band;
10 When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;
11 When I said, This far you may come, but no farther, And here your
proud waves must stop!
12 Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused
the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be
shaken out of it?
14 It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a
garment.
15 From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is
broken.
16 Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in
search of the depths?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the
doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you
know all this.
19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is
its place,
20 That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths
to its home?
21 Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number
of your days is great?
22 Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the
treasury of hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of
battle and war?
1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
2 I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can
be withheld from You.
3 You asked, Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too
wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, I will question you, and
you shall answer Me.
5 I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees
You.
Scripture Reading 4 of 9

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Isaiah 50:4-11  (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
4 The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should
know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me
morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.
5 The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I
turn away.
6 I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who
plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
7 For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not
be ashamed.
8 He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand
together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.
9 Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me?
Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them
up.
10 Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of
the Lord And rely upon his God.
11 Look, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle yourselves with
sparks: Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have
kindled This you shall have from My hand: You shall lie down in
torment.
Scripture Reading 5 of 9

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1 Corinthians 11:23-32  (Epistle)
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you:
that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took
bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat;
this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of
Me."
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This
cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink
it, in remembrance of Me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim
the Lord's death till He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in
an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and
drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks
judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may
not be condemned with the world.
Scripture Reading 6 of 9

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                     Luke 22:43-45; Matthew 26:40-27:2)
2 You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man
will be delivered up to be crucified.
3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people
assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.
5 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among
the people."
6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,
7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly
fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
8 But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why
this waste?
9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the
poor.
10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you
trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.
11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have
always.
12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My
burial.
13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the
whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial
to her.
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief
priests
15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to
you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.
16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.
17 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples
came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You
to eat the Passover?"
18 And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him,
'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at
your house with My disciples." ' "
19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared
the Passover.
20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.
21 Now as they were eating, He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of
you will betray Me."
22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say
to Him, "Lord, is it I?"
23 He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish
will betray Me.
24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to
that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good
for that man if he had not been born.
25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it
I?" He said to him, "You have said it."
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it,
and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
"Drink from it, all of you.
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many
for the remission of sins.
29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from
now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's
kingdom.
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of
Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble
because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the
Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.
33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble
because of You, I will never be made to stumble."
34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before
the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny
You!" And so said all the disciples.
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to
the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there."
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He
began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to
death. Stay here and watch with Me."
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying,
"O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;
nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to
Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed
is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My
Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your
will be done."
43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying
the same words.
45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still
sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man
is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve,
with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief
priests and elders of the people.
48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss,
He is the One; seize Him."
49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and
kissed Him.
50 But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came
and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his
hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and
cut off his ear.
52 But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who
take the sword will perish by the sword.
53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will
provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen
thus?
55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as
against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with
you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.
56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be
fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the
high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's
courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false
testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,
60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they
found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward
61 and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of
God and to build it in three days.' "
62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, "Do You answer nothing?
What is it these men testify against You?"
63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to
Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the
Christ, the Son of God!"
64 Jesus said to him, "It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you,
hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the
Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken
blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you
have heard His blasphemy!
66 What do you think? They answered and said, "He is deserving of
death."
67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with
the palms of their hands,
68 saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?"
69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to
him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee."
70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you
are saying."
71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and
said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of
Nazareth."
72 But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!"
73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter,
"Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you."
74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!"
Immediately a rooster crowed.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before
the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and
wept bitterly.
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people
plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.
2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to
Pontius Pilate the governor.
43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became
like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He
found them sleeping from sorrow.
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands,
and that He had come from God and was going to God,
4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and
girded Himself.
5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the
disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was
girded.
6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You
washing my feet?"
7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not
understand now, but you will know after this."
8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered
him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."
9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands
and my head!"
10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet,
but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."
11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not
all clean."
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down
again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done
to you.
16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his
master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Scripture Reading 7 of 9

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John 13:1-11  (At the Washing of the Feet)
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour
had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having
loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the
heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him,
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands,
and that He had come from God and was going to God,
4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and
girded Himself.
5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the
disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was
girded.
6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You
washing my feet?"
7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not
understand now, but you will know after this."
8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered
him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."
9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands
and my head!"
10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet,
but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."
11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not
all clean."
Scripture Reading 8 of 9

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John 13:12-17  (After the Washing of the Feet)
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down
again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done
to you.
16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his
master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Scripture Reading 9 of 9

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Great and Holy Thursday
THURSDAY: The Last Supper
Two events shape the liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday: the Last
Supper of Christ with His disciples, and the betrayal of Judas. The
meaning of both is in love. The Last Supper is the ultimate revelation
of God's redeeming love for man, of love as the very essence of
salvation. And the betrayal of Judas reveals that sin, death and
self-destruction are also due to love, but to deviated and distorted
love, love directed at that which does not deserve love. Here is the
mystery of this unique day, and its liturgy, where light and darkness,
joy and sorrow are so strangely mixed, challenges us with the choice
on which depends the eternal destiny of each one of us. "Now before
the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come...
having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the
end..." (John 13:1). To understand the meaning of the Last Supper we
must see it as the very end of the great movement of Divine Love which
began with the creation of the world and is now to be consummated in
the death and resurrection of Christ.
God is Love (1 John 4:8). And the first gift of Love was life. The
meaning, the content of life was communion. To be alive man was to eat
and to drink, to partake of the world. The world was thus Divine love
made food, made Body of man. And being alive, i.e. partaking of the
world, man was to be in communion with God, to have God as the
meaning, the content and the end of his life. Communion with the
God-given world was indeed communion with God. Man received his food
from God and making it his body and his life, he offered the whole
world to God, transformed it into life in God and with God. The love
of God gave life to man, the love of man for God transformed this life
into communion with God. This was paradise. Life in it was, indeed,
eucharistic. Through man and his love for God the whole creation was
to be sanctified and transformed into one all-embracing sacrament of
Divine Presence and man was the priest of this sacrament.
But in sin man lost this eucharistic life. He lost it because he
ceased to see the world as a means of Communion with God and his life
as eucharist, as adoration and thanksgiving. . . He love himself and
the world for their own sake; he made himself the content and the end
of his life. He thought that his hunger and thirst, i.e. his
dependence of his life on the world - can be satisfied by the world as
such, by food as such. But world and food, once they are deprived of
their initial sacramental meaning - as means of communion with God,
once they are not received for God's sake and filled with hunger and
thirst for God, once, in other words, God is no longer, their real
"content" can give no life, satisfy no hunger, for they have no life
in themselves... And thus by putting his love in them, man deviated
his love from the only object of all love, of all hunger, of all
desires. And he died. For death is the inescapable "decomposition" of
life cut from its only source and content. Man thought to find life in
the world and in food, but he found death. His life became communion
with death, for instead of transforming the world by faith, love, and
adoration into communion with God, he submitted himself entirely to
the world, he ceased to be its priest and became its slave. And by his
sin the whole world was made a cemetery, where people condemned to
death partook of death and "sat in the region and shadow of death"
(Matt. 4:16).
But if man betrayed, God remained faithful to man. He did not "turn
Himself away forever from His creature whom He had made, neither did
He forget the works of His hands, but He visited him in diverse
manners, through the tender compassion of His mercy" (Liturgy of St
Basil). A new Divine work began, that of redemption and salvation. And
it was fulfilled in Christ, the Son of God Who in order to restore man
to his pristine beauty and to restore life as communion with God,
became Man, took upon Himself our nature, with its thirst and hunger,
with its desire for and love of, life. And in Him life was revealed,
given, accepted and fulfilled as total and perfect Eucharist, as total
and perfect communion with God. He rejected the basic human
temptation: to live "by bread alone," He revealed that God and His
kingdom are the real food, the real life of man. And this perfect
eucharistic Life, filled with God, and, therefore Divine and immortal,
He gave to all those who would believe in Him, i,e. find in Him the
meaning and the content of their lives. Such is the wonderful meaning
of the Last Supper. He offered Himself as the true food of man,
because the Life revealed in Him is the true Life. And thus the
movement of Divine Love which began in paradise with a Divine "take,
eat. .." (for eating is life for man) comes now "unto the end" with
the Divine "take, eat, this is My Body..." (for God is life of man).
The Last Supper is the restoration of the paradise of bliss, of life
as Eucharist and Communion.
But this hour of ultimate love is also that of the ultimate betrayal.
Judas leaves the light of the Upper Room and goes into darkness. "And
it was night" (John 13:30). Why does he leave? Because he loves,
answers the Gospel, and his fateful love is stressed again and again
in the hymns of Holy Thursday. It does not matter indeed, that he
loves the "silver." Money stands here for all the deviated and
distorted love which leads man into betraying God. It is, indeed, love
stolen from God and Judas, therefore, is the Thief. When he does not
love God and in God, man still loves and desires, for he was created
to love and love is his nature, but it is then a dark and
self-destroying passion and death is at its end. And each year, as we
immerse ourselves into the unfathomable light and depth of Holy
Thursday, the same decisive question is addressed to each one of us:
do I respond to Christ's love and accept it as my life, do I follow
Judas into the darkness of his night?
The liturgy of Holy Thursday includes: a) Matins, b) Vespers and,
following Vespers, the Liturgy of St Basil the Great. In the Cathedral
Churches the special service of the Washing of Feet takes place after
the Liturgy; while the deacon reads the Gospel, the Bishop washes the
feet of twelve priests, reminding us that Christ's love is the
foundation of life in the Church and shapes all relations within it.
It is also on Holy Thursday that Holy Chrism is consecrated by the
primates of autocephalous Churches, and this also means that the new
love of Christ is the gift we receive from the Holy Spirit on the day
of our entrance into the Church.
At Matins the Troparion sets the theme of the day: the opposition
between the love of Christ and the "insatiable desire" of Judas.
"When the glorious disciples were illumined by washing at the Supper,
Then was the impious Judas darkened with the love of silver And to the
unjust judges does he betray Thee, the just Judge. Consider, 0 Lover
of money, him who hanged himself because of it. Do not follow the
insatiable desire which dared this against the Master, 0 Lord, good to
all, glory to Thee."
After the Gospel reading (Luke 12:1-40) we are given the
contemplation, the mystical and eternal meaning of the Last Supper in
the beautiful canon of St Cosmas. Its last "irmos," (Ninth Ode)
invites us to share in the hospitality of the Lord's banquet:
"Come, 0 ye faithful Let us enjoy the hospitality of the Lord and the
banquet of immortality In the upper chamber with minds uplifted...."
At Vespers, the stichira on "Lord, I have cried" stress the spiritual
anticlimax of Holy Thursday, the betrayal of Judas:
"Judas the slave and Knave, The disciple and traitor, The friend and
fiend, Was proved by his deeds, For, as he followed the Master, Within
himself he contemplated His betrayal...."
After the Entrance, three lessons from the Old Testament:
1) Exodus 19: 10-19. God's descent from Mount Sinai to His people as
the image of God's coming in the Eucharist. 2) Job 38:1-23, 42:1-5,
God's conversation with Job and Job's answer: "who will utter to me
what I understand not? Things too great and wonderful for me, which I
knew not..." - and these "great and wonderful things" are fulfilled in
the gift of Christ's Body and Blood. 3) Isaiah 50:4-11. The beginning
of the prophecies on the suffering servant of God,
The Epistle reading is from I Corinthians 11:23-32: St Paul's account
of the Last Supper and the meaning of communion.
The Gospel reading (the longest of the year is taken from all four
Gospels and is the full story of the Last Supper, the betrayal of
Judas and Christ's arrest in the garden.
The Cherubic hymn and the hymn of Communion are replaced by the words
of the prayer before Communion:
"Of Thy Mystical Supper, 0 Son of God, accept me today as a
communicant, For I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies,
Neither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss; But like the thief will I
confess Thee: Remember me, 0 Lord, in Thy Kingdom."
by The Very Rev. Alexander Schmemann, S.T.D. Professor of Liturgical
Theology, St Vladimir's Seminary
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Martyr Sava Stratelates "the General" of Rome
Saint Sabbas Stratelates came from a Gothic tribe. For his bravery he
attained the high rank of military commander or "stratelates," and he
served under the Roman emperor Aurelian (270-275).
>From his youth, Sabbas was a Christian and he fervently followed the
commands of Christ. He helped the needy, and visited Christians in
prison. Because of his pure and virtuous life the saint received from
the Lord the gift of wonderworking, healing the sick and casting out
demons in the name of Christ.
When the emperor learned that St Sabbas was a Christian, he demanded
that he apostasize. The martyr threw down his military belt and
declared that he would not forsake his faith. They beat him, burned
him with torches, and threw him into a cauldron with tar, but the
martyr remained unharmed.
Looking on at his torments, seventy soldiers came to believe in
Christ. They were beheaded by the sword. St Sabbas was thrown in
prison. At midnight, while he was praying, Christ appeared to the
martyr and shone on him the light of His Glory. The Savior bade him
not to fear, but to stand firm. Encouraged, the Martyr Sabbas
underwent new torture in the morning, and was drowned in a river in
272.
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Martyred 70 Soldiers with Sabbas Stratelates of Rome
After witnessing the torments of St Sava Stratelates, seventy soldiers
came to believe in Christ. They were beheaded by the sword in 272.
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Venerable Sava the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves
Saint Sava of the Caves lived in the Near Caves of the Kiev Caves
monastery during the thirteenth century. In the manuscripts, in the
"Book of the Saints," and in the Canon of the Services to the Fathers
of the Kiev Caves, he is called a wonderworker.
His memory is celebrated on April 24 because of his namesake, the Holy
Martyr Sava Stratelates. The memory of St Sava is also celebrated on
the Synaxis of the Monastic Fathers of the Near Caves (September 28),
and on the Synaxis of all the Wonderworkers of the Kiev Caves (Second
Sunday of Great Lent).
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Venerable Alexius the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves
Saint Alexius, Hermit of Caves, lived a life of asceticism in the Near
Caves of the Kiev Caves monastery during the thirteenth century. His
relics were uncovered after 1675. The memory of St Alexius is
celebrated on April 24, because his relics rest beside the relics of
St Sava of Caves. His memory is also celebrated on the Synaxis of the
Monastic Fathers of the Near Caves (September 28) and on the Synaxis
of all the Wonderworkers of the Kiev Caves (Second Sunday of Great
Lent).
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Martyr Pasikrates in Moesia, Bulgaria
The Martyrs Pasikrates and Valention came from the city of Durostorum,
Silistria (now Bulgaria) and were soldiers under the governor
Absolanus. Pasikrates was twenty-two years old, and Valention was
thirty.
When a persecution against Christians began, Sts Pasikrates and
Valention openly confessed their faith in Christ. At the trial
Pasikrates spit at the idol of Apollo, and refused to offer sacrifice.
The brother of St Pasikrates wept and urged him merely to appear to
offer sacrifice to the idols. The martyr placed his hand on the
sacrifice in the fire and said, "The body is mortal and burns in the
fire, the soul, however, is immortal and is not harmed by these
torments." St Valention also showed his readiness to suffer for
Christ.
When they led the martyrs to execution, the mother of St Pasikrates
followed them and exhorted her son not to fear death for Christ. Both
martyrs were tortured and then beheaded in 288.
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Martyr Valentine in Moesia, Bulgaria
The Martyrs Valentine and Pasikrates came from the city of Durostorum,
Silistria (now Bulgaria) and were soldiers under the governor
Absolanus. Pasikrates was twenty-two years old, and Valentine was
thirty.
When a persecution against Christians began, Sts Pasikrates and
Valentine openly confessed their faith in Christ. At the trial
Pasikrates spit at the idol of Apollo, and refused to offer sacrifice.
The brother of St Pasikrates wept and urged him merely to appear to
offer sacrifice to the idols. The martyr placed his hand on the
sacrifice in the fire and said, "The body is mortal and burns in the
fire, the soul, however, is immortal and is not harmed by these
torments." St Valentine also showed his readiness to suffer for
Christ.
When they led the martyrs to execution, the mother of St Pasikrates
followed them and exhorted her son not to fear death for Christ. Both
martyrs were tortured and then beheaded in 288.
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Martyr Eusebius and Others, at Nicomedia
The Martyrs Eusebius, Neon, Leontius, Longinus, and 40 Others were
present at the sufferings of the Great Martyr George (April 23),
through which they came to believe in Christ. They were then locked up
in prison. After the execution of St George, the emperor Diocletian
(284-305) issued an edict stating that all the prisoners were to offer
sacrifice to the idols. The martyrs refused. They were beaten with
iron rods, almost exposing their inner organs, and then their heads
were cut off with a sword.
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Martyr Neon and others, at Nicomedia
The Martyrs Neon, Eusebius, Leontius, Longinus, and 40 Others were
present at the sufferings of the Great Martyr George (April 23),
through which they came to believe in Christ. They were then locked up
in prison. After the execution of St George, the emperor Diocletian
(284-305) issued an edict stating that all the prisoners were to offer
sacrifice to the idols. The martyrs refused. They were beaten with
iron rods, almost exposing their inner organs, and then their heads
were cut off with a sword.
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Martyr Leontius and others at Nicomedia
The Martyrs Leontius, Eusebius, Neon, Longinus, and 40 Others were
present at the sufferings of the Great Martyr George (April 23),
through which they came to believe in Christ. They were then locked up
in prison. After the execution of St George, the emperor Diocletian
(284-305) issued an edict stating that all the prisoners were to offer
sacrifice to the idols. The martyrs refused. They were beaten with
iron rods, almost exposing their inner organs, and then their heads
were cut off with a sword.
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Martyr Longinus and others at Nicomedia
The Martyrs Longinus, Eusebius, Neon, Leontius, and 40 Others were
present at the sufferings of the Great Martyr George (April 23),
through which they came to believe in Christ. They were then locked up
in prison. After the execution of St George, the emperor Diocletian
(284-305) issued an edict stating that all the prisoners were to offer
sacrifice to the idols. The martyrs refused. They were beaten with
iron rods, almost exposing their inner organs, and then their heads
were cut off with a sword.
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Venerable Thomas the Fool of Syria
Saint Thomas the Fool-for-Christ was a monk in one of the monasteries
in Caesarea of Cappadocia (Asia Minor). His obedience was to collect
alms for the monastery. When the Blessed Thomas arrived in the city of
Antioch, Syria he began his exploit of foolishness for the sake of
Christ.
The steward of one of the churches, a certain Anastasius, became
annoyed with the entreaties of St Thomas, and struck him on the cheek.
Those present reproached Anastasius for his inappropriate manner of
dealing with the fool, but St Thomas quieted them saying, "From this
moment I shall accept nothing further from Anastasius, nor will
Anastasius be able to give me anything further." These words proved
prophetic. Anastasius died the very next day, and the saint also died
along the road to his monastery, at the church of St Euthymius in the
suburb of Daphne. They buried him at a place set aside for the burial
of strangers.
After a certain while they buried another stranger in the saint's
grave. After four hours the ground on the grave of the stranger was
thrown aside. They again covered the grave, but in the morning the
ground on the grave again lay open. They reburied the stranger in
another place.
The same thing happened when they buried two women nearby. Everyone
realized that St Thomas did not wish to have a woman buried over him.
The occurrence was reported to Patriarch Domnus of Antioch (546-560).
At his command the relics of St Thomas were transferred to Antioch and
placed in a cemetery where the relics of many holy martyrs rested. A
small church was built over these relics, from which many healings
occurred.
Through the prayers of St Thomas a deadly plague ceased at Antioch.
>From that time the inhabitants began to honor the memory of St Thomas
every year.
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St Elizabeth the Wonderworker of Constantinople
Saint Elizabeth the Wonderworker was from Constantinople, and was
chosen for the service of God at birth. It was revealed to her mother
that the girl would become a chosen vessel of the Lord (Acts 9:15).
The parents sent their daughter to a monastery as a child. She grew up
in an atmosphere of fasting and constant prayer, and received the gift
of healing physical and spiritual infirmities.
The sisters chose her to be abbess of the Sts Cosmas and Damian
Monastery. She wore a coarse hairshirt all year round. Her body was
chilled in winter, but her spirit blazed with ardent love for God.
The saint's asceticism was very strict. For many years she ate only
grass and vegetables, but would not partake of bread, wine, or oil.
Many times St Elizabeth ate nothing at all during the forty days of
the Great Fast. Imitating the Publican in humility, for three years
she did not lift up her eyes to the heavens, but she looked constantly
to God with her spiritual eyes. At midnight prayers, the saint shone
with a heavenly light.
St Elizabeth performed many miracles: a vicious serpent was killed by
her prayer, she healed a woman with issue of blood who had been ill
for many years, and she cast out unclean spirits from people. At her
tomb many were healed of various illnesses, and the blind received
their sight. Many were cured with just some earth from her grave.
We do not know exactly when St Elizabeth lived, but it was probably
between the sixth and ninth centuries.
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St Iorest Metropolitan of Ardeal, and the Confessor of
Romania
Saint Iorest the Confessor was born into a peasant family of
Transylvania, and received the name Elias in Baptism.
At an early age he entered the Puta Monastery and was tonsured with
the name Iorest. He made great progress in the spiritual life, and was
also a calligrapher and an iconographer. Because of his virtuous life,
the igumen of the monastery recommended him to be ordained to the holy
priesthood. St Iorest served in the altar with great compunction and
fear of God, edifying others by his sermons.
In 1640, Prince Basil Lupu of Moldavia proposed St Iorest to succeed
Metropolitan Gennadius of Ardeal, who had reposed. By God's will, St
Iorest was chosen to lead the church in Transylvania, and was
installed as Metropolitan in 1641.
For three years the holy archpastor defended his flock from the snares
of the devil, and from the false teachings of the Calvinists.He
traveled throughout his diocese appointing priests, consecrating
churches, and teaching the people.
St Iorest was thrown into prison in 1643 because of his zealous
opposition to the activities of foreign missionaries who wished to
convert the Orthodox faithful. For nine months he endured beatings and
abuse, then he was released and ordered to pay a fine.
St Iorest returned to Moldavia in 1656-1657, and was appointed as
Bishop of Hushi. Here too, he served the Church well, laboring for the
salvation of the flock which God had entrusted to him. The Lord called
St Iorest to himself on April 24, 1657.
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St Sava Brancovici the Metropolitan of Ardeal, and the
Confessor of Romania
Saint Sava was born into an old Serbian family from Hertzegovina who
took refuge near Arad in Transylvania at the end of the sixteenth
century. The future saint was born at Inau around 1620, and received
the name Simeon in Baptism. His parents were named John and Maria.
At first he was tutored at home, then he traveled in Hungary, Serbia
and Bulgaria. After visiting his uncle, Metropolitan Longinus, at the
Comana Monastery south of Bucharest, he decided to stay there to
complete his education. The Metropolitan tutored him in religious and
secular subjects. After completing his studies, Simeon returned home
and got married at the age of thirty. He was ordained to the holy
priesthood, but his wife died soon after this. Not long afterward, his
mother became a nun. Fr Simeon continued to serve in the Lord's
vineyard for ten years, converting many Moslems, and reconverting
Christians who had embraced Islam..
In 1656, a council of clergy and laymen at Alba Iulia elected the
widowed Fr Simeon as Metropolitan of Ardeal in Transylvania (western
Romania). He traveled to the cathedral in Tirgovishte in Wallachia,
and there he received monastic tonsure with the name Sava. On
September 16, 1656 he was consecrated as a bishop by Metropolitan
Stephen of Wallachia.
St Sava's episcopal service was plagued by the missionary activities
of Calvinists who tried to convert the Orthodox, and who were
supported by the princes of Transylvania. In addition, frequent wars
threatened the stability of the area during his first years as
Metropolitan. The saint, however, proved to be a faithful defender of
the Church.
In the face of these difficulties, St Sava set up a print shop and
published service books, manuals of instruction for clergy and laity,
and a catechism. He also preached sermons based on the writings of
Fathers, and using the Lives of the Saints as models for his flock.
St Sava was driven from his See between 1660-1662 because of his
labors to strengthen his flock in Orthodoxy. Although he returned to
his duties and served without interruption until 1680, Metropolitan
Sava was often harassed because of his refusal to cooperate with the
prince and the Calvinists.
In 1668 Metropolitan Sava journeyed to Russia seeking help. This led
to his persecution by Prince Michael Apaffi and Protestant leaders,
who did not appreciate his fierce opposition to their attempts to
convert the Orthodox of Transylvania to Calvinism. In February of 1669
the prince issued a decree imposing many duties and restrictions on
him.
St Sava convened a council at Alba Iulia in 1675. Among other things,
the council decided to celebrate the Liturgy in the Romanian language
rather than Slavonic, and to improve the spiritual and moral life of
the clergy and laity.
In 1680 the Calvinist Superintendent of Transylvania made false
accusations against St Sava and had him put on trial and thrown into
prison. This effectively ended his career. Old and sickly, the
Metropolitan endured three years of cruel torture in the Blaj Castle
prison. He was finally released through the efforts of Prince Sherban
of Wallachia, but died of his injuries on April 24, 1683.
St Sava served as Metropolitan for almost twenty-five years under very
trying circumstances. In spite of this, he defended his clergy and his
flock against the activities of the proselytizers. Since he endured
all things with Christian patience, even the bitter sufferings to
which he was subjected at the end of his life, St Sava is regarded as
a martyr and a Confessor of the Orthodox Faith.
St Sava was glorified by the Church of Romania on October 21, 1955.
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Hieromartyr and Confessor Elijah (Ilie) the Wallachian
No information available at this time.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Molcha
The Molcha Icon of the Mother of God appeared on September 18, 1405 in
the Molcha swampland not far from Putivl. At first it was in the
Molcha Sophroniev wilderness monastery, but it was transferred to the
Putivl monastery on April 24, 1605.
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Hieromartyr Branko (Dobrosavljevic) the Newmartyr
No information available at this time.
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St Joseph the Confessor of Maramures
Saint Joseph was born in the seventeenth century, and was consecrated
as a bishop in Moldavia (northern Romania in 1690 by Metropolitan
Dositheus. This was a period of great trials and sufferings for the
people of Maramures (in northern Romania) because the Roman Catholic
authorities wanted to wipe out Orthodoxy in the region.
St Joseph was a zealous defender of the Orthodox Faith, and therefore
he was jailed by the civil authorities. He died in 1711 after
suffering for the truth and defending his flock.
St Joseph the Confessor was glorified by the Orthodox Church of
Romania in 1992.
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Hieromartyr Branko, parish priest of Veljusa
No information available at this time.
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