[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Fri Feb 1 05:00:21 CST 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri Feb 1 2008

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James 2:1-13  (Epistle)
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Lord of glory, with partiality.
2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings,
in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy
clothes,
3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to
him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You
stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool,"
4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges
with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this
world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised
to those who love Him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you
and drag you into the courts?
7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You
shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;
9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the
law as transgressors.
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point,
he is guilty of all.
11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not
murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you
have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of
liberty.
13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

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Colossians 1:3-6  (Epistle, Saturday)
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always for you,
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for
all the saints;
5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you
heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is
bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard
and knew the grace of God in truth;
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

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Mark 10:23-32  (Gospel)
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is
for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"
24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered
again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust
in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for
a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who
then can be saved?"
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but
not with God; for with God all things are possible."
28 Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed
You."
29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no
one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or
wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's,
30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time-houses and
brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with
persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life.
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was
going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they
were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell
them the things that would happen to Him:
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

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Luke 16:10-15  (Gospel, Saturday)
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and
he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon,
who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who
will give you what is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one
and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise
the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these
things, and they derided Him.
15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before
men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men
is an abomination in the sight of God.
Scripture Reading 4 of 4

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Forefeast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple
The TYPIKON should be consulted if the Forefeast falls on the Sunday
of the Pharisee, the Publican, or Meatfare.
Because of the Forefeast of the Meeting of the Lord, the service to St
Tryphon (February 1) may be moved to Compline or to another day, as
the rector decides, unless the parish is dedicated to St Tryphon, or
there is a particular devotion to him.
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Martyr Tryphon of Campsada Near Apamea in Syria
The Martyr Tryphon was born in Phrygia, one of the districts of Asia
Minor, in the village of Lampsacus. From his early years the Lord
granted him the power to cast out demons and to heal various maladies.
He once saved the inhabitants of his native city from starvation. St
Tryphon, by the power of his prayer, turned back a plague of locusts
that were devouring the grain and devastating the fields.
St Tryphon gained particular fame by casting out an evil spirit from
the daughter of the Roman emperor Gordian (238-244). Helping everyone
in distress, he asked only one thing from them: faith in Jesus Christ,
by Whose grace he healed them.
When the emperor Decius (249-251) assumed the imperial throne, he
began a fierce persecution of Christians. Someone reported to the
commander Aquilinus that St Tryphon was boldly preaching faith in
Christ, and that he led many to Baptism. The saint was arrested and
subjected to interrogation, during which he fearlessly confessed his
faith.
He was subjected to harsh tortures: they beat him with clubs, raked
his body with iron hooks, they scorched his flesh with fire, and led
him through the city, after iron nails were hammered into his feet. St
Tryphon bravely endured all the torments without complaint.
Finally, he was condemned to beheading with a sword. The holy martyr
prayed before his execution, thanking God for strengthening him in his
sufferings. He also asked the Lord to bless those who should call upon
his name for help. Just as the soldiers raised the sword over the head
of the holy martyr, he surrendered his soul into the hands of God.
This event occurred in the city of Nicea in the year 250.
Christians wrapped the holy body of the martyr in a clean shroud and
wanted to bury him in the city of Nicea, where he suffered, but St
Tryphon in a vision commanded them to take his body to his native land
to the village of Lampsada. Later on, the relics of St Tryphon were
transferred to Constantinople, and then to Rome.
In Russia, St Tryphon is regarded as the patron saint of birds. There
is a story that when Tsar Ivan the Terrible was out hunting, his
falconer carelessly allowed the Tsar's favorite falcon to fly away.
The Tsar ordered the falconer Tryphon Patrikeiev to find the bird
within three days, or else he would be put to death. Tryphon searched
all through the forest, but without luck.
On the third day, exhausted by long searching, he returned to Moscow
to the place called Marinaya Grove. Overcome with weariness, he lay
down to rest, fervently praying to his patron saint, the Martyr
Tryphon, for help.
In a dream he saw a youth on a white horse, holding the Tsar's falcon
on his hand. The youth said, "Take the lost bird, go to the Tsar and
do not grieve." When he awakened, the falconer actually spotted the
falcon on a pine tree. He took it to the Tsar and told him about the
miraculous help he received from the holy Martyr Tryphon. Grateful to
St Tryphon for saving his life, Tryphon Patrikeiev built a chapel on
the spot where the saint appeared. Later on, he also built a church
dedicated to the holy Martyr Tryphon in Moscow.
The holy martyr is greatly venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church as
the heavenly protector of Moscow. Many Russian icons depict the saint
holding a falcon on his arm.
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Martyr Perpetua, a woman of Carthage
The Holy Martyrs Perpetua, Felicitas and those with them. Vibia
Perpetua was from a patrician family, and lived in Carthage. She came
to believe in Christ, and was baptized after her arrest as a
Christian. A few days later, the twenty-two-year-old woman was taken
to prison with her infant son. Arrested with her were her brother
Saturus, the servants Felicitas, Revocatus, Saturninus and Secundulus,
who were also catechumens.
Despite the exhortations of her father, who persistently appealed to
her maternal feelings, the widowed St Perpetua refused to offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods.
Before their execution, Sts Perpetua and Saturus had visions from God,
which strengthened their souls. St Felicitas, who was eight months
pregnant, gave birth to a baby girl while in prison. She rejoiced
because now she would be permitted to die with her companions. There
was a law forbidding the execution of pregnant women.
The martyrs were led from the prison into the amphitheatre. Saturninus
and Revocatus had to face a leopard and a bear. Sts Perpetua and
Felicitas were brought to the arena in nets, and they were pitted
against a wild heifer. After being tossed to the ground by the heifer,
the two women were led out of the arena. Saturus was bitten by a
leopard, but did not die. The martyrs were then led to a certain spot
to be killed by the sword. The young gladiator who was to execute St
Perpetua was inexperienced and did not kill her with the first blow.
She herself took his hand and guided it to her throat, and so she
received the crown of martyrdom. This occurred in about the year 203.
The amphitheatre where these saints perished is located a few miles
from the city of Tunis. In 1881, a room was discovered opposite the
modern entrance into the arena. Some say this was a cell where the
victims waited to be brought into the arena.
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Catechumen Saturus
Saint Saturus was the brother of St Perpetua, and was arrested with
her. Before their execution, Sts Perpetua and Saturus had visions from
God, which strengthened their souls.
The martyrs were led from the prison into the amphitheatre. Saturus
was bitten by a leopard, but did not die. The martyrs were then led to
a certain spot to be put to death by the sword.
The amphitheatre where these saints perished is located a few miles
from the city of Tunis. In 1881, a room was discovered opposite the
modern entrance into the arena. Some say this was a cell where the
victims waited to be brought into the arena.
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Catechumen Revocatus
Sts Revocatus, Felicitas, Saturninus and Secundulus were catechumens
who were arrested with St Perpetua were her brother Saturus.
The martyrs were led from the prison into the amphitheatre. Saturninus
and Revocatus had to face a leopard and a bear. The martyrs were then
led to a certain spot to be put to death by the sword. They received
the crown of martyrdom about the year 203.
The amphitheatre where these saints perished is located a few miles
from the city of Tunis. In 1881, a room was discovered opposite the
modern entrance into the arena. Some say this was a cell where the
victims waited to be brought into the arena.
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Catechumen Saturninus
Saints Saturninus, Revocatus, Felicitas, and Secundulus were
catechumens of Carthage who were arrested with St Perpetua and her
brother Saturus.
The martyrs were led from the prison into the amphitheatre. Saturninus
and Revocatus had to face a leopard and a bear. The martyrs were then
led to a certain spot to be put to death by the sword, receiving the
crown of martyrdom about the year 203.
The amphitheatre where these saints perished is located a few miles
from the city of Tunis. In 1881, a room was discovered opposite the
modern entrance into the arena. Some say this was a cell where the
victims waited to be brought into the arena.
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Catechumen Secundulus
Saint Secundulus was a catechumen in Carthage, who was arrested with
Sts Perpetua and Felicitas. He was killed by the sword in 203.
The amphitheatre where these saints perished is located a few miles
from the city of Tunis. In 1881, a room was discovered opposite the
modern entrance into the arena. Some say this was a cell where the
victims waited to be brought into the arena.
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Catechumen Felicitas
Saint Felicitas was a catechumen who was arrested with St Perpetua.
St Felicitas, who was eight months pregnant, gave birth to a baby girl
while in prison. She rejoiced because now she would be permitted to
die with her companions. There was a law forbidding the execution of
pregnant women.
The martyrs were led from the prison into the amphitheatre. Sts
Perpetua and Felicitas were brought to the arena in nets, and they
were pitted against a wild heifer. After being tossed to the ground by
the heifer, the two women were led out of the arena. The martyrs were
then led to a certain spot to be killed by the sword. St Felicitas
received the crown of martyrdom about the year 203.
The amphitheatre where these saints perished is located a few miles
from the city of Tunis. In 1881, a room was discovered opposite the
modern entrance into the arena. Some say this was a cell where the
victims waited to be brought into the arena.
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Venerable Peter the Hermit of Galatia Near Antioch, in Syria
Saint Peter of Galatia left home at the age of seven, then spent the
rest of his life in ascetical labors as a monk. At first, he remained
in Galatia, then went to Palestine. Later, he went to Antioch. There
he enclosed himself in a tomb, devoting himself to deeds of prayer and
strict abstinence. He partook of bread and water only every other day.
Because of his holy life, God granted him the gift of wonderworking,
healing infirmities and expelling devils.
St Peter died around the year 429 at the age of ninety-nine. His Life
was written by Theodoret of Cyrrhus, whose mother had been healed by
the saint.
This St Peter should not be confused with the other StPeter of
Galatia, who is commemorated on October 9.
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Venerable Vendemianus the Hermit of Bithynia
Saint Vendemianus (Bendemianus) was born in Myzia. In his youth he was
a disciple of St Auxentius, one of the Fathers of the Fourth
Ecumenical Council. He went to the monastery founded by St Auxentius
(February 14) on Mount Oxia, not far from Chalcedon (Asia Minor),
where he lived in asceticism for forty-two years at the cell of his
teacher in the crevice of a cliff. He spent his life in fasting and
prayer, and was tempted by demons. Because of his holy life and
spiritual struggles, the saint was granted the gift of healing. He
died around the year 512.
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Venerable Brigid (Bridget) of Ireland
Saint Brigid, "the Mary of the Gael," was born around 450 in Faughart,
about two miles from Dundalk in County Louth. According to Tradition,
her father was a pagan named Dubthach, and her mother was Brocessa
(Broiseach), one of his slaves.
Even as a child, she was known for her compassion for the poor. She
would give away food, clothing, and even her father's possessions to
the poor. One day he took Brigid to the king's court, leaving her
outside to wait for him. He asked the king to buy his daughter from
him, since her excessive generosity made her too expensive for him to
keep. The king asked to see the girl, so Dubthach led him outside.
They were just in time to see her give away her father's sword to a
beggar. This sword had been presented to Dubthach by the king, who
said, "I cannot buy a girl who holds us so cheap."
St Brigid received monastic tonsure at the hands of St Mael of Ardagh
(February 6). Soon after this, she established a monastery on land
given to her by the King of Leinster. The land was called Cill Dara
(Kildare), or "the church of the oak." This was the beginning of
women's cenobitic monasticism in Ireland.
The miracles performed by St Brigid are too numerous to relate here,
but perhaps one story will suffice. One evening the holy abbess was
sitting with the blind nun Dara. From sunset to sunrise they spoke of
the joys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and of the love of Christ, losing
all track of time. St Brigid was struck by the beauty of the earth and
sky in the morning light. Realizing that Sister Dara was unable to
appreciate this beauty, she became very sad. Then she prayed and made
the Sign of the Cross over Dara's eyes. All at once, the blind nun's
eyes were opened and she saw the sun in the east, and the trees and
flowers sparkling with dew. She looked for a while, then turned to St
Brigid and said, "Close my eyes again, dear Mother, for when the world
is visible to the eyes, then God is seen less clearly by the soul." St
Brigid prayed again, and Dara became blind once more.
St Brigid fell asleep in the Lord in the year 523 after receiving Holy
Communion from St Ninnidh of Inismacsaint (January 18). She was buried
at Kildare, but her relics were transferred to Downpatrick during the
Viking invasions. It is believed that she was buried in the same grave
with St Patrick (March 17) and St Columba of Iona (June 9).
Late in the thirteenth century, her head was brought to Portugal by
three Irish knights on their way to fight in the Holy Land. They left
this holy relic in the parish church of Lumiar, about three miles from
Lisbon. Portions of the relic were brought back to Ireland in 1929 and
placed in a new church of St Brigid in Dublin.
The relics of St Brigid in Ireland were destroyed in the sixteenth
century by Lord Grey during the reign of Henry VIII.
The tradition of making St Brigid's crosses from rushes and hanging
them in the home is still followed in Ireland, where devotion to her
is still strong. She is also venerated in northern Italy, France, and
Wales.
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St Tryphon, Bishop of Rostov
Saint Tryphon, Bishop of Rostov was head of Moscow's Novospassky (New
Savior) monastery and was confessor to Great Prince Basil the Dark. On
May 23, 1462 he was consecrated as Bishop of Rostov by Metropolitan
Theodosius of Moscow.
In 1466, he retired to the Savior monastery in Yaroslavl, where he
died on December 30, 1468 (certain local documents indicate the year
1466). His commemoration was transferred to February 1, it seems, so
that he would be honored with his namesake St Tryphon of Campsada. St
Prochorus was also buried at this monastery, as the schemamonk
Tryphon, also a Bishop of Rostov, who died in 1328 (September 7).
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Icon of the Mother of God "Sokolsky"
This weeping icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was in the church of the
Theological Academy at the Sokolsky Monastery in Romania.
After the Divine Liturgy on February 1, 1854 tears were observed on
the icon. Bishop Philaret (Skriban), the rector of the seminary, took
the icon from its frame in order to examine it. After wiping the tears
from the icon with a cloth, he put it back in the frame. The bishop
asked everyone to leave the church, then locked the doors. Later, when
he returned to the church for Vespers with the students and teachers,
tears were flowing from the icon once again. In a short time, news of
the miracle spread throughout Romania and pilgrims flocked to the
monastery to venerate the icon.
Reports of the weeping Sokolsky Icon also spread to Russia, and some
people believe that the weeping icon mentioned in Tolstoy's WAR IN
PEACE (Book 5, Ch. 11) could have been based on the Sokolsky Icon.
Tears continued to flow from the icon each day, or sometimes at
intervals of two, three, or four days. Many people witnessed the icon
weeping, or at least they saw the traces of the tears, and were
convinced that a genuine miracle was taking place.
During the Crimean War (1854-1856), the commanding officer of the
Austrian army heard about the Sokolsky Icon and sent a colonel to
investigate. The astonished colonel actually saw the icon weeping
himself.
Thirty-five years after the icon began weeping, Bishop Melchizedek of
Roman (one of the first witnesses of the miracle), recalled how he had
speculated about the reason for its tears. He knew that weeping icons
had appeared at various times and places before this, and that such
events always seemed to foretell approaching calamity for the Church
or the country.
The bishop's observation proved correct in the case of Romania's
Sokolsky Icon. Austrian soldiers occupied the district of Moldavia
during the Crimean War, causing great hardship for its inhabitants.
The Sokolsky Monastery, a center of spiritual life for a hundred
years, was suppressed and its monks were scattered. The seminary
wasthe Sokolsky Icon moved to another location.
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St Seririol of Wales
No information available at this time.
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