[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sun Feb 10 05:00:17 CST 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sun Feb 10 2008

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Luke 24:1-12  (4th Matins Gospel)
1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they,
and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the
spices which they had prepared.
2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that
behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they
said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He
was still in Galilee,
7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful
men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'
8 And they remembered His words.
9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the
eleven and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the
other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not
believe them.
12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the
linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to
himself at what had happened.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3

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1 Timothy 4:9-15  (Epistle)
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust
in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those
who believe.
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers
in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to
doctrine.
14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by
prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your
progress may be evident to all.
Scripture Reading 2 of 3

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Luke 19:1-10  (Gospel)
1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax
collector, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the
crowd, for he was of short stature.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for
He was going to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said
to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at
your house."
6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.
7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to
be a guest with a man who is a sinner."
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half
of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by
false accusation, I restore fourfold."
9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house,
because he also is a son of Abraham;
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was
lost.
Scripture Reading 3 of 3

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Sunday of Zacchaeus
The paschal season of the Church is preceded by the season of Great
Lent, which is also preceded by its own liturgical preparation. The
first sign of the approach of Great Lent comes five Sundays before its
beginning. On this Sunday the Gospel reading is about Zacchaeus the
tax-collector. It tells how Christ brought salvation to the sinful
man, and how his life was changed simply because he "sought to see who
Jesus was" (Luke 19:3). The desire and effort to see Jesus begins the
entire movement through Lent towards Pascha. It is the first movement
of salvation.
Our lenten journey begins with a recognition of our own sinfulness,
just as Zacchaeus recognized his. He promised to make restitution by
giving half of his wealth to the poor, and by paying to those he had
falsely accused four times as much as they had lost. In this, he went
beyond the requirements of the Law (Ex. 22:3-12).
The example of Zacchaeus teaches us that we should turn away from our
sins, and atone for them. The real proof of our sorrow and repentance
is not just a verbal apology, but when we correct ourselves and try to
make amends for the consequences of our evil actions.
We are also assured of God's mercy and compassion by Christ's words to
Zacchaeus, "Today salvation is come to this house" (Luke 19:9). After
the Great Doxology at Sunday Matins (when the Tone of the week is Tone
1, 3, 5, 7) we sing the Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection "Today
salvation has come to the world," which echoes the Lord's words to
Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus was short, so he climbed a tree in order to see the Lord.
All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).
We are also short in our spiritual stature, therefore we must climb
the ladder of the virtues. In other words, we must prepare for
spiritual effort and growth.
St Zacchaeus is also commemorated on April 20.
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Hieromartyr Charalampus the Bishop of Magnesia in Thessaly
The Hieromartyr Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, the Martyrs
Porphyrius and Baptus and Three Women Martyrs suffered in the year
202.
St Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia (Asia Minor), successfully spread
faith in Christ the Savior, guiding people on the way to salvation.
News of his preaching reached Lucian, the governor of the district,
and the military commander Lucius. The saint was arrested and brought
to trial, where he confessed his faith in Christ and refused to offer
sacrifice to idols.
Despite the bishop's advanced age (he was 113 years old), he was
subjected to monstrous tortures. They lacerated his body with iron
hooks, and scraped all the skin from his body. During this the saint
turned to his tormentors, "I thank you, brethren, that you have
restored my spirit, which longs to pass over to a new and everlasting
life!"
Seeing the Elder's endurance and his complete lack of malice, two
soldiers (Porphyrius and Baptus) openly confessed Christ, for which
they were immediately beheaded with a sword. Three women who were
watching the sufferings of St Charalampus also began to glorify
Christ, and were quickly martyred.
The enraged Lucius seized the instruments of torture and began to
torture the holy martyr, but suddenly his forearms were cut off as if
by a sword. The governor then spat in the face of the saint, and
immediately his head was turned around so that he faced backwards.
Then Lucius entreated the saint to show mercy on him, and both
torturers were healed through the prayers of St Charalampus. During
this a multitude of witnesses came to believe in Christ. Among them
also was Lucius, who fell at the feet of the holy bishop, asking to be
baptized.
Lucian reported these events to the emperor Septimus Severus
(193-211), who was then at Pisidian Antioch (western Asia Minor). The
emperor ordered St Charlampos to be brought to him in Antioch.
Soldiers twisted the saint's beard into a rope, wound it around his
neck, and used it to drag him along. They also drove an iron nail into
his body. The emperor then ordered them to torture the bishop more
intensely, and they began to burn him with fire, a little at a time.
But God protected the saint, and he remained unharmed.
Many miracles were worked through his prayer: he raised a dead youth,
and healed a man tormented by devils for thirty-five years, so that
many people began to believe in Christ the Savior. Even Galina, the
daughter of the emperor, began to believe in Christ, and twice smashed
the idols in a pagan temple. On the orders of the emperor they beat
the saint about the mouth with stones. They also wanted to set his
beard on fire, but the flames burned the torturer.
Full of wickedness, Septimus Severus and an official named Crispus
hurled blasphemy at the Lord, mockingly summoning Him to come down to
the earth, and boasting of their own power and might. The Lord sent an
earthquake, and great fear fell upon all, the impious ones were both
suspended in mid-air held by invisible bonds, and only by the prayer
of the saint were they put down. The dazed emperor was shaken in his
former impiety, but again quickly fell into error and gave orders to
torture the saint.
And finally, he sentenced St Charalampus to beheading with a sword.
During his final prayer, the heavens opened and the saint saw the
Savior and a multitude of angels. The holy martyr asked Him to grant
that the place where his relics would repose would never suffer famine
or disease. He also begged that there would be peace, prosperity, and
an abundance of fruit, grain, and wine in that place, and that the
souls of these people would be saved. The Lord promised to fulfill his
request and ascended to heaven, and the soul of the hieromartyr
Charalampus followed after Him. By the mercy of God, the saint died
before he could be executed. Galina buried the martyr's body with
great honor.
In Greek hagiography and iconography St Charalampus is regarded as a
priest, while Russian sources seem to regard him as a bishop.
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Martyr Porphyrius in Thessaly
Saint Porphyrius was a soldier who suffered martyrdom with Sts
Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, Baptus, Porphyrius, and three women
in the year 202.
Seeing the endurance of StCharalampus and his complete lack of malice,
two soldiers (Porphyrius and Baptus) openly confessed Christ, for
which they were immediately beheaded with a sword.
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Martyr Baptus in Thessaly
Saint Baptus was a soldier who suffered martyrdom with Sts
Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia, Porphyrius, and three women in the
year 202.
Seeing the endurance of StCharalampus and his complete lack of malice,
two soldiers (Porphyrius and Baptus) openly confessed Christ, for
which they were immediately beheaded with a sword.
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3 Female Martyrs in Thessaly
These three women witnessed the sufferings of St Charalampus and also
began to glorify Christ. They were put to death with St Charalampus.
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Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Novgorod, Buried in the Cathedral
of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost. On October 4, 1439 St John
(September 7) appeared to the presiding hierarch St Euthymius (March
11) and ordered him to serve a special panikhida in memory of those
buried at the Sophia cathedral (the Russian princes and Archbishops of
Novgorod, and all Orthodox Christians) on the Feast of the Hieromartyr
Hierotheus, first Bishop of Athens.
Then the incorrupt relics of St John (September 7) were uncovered.
Afterwards, the Synaxis was established to mark the glorification of
the Novgorod hierarchs. E. E. Golubinsky says that because these
hierarchs remained unknown at the time of their glorification, he
determined this date for their common celebration was established in
the period between the time of the Moscow Council of 1549 and the time
of the formation of the Holy Synod (E. E. Golubinsky, History of the
Canonization of Saints in the Russian Church. Moscow, 1903, p. 157).
Included in the Synaxis of Novgorod hierarchs are: St Joachim of
Korsun, first bishop of Novgorod (988-1030); St Luke the Jew, bishop
(October 15, 1060); St Germanus, bishop (1078-1096); St Arcadius,
bishop (September 18); St Gregory, archbishop (May 24, 1193); St
Martyrius, archbishop (August 24, 1199); St Anthony, archbishop
(October 8, 1231); St Basil the Lame, archbishop (July 3, 1352); St
Simeon, archbishop (June 15, 1421); St Gennadius, archbishop (December
4); St Pimen, archbishop (1553-1571); Aphthonius, metropolitan (April
6, 1653).
The relics of these saints were buried or transferred to Novgorod's
Sophia Cathedral (except for St Germanus, St Gennadius and St Pimen)
therefore, in some sources their names are not included in the
Synaxis.
The October 4 celebration was established in connection with the
memory of the holy Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich of Novgorod (+ 1052),
and the February 10 Synaxis of the Novgorod hierarchs is celebrated in
connection with the holy Princess Anna of Novgorod (+ 1056).
Besides those mentioned, hierarchs who have separate commemorations
are: St Nikita the Hermit, bishop (January 31); St Niphon, bishop
(April 8); St John, archbishop (September 7); St Theoctistus,
archbishop (December 23); St Moses, archbishop (January 25); St
Euthymius, archbishop (March 11); St Jonah, archbishop (November 5);
St Serapion, archbishop (March 16).
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St Joachim, First Bishop of Novgorod
Today we commemorate the Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs, which is also
celebrated on October 4 and on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Joachim of Korsun, first Bishop of Novgorod (988-1030), does not
seem to have a separate commemoration.
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St Luke the Bishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Luke, Bishop of Novgorod fell asleep in the Lord on October 15,
1058.
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St Theodore the Hierarch of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Theodore does not seem to have a separate commemoration.
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St Herman the Bishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Herman, Bishop of Novgorod (1078-1096), does not seem to have a
separate commemoration.
The relics of these saints were buried or transferred to Novgorod's
Sophia Cathedral (except for St Herman, St Gennadius and St Pimen)
therefore, in some sources their names are not included in the
Synaxis.
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St Arcadius the Bishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Arcadius, bishop of Novgorod, is commemorated on September 18.
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St John, Archbishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost. On October 4, 1439 St John
(September 7) appeared to the presiding hierarch St Euthymius (March
11) and ordered him to serve a special panikhida in memory of those
buried at the Sophia cathedral (the Russian princes and Archbishops of
Novgorod, and all Orthodox Christians) on the Feast of the Hieromartyr
Hierotheus, first Bishop of Athens.
Then the incorrupt relics of St John were uncovered. Afterwards, the
Synaxis was established to mark the glorification of the Novgorod
hierarchs. E. E. Golubinsky says that because these hierarchs remained
unknown at the time of their glorification, he determined this date
for their common celebration was established in the period between the
time of the Moscow Council of 1549 and the time of the formation of
the Holy Synod (E. E. Golubinsky, History of the Canonization of
Saints in the Russian Church. Moscow, 1903, p. 157).
Saint John the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Novgorod, is also
commemorated on September 7.
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St Gabriel the Bishop of Novgorod
Today we commemorate the Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs, which is also
celebrated on October 4 and on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
St Gabriel does not seem to have a separate commemoration.
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St Martyrius the Archbishop of Novgorod
Today we commemorate the Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs, which is also
celebrated on October 4 and on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Martyrius, Archbishop of Novgorod is commemorated on August 24.
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St Anthony the Archbishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Anthony, Archbishop of Novgorod is commemorated on October 8.
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St Basil the Archbishop of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
St Basil the Lame, Archbishop of Novgorod is commemorated on July 3.
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St Moses the Hierarch of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Moses, Archbishop of Novgorod is commemorated on January 25.
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St Simeon the Hierarch of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Simeon, Archbishop of Novgorod is commemorated on June 15.
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St Euthymius the Hierarch of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost. On October 4, 1439 St John
(September 7) appeared to the presiding hierarch St Euthymius (March
11) and ordered him to serve a special panikhida in memory of those
buried at the Sophia cathedral (the Russian princes and Archbishops of
Novgorod, and all Orthodox Christians) on the Feast of the Hieromartyr
Hierotheus, first Bishop of Athens.
Saint Euthymius the wonderworker, Archbishop of Novgorod, is also
commemorated on March 11.
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St Aphthonius the Hierarch of Novgorod
The Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs is also celebrated on October 4 and
on the third Sunday after Pentecost.
Saint Aphthonius, Metropolitan of Novgorod is commemorated on April 6.
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Princess Anna of Novgorod
The Holy Princess Anna of Novgorod, wife of Great Prince Yaroslav the
Wise, gave her children a true Christian upbringing, marked by a
strong faith in God, love of work, integrity and learning.
Her son Mstislav later became Great Prince of Kiev, and her daughter
the queen of a western European realm. St Anna left the world and went
into a monastery, where she ended her days in strict obedience and
prayer in the year 1056.
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Venerable Prochorus of the Kiev Near Caves
Saint Prochorus of the Caves was a native of Smolensk, and entered the
Kiev Caves monastery under the igumen John (1089-1103). He was a great
ascetic of strict temperance. In place of bread he ate pigweed (or
orach), and so he was called "pigweed-eater." Every summer, he
gathered pigweed and made enough bread from it to last him for a whole
year. He also ate prosphora from church now and then, and his only
drink was water. Seeing the patience of St Prochorus, God transformed
the usual bitterness of the pigweed into sweetness.
During the saint's lifetime, a famine threatened Russia. Prochorus
began to gather the pigweed even more zealously and to prepare his
"bread". Certain people followed his example, but they were not able
to eat this weed because of its bitterness. Prochorus distributed his
pigweed bread to the needy, and it tasted like it was made from fine
wheat. Only the bread given with the blessing of St Prochorus was
edible, and even pure and light in appearance. If anyone tried to
prepare this bread himself, or take it without the saint's blessing,
it was not fit for consumption. This became known to the igumen and
the brethren, and the fame of Prochorus spread far and wide.
After a certain while there was no salt at Kiev, and the people
suffered because of this. Then the saint gathered ashes from all the
cells, and began to distribute it to the needy. Through his prayers,
the ashes became pure salt. The merchants, who hoped to take advantage
of this shortage of salt for their own profit, became angry with St
Prochorus for distributing free salt to the people.
Prince Svyatopolk confiscated the salt from Prochorus. When they
transported it to the prince's court, everyone saw that it was just
ordinary ashes. After three days, Svyatopolk gave orders to discard
it. St Prochorus blessed the people to take the discarded ashes, and
they were again changed into salt.
This miracle reformed the fierce prince. He began to pray zealously,
made peace with the igumen of the monastery of the Caves, and highly
esteemed St Prochorus. When the last hour of the saint approached, the
prince left his army and hastened to him, even though he was at war.
He received his blessing and with his own hands, carried the body of
the saint to the cave and buried him. Returning to his army,
Svyatopolk easily gained victory over the Polvetsians, turning them to
flight and capturing their supply carts. Such was the great power of
the prayer of St Prochorus.
The righteous one died in the year 1107, and was buried in the Near
Caves. He is also commemorated on September 28 and on the second
Sunday of Great Lent.
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Venerable Longinus of Koryazhemsk, Vologda
Saint Longinus of Koryazhemsk first pursued asceticism at the
monastery of St Paul of Obnora, and then lived at the Sts Boris and
Gleb Solvychegod monastery. From there he settled with his friend
Simon near Vychegda, toward the mouth of the Koryazhema river.
Here, deep in the countryside, ten versts from Solvychegod, the
ascetics built cells and a chapel. When brethren gathered around them,
they built a church named for St Nicholas, and built a monastery in
which the saint was igumen. Near the church there was a well, dug out
by St Longinus himself.
After his death in 1540 the saint's body was buried, in accord with
his last wishes, near the entrance to the church. Sixteen years later,
it was placed inside the church.
The memory of St Longinus is celebrated with a special service, and
there is a brief Life, compiled at a later time.
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Virginmartyr Ennatha of Palestine
The Holy Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula suffered in the
year 308 under the emperor Maximian II Galerius (305-311). St Ennatha
came from the city of Gaza (in the south of Palestine), St Valentina
was a native of Palestinian Caesarea, and St Paula was from the region
of Caesarea.
St Ennatha was the first to be brought to trial before the governor
Firmilian, bravely declaring herself a Christian. They beat her, and
then they suspended her from a pillar and scourged her.
St Valentina, accused of not worshipping the gods, was led to a pagan
temple to offer sacrifice, but she bravely hurled a stone at the
sacrifice and turned her back on it. They beat her mercilessly and
sentenced her to be beheaded along with St Ennatha.
Last of all, St Paula was brought, and they subjected her to many
torments. With the help of God, however, she endured them with great
patience and courage. Before her death Paula gave thanks to the Lord
for strengthening her. Bowing to the Christians present, she bent her
neck beneath the sword.
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Virginmartyr Valentina of Palestine
The Holy Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula suffered in the
year 308 under the emperor Maximian II Galerius (305-311). St Ennatha
came from the city of Gaza (in the south of Palestine), St Valentina
was a native of Palestinian Caesarea, and St Paula was from the region
of Caesarea.
St Ennatha was the first to be brought to trial before the governor
Firmilian, bravely declaring herself a Christian. They beat her, and
then they suspended her from a pillar and scourged her.
St Valentina, accused of not worshipping the gods, was led to a pagan
temple to offer sacrifice, but she bravely hurled a stone at the
sacrifice and turned her back on it. They beat her mercilessly and
sentenced her to be beheaded along with St Ennatha.
Last of all, St Paula was brought, and they subjected her to many
torments. With the help of God, however, she endured them with great
patience and courage. Before her death Paula gave thanks to the Lord
for strengthening her. Bowing to the Christians present, she bent her
neck beneath the sword.
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Virginmartyr Paula of Palestine
The Holy Virgin Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina and Paula suffered in the
year 308 under the emperor Maximian II Galerius (305-311). St Ennatha
came from the city of Gaza (in the south of Palestine), St Valentina
was a native of Palestinian Caesarea, and St Paula was from the region
of Caesarea.
St Paula was brought to trial before the governor Firmilian and they
subjected her to many torments. With the help of God, however, she
endured them with great patience and courage. Before her death Paula
gave thanks to the Lord for strengthening her. Bowing to the
Christians present, she bent her neck beneath the sword.
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Icon of the Mother of God "Areovindus"
The origins of this unusual icon, in which the Most Holy Theotokos is
depicted without Christ, are unknown. The bright red color of her
outer garment inspired the name Areovindus, or "Fire Appearing"
("Fiery Vision").
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St John Chimchimeli the Philosopher
Little information about the life of St. John of Chimchimi has been
preserved, but we know that he was a great translator, philosopher,
and defender of the Georgian Christian Faith.
John received his education in present-day Bulgaria, at the literary
school of the famous Petritsoni (now Bachkovo) Georgian Monastery.
One historian writes: In his eulogy on the death of St. Demetre the
King, John the Philosopher of Chimchimi brilliantly describes the
glory, honor, and heroism of this holy mans life.
St. John translated many exegetical compositions, including two
commentaries on the Book of Ecclesiastes, one by Metrophanes of Smyrna
(Metropolitan of Smyrna (857880). His Commentary on Ecclesiastes is
preserved only in Georgian.) and the other by Olympiodorus of
Alexandria. (A 6th-century deacon who wrote a series of commentaries
on the books of the Bible, not to be confused with the neoplatonist
philosopher also of the 6th century.) He also translated _An
Explanation of the Gospel According to St. Mark and An Explanation of
the Gospel According to St. Luke_, both by Blessed Theophylactus of
Bulgaria.
The works of our Holy Father John of Chimchimi are fundamental to the
canon of Georgian theological literature.
In his work _Pilgrimage_, the eminent eighteenth-century historian
Archbishop Timote (Gabashvili) mentions John of Chimchimi among the
holy fathers portrayed in the frescoes at the Holy Cross Monastery in
Jerusalem.
In the second half of the 19th century the historian Mose Janashvili
wrote, in his _History of the Georgian Church_, that John of Chimchimi
directed a literary school in the village of Gremi in Kakheti.
According to Janashvili, students at St. Johns school were instructed
in philosophy and theology as well as in the Greek, Syrian, and Arabic
languages.
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