[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Mon Mar 3 05:00:12 CST 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Mar 3 2008

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3 John 1:1-15  (Epistle)
1 The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health,
just as your soul prospers.
3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth
that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for
strangers,
6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send
them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do
well,
7 because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the
Gentiles.
8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow
workers for the truth.
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the
preeminence among them, does not receive us.
10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does,
prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he
himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to,
putting them out of the church.
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does
good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.
12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself.
And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.
13 I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with
pen and ink;
14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.
Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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Luke 19:29-40; 22:7-39  (Gospel)
29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at
the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,
30 saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you
will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and
bring it here.
31 And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall
say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.'
32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had
said to them.
33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them,
"Why are you loosing the colt?"
34 And they said, "The Lord has need of him."
35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on
the colt, and they set Jesus on him.
36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.
37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of
Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and
praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
38 saying: " 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!'
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher,
rebuke Your disciples."
40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should
keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."
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 2 of 2

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Martyr Eutropius of Amasea
The Holy Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus suffered in the
city of Pontine Amasea (Asia Minor) in about the year 308.
The brothers Eutropius and Cleonicus, and Basiliscus the nephew of the
Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (February 17), were comrades. After
the martyric death of St Theodore, they wound up in prison and by
their preaching brought many of the pagans in prison with them to the
Christian Faith.
When he tortured St Theodore, Publius perished shamefully, struck down
by divine wrath. Asclepiodotus was chosen as ruler of Amasea, and was
more inhumane than his predecessor. Knowing the comrades of St
Theodore the Recruit were all in prison, the governor commanded that
they be brought to him. Sts Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus thus
firmly confessed their faith in Christ before this new governor. They
were mercilessly beaten, so that their bodies were entirely bruised.
As he was being tortured St Eutropius prayed loudly to the Savior,
"Grant us, O Lord, to endure these wounds for the sake of the crown of
martyrdom, and help us, as You helped Your servant Theodore." In
answer to the saint's prayer, the Lord Himself appeared to the martyrs
with His angels and the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit, saying
to them: "Behold, the Savior has come to help you, that you may know
life eternal."
Soldiers and many of the people standing nearby were also granted to
behold the Savior. They urged Asclepiodotus to halt the tortures.
Seeing that the people were distraught and ready to believe in the
true God, the governor commanded the martyrs to be taken away. The
governor then invited St Eutropius to supper and urged him to offer
public sacrifice to the pagan gods, yet remain a Christian in soul.
Eutropius refused this offer.
On the following day they brought the martyrs to a pagan temple, to
force them to offer sacrifice. Eutropius entreated the Savior: "Lord,
be with us, and destroy the raging of the pagans. Grant that on this
place the Bloodless Sacrifice of the Christians be offered to You, the
true God." No sooner had these last words been spoken, than an
earthquake began. The walls of the temple collapsed, and the statue of
the goddess Artemis was smashed to bits. Everyone fled from the temple
avoid being crushed among the rubble. In the noise of the earthquake a
voice was heard from on high: "Your prayer has been heard, and on this
place a house of Christian prayer shall be built."
When the earthquake ended, the governor Asclepiodotus, barely
recovered from his fright, gave orders to drive high wooden stakes
into the ground, tie the martyrs to them and pour boiling tar over
them. The saints began to pray to God, and Eutropius cried out turning
to the torturers: "May the Lord turn your deed against you!"
The tar began to flow beside the bodies of the martyrs, like water
with marble, scorching the torturers. Those seeing this fled in
terror, but the governor in his bitterness gave orders to rake their
bodies with iron hooks and to sting their wounds with mustard mixed
with salt and vinegar. The saints endured these torments with
remarkable firmness.
The night before their execution the saints spent their time at
prayer, and again the Lord appeared to them and strengthened them.
On the morning of March 3, Sts Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified,
but Basiliscus was left in prison.
St Basiliscus was executed on May 22 in the city of Komana. They
beheaded him, and threw his body into a river, but Christians found
his relics and buried them in a ploughed field. Later at Komana a
church was built and dedicated to St Basiliscus.
An account of the life of the holy martyr is found under May 22.
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Martyr Cleonicus of Amasea
The Holy Martyrs Cleonicus, Eutropius and Basiliscus suffered in the
city of Pontine Amasea (Asia Minor) in about the year 308.
The brothers Eutropius and Cleonicus, and Basiliscus the nephew of the
Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (February 17), were comrades. After
the martyric death of St Theodore, they wound up in prison and by
their preaching brought many of the pagans in prison with them to the
Christian Faith.
When he tortured St Theodore, Publius perished shamefully, struck down
by divine wrath. Asclepiodotus was chosen as ruler of Amasea, and was
more inhumane than his predecessor. Knowing the comrades of St
Theodore the Recruit were all in prison, the governor commanded that
they be brought to him. Sts Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus thus
firmly confessed their faith in Christ before this new governor. They
were mercilessly beaten, so that their bodies were entirely bruised.
As he was being tortured St Eutropius prayed loudly to the Savior,
"Grant us, O Lord, to endure these wounds for the sake of the crown of
martyrdom, and help us, as You helped Your servant Theodore." In
answer to the saint's prayer, the Lord Himself appeared to the martyrs
with His angels and the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit, saying
to them: "Behold, the Savior has come to help you, that you may know
life eternal."
Soldiers and many of the people standing nearby were also granted to
behold the Savior. They urged Asclepiodotus to halt the tortures.
Seeing that the people were distraught and ready to believe in the
true God, the governor commanded the martyrs to be taken away. The
governor then invited St Eutropius to supper and urged him to offer
public sacrifice to the pagan gods, yet remain a Christian in soul.
Eutropius refused this offer.
On the following day they brought the martyrs to a pagan temple, to
force them to offer sacrifice. Eutropius entreated the Savior: "Lord,
be with us, and destroy the raging of the pagans. Grant that on this
place the Bloodless Sacrifice of the Christians be offered to You, the
true God." No sooner had these last words been spoken, than an
earthquake began. The walls of the temple collapsed, and the statue of
the goddess Artemis was smashed to bits. Everyone fled from the temple
avoid being crushed among the rubble. In the noise of the earthquake a
voice was heard from on high: "Your prayer has been heard, and on this
place a house of Christian prayer shall be built."
When the earthquake ended, the governor Asclepiodotus, barely
recovered from his fright, gave orders to drive high wooden stakes
into the ground, tie the martyrs to them and pour boiling tar over
them. The saints began to pray to God, and Eutropius cried out turning
to the torturers: "May the Lord turn your deed against you!"
The tar began to flow beside the bodies of the martyrs, like water
with marble, scorching the torturers. Those seeing this fled in
terror, but the governor in his bitterness gave orders to rake their
bodies with iron hooks and to sting their wounds with mustard mixed
with salt and vinegar. The saints endured these torments with
remarkable firmness.
The night before their execution the saints spent their time at
prayer, and again the Lord appeared to them and strengthened them.
On the morning of March 3, Sts Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified,
but Basiliscus was left in prison.
St Basiliscus was executed on May 22 in the city of Komana. They
beheaded him, and threw his body into a river, but Christians found
his relics and buried them in a ploughed field. Later at Komana a
church was built and dedicated to St Basiliscus.
An account of the life of the holy martyr is found under May 22.
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Martyr Basiliscus of Amasea
The Holy Martyrs Basiliscus, Eutropius and Cleonicus suffered in the
city of Pontine Amasea (Asia Minor) in about the year 308.
The brothers Eutropius and Cleonicus, and Basiliscus the nephew of the
Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (February 17), were comrades. After
the martyric death of St Theodore, they wound up in prison and by
their preaching brought many of the pagans in prison with them to the
Christian Faith.
When he tortured St Theodore, Publius perished shamefully, struck down
by divine wrath. Asclepiodotus was chosen as ruler of Amasea, and was
more inhumane than his predecessor. Knowing the comrades of St
Theodore the Recruit were all in prison, the governor commanded that
they be brought to him. Sts Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basiliscus thus
firmly confessed their faith in Christ before this new governor. They
were mercilessly beaten, so that their bodies were entirely bruised.
At the time of torture St Eutropius prayed loudly to the Savior:
"Grant us, O Lord, to endure these wounds for the sake of the crown of
martyrdom, and help us, as You helped Your servant Theodore." In
answer to the saint's prayer, the Lord Himself appeared to the martyrs
with His angels and the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit, saying
to them: "Behold, the Savior has come to help you, that you may know
life eternal."
Soldiers and many of the people standing nearby were also granted to
behold the Savior. They began to urge Asclepiodotus to halt the
tortures. Seeing that the people were distraught and ready to believe
in the true God, the governor commanded the martyrs to be taken away.
The governor then invited St Eutropius to supper and urged him to
offer public sacrifice to the pagan gods, yet remain a Christian in
soul. Eutropius refused this offer.
On the following day they brought the martyrs to a pagan temple, to
force them to offer sacrifice. Eutropius began to entreat the Savior:
"Lord, be with us, and destroy the raging of the pagans. Grant that on
this place the Bloodless Sacrifice of the Christians be offered to
You, the true God." These last words of prayer had no sooner been
spoken, than an earthquake began, the walls of the temple collapsed,
and the statue of the goddess Artemis was smashed to bits. Everyone
fled from the temple so as not to be crushed among the rubble. In the
noise of the earthquake a voice was heard from on high: "Your prayer
has been heard, and on this place a house of Christian prayer shall be
built."
When the earthquake ended, the governor Asclepiodotus, barely
recovered from his fright, gave orders to drive high wooden stakes
into the ground, tie the martyrs to them and pour boiling tar over
them. The saints began to pray to God, and Eutropius cried out turning
to the torturers: "May the Lord turn your deed against you!"
The tar began to flow beside the bodies of the martyrs, like water
with marble, scorching the torturers. Those seeing this fled in
terror, but the governor in his bitterness gave orders to rake their
bodies with iron hooks and to sting their wounds with mustard mixed
with salt and vinegar. The saints endured these torments with
remarkable firmness.
The night before their execution the saints spent their time at
prayer, and again the Lord appeared to them and strengthened them.
On the morning of March 3, Sts Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified,
but Basiliscus was left in prison.
St Basiliscus was executed on May 22 in the city of Komana. They
beheaded him, and threw his body into a river, but Christians found
his relics and buried them in a ploughed field. Later at Komana a
church was built and dedicated to St Basiliscus.
An account of the life of the holy martyr is located under May 22.
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Virginmartyr Piama
The Virgin Piama lived in asceticism not far from Alexandria. The
saint lived in the home of her mother, as in a hermitage. She partook
of food at the end of the day, and after prayer she spun flax.
St Piama was granted the gift of discernment. The people of a more
populous village, blinded with greed, planned to destroy the small
village of the holy maiden in order to divert water to their own
fields when the Nile overflowed its banks. St Piama saw their wicked
intent and reported it to the village elders. The startled elders fell
on their knees before the saint, imploring her to go to the
neighboring people and dissuade them from their evil purpose.
The nun Piama did not go to meet them, since for a long time she
shunned contact with people. The saint spent all night at prayer, and
in the morning the people of the neighboring village armed themselves
and set off for the village of the holy maiden. Suddenly, they froze
in their tracks and were not able to proceed farther. The Lord
revealed to the impious people that the prayer of St Piama held them
back. The people came to their senses and repented of their wicked
intent. They sent messengers to the village with a request for peace
and said, "Thanks be to God, Who through the prayers of the maiden
Piama has delivered us."
The saint peacefully fell asleep in the Lord in the year 337.
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St Zeno
No information available at this time.
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St Zoilus
No information available at this time.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Volokolamsk
The Volokolamsk Icon of the Mother of God is a copy of the Vladimir
Icon of the Moscow Dormition cathedral. The icon was brought from
Zvenigorod to the Dormition monastery of St Joseph of Volokolamsk on
March 2, 1572, during the second week of Great Lent and was solemnly
met by Igumen Leonid (1563-1566; 1568-1573) and all the monastic
brethren.
It is distinguished by its particular depiction on the margins of St
Cyprian (right) and St Gerontius (left), Metropolitans of Moscow.
The name of Metropolitan Cyprian is associated with the first arrival
of the ancient Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God from Constantinople
to Moscow in the year 1395, and under Metropolitan Gerontius in 1480
the Vladimir Icon came finally to Moscow.
In the year 1588 the Volokolamsk Icon was dedicated atop the gate in
the church at the south gates of the St Joseph of Volokolamsk
monastery in honor of the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most
Holy Theotokos (August 26).
At the end of the seventeenth century, when a church of the same name
was built in Moscow at Staraya Basmanna, the church atop the gate of
St Joseph of Volokolamsk was rededicated in honor of the holy Apostles
Peter and Paul. The Volokolamsk Icon was transferred to its proper
place on the iconostasis of the new cathedral Dormition church of the
monastery of St Joseph of Volokoamsk.
In 1578, the icon was recognized as wonderworking.
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St John (Chrysostom) IV, the Catholicos of Georgia
The Holy Catholicos John IV (Chrysostom) led the Apostolic Church of
Georgia from approximately 980 to 1001.
Catholicos Basil IIIs Story of St. Shios Miracles describes how the
hitherto childless parents of St. John prayed at length to St. Shio of
Mgvime. After the birth of John, his God-fearing parents sent him to
be raised at Shio-Mgvime Monastery.
There he acquired the sanctity and wisdom for which he would later be
called Chrysostom, meaning golden mouth in Greek. By this name he has
been known throughout the history of the Georgian Church.
There is yet another John called Chrysostom who was also a Catholicos,
from 1033 to 1049. This John was a disciple of Holy
Catholicos-Patriarch Melchizedek I and his successor as chief shepherd
of the Georgian Church.
His life and labors were full of the same holiness as those of the
holy catholicos John who is commemorated on this day. For this reason
John IV and John V are often erroneously believed to be one and the
same person.
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