[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Tue Mar 11 05:00:15 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Tue Mar 11 2008

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Isaiah 1:19-2:3  (6th Hour)
19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the
land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
21 How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice;
Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross, Your wine mixed with water.
23 Your princes are rebellious, And companions of thieves; Everyone
loves bribes, And follows after rewards. They do not defend the
fatherless, Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.
24 Therefore the Lord says, The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of
Israel, Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, And take vengeance on
My enemies.
25 I will turn My hand against you, And thoroughly purge away your
dross, And take away all your alloy.
26 I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as
at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of
righteousness, the faithful city.
27 Zion shall be redeemed with justice, And her penitents with
righteousness.
28 The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together,
And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
29 For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth trees Which you have
desired; And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardens Which you
have chosen.
30 For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, And as a garden
that has no water.
31 The strong shall be as tinder, And the work of it as a spark; Both
will burn together, And no one shall quench them.
1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and
Jerusalem.
2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of
the Lords house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And
shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
3 Many people shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach
us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go
forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3

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Genesis 1:14-23  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
14 Then God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens
to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and
seasons, and for days and years;
15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give
light on the earth; and it was so.
16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day,
and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.
17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the
earth,
18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the
light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
20 Then God said, Let the waters abound with an abundance of living
creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the
firmament of the heavens.
21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that
moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and
every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill
the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.
23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
Scripture Reading 2 of 3

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Proverbs 1:20-33  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
20 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open
squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates
in the city She speaks her words:
22 How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners
delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will
make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand
and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my
rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror
comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes
like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me
diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the
Lord,
30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled
to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the
complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure,
without fear of evil.
Scripture Reading 3 of 3

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St Sophronius the Patriarch of Jerusalem
Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, was born in Damascus around
560. From his youth he was distinguished for his piety and his love
for classical studies. He was especially proficient in philosophy, and
so he was known as Sophronius the Wise. The future hierarch, however,
sought the true philosophy of monasticism, and conversations with the
desert-dwellers.
He arrived in Jerusalem at the monastery of St Theodosius, and there
he became close with the hieromonk John Moschus, becoming his
spiritual son and submitting himself to him in obedience. They visited
several monasteries, writing down the lives and spiritual wisdom of
the ascetics they met. From these notes emerged their renowned book,
the LEIMONARION or SPIRITUAL MEADOW, which was highly esteemed at the
Seventh Ecumenical Council.
To save themselves from the devastating incursions of the Persians,
Sts John and Sophronius left Palestine and went to Antioch, and from
there they went to Egypt. In Egypt, St Sophronius became seriously
ill. During this time he decided to become a monk and was tonsured by
St John Moschus.
After St Sophronius recovered his health, they both decided to remain
in Alexandria. There they were received by the holy Patriarch John the
Merciful (November 12), to whom they rendered great aid in the
struggle against the Monophysite heresy. At Alexandria St Sophronius
had an affliction of the eyes, and he turned with prayer and faith to
the holy Unmercenaries Cyrus and John (January 31), and he received
healing in a church named for them. In gratitude, St Sophronius then
wrote the Lives of these holy Unmercenaries.
When the barbarians began to threaten Alexandria, Patriarch John,
accompanied by Sts Sophronius and John Moschus, set out for
Constantinople, but he died along the way. Sts John Moschus and
Sophronius then set out for Rome with eighteen other monks. St John
Moschus died at Rome. His body was taken to Jerusalem by St Sophronius
and buried at the monastery of St Theodosius.
In the year 628, Patriarch Zacharias of Jerusalem (609-633) returned
from his captivity in Persia. After his death, the patriarchal throne
was occupied for two years by St Modestus (December 18). After the
death of St Modestus, St Sophronius was chosen Patriarch. St
Sophronius toiled much for the welfare of the Jerusalem Church as its
primate (634-644).
Toward the end of his life, St Sophronius and his flock lived through
a two year siege of Jerusalem by the Moslems. Worn down by hunger, the
Christians finally agreed to open the city gates, on the condition
that the enemy spare the holy places. But this condition was not
fulfilled, and St Sophronius died in grief over the desecration of the
Christian holy places.
Written works by Patriarch Sophronius have come down to us in the area
of dogmatics, and likewise his "Excursus on the Liturgy," the Life of
St Mary of Egypt (April 1), and also about 950 troparia and stikheras
from Pascha to the Ascension.
While still a hieromonk, St Sophronius reviewed and made corrections
to the Rule of the monastery of St Sava the Sanctified (December 5).
The saint's three Odes Canons for the Holy Forty Day Great Fast are
included in the the contemporary Lenten Triodion.
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St Euthymius the Bishop of Novgorod
Saint Euthymius, in Baptism John, was born in answer to the fervent
prayers of the presbyter Micah and his wife Anna. For many years they
had been childless, and they vowed that if they had a son, they would
dedicate him to God. The boy read priestly books and frequently
attended church services, often helping his father in the small church
of St Theodore. All this sanctified young John's soul. In the year
1411, he left his parental home for a monastery at the age of fifteen.
Twelve versts from Novgorod, in a wilderness spot named Vyazhisch,
three monks, Euphrosynus, Ignatius and Galacteon, settled in the
forests and the swamps. They were soon joined by the priest Pimen, who
was tonsured with the name Pachomius. Here they lived in complete
solitude at a wooden chapel they built in honor of St Nicholas. They
lived in unceasing prayer and struggled with the severe conditions of
nature in the northern regions.
The young John also came to these ascetics seeking salvation. The
igumen Pachomius accepted him fondly and tonsured him into monasticism
with the name Euthymius. His tonsure at such a young age is an
indication of the young ascetic's outstanding spiritual traits.
During this time the See of Novgorod was occupied by Archbishop
Simeon, a simple monk who became a hierarch. The virtuous life of St
Euthymius became known to the archbishop. St Euthymius was summoned to
Novgorod and after a long talk with Archbishop Simeon, he was
appointed as the archbishop's steward.
At that time the Archbishops of Novgorod occupied a unique position.
Independent of princely authority, they were elected directly by the
assembly and they assumed a large role in secular matters. Moreover,
they administered vast land-holdings. Under these conditions, an
archbishop's steward had to combine administrative talent with the
utmost non-covetousness and deep Christian humility. St Euthymius
fervently entreated the archpastor to send him back to Vyazhisch, but
then he agreed to stay.
St Euthymius evoked general astonishment and esteem, occupying such an
important position, and being at the center of business life in a
large city. As a monk he devoted himself to asceticism as fervently as
he would have done in the deep forest.
Archbishop Simeon died in 1421. Under the new hierarch, Euthymius I,
St Euthymius again withdrew to his monastery. Soon, however, the monks
of a monastery on Lisich Hill chose the saint as their igumen. With
the death of Archbishop Euthymius I in 1429, St Euthymius was then
chosen as archbishop. On November 29, he entered into the temple of St
Sophia. For four years the saint administered the Novgorod diocese,
while putting off being installed as archbishop. Only on May 24, 1434
was he consecrated at Smolensk by Metropolitan Gerasimus.
St Euthymius wisely governed his diocese for twenty-nine years,
zealous in fulfilling his archpastoral duty. St Euthymius labored in
constructing and restoraing churches, especially after the devastating
fires of the years 1431 and 1442.
The Sophia cathedral was richly embellished by the saint, and several
new churches were built in the Novgorod Kremlin. "If you wish to see a
few of his great works," writes Pachomius the Logothete, "go to the
temple of St Sophia. There you will see the churches he built,
standing like hillocks. They speak of their varied charm, not with
words, but in deed. 'This was given me by Archbishop Euthymius,'
proclaims one church. Another says, 'He has adorned me so
magnificently.' A third exclaims, 'He built me up from the very
foundations.'
The church of St John Chrysostom, tall and beautiful, blesses with the
hand of Chrysostom, and proclaims: "Since you have built me a temple,
I in turn shall entreat the Creator to prepare a habitation in Heaven
for you."
The cathedral of the Wisdom of God, speaking across the years of its
restoration by him, proclaims: "He has restored me to my original
grandeur, he has adorned me with holy icons. He is my praise and
beauty."
St Euthymius built also a church in honor of his Guardian Angel [i.e.
Russian idiom for "patron saint"], and in 1438 he built a stone church
at Vyazhitsk monastery in honor of St Nicholas. The following year he
built a stone church in honor of St John the Theologian with a trapeza
and consistory.
Zealous for the glory of God, St Euthymius had more spiritual books
printed. Many service books survive from this period, transcribed
"under the authority of Archbishop Euthymius." Despite his abundant
works, the saint always promptly fulfilled the monastic Rule. Whatever
he could not do by day he accomplished by night. An hour before Matins
the saint rose up for his cell rule. He often spent the whole night
without sleep, and he wore chains, but no one knew about them until
his death. The saint spent the first week of Great Lent at Vyazhitsk
monastery in silent prayer, eating nothing.
In 1446 the great-princely throne was usurped by Shemyaka, who
established relations with Novgorod. The political situation in
Novgorod was often quite strained. In 1451, St Jonah (March 31) in a
special letter urged the people of Novgorod to cease their rowdiness
and to heed their archpastor. "Heed our son and brother, your father
and teacher, the God-beloved Archbishop Euthymius, in all things."
St Euthymius, advanced in age, was troubled in soul that the actions
of Shemyaka might cast a pall over his relations with the revered
primate, and he sent a letter to St Jonah. Sensing the nearness of his
death, St Euthymius asked his prayers and pardon.
In his reply, a letter of pardon, St Jonah wrote: "We remind you, my
son, that you comported yourself too simply: you accepted one who was
excommunicated for his transgressions by Our Humility, and found him
worthy of your blessing. My son, offer repentance to God for this."
St Jonah ordered that if the letter of pardon should arrive after the
blessed end of Novgorod's archpastor, then it should be read over his
grave. St Euthymius reposed on March 10, 1458. The priest Eumenius,
sent by St Jonah with the grammota of pardon, arrived in Novgorod
sixteen days after the death of St Euthymius, whose grave was at the
church of the Vyazhitsk monastery.
When they opened the grave in order to read the letter of pardon, they
then saw that the body of the saint showed no sign of decay. St
Euthymius lay there as though asleep, and his fingers were positioned
for a blessing. "God preserve Novgorod, for which St Euthymius prays,"
exclaimed Eumenius. Reading the letter of St Jonah, he placed it into
the hand of the deceased hierarch.
Soon after the death of the saint, the Lord glorified him by working
miracles for those who sought his prayerful intercession. Greatly
revering the saint, the monks of the Vyazhitsk monastery built a
church in honor of St Euthymius, which was noted in the census of
1500.
The commemoration of St Euthymius was established at the Moscow
Council of 1549. The Life of St Euthymius was written by Pachomius the
Logothete, having been commissioned by St Jonah, Archbishop of
Novgorod (November 5)
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Hieromartyr Pionius of Smyrna and those with him
The Hieromartyrs Pionius and Limnus, the Holy Martyrs Sabina,
Macedonia, and Asclepiades suffered during the persecution of
Christians in the reign of Decius (249-251). They suffered at Smyrna,
a mercantile city on the eastern shores of the Aegean Sea. The Church
in Smyrna was founded by the holy Apostle John the Theologian (May 8
and September 26), and was made glorious by its martyrs and
confessors.
St Pionius knew that he and his companions would be arrested on
February 23, the anniversary of St Polycarp's martyrdom, and a
feastday for the Christians of Smyrna. The day before they were
arrested, St Pionius entertained Asclepiades and Sabina in his house.
Taking three lengths of woven chains, St Pionius placed them around
his neck, and around the necks of the other two. He did this to show
that they were all determined to be led off to prison rather than eat
food sacrificed to idols.
The holy confessors were indeed arrested on February 23. After a brief
interrogation they were dragged off by Polemon the verger in order to
sacrifice to the idols and eat forbidden foods. They were brought to
the forum, where a great crowd had gathered.
St Pionius addressed the people, chiding them for laughing and
rejoicing at those Christians who had agreed to offer sacrifice. He
quoted Homer to the pagans (Odyssey 22, 412) and said that it was
shameful to gloat over those who were about to die. He reminded the
Jews in the audience of the words of Solomon: "If your enemy falls, do
not rejoice over him, and do not be glad when he stumbles" (Proverbs
24:17).
Polemon attempted once again to persuade Pionius to obey the law and
offer sacrifice to the idols.
"If only I could persuade you to become Christians," he replied.
The men laughed at him, saying that he did not have the power to do
that, because they knew they would be burned alive if they converted.
St Pionius said, "It is far worse to burn after death."
St Sabina laughed when she heard this. Then Polemon threatened to put
her in a brothel, but she said she believed that God would protect
her.
Under questioning, St Pionius stated repeatedly that he was a
Christian, and could not sacrifice to the emperor or to the idols.
Before Polemon came to Sabina to question her, St Pionus told her to
say that her name was Theodote. This he did so that she would not be
returned to her former mistress Politta, an immoral woman. In an
effort to turn her from Christ, Politta bound St Sabina and cast her
out on the mountains. She was secretly helped by the brethren, and hid
in St Pionus's house most of the time. That is how she came to be
arrested.
Sts Sabina and Asclepiades were questioned, and they said they were
Christians who worshiped Jesus Christ. Then they were thrown into
jail.
In prison St Pionius and his companions met Limnus, a priest of the
Church of Smyrna, and his wife Macedonia from the village of Karine.
They had also been imprisoned for confessing Christ.
Many believers visited the holy confessors in prison, offering them
whatever they could, but the saints did not accept it. The jailers
were angry, because they used to keep a portion of the gifts given to
prisoners for themselves.
The holy martyrs were brought to the marketplace, and were urged to
offer sacrifice. When they refused, they were taken back to prison. On
the way, they were beaten and mocked by the crowd. Someone said to St
Sabina, "Why couldn't you have died in your own city?"
St Sabina retorted, "What is my native city?"
Terentius, who was in charge of the gladiatorial games, said to
Asclepiades, "After you are condemned, I shall ask that you compete in
the games given by my son."
"That does not scare me," he said.
After many torments, the holy martyr was brought to the amphitheatre
on March 11, 250. Since he still refused to offer sacrifice to the
idols, St Pionius was sentenced to be burned alive. He was nailed to a
cross, then they stacked wood around him and lit the fire. When the
fire subsided, everyone saw the body of the saint was unharmed. Not
even the hairs of his head had been singed. His face was radiant, and
shone with divine grace. After his victory in the contest, St Pionius
received an incorruptible crown of glory from the Savior Christ.
St Pionius transcribed the Martyrdom of St Polycarp of Smyrna
(February 23) from an older copy made by Isocrates (or Socrates) in
Corinth. This document in turn was transcribed from an earlier
manuscript written by Gaius, and was based on the recollections of St
Irenaeus of Lyons (August 23), who knew St Polycarp. St Polycarp
appeared to Pionius in a vision, telling him to search for the text of
Isocrates. St Pionius collected the material which was nearly worn out
with age, thus preserving the account for later generations. Now St
Pionius rejoices in the heavenly Kingdom, glorifying the Life-Creating
Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, throughout all
ages.
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Martyr Asclepiades of Smyrna
St Asclepiades suffered with the hieromartyrs Pionius and Limnus, and
the holy martyrs Sabina, Macedonia during the persecution of
Christians in the reign of Decius (249-251). They suffered at Smyrna,
a mercantile city on the eastern shores of the Aegean Sea. The Church
in Smyrna was founded by the holy Apostle John the Theologian (May 8
and September 26), and was made glorious by its martyrs and
confessors.
St Pionius knew that he and his companions would be arrested on
February 23, the anniversary of St Polycarp's martyrdom, and a
feastday for the Christians of Smyrna. The day before they were
arrested, St Pionius entertained Asclepiades and Sabina in his house.
Taking three lengths of woven chains, St Pionius placed them around
his neck, and around the necks of the other two. He did this to show
that they were all determined to be led off to prison rather than eat
food sacrificed to idols.
The holy confessors were indeed arrested on February 23. After a brief
interrogation they were dragged off by Polemon the verger in order to
sacrifice to the idols and eat forbidden foods. They were brought to
the forum, where a great crowd had gathered.
Polemon the verger attempted to persuade Pionius to obey the law and
offer sacrifice to the idols.
"If only I could persuade you to become Christians," Pionius replied.
The men laughed at him, saying that he did not have the power to do
that, because they knew they would be burned alive if they converted.
St Pionius said, "It is far worse to burn after death."
St Sabina laughed when she heard this. Then Polemon threatened to put
her in a brothel, but she said she believed that God would protect
her.
Sts Sabina and Asclepiades were questioned, and they said they were
Christians who worshiped Jesus Christ. Then they were thrown into
jail.
The holy martyrs were brought to the marketplace, and were urged to
offer sacrifice. When they refused, they were taken back to prison. On
the way, they were beaten and mocked by the crowd. Someone said to St
Sabina, "Why couldn't you have died in your own city?"
St Sabina retorted, "What is my native city?"
Terentius, who was in charge of the gladiatorial games, said to
Asclepiades, "After you are condemned, I shall ask that you compete in
the games given by my son."
"That does not scare me," he said.
The Life of St Pionius does not mention how St Asclepiades died.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Macedonia of Smyrna
Saint Macedonia was martyred during the persecution in the reign of
Decius (249-251), along with Sts Pionius and Limnus, Sabina, and
Asclepiades. They suffered at Smyrna, a mercantile city on the eastern
shores of the Aegean Sea.
St Macedonia was from the village of Karine. She and her husband
Limnus, a priest of the Church of Smyrna, had been cast into prison
for confessing Christ. That is where St Pionius and his companions met
them.
The Life of St Pionius does not record the details of the martyrdom of
Sts Limnus or Macedonia.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Limnus of Smyrna
Saint Limnus was martyred during the persecution in the reign of
Decius (249-251), along with Sts Pionius and Macedonia, Sabina, and
Asclepiades. They suffered at Smyrna, a mercantile city on the eastern
shores of the Aegean Sea.
St Limnus was a priest of the Church of Smyrna, and his wife St
Macedonia was from the village of Karine. They had been cast into
prison for confessing Christ. That is where St Pionius and his
companions met them.
The Life of St Pionius does not record the details of the martyrdom of
Sts Limnus or Macedonia.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Sabina of Smyrna
St Sabina was executed with the hieromartyrs Pionius and Limnus, and
the Holy Martyrs Macedonia, and Asclepiades during the persecution of
Christians in the reign of Decius (249-251). They suffered at Smyrna,
a mercantile city on the eastern shores of the Aegean Sea. The Church
in Smyrna was founded by the holy Apostle John the Theologian (May 8
and September 26), and was made glorious by its martyrs and
confessors.
St Pionius knew that he and his companions would be arrested on
February 23, the anniversary of St Polycarp's martyrdom, and a
feastday for the Christians of Smyrna. The day before they were
arrested, St Pionius entertained Asclepiades and Sabina in his house.
Taking three lengths of woven chains, St Pionius placed them around
his neck, and around the necks of the other two. He did this to show
that they were all determined to be led off to prison rather than eat
food that had been sacrificed to idols.
Polemon the verger attempted to persuade Pionius to obey the law and
offer sacrifice to the idols.
"If only I could persuade you to become Christians," he replied.
The men laughed at him, saying that he did not have the power to do
that, because they knew they would be burned alive if they converted.
St Pionius said, "It is far worse to burn after death."
St Sabina laughed when she heard this. Then Polemon threatened to put
her in a brothel, but she said she believed that God would protect
her.
Under questioning, St Pionius stated repeatedly that he was a
Christian, and could not sacrifice to the emperor or to the idols.
Before Polemon came to Sabina to question her, St Pionus told her to
say that her name was Theodote. This he did so that she would not be
returned to her former mistress Politta, an immoral woman. In an
effort to turn her from Christ, Politta bound St Sabina and cast her
out on the mountains. She was secretly helped by the brethren, and hid
in St Pionus's house most of the time. That is how she came to be
arrested.
Sts Sabina and Asclepiades were questioned, and they said they were
Christians who worshiped Jesus Christ. Then they were thrown into
jail.
Many believers visited the holy confessors in prison, offering them
whatever they could, but the saints did not accept it. The jailers
were angry, because they used to keep a portion of the gifts given to
prisoners for themselves.
The holy martyrs were brought to the marketplace, and were urged to
offer sacrifice. When they refused, they were taken back to prison. On
the way, they were beaten and mocked by the crowd. Someone said to St
Sabina, "Why couldn't you have died in your own city?"
St Sabina retorted, "What is my native city?"The Hieromartyrs Pionius
and Limnus, the Holy Martyrs Sabina, Macedonia, and Asclepiades
suffered during the persecution of Christians in the reign of Decius
(249-251). They suffered at Smyrna, a mercantile city on the eastern
shores of the Aegean Sea. The Church in Smyrna was founded by the holy
Apostle John the Theologian (May 8 and September 26), and was made
glorious by its martyrs and confessors.
St Pionius knew that he and his companions would be arrested on
February 23, the anniversary of St Polycarp's martyrdom, and a
feastday for the Christians of Smyrna. The day before they were
arrested, St Pionius entertained Asclepiades and Sabina in his house.
Taking three lengths of woven chains, St Pionius placed them around
his neck, and around the necks of the other two. He did this to show
that they were all determined to be led off to prison rather than eat
food sacrificed to idols.
The holy confessors were indeed arrested on February 23. After a brief
interrogation they were dragged off by Polemon the verger in order to
sacrifice to the idols and eat forbidden foods. They were brought to
the forum, where a great crowd had gathered.
St Pionius addressed the people, chiding them for laughing and
rejoicing at those Christians who had agreed to offer sacrifice. He
quoted Homer to the pagans (Odyssey 22, 412) and said that it was
shameful to gloat over those who were about to die. He reminded the
Jews in the audience of the words of Solomon: "If your enemy falls, do
not rejoice over him, and do not be glad when he stumbles" (Proverbs
24:17).
Polemon attempted once again to persuade Pionius to obey the law and
offer sacrifice to the idols.
"If only I could persuade you to become Christians," he replied.
The men laughed at him, saying that he did not have the power to do
that, because they knew they would be burned alive if they did so.
St Pionius said, "It is far worse to burn after death."
St Sabina laughed when she heard this. Then Polemon threatened to put
her in a brothel, but she said she believed that God would protect
her.
Under questioning, St Pionius stated repeatedly that he was a
Christian, and could not sacrifice to the emperor or to the idols.
Before Polemon came to Sabina to question her, St Pionus told her to
say that her name was Theodote. This he did so that she would not be
returned to her former mistress Politta, an immoral woman. In an
effort to turn her from Christ, Politta bound St Sabina and cast her
out on the mountains. She was secretly helped by the brethren, and hid
in St Pionus's house most of the time. That is how she came to be
arrested.
Sts Sabina and Asclepiades were questioned, and they said they were
Christians who worshiped Jesus ChriSt Then they were thrown into jail.
In prison St Pionius and his companions met Limnus, a priest of the
Church of Smyrna, and his wife Macedonia from the village of Karine.
They had also been imprisoned for confessing Christ.
Many believers visited the holy confessors in prison, offering them
whatever they could, but the saints did not accept it. The jailers
were angry, because they used to keep a portion of the gifts given to
prisoners for themselves.
The holy martyrs were brought to the marketplace, and were urged to
offer sacrifice. When they refused, they were taken back to prison. On
the way, they were beaten and mocked by the crowd. Someone said to St
Sabina, "Why couldn't you have died in your own city?"
St Sabina retorted, "What is my native city?"
The Life of St Pionius does not mention how St Sabina died.
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Translation of the relics of the Martyr Epimachus of Pelusium
The Holy Martyr Epimachus of Alexandria was a native of Egypt. For a
long time he lived in seclusion on Mount Peleusium. During a
persecution against Christians at Alexandria (about the year 250), St
Epimachus in his fervent zeal came into the city, destroyed pagan
idols, and fearlessly confessed Christ. For this the saint was put to
torture. Among the people watching the torture was a woman who was
blind in one eye. A drop of blood from the martyr healed her
infirmity.
After fierce tortures, the saint was beheaded by the sword.
Today we commemorate the translation of the relics of St Epimachus.
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St Sophronius the Bishop of Vratcha, Bulgaria
No information on the life of this saint is available at this time.
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Venerable Sophronius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves
Saint Sophronius the Hermit of the Caves was an ascetic of the Far
Caves (the Theodosiev Caves), during the thirteenth century. The saint
wore a hairshirt and a heavy iron belt, and read through the entire
Psalter every day.
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