[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed Mar 12 05:00:24 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed Mar 12 2008

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Isaiah 2:3-11  (6th Hour)
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.
4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They
shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning
hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall
they learn war anymore.
5 O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the Lord.
6 For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, Because they
are filled with eastern ways; They are soothsayers like the
Philistines, And they are pleased with the children of foreigners.
7 Their land is also full of silver and gold, And there is no end to
their treasures; Their land is also full of horses, And there is no
end to their chariots.
8 Their land is also full of idols; They worship the work of their own
hands, That which their own fingers have made.
9 People bow down, And each man humbles himself; Therefore do not
forgive them.
10 Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, From the terror of the
Lord And the glory of His majesty.
11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men
shall be bowed down, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3

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Genesis 1:24-2:3  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
24 Then God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature
according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the
earth, each according to its kind; and it was so.
25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle
according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth
according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our
likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the
birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over
every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created
him; male and female He created them.
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and
multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of
the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that
moves on the earth.
29 And God said, See, I have given you every herb that yields seed
which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit
yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to
everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have
given every green herb for food; and it was so.
31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very
good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
1 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were
finished.
2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He
rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He
rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Scripture Reading 2 of 3

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Proverbs 2:1-22  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within
you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to
understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for
understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden
treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the
knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and
understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those
who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every
good path.
10 When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your
soul,
11 Discretion will preserve you;
12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks
perverse things,
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways
of darkness;
14 Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the
wicked;
15 Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths;
16 To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who
flatters with her words,
17 Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant
of her God.
18 For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead;
19 None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life
20 So you may walk in the way of goodness, And keep to the paths of
righteousness.
21 For the upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless will
remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful
will be uprooted from it.
Scripture Reading 3 of 3

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Venerable Theophanes the Confessor of Sigriane
Saint Theophanes the Confessor was born in 759 at Constantinople into
a pious and renowned family. His father was a relative of the
Byzantine emperor Leo the Isaurian (717-741). Three years after
Theophanes was born, his father died, leaving his family under the
care of the emperor himself.
Theophanes grew up at the court and became a dignitary under the
emperor Leo IV the Khazar (775-780). His position obliged him to enter
into marriage, but he persuaded his bride to live with him in
virginity.
After the death of his parents, Theophanes and his wife visited
monasteries in the Sygrian district (Asia Minor), Theophanes met the
Elder Gregory Stratitios, who predicted to Theophanes' wife that her
husband would earn the crown of martyrdom.
Later the wife of Theophanes was tonsured a nun in one of the
monasteries in Bithynia, and Theophanes went to a monastery in the
Cyzicus region. With the blessing of his Elder, Theophanes founded the
Kalonymon monastery on an island in the Sea of Marmara and secluded
himself in his cell, transcribing books. Theophanes attained a high
degree of skill in this occupation.
Later, St Theophanes founded another monastery in Sygria, at a place
called the "Big Settlement", and became its igumen. He participated in
all the work of the monastery, and was an example to all in his love
for work and ascetical effort. He received from the Lord the gift of
wonderworking, healing the sick, and casting out demons.
The Seventh Ecumenical Council met in Nicea in 787, which condemned
the heresy of Iconoclasm. St Theophanes was also invited to the
Council. He arrived dressed in his tattered garments, but he revealed
his wisdom in affirming the veneration of the holy icons.
At the age of fifty, St Theophanes fell grievously ill and he suffered
terribly until the day he died. Even on his deathbed, the saint
continued to work. He wrote his CHRONOGRAPHIA, a history of the
Christian Church covering the years 285-813. This work has remained an
invaluable source for the history of the Church.
During the reign of the emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820), when the
saint was advanced in age, the Iconoclast heresy returned. They
demanded that St Theophanes accept the heresy, but he firmly refused
and was locked up in prison. His "Big Settlement" monastery was put to
the torch. The holy confessor died in 818 after twenty-three days in
prison.
After the death of the impious emperor Leo the Armenian, the "Big
Settlement" monastery was restored and the relics of the holy
confessor were transferred there.
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Righteous Phineas the grandson of Aaron
The Righteous Phineas, grandson of the High Priest Aaron (also
commemorated today) and son of the High Priest Eleazar, was also a
priest and zealous in his service.
When the Israelites, after the holy Prophet Moses (September 4) led
them out of Egypt, were already near the Promised Land, their
neighbors the Moabites and Midianites were overcome by fear and envy.
Not trusting in their own strength, they summoned the magician Balaam
to put a curse on the Israelites. The Lord revealed His will to
Balaam, and Balaam refused to curse the People of God, seeing that God
was pleased to bless them (Num. 24:1).
Then the Moabites drew the Israelites into the worship of Baal-Peor.
God punished the Jews for their apostasy, and they died by the
thousands from a plague. Many, beholding the wrath of God, came to
their senses and repented.
At this time a certain man named Zimri, of the tribe of the Simeon,
"brought his brother a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in
the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they
wept at the door of the tabernacle of witness" (Num. 25:6). Phineas,
filled with wrath, went into Zimri's tent and killed both him and the
Midianite woman with a spear.
"And the Lord said to Moses, 'Phineas... has caused My wrath against
the children of Israel to cease, when I was exceedingly jealous among
them.... Behold, I give him a covenant of peace, and he and his
descendants shall have a perpetual covenant of priesthood, because he
was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of
Israel'" (Num. 25:10-13).
After this, at the command of God, Phineas went at the head of the
Israelite army against the Moabites and brought chastisement upon them
for their impiety and treachery. After the death of the High Priest
Eleazar, St Phineas was unanimously chosen as High Priest. The high
priesthood, in accord with God's promise, continued also with his
posterity. St Phineas died at an advanced age around 1500 B.C.
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St Gregory Dialogus, the Pope of Rome
Saint Gregory Dialogus, Pope of Rome, was born in Rome around the year
540. His grandfather was Pope Felix, and his mother Sylvia (November
4) and aunts Tarsilla and Emiliana were also numbered among the saints
by the Roman Church. Having received a most excellent secular
education, he attained high government positions.
Leading a God-pleasing life, he yearned for monasticism with all his
soul. After the death of his father, St Gregory used his inheritance
to establish six monasteries. At Rome he founded a monastery dedicated
to the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, where he received
monastic tonsure. Later, on a commission of Pope Pelagius II, St
Gregory lived for a while in Constantinople. There he wrote his
Commentary on the Book of Job.
After the death of Pope Pelagius, St Gregory was chosen to the Roman
See. For seven months he would not consent to accept this service,
considering himself unworthy. He finally accepted consecration only
after the persistent entreaties of the clergy and flock.
Wisely leading the Church, St Gregory worked tirelessly in propagating
the Word of God. St Gregory compiled the Liturgy of the Presanctified
Gifts in the Latin language, which before him was known only in the
verbal tradition. Affirmed by the Sixth Ecumenical Council, this
liturgical service was accepted by all the Orthodox Church.
He zealously struggled against the Donatist heresy; he also converted
the inhabitants of Brittany pagans and Goths, adhering to the Arian
heresy to the True Faith.
St Gregory has left behind numerous written works. After the
appearance of his book, DIALOGUES CONCERNING THE LIFE AND MIRACLES OF
THE ITALIAN FATHERS (DIALOGI DE VITA ET MIRACULIS PATRUM ITALIORUM),
the saint was called "Dialogus." His PASTORAL RULE (or LIBER REGULAE
PASTORALIS) was well-known. In this work, St Gregory describes the
model of the true pastor. His letters (848), dealing with moral
guidance, have also survived.
St Gregory headed the Church for thirteen years, ministering to all
the needs of his flock. He was characterized by an extraordinary love
of poverty, for which he was granted a vision of the Lord Himself.
Pope St Gregory the Great, as he is known, died in the year 604, and
his relics rest in the cathedral of the holy Apostle Peter in the
Vatican.
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Venerable Simeon the New Theologian
Saint Simeon the New Theologian was born in the year 949 in the city
of Galatea (Paphlagonia), and he was educated at Constantinople. His
father prepared him for a career at court, and for a certain while the
youth occupied a high position at the imperial court. When he was
fourteen, he met the renowned Elder Simeon the Pious at the Studion
Monastery, who would be a major influence in his spiritual
development. He remained in the world for several years preparing
himself for the monastic life under the Elder's guidance, and finally
entered the monastery at the age of twenty-seven.
St Simeon the Pious recommended to the young man the writings of St
Mark the Ascetic (March 5) and other spiritual writers. He read these
books attentively and tried to put into practice what he read. Three
points made by St Mark in his work "On the Spiritual Law" (see Vol. I
of the English PHILOKALIA) particularly impressed him. First, you
should listen to your conscience and do what it tells you if you wish
your soul to be healed (PHILOKALIA, p. 115). Second, only by
fulfilling the commandments can one obtain the activity of the Holy
Spirit. Thirdly, one who prays only with the body and without
spiritual knowledge is like the blind man who cried out, "Son of
David, have mercy upon me (Luke 18:38) (PHILOKALIA, p. 111). When the
blind man received his sight, however, he called Christ the Son of God
(John 9:38).
St Simeon was wounded with a love for spiritual beauty, and tried to
acquire it. In addition to the Rule given him by his Elder, his
conscience told him to add a few more Psalms and prostrations, and to
repeat constantly, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me." Naturally,
he heeded his conscience.
Durint the day, he cared for the needs of people living in the palace
of Patricius. At night, his prayers grew longer and he remained
praying until midnight. Once, as he was praying in this way, a most
brilliant divine radiance descended upon him and filled the room. He
saw nothing but light all around him, and he was not even aware of the
ground beneath his feet.
It seemed to him that he himself became light. Then his mind rose
upward to the heavens, and he saw a second light brighter than the
light which surrounded him. Then, on the edge of this second light, he
seemed to see St Simeon the Pious, who had given him St Mark the
Ascetic to read.
Seven years after this vision, St Simeon entered the monastery. There
he increased his fasting and vigilance, and learned to renounce his
own will.
The Enemy of our salvation stirred up the brethren of the monastery
against St Simeon, who was indifferent to the praises or reproaches of
others. Because of the increased discontent in the monastery, St
Simeon was sent to the Monastery of St Mamas in Constantinople.
There he was tonsured into the monastic schema, and increased his
spiritual struggles. He attained to a high spiritual level, and
increased his knowledge of spiritual things through reading the Holy
Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers, as well as in conversation
with holy Elders.
Around the year 980, St Simeon was made igumen of the monastery of St
Mamas and continued in this office for twenty-five years. He repaired
and restored the monastery, which had suffered from neglect, and also
brought order to the life of the monks.
The strict monastic discipline, for which St Simeon strove, led to
great dissatisfaction among the brethren. Once, after Liturgy, some of
the monks attacked him and nearly killed him. When the Patriarch of
Constantinople expelled them from the monastery and wanted to hand
them over to the civil authorities, St Simeon asked that they be
treated with leniency and be permitted to live in the world.
About the year 1005, St Simeon resigned his position as igumen in
favor of Arsenius, while he himself settled near the monastery in
peace. There he composed his theological works, portions of which
appear in the PHILOKALIA.
The chief theme of his works is the hidden activity of spiritual
perfection, and the struggle against the passions and sinful thoughts.
He wrote instructions for monks: "Theological and Practical Chapters,"
"A Treatise on the Three Methods of Prayer," (in Vol. IV of the
English PHILOKALIA) and "A Treatise on Faith." Moreover, St Simeon was
an outstanding church poet. He also wrote "Hymns of Divine Love,"
about seventy poems filled with profound prayerful meditations.
The sublime teachings of St Simeon about the mysteries of mental
prayer and spiritual struggle have earned him the title "the New
Theologian." These teachings were not the invention of St Simeon, but
they had merely been forgotten over time.
Some of these teachings seemed unacceptable and strange to his
contemporaries. This led to conflict with Constantinople's church
authorities, and St Simeon was banished from the city. He withdrew
across the Bosphorus and settled in the ancient monastery of St
Makrina.
The saint peacefully fell asleep in the Lord in the year 1021. During
his life he received the gift of working miracles. Numerous miracles
also took place after his death; one of them was the miraculous
discovery of his icon.
His Life was written by his cell-attendant and disciple, St Nicetas
Stethatos.
Since March 12 falls during Great Lent, St Simeon's Feast is
transfered to October 12.
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Icon "Not Made by Hands" from Lydda
The wonder-working Lydda Icon is mentioned in the service for the
Kazan Icon (July 8 & October 22) in the third Ode of the Canon.
According to Tradition, the Apostles Peter and John were preaching in
Lydda (later called Diospolis) near Jerusalem. There they built a
church dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, then went to Jerusalem
and asked her to come and sanctify the church by her presence. She
sent them back to Lydda and said, "Go in peace, and I shall be there
with you."
Arriving at Lydda, they found an icon of the Virgin imprinted in color
on the wall of the church (some sources say the image was on a
pillar). Then the Mother of God appeared and rejoiced at the number of
people who had gathered there. She blessed the icon and gave it the
power to work miracles. This icon was not made by the hand of man, but
by a divine power.
Julian the Apostate (reigned 361-363) heard about the icon and tried
to eradicate it. Masons with sharp tools chipped away at the image,
but the paint and lines just seemed to penetrate deeper into the
stone. Those whom the emperor had sent were unable to destroy the
icon. As word of this miracle spread, millions of people came to
venerate the icon.
In the eighth century, St Germanus, the future Patriarch of
Constantinople (May 12) passed through Lydda. He had a copy of the
icon made, and sent it to Rome during the iconoclastic controversy. It
was placed in the church of St Peter, and was the source of many
healings. In 842, the reproduction was returned to Constantinople and
was known as the Roman Icon (June 26).
The oldest sources of information for the Lydda Icon are a document
attributed to St Andrew of Crete in 726, a letter written by three
eastern Patriarchs to the iconoclast emperor Theophilus in 839, and a
work of George the Monk in 886.
The icon still existed as late as the ninth century.
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Righteous King Demetrius Tavdadebuli of Georgia
No information on the life of this saint is available at this time.
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St Kirion II, Catholicos of Georgia
No information available at this time.
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