[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sat Mar 15 05:00:22 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat Mar 15 2008

----------------------------------------------------
------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------

Hebrews 1:1-12  (Epistle)
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to
the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has
appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His
person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had
by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty
on high,
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by
inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I
have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He
shall be to Me a Son"?
6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let
all the angels of God worship Him."
7 And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His
ministers a flame of fire."
8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A
scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God,
Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your
companions."
10 And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a
garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But
You are the same, And Your years will not fail."
Scripture Reading 1 of 4

-----------------------------

2 Timothy 2:1-10  (Epistle, St. Theodore)
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses,
commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ.
4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this
life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless
he competes according to the rules.
6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all
things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from
the dead according to my gospel,
9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of
chains; but the word of God is not chained.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they
also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal
glory.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4

-----------------------------

Mark 2:23-3:5  (Gospel)
23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the
Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of
grain.
24 And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not
lawful on the Sabbath?"
25 But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he
was in need and hungry, he and those with him:
26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high
priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for
the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?
27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for
the Sabbath.
28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.
1 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a
withered hand.
2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the
Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.
3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward."
4 Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to
do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent.
5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by
the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your
hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as
the other.
Scripture Reading 3 of 4

-----------------------------

John 15:17-16:2  (Gospel, St. Theodore)
17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
18 If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated
you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because
you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore
the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater
than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake,
because they do not know Him who sent Me.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but
now they have no excuse for their sin.
23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they
would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and
My Father.
25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written
in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'
26 But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the
Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will
testify of Me.
27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from
the beginning.
1 These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to
stumble.
2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming
that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.
Scripture Reading 4 of 4

----------------------------------------------------
------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------

1st Saturday of Great Lent St Theodore the Recruit
Today we remember the miracle of St Theodore and the boiled wheat.
Fifty years after the death of St Theodore, the emperor Julian the
Apostate (361-363), wanting to commit an outrage upon the Christians,
commanded the city-commander of Constantinople during the first week
of Great Lent to sprinkle all the food provisions in the marketplaces
with the blood offered to idols. St Theodore appeared in a dream to
Archbishop Eudoxius, ordering him to inform all the Christians that no
one should buy anything at the marketplaces, but rather to eat cooked
wheat with honey (kolyva).
In memory of this occurrence, the Orthodox Church annually celebrates
the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit on the first Saturday of
Great Lent. On Friday evening, at the Divine Liturgy of the
Presanctified Gifts following the prayer at the ambo, the Canon to the
holy Great Martyr Theodore, composed by St John of Damascus, is sung.
After this, kolyva is blessed and distributed to the faithful. The
celebration of the Great Martyr Theodore on the first Saturday of
Great Lent was set by the Patriarch Nectarius of Constantinople
(381-397).
The Troparion to St Theodore is quite similar to the Troparion for the
Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths (December 17, Sunday Before
Nativity). The Kontakion to St Theodore, who suffered martyrdom by
fire, reminds us that he also had faith as his breastplate (see I
Thessalonians 5:8).
Saint Theodore is also commemorated on February 17.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Agapius at Caesarea, in Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Agapius, Publius, Timolaus, Romulus, Alexander,
Alexander, Dionysius and Dionysius suffered under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305) in the city of Palestinian Caesarea. During one
of the pagan festivals they began to torture and execute Christians
who refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
The Martyr Timolaus (August 19) was sentenced to burning, and the
Martyrs Agapius and Thekla (August 19) were sentenced to be torn apart
by wild beasts. A group of young Christians: Publius, Timolaus,
Alexander, another Alexander, Dionysius, and Romulus, the subdeacon of
the Diospolis church decided to confess their faith and suffer for
Christ.
As a sign of their voluntary deed they tied their own hands behind
their backs and appeared before the governor Urbanus. Seeing their
youth, the governor tried to persuade them to reconsider their
decision, but in vain. He then threw them in prison, where there were
already two Christians, Agapius and his servant Dionysius. All these
saints were subjected to terrible tortures and beheaded.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Publius (Pausis) at Caesarea, in Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Publius, Agapius, Timolaus, Romulus, Alexander,
Alexander, Dionysius and Dionysius suffered under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305) in the city of Palestinian Caesarea. During one
of the pagan festivals they began to torture and execute Christians
who refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
The Martyr Timolaus (August 19) was sentenced to burning, and the
Martyrs Agapius and Thekla (August 19) were sentenced to be torn apart
by wild beasts. A group of young Christians: Publius, Timolaus,
Alexander, another Alexander, Dionysius, and Romulus, the subdeacon of
the Diospolis church decided to confess their faith and suffer for
Christ.
As a sign of their voluntary deed they tied their own hands behind
their backs and appeared before the governor Urbanus. Seeing their
youth, the governor tried to persuade them to reconsider their
decision, but in vain. He then threw them in prison, where there were
already two Christians, Agapius and his servant Dionysius. All these
saints were subjected to terrible tortures and beheaded.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Timolaus at Caesarea, in Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Timolaus, Agapius, Publius, Romulus, Alexander,
Alexander, Dionysius and Dionysius suffered under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305) in the city of Palestinian Caesarea. During one
of the pagan festivals they began to torture and execute Christians
who refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
The Martyr Timolaus (August 19) was sentenced to burning, and the
Martyrs Agapius and Thekla (August 19) were sentenced to be torn apart
by wild beasts. A group of young Christians: Publius, Timolaus,
Alexander, another Alexander, Dionysius, and Romulus, the subdeacon of
the Diospolis church decided to confess their faith and suffer for
Christ.
As a sign of their voluntary deed they tied their own hands behind
their backs and appeared before the governor Urbanus. Seeing their
youth, the governor tried to persuade them to reconsider their
decision, but in vain. He then threw them in prison, where there were
already two Christians, Agapius and his servant Dionysius. All these
saints were subjected to terrible tortures and beheaded.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Romulus at Caesarea, in Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Romulus, Agapius, Publius, Timolaus, Alexander,
Alexander, Dionysius and Dionysius suffered under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305) in the city of Palestinian Caesarea. During one
of the pagan festivals they began to torture and execute Christians
who refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
The Martyr Timolaus (August 19) was sentenced to burning, and the
Martyrs Agapius and Thekla (August 19) were sentenced to be torn apart
by wild beasts. A group of young Christians: Publius, Timolaus,
Alexander, another Alexander, Dionysius, and Romulus, the subdeacon of
the Diospolis church decided to confess their faith and suffer for
Christ.
As a sign of their voluntary deed they tied their own hands behind
their backs and appeared before the governor Urbanus. Seeing their
youth, the governor tried to persuade them to reconsider their
decision, but in vain. He then threw them in prison, where there were
already two Christians, Agapius and his servant Dionysius. All these
saints were subjected to terrible tortures and beheaded.
_________________________________________________________________
2 Martyrs Named Dionysius at Caesarea in Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Dionysius, Dionysius, Agapius, Publius, Timolaus,
Romulus, Alexander, and Alexander suffered under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305) in the city of Palestinian Caesarea. During one
of the pagan festivals they began to torture and execute Christians
who refused to offer sacrifice to idols.
The Martyr Timolaus (August 19) was sentenced to burning, and the
Martyrs Agapius and Thekla (August 19) were sentenced to be torn apart
by wild beasts. A group of young Christians: Publius, Timolaus,
Alexander, another Alexander, Dionysius, and Romulus, the subdeacon of
the Diospolis church decided to confess their faith and suffer for
Christ.
As a sign of their voluntary deed they tied their own hands behind
their backs and appeared before the governor Urbanus. Seeing their
youth, the governor tried to persuade them to reconsider their
decision, but in vain. He then threw them in prison, where there were
already two Christians, Agapius and his servant Dionysius. All these
saints were subjected to terrible tortures and beheaded.
_________________________________________________________________
2 Martyrs named Alexander, at Caesarea in Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Alexander, Alexander, Agapius, Publius, Timolaus,
Romulus, Dionysius and Dionysius suffered under the emperor Diocletian
(284-305) in the city of Palestinian Caesarea. During one of the pagan
festivals they began to torture and execute Christians who refused to
offer sacrifice to idols.
The Martyr Timolaus (August 19) was sentenced to burning, and the
Martyrs Agapius and Thekla (August 19) were sentenced to be torn apart
by wild beasts. A group of young Christians: Publius, Timolaus,
Alexander, another Alexander, Dionysius, and Romulus, the subdeacon of
the Diospolis church decided to confess their faith and suffer for
Christ.
As a sign of their voluntary deed they tied their own hands behind
their backs and appeared before the governor Urbanus. Seeing their
youth, the governor tried to persuade them to reconsider their
decision, but in vain. He then threw them in prison, where there were
already two Christians, Agapius and his servant Dionysius. All these
saints were subjected to terrible tortures and beheaded.
_________________________________________________________________
Hieromartyr Alexander of Side, in Pamphylia
The Hieromartyr Alexander was from Side, Pamphylia. He suffered for
Christ during the persecution under the emperor Aurelian (270-275).
The saint was interrogated by the governor Antoninus and given over to
fierce tortures.
Miraculously preserved by the Lord, the saint underwent all the
tortures with surprising endurance, and finally, he was beheaded. Just
as the torturer Antoninus went from the judgment place, he was
possessed by demons and perished in frenzied convulsions.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Nicander of Egypt
The Holy Martyr Nicander suffered in Egypt under the emperor
Diocletian (284-305). He was a physician and during a time of
persecution he visited Christians in prison. He assisted them, brought
them food, and buried the dead.
Once, he came to the place where the bodies of the martyrs were thrown
to be eaten by wild beasts. Fearing to bury them by day, he waited for
night and buried the bodies under cover of darkness. They discovered
St Nicander and subjected him to terrible tortures: they skinned him
alive and then beheaded him in 302.
_________________________________________________________________