[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed Mar 19 05:00:17 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed Mar 19 2008

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Isaiah 5:16-25  (6th Hour)
16 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is
holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.
17 Then the lambs shall feed in their pasture, And in the waste places
of the fat ones strangers shall eat.
18 Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, And sin as if
with a cart rope;
19 That say, Let Him make speed and hasten His work, That we may see
it; And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come,
That we may know it.
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness
for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet
for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their
own sight!
22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing
intoxicating drink,
23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the
righteous man!
24 Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes
the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will
ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of
hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people; He
has stretched out His hand against them And stricken them, And the
hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the
streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is
stretched out still.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3

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Genesis 4:16-26  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the
land of Nod on the east of Eden.
17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he
built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his
sonEnoch.
18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot
Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.
19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah,
and the name of the second was Zillah.
20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents
and have livestock.
21 His brothers name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who
play the harp and flute.
22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every
craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
23 Then Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for
wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me.
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.
25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him
Seth, For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom
Cain killed.
26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him
Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.
Scripture Reading 2 of 3

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Proverbs 5:15-6:4  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
15 Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own
well.
16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the
streets?
17 Let them be only your own, And not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your
youth.
19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at
all times; And always be enraptured with her love.
20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, And
be embraced in the arms of a seductress?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders
all his paths.
22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the
cords of his sin.
23 He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his
folly he shall go astray.
1 My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken
hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the
words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the
hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.
4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids.
Scripture Reading 3 of 3

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Martyr Chrysanthus and those with him at Rome
The Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria and with them the Martyrs
Claudius the Tribune with his wife Hilaria and their sons Jason and
Maurus, and Diodorus the Presbyter and Marianus the Deacon.
St Chrysanthus came from a pagan family who had moved to Rome from
Alexandria. He received a fine education, and among the books he read
were those in which pagans discussed Christianity. The young man,
however, wanted to read books written by Christians themselves. He
finally managed to find a copy of the New Testament, which enlightened
his rational soul.
Seeking someone to instruct him in the Holy Scriptures, he found the
presbyter Carpophoros hiding from persecution, and received holy
Baptism from him. After this, he began to preach the Gospel.
Chrysanthus' father tried to turn his son from Christianity, and
finally married him to Daria, a priestess of Minerva.
St Chrysanthus managed to convert his wife to Christ, and the young
couple mutually agreed to lead celibate lives. After the death of the
father, they began to live in separate houses. St Chrysanthus
converted several young men to Christ, and many pious women gathered
around St Daria.
The people of Rome complained to the eparch Celerinus that Sts
Chrysanthus and Daria were preaching celibacy and attracting too many
young men and women to monasticism. St Chrysanthus was sent to the
tribune Claudius for torture.
The torments, however, did not shake the bravery of the young martyr,
since the power of God clearly aided him. Struck by this, the tribune
Claudius himself came to believe in Christ and accepted holy Baptism
together with his wife Hilaria, their sons Jason and Maurus, and all
his household and soldiers. When news of this reached the emperor
Numerian (283-284), he commanded them all to be executed. The Martyr
Claudius was drowned in the sea, and his sons and soldiers were
beheaded. Christians buried the bodies of the holy martyrs in a nearby
cave, and St Hilaria constantly went there to pray. Once, they
followed her and led her off for torture. The saint asked that they
give her a few moments to pray, and as soon as she finished, she gave
up her soul to God. A servant buried the saint in the cave beside her
sons.
The torturers sent St Daria to a brothel, where she was protected by a
lion sent by God. A certain man who tried to defile the saint was
knocked to the ground and pinned down by the lion, but the lion did
not kill him. The martyr preached to them about Christ and set them to
the path of salvation.
They threw St Chrysanthus into a foul-smelling pit, into which all the
filth of the city flowed. But a heavenly light shone on him, and the
pit was filled with a sweet fragrance.
Then the emperor Numerian ordered Sts Chrysanthus and Daria to be
turned over to the executioners. After many cruel tortures, the
martyrs were buried alive in the ground.
In a cave near the place of execution, Christians began to gather to
honor the anniversary of the saints' martyrdom. They celebrated Church
services and partook of the Holy Mysteries. Learning of this, the
pagan authorities sealed the entrance to the cave, and those within
received the crown of martyrdom.
Two of these martyrs are known by name: the Presbyter Diodorus and the
Deacon Marianus.
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Martyr Daria and those with her at Rome
The Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria and with them the Martyrs
Claudius the Tribune with his wife Hilaria and their sons Jason and
Maurus, and Diodorus the Presbyter and Marianus the Deacon.
St Chrysanthus came from a pagan family who had moved to Rome from
Alexandria. He received a fine education, and among the books he read
were those in which pagans discussed Christianity. The young man,
however, wanted to read books written by Christians themselves. He
finally managed to find a copy of the New Testament, which enlightened
his rational soul.
Seeking someone to instruct him in the Holy Scriptures, he found the
presbyter Carpophoros hiding from persecution, and received holy
Baptism from him. After this, he began to preach the Gospel.
Chrysanthus' father tried to turn his son from Christianity, and
finally married him to Daria, a priestess of Minerva.
St Chrysanthus managed to convert his wife to Christ, and the young
couple mutually agreed to lead celibate lives. After the death of the
father, they began to live in separate houses. St Chrysanthus
converted several young men to Christ, and many pious women gathered
around St Daria.
The people of Rome complained to the eparch Celerinus that Sts
Chrysanthus and Daria were preaching celibacy and attracting too many
young men and women to monasticism. St Chrysanthus was sent to the
tribune Claudius for torture.
The torments, however, did not shake the bravery of the young martyr,
since the power of God clearly aided him. Struck by this, the tribune
Claudius himself came to believe in Christ and accepted holy Baptism
together with his wife Hilaria, their sons Jason and Maurus, and all
his household and soldiers. When news of this reached the emperor
Numerian (283-284), he commanded them all to be executed. The Martyr
Claudius was drowned in the sea, and his sons and soldiers were
beheaded. Christians buried the bodies of the holy martyrs in a nearby
cave, and St Hilaria constantly went there to pray. Once, they
followed her and led her off for torture. The saint asked that they
give her a few moments to pray, and as soon as she finished, she gave
up her soul to God. A servant buried the saint in the cave beside her
sons.
The torturers sent St Daria to a brothel, where she was protected by a
lion sent by God. A certain man who tried to defile the saint was
knocked to the ground and pinned down by the lion, but the lion did
not kill him. The martyr preached to them about Christ and set them to
the path of salvation.
They threw St Chrysanthus into a foul-smelling pit, into which all the
filth of the city flowed. But a heavenly light shone on him, and the
pit was filled with a sweet fragrance.
Then the emperor Numerian ordered Sts Chrysanthus and Daria to be
turned over to the executioners. After many cruel tortures, the
martyrs were buried alive in the ground.
In a cave near the place of execution, Christians began to gather to
honor the anniversary of the saints' martyrdom. They celebrated Church
services and partook of the Holy Mysteries. Learning of this, the
pagan authorities sealed the entrance to the cave, and those within
received the crown of martyrdom.
Two of these martyrs are known by name: the Presbyter Diodorus and the
Deacon Marianus.
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Martyr Claudius and those with him at Rome
The Holy Martyrs Claudius the Tribune, his wife Hilaria and their sons
Jason and Maurus, and Diodorus the Presbyter and Marianus the Deacon
suffered with Sts Chrysanthus and Daria.
The tribune Claudius himself came to believe in Christ and accepted
holy Baptism together with his wife Hilaria, their sons Jason and
Maurus, and all his household and soldiers. When news of this reached
the emperor Numerian (283-284), he commanded them all to be executed.
St Claudius was drowned in the sea, and his sons and soldiers were
beheaded. Christians buried the bodies of the holy martyrs in a nearby
cave, and St Hilaria constantly went there to pray. Once, they
followed her and led her off t be tortured. The saint asked that they
give her a few moments to pray, and as soon as she finished, she gave
up her soul to God. A servant buried the saint in the cave beside her
sons.
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Martyr Hilaria and those with her at Rome
The Holy Martyrs Hilaria, her husband Claudius the Tribune, and their
sons Jason and Maurus, and Diodorus the Presbyter and Marianus the
Deacon suffered with Sts Chrysanthus and Daria.
The tribune Claudius himself came to believe in Christ and accepted
holy Baptism together with his wife Hilaria, their sons Jason and
Maurus, and all his household and soldiers. When news of this reached
the emperor Numerian (283-284), he commanded them all to be executed.
The Martyr Claudius was drowned in the sea, and his sons and soldiers
were beheaded. Christians buried the bodies of the holy martyrs in a
nearby cave, and St Hilaria constantly went there to pray. Once, they
followed her and led her off for torture. The saint asked that they
give her a few moments to pray, and as soon as she finished, she gave
up her soul to God. A servant buried the saint in the cave beside her
sons.
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Martyr Jason
Saints Jason and Maurus were the sons of Sts Claudius and Hilaria, and
suffered martyrdom with Sts Chrysanthus and Daria.
The tribune Claudius himself came to believe in Christ and accepted
holy Baptism together with his wife Hilaria, their sons Jason and
Maurus, and all his household and soldiers. When news of this reached
the emperor Numerian (283-284), he commanded them all to be executed.
The Martyr Claudius was drowned in the sea, and his sons and soldiers
were beheaded. Christians buried the bodies of the holy martyrs in a
nearby cave, and St Hilaria constantly went there to pray. Once, they
followed her and led her off for torture. The saint asked that they
give her a few moments to pray, and as soon as she finished, she gave
up her soul to God. A servant buried the saint in the cave beside her
sons.
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Martyr Maurus and those with him at Rome
Saints Maurus and Jason were the sons of Sts Claudius and Hilaria, and
suffered martyrdom with Sts Chrysanthus and Daria.
The tribune Claudius himself came to believe in Christ and accepted
holy Baptism together with his wife Hilaria, their sons Jason and
Maurus, and all his household and soldiers. When news of this reached
the emperor Numerian (283-284), he commanded them all to be executed.
The Martyr Claudius was drowned in the sea, and his sons and soldiers
were beheaded. Christians buried the bodies of the holy martyrs in a
nearby cave, and St Hilaria constantly went there to pray. Once, they
followed her and led her off for torture. The saint asked that they
give her a few moments to pray, and as soon as she finished, she gave
up her soul to God. A servant buried the saint in the cave beside her
sons.
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Martyr Diodorus the Presbyter and those with him at Rome
Saints Diodorus the presbyter and Marianus the deacon suffered
martyrdom with Sts Chrysanthus and Daria.
In a cave near the place of execution, Christians began to gather to
honor the anniversary of the saints' martyrdom. They celebrated Church
services and partook of the Holy Mysteries. Learning of this, the
pagan authorities sealed the entrance to the cave, and those within
received the crown of martyrdom.
Two of these martyrs are known by name: the Presbyter Diodorus and the
Deacon Marianus.
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Martyr Marianus the Deacon and those with him at Rome
Saints Marianus the deacon and Diodorus the presbyter suffered
martyrdom with Sts Chrysanthus and Daria.
In a cave near the place of execution, Christians began to gather to
honor the anniversary of the saints' martyrdom. They celebrated Church
services and partook of the Holy Mysteries. Learning of this, the
pagan authorities sealed the entrance to the cave, and those within
received the crown of martyrdom.
Two of these martyrs are known by name: the Presbyter Diodorus and the
Deacon Marianus.
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St Innocent of Komel the Disciple of St Nilus of Sora,
Vologda
Saint Innocent of Komel and Vologda was born at Moscow, and was
descended from the Moscow princely family of Okhlyabinin. He became a
monk in the monastery of St Cyril of White Lake (June 9), and was put
under the guidance of St Nilus of Sora (May 7).
Sts Innocent and Nilus wandered through the East visiting Palestine,
Constantinople, and spent several years at the monasteries of Mt.
Athos. Having returned to Rus, the saints did not return to their
original St Cyril of White Lake monastery, but to solitary cells for
monastic seclusion. Out of love for wilderness-life they then withdrew
into the impassable forest at the River Sora, some fifteen versts from
the monastery. Here they set up a cross, dug a well, and built
separate cells, after the manner of the skete monasteries. A church
was built on a marshy spot, and there the hermits led strict lives.
Foreseeing his own demise, St Nilus sent St Innocent to the River
Nurma and predicted to him: "God is sending you there, and yours shall
be a cenobitic monastery; after my death, my wilderness monastery will
remain as it was during my life, with the brothers living separately
each in his own cell." Upon the death of St Nilus, his holy disciple
withdrew into the Vologda hinterland and in 1491 he built a cell at
the River Eda, which flows into the River Nurma. In a short while
disciples began to gather to him. Following the final command of his
teacher, St Innocent did not seek any donations for it. St Innocent
labored for thirty years at building his monastery. He left behind an
instruction for the brethren, based on the works of the holy Fathers,
particularly the writings of St Nilus of Sora. St Innocent bade them
first of all to avoid wrangling and disputes and asked them to
preserve love for Christ and spiritual peace. The saint forbid young
and beardless monks to be accepted and tonsured at his monastery, and
he forbid women to enter the monastery. A monk who left the monastery
lost his right to a cell, and if he returned, then he could occupy it
only with the consent of the igumen and the brethren. The monk asked
that a future church be consecrated in the name of St John the
Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord, in commemoration of the Third
Finding of his Venerable Head (25 May), because St John is a patron
for all monks and wilderness dwellers (later, the monastery was called
Transfiguration after its chief temple).
St Innocent died on March 19, 1521. In accordance with his last wish,
he was buried in a corner of the monastery near a marsh. A stone was
placed on his grave inscribed with the year, month and day of his
repose.
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Martyr Pancharius at Nicomedia
The Holy Martyr Pancharius was a friend of the emperor Diocletian. He
abandoned Christianity and became a pagan. His mother and sister sent
him a letter in which they urged the apostate to fear God and the
dread Last Judgment. Having repented, St Pancharius openly confessed
his faith before the emperor, for which he suffered torture at Rome.
Then he was sent to Nicomedia and beheaded in 303.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk the "Sweet-Kissing"
The Smolensk "Tenderness" Icon of the Mother of God manifested itself
in the year 1103 at Smolensk. There is another Smolensk "Tenderness"
Icon from the vicinity of Okopa (down from Smolensk). This icon was in
the encampment of the Russian armies of the military commander Shein,
restraining the Polish besiegers from destroying Smolensk for twenty
months (1611-1613).
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Icon of the Mother of God of Lubyatov
This holy icon, which dates from the fifteenth century, was in the St
Nicholas monastery church in the Pskov region.
There was once a silver plaque with an inscription from 1890 on the
reverse of the icon. It told of how Tsar Ivan the Terrible came to the
monastery of St Nicholas at Lubyatov during Great Lent in 1570. He had
stopped there on his way to punish the people of Pskov, for he
believed that they were about to give their allegiance to the Prince
of Lithuania.
During the morning service, he happened to gaze at the icon of the
Mother of God, and his heart was moved to compunction. "Let the
killing stop," he said. "Put away your swords."
Soldiers of the Polish king Stephen Batory shot at the icon as they
were on their way to attack Pskov in 1581.
Communists confiscated the icon in 1928, and in 1930 it was placed in
the Tretiakov Gallery.
The icon has elements from three other types of icons of the Mother of
God. Essentially, it belongs to the Eleousa type, like the Vladimir
Icon (May 21, June 23, August 26). The gesture of the divine Child
resembles the "Sweet-Kissing" or "Tenderness" Icon of Smolensk (March
19), and the scroll seems to come from the Hodigitria Icon (July 28).
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