[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed May 14 05:00:13 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed May 14 2008

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Acts 8:18-25  (Epistle)
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles'
hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands
may receive the Holy Spirit."
20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you
thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is
not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps
the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by
iniquity.
24 Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none
of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."
25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they
returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the
Samaritans.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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John 6:35-39  (Gospel)
35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me
shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes
to Me I will by no means cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the
will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has
given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last
day.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Martyr Isidore of Chios
No information available at this time.
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Venerable Isidore the Fool-For-Christ and Wonderworker of
Rostov
Saint Isidore Tverdislov ("Constant of Word"), Fool-for-Christ,
Wonderworker of Rostov. He was born in Germany of rich parents. From
his youth, he led "an unsullied life and had a compassionate
understanding." Leaving his parental home and "desiring the Kingdom of
God," St Isidore distributed his wealth to the poor. Taking up the
staff of a wanderer, he visited many lands and cities.
It is not known where he accepted the holy Orthodox Faith, but he was
raised in Catholicism. Finally, he arrived in Russia and decided to
live in Rostov. Here St Isidore, "in filth and snow and rain and cold"
and "enduring every outrage," settled in a rickety wooden hut that he
himself had made. He chose a foolish manner of life for the sake of
Christ, which St Paul describes in his Epistle" (1 Cor.4:10-13).
St Isidore spent all his time at unceasing prayer, not allowing
himself much sleep or rest. "He stood at all night vigil and praise"
to dedicate his body "everlastingly to God."
By day the blessed one made the rounds of the city, acting like a
fool. "Like Job of old in his patience," Blessed Isidore, while still
alive, was "lan earthly angel and a heavenly man," "a compassionate
soul, and pure of thought, and vigilant heart and faith unassailed,
and true love without pretense." During his life he received the grace
to work miracles.
St Isidore reposed in the year 1474. They learned of his death only
when passing by his hut they noticed a special fragrance. At the place
of his burial in the city of Rostov the church of the Ascension of the
Lord was built, in which his relics rest in a crypt as a source of
miracles to the present day.
Blessed Isidore is termed "Tverdislov" ["Constant of Word"] since that
he spoke constantly. [The title "Tverdislov" seems unique to St
Isidore. This supplemental account of him is from Bulgakov's
NASTOLNAYA KNIGA (1900).]
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St Nikita the Bishop of Novgorod and Recluse, of the Kiev Far
Caves
Saint Nikita, Hermit of the Kiev Caves, Bishop of Novgorod (+1109):
The memory of St Nikita was celebrated on May 14 at Novgorod, where
his relics are located. The saint is also commemorated on January 31,
the day of his repose, and on April 30, the day of the Uncovering of
his Relics (1558).
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Martyr Maximus
The Holy Martyr Maximus suffered under the emperor Decius (249-251).
Maximus was a layman and a merchant. He was a devout Christian and he
led many pagans to faith in Christ the Savior, and persuaded them to
accept Baptism.
Once, when the pagans had gathered to offer a human sacrifice to their
gods, St Maximus plucked up his courage, unable to bear the sight of
such a spectacle, and rushed at them, loudly denouncing their impiety
and error, calling the idols soulless creations of mankind. The
frenzied pagans stoned the martyr to death.
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Venerable Serapion of Egypt
Saint Serapion lived during the fifth century in Egypt. He was called
the linen cloth-wearer (Sindonite) since he wore only a coarse linen
garb called a "sindon." From his youth the monk lived like the birds
of the air, without a shelter.
For several days at a time he did not eat, not having the means to buy
bread. He gave away his sindon to a beggar who was shivering from the
cold, and he himself was naked.
A certain Greek philosopher, wishing to test the non-covetousness of
the monk, gave him a gold coin and watched him. The saint went to the
bakery, bought one loaf of bread, gave the merchant the gold coin and
left, having no regard for the value of the money.
St Serapion led many on the way of salvation. Once, he was the servant
of a Greek actor, whom he converted to Christ. The actor, imitating
the example of the holy life of the saint, believed and was baptized
together with all his family. He asked St Serapion to remain with him
not as a servant, but as a guide and friend, but the monk went away,
not taking any of the money offered him.
Traveling to Rome, St Serapion got on a ship, but paid nothing to the
ship owners. At first they began to reproach him for this, but
noticing that the Elder had gone five days already without eating,
they began to feed him for the sake of God, and in this they fulfilled
the command of the Lord.
At Rome, the saint continued to wander about, going from house to
house, having nothing, accumulating only spiritual wealth for himself
and for his neighbor.
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St Leontius the Patriarch of Jerusalem
Saint Leontius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, according to St Gregory
Palamas (Nov. 14), he was Patriarch from 1223-1261. His life was
similarly described by Theodore, a monk of Constantinople.
This Life was translated from Greek into the Russian language in an
abridged form. It was translated a second time more fully by St
Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (July 14), who says the death of the
Patriarch actually occured in 1175.
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First opening of the relics of St Tikhon of Zadonsk
The incorrupt relics of St Tikhon of Zadonsk were first uncovered in
May 1846, during the construction of the new cathedral at Zadonsk.
They were found beneath the altar of the old church.
St Tikhon is also commemorated on August 13.
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Icon of the Mother of God "the Sweet-Kissing"
No information available at this time.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Chelnsk and Pskov Caves
The Yaroslavl (Pechersk) Icon of the Mother of God: In the city of
Yaroslavl the townswoman Alexandra Dobychkina suffered terribly for
seventeen years from emotional and bodily illness. In 1823 she saw in
a dream a church with an icon of the Mother of God. She decided to
seek out the Yaroslavl temple and icon she had seen in the vision.
This church turned out to be the temple in honor of the Procession of
the Venerable Wood of the Cross of the Lord (August 1), under the
belltower of the archbishop's residence. Entering the church, the
afflicted Alexandra saw on the wall the depiction of the Kiev Caves
Mother of God. Suddenly she had a powerful attack of fever, after
which there was some relief at first, and later a full healing from
the grievous illness. From that time, miraculous healings took place
when people prayed to the Most Hoy Theotokos.
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New Martyr Raiko (John) of Bulgaria
No information available at this time.
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Hieromartyr Therapontus of Cyprus
No information available at this time.
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