[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sat May 17 05:00:14 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat May 17 2008

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Acts 9:20-31  (Epistle)
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is
the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who
destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come
here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief
priests?"
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the
Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.
24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day
and night, to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the
wall in a large basket.
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the
disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that
he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he
declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had
spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name
of Jesus.
28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed
against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.
30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and
sent him out to Tarsus.
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had
peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the
comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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John 15:17-16:2  (Gospel)
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 2 of 2

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Apostle Andronicus of the Seventy
Saint Andronicus Apostle of the Seventy and Saint Junia were relatives
of the holy Apostle Paul. They labored much, preaching the Gospel to
pagans. St Paul mentions them in his Epistle to the Romans: "Salute
Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners, who are of note
among the Apostles, who also were in Christ, before me" (Romans 16:7).
St Andronicus was made Bishop of Pannonia, but his preaching also took
him and St Junia to other lands, far from the boundaries of his
diocese. Through the efforts of Sts Andronicus and Junia the Church of
Christ was strengthened, pagans were converted to the knowledge of
God, many pagan temples closed, and in their place Christian churches
were built. The service in honor of these saints states that they
suffered martyrdom for Christ.
In the fifth century, during the reign of the emperors Arcadius and
Honorius, their holy relics were uncovered on the outskirts of
Constantinople together with the relics of other martyrs at the gate
of Eugenius (February 22).
It was revealed to the pious cleric Nicholas Kalligraphos that among
the relics of these seventeen martyrs were the relics of the holy
Apostle Andronicus. Afterwards, a magnificent church was built on this
spot.
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St Junia
Saint Junia and Saint Andronicus of the Seventy were relatives of the
holy Apostle Paul. They labored much, preaching the Gospel to pagans.
St Paul mentions them in his Epistle to the Romans: "Salute Andronicus
and Junia, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners, who are of note among the
Apostles, who also were in Christ, before me" (Romans 16:7).
St Andronicus was made Bishop of Pannonia, but his preaching also took
him and St Junia to other lands, far from the boundaries of his
diocese. Through the efforts of Sts Andronicus and Junia the Church of
Christ was strengthened, pagans were converted to the knowledge of
God, many pagan temples closed, and in their place Christian churches
were built. The service in honor of these saints states that they
suffered martyrdom for Christ.
In the fifth century, during the reign of the emperors Arcadius and
Honorius, their holy relics were uncovered on the outskirts of
Constantinople together with the relics of other martyrs at the gate
of Eugenius (February 22).
It was revealed to the pious cleric Nicholas Kalligraphos that among
the relics of these seventeen martyrs were the relics of the holy
Apostle Andronicus. Afterwards, a magnificent church was built on this
spot.
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St Euphrosyne the Princess, (Eudoxia) of Moscow
Saint Euphrosyne, in the world Eudokia, was the daughter of the Suzdal
prince Demetrius Constantovich (+ 1383), and from 1367 was the wife of
the Moscow Great Prince Demetrius of the Don. Their happy union was
for Russia a pledge of unity and peace between Moscow and Suzdal.
St Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, and even St Sergius of Radonezh,
who baptized one of the sons of Demetrius and Eudokia, had a great
influence upon the spiritual life of Princess Eudokia. St Demetrius of
Priluki (February 11) was the godfather of another son.
The holy princess was a builder of churches. In 1387 she founded the
Ascension women's monastery in the Moscow Kremlin. In 1395, during
Tamerlane's invasion into the southern regions of Russia, the Vladimir
Icon of the Mother of God was transferred to Moscow upon her advice,
miraculously defending the Russian land. During Lent, the princess
secretly wore chains beneath her splendid royal garb. By her patronage
the famous icon of the Archangel Michael was painted, and later became
the patronal icon of the Kremlin's Archangel Cathedral.
After raising five sons (a sixth died in infancy), the princess was
tonsured as a nun with the name Euphrosyne. She completed her earthly
journey on July 7, 1407 and was buried in the Ascension monastery she
founded.
An old Russian church poem has survived, the lament of the princess
for her husband, who had died at the age of thirty-nine.
St Euphrosyne is also commemorated on July 7.
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Martyr Solochon at Chalcedon
Saint Solochon, a native of Egypt, suffered for Christ during the
reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305). The holy martyrs Pamphamirus
and Pamphalon also gave their lives for Christ at the same time. All
of them served in the imperial army in the regiment of the tribune
Campanus.
During the persecution against Christians by the emperors Maximian and
Diocletian, Campanus was sent to the city of Chalcedon with his
soldiers. All the soldiers of his regiment were required to offer
sacrifice in a pagan temple. The three soldiers, Sts Solochon,
Pamphamirus and Pamphalon, refused to offer sacrifice to idols,
explaining that they worshiped only the true God, the Lord Jesus
Christ.
On the orders of Campanus they were subjected to terrible tortures,
during which the holy martyrs Pamphamirus and Pamphalon died. St
Solochon survived the torture and remained alive, glorifying Christ.
In great anger, the torturer gave orders to open St Solochon's mouth
and force him to drink blood offered to idols. But St Solochon
clenched his teeth so strongly, that they could not open them even
with iron. The sword bent, and the saint broke his bonds and stood
before the torturer, continuing to glorify Christ. St Solochon heard a
voice from the heavens encouraging him to persevere to the end.
The saint endured a merciless beating, after which they dragged him
over sharp stones, demanding that he renounce Christ, but the holy
martyr remained steadfast. Then he was hung up by one hand, with a
heavy weight tied to his leg. St Solochon remained in this position
for about three hours. When finally they cut the ropes, then to
everyone's surprise, St Solochon stood upright on his feet, like a
healthy man. Insane with anger, Campanus took a stylus and thrust it
into the martyr's ear.
The sufferer fell down, and Campanus and the soldiers departed,
casting him aside. Christians carried the martyr to the house of a
certain pious widow and placed him on a cot. The saint ate some food
and conversed with the Christians, exhorting them to stand firmly for
the Faith, and then after he prayed and lifted up his eyes to heaven,
he surrendered his soul to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Martyr Pamphamirus at Chalcedon
The holy martyrs Pamphamirus, Solochon, and Pamphalon gave their lives
for Christ during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305). All of
them served in the imperial army in the regiment of the tribune
Campanus.
During the persecution against Christians by the emperors Maximian and
Diocletian, Campanus was sent to the city of Chalcedon with his
soldiers. All the soldiers of his regiment were required to offer
sacrifice in a pagan temple. The three soldiers, Sts Solochon,
Pamphamirus and Pamphalon, refused to offer sacrifice to idols,
explaining that they worshiped only the true God, the Lord Jesus
Christ.
On the orders of Campanus they were subjected to terrible tortures,
during which the holy martyrs Pamphamirus and Pamphalon died.
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Martyr Pamphalon at Chalcedon
The holy martyrs Pamphalon, Pamphamirus, and Solochon gave their lives
for Christ during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305). All of
them served in the imperial army in the regiment of the tribune
Campanus.
During the persecution against Christians by the emperors Maximian and
Diocletian, Campanus was sent to the city of Chalcedon with his
soldiers. All the soldiers of his regiment were required to offer
sacrifice in a pagan temple. The three soldiers, Sts Solochon,
Pamphamirus and Pamphalon, refused to offer sacrifice to idols,
explaining that they worshiped only the true God, the Lord Jesus
Christ.
On the orders of Campanus they were subjected to terrible tortures,
during which the holy martyrs Pamphamirus and Pamphalon died.
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St Stephen the Archbishop of Constantinople
Saint Stephen, Patriarch of Constantinople, was the younger son of
Emperor Basil the Macedonian, and was a brother of Emperor Leo the
Wise. He was ordained to the priesthood under Patriarch Photius. When
St Photius was compelled to resign the patriarchal throne in the year
886, St Stephen was elevated to the See of Constantinople. The saint
vigilantly stood watch over his spiritual flock, he was merciful and
interceded for the defenseless, he concerned himself with widows and
orphans, and distinguished himself by his temperance. He died
peacefully in the year 893 and was buried in the Sikellian monastery.
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Venerable Dodo of the St David-Gareji Monastery, Georgia
A companion of St. Davit of Gareji, St. Dodo belonged to the royal
family Andronikashvili. He was tonsured a monk while still an youth,
and was endowed with every virtue.
An admirer of poverty and solitude, he labored as a hermit at
Ninotsminda in Kakheti.
Having heard about the miracles of Davit of Gareji, St. Dodo set off
for the Gareji Wilderness to witness them himself. The venerable
fathers greeted one another warmly and began laboring there together.
After some time, St. Davit became deeply impressed with Dodos devotion
to the Faith, and he proposed that he take with him some of the other
monks and begin to construct cells on the opposite mountain.
The brothers built cells and began to labor there with great ardor.
Before long the number of cells had reached two hundred. St. Dodo
isolated himself in a narrow crevice, where there was barely room for
one man. Day and night, winter and summer, in the heat and the cold,
he prayed with penitent tears for the forgiveness of his sins, the
strengthening of the souls of his brothers, and the bolstering of the
true Faith throughout the country.
Once St. Davit miraculously healed the son of Prince Bubakar of
Rustavi. In return, the grateful prince donated food and other
necessities to the monks of Gareji Monastery. St. Davit took part of
his contributions and sent what remained to St. Dodo. He advised
Bubakar to have St. Dodo baptize him, and St. Dodo joyously baptized
Bubakar, his sons, and all his suite.
St. Dodo labored to an advanced age in the monastery he had founded
and reposed peacefully.
His spiritual sons and companions buried him in the cave where he had
labored, and a church was later built over his grave.
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Greatmartyr Nicholas of Sofia
No information available at this time.
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St Athanasius the New, Wonderworker and Archbishop of
Christianopolis
No information available at this time.
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