[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Mon May 19 05:44:13 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon May 19 2008

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Acts 10:1-16  (Epistle)
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of
what was called the Italian Regiment,
2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave
alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel
of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!"
4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it,
lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for
a memorial before God.
5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.
6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He
will tell you what you must do.
7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called
two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those
who waited on him continually.
8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to
Joppa.
9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city,
Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.
10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made
ready, he fell into a trance
11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the
four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.
12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild
beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.
13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything
common or unclean."
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has
cleansed you must not call common."
16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven
again.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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John 6:56-69  (Gospel)
56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in
him.
57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so
he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven-not as your fathers
ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.
59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This
is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about
this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?
62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was
before?
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The
words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from
the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray
Him.
65 And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to
Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father."
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him
no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have
the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the
Son of the living God.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Hieromartyr Patrick the Bishop of Prusa with his companions
Saint Patrick lived during the first century and was bishop of the
city of Prusa in Bythnia (Asia Minor). He openly and boldly preached
Christ the Savior, and denounced the error of the pagans.Therefore, he
and the priests, Acacius, Menander and Polyainus were arrested, and
brought to Julius, the prefect of the city for interrogation.
Julius was going to the hot springs for treatment, and he ordered that
the Christian bishop and the priests be brought along after him, bound
in iron chains. After he washed in the hot springs, Julius offered
sacrifice to his gods. He had St Patrick and the other prisoners
brought before him, ordering them to offer sacrifice to the pagan
gods, threatening punishment if they refused.
St Patrick replied, "I am a Christian and I worship the one true God,
Jesus Christ, Who has created the heavens and the earth, and these
warm springs for the benefit of all mankind."
Julius had the saint thrown into the hot spring, and with firm faith
the martyr prayed, "Lord, Jesus Christ, help Your servant," and he
remained unharmed.
In an impotent rage, Julius ordered St Patrick and his three
presbyters beheaded. They received their crowns of unfading glory from
Christ around the year 100. Hieromartyr Patrick, Bishop of Prusa, and
his companions: Presbyters Acacius, Menander, and Polyenus (2nd-3rd C)
Venerable Cornelius, Abbot and Wonderworker of Komel (+ 1537)
Venerable Cornelius, Abbot of Paleostrov (+ c 1420) Venerable Sergius
of Shukhtomsk (+ 1609) Martyr Caluf the Egyptian (+ 284-303) Saint
John, Bishop of the Goths in the Crimea (+ 790) Blessed John, Prince
of Uglich, tonsured Ignatius of Vologda (+ 1523) Martyrs Theotima and
Anastasia Right-believing Demetrius of the Don, Grand Prince of Moscow
(+ 1389) Saints Zosima, Priscilla and others Venerable Agapius
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---------- Saint Patrick lived during the first century and was bishop
of the city of Prusa in Bythnia (Asia Minor). He openly and boldly
preached Christ the Savior and denounced the error of the pagans. For
this he was taken together with the three presbyters, Akakios,
Menander and Polyainus, to be interrogated by Julius, the prefect of
the city. Julius was going to the hot springs for treatment, and he
ordered that the Christian bishop and the priests be brought along
after him, bound in iron chains. After he washed in the hot springs,
Julius offered sacrifice to his gods. He had St Patrick and the other
prisoners brought before him, ordering them to offer sacrifice to the
pagan gods, threatening punishment if they refused. St Patrick
replied, "I am a Christian and I worship the one true God, Jesus
Christ, Who has created the heavens and the earth, and these warm
springs for the benefit of all mankind." Julius had the saint thrown
into the hot spring, and with firm faith the martyr prayed, "Lord,
Jesus Christ, help Your servant," and he remained unharmed. In an
impotent rage, Julius ordered St Patrick and his three presbyters
beheaded. They received their crowns of unfading glory from Christ
around the year 100.
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Hieromartyr Acacius of Prusa
Saint Acacius was a priest and a disciple of St Patrick of Prusa in
Bithynia, and lived during the first century. St Patrick openly
preached Christ, and boldly denounced the error of the pagans.
Therefore, he and the priests, Acacius, Menander and Polyainus were
arrested, and brought to Julius, the prefect of the city for
interrogation.
Julius was going to the hot springs for treatment, and he ordered that
the Christian bishop and the priests be brought along after him, bound
in iron chains. After he washed in the hot springs, Julius offered
sacrifice to his gods. He had St Patrick and the other prisoners
brought before him, ordering them to offer sacrifice to the pagan
gods, threatening punishment if they refused.
St Patrick replied, "I am a Christian and I worship the one true God,
Jesus Christ, Who has created the heavens and the earth, and these
warm springs for the benefit of all mankind."
Julius had the saint thrown into the hot spring, and with firm faith
the martyr prayed, "Lord, Jesus Christ, help Your servant," and he
remained unharmed.
In an impotent rage, Julius ordered St Patrick and his three
presbyters beheaded. They received their crowns of unfading glory from
Christ around the year 100.
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Hieromartyr Menander of Prusa
Saint Menander was a priest and a disciple of St Patrick of Prusa in
Bithynia, and lived during the first century. St Patrick openly
preached Christ, and boldly denounced the error of the pagans.
Therefore, he and the priests, Acacius, Menander and Polyainus were
arrested, and brought to Julius, the prefect of the city for
interrogation.
Julius was going to the hot springs for treatment, and he ordered that
the Christian bishop and the priests be brought along after him, bound
in iron chains. After he washed in the hot springs, Julius offered
sacrifice to his gods. He had St Patrick and the other prisoners
brought before him, ordering them to offer sacrifice to the pagan
gods, threatening punishment if they refused.
St Patrick replied, "I am a Christian and I worship the one true God,
Jesus Christ, Who has created the heavens and the earth, and these
warm springs for the benefit of all mankind."
Julius had the saint thrown into the hot spring, and with firm faith
the martyr prayed, "Lord, Jesus Christ, help Your servant," and he
remained unharmed.
In an impotent rage, Julius ordered St Patrick and his three
presbyters beheaded. They received their crowns of unfading glory from
Christ around the year 100.
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Hieromartyr Polyainus of Prusa
Saint Polyainus was a priest and a disciple of St Patrick of Prusa in
Bithynia, and lived during the first century. St Patrick openly
preached Christ, and boldly denounced the error of the pagans.
Therefore, he and the priests, Acacius, Menander and Polyainus were
arrested, and brought to Julius, the prefect of the city for
interrogation.
Julius was going to the hot springs for treatment, and he ordered that
the Christian bishop and the priests be brought along after him, bound
in iron chains. After he washed in the hot springs, Julius offered
sacrifice to his gods. He had St Patrick and the other prisoners
brought before him, ordering them to offer sacrifice to the pagan
gods, threatening punishment if they refused.
St Patrick replied, "I am a Christian and I worship the one true God,
Jesus Christ, Who has created the heavens and the earth, and these
warm springs for the benefit of all mankind."
Julius had the saint thrown into the hot spring, and with firm faith
the martyr prayed, "Lord, Jesus Christ, help Your servant," and he
remained unharmed.
In an impotent rage, Julius ordered St Patrick and his three
presbyters beheaded. They received their crowns of unfading glory from
Christ around the year 100.
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Venerable Cornelius the Abbot of Komel, Vologda
Saint Cornelius of Komel was descended from the boyar (noble) family
Kriukov. His brother Lukian served at the court of the Great Prince of
Moscow. When Lukian, who was getting old, decided to go to the
monastery of St Cyril of White Lake, he was followed by Cornelius, who
longed for the solitary life from a young age.
After he was tonsured, the young Cornelius began his monastic
endeavors with a difficult obedience: he wore heavy chains in the
bakery. In his spare time he occupied himself with copying church
books. Because of his love for solitude, St Cornelius later left the
White Lake monastery, and he visited Rostov.
At Novgorod, St Gennadius (December 4) attempted to hold on to him,
but the ascetic settled in a desolate spot near Novgorod. When people
began to visit here also, he moved to the Tver Sabbatiev wilderness
monastery. Later, in 1497, he settled in the Komel forest, not far
from Vologda, where he built a cell. Monks began to gather around the
cell of St Cornelius. In 1501 he built a wooden church in honor of the
Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos. In that year
Metropolitan Simon ordained him as hieromonk.
In 1512, when the number of brethren had grown, the saint built a
stone church and he compiled a Rule for the brethren, based on the
Rules of Sts Joseph of Volokolamsk and Nilus of Sora. This was the
third monastic Rule written by Russian saints.
St Cornelius of Komel was distinguished by his charity toward the
unfortunate, and during a famine he built an orphanage in the
monastery courtyard. Because of his love for the poor and orphaned, St
Cornelius was often granted visions of St Anthony the Great (January
17), for whom he had a special reverence. He constructed a church at
his monastery in honor of this great ascetic.
The saint's strictness of life provoked some of the brethren to
grumbling, and St Cornelius was compelled to leave the monastery. He
settled at Lake Sursk, 70 versts from his monastery. At times he also
lived at the Trinity-Sergiev Lavra. Interceding for the monks of the
Korniliev monastery, Great Prince Basil Ivanovich urged the saint to
return to his own monastery. The ascetic gave in, and having returned
to his own monastery, he transferred its guidance to his disciple
Laurence and shut himself in his cell.
During a Tatar incursion into the Vologda region St Cornelius went
with them to the outskirts of White Lake. The saint died at the age of
eighty-two on May 19, 1537. Many disciples of St Cornelius were also
glorified for their holiness of life, Sts Gennadius of Liubimograd
(January 23), Cyril of New Lake (February 4), Herodion of Iloezersk
(September 28), Adrian of Poshekhonye (March 5), Laurence and Cassian
of Komel (May 16).
The commemoration of St Cornelius (May 19) was established on January
25, 1600 by Patriarch Job and a council of bishops. The Life of the
saint was written by his disciple Nathaniel in the year 1589. There is
a service and an encomium to the saint, and the Rule of St Cornelius
has been preserved.
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Venerable Cornelius the Abbot of Paleostrov
Saint Cornelius of Paleostrov and Olonets, born at Pskov, was the
founder of monastic life on Pali island in Lake Onega at the end of
the fourteenth century. Despite the desolation of the island, brethren
soon gathered near him. He built for them a church in honor of the
Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, and a trapeza church in honor of
the holy Prophet Elias.
The saint spent the final years of his life in a cave half a verst
from the monastery, in unceasing prayer. The ascetic added the wearing
of heavy chains to his struggles.
The saint's blessed repose occurred around the year 1420. His relics
were transferred to the monastery church by his disciple, St Abramius
of Paleostrov (August 21), who was also glorified by his ascetical
life, and was buried in the Paleostrov monastery beside his Elder.
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Right-believing John the Prince of Uglich, Tonsured As
Ignatius, Vologda
The holy Prince John of Uglich was a devout and God-fearing Christian
from his youth. He and his brother Demetrius were thrown into prison
by their uncle John, and remained there for thirty-two years.
Before his death, Prince John received monastic tonsure with the name
Ignatius. He was known as a wonderworker.
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Venerable Sergius of Shukhtom
Saint Sergius of Shukhtom (in the world Stephen) was born at Kazan.
For three years he traveled to the holy places of Palestine and
Greece, studying the monastic life. He returned to Novgorod, then he
went to the Solovki monastery. In 1603 he received the monastic schema
from Archimandrite Isaiah, who later painted the icon of St Sergius of
Shukhtom.
After taking the schema, the monk imposed strict ascetic struggles
upon himself, going day and night without sleep, kneeling in prayer.
For his holy life the Lord gave the saint gifts of wonderworking and
prophecy. St Sergius of Shukhtom reposed on May 19, 1609.
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St John the Bishop of the Goths in the Crimea
Saint John, Bishop of the Goths, lived during the eighth century. The
future saint was born in answer to the fervent prayer of his parents.
>From an early age, he lived a life of asceticism.
The saint made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and spent three years
visiting all the holy places. Then he returned to his native country.
At that time the emperor Constantine Copronymos the Iconoclast
(741-775) banished the Gothic bishop, and the Goths fervently
entreated St John to become their bishop.
St John went to Georgia, which was isolated from the Iconoclast
heresy. There he was ordained. Upon his return to the Goths he was
soon compelled to depart from them. Hidden away from the pursuing
Khazars, he settled at Amastridia, where he dwelt for four years.
Hearing about the death of the Khazar kagan (ruler), the saint said,
"After forty days I shall go to be judged with him before Christ the
Savior." Indeed, the saint died forty days later. This took place when
he returned to his people, in the year 790.
The saint's body was conveyed to the Parthenit monastery in the
Crimea, at the foot of Mount Ayu-Dag, where the saint once lived in
the large church he built in honor of the holy Apostles Peter and
Paul.
St John, Bishop of the Goths, is also celebrated on June 26.
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Right-believing Demetrius Donskoy, Grand Prince of Moscow
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Caluf of Egypt
The Holy Martyr Caluf the Egyptian lived during the third century, and
was from the city of Thebes. For his confession of faith in Christ he
was arrested and taken before the prefect of the city. He was
suspended head downward, and received a cruel beating. The sufferer
repeated, "I endure everything in expectation of the future life."
They then untied him and urged him to offer sacrifice to idols, but
the saint did not consent. Finally, he was thrown into a fire and
surrendered his soul to God. This occurred in the year 303.
The holy martyr Caluf suffered during the persecution by the emperor
Maximian Hercules, who ruled jointly with Diocletian (284-305).
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The Entrance of St Nino (Nina) the Enlightener into Georgia
The holy Apostles Andrew the First-called and Simon the Canaanite
first preached the Christian Faith in Georgia in the 1st century, but
at the beginning of the 4th century most of the country was still
pagan.
After the Theotokos revealed Gods will for her future, the
Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino set off for Georgia to enlighten the
Iberian people. She arrived in Armenia with the holy martyrs and
virgins Rhipsimia, Gaiana and their fifty companions. The holy virgins
were martyred in Armenia and, according to Gods will, St. Nino
journeyed on alone to Lake Paravani, entering Georgia from the
Javakheti Mountains. She arrived in the spring, but the weather was
unseasonably cold.
The Apostolic Church of Georgia has honored the Entrance of the holy
Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino as a major feast day. The Church also
commemorates her on January 14, the day of her repose.
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Martyr Theotima
No information available at this time.
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