[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Sat May 24 05:00:14 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat May 24 2008

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Acts 12:1-11  (Epistle)
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass
some from the church.
2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to
seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him
to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before
the people after Passover.
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered
to God for him by the church.
6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was
sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards
before the door were keeping the prison.
7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in
the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying,
"Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.
8 Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals";
and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow
me."
9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done
by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came
to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its
own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and
immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for
certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from
the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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John 8:31-42  (Gospel)
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My
word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never
been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits
sin is a slave of sin.
35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides
forever.
36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
37 I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me,
because My word has no place in you.
38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have
seen with your father.
39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said
to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of
Abraham.
40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which
I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.
41 You do the deeds of your father. Then they said to Him, "We were
not born of fornication; we have one Father-God."
42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me,
for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself,
but He sent Me.
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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Venerable Simeon Stylites the Younger of Wonderful Mountain
Saint Simeon the Stylite was born in the year 521 in Antioch, Syria of
pious parents John and Martha. From her youth St Martha (July 4)
prepared herself for a life of virginity and longed for monasticism,
but her parents insisted that she marry John. After ardent prayer in a
church dedicated to St John the Forerunner, the future nun was
directed in a vision to submit to the will of her parents and enter
into marriage.
As a married woman, St Martha strove to please God and her husband in
everything. She often prayed for a baby and promised to dedicate him
to the service of God. St John the Forerunner revealed to Martha that
she would have a son who would serve God. When the infant was born, he
was named Simeon and baptized at two years of age.
When Simeon was six years old, an earthquake occurred in the city of
Antioch, in which his father perished. Simeon was in church at the
time of the earthquake. Leaving the church, he became lost and spent
seven days sheltered by a pious woman. St John the Baptist again
appeared to St Martha, and indicated where to find the lost boy. The
saint's mother found her lost son, and moved to the outskirts of
Antioch after the earthquake. Already during his childhood the Lord
Jesus Christ appeared several times to St Simeon, foretelling his
future exploits and the reward for them.
The six-year-old child Simeon went into the wilderness, where he lived
in complete isolation. During this time a light-bearing angel guarded
and fed him. Finally, he arrived at a monastery, headed by the igumen
Abba John, who lived in asceticism upon a pillar. He accepted the boy
with love.
After a time, St Simeon asked the Elder John to permit him also to
struggle upon a pillar. A new pillar was raised by the brethren of the
monastery with the blessing of the igumen, near his pillar. Having
completed the initiation of the seven-year-old boy into monasticism,
Abba John placed him upon this pillar. The young ascetic, strengthened
by the Lord, quickly grew spiritually, in his efforts surpassing even
his experienced instructor. For his efforts, St Simeon received from
God the gift of healing.
The fame of the young monk's deeds began to spread beyond the bounds
of the monastery. Monks and laypeople began to come to him from
various places, desiring to hear his counsel and receive healing from
their infirmities. The humble ascetic continued to pursue asceticism
with instructions from his spiritual mentor Abba John.
When he was eleven, Simeon decided to pursue asceticism upon a higher
pillar, the top of which was forty feet from the ground. The bishops
of Antioch and Seleukia came to the place of the monk's endeavors, and
ordained him as a deacon. Then they permitted him to ascend the new
pillar, on which St Simeon labored for eight years.
St Simeon prayed ardently for the Holy Spirit to descend upon him, and
the holy prayer of the ascetic was heard. The Holy Spirit came upon
him in the form of a blazing light, filling the ascetic with divine
wisdom. Along with oral instructions, St Simeon wrote letters about
repentance, monasticism, about the Incarnation of Christ, and about
the future Judgment.
After the death of his Elder, St Simeon's life followed a certain
pattern. From the rising of the sun until mid-afternoon he read books
and copied Holy Scripture. The he rose and prayed all night. When the
new day began, he rested somewhat, then began his usual Rule of
prayer.
St Simeon concluded his efforts on the second column, and by God's
dispensation, settled upon the Wonderful Mountain, having become an
experienced Elder to the monks in his monastery. The ascent to
Wonderful Mountain was marked by a vision of the Lord, standing atop a
column. St Simeon continued his efforts at this place where he saw the
Lord, at first upon a stone, and then upon a pillar.
Future events were revealed to St Simeon, and so he foretold the death
of Archbishop Ephraim of Antioch, and the illness of Bishop Domnus,
which overtook him as punishment for his lack of pity. Finally, St
Simeon predicted an earthquake for the city of Antioch and urged all
the inhabitants to repent of their sins.
St Simeon established a monastery on Wonderful Mountain,where the sick
people he healed built a church in gratitude for the mercy shown them.
The saint prayed for a spring of water for the needs of the monastery,
and once during a shortage of grain, the granaries of the monastery
were filled with wheat by his prayers.
In the year 560 the holy ascetic was ordained to the priesthood by
Dionysius, Bishop of Seleukia. At age seventy-five St Simeon was
warned by the Lord of his impending end. He summoned the brethren of
the monastery, instructed them in a farewell talk, and peacefully fell
asleep in the Lord in the year 596, having toiled as a stylite for
sixty-eight years.
After death, the saint worked miracles just as he had when alive. He
healed the blind, the lame and the leprous, saving many from wild
beasts, casting out devils and raising the dead.
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Venerable Nikita the Stylite, Wonderworker of Pereyaslavl,
Zalesski
No information available at this time.
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Martyr Meletius Stratelates who suffered in Galatia
Saint Meletius the General, Stephen, John, Serapion the Egyptian,
Callinicus the Sorcerer, Theodore, Faustus and 1218 soldiers, women
and children with them.
The holy martyr Meletius was a military commander of the Galatia
district of Asia Minor during the reign of the Roman emperor Antoninus
Pius (138-161). He was a Christian and he prayed fervently that the
Lord would put an end to the pagan error. Terrified by his prayer, the
devils inhabiting the pagan temples entered into dogs, which
frightened the inhabitants of the district with their howling.
St. Meletius and his soldiers got rid of the mad dogs, and destroyed
the temples. He was arrested and brought to trial before the governor
Maximian. Since he refused to offer sacrifice to idols, St. Meletius
was tortured and he died confessing his faith in Christ. The tribunes
of his regiment, the holy martyrs Stephen and John, were beheaded for
their confession of Christ as true God.
The remaining soldiers of the regiment, also declaring themselves
Christians, were beheaded by the sword, together with their wives and
children. 1218 men perished, although some historians put the number
at 11,000 .
The holy martyrs Theodore and Faustus were burned along with many
others. Among the women and children who suffered are the holy martyrs
Marciana, Susanna, Palladia, and the infants Kyriakos and Christian.
The names of some of the soldiers, and of the twelve tribunes are
known: the holy martyrs Faustus, Festus, Marcellus, Theodore,
Meletius, Sergius, Marcellinus, Felix, Photinus, Theodoriscus,
Mercurius and Didymus.
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Martyr Stephen who suffered in Galatia
Saint Stephen suffered martyrdom with St Meletius the General around
218. He was beheaded.
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Martyr John who suffered in Galatia
Saint John suffered martyrdom with St Meletius the General around 218.
He was beheaded.
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1,218 Martyred Soldiers with women and children who suffered
in Galatia
These 1218 martyrs were Christian soldiers of the regiment of St
Meletius the General. They were beheaded by the sword, together with
their wives and children.
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Martyr Serapion the Egyptian who suffered in Galatia
The holy martyr Serapion was born in Egypt. He had come to Galatia and
witnessed the martyrdom of St. Meletius and his comrades. Seeing the
bravery with which those who believed in Christ died for Him, St.
Serapion also believed, for which he was imprisoned. An angel of God
visited St. Serapion in prison and made him a bishop.
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Martyr Callinicus the Magician in Galatia
Saint Callinicus was a former sorcerer who suffered martyrdom with St
Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Theodore who suffered in Galatia
Saint Theodore suffered martyrdom with St Meletius the General around
218.
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Martyr Faustus who suffered in Galatia
Saint Faustus was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with
St Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Marciana who suffered in Galatia
Saint Marciana was one of the women who suffered with St Meletius the
General around 218.
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Martyr Susanna who suffered in Galatia
The Holy Martyrs Meletius the General, Stephen, John, Serapion the
Egyptian, Callinicus the Sorcerer, Theodore and Faustus and with them
1218 Soldiers with Women and Children.
The holy martyr Meletius was a military commander of the Galatia
district of Asia Minor during the reign of the Roman emperor Antoninus
Pius (138-161). He was a Christian and he prayed fervently that the
Lord would put an end to the pagan error. Terrified by his prayer, the
devils inhabiting the pagan temples entered into dogs, which
frightened the inhabitants of the district with their howling.
St Meletius and his soldiers dispatched the mad dogs, destroyed the
temples and was then arrested and brought to trial before the governor
Maximian. For refusing to offer sacrifice to idols St Meletius was
tortured, and he died confessing his faith in Christ. The tribunes of
his regiment, the holy martyrs Stephen and John, were beheaded for
their confession of Christ as true God.
The remaining soldiers of the regiment, also declaring themselves
Christians, were beheaded by the sword, together with their wives and
children. 1218 men perished, although some historians put the number
at 11,000 .
The holy martyrs Theodore and Faustus were burned along with many
others. Among the women and children who suffered are the holy martyrs
Marciana, Susanna, Palladia, and the infants Cyriacus and Christian.
The names of some of the soldiers, and of the twelve tribunes are
known: the holy martyrs Faustus, Festus, Marcellus, Theodore,
Meletius, Sergius, Marcellinus, Felix, Photinus, Theodoriscus,
Mercurius and Didymus.
The holy martyr Serapion was born in Egypt. He had come to the Galatia
district and witnessed the martyrdom of St Meletius and his comrades.
Seeing the bravery with which those believing in Christ died for Him,
St Serapion himself believed, for which he was imprisoned. In prison,
an angel of God came down to him and made St Serapion a bishop.
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Martyr Palladia who suffered in Galatia
Saint Palladia was one of the women who suffered with St Meletius the
General around 218.
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Childmartyr Cyriacus who suffered in Galatia
Saint Cyriacus was an infant who was martyred with St Meletius the
General around 218.
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Childmartyr Christian who suffered in Galatia
Saint Christian was an infant who was martyred with St Meletius the
General around 218.
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12 Martyred Tribunes who suffered in Galatia
These twelve tribunes suffered martyrdom with St Meletius the General
around 218. Their names are Faustus, Festus, Marcellus, Theodore,
Meletius, Sergius, Marcellinus, Felix, Photinus, Theodoriscus,
Mercurius and Didymus.
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Martyr Fautus who suffered in Galatia
Saint Faustus was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with
St Meletius the General around 218. He was burned alive.
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Martyr Festus who suffered in Galatia
Saint Festus was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with St
Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Marcellus who suffered in Galatia
Saint Marcellus was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with
St Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Theodore who suffered in Galatia
Saint Theodore was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with
St Meletius the General around 218. He was burned alive.
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Martyr Meletius who suffered in Galatia
Saint Meletius was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with
St Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Sergius who suffered in Galatia
Saint Sergius was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with
St Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Marcellinus who suffered in Galatia
Saint Marcellinus was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom
with St Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Felix who suffered in Galatia
Saint Felix was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with St
Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Photinus who suffered in Galatia
Saint Photinus was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with
St Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Theodoriscus who suffered in Galatia
Saint Theodoriscus was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom
with St Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Mercurius who suffered in Galatia
Saint Mercurius was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with
St Meletius the General around 218.
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Martyr Didymus who suffered in Galatia
Saint Didymus was one of twelve tribunes who suffered martyrdom with
St Meletius the General around 218.
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St Vincent of Lerins
No information on the life of this saint is available at this time.
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