[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Wed May 28 05:00:13 CDT 2008

Scripture Readings and Saints for Wed May 28 2008

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Acts 13:13-24  (Epistle)
13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to
Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to
Jerusalem.
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia,
and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
15 And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of
the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Men and brethren, if you have any
word of exhortation for the people, say on."
16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of
Israel, and you who fear God, listen:
17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the
people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an
uplifted arm He brought them out of it.
18 Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in
the wilderness.
19 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He
distributed their land to them by allotment.
20 After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty
years, until Samuel the prophet.
21 And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son
of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king,
to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son
of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'
23 From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for
Israel a Savior-Jesus-
24 after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of
repentance to all the people of Israel.
Scripture Reading 1 of 2

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John 6:5-14  (Gospel)
5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming
toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these
may eat?"
6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not
sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,
9 There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish,
but what are they among so many?
10 Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much
grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five
thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He
distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting
down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the
fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."
13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the
fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who
had eaten.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said,
"This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."
Scripture Reading 2 of 2

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St Nicetas the Bishop of Chalcedon
St Nicetas, Bishop of Chalcedon, lived during the second half of the
eighth century. For his God-pleasing life he was consecrated as Bishop
of Chalcedon.
St Nicetas distinguished himself by his charity, he always helped the
poor, he lodged travelers in his home, he cared for orphans and
widows, and he interceded for those who had been wronged.
During the reign of the iconoclast Leo the Armenian (813-820), St
Nicetas bravely denounced the Iconoclast heresy and urged his flock to
venerate the holy icons of Christ, the Theotokos, and the saints. St
Nicetas endured much suffering from the impious emperor and his
like-minded cohorts. He was subjected to tortures and sent off to
exile.
The holy confessor Nicetas died at the beginning of the ninth century.
>From his relics occurred many miracles of healing. The Canon of the
service, written by the priest Joseph of Constantinople, also includes
St Nicetas's brother, St Ignatius, among the saints.
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St Ignatius the Bishop and Wonderworker of Rostov
Saint Ignatius was Bishop of Rostov, and shepherded his flock for
twenty-six years. After his death on May 28, 1288, his body was broght
to the church. Some people saw him leave his coffin, and float in the
air above the church. He blessed the people and the city, then went
back to his coffin.
Many miracles took place at his grave.
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St Eutychius the Bishop of Melitene
The Hieromartyr Eutychius, Bishop of Melitene, was a co-worker with
the Holy Apostles, and he suffered for Christ in the city of Melitene
during the first century.
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Martyr Heliconis of Thessalonica
The Holy Martyr Heliconis lived during the third century in the city
of Thessalonica. St Heliconis arrived in the city of Corinth during a
persecution of Christians, and urged the pagans to stop serving
senseless idols and instead to worship the one true God, the Creator
of the universe.
She was arrested and brought before the governor Perinus, who vainly
attempted to persuade the saint to offer sacrifice to idols, both by
flattery and by threats. The holy martyr was subjected to tortures,
but she bravely endured them. Then they threw her into a hot furnace,
but she emerged from it unharmed, because an angel of the Lord had
cooled the flames.
Thinking the saint was a sorceress, the governor invented new torments
for her. They tore the skin from her head, and burned her breasts and
head with fire. After halting the torture, the judge again attempted
to urge St Heliconis to offer sacrifice to the idols, promising her
honors and the title of priestess. The saint seemed to consent, and
the pagan priests and the people led her to the pagan temple with the
sounds of trumpet and drum.
At the saint's request, they left her there alone. St Heliconis,
filled with heroic strength, cast down and smashed all the idols. When
some time had passed, the pagan priests entered their temple. Seeing
the destruction, they were even more enraged and cursed the holy
virgin shouting, "Put the sorceress to death!" They beat the holy
martyr, and then they threw her into prison, where she spent five
days.
Christ the Savior and the holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel appeared
to the holy martyr in prison and healed her of her wounds. Finally,
they sent the saint to be torn apart by wild beasts. They set loose
three hungry lions upon her, but the beasts came up to the martyr
meekly and lay down at her feet. The pagan mob shouted and cried,
"Death to the sorceress."
But at this point the lions jumped out of the arena and pounced on the
people, who fled in terror. Not knowing what else to do, the governor
ordered that St Heliconis be beheaded. The saint went to execution
with joy and heard a Voice summoning her to the heavenly habitations.
She contested in the year 244, and her body was reverently buried by
Christians.
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Hieromartyr Helladius the Bishop in the East
The Hieromartyr Helladius the Bishop was thrown into fire because of
his faith in Christ, but he remained unharmed. He died as a martyr
from the terrible beating inflicted upon him.
In the Service to St Helladius it is said that the Lord Jesus Christ
visited him in prison and healed him of his wounds. According to
certain sources, St Helladius suffered under the Persians during their
invasion into the Eastern part of the Roman Empire in the fourth
century.
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St Germanus the Bishop of Paris
Saint Germanus was born near Autun in 496. He was abbot of St
Symphorian's monastery at Autun, and was made Bishop of Paris around
536. He was tireless and courageous in his efforts to end civil strife
and to restrain the viciousness of the Frankish kings, though he was
not very successful in this. St Radegund (August 13) appealed to him
for protection from her cruel husband King Chlotar I.
St Germanus founded a monastery at Paris, and was buried in its church
after his death in 576. This is the renowned monastery of Saint
Germaine-des-Pres.
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Icon of the Mother of God "the Softener of Evil Hearts"
The "Softener (or "Consoler") of Evil Hearts" Icon of the Mother of
God is similar to the "Seven Swords" Icon (August 13). It depicts the
Theotokos with seven swords piercing Her heart (Luke 2:35). There are
three swords on the right side, three on the left, and one from below.
The icon appears to be of Western origin.
The "Softner of Evil Hearts" icon is commemorated on the Sunday of All
Saints.
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Icon of the Mother of God "the Unbreakable Wall"
The "Unbreakable (or "Indestructible") Wall" Icon of the Most Holy
Theotokos is commemorated on the Sunday of All Saints. It is an icon
of the Blachernae type, in which the Virgin is shown with Her hands
raised and the palms facing forward. Christ is depicted within a
roundel, or mandorla. This is an oval or circle symbolizing the glory
of Heaven, or Divine Light.
Perhaps the name of this particular Icon is derived from Amos 7:7
where the Lord is said to be standing on "a wall of adamant" (LXX).
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St Sophronius the Bulgarian
No information available at this time.
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New Martyr Demetrius
No information available at this time.
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Icon of the Mother of God of Nicea
No information available at this time.
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Hieromartyr Helladius, Bishop in the East
No information available at this time.
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