[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Sat May 31 2008

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Acts 15:35-41  (Epistle)
35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching
the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Scripture Reading 1 of 4


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John 10:27-38  (Gospel)
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Scripture Reading 2 of 4



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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Apostle Hermas of the Seventy
The Holy Apostle Hermas was a bishop in Philippopolis, Thrace. He was
a Greek, but he spent some time in Rome. The holy Apostle Paul greets
him in the Epistle to the Romans (Rom 16:14). The Apostle Hermas
endured much grief from the pagans for preaching the Gospel, but he
died in peace.
According to Tradition, St Hermas is the author of THE SHEPHERD, an
instructive book based on revelations from angels.
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Martyr Hermias at Comana
Holy Martyr Hermias suffered for Christ in the city of Comana during
the persecution under the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161). The
governor Sebastian, who was in Cappadocia to arrest Christians, urged
the saint to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, promising him honors
and mercy from the emperor.
The old soldier bravely confessed his faith in Christ. After long
exhortation, the governor gave orders to torture the saint. They beat
him on the face so that the skin peeled from his face, and they threw
him into a red-hot oven. When the oven was opened after three days,
the martyr Hermias emerged from it unharmed.
The governor Sebastian ordered the sorcerer Marus to poison St Hermias
with a potion. The poisonous drink did the saint no harm. A second
goblet with even stronger poison also failed to kill the saint. The
sorcerer believed in Christ the Savior, and was immediately beheaded.
St Marus was baptized in his own blood, and received a martyr's crown.
St Hermias was subjected to even more terrible tortures. They raked
his body with sharp instruments, threw him in boiling oil, and gouged
out his eyes, but he gave thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they
suspended the martyr head downward. For three days he hung in this
position.
People sent by the governor to verify his death found him alive.
Struck by the miracle, they were blinded with fright and began to call
out to the saint to help them. The holy martyr ordered the blind to
approach him, and healed them in the Name of Jesus Christ.
In anger the governor ordered the skin flayed from the saint's body,
but he remained alive. Then the crazed Sebastian beheaded him with his
own sword. Christians secretly buried the body of the martyr Hermias,
whose relics bestowed numerous healings.
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Martyr Philosophus at Alexandria
Holy Martyr Philosophus suffered for Christ in Alexandria during the
persecution by the emperor Decius (249-251). They urged the youth to
deny Christ, but he remained steadfast.
After suffering various tortures, he was placed on a soft bed, bound
hand and foot, and a harlot was put in the room with him to tempt him
to sin. In order not to yield to sin, the saint bit off his tongue and
spit it in the harlot's face. She was so horrified that she fled from
him. The executioners, seeing the martyr's bravery and fearlessness,
beheaded the saint with a sword.
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New Martyr Philosophus of St Petersburg
No information available at this time.
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