Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Saturday, March 8, 2014 Fast Day (Wine and Oil Allowed) Feasts and Saints celebrated today: First Saturday of Lent: The Commemoration of the Miracle of Kollyva wrought by Saint Theodore the Tyro Theophylact the Confessor, Bishop of Nicomedia Hermas the Apostle of the 70 Paul the Confessor Dometios the Righteous Readings for today: St. Pauls Second Letter to Timothy 2:1-10 Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-5 First Saturday of Lent: The Commemoration of the Miracle of Kollyva wrought by Saint Theodore the Tyro Reading from the Synaxarion: Julian the Apostate, knowing that the Christians purify themselves by fasting most of all during the first week of the Fast -- which is why we call it Clean Week -- planned to defile them especially at that time. Therefore he secretly commanded that during those days the markets be filled with foods that had been defiled with the blood of animals offered in sacrifice to idols. But by divine command the Martyr Theodore (see Feb. 17) appeared during sleep to Eudoxius, then Archbishop of Constantinople. The Saint revealed to him the tyrants plan, then told him to call the faithful together immediately on Monday morning and prevent them from purchasing those foods, but rather to make kollyva to supply their needs. The bishop asked what kollyva might be, and the Saint answered, Kollyva is what we call boiled wheat in Euchaita. Thus, the purpose of the Apostate was brought to nought, and the pious people who were preserved undefiled for the whole of Clean Week, rendered tha nks to the Martyr on this Saturday, and celebrated his commemoration with kollyva. These things took place in 362. Wherefore, the Church keeps this commemoration each year to the glory of God and the honour of the Martyr. Apolytikion in the Second Tone Great are the achievements of faith! In the fountain of flame, as by the water of rest, the holy Martyr Theodore rejoiced; for having been made a whole-burnt offering in the fire, he was offered as sweet bread unto the Trinity. By his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls. Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone Having received the Faith of Christ in thy heart as a breastplate, thou didst trample upon the enemy hosts, O much-suffering champion; and thou hast been crowned eternally with a heavenly crown, since thou art invincible. The content on this page is under copyright and is used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder: Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Theophylact the Confessor, Bishop of Nicomedia Reading from the Synaxarion: Theophylact was from the East; his native city is unknown. In Constantinople he became a close friend of Tarsius, who afterwards became Patriarch of Constantinople (see Feb. 25).Theophylact was made Bishop of Nicomedia. After the death of Saint Tarsius, his successor Nicephorus (see June 2) called together a number of Bishops to help him in fighting the iconoclasm of Emperor Leo the Armenian, who reigned from 813-820. Among them was Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis (celebrated Dec. 26), who had attended the holy Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 - he was exiled three times for the sake of the holy icons, and for defying the Emperor Theophilus command to renounce the veneration of the icons, was scourged from head to foot until his whole body was one great wound, from which he died eight days later, about the year 830; Joseph of Thessalonica (see July 14); Michael of Synnada (see May 23); Emilian, Bishop of Cyzicus (see Aug. 8); and Saint Theophylact, who boldly rebuked Leo to his face, telling him that because he despised the long-suffering of God, utter destruction was about to overtake him, and there would be none to deliver him. For this, Theophylact was exiled to the fortress of Strobilus in Karia of Asia Minor, where, after 30 years of imprisonment and hardship, he gave up his holy soul about the year 845. Leo the Armenian, according to the Saints prophecy, was slain in church on the eve of our Lords Nativity, in 820. Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Second Tone Thou didst live a life hidden in God, O all-famed Theophylact, but Christ revealed thee unto all as a shining light set upon the spiritual lampstand, and He placed in thy hands the tablets of the Spirits doctrines; whereby do thou enlighten us. The content on this page is under copyright and is used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder: Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Epistle Reading The reading is from St. Pauls Second Letter to Timothy 2:1-10 TIMOTHY, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory. Gospel Reading The reading is from Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-5 At that time, Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to him, Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath? And he said to them, Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him? And he said to them, The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath. Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, Come here. And he said to them, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill? But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, Stretch it out, and his hand was restored. Learn more by visiting the Online Chapel at: onlinechapel.goarch.org + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 05:50:49 +0000
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