Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Tuesday, - TopicsExpress

Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Tuesday, November 12, 2013 Feasts and Saints celebrated today: John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria Nilus the Ascetic of Sinai Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours Readings for today: St. Pauls Second Letter to the Corinthians 9:6-11 Matthew 5:14-19 John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria Reading from the Synaxarion: Saint John was born in 555 on the island of Cyprus in the city of Amathus; his father, Epiphanius, was a ruler of Cyprus. The Saint was consecrated Archbishop of Alexandria in 608. A man of exemplary uprightness, in his zeal for Orthodoxy he strove mightily to fight the many heresies among the Christians in Egypt; but above all, he was famous for his singular generosity, humility, and sympathy towards all, especially the poor. His mercy was so great that the report of it reached the Persian invaders of Jerusalem, who desired to see him because of it. Saint John reposed in 619, at the age of sixty-four. Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone In thy patience thou hast won thy reward, O righteous Father. Thou didst persevere unceasingly in prayer; thou didst love the poor, and didst provide for them in all things. Wherefore, intercede with Christ our God, O blessed John the Almsgiver, that our souls be saved. Kontakion in the Second Tone Thy riches and wealth didst thou disperse unto the poor; thou now hast received the Heavens riches in return. For this cause, O all-wise John, we all honour thee with our songs of praise as we keep thy memorial, O namesake of almsgiving and of mercy. 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 Nilus the Ascetic of Sinai Reading from the Synaxarion: Saint Nilus, who had Constantinople as his homeland, was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom. He had formerly been an eparch of the city, then became an ascetic on Mount Sinai. He wrote epistles and various ascetical works, and reposed about 451. Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone With the rivers of your tears, you have made the barren desert fertile. Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne fruit a hundred-fold. By your miracles you have become a light, shining upon the world. O Nilus, our Holy Father, pray to Christ our God, to save our souls. Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone By thine unsleeping prayer, O Father Nilus blest of God, thou didst most keenly cut away all the material that enkindleth the revolts of the bodys passions; and since thou possessest boldness with the Lord of all, from all dangers that can be do thou deliver me that I may cry to thee: Rejoice, O universal Father. 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) Narthex Press Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours Reading from the Synaxarion: Saint Martin, the great luminary of Gaul, was the son of pagan parents. When he was still quite young he became a catechumen; at the age of twenty-two he received Holy Baptism. Then he undertook the labours of a monk, and was afterwards consecrated Bishop of Tours, renowned as an ascetic and wonderworker, a faithful shepherd of Christs flock. He converted many both from paganism and heresy, cast out demons and raised the dead, and while undertaking all the apostolic burdens of a bishop, he never ceased to be a simple monk and man of prayer. His monastery became a center of monasticism not only for Gaul, but for all of Western Europe. A widely celebrated incident of his life took place when he was still a catechumen, fulfilling his military service. Seeing an ill-clad beggar asking alms at the gate of the city of Amiens and being overlooked by passersby, Saint Martin, having nothing else to give, rent his military cloak in two with his sword and gave half to the beggar, so that he might cover himself in the cold. That night, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him, clothed with the half of the cloak he had given to the beggar. Saint Martins cloak - capella in Latin - was kept in a sanctuary which came to be called capella, from which the word chapel is derived; and they under whose care it was kept were called cappellani, from which chaplain is derived. Saint Martin reposed in peace in the year 397. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone In signs and in miracles thou wast renowned throughout Gaul; by grace and adoption now thou art a light for the world, O Martin, most blest of God. Almsdeeds and compassion filled thy life with their splendour; teaching and wise counsel were thy riches and treasures, which thou dost dispense freely unto all them that honour thee. Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone As a devoted man of God, thou didst proclaim His mysteries. And as a seer of the Trinity, thou didst shed thy blessings on the Occident. By thy prayers and entreaties, O adornment of Tours and glory of all the Church, preserve us, O Saint Martin, and save all who praise thy memory. 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 Epistle Reading The reading is from St. Pauls Second Letter to the Corinthians 9:6-11 BRETHREN, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. Gospel Reading The reading is from Matthew 5:14-19 The Lord said to his disciples, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Learn more by visiting the Online Chapel