Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Fast of the Nativity
Wednesday, December 22 / December 9 (Church Calendar)
The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos. Prophetess Anna (Hannah), mother of Prophet Samuel. St. Stephen the "New Light" of Constantinople. St. Sophronius, Archbishop of Cyprus. Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Unexpected Joy". New hiero-martyr Protopriest Paul Levashov of Gomel.
Среда, 22 Декабря/ 9 Декабря (Церковный календарь)
Зачатие праведною Анною Пресвятой Богородицы. Св. пророчицы Анны, матери прор. Самуила (1100 до Р.Х.). Свт. Софрония, архиеп. Кипрского (VI). Прп. Стефана Новосиятеля (912). Иконы Божией Матери, именуемой "Нечаянная Радость". Новосвмчч. пресвв. Александра Буравцева, Василия Ягодина в Бутове убиенных
Forefeast of the Nativity of our Lord
The Forefeast of the Nativity of the Lord begins on December 20. From now on, most of the liturgical hymns will be concerned with the birth of the Savior.
At Vespers for this third day of the prefeast of the Nativity we sing, "Christ is born on earth to crush the power of evil, to enlighten those in darkness, and to free the captives. Let us go forth to meet Him."
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Greatmartyr Anastasia the "Deliverer from Potions"
The Great Martyr Anastasia the Deliverer from Potions, a Roman by birth, suffered for Christ at the time of Diocletian's persecution of Christians. Her father was a pagan, but her mother was secretly a Christian. St Anastasia's teacher in her youth was an educated and pious Christian named Chrysogonus. After the death of her mother, her father gave St Anastasia in marriage to a pagan named Publius, but feigning illness, she preserved her virginity.
Clothing herself in the garb of a beggar, and accompanied by only one servant, she visited the prisons. She fed, doctored and often ransomed captives who were suffering for their faith in Christ. When her servant told Publius about everything, he subjected his wife to a beating and locked her up at home. St Anastasia then began to correspond secretly with Chrysogonus, who told the saint to be patient, to cleave to the Cross of Christ, and to accept the Lord's will. He also foretold the impending death of Publius in the sea. After a certain while Publius did indeed drown, as he was setting out with a delegation to Persia. After the death of her husband, St Anastasia began to distribute her property to the poor and suffering.
Diocletian was informed that the Christians who filled the prisons of Rome stoically endured tortures. He gave orders to kill them all in a single night, and for Chrysogonus to be sent to him at Aquileia. St Anastasia followed her teacher at a distance.
The emperor interrogated Chrysogonus personally, but could not make him renounce his faith. Therefore, he commanded that he be beheaded and thrown into the sea. The body and severed head of the holy martyr were carried to shore by the waves. There by divine Providence, the relics were found by a presbyter named Zoilus who placed them in a coffer, and concealed them at his home.
St Chrysogonus appeared to Zoilus and informed him that martyrdom was at hand for Agape, Chione and Irene (April 16), three sisters who lived nearby. He told him to send St Anastasia to them to encourage them. St Chrysogonus foretold that Zoilus would also die on the same day. Nine days later, the words of St Chrysogonus were fulfilled. Zoilus fell asleep in the Lord, and St Anastasia visited the three maidens before their tortures. When these three martyrs gave up their souls to the Lord, she buried them.
Having carried out her teacher's request, the saint went from city to city ministering to Christian prisoners. Proficient in the medical arts of the time, she zealously cared for captives far and wide, healing their wounds and relieving their suffering. Because of her labors, St Anastasia received the name Deliverer from Potions (Pharmakolytria), since by her intercessions she has healed many from the effects of potions, poisons, and other harmful substances.
She made the acquaintance of the pious young widow Theodota, finding in her a faithful helper. Theodota was taken for questioning when it was learned that she was a Christian. Meanwhile, St Anastasia was arrested in Illyricum. This occurred just after all the Christian captives there had been murdered in a single night by order of Diocletian. St Anastasia had come to one of the prisons, and finding no one there, she began to weep loudly. The jailers realized that she was a Christian and took her to the prefect of the district, who tried to persuade her to deny Christ by threatening her with torture. After his unsuccessful attempts to persuade St Anastasia to offer sacrifice to idols, he handed her over to the pagan priest Ulpian in Rome.
The cunning pagan offered St Anastasia the choice between luxury and riches, or grievous sufferings. He set before her gold, precious stones and fine clothing, and also fearsome instruments of torture. The crafty man was put to shame by the bride of Christ. St Anastasia refused the riches and chose the tools of torture.
But the Lord prolonged the earthly life of the saint, and Ulpian gave her three days to reconsider. Charmed by Anastasia's beauty, the pagan priest decided to defile her purity. However, when he tried to touch her he suddenly became blind. His head began to ache so severely that he screamed like a madman. He asked to be taken to a pagan temple to appeal to the idols for help, but on the way he fell down and died.
St Anastasia was set free and she and Theodota again devoted themselves to the care of imprisoned Christians. Before long, St Theodota and her three sons accepted a martyrdom. Her eldest son, Evodus, stood bravely before the judge and endured beatings without protest. After lengthy torture, they were all thrown into a red-hot oven.
St Anastasia was caught again and condemned to death by starvation. She remained in prison without food for sixty days. St Theodota appeared to the martyr every night and gave her courage. Seeing that hunger caused St Anastasia no harm whatsoever, the judge sentenced her to drowning together with other prisoners. Among them was Eutychianus, who was condemned for his Christian faith.
The prisoners were put into a boat which went out into the open sea. The soldiers bored holes in the boat and got into a galley. St Theodota appeared to the captives and steered the ship to shore. When they reached dry land, 120 men believed in Christ and were baptized by Sts Anastasia and Eutychianus. All were captured and received a martyr's crown. St Anastasia was stretched between four pillars and burned alive. A certain pious woman named Apollinaria buried her body, which was unharmed by the fire, in the garden outside her house.
In the fifth century the relics of St Anastasia were transferred to Constantinople, where a church was built and dedicated to her. Later the head and a hand of the Great Martyr were transferred to the monastery of St Anastasia [Deliverer from Potions], near Mount Athos.
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Martyr Chrysogonus the Teacher of the Greatmartyr Anastasia Saint Chrysogonus was the teacher of the Great Martyr St Anastasia. When Diocletian learned that the prisons of Rome were overcrowed with Christians who resisted torture, he ordered them all to be killed in a single night, and for Chrysogonus to be sent to him at Aquileia. St Anastasia followed her teacher at a distance.
The emperor interrogated Chrysogonus personally, but could not make him renounce his faith. Therefore, he had him beheaded and thrown into the sea. The body and severed head of the holy martyr were carried to shore by the waves. There by divine Providence, the relics were found by a presbyter named Zoilus who placed them in a coffer, and concealed them at his home.
St Chrysogonus appeared to Zoilus and informed him that Sts Agape, Chione and Irene (April 16), three sisters who lived nearby, would soon endure martyrdom. He told him to send St Anastasia to them to encourage them. St Chrysogonus foretold that Zoilus would also die on the same day. Nine days later, the words of St Chrysogonus were fulfilled. Zoilus fell asleep in the Lord, and St Anastasia visited the three maidens before their torture. When these three martyrs gave up their souls to the Lord, she buried their bodies.
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Martyr Theodota who suffered under Diocletian
Saint Theodota was a young widow with three children, whom she raised in piety. The Great Martyr St Anastasia lived with her in Macedonia, and the two women visited Christians in prison and took care of them.
Arrested as a Christian, Theodota was sent to Nicetas, the governor of Bithynia, for interrogation. Since she refused to deny Christ, she and her three children were sentenced to death, beaten, and thrown into a fiery furnace.
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Martyr Evodus who suffered under Diocletian
Saint Evodus was the eldest son of St Theodota. He, his mother, and his two brothers stood bravely before the judge and endured beatings without protest. After lengthy torture, they were all thrown into a fiery furnace and so received the crown of martyrdom.
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Martyr Eutychianus who suffered under Diocletian
Saint Eutychianus was one of the prisoners sentenced to be drowned with the Great Martyr St Anastasia. Before he was imprisoned, he had endured tortures because he was a Christian, and his wealth had been confiscated.
The prisoners were put into a boat which went out into the open sea. The soldiers bored holes in the boat and got into a galley. St Theodota appeared to the captives and steered the ship to shore. When they reached dry land, 120 men believed in Christ and were baptized by Sts Anastasia and Eutychianus. All were captured and received a martyr's crown.
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Martyrs who suffered under Diocletian
One hundred and twenty men became Christians when they witnessed the miraculous deliverance of the Great Martyr Anastasia and St Eutychianus from a sinking boat. St Theodota appeared and steered the ship to shore.
These 120 martyrs were baptized by St Eutychianus and St Anastasia, then were captured and put to death for confessing Christ.
Scriptural Readings (in English):
Daily Scripture Readings
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Prayer Before Reading the Holy Scriptures: http://www.pomog.org/before.html
James 1:1-8
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Mark 10:11-16
And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos
Galatians 4:22-31
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
The Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos
Luke 8:16-21
No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Scriptural Readings (in Russian):
Ежедневные Евангельские Чтения
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Молитва перед чтением Евангелия: http://www.pomog.org/before_russian.html
Соборное послание святого апостола Иакова
1:1-8
Иаков, раб Бога и Господа Иисуса Христа, двенадцати коленам, находящимся в рассеянии, -- радоваться. С великою радостью принимайте, братия мои, когда впадаете в различные искушения, зная, что испытание вашей веры производит терпение; терпение же должно иметь совершенное действие, чтобы вы были совершенны во всей полноте, без всякого недостатка. Если же у кого из вас недостает мудрости, да просит у Бога, дающего всем просто и без упреков, -- и дастся ему. Но да просит с верою, нимало не сомневаясь, потому что сомневающийся подобен морской волне, ветром поднимаемой и развеваемой. Да не думает такой человек получить что-нибудь от Господа. Человек с двоящимися мыслями не тверд во всех путях своих.
От Марка святое благовествование
10:11-16
Он сказал им: кто разведется с женою своею и женится на другой, тот прелюбодействует от нее; и если жена разведется с мужем своим и выйдет за другого, прелюбодействует. Приносили к Нему детей, чтобы Он прикоснулся к ним; ученики же не допускали приносящих. Увидев то, Иисус вознегодовал и сказал им: пустите детей приходить ко Мне и не препятствуйте им, ибо таковых есть Царствие Божие. Истинно говорю вам: кто не примет Царствия Божия, как дитя, тот не войдет в него. И, обняв их, возложил руки на них и благословил их.
Послание к Галатам святого апостоля Павла
4:22-31
Ибо написано: Авраам имел двух сынов, одного от рабы, а другого от свободной. Но который от рабы, тот рожден по плоти; а который от свободной, тот по обетованию. В этом есть иносказание. Это два завета: один от горы Синайской, рождающий в рабство, который есть Агарь, ибо Агарь означает гору Синай в Аравии и соответствует нынешнему Иерусалиму, потому что он с детьми своими в рабстве; а вышний Иерусалим свободен: он -- матерь всем нам. Ибо написано: возвеселись, неплодная, нерождающая; воскликни и возгласи, не мучившаяся родами; потому что у оставленной гораздо более детей, нежели у имеющей мужа. Мы, братия, дети обетования по Исааку. Но, как тогда рожденный по плоти гнал рожденного по духу, так и ныне. Что же говорит Писание? Изгони рабу и сына ее, ибо сын рабы не будет наследником вместе с сыном свободной. Итак, братия, мы дети не рабы, но свободной.
От Луки святое благовествование
8:16-21
Никто, зажегши свечу, не покрывает ее сосудом, или не ставит под кровать, а ставит на подсвечник, чтобы входящие видели свет. Ибо нет ничего тайного, что не сделалось бы явным, ни сокровенного, что не сделалось бы известным и не обнаружилось бы. Итак, наблюдайте, как вы слушаете: ибо, кто имеет, тому дано будет, а кто не имеет, у того отнимется и то, что он думает иметь. И пришли к Нему Матерь и братья Его, и не могли подойти к Нему по причине народа. И дали знать Ему: Матерь и братья Твои стоят вне, желая видеть Тебя. Он сказал им в ответ: матерь Моя и братья Мои суть слушающие слово Божие и исполняющие его.
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