Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Wednesday October 13 / 26 ns 2022 • Martyrs Cárpos, Pápylos, Agathódoros, and Agathoníke; Holy New Martyr Zláta • Fast day • MY LIFE IN CHRIST St John of Kronstadt

 


13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Scroll down and read the rest from today's Gospel

My soul arise!  Why are you sleeping?

When the last day arrives, all our past years and all earthly delights will seem as though they had never existed.


Saint John of Kronstadt

Firmly believe that the Lord is at all times everything to you. During prayer He is the power and the fulfilment in the Holy Spirit of each of your words. During pious conversation He is your living water, the ardent flow of your words at all times--He is everything to you. Be free from care in the presence of your Lord. He has enclosed you with Himself upon all sides. He penetrates you wholly and knows all your thoughts, all your needs and inclinations, and if you live in Him with faith and love, then no evil shall befall you. "The Lord is at hand; be careful for nothing."


WE COMMEMORATE 

HOLY MARTYRS CÁRPOS, PÁPYLOS, AGATHÓDOROS AND AGATHONÍKE
HOLY NEW MARTYR ZLÁTA




Cárpos was Bishop of Thyateira and Pápylos was a deacon. They were born in Pergamum where they finally suffered for the Christian Faith at the hands of the evil proconsul Valerius, during the reign of Decius. 

Valerius tied them to horses and dragged them to Sardis, where he subjected them to harsh tortures. Then an angel of God appeared to them, healed them of their wounds and encouraged them. Cárpos's servant, Agathódoros, followed his master with great sorrow. Valerius then condemned him to torture as well. The saints were again tied to horses, and were dragged from Sardis to Pergamum. They tied holy Cárpos to a tree and flogged him so that his body was covered with wounds, and his blood flowed like a stream, soaking the ground; but Cárpos smiled in the midst of these horrible tortures. When they asked him why he was smiling, the holy martyr replied that he saw the heavens opened and the Lord seated on His throne, surrounded by Cherubim and Seraphim. 

As Pápylos was being tortured, by prayer he healed a man blind in one eye, and many who witnessed this came to believe in Christ the Lord. Thrown to wild beasts, the martyrs remained unharmed. Then they were thrown into a fiery furnace. Agathonica, Cárpos sister, also leaped into the fire, but the fire did not consume them. 

Finally, they were all beheaded with the sword, in the year 251. Thus, after their righteous endeavors, they received a wreath of glory in the Kingdom of Christ.


THE HOLY EPISTLE OF SAINT PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1:8-14 
KJV

8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.



THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO \
SAINT MATTHEW 1:8-14
KJV

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.








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