Holy Martyrs Codrátos of Corinth et al.
~ Fast Day ~
During the time of the persecution of Christians, many of the faithful fled to the mountains and into the caves. So did the mother of Codrátos. She was pregnant at the time and gave birth to Codrátos in the forest and died shortly thereafter. Codrátos was cared for by, fed by and guided by Divine Providence and by his Guardian Angel. Codrátos grew up in nature and in solitude. He, who gave manna from heaven to the Israelites in the wilderness, dropped from the clouds a sweet dew on the mouth of the child Codrátos . When he was twelve years old, he entered into town and there some benevolent men took a liking to him and provided him with an education. He studied medicine and healed the sick, as much with natural cures and even more by the power of the spirit and prayer, which he was accustomed to since his childhood. When a new persecution arose again under Decius, Codrátos was brought to trial and cast into prison. Five companions joined him and confessed the name of Christ. They were Cyprian, Dionysius, Anicetos, Paul and Crescens. They were all dragged through the streets by the pagans, especially by their children. They were beaten with rods and stoned until they were eventually dragged to the scaffold. There, the martyrs prayed to God and were beheaded. On this spot a source of water gushed out of the ground which is still called Codrátos even today and is a reminder of the heroic deaths of these six holy innocents for Christ. They honorably suffered for the truth in the year 250 A.D. in Corinth during the reign of Emperor Decius and his governor, Jason.
Sixth Hour
Holy Prophet Isaiah 28:14-22 KJV
Holy Prophet Isaiah 28:14-22 KJV
15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.
Vespers
Genesis 10:32-11:9
Genesis 10:32-11:9
11 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Vespers
Proverbs 13:20-14:6 KJV
Proverbs 13:20-14:6 KJV
21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
14 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
ON RENUNCIATION
by Saint John Climacos
from
THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT
W hen writing to the servants of God it is best to begin with God himself. Our God and King is indeed good, supremely good, and all good. Of the intelligent creatures made by Him and glorified with the honor of free-will, some are friends of Him, while others are truly His servants, still others are worthless, and others are completely separated from God. Still others, although they are mere creatures are counted as His opponents.
When we say friends of God, holy father, we mean people, who surround God as intellectual and incorporeal beings.
As for the worthless servants, we speak of those who after receiving baptism have not kept the oaths they made before God.
By those who are separated from God, we imply the heretics and unbelievers.
Lastly, by adversaries of God we mean those who have rejected and fled from the commandments of the Lord and who wage a terrible war on those who wish to fulfill it.
Each type of person detailed above could have a special writing given to him. But for the simple, as we are, it would not be useful at this juncture to go into such long evaluations. So then, come, in unwavering obedience, to stretch out unworthy hands to those who are the true servants of God, who piously force us, and by their faith, compel us by their instructions. Let us compose this writing with a pen taken from their wisdom with an ink made from their humility that is humble and yet shines forth. Let us then write with it on the smooth, white paper of the hearts of them. Or indeed rest it on the tablet of the spirit, and let us write pious words (or sow seeds), and let us start as such.
God is the property of all free creatures. He is the living breath of all of us. He is the salvation of all of us, both the believer and the unbeliever, those who are righteous and unrighteous, the godly and the ungodly, the lustful and the dispassionate, the monk and layman, the wise and foolish, the sound in health and the sick, young and old. For just as there is the shining of light from the sun, and there are changes of weather for all: 'for there is no distinguishing between people with God.' [Rom 1:18]
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