August 21, 2008: St. Thaddeus of the Seventy
At St. Paul’s Parish today, Thursday, August 21, 2008:
- There are no activities on the parish calendar today.
The Summer issue of St. Paul’s Sword of the Spirit, our monthly newsletter, is available on line, as is the calendar of parish events for August 2008.
Today’s news in the Episcopal Church - Episcopal Life Online.
On the calendar tomorrow, August 22, 2008:
- Women’s AA at 7:30 p.m. (in the Dining Room).
Today is a feria in the Episcopal Church. Our brothers and sisters in the Armenian Church venerate St. Thaddeus of the Seventy, by legend one of those sent forth in pairs by Christ to spread the Good News of God’s Kingdom.
The Orthodox Wiki (online encyclopedia) offers this brief biography of Thaddeus:
The Holy Thaddeus was by descent a Hebrew, and he was born in the Syrian city of Edessa. He was baptized by John the Forerunner in the Jordan. St Thaddeus was chosen by the Lord to be one of the Seventy Disciples, whom He sent by twos to preach in the cities and places where He intended to visit (Luke 10: 1).
He backed up his preaching with many miracles (about which Abgar wrote to the Assyrian emperor Nerses). He established priests Edessa and built up the Church there. Abgar wanted to reward St Thaddeus with rich gifts, but he refused and went preaching to other cities, converting many pagans to the Christian Faith. He went to the city of Beirut to preach, and he founded a church there. It was in this city that he peacefully died in the year 44.
In the Orthodox tradition, the Liturgy in commemoration of a saint includes a troparion and a kontakion, hymns invoking the saint’s intercession with God on our behalf. The hymns for St. Thaddeus of the Seventy are these:
Troparion
Holy apostle Thaddeus of the Seventy;
Entreat the merciful;
To grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.Kontakion
The Church ever sees you as a shining star, O apostle Thaddeus,
Your miracles have manifested great enlightenment.
Therefore we cry out to Christ:
“Save those who with faith honor Your apostle, O Most Merciful One.”
Posted: August 21st, 2008 under Calendar of Events, Daily Prayer, Fellowship, Saints.
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