August 20, 2013 Postfestive Day of the Dormition. The Holy Prophet Samuel. The Holy King Stephen of Hungary. Today is a Postfestive day of the Dormition. We remember the holy prophet Samuel. Fifteenth and last of the Judges of Israel, he lived approximately eleven hundred years before Christ. Born in the tribe of Levi, son of Elkanah and Hannah, he was promised to the Lord by his till-then barren mother. At the age of twelve, Samuel had his first revelation from the Lord God. Samuel preached repentance to the children of Israel, and led the people to victory over the Philistines. Asked by the people to give them a king, he warned them that God was the only true king of Israel, but they insisted. It was Samuel who anointed Saul son of Kish as the first King of Israel, and David son of Jesse as its second and greatest ruler. He died in Ramah and was buried there. We also remember the holy king Stephen of Hungary, who, regenerated by his baptism, received his crown of kingship from Pope Silvester II, provided for the propagation of the faith of Christ among the Hungarians, established the Church in his kingdom, and endowed monasteries with his riches. He was just and peaceful in ruling his subjects, until at Alba Regalis [modern Székesfehérvár] in Hungary on the day of the Assumption his soul traveled to heaven.(1038) Epistle: 2 Cor. 12:20-13:2 Gospel: Mark 4:24-34 According to the Gregorian Calendar for Pasch
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 10:16:33 +0000