During the time of the persecutions of Christians, many of the faithful fled to the mountains and into the caves. So did the mother of Quadratus(or Codratus). She gave birth to him in the forest, but died shortly thereafter. By the Providence of God the infant Quadratus remained alive and was nourished in a miraculous manner: a cloud appeared over him, dropping sweet dew into his mouth. The childhood and youth of the saint was spent in the wilderness. When he was a young man, he chanced upon some Christians who enlightened him with the light of the true faith. Quadratus studied medicine and healed the sick with natural cures and more often, with the spiritual power of prayer, which had been with him since childhood. When a new persecution arose under Decius, Quadratis was brought to trial and cast into prison. Five companions joined him and confessed in the name of Christ. They were Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, and Cresens. They were tortured, but all stood firmly for the Faith. The martyrs were ordered to be thrown to the wild beasts to be torn apart. But the beasts would not touch them. Then the saints were tied behind chariots and dragged through the streets of the city. Finally, they were beheaded by sword. A spring of water gushed out of the ground at that spot, which is called “Quadratus” even today and is a reminder of the heroic deaths of these six holy innocents of Christ. They honorably suffered for the truth in the year 250, in Corinth.
O Lord our God, your holy martyrs have deserved the crown of immortality on account of their good fight. Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors and crushed Satan’s dreadful might. Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
By enduring violence you slew the proud enemy as you and your companions felt the pains of the sword. We celebrate your memory, holy Codratus, and we sing: All you unconquerable martyrs, remember us to the Lord.
This is the record of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, he made them in the likeness of God; he created them male and female. When they were created, he blessed them and named them mankind.
Adam was one hundred and thirty years old when he begot a son in his likeness, after his image; and he named him Seth. Adam lived eight hundred years after he begot Seth, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Adam was nine hundred and thirty years; then he died.
When Seth was one hundred and five years old, he begot Enosh. Seth lived eight hundred and seven years after he begot Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Seth was nine hundred and twelve years; then he died.
When Enosh was ninety years old, he begot Kenan. Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years after he begot Kenan, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Enosh was nine hundred and five years; then he died.
When Kenan was seventy years old, he begot Mahalalel. Kenan lived eight hundred and forty years after he begot Mahalalel, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Kenan was nine hundred and ten years; then he died.
When Mahalalel was sixty-five years old, he begot Jared. Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years after he begot Jared, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Mahalalel was eight hundred and ninety-five years; then he died.
When Jared was one hundred and sixty-two years old, he begot Enoch. Jared lived eight hundred years after he begot Enoch, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Jared was nine hundred and sixty-two years; then he died.
When Enoch was sixty-five years old, he begot Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he begot Methuselah for three hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Enoch was three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer here, for God took him.
So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s power: Go, hurry, rouse your neighbor!
Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids;
Free yourself like a gazelle from the hunter, or like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Go to the ant, O sluggard, study her ways and learn wisdom;
For though she has no chief, no commander or ruler,
She procures her food in the summer, stores up her provisions in the harvest.
How long, O sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest–
Then poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like a brigand.
Scoundrels, villains, are they who deal in crooked talk.
Shifty of eye, feet ever moving, pointing with fingers,
They have perversity in their hearts, always plotting evil, sowing discord.
Therefore their doom comes suddenly; in an instant they are crushed beyond cure.
There are six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to him,
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that plots wicked schemes, feet that are quick to run to evil,
The false witness who utters lies, and the one who sows discord among kindred.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Wednesday, March 9 –
