Holy Martyr Raisa

Don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

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	Holy Martyr Raisa

Very little has come down to us of the life and death of Saint Martyr Raisa (or Iraida). We know that she was a daughter of a presbyter and suffered for the Christian faith under the Emperor Maxentius (305-312). She lived in Alexandria and was a nun at the local cloister. Once she saw a ship loaded with convicts — men, women, clergy and monks. They had been arrested for being Christians. Nobody knew where they were being taken. When Venerable Raisa visited the imprisoned Christians she was put in fetters too. Then the ship reached Antinoia in Egypt, where the imprisoned were tortured and executed. Saint Raisa shared their fate. She was beheaded in the year 308.

Troparion:
O Jesus! Thy lamb Raisa is calling out in a loud voice: "I love Thee, my bridegroom, seeking Thee I suffer and join Thee in Thy crucifixion and burial to be blessed by you. I am tormented for Thee as I reign in Thy name, and I am dying for Thee as I live with Thee; accept me as a virgin sacrifice made with love to Thee. Through prayers, as Thou art merciful, save our souls.

Source: http://www.fatheralexander.org

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