[Readingsandsaints] Readings and saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Mon Mar 26 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Isaiah 48:17-49:4  (6th Hour)
17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: I am the
Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you
should go.
18 Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have
been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 Your descendants also would have been like the sand, And the
offspring of your body like the grains of sand; His name would not
have been cut off Nor destroyed from before Me.
20 Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of
singing, Declare, proclaim this, Utter it to the end of the earth;
Say, The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob!
21 And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts; He
caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the
rock, and the waters gushed out.
22 There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked.
1 Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar!
The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He
has made mention of My name.
2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His
hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He
has hidden Me.
3 And He said to me, You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be
glorified.
4 Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for
nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, And
my work with my God.
Scripture Reading 1 of 3


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Genesis 27:1-41  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
1 Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim
that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to
him, My son. And he answered him, Here I am.
2 Then he said, Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my
death.
3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow,
and go out to the field and hunt game for me.
4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I
may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.
5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau
went to the field to hunt game and to bring it.
6 So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Indeed I heard your
father speak to Esau your brother, saying,
7 Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and
bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.
8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command
you.
9 Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the
goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as
he loves.
10 Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that
he may bless you before his death.
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Look, Esau my brother is a
hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man.
12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver
to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.
13 But his mother said to him, Let your curse be on me, my son; only
obey my voice, and go, get them for me.
14 And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his
mother made savory food, such as his father loved.
15 Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which
were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.
16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on
the smooth part of his neck.
17 Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had
prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18 So he went to his father and said, My father. And he said, Here I
am. Who are you, my son?
19 Jacob said to his father, I am Esau your firstborn; I have done
just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your
soul may bless me.
20 But Isaac said to his son, How is it that you have found it so
quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord your God brought it to
me.
21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, Please come near, that I may feel you, my
son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.
22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said,
The voice is Jacobs voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his
brother Esaus hands; so he blessed him.
24 Then he said, Are you really my son Esau? He said, I am.
25 He said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my sons game, so
that my soul may bless you. So he brought it near to him, and he ate;
and he brought him wine, and he drank.
26 Then his father Isaac said to him, Come near now and kiss me, my
son.
27 And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his
clothing, and blessed him and said: Surely, the smell of my son Is
like the smell of a field Which the Lord has blessed.
28 Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of
the earth, And plenty of grain and wine.
29 Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over
your brethren, And let your mothers sons bow down to you. Cursed be
everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!
30 Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and
Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father,
that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
31 He also had made savory food, and brought it to his father, and
said to his father, Let my father arise and eat of his sons game, that
your soul may bless me.
32 And his father Isaac said to him, Who are you? So he said, I am
your son, your firstborn, Esau.
33 Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, Who? Where is the one
who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came,
and I have blessed himand indeed he shall be blessed.
34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an
exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, Bless meme
also, O my father!
35 But he said, Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your
blessing.
36 And Esau said, Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted
me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has
taken away my blessing! And he said, Have you not reserved a blessing
for me?
37 Then Isaac answered and said to Esau, Indeed I have made him your
master, and all his brethren I have given to him as servants; with
grain and wine I have sustained him. What shall I do now for you, my
son?
38 And Esau said to his father, Have you only one blessing, my father?
Bless meme also, O my father! And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.
39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: Behold, your
dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of
heaven from above.
40 By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And
it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break
his yoke from your neck.
41 So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father
blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my
father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.
Scripture Reading 2 of 3


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Proverbs 19:16-25  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless
of his ways will die.
17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back
what he has given.
18 Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on
his destruction.
19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him,
you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in
your latter days.
21 There are many plans in a mans heart, Nevertheless the Lords
counselthat will stand.
22 What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than
a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in
satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as
bring it to his mouth again.
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who
has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
Scripture Reading 3 of 3



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------ SAINTS/FEASTS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Leavetaking of the Annunciation
On the Leavetaking of the Feast of the Annunciation, the Church
commemorates the Archangel Gabriel, who announced the great mystery of
the Incarnation of Christ to the Virgin Mary. There is no period of
Afterfeast due to Great Lent.
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Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel
Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel: The Archangel Gabriel was
chosen by the Lord to announce to the Virgin Mary about the
Incarnation of the Son of God from Her, to the great rejoicing of all
mankind. Therefore, on the day after the Feast of the Annunciation,
the day on which the All-Pure Virgin is glorified, we give thanks to
the Lord and we venerate His messenger Gabriel, who contributed to the
mystery of our salvation.
Gabriel, the holy Archistrategos (Leader of the Heavenly Hosts), is a
faithful servant of the Almighty God. He announced the future
Incarnation of the Son of God to those of the Old Testament; he
inspired the Prophet Moses to write the Pentateuch (first five books
of the Old Testament), he announced the coming tribulations of the
Chosen People to the Prophet Daniel (Dan. 8:16, 9:21-24); he appeared
to St Anna (July 25) with the news that she would give birth to the
Virgin Mary.
The holy Archangel Gabriel remained with the Holy Virgin Mary when She
was a child in the Temple of Jerusalem, and watched over Her
throughout Her earthly life. He appeared to the Priest Zachariah,
foretelling the birth of the Forerunner of the Lord, St John the
Baptist.
The Lord sent him to St Joseph the Betrothed in a dream, to reveal to
him the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God from the All-Pure
Virgin Mary, and warned him of the wicked intentions of Herod,
ordering him to flee into Egypt with the divine Infant and His Mother.
When the Lord prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before His Passion,
the Archangel Gabriel, whose very name signifies "Man of God" (Luke.
22:43), was sent from Heaven to strengthen Him.
The Myrrh-Bearing Women heard from the Archangel the joyous news of
Christ's Resurrection (Mt.28:1-7, Mark 16:1-8).
Mindful of the manifold appearances of the holy Archangel Gabriel and
of his zealous fulfilling of God's will, and confessing his
intercession for Christians before the Lord, the Orthodox Church calls
upon its children to pray to the great Archangel with faith and love.
The Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel is also celebrated on July
13. All the angels are commemorated on November 8.
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Hieromartyr Irenaeus the Bishop of Sirmium in Hungary
Hieromartyr Irenaeus suffered during the persecution against
Christians under the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian (284-305).
He was a presbyter, and he and his wife raised their children in
Christian piety. St Irenaeus was greatly respected for his education
and strict manner of life.
He was later made Bishop of Sirmium in Pannonia (modern Hungary).
Because of his fervent preaching of the Gospel he was arrested and
brought before an official named Probus. Refusing to deny Christ and
offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, the saint was handed over for
torture. Witnessing his torments were the saint's parents, relatives
and friends, who attempted to persuade him to submit, but the martyr
remained steadfast.
After cruel tortures, the holy confessor spent a long time in prison.
Probus tried to persuade the martyr, urging him to spare his life for
the sake of his sons. St Irenaeus replied, "My sons believe in God,
Who will care for them. As for me, nothing will force me to renounce
my Christ."
The governor ordered the saint to be thrown into a river. They led the
martyr on the bridge crossing the River Sava, where he knelt and
prayed to the Lord for his flock. Then they beheaded the Hieromartyr
Irenaeus, and threw his body into the river.
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Martyr Bathusius in the Crimea
Saint Bathusius was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the
Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
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Martyr Bercus the Presbyter in the Crimea
Saint Bercus the priest was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed
by the Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of
Christians. Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the
martyrdom of twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors
Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King
Athanaric was enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity
because of the preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered
many of them to be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
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Martyr Arpilus the Monk in the Crimea
Saint Arpilus was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the
Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
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Martyr Abibus in the Crimea
Saint Abibus was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the
Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of
Christians.Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the
martyrdom of twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors
Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King
Athanaric was enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity
because of the preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered
many of them to be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
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Martyr Agnus in the Crimea
Saint Agnus was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the Goths
around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Reasus in the Crimea
Saint Reasus was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the
Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Igathrax in the Crimea
Saint Igathrax was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the
Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Iscoeus (Iskous) in the Crimea
Saint Iscoeus (Iskous) was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed
by the Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of
Christians. Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the
martyrdom of twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors
Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King
Athanaric was enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity
because of the preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered
many of them to be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Silas, Signicus in the Crimea
Saint Silas was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the Goths
around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Sonirilus in the Crimea
Saint Sonirilus was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the
Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Suimbalus in the Crimea
The Holy Martyrs Presbyters Bathusius and Vercus with two sons and two
daughters, the Monk Arpilus, and the Laymen: Abibus, Agnus, Reas,
Igathrax, Iscous, Silas, Signicus, Sonerilas, Suimbalus, Thermus,
Phillus, and the Women Martyrs: Anna, Alla, Larissa, Monco, Mamika,
Virko, Animais (Animaida), and the anonymous martyr with them; also
the Gothic Queen Gaatha and the Princess Duclida suffered around the
year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians. Ancient
synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of twenty-six
Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens, and
Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was enraged to
see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the preaching of
the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to be tortured
and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Thermus in the Crimea
Saint Thermus was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the
Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Phillus (Philgas) the layman in the Crimea
Saint Phillus (Philgas) was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed
by the Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of
Christians. Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the
martyrdom of twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors
Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King
Athanaric was enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity
because of the preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered
many of them to be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Anna the laywoman in the Crimea
Saint Anna was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the Goths
around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Alla the laywoman in the Crimea
Saint Alla was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the Goths
around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Larissa the laywoman in the Crimea
Saint Larissa (Beride) was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed
by the Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of
Christians. Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the
martyrdom of twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors
Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King
Athanaric was enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity
because of the preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered
many of them to be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Monco (Manca) the laywoman in the Crimea
Saint Monco (Manca) was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by
the Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of
Christians. Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the
martyrdom of twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors
Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King
Athanaric was enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity
because of the preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered
many of them to be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Uirko (Virko) the laywoman in the Crimea
Saint Uiriko (Viriko) was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by
the Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of
Christians. Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the
martyrdom of twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors
Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King
Athanaric was enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity
because of the preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered
many of them to be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Animais (Animaida) the laywoman in the Crimea
Saint Animais was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed by the
Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of Christians.
Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the martyrdom of
twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors Valentinian, Valens,
and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King Athanaric was
enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity because of the
preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered many of them to
be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Gaatha the Queen in the Crimea
Saint Gaatha the Queen was one of twenty-six martyrs who were killed
by the Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor of
Christians. Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the
martyrdom of twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors
Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King
Athanaric was enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity
because of the preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered
many of them to be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Duclida the Princess in the Crimea
Saint Dulcida the princess was one of twenty-six martyrs who were
killed by the Goths around the year 375 under Jungerich, a persecutor
of Christians.. Ancient synaxaria of the Gothic Church recount the
martyrdom of twenty-six Christians in the time of the emperors
Valentinian, Valens, and Gratian. The historian Sozomen says that King
Athanaric was enraged to see his subjects embracing Christianity
because of the preaching of the Arian bishop Ulfilas. So, he ordered
many of them to be tortured and executed, often without a trial.
King Athanaric's ministers placed a statue in a chariot and paraded it
before the tents which Christians used for church services. Those who
worshiped the idol and offered sacrifice were spared, the rest were
burned alive in the tent. Jungerich gave orders to burn down a church
during divine services. In the fiery inferno 308 people perished, of
whom only twenty-one are known by name. There was also an anonymous
man who came to the tent and confessed Christ. He was martyred with
the others. Different manuscripts give variants of their names.
In the reign of Valentinian and Theodosius (383-392), the Gothic
king's widow Gaatha (who was an Orthodox Christian) and her daughter
Duclida gathered up the relics of the holy martyrs and brought them to
Syria with the help of some priests and a layman named Thyellas.
Gaatha later returned to her native land, where she was stoned and
died as a martyr, along with her son Agathon.
The relics of the holy martyrs were left to Duclida, who went to
Cyzicus in Asia Minor and gave some of the relics for the founding of
a church. St Duclida died in peace.
The holy martyrs were commemorated on October 23 on the Gothic
calendars.
_________________________________________________________________
St Malchus of Chalcis in Syria
Saint Malchus was the only son of a farmer, and lived near Antioch,
Syria. Upon attaining the age of maturity, his parents had arranged a
marriage for him, but Malchus secretly left home and received monastic
tonsure in one of the monasteries, where he fulfilled various
obediences for many years.
Upon learning of the death of his father, he wished to visit his
mother. The igumen of the monastery would not bless him to go, but
Malchus disobeyed him. He joined a group of pilgrims, and set out for
his native district.
Along the way, Saracens attacked them, and enslaved them. Malchus' s
master compelled him to marry one of his slaves. With the consent of
his wife, St Malchus kept his vow of chastity, and eventually
converted her to Christianity.
One day, St Malchus and his wife ran away. The master pursued them,
but they hid in a cave, which proved to be the den of a lioness. The
lioness did not harm the fugitives, but killed one of the pursuers who
tried to enter the cave and capture them.
St Malchus sent his wife to a women's monastery as she requested,
while he returned to his own monastery. By then the igumen was no
longer alive, and St Malchus never left the monastery again. For the
edification of monks he often recounted his trials, which were the
result of his disobedience. St Malchus labored in asceticism in the
monastery until the end of his life. He died in peace in the fourth
century.
_________________________________________________________________
Venerable Basil the New, Anchorite, Near Constantinople
Saint Basil the New left the world in his youth, and struggled in a
desolate place. Once, courtiers of the Byzantine Emperor were passing
by and saw him dressed in rags, and were alarmed by his strange
appearance. Suspicious of the holy ascetic, they captured him and
brought him to the city, where the patrician Samon questioned him.
When asked who he was, the saint merely said that he was a stranger in
the land. They subjected the monk to terrible tortures, but he endured
it in silence, not wishing to reveal the details of his ascetic life
to them. Samon lost his patience and asked St Basil, "Impious one, how
long will you hide, who are you, and from where do you come?" The
saint replied, "It is more appropriate to call impious those who, like
yourself, lead a life of impurity." After his public humiliation,
Samon ordered his men to hang the saint upside down with his hands and
feet tied. These torments were so cruel that those witnessing them
murmured against Samon. When they released the holy ascetic after
three days of torture, they found him alive and unharmed. Samon
attributed this miracle to sorcery and had St Basil thrown to a lion.
However, the lion did not touch the saint, and lay peacefully at his
feet. Samon ordered St Basil to be drowned in the sea, but two
dolphins brought him to shore. The saint went into the city, where he
met a sick man named John, who was suffering from fever. St Basil
healed the sick man in the name of the Savior, and accepted John's
invitation to stay in his home. Numerous believers came to the saint
for advice and guidance, and also to receive healing from sickness
through his prayers. St Basil, endowed with the gift of discernment,
guided sinners on the path of repentance, and he could predict future
events. Among those who visited St Basil was a certain Gregory, who
became his disciple and later wrote a detailed Life of his teacher.
Gregory once found an expensive sash at an inn, which had been dropped
by the inn-keeper's daughter. He hid it on his person, intending to
sell it and give the money to the poor. On the way home, he lost the
sash and some other things. St Basil admonished him in a dream, showed
him a broken pot and said, "If anyone steals such a worthless thing,
they will be chastized four times over. You hid a valuable sash, and
you will be condemned as a thief. You should return what you found."
After the death of St Theodora, who had attended St Basil, Gregory
very much wanted to learn about her life beyond the grave, and he
often asked the holy ascetic to reveal this to him. Through the
saint's prayers, Gregory saw St Theodora in a dream. She told him how
her soul underwent tribulations after death, and how the power of the
prayers of St Basil had helped her (The Feast Day of St Theodora of
Constantinople is December 30). St Basil died in about the year 944 at
the age of 110. The Church calls him Basil the New to distinguish him
from other ascetics of the same name.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Montanus the Presbyter of Singidunum, and his wife
Maxima
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr Maxima of Singidunum, and her husband Montanus
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________
Martyr George of Sofia
No information available at this time.
_________________________________________________________________