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{"40": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Abraham, Archimandrite and Wonderworker of Smolensk (13th C)", "short": "Venerable Abraham"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monk Avraamii (Abraham) of Smolensk, a preacher of repentance and the impending Dread Last Judgement, was born in the mid-XII Century at Smolensk of rich parents, who before him had 12 daughters, and they besought God for a son. From childhood he grew up in the fear of God, he was often in church and had the opportunity to read books. The parents hoped that their only son would enter into marriage and continue their illustrious lineage, but he sought after a different life. After the death of his parents, having given away all his wealth to monasteries, to churches and to the destitute, the saint walked through the city in rags, beseeching God to show him the way to salvation. </p><p>He accepted tonsure in a monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God, five versts from Smolensk, at the locale of Selischa. Having passed through various obediences there, the monk fervently occupied himself with the copying of books, culling spiritual riches from them. The Smolensk prince Roman Rostislavich (\u2020 1170) started a school in the city, in which they taught not only in Slavonic, but also out of Greek and Latin books. The prince himself had a large collection of books, which the Monk Avraamii made use of. He had asceticised for more than 30 years at the monastery, when in the year 1198 the hegumen persuaded him to accept the dignity of presbyter. Every day he made Divine Liturgy and fulfilled the obedience of clergy not only for the brethren, but also for the laypeople. </p><p>Soon the monk became widely known. This aroused the envy of the brethren, and then of the hegumen also, and 5 years later the monk was compelled to transfer to the Cross-Exaltation monastery in Smolensk itself. From the offerings by the devout he embellished the cathedral church of the poor monastery with icons, and with curtains and candle-stands. He himself inscribed two icons on themes, which most of all concerned him: on the one he depicted the Dread Last Judgement, and on the other\u2014the suffering of the trials of life. Lean and pale from extreme toil, the ascetic in priestly garb resembled in appearance Saint Basil the Great. The saint was strict both towards himself, and towards his spiritual children. He preached constantly in church and to those coming to him in his cell, conversing with rich and poor alike. </p><p>The city notables and the clergy demanded of Bishop Ignatii to bring the monk to trial, accusing him in the seduction of women and the tempting of his spiritual children. But even more terrible were the accusations against him, of heresy and the reading of forbidden books. For this they proposed to drown or burn the ascetic. At the trial by the prince and the bishop, the monk answered all the false accusations, but despite this, they forbade him to serve as a priest and returned him to his former monastery in honour of the Most Holy Mother of God. A terrible drought occurred in consequence of God\u2019s wrath over the unjust sentence, and only when Saint Ignatii put forth a pardon of the Monk Avraamii permitting him to serve and preach, did the rain again fall on the Smolensk lands.</p><p>The bishop Saint Ignatii built a new monastery, in honour of the Placing of the Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God, and he entrusted the guidance of it to the Monk Avraamii, and he himself settled into it, having retired because of age from the diocese. Many were desirous to enter under the guidance of the Monk Avraamii, but he examined them very intensely and only after great investigation, so that at his monastery there were but 17 brethren. The Monk Avraamii, after the death of Saint Ignatii, having become his spiritual friend,\u2014even moreso than before urged the brethren to reminisce about death and to pray day and night, that they be not condemned in the Judgement by God. </p><p>The Monk Avraamii died after the year 1224, having spent 50 years in monasticism. Already at the end of the XIII Century there had been compiled a service to him, conjointly with his student the Monk Ephraim. The terrible Mongol-Tatar invasion, seen as the wrath of God for sin, not only did not stifle the memory of the Monk Avraamii of Smolensk, but rather was a reminder to people of his calling to repentance and recollection of the dread Last Judgement.</p>"}, "rank": 2, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>Needs English translation</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Needs English translation</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "3"}}}}, "401": {"name": {"nominative": "Virgin-martyrs Dorothy and two sisters - Christina and Callista - and the Martyr Theophilus at C\u00e6sarea in Cappadocia (\u2020 c. 288-300)", "short": "Virgin-martyr Dorothy and companions"}}, "402": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Julian of Emesa (\u2020 312)", "short": "Martyr Julian"}}, "403": {"name": {"nominative": "Virgin-martyr Fausta and with her, Evilasius and Maximus, at Cyzicus (\u2020 c. 305-311)", "short": "Virgin-martyr Fausta"}}, "404": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Martha, Mary, and their brother Lycarion", "short": "Martyrs Martha"}}, "405": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople (9<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Saint Photius"}}, "406": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Benjamin the Deacon of Persia (\u2020 421-424)", "short": "Martyr Benjamin"}}, "407": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Benjamin, Metropolitan of Petrograd and Gdovsk (\u2020 1922) and those with him: Archimandrite Sergius and the laymen: Yuri and John", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "408": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Benjamin of the Kiev Caves (14<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Benjamin"}}, "409": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Parthenius, Bishop of Lampsacus on the Hellespont (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Saint Parthenius"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>Saint Parthenias, Bishop of Lampsaka, was a native of the city of Melitopolis (Asia Minor), where his father Christopher served as deacon. The youth was not learned at grammar, but he well assimilated the Holy Scripture by being present in church for Divine-services. He possessed a good heart, and the money he earned working as a fisherman he distributed to the poor. Filled with the grace of God, Saint Parthenias from age 18 in the Name of Christ healed the sick, cast out demons and worked other miracles. Learning about the virtuous life of the youth, the Melitopolis bishop Philip gave him an education and ordained him presbyter. In the year 325 during the reign of Constantine the Great, the Kysikhos archbishop Achilles made him bishop of the city of Lampsaka (Asia Minor). In the city were many pagans, and the saint fervently began to spread the faith in Christ, affirming it by the will of God through many miracles and healings of the sick. The people began to forsake their pagan manners of belief, and the saint then went to the emperor Constantine the Great with a petition to tear down the idolous pagan-temple and build in its place a Christian church. The emperor received the saint with honour, gave him the edict for the destruction of the pagan-temple, and furnished him means for the building of a church. Returning to Lampsaka, Saint Parthenias gave orders to tear down the idolous pagan-temple and to erect amidst the city a beautiful church of God.</p><p>Having found in one of the torn-down temples a large stone suitable to be made the holy altar-table in the church, the saint gave orders to set to work about it and move it for the construction of the church. Through the malice of the devil, which became enraged at the removal of the stone from the pagan-temple, the cart overturned and killed the driver Eutykhion. Saint Parthenias restored him to life by his prayer and shamed the devil, who wanted to frustrate the work of God. </p><p>The kindly saint was so great, that he refused healing to no one of the multitude coming to him or who chanced to meet him by the wayside, whether suffering bodily illnesses or afflicted with unclean spirits. People even stopped going to physicians, since Saint Parthenias healed all the sick for free, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. With the great power of the Name of Christ the saint banished an host of demons from people, from their homes, and from the waters of the sea. When the saint cast out a devil from a certain man, who had been afflicted by it since childhood, the unclean spirit began to implore the saint to give him another place of habitation. The saint promised to indicate such a place and, having opened his mouth, said to the demon: \u201cCome and dwell in me.\u201d The demon, as though stung by fire, cried out: \u201cHow canst I go into the house of God?,\u201d and vanished off into places desolate and untrodden. An unclean spirit, cast out from the house where the imperial porphyry-dye was prepared, cried out for everyone to hear, that a Divine fire was pursuing him with the fire of Gehenna.</p><p>Thus, have shown people the great power of faith in Christ, the saint converted a multitude of idol-worshippers to the true God.</p><p>Saint Parthenias died peacefully and was solemnly buried alongside the cathedral church of Lampsaka, in a chapel built by him.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O God of our fathers, * deal with us ever according to Thy meekness. * Deprive us not of Thy mercy, * but through their supplications ** direct our life in peace.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Thou didst receive the divine grace of miracles, * O sacred Parthenius of godly wisdom, God-bearing wonder, * cleansing the faithful of all the passions and dispelling spirits of wickedness, O father. * Wherefore, we hymn thee as a great initiate ** of the mysteries of the grace of God.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "3"}}}}, "410": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Luke of Hellas (\u2020 c. 946)", "short": "Venerable Luke"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monk Luke of Hellas was a native of the Greek village of Kastoria. The son of poor farmers, the saint from childhood had toiled much, working in the fields and shepherding the sheep. He was very obedient to his parents and very temperate in eating. He often gave the poor his own food and clothing, for which he suffered reproach from his parents. Once he gave to the poor almost all the seed which was needed for planting in the fields, but the Lord rewarded him for his charity: the harvest gathered was greater than formerly. </p><p>While still a youth he prayed both often and fervently. His mother more than once saw him during the time of prayer standing, not on the ground but in the air.</p><p>After the death of his father, he went off secretly from his mother to Athens, where he entered a monastery. But through the prayers of his mother, who was very anxiously concerned about him, the Lord in miraculous manner returned him to his parental home. He spent a whole four months there and having comforted his mother, with her blessing he went off to a solitary place on Mount Joannikes. Here there was a church in the name of the holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian, at which he pursued asceticism in constant prayer and fasting. He accepted monastic tonsure there from elders on pilgrimage. After this Saint Luke redoubled his ascetic efforts, for which the Lord granted him the gift of foresight.</p><p>After a seven year sojourn on Mount Joannikes, the monk resettled at Corinth because of an invasion of Bulgarian armies. Hearing about the exploits of a certain pillar-dweller at Patras, he journeyed off to him and for 10 years he served the ascetic with humility and obedience. Afterwards, the saint returned again to his native land and again began to pursue asceticism on Mount Joannikes. </p><p>The throngs of people flocking there disturbed his quietude, and with the blessing of his elder Theophylaktos, the Monk Luke set off with his disciple to a still more remote place at Kalabios, and from there after three years because of an invasion of Arabs he settled on the desolate and arid island of Ampilos. A later place of his ascetic efforts was Stirea (Soterieia). Here brethren gathered to the monk, and there emerged a small monastery, the church of which was dedicated to the Great Martyress Barbara. Dwelling in the monastery, the monk worked many miracles, healing sicknesses both of soul and of body. Foreseeing his end, the saint confined himself in a cell and for three months prepared himself for his departure. To the question of where to bury him, the monk answered: \u201cThrow my body for the devouring by beasts.\u201d When the brethren besought him to change his final instructions, he commanded them to bury his body on the spot where he lay. With the words: \u201cInto Thine hands, O Lord, I give up my spirit!\u201d\u2014the Monk Luke reposed in the Lord on 7 February 946. Afterwards on the place of his burial was erected a church, and from his holy relics flowed myrh and many healings occurred.</p>"}, "rank": 1}, "411": {"name": {"nominative": "1,003 Martyrs of Nicomedia (\u2020 303)", "short": "1,003 Martyrs"}}, "414": {"name": {"nominative": "Prophet Zechariah, from among the 12 Minor Prophets (\u2020 c. 520 BC)", "short": "Prophet Zechariah"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Prophet Zechariah (Zakhariah) the Sickle-Seer from amongst the 12Minor Prophets was descended from the Levite tribe, called in the Book of Nehemiah-Ezra the chief priestly lineage. He was called to prophetic service at a young age and became, in the wondrous expression of churchly song, \u201ca spectator of supra-worldly visions.\u201d In particular within the Book of the Prophet Zechariah there is contained inspired details about the coming of the Messiah (6: 12); about the last days of the earthly life of the Saviour, and about the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem on a young donkey (9:9); about the betrayal of the Lord for 30 pieces of silver and the purchase with them of the potter\u2019s field (11: 12-13); about the piercing of the side of the Saviour (12: 10); about the scattering of the apostles from the Garden of Gethsemane (13: 7); about the sun\u2019s eclipse at the time of the sufferings on the Cross of the Saviour (14: 6-7). \u201cEnlightened by dawnings all above,\u201d the Prophet Zechariah \u201csaw the future as the presently existing.\u201d According to tradition, this \u201cmost true God-proclaimer\u201d lived to old age and was buried not far from Jerusalem, alongside his illustrious contemporary and companion the Prophet Haggai. The title \u201cSickle-Seer\u201d given Zechariah is connected to one of the revelations to him, in which he saw a scroll flying in the air, curved to the likeness of a menacing sickle (5: 1-2). </p>"}, "rank": 1}, "419": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyrs Marcellus, Bishop of Syracuse in Sicily; Philagrius, Bishop of Cyprus; and Pancratius Bishop of Tauromenium (1<sup>st</sup> C)", "short": "Hieromartyr Marcellus and companions"}}, "421": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Charalampus, Bishop of Magnesia in Thessaly, and the Martyrs Porphyrius, Baptus and 3 Women Martyrs (\u2020 202)", "short": "Hieromartyr Charalampus and companions"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Hieromartyr Charalampus, Bishop of Magnezia, the Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus and the Three Martyresses suffered in the year 202.</p><p>Saint Charalampus, bishop of the Thessalonian city of Magnezia (northwest region of Greece), successfully spread faith in Christ the Saviour. News about his preaching reached the governor of the district Lucian and the military-commander Lucius. The saint was arrested and brought to trial, where he firmly confessed his faith in Christ and refused to offer sacrifice to idols. Despite the decrepit age of the bishop (he was already 113 years of age), they subjected him to monstrous tortures: they lacerated his body with iron hooks, while they scourged all his skin from head to foot. During this the saint turned to his tormentors: \u201cI bless you, brethren, ye have restored my spirit!\u201d</p><p>Having seen the endurance of the elder and his complete lack of malice, two soldiers\u2014Porphyrius and Baptus openly confessed Christ, for which they were immediately beheaded with a sword. Being present at the sufferings of bishop Charalampus were likewise three women who began to glorify Christ and were quickly martyred. </p><p>The enraged Lucius himself seized hold of the instruments of torture and began to tear at the priest-martyr, but suddenly his hand was cut off as though by a sword. Also arriving at the place of execution the governor spat in the face of the saint, and immediately he bent backwards. Then Lucius began to beseech the saint for forgiveness, and through his prayer both torturers at once received healing. During this a multitude of witnesses came to believe in Christ. Among them also was Lucius, who fell at the feet of the holy elder, begging forgiveness.</p><p>Lucian reported about the occurrence to the emperor Septimus Severus (193-211), situated at this time at Pisidian Antioch (western part of Asia Minor). The emperor gave orders to bring Saint Charlampios to him, and this was done with a stupid ferocity: they dragged the priest-martyr, having tied a rope to his beard. The emperor then gave orders to torture the bishop more intensely, and they began to burn at him with fire. But the Power of God aided to the saint, and he remained unharmed. Besides this, miracles were done through his prayer: he raised up a dead youth, and healed a demoniac tormented by devils for 35 years, so that the people in a multitude began to believe in Christ the Saviour. Even Galina the daughter of the emperor began to believe in Christ, and twice smashed idols in a pagan temple. By order of the emperor they beat the saint with stones about the mouth, and they wanted to set afire his beard, from which the flames went forth burning the torturer. Full of wickedness, Septimus Severus and his dignitary Crispus hurled blasphemy at the Lord, mockingly summoning Him to come down to the earth, and bragging of their own power and might. In wrath the Lord quaked the earth, great fear fell upon all, both the impious ones were suspended in mid-air held by invisible bounds, and only by the prayer of the saint were they put down. The dazed emperor was shaken in his former impiety, but again quickly fell into error and gave orders to torture the saint. And finally, he sentenced him to beheading with a sword. During the time of his final prayer, the saint was vouchsafed to behold the Saviour Himself and besought Him to grant that place where his remains would repose, in peace, would be fruitful for people, bringing forgiveness of sins and salvation. The Lord promised to fulfill the request and ascended to heaven, bearing with Him the soul of the priestmartyr Charalampus\u2014who through the mercy of God accepted a peaceful death before execution. The daughter of the emperor, blessed Galina, buried the body of the martyr with great honour.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In his suffering, O Lord, * Thy martyr Charalampus received an imperishable crown from Thee our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * he set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By his supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Perfected by the grace of the priesthood, O glorious one, * thou didst splendidly adorn the Church with thy divine suffering, * which, rejoicing, thou didst manfully accept for Chris\u201ds sake, * O Charalampus, thou honored beacon of the whole world, ** illumining the ends of the earth, in that thou art invincible.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}}}}, "424": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Longinus of Koryazhemka (\u2020 1540)", "short": "Venerable Longin"}}, "430": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and Galicia (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "431": {"name": {"nominative": "Righteous Empress Theodora, Restorer of the Veneration of Holy Icons (\u2020 ca 867)", "short": "Righteous Empress"}}, "432": {"name": {"nominative": "Blessed Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich of Novgorod, the Wonderworker (\u2020 1052), and his mother Princess Anna", "short": "Blessed Prince"}}, "435": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste (\u2020 c. 316)", "short": "Hieromartyr Blaise"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Hieromartyr Blaise (Blasios), Bishop of Sebasteia, was known for his righteous and pious life. He was unanimously chosen by the people and ordained bishop of Sebasteia. This occurred during the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Licinius (307-324)\u2014fierce persecutors of Christians. Saint Blaise had to encourage his flock, visit the imprisoned, and give support to the martyrs.</p><p>Many hid themselves away from the persecutors by going off into desolate and solitary places. Saint Blaise likewise took the opportunity to hide himself away on Mount Argeos, where he asceticised in a cave. Wild beasts came up to him and meekly waited until the saint finished his prayer and gave them blessing; the saint likewise healed sick animals by laying his hands upon them. The refuge of the saint was discovered by servants of the governor Agricolaus, being in the area to snare wild beasts to use to tear apart the Christian martyrs. The servants reported to their master that Christians were hidden away on the mountain, and he gave orders to arrest them. But those sent out found there only the Sebasteia bishop. Glorifying God Who had summoned him to this exploit, Saint Blaise followed the soldiers.</p><p>Along the way the saint healed the sick and worked other miracles. Thus, a destitute widow complained to him of her misfortune: a wolf had carried off her only possession\u2014a small pig. The bishop smiled and said to her: \u201cWeep not, thine piglet wilt be returned to thee\u2026.\u201d And actually to the astonishment of everyone, the wolf came running back and returned his booty unharmed.</p><p>Agricolaus, greeting the bishop with words of deceit, called him a companion of the gods. The saint answered the greeting, but the gods he called devils. Then they gave him a fierce beating and led him off to prison.</p><p>On the next day they again subjected the saint to tortures. When they led him back to the prison, seven women went along behind and gathered up the drops of blood. These they arrested and tried to compel them to worship the idols. The women in pretending to consent to this said, that they needed cleansing beforehand in the waters of a lake. They took along the idols and submerged them in a very deep portion of the lake, and after this the Christians were fiercely tortured. The saints stoically endured the torments, strengthened by the grace of God, their bodies were transformed and became white like snow, and together with the blood there flowed what seemed like milk. One of the women had two young sons, who implored their mother that she help them attain the Kingdom of Heaven and she entrusted them into the care of Saint Blaise. The seven holy women were then beheaded. </p><p>Saint Blaise was again brought before Agricolaus, and again he unflinchingly confessed his faith in Christ. The governor gave orders to throw the martyr into a lake. The saint, going down to the water, signed himself with the Sign of the Cross, and he went about on it as though on dry land. Addressing the pagans standing about on shore, he challenged them to come to him whilst calling on the help of their gods. To this, 68 men of the governor\u2019s retinue made bold and entered the water, and all immediately drowned. The saint, however, heeding the Angel that had appeared to him, returned to shore.</p><p>Agricolaus was in a rage over having lost his finest servants, and he gave orders to behead Saint Blaise, and together with him the two boys entrusted to him, the sons of the martyress. Before death, the priestmartyr prayed for all the whole world, and especially for those honouring his memory. This occurred in about the year 316. The relics of the Hieromartyr Blaise were carried off to the West during the time of the Crusades, and portions of the relics are preserved in many of the lands of Europe [and his memory traditionally honoured there on 3 February].</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>As thou didst share in the ways of the apostles * and didst occupy their throne, * thou didst find thine activity to be a passage to divine vision, * O divinely inspired one. * Wherefore, ordering the word of truth, * thou didst suffer for the Faith even to the shedding of thy blood. ** O hieromartyr Blaise, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>O God-bearing Blaise, * divine offshoot, unfading blossom, * much-suffering branch of the vine of Christ: * with thy gladness fill those who honor thy memory, ** praying unceasingly in behalf of us all.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}, "KONTAKION/2": {"text": "<p>With the anointing of the priesthood and the blood of martyrdom * wast thou adorned, O glorious Blaise; * and, joining chorus, thou shinest in the highest, * watching over those who come to thy temple ** and therein unceasingly cry out to thee: Preserve us all!</p>", "Type": "2", "Tone": "0"}}}}, "436": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Anthony, Patriarch of Constantinople (\u2020 895)", "short": "Saint Anthony"}}, "437": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Boniface at Tarsus in Cilicia and the Righteous Aglae (Aglaida) of Rome (\u2020 290)", "short": "Martyr Boniface"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1999-2008 Archpriest Eugene D. Tarris.", "text": "<p>He was a servant of a wealthy Roman woman, Aglae by name, with whom he lived a dissolute life. Previously suffering from an affliction of infatuation to a fault, he subsequently \u201cwas revealed a confessor and glorious sufferer in the name of the Lord.\u201d When his mistress sent him to the East for martyr\u2019s relics, Boniface there witnessed the suffering of Christians, accepted the Christian faith and for this he was tortured and beheaded in Tarsus. His companions brought his body to Rome in 290. They enshrined the relics of the holy martyr in the temple they raised up for the purpose. </p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Of thine own will thou didst bring thyself as an unblemished sacred offering * to Him Who was born of the Virgin for thy sak, ** O all-wise Boniface, holy crown-bearer.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "438": {"name": {"short": "Holy Right-believing", "nominative": "Holy Right-believing Prince Vsevolod (in Baptism Gabriel), Wonderworker of Pskov (\u2020 1138)"}, "rank": 2, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>Holy Nobleborn Prince Vsevolod of Pskov, in Baptism Gabriel (Gavriil), a grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, was born at and spent almost all his life in Novgorod, where in the years 1088-1093 and 1095-1117 his father ruled as prince. His father was the holy prince Saint Mstislav-Theodore (Feodor) the Great (\u2020 April 15, 1132). In the year 1117, when Great-prince Vladimir Monomakh gave Mstislav Kievan Belgorod as his \u201cudel\u201d (land-holding), practically making him coruler, young Vsevolod remained as vicar of his father in the Novgorod principality.</p><p>Holy Prince Vsevolod did much good for Novgorod. Together with the Archbishop of Novgorod, Saint Nyphontii (Comm. April 8), he raised up many a church, among which were\u2014the cathedral of the Great Martyr George at the St. George\u2019s (Yur\u2032ev) monastery, and the church of Saint John the Forerunner at Opokakh, built in honour of the \u201cAngel\u201d (<i>i.e.</i> \u201cpatron saint\u201d) of his first-born son John, who had died in infancy (\u2020 1128). In his Law-code (Ustav) the prince bestowed a deed of privileges (grammota) to the cathedral of Saint Sophia and other churches. During the time of a terrible famine, to save people from perishing, he exhausted his entire treasury. Prince Vsevolod was a valiant warrior, he marched victoriously against the Yam (in 1123) and Chud peoples, but never did he brandish the sword for profit or power.</p><p>In 1132, upon the death of holy Great-prince Mstislav, Vsevolod\u2019s uncle, the Kiev prince Yaropolk Vladimirovich followed up the last-wishes of his brother and transferred Vsevolod Pereyaslavl\u2032-South, then reckoned the eldest city after Kiev itself. But the younger sons of Monomakh\u2014Yurii Dolgoruky and Andrei Dobry\u2014were apprehensive lest Yaropolk make Vsevolod his successor, and so they marched out against their nephew. Not wanting internecine strife, Saint Vsevolod returned to Novgorod, but was received there with disaffection. The Novgorodians reckoned, that the prince had been \u201craised\u201d by them and should not earlier have left them. \u201cVsevolod did go to Rus\u2032, to Pereslavl\u2032,\u2014noted the Novgorod chronicler\u2014and did kiss the cross against the Novgorodians, saying, \u2018Ye I would kill.\u2019\u201d</p><p>Striving to restore good relations with the Novgorodians, the prince in 1133 undertook a new victorious campaign against the Chud people, and he annexed Yur\u2032ev to the Novgorod domain. But a harsh Winter campaign in 1135-1136 against Suzdal\u2032 ended unsuccessfully. The stubborn minded Novgorodians would not heed their chastisement by God, and they could not forgive the prince their defeat. The municipal assembly (veche) decided to summon a prince from the hostile Monomakh line of the Ol\u2032govichei, and Saint Vsevolod they condemned to banishment: \u201cThou didst suffer banishment from thine own,\u201d\u2014is sung in the tropar to the saint. For a month and an half they held the prince with his family under guard at the archbishop\u2019s palace, and when prince Svyatoslav Ol\u2032govich arrived, he was expelled from the city.</p><p>Vsevolod went again to Kiev, and his uncle Yaropolk gave him as holding the Vyshgorod district near Kiev, the place where in the tenth Century during the rule of Svyatoslav had lived holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great-princess Olga (Comm. 11 July). Saint Olga, \u201cwell preferring the cities of Kiev and Pskov,\u201d came to the defence of her unrighteously wronged descendant: in the following year of 1137 the people of Pskov, mindful of the campaigns of the Novgorod-Pskov army under the lead of the prince, invited him to the Pskov principality, the native region of Saint Olga. This was the first Pskov prince, chosen through the will of the Pskov people itself. </p><p>Among the glorious works of holy prince Saint Vsevolod-Gabriel at Pskov was the construction of the first stone church in the Name of the Life-Originating Trinity, replacing a wooden one from the times of Saint Olga. On the icons of the saint they often depict him holding a temple \u201cof That Above\u2014the Holy Trinity.\u201d</p><p>Saint Vsevolod ruled as prince at Pskov for only a year\u2014on February 11, 1138 he died, at the age of 46. All Pskov gathered at the funeral of the beloved prince, and the church singing could barely be heard over the people\u2019s wailing. The Novgorodians, in retrospect, sent off an archpriest from the Sophia cathedral to take his holy body back to Novgorod, but the prince had become loatheful of Novgorod, and the coffin would not move from the spot. Bitterly then did the Novgorod people bewail and repent in their misfortune, and they then besought to be given but a small bit of the holy dust \u201cfor upholding their city.\u201d Through their prayers fell out, a fingernail from the hand of the saint was given. The Pskov people put Saint Vsevolod into the temple of the holy Great Martyr Demetrius. Alongside the grave they placed the military armament of the prince, shield and sword, in cruciform shape, with a Latin inscription to wit,\u2014\u201cI give away mine honour to no one.\u201d</p><p>On November 27, 1192, the relics of holy Prince Vsevolod were uncovered and transferred into the Trinity cathedral, in which a chapel was consecrated in his honour. </p><p>On April 22, 1834, on the first day of Pascha, the holy relics were solemnly transferred into the main church-area of the cathedral. </p><p>The deep spiritual bond of the city of holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga with holy Prince Vsevolod was never broken: he always remained a Pskov wonderworker. At the siege of Pskov by Stefan Bathory in 1581, when the fortress walls were already breached and the Poles were ready to rush into the city, from the Trinity cathedral with a church procession they brought to the place of battle the holy relics of Prince Vsevolod, and the enemy withdrew. And with the appearance of the wonderworking Pskovo-Kiev Caves Icon (Comm. 1 October), holy Nobleborn Prince Vsevolod-Gabriel has stood amidst the Heavenly defenders of Pskov.</p>"}}, "439": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Martinian of C\u00e6sarea in Palestine (c.422)", "short": "Venerable Martinian"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monk Martinian at age 18 settled into the wilderness, somewhat off from the city of Palestinian C\u00e6sarea, where he dwelt in ascetic deeds and silence for 25 years, and he was granted a graced gift of healing illness. But the enemy of the race of man would not stop bothering the hermit with various temptations. One time a profligate woman got into a wager with some dissolute people, as to whether she could seduce Saint Martinian, the fame of whose virtuous life had spread throughout all the city. She came to him at night-time under the guise of a wandering suppliant asking night lodging. The saint let her enter, since the weather outside was inclement. But here the wicked guest changed over into her good clothes and began to tempt the ascetic. The saint thereupon rushed out of the cell, set alight a fire and put his bare feet upon the burning coals. He said such as this to himself: \u201cIt is hard enough for thee, Martinian, to suffer this temporal fire, now then wilt thou instead suffer the eternal fire, prepared for thee by the devil?\u201d The woman, shaken by the spectacle, became repentant and besought the saint to guide her onto the way of repentance. At his directing she set off to Bethlehem, to a monastery of SaintPaula, where she dwelt for 12 years in strict ascetic deeds until her blessed end. The name of this woman was Zoa.</p><p>Having recovered from his scorching, Saint Martinian set off to an uninhabited rocky island, and lived on it under the open sky for several years, nourished by the victuals brought by a certain sailor from time to time, and in return the monk weaved baskets for him.</p><p>One time a powerful storm wrecked a ship, and to the island of Saint Martinian the waves carried on the ship debris a maiden named Photinia. Saint Martinian helped her to survive the island. \u201cRemain here,\u2014said he to her,\u2014for here is bread and water, and in two months a boat will come,\u201d\u2014and he jumped into the sea and swam off. Two dolphins carried him to dry land. Thereafter Blessed Martinian began to lead the life of a wanderer. And so passed two years. One time, having come to Athens, the saint fell ill, and sensing the nearness of his end, he went into church and lay upon the floor, and calling out to the bishop he besought him to give his body over to burial. This occurred in about the year 422. </p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>With the streams of thy tears thou didst quench the flames of temptations, O blessed one, * and taming the billows of the sea and the raging of wild beasts, thou didst cry out: ** Most glorious art Thou, O Almighty, Who savest me from fire and tempest!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>As a skilled ascetic of piety, * an honored athlete by volition, * and an inhabitant and citizen of the desert, * we praise the ever-honorable Martinian in hymns, as is mee; ** for he trampled the serpent underfoot.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}}}}, "440": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Eulogius, Archbishop of Alexandria (\u2020 607-608)", "short": "Saint Eulogius"}}, "441": {"name": {"nominative": "Translation of the relics of Blessed Prince Wenceslaus of the Czech Lands (929-935)", "short": "Translation of"}}, "444": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Auxentius of Bithynia (\u2020 470)", "short": "Venerable Auxentius"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monk Auxentios, by origin a Syrian, served at the court of the emperor Theodosius the Younger (418-450). He was known as a virtuous, learned and wise man, and he was moreover a friend of many of the pious men of his era.</p><p>Distressed by worldly vanity, Saint Auxentios accepted the dignity of presbyter, and then received monastic tonsure. Setting off after this to Bithynia, he found a solitary place on Mount Oxus, not far from Chalcedon, and there he began the life of an hermit. (This mountain was afterwards called Auxentian). The place of the saint\u2019s efforts was stumbled upon by shepherds, seeking after lost sheep. They spread the news about him, and people began to come to him for healing. With the Name of God, Saint Auxentios healed many of the sick and the infirm. </p><p>In the year 451 Saint Auxentios was invited to the Fourth \u0152cumenical Council at Chalcedon, where he became known as a denouncer of the Eutykhian and Nestorian heresies. He was greatly familiar with Holy Scripture, and Saint Auxentios easily bested those opponents who entered into dispute with him. After the finish of the Council, Saint Auxentios returned again to his solitary cell on the mountain. By means of spiritual sight he saw the end of Saint Simeon the Pillar-Dweller (459), from over a great distance. </p><p>The Monk Auxentios himself died in about the year 470, leaving behind him disciples and many monasteries constructed in the Bithynian region.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>A dweller in the desert, an angel in the flesh * and a wonder-worker wast thou shown to be, * O our God-bearing father Auxentius. * Receiving heavenly gifts through fasting, vigils and prayers, * thou healest the infirm * and the souls of those who with faith have recourse unto thee * Glory to Him Who hath given thee strength! * Glory to Him Who hath crowned thee! ** Glory to Him Who worketh healings for all through thee!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Delighting in abstinence and restraining the desires of thy flesh, * O divinely wise and sacred father Auxentius, * thou wast shown forth, shining with faith, ** and didst blossom like a plant in the midst of paradise.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}}}}, "446": {"name": {"nominative": "Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel", "short": "Archangel"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p> The synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel is celebrated on the day following the Annunciation, that is, March 26<sup>th</sup>. This feast is celebrated a second time on July 13<supth</sup>. The reason for it being established probably served the dedication in the 17<sup>th</sup> century of a church at Constantinople, constructed in the name of the Holy Chief (Archistrategos) of the Heavenly Hosts.</p><p>An account of the Holy Archangel is located under 26 March and 8 November.</p>"}, "rank": 3, "services": {"0": {"LITURGY/0": {"text": ""}}, "1": {}, "2": {}}}, "448": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Hierarch Abraham, Bishop of Carrhae in Upper Mesopotamia (5<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Holy Hierarch Abraham"}}, "450": {"name": {"nominative": "Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy (\u2020 c. 109)", "short": "Apostle Onesimus"}, "rank": 1}, "451": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Eusebius, Hermit of Syria (5<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Eusebius"}}, "453": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Pamphilus the Presbyter, Valens the Deacon, Paul, Porphyrius, Seleucus, Theodoulus, Julian, Samuel, Elias, Daniel, Jeremiah and Isaiah at C\u00e6sarea in Palestine (\u2020 c307-309)", "short": "Martyr Pamphilus and companions"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The 12 Martyred Saints\u2014Pamphilos the Presbyter, Valens (Ualentos) the Deacon, Paul, Porphyrios, Seleucios, Theodoulos, Julian, Samuel, Ilias, Daniel, Jeremiah and Isaiah suffered during the time of a persecution against christians, initiated by the emperor Diocletian in the years 308-309 at C\u00e6sarea in Palestine. The holy martyr Pamphilos, a native of the city of Berit (Beirut), received his education at Alexandria, after which he was made presbyter at C\u00e6sarea. He laboured much over the collation and correction of copyist errors in texts of the New Testament. The corrected texts of Saint Pamphilos were copied out and distributed to those wanting them. In such form many pagans were converted to Christ through them. His works and concerned matters at C\u00e6sarea were gathered up into the extensive library of spiritual books available for the enlightening of christians. Blessed Jerome (IV\u2014beginning V Century) deeply respected Saint Pamphilos and considered himself fortuneate to have located and come into possession of several of his manuscripts. Actively assisting Saint Pamphilos in proclaiming the faith in Christ were Saint Valentus, deacon of the church at Eleia\u2014a man bent over with age and well-versed in the Holy Scriptures, and Saint Paul, ardent in faith and love for Christ the Saviour. All three were imprisoned for 2 years by the governor of Palestinian C\u00e6sarea, Urban. During the rule of his successor Firmilian, 130 christians were sentenced in Egypt and sent off to Cilicia (Asia Minor) to work in the gold mines. Five young brothers accompanied them there to the place of exile. On the return journey to Egypt they were detained at C\u00e6sarea and thrown into prison for confessing Christ. They brought the youths for judgement to Firmilian, together with those imprisoned earlier\u2014Saints Pamphilos, Valentus and Paul. Having been named with names of Old Testament prophets\u2014Ilias, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Samuel and Daniel\u2014the youths answered the question of their fatherland by saying, that they were citizens of Jerusalem, meaning by this the heavenly Jerusalem. Firmilian knew nothing about a such-named city, since on the site of Jerusalem\u2014razed to the ground by the emperor Titus in the year 70\u2014had been constructed a new city by the emperor Adrian (117-138), which at the time was named Eleia-Adrian. Firmilian tortured the youths for a long time. He sought to learn the location of the unknown city, and he sought to persuade the youths to apostacise. But nothing was accomplished, and the governor gave them over for beheading by the sword together with Pamphilos, Valentus and Paul.</p><p>Before this occurred, a servant of presbyter Pamphilos was given to suffer\u2014this was the 18 year old youth Porphyrios, meek and humble. He had heard the sentence of death for the condemned martyrs, and asked the governor\u2019s permission to bury the bodies after execution. For this he was sentenced to death and given over to burning on a bon-fire.</p><p>A witness of this execution\u2014the pious christian Seleucios, a former soldier\u2014in saluting the deeds of the sufferers, went up to Pamphilos before execution and told him about the martyr\u2019s end of Saint Porphyrios. He was seized upon by soldiers and, on orders from Firmilian, was beheaded by the sword together with the condemned.</p><p>One of the governor\u2019s servants, Th\u0153doulos, a man of venerable age and secretly a christian, greeted the martyrs being led to execution, gave them a kiss and asked them to pray for him. He was taken by soldiers for questioning to Firmilian, on whose orders he was crucified on a cross.</p><p>The youth Julian, a native of Cappadocia who had come to C\u00e6sarea, caught view of the bodies of the saints which had been thrown to wild beasts without burial. Julian went down on his knees and venerated the bodies of the sufferers. Soldiers standing by at the wall seized hold of him and took him to the governor, who condemned him to burning. The bodies of all 12 martyrs stayed without burial for 4 days. Neither beasts nor birds would touch them. Embarrassed by this situation, the pagans permitted christians to take the bodies of the martyrs and bury them.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In their sufferings, O Lord, Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they set at nought the tyrants and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. By their supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Rejoicing in wisdom made manifest by heaven, * when dreadful torments lay before them, * the valiant athletes conversed amongst themselves, sparing not their flesh. * Wherefore, they have inherited everlasting glory, ** ever praying for us who praise their contest.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "454": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Maruthas, Bishop of Martyropolis in Mesopotamia (\u2020 422)", "short": "Venerable Maruthas"}}, "458": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Theodore the Silent of the Kiev Caves (13th C)", "short": "Venerable Theodore"}}, "459": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Mariamne, sister of the Apostle Philip (1<sup>st</sup> C)", "short": "Saint Mariamne"}}, "460": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Galaction of Vologda (\u2020 1612)", "short": "Venerable Galaction"}}, "466": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Cosmas of Yakhroma (\u2020 1492)", "short": "Venerable Cosmas"}}, "467": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Hierarch Agapitus the Confessor, Bishop of Synaus in Phrygia with the Martyrs Victor, Dorotheus, Theodoulus and Agrippa (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Holy Hierarch Agapitus and companions"}}, "468": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Gennadius (\u2020 c. 1516) of Vazha Lake", "short": "Venerable Gennadius"}}, "470": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Gennadius of Kostroma (\u2020 1565)", "short": "Venerable Gennadius"}, "services": {"0": {}, "1": {"LITURGY/0": {"text": ""}}, "2": {"LITURGY/0": {"text": ""}}}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monk Gennadii of Kostroma and Liubimograd, in the world Grigorii, was born in the city of Mogilev into a rich family. He early displayed love for the church, and his frequent visits to monasteries evoked the dismay of his parents. Grigorii himself was himself however firmly resolved to devote himself to God, and having changed over into tattered clothing, he secretly left his parental home and journeyed to Moscow. Having visited the Moscow holy places, he did not however here find it suitable in spirit and so set out to the Novgorod region. The destiny of the future ascetic was decided by an encounter with the Monk Alexander Svirsky (Comm. 30 August). With his blessing, Grigorii set off to the Vologda forest to the Monk Kornilii of Komel\u2019sk (Comm. 19 May), and was monasticised by him with the name Gennadii. Together with Saint Kornilii, Gennadii moved on to the Kostroma forest. Here, on the shores of Lake Sura, in about the year 1529, there emerged the monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord, afterwards called \u201cthe Gennadiev monastery.\u201d Having become hegumen, the Monk Gennadii did not slacken his monastic efforts, and together with the brethren he went out to the monastery tasks: he chopped wood, carried firewood, made candles and baked prosphora. A beloved concern of the monk was the writing of icons, with he adorned his new monastery. He wore heavy chains constantly. </p><p>For his holy life the Monk Gennadii received from the Lord the gift of perspicacity and wonderworking. Journeying on monastic affairs to Moscow, at the house of the boyar-noble Roman Yur\u2032evich Zakhar\u2032in, the saint predicted to his daughter Anastasia, that she would become tsaritsa. And actually, tsar Ivan the Terrible chose her for himself as spouse.</p><p>The Life of the Monk Gennadii was written by his disciple, the heguman Aleksei, between the years 1584-1587. In it was inserted the spiritual last-testament, dictated by the Monk Gennadii himself. In it he commands to observe the monastery ustav (rule) and to toil constantly, to be at peace with everyone, and to preserve the books collected at the monastery, while striving to understand their meaning. The monk appealed: \u201cStrive towards the light, and shun the darkness.\u201d</p><p>The Monk Gennadii died on 23 January 1565; on 19 August 1646 occurred his churchly glorification.</p>"}}, "471": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Maximus, Theodotus, Hesychius and Asclepiodota of Adrianopolis (\u2020 305-311)", "short": "Martyrs"}}, "472": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Confessors Eugene and Macarius, Presbyters at Antioch (\u2020 363)", "short": "Holy Confessors"}}, "473": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Dositheus of Palestine, a Disciple of Venerable Abba Dorotheus (7<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Dositheus"}}, "474": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Rabulas of Samosata (\u2020 c. 530)", "short": "Venerable Rabulas"}}, "478": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Leo, Bishop of Catania in Sicily (\u2020 c. 780)", "short": "Venerable Leo"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>Saint Leo was bishop of the city of Catania, in Sicily. He was famed for his benevolence and charity, and his Christian love for the poor and the vagrant. The Lord granted him the gifts of healing of various illnesses, and also wonderworking. During the time when Saint Leo was bishop in Catania, there lived a certain sorcerer magician named Heliodorus, who impressed people with his fake miracles. This fellow was originally a Christian, but then he secretly rejected Christ and became a servant of the devil. Saint Leo often urged Heliodorus to be done with his wicked deeds and return to God, but in vain. One time Heliodorus got so impudent that, having entered into the church where the bishop was celebrating Divine-services, he by his sorcery sowed confusion and temptation there, trying to create a disturbance. Seeing the people beset by devils under the sorcerous spell, Saint Leo realised, that the time of gentle persuasions had passed. He calmly emerged from the altar and, grabbing the magician by the neck with his omophorion, he led him out of the church into the city-square. There he forced Heliodorus to own up to all his wicked deeds; he commanded a bon-fire be built, and without flinching he jumped together with the sorcerer into the fire, while having on his omophorion. Thus they stood in the fire, until Heliodorus got burnt, while by the power of God Saint Leo remained unharmed. This miracle while still during his lifetime brought Saint Leo reknown. When he died, at his grave a woman with issue of blood received healing. The body of the saint was placed in a church of the holy Martyress Lucy, which he himself had built, and later on his relics were transferred into a church of Saint Martin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours (Comm. 12 October). </p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, * a model of meekness and a teacher of abstinence * wherefore thou hast attained the heights through humility * and riches through poverty. ** O hierarch Leo our father, entreat Christ God that our souls be saved.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>The Church hath thee, O most blessed one, as a great beacon shining more brightly than the sun. * By thy supplications preserve it invincible, unshaken and unharmed by any heresy, ** in that thou art ever-memorable.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}}}}, "482": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Agatho, Pope of Rome (\u2020 682)", "short": "Venerable Agatho"}}, "484": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Timothy of Symbola in Bithynia (\u2020 795)", "short": "Venerable Timothy"}, "rank": 1}, "485": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Hierarch Eustathius, Archbishop of Antioch (\u2020 337)", "short": "Holy Hierarch"}, "rank": 1}, "486": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Hierarch George, Bishop of Amastris on the Black Sea (\u2020 802-811)", "short": "Holy Hierarch"}}, "487": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Right-Believing Prince George of Vladimir (\u2020 1238)", "short": "Holy Right-Believing"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>Holy Nobleborn Prince George (Georgii, diminutive Yurii) was a son of Great prince Vsevolod, nicknamed \u201cBigNest\u201d (\u201cBol\u2019sh\u0153 Gnesdo\u201d). He was born in the year 1189, and he entered upon the Vladimir greatprincely throne in 1212. He was distinguished for his military valour and his piety. In the year 1237 the Tatar (Mongol) Horde of Batu descended upon the Russian land. Saint George was compelled to leave the capital city in charge of his sons, and set off north to unite up with the other princes. On the day of 4 March 1238 there occurred the Battle at the River Sita, in which the Tatars destroyed the not overly large but nonetheless valiant company of the greatprince. The saint himself fell in this fight. Bishop Kirill buried his body at the Rostov cathedral; two years later, it was with great solemnity transferred to the Vladimir Uspenie (Dormition) cathedral. And in 1645 occurred the Church glorification of the saint.</p>"}, "rank": 1}, "489": {"name": {"nominative": "\u201cKozel\u2019shchina\u201d Icon of the Mother of God (1881)", "short": "\u201cKozel\u2019shchina\u201d Icon"}}, "491": {"name": {"nominative": "Finding of the relics of the Holy Martyrs at the Gate of Eugenius at Constantinople (395-423)", "short": "Finding of"}, "rank": 1}, "492": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Maurice and the 70 warriors, including Photinus, Theodore, Philip, and others at Apamea in Syria (\u2020 c. 305)", "short": "Martyrs Maurice"}}, "493": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Thalassius, Limn\u00e6us, and Baradatus, Hermits of Syria (5<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Thalassius"}}, "496": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna (\u2020 167)", "short": "Hieromartyr Polycarp"}, "rank": 1}, "497": {"name": {"nominative": "Dedication of the Church of the Great Martyr George in Lydda (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Dedication of"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"0": {}, "1": {"LITURGY/0": {"text": ""}}, "2": {"LITURGY/0": {"text": ""}}}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "", "text": "This temple is in Lydda, where his pure body reposes. This temple was built during the reign of Constantine the Great."}}, "498": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable John, Antiochus, Antoninus, Moses, Zebinas, Polychronius, another Moses, and Damian, Ascetics of the Syrian Deserts (5<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable John"}}, "4133": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Potitus at Naples (2<sup>nd</sup> C)", "short": "Martyr Potitus"}}, "4134": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Peter of Constantinople (\u2020 854)", "short": "Venerable Peter"}}, "4135": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Nicodemus the Hagiorite (\u2020 1809)", "short": "Venerable Nicodemus"}}, "4138": {"name": {"nominative": "Placing of the Honorable Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God at Blachern\u00e6 (5<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Theotokos"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>During the years of the reign of the Byzantine emperor Leo the Great the Macedonian (457-474), the brothers Galbius and Candidus, associates of the emperor, set out from Constantinople to Palestine to venerate at the holy places. In a small settlement near Nazareth they stopped for overnight lodging with a certain quite aged Hebrew woman. In her house the burning of candles and smoking incense caught the attention of the pilgrims. To their questions, as to what sort of sacred thing there was in her house, the pious woman for a long time did not want to give an answer, but after persistent requests she replied, that she had a very precious sacred item\u2014the Robe of the Mother of God, from which had occurred many miracles and healings. The Most Holy Virgin before the time of Her Dormition (\u201cFalling-Asleep\u201d or \u201cRepose\u201d) bequeathed one of her garments to a pious Jewish maiden from the family-lineage of this house, having instructed her to hand it on after death to another virgin. Thus, from generation to generation, the Robe of the Mother of God was preserved in this family. </p><p>The jewelled chest, containing the sacred Robe, was transferred to Constantinople. Saint Gennadios, Patriarch of Tsar\u2032grad-Constantinople (\u2020 471, Comm. 31 August), and the emperor Leo, having learned of the sacred find, convinced themselves of the incorruptness of the holy Robe and with trembling they certified its authenticity. At Blachern\u00e6, near the seacoast, there was erected a new church in honour of the Mother of God. On 2 June 458 Saint Gennadios with appropriate solemnity transferred the sacred Robe into the Blachern\u00e6 church, placing it within a new reliquary.</p><p>Afterwards into the reliquary, together with the Robe of the Mother of God, was put also Her omophorion (i.e. the outer or over-robe) and part of Her belt-sash. This circumstance also set its seal upon the Orthodox iconography of the feast, in conjoining the two events: the Placing of the Robe, and the Placing of the Belt-Sash of the Mother of God in Blachern\u00e6. The Russian pilgrim Stefan Novgorodets, visiting Tsar\u2032grad in about the year 1350, testifies: \u201cWe arrived at Blachern\u00e6, wherein lies the Robe upon an altarthrone in an imprinted reliquary.\u201d</p><p>More than once during the invasion of enemies the Most Holy Mother of God saved the city, to which She had bestown Her holy Robe. Thus it happened during the time of a siege of Constantinople by the Avars in 626, by the Persians\u2014in 677, and by the Arabs\u2014in the year 717. Especially relevant for us are events of the year 860, intimately connected with the history of the Russian Church. </p><p>On 18 June 860 the Russian fleet of prince Askol\u2032d, in a force comprising more than 200 boats, having laid waste the coastal regions of the Black Sea and the Bosphorus, entered into the Bay of the Golden Horn and threatened Constantinople. The Russian ships sailed into sight of the city, setting ashore troops who \u201cproceeded before the city, stretching forth their swords.\u201d The emperor Michael III (842-867), leaving off his heading of a campaign against the Arabs, returned to the capital; all night he prayed, prostrate down upon the stone tiles of the church of the Blachern\u00e6 Mother of God. Holy Patriarch Photios turned to his flock with preaching, calling for tears of repentance to wash away sins, and in fervent prayer to seek the intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God. </p><p>The danger grew with each passing hour. \u201cThe city was barely able to stand against a spear,\u201d\u2014says Patriarch Photios in another of his sermons. Under these conditions the decision was made to save the church holy-things, and foremost\u2014the holy Robe of the Mother of God, which was kept in the Blachern\u00e6 church, not far from the shore of the bay. After making an all-night molieben, and taking it out from the Blachern\u00e6 church, they carried the sacred Robe of the Mother of God in religious procession around the city walls, with a prayer they dipped its edge into the waters of the Bosphorus, and then they transported it to the centre of Tsar\u2032grad\u2014into the church of Saint Sophia. The Mother of God by Her grace gave shelter and quelled the militance of the Russian warriors. An honourable truce was concluded. Askol\u2032d lifted the siege of Constantinople. On 25 June the Russian army began to leave, taking with them a large tribute payment. A week afterwards, on 2 July, the wonderworking Robe of the Mother of God was solemnly returned to its place in the reliquary of the Blachern\u00e6 church. In remembrance of these events an annual feastday of the Placing of the Robe of the Mother of God was established under 2 July by holy Patriarch Photios. </p><p>Soon, in October-November of the year 860, a Russian delegation arrived in Constantinople for concluding a treaty \u201cin love and peace.\u201d In the conditions of the peace treaty they included articles about the Baptism of Kievan Rus,\u2019 about the payment of an annual tribute by the Byzantines to the Russians, permission for them to serve with the Byzantine army, to carry on trade in the territory of the empire (primarily in Constantinople), and to send a diplomatic mission to Byzantium.</p><p>Most important was the point about the Baptism of Rus\u2032. The continuator of the Byzantine \u201cTheophanes Chronicles\u201d relates, that \u201ctheir delegation arrived in Tsar\u2032grad with a request for them to be made participants in holy Baptism, which also was fulfilled.\u201d An Orthodox mission was sent to Kiev to fulfill this mutual wish of the Russians and the Greeks. Not very long before this (in 855) holy Equal to the Apostles Cyril (Kirill) the Philosopher (\u2020 869, Comm. 14 February and 11 May) had crafted a Slavonic alphabet and translated the Gospel. With the mission to Kiev essentially in particular there was sent Saint Cyril with his brother, the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Methodios (\u2020 885, Comm. 6 April and 11 May), together with books translated into Slavonic. This was at the initiative of Saint Photios, whose student Saint Cyril was. The brothers spent the winter of 860/861 at Kherson (Chersonessus), and in the spring of 861 they were at the River Dneipr, with prince Askol\u2032d.</p><p>There stood a difficult choice facing prince Askol\u2032d, just as afterwards it faced holy prince Vladimir: both the Jews on the one hand and the Mahometans on the other wanted to bring him into their faith. But under the graced influence of Saint Cyril, the prince made his choice in favour of Orthodoxy. At the end of the year 861 Cyril and Methodios returned to Constantinople and carried with them from prince (or, as the Kievan princes called themselves during the IX-XI Centuries, \u201ckagan\u201d) Askol\u2032d to emperor Michael III. Askol\u2032d thanked the emperor for sending him \u201csuch men, who showed by both word and by example, that the Christian faith\u2014is holy.\u201d \u201cPersuaded,\u2014Askol\u2032d further wrote,\u2014that this is the true faith, we bid them to baptise at their intent in the hope for us also to attain sanctity. We are all\u2014friends of the kingdom and prepared to be of service to thee, as requested.\u201d</p><p>Askol\u2032d accepted holy Baptism with the name Nikolai, and many also of his retinue were baptised. Right directly from Tsar\u2032grad, the capital of Orthodoxy, through the efforts of the holy Apostles to the Slavs there arrived in Rus\u2019 both the Slavonic Divine-services and the Slavonic written-language. At Kiev Saint Photios appointed the Metropolitan Michael, and the Russian metropolitan was entered into the notation-lists of dioceses of the Constantinople Patriarchate. Holy Patriarch Photios in a Circular missive of the year 867 called the Baptism of the Bulgarians and the Russians as among the chief accomplishments of his arch-hierarchical service. \u201cThe Russians, which lifted their hand against the Roman might,\u2014he wrote, almost quoting literally from the missive of Askol\u2032d,\u2014at the present time replaced even the impious teaching, which they held to formerly, with the pure and genuine Christian faith, and with love having established themselves in the array of our friends and subjects.\u201d (The Byzantines reckoned as \u201csubjects\u201d all accepting Baptism from Tsar\u2032grad and entering into military alliance with the empire.) \u201cAnd to such an extent has flared up within them the desire and zeal of faith, that they have accepted bishops and pastors, and they embrace Christian sanctity with great zeal and fervour.\u201d </p><p>The feastday of the Placement of the Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God in Blachern\u00e6 reveals itself also as a feastday of the canonical establishing of the Russian Orthodox metropolitanate in Kiev. By the blessing of the Mother of God and by the miracle from Her holy Robe was accomplished not only the salvation of Tsar\u2032grad from the most terrible siege in all its history, but also the salvation of the Russians from the darkness of pagan superstition, to life eternal. Together with this, the year 860 brought recognition to Kievan Rus\u2019 from Byzantium, and it signified an equitably-justified emergence of the young Russian realm into the arena of history. </p><p>The attempt of prince Askol\u2032d to renew the Christian evangelisation begun by the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, and intended by him as a religious and state reform, ended unsuccessfully. The time of affirmation of Christianity in the Russian Land had not yet come. The adherents of the old paganism were too strong, and the princely power was too weak. In the clash of Askol\u2032d with the pagan Oleg in 882 the Kievans betrayed their prince\u2014Askol\u2032d accepted a martyr\u2019s death at the hand of hired killers, tricked by deceit into the camp of his enemies for talks. </p><p>But the deed of Blessed Askol\u2032d (the Ioakimov Chronicle calls him such) was not extinguished in the Russian Church. Oleg the Sage, having killed Askol\u2032d, after him occupied the Kiev princedom, and called Kiev the \u201cMother of Russian Cities\u201d\u2014this is a literal translation of the Greek expression \u201cRussian metropolia\u201d (i.e. \u201cmater-polis\u201d). The most ancient chronicles of Kiev preserved the grateful memory of the first Kievan Christian-prince: the church of the Prophet of God Elias, built by Askol\u2032d and afterwards mentioned in the Treaty of Igor with the Greeks (in year 944), is on the place where at present stands the church of this name, and there is also the church of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, erected in the decade of the 950\u2019s over the grave of Askol\u2032d by holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Ol\u2032ga. The most important achievement of Askol\u2032d, entering forever into the Church-inheritance not only of Rus,\u2019 but of also all Orthodox Slavdom\u2014is the Slavonic Gospel and Slavonic Divine-services, rendered such by the work of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodios. In Kiev at the court of Askol\u2032d in 861 was set the beginning of their apostolic activity among the Slavs, and continued afterwards in Moravia and Bulgaria. Following Blessed Askol\u2032d, speaking the words of the ancient \u201cAlphabetic Prayers,\u201d \u201cthere soars in flight now the Slavonic tribe\u2014to Baptism all striving.\u201d</p><p>With the miracle of the Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God at Blachern\u00e6 are connected several outstanding works of Byzantine Church hymnology and homiletics. To Saint Photios belong two sermons, one of which was given by him immediately within days of the siege of Constantinople, and the other\u2014soon after the departure of the Russian forces. And with the campaign of Askol\u2032d against Tsar\u2032grad is connected also the composition of a remarkable \u201cAkathist to the Most Holy Mother of God,\u201d the source of which certain Church histories ascribe also to holy Patriarch Photios. This Akathist comprises a basic part of the Divine-services of the day of Praise to the Most Holy Mother of God (i.e. the \u201cSaturday of the Akathist\u201d\u2014Saturday in the 4<sup>th</sup> Week of Great Lent).</p><p>It is not only Byzantine sources that relate the events of the year 860, but also Russian historical chronicles. The Monk Nestor the Chronicler, stressing the significance of the Russian campaign against Tsar\u2032grad, notes that from this time \u201cit was begun to be called the Russian Land.\u201d Certain of the chronicles, among them the Ioakimov and Nikonov, preserved accounts of the Baptism of Prince Askol\u2032d and Kievan Rus\u2019 after the campaign against Tsar\u2032grad. The popular commemoration concerning this is firmly associated with the names of the Kievan princes Askol\u2032d and Dir, although in the opinion of historians, Dir was prince of Kiev somewhat earlier than Askol\u2032d.</p><p>The veneration of the feast of the Robe-placing was known of old in the Russian Church. Saint Andrei Bogoliubsky (\u2020 1174, Comm. 4 July) erected in the city of Vladimir at the Golden Gates a church in honour of this feastday. At the end of the XIV Century part of the Robe of the Mother of God was transferred from Constantinople to Rus\u2019 by Saint Dionysii, Archbishop of Suzdal\u2019 (\u2020 1385, Comm. 26 June). </p><p>The holy Robe of the Mother of God, earlier having saved the capital of Byzantium, later also saved the capital Moscow from hostilities. Tatars of the Horde of the princeling Mazovshi in the Summer of 1451 approached beneath the walls of Moscow. Saint Jona, Metropolitan of Moscow, by means of constant prayer and church services encouraged the defenders of the capital. On the night of 2 July, relates the chronicle, great confusion occurred within the Tatar camp. the enemy abandoned their plundered goods and in disarray speedily departed. In memory of the miraculous deliverance of Moscow, the metropolitan Saint Jona erected in the Kremlin the church in honour of the Robe-placing, making it his primary church. It burned, but in its place thirty years afterwards was built in the years 1484-1486 a new church, likewise dedicated to the feast of the Placing of the Robe of the Mother of God. This temple, standing at present, continued to serve as the primary church of Russian metropolitans and patriarchs until the cathedral of the Twelve Apostles was built under patriarch Nikon.</p>"}, "rank": 3, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O Ever-virgin Theotokos, protection of mankind: * thou hast given to thy city a mighty legacy, * the robe and cincture of thy most honored body, * which have remained incorrupt through thy seedless birthgiving. * For in thee are nature and time renewed. ** Wherefore, we beseech thee to grant peace to thy city and great mercy to our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>O pure one, full of divine grace, * thou hast given all the faithful a garment of incorruption, * thy sacred robe, wherewith thou didst cover thy sacred body, * O protection of all mankind. * With love do we celebrate its deposition, * and cry out to thee with fear, O pure one: ** Rejoice, O Virgin, thou boast of Christians!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4140": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Juvenal, Patriarch of Jerusalem (\u2020 c. a 458)", "short": "Saint Juvenal"}}, "4142": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Hyacinth of C\u00e6sarea in Cappadocia (\u2020 108)", "short": "Martyr Hyacinth"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Holy Martyr Jacinthus (Hyacinth), a native of C\u00e6sarea Cappadocia, grew up in a Christian family. The Roman emperor Trajan made him his \u201ccubicularius\u201d (bed-chamberlain).</p><p>Once during the time of a pagan festival the emperor Trajan was feasting in a pagan-temple together with his companions, eating of the idol-offered food, but the youth Jacinthus, having remained at the palace, shut himself up in a small room and prayed fervently to the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the servants overheard the words of prayer. He made a denunciation to the emperor, that Jacinthus, entrusted with an imperial position, did not honour the Roman gods but was secretly praying to Christ.</p><p>They immediately arrested Saint Jacinthus and led him to Trajan. The emperor demanded that he eat of the idol-offered meat, but the saint bravely refused and declared himself a Christian. By order of Trajan, they locked up the holy martyr in prison after fierce tortures, and they exhausted him with hunger and thirst, so as to force him to eat of idolatrous food. On the 38<sup>th</sup> day, one of the guards, bringing the idol-offering meat, saw Angels alongside the martyr, dressing him in bright attire and placing on his head a crown.</p><p>The torturers decided to continue with the trial over the saint, but they found him in prison already dead. The twelve year old Jacinthus died in the year 108 in the city of Rome. They afterwards transferred the relics of the saint to C\u00e6sarea.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In his suffering, O Lord, * Thy martyr Hyacinth received an imperishable crown from Thee our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * he set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By his supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Thy martyr, O Christ, having acquired Thy Faith, * like a tree of life in the midst of his soul, * became more honorable than the Garden of Eden, * boldly destroying the tree of the serpent\u201ds deception by his spirit, * and he was crowned with thy glory, ** O greatly Merciful One.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "6"}}}}, "4145": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable John and Longin of Yarena", "short": "Venerable John"}}, "4148": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Mocius and Mark", "short": "Martyrs Mocius"}}, "4150": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Anatolius, Patriarch of Constantinople (\u2020 458)", "short": "Saint Anatolius"}}, "4154": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Martha, Mother of Venerable Simeon of the Wonderous Mountain", "short": "Venerable Martha"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Nun Martha, mother of Saint Simeon of the Wondrous-Mount (Divnogorets;\u2014his account is located under 24 May), lived during the VI Century and was a native of Antioch. From her early years she yearned for monasticism, but her parents persuaded her to marry. Her husband, John, soon died, and righteous Martha with all her strength devoted herself to the raising of her son. She was for her son an example of high Christian temperament: often she visited the temple of God, attentively and with piety she hearkened to the church services, and frequently she communed the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Righteous Martha each night rose up to pray, and her prayers she made with heartfelt warmth and tears. She particularly venerated the Baptist of the Lord Saint John the Precursor, who was for her a protector frequently appearing to her in visions. The Nun Martha was charitable towards the poor, she fed and clothed them, she visited the convalescent and she attended to the sick, she buried the dead, and for those preparing to receive holy Baptism she with her own hands reading the clothing. </p><p>The Nun Martha was reserved, and no one heard from her a frivolous, false or vain word, no one saw her angry, nor fighting with anyone nor bitter. She was a model of chaste and pious life and by her example she guided many on the pathway to salvation. When her son, Saint Simeon, had become a reknown ascetic, she in visiting him urged him not to exalt himself by his efforts, but in everything to add in an act of thankfulness to God. </p><p>It was made known beforehand to the Nun Martha about her approaching end: she beheld Angels with candles saying, that they would come for her in another year\u2019s time. The saint was likewise granted visions of the abode of paradise, and the All-Pure Virgin Herself showed to her the Heavenly habitation, prepared for the righteous. </p><p>The end of Saint Martha was peaceful (\u2020 551), and her body was buried on the Wondrous-Mount, at the place of the ascetic deeds of her son, the Monk Simeon the Pillar-Dweller.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In thee, O mother, that which was created according to the image of God was manifestly saved. * For accepting thy cross thou didst follow after Christ, * and praying thou didst learn to disdain the flesh, * for thou didst transcend it to take care of thine immortal soul. ** Wherefore, with the angels doth thy soul rejoice, O venerable Martha.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Standing before the Lord and the all-pure Virgin Theotokos in prayer, * and offering up hymnody and praises, O honored Martha, * thou gavest birth to a sacred child, * the all-wondrous Symeon, the beacon of the whole world. ** With him do thou ever pray for us all.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}}}}, "4157": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Theodore, Bishop of Cyrene in Libya (\u2020 310)", "short": "Hieromartyr Theodore"}}, "4163": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Sisoes the Great (\u2020 429)", "short": "Venerable Sisoes"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>Monk Sisoes the Great (\u2020 429) was an hermit-monk, pursuing asceticism in the Egyptian wilderness in a cave sanctified by the prayerful labours of his predecessor\u2014the Monk Anthony the Great (Comm. 17 January). For his sixty years of wilderness deeds the Monk Sisoes attained to sublime spiritual purity and he was vouchsafed a gift of wonderworking, such that by his prayer he even once returned a dead lad back to life.</p><p>Extremely strict with himself, the Monk Sisoes was very merciful and compassionate to those nearby and he received everyone with love. Those, who visited him, the monk first of all always taught humility. To the question of one of the monks as to how might he attain to a constant mindfulness of God, the monk remarked: \u201cThat is still not of much consequence, my son, but more important is this\u2014to account oneself below everyone else, because such disparagement assists in the acquisition of humility.\u201d Asked by the monks, whether one year is sufficient for repentance in having fallen into sin against a brother,\u2014the Monk Sisoes said: \u201cI believe in the mercy of God the Lover-of-Mankind, and if a man repent with all his soul, then God wilt accept his repentance in the course of three days.\u201d</p><p>When the Monk Sisoes lay upon his death-bed, the disciples surrounding the elder saw that his face did shine. They asked the dying man what he saw. Abba Sisoes answered, that he looked upon the prophets and apostles. The disciples asked, with whom did the monk converse? He said that Angels had come for his soul, and he had entreated them to give him a short bit of time yet for repentance. \u201cThou, father, hast not need for repentance,\u201d\u2014replied the students. But the Monk Sisoes, with his great humility, answered: \u201cI do not know for sure whether I have even begun to make my repentance.\u201d After these words the face of the holy abba shone so, that the brethren were not able to look upon him. The monk had time to tell them that he saw the Lord Himself, and his holy soul expired to the Heavenly Kingdom.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>A desert dweller, an angel in the flesh, * and a wonderworker wast thou shown to be, * O our God-bearing father Sisoes, * for having acquired heavenly gifts through fasting, vigilance, and prayer, * thou dost heal the infirm, * and the souls of those who have recourse to thee with faith. * Glory to Him Who hath given thee strength! * Glory to Him Who hath crowned thee! ** Glory to Him Who worketh healings for all through thee!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Having struggled, thou wast seen to be an angel on the earth, O venerable one, * ever illumining the thoughts of the faithful with divine signs. ** Wherefore, we honor thee with faith, O Sisoes.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4166": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Marinus, Martha, Audifax, Habbakuk, Valentine, Asterius, Isaurus, Innocent, Felix, Hermius, Basil, Peregrinus, and Ruthinus, at Rome (\u2020 269)", "short": "Martyrs Marinus"}}, "4168": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Quintus of Phrygia (\u2020 c. 283)", "short": "Martyr Quintus"}}, "4169": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Lucia the Virgin and with her: Rixus, Anthony, Lucian, Isidor, Diodorus, Cutonius, Aronosus, Capicus, and Saturus", "short": "Martyr Lucia"}}, "4175": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Peregrinus, Lucian, Ompeius, Hesychius, Papius, Satorninus and Germanus of Dyrrachium in Macedonia (2<sup>nd</sup> C)", "short": "Martyrs Peregrinus"}}, "4176": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Epictetus the Presbyter and Astion the Monastic in Scythia (\u2020 290)", "short": "Martyrs Epictetus"}}, "4177": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Kyriaki, Bassa and others with them in Nicomedia (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Martyrs Kyriaki"}}, "4178": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God of Vlakherna", "short": "Icon of"}}, "4181": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Great Martyr Procopius of C\u00e6sarea in Palestine and those with him (\u2020 303)", "short": "Great Martyr"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Holy Great Martyr Procopius, in the world Neanius, a native of Jerusalem, lived and suffered during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). His father, an eminent Roman by the name of Christopher, was a Christian, but the mother of the saint, Theodosia, remained a pagan. He was early deprived of his father, and the young lad was raised by his mother. Having received an excellent secular education, he was introduced to Diocletian in the very first year of the emperor\u2019s accession to the throne, and he quickly advanced in government service. Towards the year 303, when open persecution against Christians was enacted, Neanius was dispatched as a proconsul to Alexandria with orders to mercilessly persecute the Church of God. But on the way to Egypt, near the Syrian city of Apameia, Neanius had a vision of the Lord Jesus, just as once formerly had happened with Saul on the road to Damascus. A Divine voice exclaimed: \u201cNeanius, why persecutest thou Me?\u201d Neanius asked: \u201cWho art Thou, Lord?\u201d\u2014\u201dI am the crucified Jesus, the Son of God.\u201d And at this moment in the air appeared a radiant cross. Neanius sensed in his heart an inexpressible joy and spiritual happiness and he was transformed from being a persecutor into instead a zealous follower of Christ. From this point in time Neanius became fondly disposed towards Christians and struggled victoriously only against the barbarian pagans.</p><p>But for the saint there transpired the words of the Saviour, that \u201cthe enemies for a man\u2014are of his own household\u201d (Mt. 10: 36). His mother, a pagan herself went to the emperor with a complaint against her son, of not reverencing the ancestral gods. Neanius was summoned to the procurator Jud\u00e6us Justus, where he was solemnly handed the missive of Diocletian. Having read through the missive filled with its blasphemies, Neanius quietly before the eyes of everyone tore it up. This itself was already a crime, which the Romans regarded as an \u201cinsult to authority.\u201d Neanius was held under guard and in chains sent off to C\u00e6sarea Palestine, where the Apostle Paul once languished. After terrible torments they threw the saint into a dank prison. By night in the prison room there shone a light, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, having come with luminous Angels, made Baptism for the suffering confessor, and gave him the name Procopius.</p><p>Repeatedly they led Saint Procopius to the courtroom, demanding him to renounce Christ and anew they subjected him to tortures. The stolidity of the martyr and his fiery faith brought down God\u2019s abundant grace viewing the execution. Inspired by the deed of Procopius, beneath the sword of the executioner went many of the holy prisoner\u2019s former guards and Roman soldiers together with their tribunes Nicostrates and Antiochus. And with martyr\u2019s crowns was sealed the faith of 12 Christian Women, having themselves come to the gates of the C\u00e6sarea Pr\u00e6torium. Struck by the great faith of the Christians and their courage, and having seen the firmness of her son in bearing terrible sufferings, Theodosia became repentant and stood amidst the line of confessors and was executed. Finally the new procurator, Flavian, convinced of the uselessness of the tortures, sentenced the holy Great Martyr Procopius to beheading by the sword. By night Christians took up the much-tortured body, and having wrapped it in grave-clothes, with tears and prayers they committed it to earth (\u2020 303).</p>"}, "rank": 2, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In his suffering, O Lord, * Thy martyr Procopius received an imperishable crown from Thee our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * he set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By his supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Set afire by divine zeal for Christ, * and protected by the might of the Cross, O Procopius, * thou didst cast down the audacity and boldness of the f\u0153, * and didst raise up an honorable church, ** excelling in faith and enlightening us.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}}}}, "4201": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Patermuphios and Coprius, Ascetics in Egypt (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Patermuphios"}}, "4202": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Theodore, Bishop of Edessa, and those with him (9<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Saint Theodore"}}, "4206": {"name": {"nominative": "Placing of the Venerable Robe of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Moscow (1625)", "short": "Placing of the Robe"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Saviour\u2019s venerable Robe [Slavic \u201cRiza,\u201d Greek \u201chimatia,\u201d Latin \u201cvestimenta,\u201d literally \u201cover-garments\u201d] is not identically the same thing with His seamless \u201cChiton\u201d [Greek and Slavic \u201ckhiton,\u201d Latin \u201ctunica,\u201d literally \u201cunder-garb tunic\u201d]\u2014they are clearly distinct within Holy Scripture: \u201cThe soldiers then, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments (odezhdu, vestimenta, ta himatia) and divided them into four parts, to each soldier a part, and the chiton-shirt (et tunicam, kai ton khitona). The chiton indeed was without seam, woven whole from the top down, and so they did say one to another: let us not rend it asunder, but for it cast lots, whose it wilt become. Wherefore was fulfilled the saying in Scripture: they divided My raiment-garb (riza, vestimenta, ta imatia) amongst them, and upon My vesture-garb (imatisme, in vestem, epi ton himatismon) did they cast lots\u201d (Jn. 19: 23-24; Ps. 21 [22]: 18-19).</p><p>According to the tradition of the Gruzinian (Georgian) Orthodox Church, the Chiton-tunic of the Lord was carried by the Hebrew rabbi Elioz from Jerusalem to Mtsketa and at present is beneath a crypt in the foundations of the Mtsketian Patriarchal cathedral of Svetitskhoveli (the feast in honour of the Chiton-tunic of the Lord is celebrated on 1 October). None of the Mohamedan invaders ever ventured to enroach upon this spot, glorified with a sign by the mercy of God\u2014the Life-Creating Pillar.</p><p>The Robe of the Lord,\u2014actually one of its four parts, the lower portion namely (other parts of the Robe of the Lord are likewise known of in Western Europe: in the city of Trier in Germany, and in Argenteuil near Paris in France), just like the Chiton-tunic of the Lord, came to be in Gruzia. In contrast to the Chiton-tunic, the Robe portion was not kept underground, but was in the treasury of the Svetitskhoveli cathedral right up to the XVII Century, when the Persian shah Abbas I, in devastating Gruzia, carried off with other treasures also the Robe of the Lord. In order to ingratiate himself with tsar Mikhail Feodorovich, the shah in 1625 dispatched the Robe of the Lord as a gift to Patriarch Philaret (1619-1633) and tsar Mikhail. The authenticity of the Robe was testified to by Nektarii, Archbishop of Vologda, also by the Jerusalem Patriarch Theophanes who had come from Byzantium, and by Ioannikes the Greek, but especially also by the miraculous signs, manifest by the Lord through the venerable relic.</p><p>Afterwards two parts of the Robe came to be in Peterburg: one in the cathedral at the Winter Palace, and the other in the Petropavlovsk (Peter and Paul) cathedral. A portion of the Robe was preserved likewise at the Uspenie-Dormition cathedral in Moscow, and small portions\u2014at the Kiev Sophia cathedral, at the Ipat\u2032ev monastery near Kostroma and at certain other old temples. At Moscow annually on 10 July the Robe of the Lord is solemnly brought out of a chapel named for the holy Apostles Peter and Paul at the Uspensky cathedral, and it is placed on an analoi-stand for veneration during the time of Divine-services. After Liturgy they carry the Robe to its former place. </p><p>On this day likewise is proper a service to the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, since the Placing of the Robe in the Uspensky cathedral in 1625 was done on 29 March, on the day which then occurred to be the Lenten Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross. </p>"}, "rank": 4, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>Needs English translation</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Needs English translation</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4207": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy 45 Martyrs at Nicopolis in Armenia (\u2020 c. a 319): Leontius, Mauricius, Daniel, Anthony, Alexander, Meneus, Janicita, Sisinius, Biriladus, and others", "short": "Holy 45"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Forty-five Martyrs of the Armenian City of Nicopolis suffered during the reign of the emperor Licinius (307-324), then a co-regent with Constantine the Great. Licinius fiercely persecuted Christians and in his Eastern districts of the empire he issued an edict to put to death anyone who would not consent to return to paganism. When the persecutions began at Nicopolis, more than forty of the persecuted of Christ decided to voluntarily appear before their persecutors, to openly confess their faith in the Son of God and accept martyrdom. The holy confessors were headed by Leontios, Mauricios, Daniel, Anthony and Alexander, and were distinguished by their virtuous life. The hegemon-procurator of the Armenian district, Licius, before whom the holy confessors presented themselves, was amazed at the directness and bravery of those who voluntarily doomed themselves to torture and death. He tried to persuade them to renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, but the saints remained steadfast. They refuted all the arguments of the governor, pointing out to him all the falseness of faith in the disgusting and vice-filled pagan gods, leading to ruin those that worship them. The hegemon-procurator gave orders to beat the confessors about the face with stones, and then shackle and imprison them. </p><p>In prison the saints rejoiced and sang psalms of David. Saint Leontios inspired and encouraged the brethren in the faith, readying them to accept new tortures for the true faith, and telling them of the bravery of all those formerly that had suffered for Christ. In the morning, after repeated refusal to offer sacrifice to the idols, the saints were again given over to torture. Saint Leontios, seeing the intense suffering of the martyrs and worrying, that certain of them might collapse in spirit and lose faith, prayed to God, that he might see a quick end of the matter for all. </p><p>When the holy martyrs sang psalms at midnight, an Angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to them, and the prison blazed with light. The Angel declared to the martyrs, that their deed was near its end, and their names already were inscribed in Heaven. Two of the prison guards, Meneas and Virilades, beheld what was happening and believed in Christ. On the following morning the governor decided to put to death the martyr-witnesses of Christ. After beastly tortures they burned them in a fire, and their bones they threw in a river (\u2020 c. 318). Pious people found them, gathered them up and saved them. Later on, when freedom had been bestown to the Church of Christ, on this spot was built a church in the name of the holy 45 Martyrs.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In their sufferings, O Lord, * Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * they set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By their supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>For the sake of Christ, O martyrs, ye endured many torments. * Ye set at nought all of idolatrous polytheism and destroyed all the ungodliness of every falsehood, * trampling them down by the power of Christ. ** And ye teach us all to chant openly, with faith: Alleluia!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}}}}, "4210": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Apollonias of Sardis (3<sup>rd</sup> C)", "short": "Martyr Apollonias"}}, "4212": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God of Konevets", "short": "Icon of"}}, "4216": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Cindeios the Presbyter of Pamphylia (3<sup>rd</sup>-4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Hieromartyr Cindeios"}}, "4220": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Proclus and Hilarion (2<sup>nd</sup> C)", "short": "Martyrs Proclus"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Holy Martyrs Proklos and Ilarion were natives of the village of Kalipta, near Ancyra, and they suffered during the time of a persecution under the emperor Trajan (98-117). Saint Proklos was put under arrest first. Brought before the governor Maximus, he fearlessly confessed his faith in Christ. The governor decided to compel the saint by force to submit himself to the emperor to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. During the time of tortures, the martyr predicted to Maximus, that soon he himself would be compelled to confess Christ as the True God. They forced the martyr to run after the chariot of the governor, heading towards the village Kalipta. Exhausted along the way, Saint Proklos prayed, that the Lord would halt the chariot. By the power of God the chariot halted, and no sort of force could move it from the spot. The dignitary sitting in it was as it were petrified and remained unmoving until such time, at the demand of the martyr, that he would sign a statement with a confession of Christ; only after this was the chariot with the governor able to continue on its way.</p><p>The humiliated pagan took fierce revenge on Saint Proklos: after many tortures he commanded that he be led out beyond the city, tied to a pillar and executed with arrows. The soldiers, leading saint Proklos to execution, told him to give in and save his life, but the saint said that they should do what they had been ordered.</p><p>Along the way to the place of killing, there met them the nephew of Saint Proklos, Ilarion, who with tears hugged his martyr-uncle and also confessed himself a Christian. The soldiers seized him, and he was thrown into prison. The holy Martyr Proklos beneath the hail of arrows prayed for his tormentors and with prayer gave up his soul to God.</p><p>Saint Ilarion, having been brought to trial, with the same fearlessness as Saint Proklos confessed himself a Christian, and after tortures he was sentenced to death. They tied the martyr\u2019s hands and dragged him by his feet through the city, wounded and bloody, and then they beheaded him 3 days after the death of his uncle, the holy Martyr Proklos. Christians buried them together in a single grave.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>Needs English translation</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>The honorable suffering of Proclus and Hilarius * hath shone forth like the morning-star, * illumining us with the splendors of miracles. * Wherefore, we celebrate your memory, crying: ** Entreat Christ God, that He save our souls!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4224": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Golinducha, in baptism Mary, of Persia (\u2020 591)", "short": "Martyr Golinducha"}}, "4229": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Stephen of St Sabbas Monastery (\u2020 794)", "short": "Venerable Stephen"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monk Stephanos Savvaites, nephew of Saint John of Damascus (Comm. on 4 December), was born in the year 725. The ten year old lad entered the Lavra of Saint Savva and spent his whole life at this monastery, sometimes going out into the wilderness for solitary ascetic deeds. The monk Stephanos was bestowed the gifts of wonder-working and perspicacity: he healed the sick, cast out devils, and discerned the thoughts of those coming to him for counsel. He died in the year 724, foretelling in advance the day of his death. The life of the monk was compiled by his student Leontios.</p>"}, "rank": 1}, "4230": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Julian, Bishop of Cenomanis (Le Mans) in Gaul (1<sup>st</sup> C)", "short": "Saint Julian"}}, "4231": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Serapion (2<sup>nd</sup>-3<sup>rd</sup> C)", "short": "Martyr Serapion"}}, "4232": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Marcian of Iconium (\u2020 258)", "short": "Martyr Marcian"}}, "4237": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Justus at Rome (1<sup>st</sup> C)", "short": "Martyrs Justus"}}, "4238": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Hellios, of Egypt (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Hellios"}}, "4243": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Athenogoras, Bishop of Heracleopolis, and his 10 Disciples (\u2020 c. 311)", "short": "Hieromartyr Athenogoras"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Hieromartyr Athenogoras and his Ten Disciples suffered for Christ during the time of persecution against Christians in the city of Sebasteia. The governor Philomarkhos made a large festival in honour of the pagan gods and summoned the Sebasteia citizenry to offer sacrifice to the idols. But the inhabitants of Sebasteia, Christian in the majority, refused to participate in the impious celebration with its offering of sacrifice to idols. Soldiers were ordered to kill people, and many Christians then accepted a martyr\u2019s crown.</p><p>It came to the governor\u2019s attention, that Christianity was being widely spread about by the graced preaching of Bishop Athenogoras. Orders were issued to seek out the elder and arrest him. Saint Athenogoras and ten of his disciples lived not far from the city in a small monastery. But not finding the bishop there, the soldiers arrested his disciples. The governor gave orders to slap them into chains and throw them in prison.</p><p>Saint Athenogoras came then to Sebasteia and began reproaching the judge that those thrown into prison were guiltless. He was arrested. In prison, Saint Athenogoras encouraged his spiritual children for their impending deed. Led forth to trial, all the holy martyrs confessed themselves Christians and refused to offer sacrifice to idols. After undergoing fierce tortures, the disciples of the holy bishop were beheaded. And after the execution of the disciples, the executioners were ordered to put the elder to the test of torture. Strengthened by the Lord, Saint Athenogoras underwent the tortures with dignity. His only request was\u2014that he be executed in the monastery.</p><p>Taken to his own monastery, the saint in prayer gave thanks to God, and he rejoiced in the sufferings that he had undergone for Him. Saint Athenogoras besought of the Lord the forgiveness of sins of all those people, who should remember both him and his disciples.</p><p>The Lord granted the saint to hear His Voice before death, announcing the promise given to the penitent thief: \u201cToday with Me thou shalt be in paradise.\u201d The priestmartyr himself bent his neck beneath the sword. </p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Following the love of the Master, * as an excellent pastor thou didst lay down thy life for the sheep of Christ, * O hieromartyr Athenogenes; * for this cause we praise thee, and with thee the ten disciples who suffered with thee, * instructed by the fear of God and thy teaching. * Wherefore, with His life-creating right hand the Master hath crowned you who pleased Him. ** Him do ye entreat in behalf of us all.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4244": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Paul and two sisters Alevtina (Valentina) and Chionea (Thea), at C\u00e6sarea in Palestine (\u2020 308)", "short": "Martyrs Paul"}}, "4245": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Antiochos the Physician and Faustus (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Martyrs Antiochos"}}, "4246": {"name": {"nominative": "Virginmartyr Julia of Carthage (\u2020 c. 440 or 613)", "short": "Virginmartyr Julia"}}, "4251": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Ienarchus, Abbot of Solovki (\u2020 1628)", "short": "Venerable Ienarchus"}}, "4253": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God of the Holy Mountain", "short": "Icon of"}}, "4255": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Emilian and Hyacinth of Amastris", "short": "Martyrs Emilian"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Holy Martyr Emelian, a Slav, suffered for Christ during the reign of the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363). Julian wanted to restore in the Roman empire the cult of the pagan gods, and he circulated an edict throughout all the regions, according to which all Christians would be subject to death. </p><p>The city of Dorostolum, situated on the banks of the River Dunaj (Danube), where Saint Emelian lived, was governed by an official named Capitolinus. The imperial edict was read in the city square. The people of Dorostolum said that there were no Christians in the city.</p><p>Saint Emelian was a slave of the local city-head, and he was secretly a Christian. Emboldened by the harsh edict, Saint Emelian snuck into the pagan temple, he destroyed statues of the idols with an hammer, he overturned the altars and the candle-stands, and then emerged without notice. But soon the pagans discovered, that the pagan-temple was in ruins. An angry crowd began to beat up a certain Christian, who by chance happened by. Saint Emelian then shouted out loudly, that they should not lay hold of that innocent man, and then he said that he himself had wrecked the pagan-temple. They seized hold of him and led him for judgement to Capitolinus. By order of the official, Saint Emelian was for a long time beaten mercilessly, and then he was condemned to burning. Thrown into a bon-fire, he did not perish, but rather the flames burnt many of the pagans standing about. And when the bon-fire had gone out, Saint Emelian lay down upon the dying embers and with a prayer gave up his spirit to the Lord (\u2020 363). At Constantinople afterwards there was built a church in honour of the holy Martyr Emelian, wherein also they transferred his relics. The Holy Martyr Iacynthos (Hyacinthe) (IV) was born into a pious Christian family in the city of Amastridea (now Amastra in Anatolia). An Angel which appeared gave him his name. As a three year old boy Saint Iacynthos besought of God that a dead infant might be resurrected, and the Lord hearkened to his childish prayer: the dead one arose. Both lads afterwards grew up together, and together they asceticised in virtuous life. Saint Iacynthos once noticed, how the pagans were worshipping a tree, and so he chopped it down. For this they subjected him to harsh tortures. They smashed out all his teeth, and having bound him with rope, they dragged him along the ground and threw him in prison. And it was there that the holy sufferer expired to God.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In his suffering, O Lord, * Thy martyr Emilian received an imperishable crown from Thee our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * he set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By his supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Aflame with zeal divine, thou wast not afraid of the ministering fire, * but, fearlessly ascending of thine own will, * thou wast consumed by the kindled fire, * and didst offer thyself to the Master as a sacrifice. ** O glorious martyr Emilian, entreat Christ God, that He grant us great mercy.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "3"}}}}, "4258": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Pambos, Recluse of the Kiev Caves (13th C)", "short": "Venerable Pambos"}}, "4259": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Pambos the Hermit of Egypt (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Pambos"}}, "4264": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Macrina, sister of Saint Basil the Great (\u2020 380)", "short": "Venerable Macrina"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monastic Macrina, Sister of Saint-Hierarchs Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, was born in Cappadocia at the beginning of the IV Century. Her mother, Emilia, saw in a dream an Angel, naming her yet unborn one Thekla, in honour of the holy First-Martyress Thekla. Saint Emilia (Emily, Comm. 1 January) fulfilled the will of God and named her daughter Thekla. Another daughter that was born they named Macrina, in honour of a grandmother, who suffered during the time of persecution against Christians under the emperor Maximian Galerius.</p><p>Besides Macrina, in her family were nine other children. Saint Emila herself guided the upbringing and education of her elder daughter. She taught her reading and writing in the Scriptural books and Psalms of David, selecting those examples from the Sacred books, which instructed of a pious and God-pleasing life. Saint Emilia trained her daughter to attend church services and make private prayers. Macrina was likewise taught the proper knowledge of domestic governance and various handicrafts. She was never left idle and did not participate in childish games or amusements.</p><p>When Macrina grew up, her parents betrothed her to a certain pious youth, but the bridegroom soon died. Many young men sought marriage with her, but Macrina refused them all, having chosen the life of a virgin and not wanting to be unfaithful to the memory of her dead fiancee. The Monastic Macrina lived in the home of her parents, helping them fulfill the household tasks as an overseer together with the servants, and she carefully followed after the upbringing of her younger brothers and sisters. After the death of her father she became the chief support for the family. </p><p>When all the children grew up and left the parental home, Saint Macrina convinced her mother, Saint Emilia, to leave the world, to set their slaves free, and to settle in a women\u2019s monastery. Several of their servants followed their example. Having taken monastic vows, they lived together as one family, they prayed together, they worked together, they possessed everything in common, and in this manner of life nothing distinguished one from another.</p><p>After the death of her mother, Saint Macrina guided the sisters of the monastery. She enjoyed the deep respect of all who knew her. Strictness towards herself and temperance in everything were characteristic of the saint over the course of all her life. She slept on boards and had no possessions. Saint Macrina was granted a gift of wonderworking. There was an instance (told by the sisters of the monastery to Saint Gregory of Nyssa after the death of Saint Macrina), when she healed a girl of an eye-affliction. Through the prayers of the saint, at her monastery in times of famine there was no shortage of wheat, necessary for the use of the sisters.</p><p>Saint Macrina died in the year 380, after a final sigh of exalting prayers of thanks to the Lord for having received of Him blessings over all the course of her life. She was buried in the same grave with her parents.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In thee, O mother, that which was created according to the image of God was manifestly saved. * For accepting thy cross thou didst follow after Christ, * and praying thou didst learn to disdain the flesh, * for thou didst transcend it to take care of thine immortal soul. ** Wherefore, with the angels doth thy soul rejoice, O venerable Macrina.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Thou didst love the good God with all thy heart, * O venerable Macrina, * and, taking His precious Cross upon thy shoulder, * thou didst zealously follow after Him. ** Wherefore, thou hast found forgiveness of offenses.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4265": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Dios, Abbot of Antioch (\u2020 c. 430)", "short": "Venerable Dios"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monk Dios was born in the city of Syrian Antioch towards the end of the IVCentury into a pious Christian family. From the years of his youth he was noted for his temperance, he took food in small quantity and not each day, his flesh was humbled by vigil and incessant prayer. For these deeds the Lord granted Saint Dios dispassion and the gift of wonderworking.</p><p>The Lord in a vision ordered Saint Dios to go to Constantinople and there to serve both Him and the people. Saint Dios settled beyond the city in a solitary place, where people feared to live. The Monk Dios bravely contended with the evil spirits which tried to expel him from this place. The Lord heard the prayer of His saint: his staff took root, began to grow and with time was transformed into an immense oak, which stood for a long time even after the death of Saint Dios. </p><p>The surrounding inhabitants began to come to the saint for advice and guidance, and they besought healing from ills of body and soul. Saint Dios by prayer doctored the infirm, and whatever was offered him he distributed to the poor, the homeless and the sick.</p><p>Accounts about Saint Dios reached even the emperor Theodosius the Younger. He came to Saint Dios for a blessing together with the Constantinople Patriarch Atticus (406425). The emperor wanted that on the place of Saint Dios\u2019 efforts there be built a monastery, and he provided the means for its construction. The patriarch ordained the monk into the priestly dignity and made him the hegumen. Soon numerous monastic brethren gathered to Saint Dios. The monastery was in need of a well. They dug at it for a long time without success. Through the prayer of the monk the Lord brought forth a spring of pure water, which soon filled up the entire well. One time through his prayer the monk raised up a drowned man. And many another miracle the Lord worked through His saint. </p><p>In extreme old age the Monk Dios became grievously ill. He took his leave from the brethren, communed the Holy Mysteries and lay upon his cot, like one dead. At the monastery for making the funeral service His Holiness Patriarch Atticus (Comm. on Cheesefare Saturday) and also the Alexandria Patriarch Alexander, who was then at Constantinople. The holy elder unexpectedly rose up from his death bed and said: \u201cThe Lord hath given me yet fifteen years of life.\u201d Great was the joy of the brethren.</p><p>Saint Dios actually did live another 15 years, helping all with guidance and counsel, healing the sick, and being concerned for the poor and homeless. Shortly before death a radiant man in priestly garb appeared to him in the altar of the church and forespoke to him about the impending day of death. Having given thanks to the Lord for this news, Saint Dios quietly died and was buried in his monastery (about the year 430).</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>A desert dweller, an angel in the flesh, * and a wonderworker wast thou shown to be, * O our God-bearing father Dius, * for having acquired heavenly gifts through fasting, vigilance, and prayer, * thou dost heal the infirm, * and the souls of those who have recourse to thee with faith. * Glory to Him Who hath given thee strength! * Glory to Him Who hath crowned thee! ** Glory to Him Who worketh healings for all through thee!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Divinely armed with purity of soul, * and mightily wielding unceasing prayer as a spear, * thou didst cut down hordes of the demons. * O Dius, our wonderworking father, ** pray thou unceasingly for us all.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}}}}, "4269": {"name": {"nominative": "Blessed Stephen, King of Serbia (\u2020 1427) and his mother Saint Militsa (\u2020 1405)", "short": "Blessed Stephen"}}, "4274": {"name": {"nominative": "Repose of Venerable Abraham of Galich, disciple of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh (\u2020 1375)", "short": "Repose of"}}, "4278": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God \u201cAbalatskaya\u201d", "short": "Icon"}}, "4281": {"name": {"nominative": "Prophet Ezekiel (6<sup>th</sup> C BC)", "short": "Prophet Ezekiel"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Holy Prophet Ezekiel lived in the VI Century before the Birth of Christ. He was born in the city of Sarir, and descended from the Levite tribe; he was a priest and the son of the priest Buzi. In the second invasion against Jerusalem by the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnessar, at age 25 Ezekiel was led off to Babylon together with the king Jechoniah II and many other Jews.</p><p>In captivity the Prophet Ezekiel lived by the River Chobar. There, in his 30<sup>th</sup> year of life, in a vision there was revealed to him the future of the Hebrew nation and of all mankind. The prophet beheld a shining cloud, in the midst of which was a flame, and in it - a mysterious likeness of a chariot moving by the spirit and four-winged beasts, each having four faces: of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. Under their faces was situated a wheel, bestrewn with eyes. Over the chariot towered as it were a crystalline firmament, and over the firmament\u2014the likeness of a throne as though of glittering sapphire. And upon this throne a radiant \u201clikeness of Man,\u201d and about Him a rainbow (Ez. 1: 4-28).</p><p>According to the explanation of the fathers of the Church, the most-bright \u201clikeness of Man\u201d radiant upon the sapphire throne, was a prefigurament of the Incarnation of the Son of God from the Most Holy Virgin Mary, manifest as the Throne of God. The four creatures prefigured the four evangelists, the wheel with a multitude of eyes\u2014the sharing of light with all the nations of the earth. During this vision the holy prophet out of fear fell down upon the ground, but the voice of God commanded him to get up and then explained, that the Lord was sending him to preach to the nation of Israel. From this time began the prophetic service of Ezekiel. The Prophet Ezekiel announces to the nation of Israel, situated in Baylonian Captivity, about its coming tribulations for straying in the faith and forsaking the True God. The prophet proclaimed also a better time for his captive fellow-countrymen, and he predicted their return from Babylon and the restoration of the Jerusalem Temple.</p><p>Particularly important are two significant elements in the vision of the prophet\u2014the one about the vision of the temple of the Lord, full of glory,\u2014the second about the bones upon the field, to which the Spirit of God gave new life. The vision about the temple was a mysterious prefigurament of the freeing of the race of man from the working of the enemy and the building up of the Church of Christ through the redemptive deed of the Son of God, incarnated of the Most Holy Virgin Mary,\u2014called by the prophet \u201cthe shut gates,\u201d through which would be entered the One only Lord God (Ez. 44: 2). The vision about the dry bones upon the field\u2014prefigured the universal resurrection of the dead and the new eternal life of the redeemed by the death on the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ez. 37: 1-14).</p><p>The holy Prophet Ezekiel had from the Lord a gift of wonderworking. He, like the Prophet Moses, by prayer to God divided the waters of the river Chobar, and the Hebrews crossed to the opposite shore, escaping the pursuing Chaldeans. During a time of famine the prophet besought of God an increase of food for the hungry.</p><p>For his denunciation of the idol-worship of a certain Hebrew prince, Saint Ezekiel was given over to execution: bound to wild horses, he was torn to pieces. Pious Hebrews gathered up the torn body of the prophet and buried it upon Maur Field, in the tomb of Sim and Arthaxad, fore-fathers of Abraham, not far from Baghdad. The prophecy of Ezekiel was written down in a book, mentioning him by name, and is included in the Bible.</p><p>Saint Dimitrii of Rostov drew attention for believers to the following concept in the book of the Prophet Ezekiel: if a righteous man, hoping on his own righteousness, were to venture to sin and in sin would die\u2014he would answer for the sin and be subject to judgement; but a sinner, if he repenteth, and in repentance would die\u2014his former sin would not be remembered before God (Ez. 3: 20; 18: 21-24).</p>"}, "rank": 1}, "4282": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Simeon of Emessa, Fool-for-Christ, and his fellow-ascetic, Venerable John (\u2020 c. 590)", "short": "Venerable Simeon"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "</p><p>The Monks Simeon, Fool-for-Christ, and his Fellow-Ascetic John were Syrians, and they lived in the VI Century at the city of Edessa. From childhood a close friendship held them together. The older of them, Simeon, was unmarried and lived with his aged mother. John, however, although he entered into marriage, lived with his father (his mother was dead) and with his young spouse. Both friends belonged to wealthy families. When Simeon became 30 years old, and John 24, they made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem on the feast of the Exaltation of the Venerable and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord. On the return journey home the friends conversed about the ways of salvation for the soul. Journeying with horses, they sent the servants with the horses on ahead, and they themselves went on foot. Going through Jordan, they saw monasteries, situated at the edge of the wilderness. Both of them were filled with an irrepressible desire to leave the world and spend their remaining life in monastic deeds. They turned off from the road, along which their servants went into Syria, and they prayed zealously to God, to guide them towards the monasteries on the opposite side. They besought the Lord to indicate which monastery for them to choose and they resolved to enter whichever monastery the gates of which would be open. At this time in a dream the Lord informed the hegumen Nikon of a monastery to open the monastery gates, and that the sheep of Christ would enter in. In great joy the comrades came through the open gates of the monastery, where they were warmly welcomed by the hegumen, and they remained at the monastery. In a short while they took monastic vows. Having dwelt for a certain while at the monastery, Simeon became keen with the desire to intensify his effort, to go into the deep wilderness and there to pursue asceticism in complete solitude. John did not wish to be left behind by his companion and he decided to share with him the work of wilderness-dweller. The Lord revealed to the hegumen Nikon the intentions of the companions, and on that night when the Monks Simeon and John intended to depart the monastery, he himself opened for them the gates, he prayed with them, gave them his blessing and sent them into the wilderness. Having begun wilderness life, the spiritual brothers at first underwent the strong assault of the devil, suggesting to them grief over abandoning their families, frightening the ascetics, directing upon them weakness, despondency and idleness. The brothers Simeon and John, firmly mindful of the monastic vows given by them, and trusting on the prayers of their starets the hegumen Nikon, continued straight upon their chosen path, and they passed the time in unceasing prayer and strict fasting, encouraging each the other in their struggle against temptation. After a certain while, with the help of God, the temptations stopped. The monks received from God the report, that the mother of Simeon and the spouse of John had died and that the Lord had vouchsafed them the blessing of paradise. After this Simeon and John dwelt in the wilderness for 29 years, and they attained complete dispassion (apatheia) and an high degree of spirituality. The Monk Simeon, through the inspiration of God, pondered about that it now was proper that he should serve people, and for this it was necessary to leave the wilderness solitude and go into the world. But Saint John, reckoning that he had not attained to such a degree of dispassion as his companion, decided not to quit the wilderness. The brethren parted with tears. Simeon journeyed to Jerusalem, and there he worshipped at the Tomb of the Lord and all the holy places. By his great humility the holy ascetic zealously besought the Lord to permit him to serve his neighbour in suchlike manner, that they should not acknowledge him. Saint Simeon chose for himself the difficult task of fool-for-Christ. Having come to the city of Emessus, he stayed in it and passed himself off as a simpleton, doing strange acts, for which he was subjected to insults, abuse and beatings, and amidst which he accomplished many good deeds. He cast out devils, healed the sick, delivered from immanent death, brought the unbelieving to faith, and sinners\u2014to repentance. All these good deeds he did under the guise of foolishness, and in no wise did he receive praise or thanks from people. But the Monk John highly esteemed his spiritual brother: when someone of the inhabitants of the city of Emessus visited him in the wilderness, asking advice and prayer, he would invariably direct them to \u201cthe fool Simeon,\u201d who could better offer them spiritual counsel. For three days before his death Saint Simeon ceased to appear on the streets, and he enclosed himself in his hut, in which, except for bundles of fire-wood, there was nothing. Having remained at unceasing prayer for three days, Saint Simeon reposed to the Lord. Some of the city poor, companions with him, and not coming across the fool, went to his hut and there found him dead. Taking up the dead body, they carried him without church singing to a place, where the homeless and strangers were buried. While they carried the body of Saint Simeon, several of the inhabitants heard a wondrous church singing, but could not comprehend from whence it came. After Saint Simeon, the Monk John peacefully expired to the Lord in the wilderness. Shortly before death, Saint Simeon was given to behold the crown upon the head of his spiritual brother with the inscription: \u201cFor endurance in the wilderness.\u201d"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O God of our fathers, * deal with us ever according to Thy meekness. * Deprive us not of Thy mercy, * but through their supplications ** direct our life in peace.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Let us praise the God-bearing Symeon, * the peer of the angels, * who appeared in the flesh as one incorporeal, * and with him the ever-memorable John: ** for with faith and love they entreat the Lord unceasingly in behalf of us all.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}}}}, "4283": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Onuphry the Silent of the Kiev Caves, near caves (12th-13th C)", "short": "Venerable Onuphry"}}, "4284": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Elladius, Onisimus, and Ammon, hermits of the Kiev Caves", "short": "Venerable Elladius"}}, "4288": {"name": {"nominative": "Repose of Venerable Cornilius of Pereyaslavl (\u2020 1693)", "short": "Repose of"}}, "4292": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Trophymos, Theophilos and 13 others in Lycia (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Martyrs Trophymos"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Holy Martyrs Trophymos, Theophilos, and Thirteen Holy Martyrs with them, suffered during the time of the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Brought to trial, they bravely confessed themselves Christians and refused to offer sacrifice to idols. After fierce tortures, they threw the holy martyrs with broken legs into a fire. Strengthened by the Lord, they came out of the fire completely unharmed, and still all the moreso did they glorify Christ. Then in despair of breaking the will of the holy confessors, the torturers beheaded them.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In their sufferings, O Lord, * Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * they set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By their supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}}}}, "4293": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Apollonarius, Bishop of Ravenna (\u2020 c. 75)", "short": "Hieromartyr Apollonarius"}}, "4294": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God \u201cJoy of All Who Sorrow\u201d at the glass factory in Saint Petersburg", "short": "Icon of"}}, "4296": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Christina of Tyre (\u2020 c. 300)", "short": "Martyr Christina"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Martyress Christina lived during the III Century. She was born into a rich family, and her father was governor of Tyre. By the age of 11 the girl was exceptionally beautiful, and many wanted to be married to her. Christina\u2019s father, however, envisioned that his daughter should become a pagan-priestess. To this end he situated her in a special dwelling, where he had set up many gold and silver idols, and he commanded his daughter to burn incense before them. Two servants attended to Christina.</p><p>In her solitude Christina began to ponder over the thought,\u2014who had created this beautiful world? From her room she was delighted by the stars of the heavens and she constantly came back to the thought about the One Maker of all the world. She was convinced, that the voiceless and soul-less idols standing in her room could not create anything, since they themselves were created by human hands. She began to pray to the One God with tears, beseeching Him to reveal Himself. Her soul blazed with love for the Unknown God, and she intensified her prayer all the more, and combining with it fasting.</p><p>One time Christina had the visitation of an Angel, which instructed her in the true faith in Christ, the Saviour of the world. The Angel called her a bride of Christ and announced to her about her future act of suffering. The holy virgin smashed all the idols standing in her room and cast them out the window. In visiting his daughter Christina\u2019s father, Urban, asked her where all the idols had disappeared. Christina was silent. Then, having summoned the servants, Urban learned the truth from them. In a rage the father began to slap his daughter on the face. The holy virgin at first remained quiet, but then she revealed to her father about her faith in the One True God, and that by her own hands she had destroyed the idols. Urban then gave orders to kill all the servants in attendance upon his daughter, and he gave Christina a fierce beating and threw her in prison. Having learned about what had happened, the mother of Saint Christina came in tears, imploring her to renounce Christ and to return to her ancestral beliefs. But Christina remained unyielding. On another day Urban brought his daughter to trial and urged her to offer worship to the gods, to ask forgiveness for her misdeeds, but he saw instead her firm and steadfast confession of faith in Christ.</p><p>The torturers tied her to an iron wheel, beneath which they set a fire. The body of the martyress, turning round on the wheel, was scorched from all sides. They then threw her in prison. </p><p>An Angel of God appeared at night, healing her from her wounds and strengthening her with food. Her father, in the morning seeing her unharmed, gave orders to drown her in the sea. But an Angel sustained the saint while the stone sank down, and Christina miraculously came out from the water and re-appeared before her father. In terror, the torturer imputed this to the doings of sorcery and he decided to execute her in the morning. But by night he himself suddenly died. Another governor, Dion, was sent in his place. He summoned the holy martyress and likewise tried to persuade her to renounce Christ, but seeing her unyielding firmness, he again subjected her to cruel tortures. The holy martyress was for a long while in prison. People began to throng to her, and she converted them to the true faith in Christ. Thus about 300 were converted.</p><p>In place of Dion, a new governor Julian arrived and anew set about the torture of the saint. After various tortures, Julian gave orders to throw her into a red-hot furnace and lock her in it. After five days they opened the furnace and found the martyress alive and unharmed. Seeing this miracle take place, many believed in Christ the Saviour, and the torturers executed Saint Christina with a sword.</p>"}, "rank": 2, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>Thy ewe-lamb Christina crieth out to Thee with a loud voice, O Jesus: * \"I love Thee, O my Bridegroom, * and, seeking Thee, I pass through many struggles: * I am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism, * and suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; * I die for Thee that I might live with Thee. * As an unblemished sacrifice accept me, * who sacrifice myself with love for Thee ** By her supplications save Thou our souls, in that Thou art merciful.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Thou wast known to be a radiant dove with wings of gold, * and didst soar aloft to the heights of heaven, O honored Christina. * Wherefore, we celebrate thy glorious festival, * bowing down before the shrine of thy relics with faith, ** from whence divine healing for souls and bodies poureth forth upon all in abundance.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4301": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Women Olympias the Deaconess (\u2020 408-410) of Constantinople and Eupraxia, the Virgin of Tabenna (\u2020 413)", "short": "Holy Women"}, "rank": 1}, "4308": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippos, Hermocrates of Nicomedia (\u2020 c. 305)", "short": "Hieromartyrs Hermolaus"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippos and Hermocrates, Clergy of Nicomedia, were among the small number of those remaining alive after the burning of 20,000 Christians of the Nicomedia Church in the year 303 (Comm. 28 December),\u2014done upon the orders of the emperor Maximian (284-305). They hid themselves in remote places and did not cease to teach pagans the Christian faith. Often there passed by the house, in which Saint Hermolaus had concealed himself, the young pagan named Pantoleon (Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, Comm. 27 July). One time Saint Hermolaus chanced upon the youth and asked him to stop by for him at the house. In their conversation Saint Hermolaus began to explain to his guest the falseness, impiety and vanity of worshipping the pagan gods. From that day on Pantoleon began daily to visit Saint Hermolaus and received of him holy Baptism. When the trial of the holy Great Martyr Panteleimon was being held, Saints Hermolaus, Hermippos and Hermokrates, were also arrested. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Saint Hermolaus on an evening and revealed to him, that on the following day he would suffer for Him and receive a martyr\u2019s crown. Saints Hermippos and Hermokrates were arrested and brought to trial after Saint Hermolaus. All three were given the chance to abjure from Christ and offer sacrifice to idols. But they resolutely refused, confessed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and were prepared gladly to die for Him. The pagans began to threaten the holy priests with torture and death. Suddenly a strong earthquake occurred, and the idols and pagan temple collapsed and shattered. A report was made about this to the emperor. The enraged Maximian gave the holy martyrs over to torture and pronounced upon them a sentence of death. Bravely enduring all the torments, the holy Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippos and Hermokrates were beheaded in about the year 305.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In their sufferings, O Lord, * Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * they set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By their supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Having lived piously as a hieraich, * thou hast received the crown of a martyred bishop; * and extinguishing the sacrifices of the idols, * thou wast a good shepherd of the flock of Christ * and a true teacher for Panteleimon, O all-wise one. * Wherefore, we honor thee with hymns, crying out: ** Ever deliver us from misfortunes by thy supplications, O Hermolaus our father!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4316": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Anthusa, Abbess of Mantinea in Asia Minor, and her 90 Monastics (8<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Anthusa"}}, "4317": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Clement of Ochrid (\u2020 916), Bishop of Greater Macedonia, with Saints Naum, Sabbas, Gorazd and Angelar, desciples of Sts Cyrill and Methodius", "short": "Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles"}}, "4319": {"name": {"nominative": "Appearance of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, named \u201cHodigitria\u201d (1046)", "short": "Smolensk Icon"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, named \u201cHodegetria,\u201d which in Russian means \u201cPutevoditel\u2032nitsa\u201d or \u201cWay-Guide,\u201d was according to Church tradition written by the holy Evangelist Luke within the earthly lifetime of the Most Holy Mother of God. Saint-hierarch Dimitrii of Rostov suggests that this image was written at the request of Theophilos, the governor of Antioch. From Antioch the holy image was transferred to Jerusalem. From there the empress Eudokia, the spouse of Arcadius, gave it at Constantinople to Pulcheria the sister of the emperor, who put the holy icon in the Blakhernai church.</p><p>The Greek emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (1042-1054),\u2014in 1046 having given his daughter Anna in marriage to prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav the Wise,\u2014blessed her on her way with this icon. After the death of prince Vsevolod the icon went to his son Vladimir Monomakh, who transferred it at the beginning of the XII Century into the Smolensk cathedral church in honour of the Dormition (Uspenie) of the Most Holy Mother of God. From that time the icon received the title of Smolensk Hodegetria.</p><p>In the year 1238 at the bespeaking of the icon, the self-sacrificing Orthodox warrior Merkurii by night penetrated into the camp of Batu and killed many of the enemy, in which number was also their most powerful warrior. Having accepted in the fight a martyr\u2019s end, he was enumerated by the Church to the ranks of the Saints (Comm. 24November).</p><p>In the XIV Century Smolensk came into the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of prince Vitovt, Sophia, was given for marriage to the Moscow GreatPrince Vasilii Dimitrievich (1398-1425). In 1398 she brought with herself to Moscow the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. They set the holy image in the Annunciation cathedral of the Kremlin, on the right side of the royal-doors. In 1456, at the request of the inhabitants of Smolensk with Bishop Misail at the head, the icon was solemnly in church procession returned to Smolensk, and at Moscow there remained two copies of it. One was put in the Annunciation cathedral, and the other\u2014\u201da measure for measure\u201d\u2014was put in the Novodevichei monastery, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was built on Devichei Pole (Virgin\u2019s Field), where \u201cwith many tears\u201d the Muscovites handed over the holy icon to Smolensk. In 1602 an exact copy was written from the wonderworking icon (in 1666 together with the ancient icon they conveyed a new copy to Moscow for restoration), which they situated in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall over the Dneprovsk Gates, under a specially constructed mantle-cover. Afterwards, in 1727, was built there a wooden church, and in 1802\u2014a stone church.</p><p>The new copy took on the power of grave of the old image, and when the Russian armies left Smolensk on 5 August 1812, they took the icon with them for defense from the enemy forces. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino they carried this image through the camp, to encourage and inspire the soldiers to the great deed. The ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, taken for the while to the Uspensk cathedral, on the day of the Borodino battle was in procession around with the Iversk and Vladimir Icons of the Mother of God through the Belo and Kitai quarters and the Kremlin walls, and then they sent it to the sick and wounded at the Lefortovo palace. After the leaving of Moscow the icon was taken to Yaroslavl\u2032.</p><p>Thus of old were these sister-icons preserved, and the Mother of God through Her images defended the Native-land. After the victory over the enemy forces the Hodegetria Icon together with its glorified copy was returned to Smolensk.</p><p>The celebration in honour of this wonderworking image on 28 July was establsihed in the year 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia.</p><p>There exist many venerated copies of the Smolensk Hodegetria, for which the celebration is set on this day. There is also a day of celebration for the Smolensk Icon, glorified in the XIX Century,\u20145 November, when this image on the orders of the commander-in-chief of the Russian army M. I. Kutuzov was returned to Smolensk. In memory of the expelling of the enemy from the Fatherland, at Smolensk it was established to celebrate this day annually. </p><p>The holy icon of the Hodegetria Mother of God\u2014is one of the chief holy things of the Russian Church. Believers have received and do receive from it an abundant help of grace. The Mother of God through Her holy image intercedes for and strengthens us, guiding on the way to salvation, and we call out to Her: \u201cThou for faithful peoples\u2014art the All-Blessed Hodegetria, Thou art the affirmation\u2014the Praiseworthy of Smolensk and all the Russian land. Rejoice, Hodegetrix, salvation to Christians!\u201d</p>"}, "rank": 4}, "4320": {"name": {"nominative": "Apostles of the 70 and Deacons: Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon and Parmenas (1<sup>st</sup> C)", "short": "Apostles"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "The Holy Disciples from the 70: Prochorus, Nikanor, Timon and Parmenas were of the first deacons in the Church of Christ.</p><p>In the book of the Acts of the Apostles (6: 1-6) it relates, that at Jerusalem the twelve apostles chose seven men: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and established them to serve as deacons.</p><p>Holy Church makes their memory in common on 28 July, although they died at various times and in various places. </p><p>Saint Prochorus at first accompanied the first-ranked Apostle Peter and was made by him bishop in the city of Nikomedia. After the Falling-Asleep (Dormition or Uspenie) of the Most Holy Mother of God, Prochorus was a companion and co-worker of the holy Apostle John the Theologian and together with him was banished to the island of Patmos. There he wrote down the Revelation of God,\u2014revealed to the holy Apostle John, about the final fate of the world (Apocalypse). Upon returning to Nikomedia, Saint Prochorus converted pagans to Christ in the city of Antioch and there accepted a martyr\u2019s end.</p><p>Saint Nikanor suffered on that day when the holy First-Martyr Stephen and many other Christians were killed by stoning.</p><p>Saint Timon was established by the Apostles as bishop of the city of Bastoria in Arabia and suffered from the Jews and pagans for preaching the Gospel. He was thrown into a furnace, but by the power of God he came out of it unharmed. The tradition of the Roman Church says, that Saint Timon died by crucifixion on a cross.</p><p>Saint Parmenas zealously preached Christ in Macedonia. He died from sickness befalling him. There exists also the opinion, that Saint Parmenas suffered under Trajan (98-117) in the final year of his reign, having accepted a martyr\u2019s end."}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O holy apostles * entreat the merciful God ** that He grant to our souls remission of transgressions.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "3"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "The glorious Nicanor, Prochorus, Parmenus and Timon, * the honored deacons and eye-witnesses to the Word, * have been shown to be chosen vessels of the Faith. * Wherefore, we celebrate your sacred memory today, ** blessing you in gladness of heart.", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}}}}, "4323": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Julian of Dalmatia", "short": "Martyr Julian"}}, "4324": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Eustathius the Soldier", "short": "Martyr Eustathius"}}, "4325": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Akakius", "short": "Martyr Akakius"}}, "4327": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God \u201cUmilenie\u201d of Diveevo", "short": "Icon of"}}, "4346": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Eustathios of Mtskheta, Georgia (\u2020 589)", "short": "Martyr Eustathios"}}, "4349": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Apostles of the 70: Silas and Sylvanus, and those with them: Criscentus, Epenetus and Andronicus (1<sup>st</sup> C)", "short": "Holy Apostles"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Holy Disciples from the Seventy: Silas, Sylvanus (Siluanos), Crescentius, Epenetos and Andronikos\u2014were disciples of the Saviour.</p><p>The Disciple from the Seventy, Saint Silas, was a respected figure in the original Church at Jerusalem, \u201cof the chief men amongst the brethren\u201d (Acts 15: 22). The Council of the Apostles was convened at Jerusalem in the year 51 to deal with the question, whether it be necessary for Christians converted from among the Gentile-pagans to observe the (Old Testament) Mosaic Law [the Law-code contained in the Pentateuch, or Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament]. The Apostles afterwards sent a message with Paul and Barnabas to the Antioch Christians, in which they reported by resolve of the Council, Christians of Gentile-pagan origin were free from having to observe the prescripts of the Mosaic Law. But it was prescribed for them, nonetheless, that they refrain of partaking of foods offered to idols, from things strangled and from blood, to refrain from fornication, and to do naught else than that which be seemly (Acts 15: 20-29). Together with Saints Paul and Barnabas, the Council of the Apostles sent along members of the Jerusalem Church, Saints Silas and Jude, to explain the message in greater detail, since they both were filled with the indwelling grace of the Holy Spirit. Saint Jude thereafter was sent back to Jerusalem, but Saint Silas remained at Antioch and zealously assisted Saint Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, on his missionary journeys preaching the Gospel. They visited Syria, Cilicia, Macedonia.</p><p>In the city of Philippi they were accused of inciting unrest among the people, and for this they were arrested, thrashed with canes, and then thrown into prison. At midnight, when the holy saints were at prayer, suddenly there occurred a strong earthquake, their chains fell off from them and the doors of the prison opened. The prison guard, supposing that the prisoners had fled, wanted to kill himself, but was stopped by the Apostle Paul. Then, all atremble he fell down at the feet of the saints, and with faith accepted their \u201ceuangelos\u201d (\u201cgood-news\u201d) about Christ. He then led them out of the prison and took them to his own home, where he washed their wounds, and was baptised together with all his household.</p><p>From Philippi Saints Paul and Silas proceeded on to the cities of Amphypolis, Apollonia and Soluneia (Thessalonika). In each city they made new converts to Christ and built up the Church.</p><p>At Corinth the holy Disciple Silas was ordained bishop, and he there worked many a miracle and sign, and there too he finished his life. The Holy Disciple Sylvanus (Siluanos) preached the Word of God together with the chief Apostles Peter and Paul. In his First \u0152cumenical Epistle, the holy Apostle Peter makes mention of him: \u201cThis in brief have I written to ye through Sylvanus, your true brother, I do think\u2026\u201d (1 Pet. 5: 12). Saint Sylvanus was made bishop at Soluneia (Thessalonika) and died there a martyr, having undergone many a sorrow and misfortune for the Lord\u2019s sake. </p><p>About the Holy Disciple Crescentius the holy Apostle Paul makes mention in his Second Epistle to Timothy (2 Tim. 4: 10), saying that Crescentius had gone preaching to Galatia. He was made bishop there, and afterwards he preached the Word of God in Gaul (modern-day France). In the city of Vienna (modern-day Austria) the holy Disciple Crescentius established his student Zacharius as bishop. Having returned to Galatia, he died a martyr under the emperor Trajan (98-117). </p><p>The Holy Disciple Epenetus was made bishop at Carthage. In his Epistle to the Romans, the holy Apostle Paul writes: \u201cGreet my dear Epenetus, who is from the beginnings in Achaia [alt. Asia] for Christ\u201d (Rom. 16: 5). </p><p>The Disciple Andronicus is mentioned also in this same Epistle by the Apostle Paul: \u201cGreet Andronicus and Junia [June], my kinsfolk, famed amongst the Apostles and even before me believing in Christ\u201d (Rom. 16: 7). The holy Disciple Andronicus was bishop in Pannonia (modern-day Hungary) (Comm. of Saints Andronicus and Junia is 17May).</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O holy apostles * entreat the merciful God ** that He grant to our souls remission of transgressions.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "3"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Ye were shown to be branches of the vine of Christ, bearing clusters of the virtues, * pouring forth upon us the wine of salvation, O wise ones, * which receiving, we are filled with gladness, * celebrating your most honored memory, ** whereon pray ye, O apostles of the Lord, for the remission of our sins.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4352": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyrs Polychronios, Bishop of Babylon, and those with him: Parmenius, Elminus, and Christotelus the Presbyters, Luke and Muko the Deacons, Audon, Senes, Olympius, and Maxim (\u2020 c 251)", "short": "Hieromartyrs Polychronios"}}, "4356": {"name": {"nominative": "Righteous Eudocimus of Cappadocia (9<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Righteous Eudocimus"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>Righteous Eudokimos, a native of Cappadocia (Asia Minor), lived during the IX Century during the reign of emperor Theophilos (829-842). He was the son of the pious Christians Basil and Eudokia, an illustrious family and known to the emperor. The righteous life of Saint Eudokimos was totally guided towards pleasing God and service to neighbour. Having given a vow to remain unmarried and chaste, he avoided conversation with women and did not look at them; only with his own mother whom he extremely respected did he carry on edifying conversation. For his virtuous life the emperor appointed Saint Eudokimos as governor of the Kharsian district. Fulfilling his duty as a servant of God, Righteous Eudokimos governed the people justly and with kindness, he concerned himself over the misfortunate, and about orphans and widows, and he was a defender of the common people. His personal Christian exploits which he did in secret, were known only to God. </p><p>Eudokimos pleased God by his blameless life, and the Lord called him at age 33. Laying on his death-bed, Saint Eudokimos gave final instructions to place him in the grave in those clothes in which he would meet death. Then he sent everyone out of the room and besought the Lord in prayer, that no one would see his end, just as no one saw his secret efforts during life. His attendants buried him as he had instructed them. Right after the death of Righteous Eudokimos miracles happened at his grave, many sick people were healed, and the news about the miracles of healing spread about.</p><p>After 18 months the mother of Saint Eudokimos came to venerate the relics, from Constantinople, whither his parents had settled after the death of the saint. She gave orders to remove the stone, dig up the ground, open the grave, and everyone beheld the face of the saint, bright as though alive, altogether untouched by decay. Great fragrance came from him. They took up the coffin with the relics from the earth, and they changed the saint into new clothes. His mother wanted to take the relics of her son to Constantinople, but the Kharsian people would not clear a path for their holy one. But after a certain while the priest-monk Joseph, having lived and served at the grave of the saint, transported all the relics of Saint Eudokimos to Constantinople. There they were placed in a silver reliquary in the church of the Most Holy Mother of God, built by the parents of the saint.</p><p>Righteous Eudokimos is considered in the Russian Church to be one of the special protectors and intercessors before God of the family hearth.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>He Who hath summoned thee from earth to the mansions of heaven * also pre-serveth thy body incorrupt after death, O holy Eudocimus, * for thou didst live in chastity and a pure life, * without defiling thy flesh, O blessed one. ** Wherefore, entreat Christ God with boldness, that we may be saved.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Desiring Higher things, * and uniting thyself with those on high, * thou didst make thy soul a fiery chariot by the divine ascents of the virtues, * O all-blessed Eudocimus; * and living on the earth like one of the incorporeal ones, ** thou wast well pleasing to the Creator of all.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}}}}, "4360": {"name": {"nominative": "Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord", "short": "Procession"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>In the Greek Chasoslov (Orologion) of 1897 is explained thus the derivation of this feast: \u201cBy reason of the sicknesses, often everywhere occurring in August, from of old customarily it was done at Constantinople to carry out the Venerable Wood of the Cross along the roads and streets for the sanctifying of places and for the driving away of sicknesses. On the eve (31 July), carrying it out from the imperial treasury, they placed it upon the holy table of the Great Church (in honour of Saint Sophia\u2014the Wisdom of God). From this feastday up to the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, making litia throughout all the city, they then placed it forth for all the people to venerate. This also is the Issuing-forth of the Venerable Cross.\u201d</p><p>In the Russian Church this feast is combined also with a remembrance of the Baptism of Rus,\u2019 on 1 August 988. In the \u201cAccount about the making of services in the holy catholic and apostolic great church of the Uspenie-Dormition,\u201d compiled in 1627 by order of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus\u2019 Philaret, there is provided suchlike an explanation of the feast: \u201cAnd on the day of the procession of the Venerable Cross there occurs a church-procession for the sanctification of water and for the enlightenment of the people, throughout all the towns and places.\u201d</p><p>Knowledge of the day of the actual Baptism of Rus\u2019 was preserved in the Chronicles of the XVI Century: \u201cThe Baptism of Great-prince Vladimir of Kiev and all Rus\u2019 was on August 1.\u201d</p><p>In the practice now of the Russian Church, the service of the Lesser Sanctification of Water on 1 August is done either before or after Liturgy. Together with the Blessing of Waters, there is made a Blessing of Honey (i.e. first-honey for the Saviour: \u201cSaviour of the Water,\u201d \u201cSaviour Moisture\u201d [apparently in place of the vinegar and gall offered Him on the Cross?]). And from this day the newly harvested honey is blessed and tasted.</p>"}, "rank": 3, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O Lord, save Thy people, * and bless Thine inheritance. * Grant victory unto Orthodox Christians * over their adversaries, ** preserving Thy community by Thy Cross.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>O Thou Who wast lifted up willingly upon the Cross, * bestow Thy compassions upon the new community called after Thee, O Christ God: * gladden by Thy power Orthodox Christians, * granting them victory over all adversaries. ** May they have as an ally the invincible trophy, the weapon of peace.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4361": {"name": {"nominative": "Feast of the All-Merciful Saviour and the Holy Theotokos", "short": "Feast of"}, "rank": 1}, "4363": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Leontius, Attius, Alexander, Cyndeus, Minsitheus, Cyriakus, Mineonus, Catunus, and Eucleus", "short": "Martyrs Leontius"}}, "4368": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Stephen, Pope of Rome and those with him (257)", "short": "Hieromartyr Stephen"}}, "4370": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Isaac, Dalmatius and Faustus, Ascetics of the Dalmatian Monastery in Constantinople (4<sup>th</sup>-5<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Isaac"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monks Isaac, Dalmatius and Faustus were hegumens of a Dalmatian monastery. The Monk Dalmatius had served in the army of the holy nobleborn emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395) and gained his notice. Having left the world somewhere between the years 381-383, the Monk Dalmatius together with his son Faustus went to the monastery of the Monk Isaac near Constantinople. The Monk Isaac vowed father and son into monasticism, and they both began to lead a strict ascetic life. Once during Great Lent the Monk Dalmatius did not partake of food during the course of 40 days, and later having regained his strength, he was vouchsafed worthy of a Divine vision. Having drawn near the end of his earthly life, the Monk Isaac put in his place as monastery head the Monk Dalmatius, through whose name the monastery became known as the Dalmatian.</p><p>The Monk Dalmatius showed himself a zealous proponent of the Orthodox faith at the III \u0152cumenical Council at Ephesus (431), which censured the heresy of Nestorius.</p><p>After the Council the holy fathers elevated the Monk Dalmatius to the dignity of archimandrite of the Dalmatian monastery, at which he died at age ninety (after year 446). </p><p>About the Monk Faustus is known that he, like his father, was a great ascetic and in monastic deeds he particularly excelled at fasting. After the death of his father, Faustus became hegumen of the monastery.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O God of our fathers, * deal with us ever according to Thy meekness. * Take not Thy mercy from us, * but through their supplications ** direct our life in peace.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>With hymns let us praise Isaacius, Dalmatus and Faustus, * who shone forth like beacons through fasting * and turned away heresies with faith; ** for they are saints of God who entreat Him in our behalf.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}}}}, "4372": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Razhden the Persian of Georgia (\u2020 457)", "short": "Martyr Razhden"}}, "4373": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Cosmas, the Eunuch and Hermit of Palestine (6<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Cosmas"}}, "4375": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus (Seven Sleepers): Maximilian, Jamblichus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus (Constantine) and Antoninus (\u2020 c. 250 and 408-450)", "short": "Seven Youths"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p> The Seven Youths of Ephesus: Maximilian, Iamblichus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Eksacustodianus (Constantine) and Antoninus, lived in the third century. Saint Maximilian was the son of the Ephesus city administrator, and the other six youths\u2014were sons of other illustrious Ephesus citizens. The youths were friends from childhood, and all were together in military service. When the emperor Decius (249-251) arrived in Ephesus, he commanded all the citizenry to appear for offering sacrifice to the pagan gods; torture and death by execution awaited the recalcitrant. By denunciation from those currying the emperor\u2019s favour, the seven youths of Ephesus were summoned to reply to the charges. Standing before the emperor, the seven youths confessed their faith in Christ. Their illustrious military decorations\u2014the military sashes\u2014were quickly taken from them. Decius however set them at liberty, hoping, that they would change their minds while he was away on military campaign. The youths fled from the city and hid in a cave on Mount Ochlonus, where they passed the time at prayer, preparing for the deed of martyrdom. The very youngest of them\u2014Saint Iamblichus, having clothed himself in beggar\u2019s attire, went into the city and bought bread. In one of these journeys into the city he heard, that the emperor had returned and sought them, so as to bring them to trial. Saint Maximilian exhorted his companions to come out of the cave and bravely appear at trial. Having learned where the lads were hidden, the emperor gave orders to seal the entrance of the cave with stones, so that the lads would perish in it from hunger and thirst. Two of the dignitaries, coming before the walled-up entrance to the cave, were secret Christians. Wanting to preserve the memory of the saints, they set in among the stones a sealed container, in which were located two tin sheaves. On them were inscribed the names of the seven youths and the details of their suffering and death.</p><p>But the Lord brought upon the youths a miraculous sleep, continuing almost two centuries. During this while the persecutions against Christians had ceased, although during the reign of the holy noble-born emperor Theodosius the Younger (408-450) there had appeared heretics who rejected the belief in the Resurrection of the Dead at the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of them said: \u201cHow can there be a resurrection of the dead, when there would be neither soul, nor body, since they are disintegrated?\u201d Others affirmed: \u201cOnly the souls alone would have a restoration, since it would be impossible for bodies to arise and live after a thousand years, when even the dust from them would not remain\u201d. The Lord therefore revealed the mystery of the awaited Resurrection of the Dead and of the Future Life also through His seven youths.</p><p>The master of that region of land, on which Mount Ochlonus was situated, discovered the stone construction, and his workers opened up the entrance to the cave. The Lord had kept alive the youths, and they as it were awoke from their habitual sleep, not suspecting, that almost 200 years had elapsed. Their bodies and clothing were completely undecayed. Preparing to accept torture, the youths entrusted to Saint Iamblichus yet once again to buy bread for them in the city to keep up their strength. Going towards the city, the youth was astonished, seeing the holy cross on the gates. And hearing the freely uttered Name of Jesus Christ, he began to doubt that he was approaching his own city. Praying for the bread, the youth gave the merchant money with the image of the emperor Decius on it, and he was detained, as one possibly concealing a horde of old money. They took Saint Iamblichus to the city administrator, who at this time happened to be the bishop of Ephesus. Hearing the bewildering answers of the youth, the bishop perceived, that God was revealing through him some sort of mystery, and set out himself with other people to the cave. At the entrance to the cave the bishop took out the sealed container and opened it. He read upon the tin sheaves the names of the seven youths and the details of the sealing-up of the cave on the orders of the Emperor Decius. Going into the cave and seeing the youths alive, everyone rejoiced and perceived that the Lord, through their awakening from long sleep, was disclosing to the Church the mystery of the Resurrection of the Dead. Soon the emperor himself arrived in Ephesus and conversed with the youths in the cave. Then the holy youths in view of everyone lay down their heads upon the ground and again fell asleep, this time until the General Resurrection. The emperor wanted to place each of the youths into a jewelled coffin, but appearing to him in a dream, the holy youths said, that their bodies were to be left in the cave upon the ground. In the twelfth century the Russian pilgrim the hegumen Daniel saw in the cave these holy remains of the seven youths.</p><p>A second commemoration of the seven youths is celebrated on October 22<sup>nd</sup>. (By one tradition, which entered into the Russian Prologue [of the Saints\u2019 Lives], the youths a second time fell asleep on this day; according to the notes of the Greek Menaion of 1870, they fell asleep first on 4 August, and woke up on 22 October. The holy youths are mentioned also in the service of the Church New Year\u20141 September). </p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "In their sufferings, O Lord, * Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee, our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. Through their supplications save Thou our souls.", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "TROPARION/2": {"text": "Great is the wonder of faith! The seven holy youths abode in the cave as in a royal chamber, and died without falling into corruption; and after much time they arose as from sleep, as an assurance of the resurrection of all men. Through their supplications, O Christ God, have mercy on us.", "Type": "2", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "Spurning the corrupt things of this world and accepting gifts of incorruption, * though they died yet did they remain untouched by corruption. * Wherefore, they arose after many years, * burying all the unbelief of the wicked. ** O ye faithful, praising them today in laudation, let us hymn Christ!", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4380": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Eusignios of Antioch (\u2020 362)", "short": "Martyr Eusignios"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Martyr Eusignios was born at Antioch in the mid III Century. Over the course of sixty years he served in the Roman armies of the emperors Diocletian, Maximian Hercules, Constantius Chlorus, Constantine the Great and his sons. Saint Eusignios was a companion of Saint Basiliskos (Comm. 3 March and 22 May), and he provided an account of his deed of martyrdom (\u2020 c. 308). At the beginning of the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, Saint Eusignios was a witness to the appearance in the sky of the starry Cross, a prediction of victory. Saint Eusignios retired in his old age from military service and returned to his own country. There he spent his time in prayer, fasting, and attending the temple of God. And thus he lived until the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363), who yearned for a return to paganism. Through the denunciation of one of the Antioch citizens, Saint Eusignios stood trial as a Christian before the emperor Julian in the year 362. He fearlessly accused the emperor of apostacy from Christ, and reproached him with the example of his relative, Constantine the Great, and he described in detail how he himself had been an eyewitness to the appearance in the sky of the sign of the Cross. Julian did not spare the quite old Saint Eusignios, then 110 years old, but rather ordered him beheaded.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>Let us go forth to meet the transfiguration of Christ, * splendidly celebrating the forefeast thereof, O ye faithful; * and let us cry aloud: * The day of divine gladness hath arrived! ** The Master ascendeth Mount Tabor to shine forth the beauty of His divinity!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}}}}, "4382": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Pontius the Roman at Cimella in France (\u2020 c 257)", "short": "Martyrs Pontius"}}, "4383": {"name": {"nominative": "Righteous Nonna, mother of St Gregory the Theologion", "short": "Righteous Nonna"}}, "4386": {"name": {"nominative": "The Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ", "short": "Transfiguration"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>Discourse of Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonika For an explanation of the present feastday and discernment of its truth, it is necessary for us to turn to the very start of the present-day reading from the Gospel: \u201cAnd after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James and John his brother, and leadeth them up onto an high mountain apart\u201d (Mt. 17: 1). First of all we mustneeds ask, from whence doth the Evangelist Matthew begin to reckon with six days? From what sort of day be it? What does the preceding turn of speech indicate, wherein the Saviour, in teaching His disciples, didst say to them: \u201cfor the Son of Man shalt come to be in the glory of His Father,\u201d and added further: \u201camen I tell ye, there indeed be some standing here, which shalt not taste of death, until they see the Son of Man come into His Kingdom\u201d (Mt. 16: 27-28);\u2014that is to say, it is the Light of His forthcoming Transfiguration which He terms as the Glory of His Father and as His Kingdom. [trans. note: the Synoptic Gospel Mt. 16: 27-28 parallel in the Gospel of Mark is Mk. 9: 1, familiar as the concluding verse in Gospel readings for feastdays of the Holy Cross; the Synoptic parallel in Luke is Lk. 9: 26-27]. The Evangelist Luke points this out and more clearly reveals this, saying: \u201cAnd it came to pass however after these words, about eight days thereafter, He taketh Peter and John and James, and ascendeth onto a mountain to pray. And it came to pass, that as He did pray, His Countenance was altered, and His garb gleamed whitely resplendid\u201d (Lk. 9: 28-29). But how can the two be reconciled, when one of them speaks definitively about the interval of time as being eight days between the sayings and the manifestation, whereas the other (says): \u201cafter six days?\u201d Listen and think it out. </p><p>On the Mount there were eight, but only six were visible: the three\u2014Peter, James and John, had come up together with Jesus, and they beheld Moses and Elias (Elijah) standing there and conversing with Him, such that in number altogether they comprised six; but together with the Lord, certainly, were both the Father and the Holy Spirit: the Father\u2014with His Voice testifying that This be His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit\u2014shining forth with Him in the radiant cloud. In such manner, these six consist actually of eight and as regards the eight it presents no sort of contradiction; in similar manner there is no contradiction with the Evangelists, when one says: \u201cafter six days,\u201d and the other: \u201cand it came to pass after these words eight days thereafter.\u201d But these twofold sayings as it were present us a certain format set in mystery, and together with it that of those actually present upon the Mount. It stands to reason, and everyone rationally studying in concordance with Scripture knows, that the Evangelists are in agreement one with another: Luke spoke about the eight days without contradicting Matthew, who declared \u201cafter six days.\u201d There is not another day added on representing the day on which these sayings were uttered, nor likewise was there added on the day upon which the Lord was transfigured (which the rational person might reasonably imagine to tack on to the days of Matthew). The Evangelist Luke does not say \u201cafter eight days\u201d (like the Evangelist Matthew in saying \u201cafter six days\u201d), but rather \u201cit came to pass eight days thereafter.\u201d But in what the Evangelists seem to contradict, they actually one and the other point out to us something great and mysteried. In actual fact, why did the one say \u201cafter six days,\u201d but the other in ignoring the seventh day have in mind the eighth day? It is because the great vision of the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord is a mystery of the Eighth Day, <i>i.e.</i> of a future age, coming about to be revealed after the passing-away of the world created over the course of the six days. About the power of the Divine Spirit, through the dignity of Which is to be revealed the Kingdom of God, the Lord forespake: \u201c\u201dThere indeed be some standing here, which shalt not taste of death, until they see the Kingdom of God come in power\u201d (Mk. 9: 1). Everywhere and in every way the King wilt be present, and everywhere wilt be His Kingdom, since the advent of His Kingdom does not signify the passing over from one place to another, but rather the revelation of its power of the Divine Spirit, wherein is said: \u201ccome in power.\u201d And this power is not manifest to simply ordinary people, but to those standing with the Lord, that is to say, those affirmed in their faith in Him and like to Peter, James and John, and those foremost of all free of our natural abasement. Therefore, and precisely because of this, God manifests Himself upon the Mount, on the one hand coming down from His heights, and on the other\u2014raising us up from the depths of abasement, since that the Transcendent One takes on mortal nature. And certainly, such a manifest appearance by far transcends the utmost limits of the mind\u2019s grasp, as effectualised by the power of the Divine Spirit.</p><p>And thus, the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord is not something that is born and vanishes nor is it subject to the faculties of sensation, although it was contemplated by corporeal eyes over the course of a short while and upon an inconsequential mountaintop. But the mystery-initiates (the disciples) of the Lord at this time passed beyond mere flesh into spirit by means of a transformation of their sense-faculties, effectualised within them by Spirit, and in such manner they beheld what, and to which extent the Divine spirit had wrought blessedness in them to behold\u2014the Ineffable Light. Those not grasping this point have conjectured, that the chosen from among the Apostles beheld the Light of the Transfiguration of the Lord by a sensual and creaturely power (faculty),\u2014and through this they attempt to reduce to a creaturely-level [<i>i.e.</i> as something \u201ccreated\u201d] not only this Light, the Kingdom and the Glory of God, but also the Power of the Divine Spirit, through which it be mete for Divine mysteries to be revealed. In all likelihood, suchlike persons have not attended to the words of the Apostle Paul: \u201cof which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor ascended in the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for those that love Him. To us however God hath revealed through His Spirit: for all things be scrutinised of Spirit, even at the very depths of God\u201d (1 Cor. 2: 9-10). </p><p>And thus, with the onset of the Eighth Day, the Lord, taking Peter, James and John, went up on the Mount to pray: He always either prayed alone, withdrawing from everyone, even from the Apostles themselves, as for example when with five loaves and two fish He fed the five thousand men, besides women and children (Mt. 14: 19-23). Or, taking with Him the several that excelled others, as at the approach of His Saving Passion, when He said to the other disciples: \u201cSit ye here whilst I go and pray thither\u201d (Mt. 26: 36),\u2014He then took with Him Peter, James and John. But in our instance right here and now, having taken only these same three, the Lord led them up onto an high mountain apart and wast transfigured before them, that is to say, before their very eyes. </p><p>\u201dWhat does it mean to say: He was transfigured?\u201d\u2014asks the Gold-Worded Theologian (Chrysostomos), and he answers this by saying: \u201cit revealed, that is, something of His Divinity to them\u2014as much and insofar as they were able to apprehend it, and it showed the indwelling of God within Him.\u201d The Evangelist Luke says: \u201cAnd it came to pass, that as He prayed, the appearance of His Face was altered\u201d (Lk. 9: 29); and from the Evangelist Matthew we read: \u201cAnd His Face did shine, like the sun\u201d (Mt. 17: 2). But the Evangelist said this, not in the context that this Light be thought of as subsistent for the senses (let us put aside the blindness of mind of those, who can conceive of nothing higher than that, known through the senses). Rather, it is to show that Christ God\u2014for those living and contemplating by spirit\u2014is the same as how the sun is for those living in the flesh and contemplating by the senses: therefore some other Light for the knowing of Divinity be not necessary for those who be enriched by Divine gifts. That selfsame Inscrutable Light did shine and mysteriously become manifest to the Apostles and foremost of the Prophets at that moment, when (the Lord) was praying. This shows, that what begat this blessed sight was prayer, and that the radiance happened and was manifest by an uniting of the mind with God, and that it be granted to all who, amidst constant exercise in efforts of virtue and prayer, strive with their mind towards God. True beauty essentially can be contemplated only with a purified mind; diligently to gaze upon its luminance assumes a sort of participation with it, as though some bright ray doth etch itself upon the face. Whereof even the face of Moses was illumined by his association with God. Do you not know, that Moses was transfigured, when he went up the mountain, and there beheld the Glory of God? But he (Moses) did not effect this, but rather he underwent a transfiguration; however, our Lord Jesus Christ of Himself possessed that Light. In this regard, actually, He did not have need for prayer for His flesh to radiate with the Divine Light; it is but to show, from whence that Light doth descend upon the Saints of God, and how to contemplate it\u2014since it be written, that even the Saints \u201cwill shine forth, like the sun\u201d (Mt. 13: 43), which is to say, entirely permeated by Divine Light as they gaze upon Christ, Divinely and inexpressibly shining forth of His Radiance, issuing forth of His Divine Nature, and on Mount Tabor manifest also in His Flesh, by reason of the Hypostatic Union [<i>i.e.</i> the union of the two perfect natures, Divine and Human, within the Divine Person (Hypostasis) of Christ, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. The Fourth \u0152cumenical Council at Chalcedon defined this Hypostatic union of Christ\u2019s two natures, Divine and Human, as \u201cwithout mingling, without change, without division, without separation\u201d (\u201casugkhutos, atreptos, adiairetos, akhoristos\u201d)].</p><p>We believe, that He manifest within the Transfiguration not some other manner of light, but only that which was concealed beneath his exterior of flesh. This Light was the Light of the Divine Nature, and as such it was Uncreated and Divine. So also, in the teachings of the theologian-fathers, Jesus Christ was transfigured on the Mount, not taking upon Himself something new nor being changed into something new, nor something which formerly He did not possess. Rather, it was to show His disciples that which He already was, opening their eyes and rendering them from blindness into sight. For do ye not see, that eyes with sight in accord with natural things, would be blind as regards this Light?</p><p>And thus, this Light is not a light of the senses, and those contemplating it do not simply see with sensual eyes, but rather they are changed by the power of the Divine Spirit. They were transformed and only in such manner did they see the transformation, transpiring amidst the very assumption of our perishability, with in place of this the deification through union with the Word of God. And thus also She that miraculously conceived and gave birth did recognise, that He born of Her is the Incarnated God. Thus too it was for Simeon, who but only received hold of this Infant into his arms, and the Aged Anna, coming out [from the Jerusalem Temple] for the Meeting\u2014since it was that the Divine Power did illumine, as through a glass windowpane, giving light for all those having pure eyes of heart. </p><p>And why indeed did the Lord, before the beginning of the Transfiguration, choose the foremost of the Apostles and lead them up onto the Mount with Him? Certainly, it was to show them something great and mysteried. What in particular great or mysteried would there be in showing a sensory light, which not merely the chosen-foremost but all the other Apostles already abundantly possessed? Why would they need a transforming of their eyes by the power of the Holy Spirit for a contemplation of this Light, if it [the Light] were merely sensory and created? How could the Glory and the Kingdom of the Father and the Holy Spirit project forth in some sort of sensory light? Indeed, in what sort of like Glory and Kingdom would Christ the Lord come at the end of the ages, when there wouldst not be necessary anything in the air, nor in expanse, nor anything similar, but when, in the words of the Apostle, \u201cso that God will be all in all\u201d (1 Cor. 15: 28), that is to say, will He alter everything for all? If indeed so, then it follows therefore to include\u2014light. And hence it is clear, that the Light of Tabor was a Divine Light. And the Evangelist John, inspired by Divine Revelation, says clearly, that the future eternal and enduring city will not \u201crequire sun or moon to provide it light: for the Glory of God wilt light it, and its luminary will be\u2014the Lamb\u201d (Apoc. [Rev.] 21: 23). Is it not clear, that he points out here that This [Lamb] is Jesus,\u2014Who now upon Tabor is Divinely transfigured, and the flesh of Whom doth shine,\u2014is the luminary manifesting the Glory of Godhood for those ascending the mountain with Him? The Theologian John says likewise about the inhabitants of this city: \u201cthey will require light neither from lamps, nor from the light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light, and there wilt not be night henceforth\u201d (Apoc.[Rev.] 22: 5). But how, we might ask, is there this other light, of which \u201cit be without change and without threat of darkness\u201d (James 1: 17)? What light is there that is constant and unsetting, unless it be the Light of God? Moreover, could Moses and Elias (and particularly the former, who clearly was present only in spirit, and not in flesh [Elias having ascended bodily to Heaven on the fiery chariot]) be shining amidst any sort of sensory light, and be seen and known? Especially since it was written about them: \u201cthey appeared in Glory, and they spoke about His demise, which would come about at Jerusalem\u201d Lk. 9: 30-31). And how otherwise could the Apostles recognise those whom they had never seen before, unless through the mysteried power of the Divine Light, opening their mental eyes?</p><p>But let us not fatigue out our attention with the furthermost interpretations of the words of the Gospel. We shall believe thus, as those same ones have taught us, who themselves were enlightened by the Lord Himself, insofar as they alone know this well: the mysteries of God, in the words of a prophet, are known to God alone and His perpetual proximity. Let us, considering the mystery of the Transfiguration of the Lord in accord with their teaching, ourselves strive to be illumined by this Light and encourage in ourselves love and striving towards the Unfading Glory and Beauty, purifying the spiritual eyes of worldly thoughts and refraining from perishable and quickly-passing delights and beauty, which darken the garb of the soul and lead to the fire of Gehenna and everlasting darkness, of which let us be freed by the illumination and knowledge of the Incorporeal and Perpetually-Extant Light of our Saviour transfigured on Tabor, in His Glory, and of His Father from all-eternity, and Life-Creating Spirit, of Whom be One Radiance, One Godhead, and Glory, and Kingdom, and Power now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.</p><p>[Trans. Note Concerning the word \u201cTransfiguration\u201d: In the opinion of this translator, the Slavonic word for Transfiguration, \u201cPreobrazhenie,\u201d is theologically more accurate and profound a term than the original Greek word \u201cMetamorphosis\u201d (or Latin \u201cTransfiguratio\u201d), which in English useage has assumed a religiously neutral and scientific connotation; culturally even the lurid short story \u201cMetamorphosis\u201d of F. Kafka stifflingly depicts God-bereft worldly efforts at metamorphosis, <i>i.e.</i> a negative metamorphosis. Our English word derives obviously from the Latin. A further theological irony is a point strongly made above in the tract by Saint Gregory Palamas: it is not the Lord that was metamorphosised into something other or new, but rather the Apostles. Words in Latin and Greek tend to shift in their appropriated meaning over the course of millennia, and probably here too. The Slavonic term \u201cPre-Obrazhenie\u201d would linguistically seem to suggest rendering as the \u201cPrimordial-Eternal-Image\u201d of Christ as expressed in His Prayer to the Father: \u201cAnd now, Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine Own Self with the Glory which I had with Thee before the world ever existed\u201d (Jn. 17: 5). Thus at the Transfiguration the Lord was manifest in the fulness of His Divine Glory, which He had together with the Father in eternity, before the very creation of the world, (sic) His Eternal Image and Glory.</p><p>Saint Gregory Palamas in his tract repetitively, again and again, returns to the point of stressing the uncreatedness of the Transfiguration\u2019s Divine Light, to the exclusion of much else. Why? It seems likely to be from his well-honed defense of the Hesychiast Fathers against the theology of the Calabrian Scholastic monk Barlaam, for whom the Light of Tabor would seem to have been a \u201ccreated energy\u201d rather than of the Divine Essence of God].</p>"}, "rank": 8, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God, * Who didst show Thy glory unto Thy disciples as far as they could bear it, * May Thine ever-existing light shine forth also upon us sinners * through the prayers of the Theotokos. ** O Bestower of light, glory be to Thee!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "7"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>On the mountain wast Thou transfigured, * and Thy disciples beheld Thy glory as far as they could bear it, O Christ God; * that when they would see Thee crucified, * they would comprehend that Thy suffering was voluntary, ** and proclaim to the world that Thou art of a truth the Effulgence of the Father.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "7"}}}}, "4387": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Dometios of Persia and his two Disciples (\u2020 363)", "short": "Martyr Dometios"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monk Dometios lived during the IV Century, and he was by birth a Persian. In his youthful years he was converted to the faith by a Christian named Uaros. Forsaking Persia, he withdrew to the frontier-city of Niziba (in Mesopotamia), where he accepted Baptism in one of the monasteries and was tonsured into monasticism. But then fleeing the ill-will of the monastery inhabitants, the Monk Dometios moved on to the monastery of Saints Sergios and Bacchus in the city of Theodosiopolis. The monastery was under the guidance of an archimandrite named Nurbelos\u2014a strict ascetic, about whom it was reported, that over the course of 60 years he did not taste of cooked food, nor did he lay down for sleep, but rather took his rest standing up, supporting himself upon his staff. In this monastery the Monk Dometios was ordained to the dignity of deacon, but when the archimandrite decided to have him made a presbyter, the saint in reckoning himself unworthy hid himself away on a desolate mountain in Syria, in the region of Cyr. Reports about him constantly spread about among the surrounding inhabitants. They began to come to him for healing and for help. Many a pagan was brought to the faith in Christ by Dometios. And one time, in the locality where Saint Dometios asceticised with his disciples, the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363) arrived, journeying along on his campaign against the Persians. By order of the emperor, soldiers searched out Saint Dometios praying with his disciples in a cave, and stoned them to death (\u2020 363).</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>Having struggled in fasting upon the mountain, * thou didst destroy the n\u0153tic hordes of the enemy * with the weaponry of the Cross, O most blessed one. * And thou didst likewise manfully array thyself for battle, * slaying Copronymus with the sword of faith. ** And for both thou hast been crowned by God, ** O ever-memorable venerable martyr Dometius.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Having utterly spurned corruptible things and thoughts * which draw one down to the depths, O venerable martyr Dometius, * thou didst show thyself to be a great leader of monks, * turning to fear the wrath of the king who did not wish to worship Christ as the true God. * Wherefore, thou didst repose, chanting the hymn; ** God is with me, and no one is against me!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "6"}}}}, "4390": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Arsenius the Lover-of-Labor(14<sup>th</sup> C) and Pimen the Ascetic (12th C) of the Kiev Far Caves", "short": "Venerable Arsenius"}}, "4393": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Orus, hermit of Thibaida", "short": "Venerable Orus"}}, "4397": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Emilian the Confessor, Bishop of Cyzicus (\u2020 c. 815-820)", "short": "Saint Emilian"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p> Saint Emelian, Bishop of Kyzika, lived during the reign of the Iconoclast emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820). He was summoned together with other bishops to the court of the emperor, who insistently urged the bishops to refrain from the veneration of holy icons. Saint Emelian was the first firmly to answer the emperor, that the question about the veneration of holy icons ought to be discussed and decided only within the Church by spiritual personages, and not at the imperial court. In the year 815 he was sent to prison for the Orthodox faith, where he died as a confessor.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"KONTAKION/1": {"text": "Chanting, the Church, for which thou didst suffer, O Emilian, doth glorify thee who didst show thyself to be a mighty champion of the Trinity. Wherefore, we honor thy memory. Deliver thy servants from the invasion of the heathen.", "Type": "1", "Tone": "3"}}}}, "4398": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Gregory, the Iconographer of the Kiev Caves (12th C)", "short": "Venerable Gregory"}}, "4400": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Myron the Wonderworker, Bishop of Crete (\u2020 c. 350)", "short": "Saint Myron"}}, "4401": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Eleutherius and Leonidus", "short": "Martyrs Eleutherius"}}, "4402": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Gregory of Mt Sinai", "short": "Venerable Gregory"}}, "4404": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God \u201cTolgskaya\u201d", "short": "Icon of"}}, "4409": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Psoe of Egypt (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Psoe"}}, "4410": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Anthony, Julian, John, James, Alexis, Demetreus, Photius, Peter, Leontius, and Mary", "short": "Martyrs Anthony"}}, "4414": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Lawrence of Rome along with the Hieromartyr Sixtus, Pope of Rome and the Martyred Deacons Felicissimus, Agapitus, and Romanus (\u2020 258)", "short": "Holy Martyr"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Martyrs ArchDeacon Lawrence, Pope Sixtus, Deacons Felicissimus and Agapitus, the Soldier Romanus,\u2014Romans, suffered in the year 258 under the emperor Valerian. Holy Pope Sixtus, born at Athens, received a fine education, preached in Spain and was made bishop in Rome following the martyr\u2019s death of Holy Pope Stephen (253257, Comm. 2 August). these were times when a pope occupying the Roman throne, was known to choose death for the faith. In a short while Saint Sixtus also was arrested and put in prison together with his deacons Felicissimus and Agapitus. When the holy archdeacon Lawrence visited Pope Sixtus, whom they held in prison, he cried out with tears: \u201cWhither art thou gone, father? Why hast thou forsaken thine archdeacon, with whom always thou hast offered the Bloodless Sacrifice? Take thy son with thee, that I may be thy companion in having blood shed for Christ!\u201d Saint Sixtus answered him: \u201cI have not forsaken thee, my son. I am old and go to an easy death, but yet greater sufferings await thee. Know, that after three days upon our death thou shalt follow after me. And now go, take the church treasury and distribute it to the poor and needy Christians.\u201d Saint Lawrence zealously did the bidding of the sainted-hierarch.</p><p>Having heard, that Pope Sixtus had been taken to trial with the deacons, Saint Lawrence went there so as to witness their deed, and he said to the sainted-bishop: \u201cFather, I have already fulfilled thy command, and distributed by hand thine treasury; forsake me not!\u201d Hearing something about treasure, soldiers put him under guard, and the other martyrs were beheaded (\u2020 6 August 258). The emperor locked up Saint Lawrence in prison and ordered the chief jailer Hyppolitus to keep watch over him. In prison Saint Lawrence with prayer healed the sick gathered together with him and he baptised many. Astonished by this, Hyppolitus himself believed and accepted Baptism from Saint Lawrence together with all his household. Soon the archdeacon Lawrence was again brought to the emperor and commanded to produce the hidden treasure. Saint Lawrence answered: \u201cGive me a period of three days, and I shalt show thee this treasure.\u201d During this time the saint gathered up a crowd of the poor and the sick, who ate only because of the charity of the Church, and bringing them he explained: \u201cHere are the vessels in which is contained the treasure. And everyone, who puts their treasure in these vessels, will receive them in abundance in the Heavenly Kingdom.\u201d </p><p>After this they gave Saint Lawrence over to fierce tortures, urging him to worship idols. The martyr was scourged (with a fine iron flail with sharp needles), they burned his wounds with fire, and struck at him with metal switches. At the time of the martyr\u2019s suffering, the soldier Romanus suddenly cried out: \u201cSaint Lawrence, I behold a bright youth, who standeth about thee healing thy wounds. Beseech thy Lord Christ not to forsake me!\u201d After this they stretched Saint Lawrence on a rack and returned him to prison to Hyppolitus. Romanus brought there a waterpot with water and besought the martyr to baptise him. And immediately after the Baptism of the soldier, he was beheaded (\u2020 9 August). When they took Saint Lawrence to his final torture, Saint Hyppolitus wanted to declare himself a Christian and die together with him, but the confessor said: \u201cConceal for now thy confession in thy heart. After some length of time I shall summon thee, and thou shalt hear and come unto me. Weep not for me, but rather rejoice, for I go to receive a glorious crown of martyrdom.\u201d They placed him in an iron cage, under which they set an intense fire, and the flames of the bon-fire flicked towards the body of the martyr. Saint Lawrence, glancing at the governor, said: \u201cHere now, ye do burn only but one side of my body, turn over the other and do my whole body.\u201d Dying, he uttered: \u201cI thank Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, that Thou hast accounted me worthy to enter into Thy gates,\u201d\u2014and with these words he gave up the spirit.</p><p>Saint Hyppolitus took the body of the martyr by night, he wrapped it in a shroud with ointments and gave it over to the priest Justin. Over the relics of the martyr in the home of the widow Kyriakia they made an all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy. All the Christians present partook of the Holy Mysteries and with honour they buried the body of the holy martyr Archdeacon Lawrence in a cave on 10 August 258. Saint Hyppolitus and other Christians suffered three days after the death of Saint Lawrence (13 August), as he had foretold them of this.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In his suffering, O Lord, * Thy martyr Laurence received an imperishable crown from Thee our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * he set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By his supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Kindling thy heart with divine fire, * thou didst utterly reduce the fire of the passions to ashes, * O God-bearing martyr Laurence, * thou confirmation of athletes; * and in the midst of thy sufferings thou didst cry out with faith: ** Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ!</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}}}}, "4417": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Martyr Archdeacon Euplus of Catania (\u2020 304)", "short": "Holy Martyr"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Martyr Archdeacon Euplus suffered in the year 304 under the emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (284-305). He served in the Sicilian city of Catania. Always carrying the Gospel with him, Saint Euplus preached constantly to the pagans about Christ. One time, while he read and explained the Gospel to the gathered crowd, they arrested him and took him to the governor of the city, Calvisianus. Saint Euplus confessed himself a Christian and denounced the impiety of idol-worship. For this they sentenced him to torture. They threw the injured saint into prison, where he dwelt at prayer for 7 days. The Lord issued forth a spring of water into the prison to the martyr for the quenching of his thirst. Brought to trial a second time, strengthened and rejoicing, he again confessed his faith in Christ and denounced the torturer for spilling the blood of innocent Christians. The judge commanded to tear off the ears and chop off the head of the saint. When they led the saint to execution, they hung the Gospel on his neck. Having implored time for prayer, the archdeacon began again to read and explain the Gospel to the people. Many of the pagans believed in Christ. The soldiers took hold of the archdeacon and beheaded him with a sword.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In his suffering, O Lord, * Thy martyr Euplus received an imperishable crown from Thee, our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * he set at nought his tormenters, and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** Through his supplications, save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Holding the laws of Christ in thy hand, * thou didst stand before the enemy in the arena, crying out: * \"I have called myself to suffer steadfastly!\" * Wherefore, joyfully bowing thy neck, ** thou didst undergo beheading by the sword, finishing thy course.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}}}}, "4420": {"name": {"nominative": "Virginmartyr Susanna and those with her: Gaius the Pope of Rome, Gavinius the Presbyter, his brother and the father of Susanna, Maximus, Claudius, and his wife Prepedigna, and their sons Alexander and Cythius (\u2020 295-296)", "short": "Virginmartyr Susanna"}}, "4425": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Photios and Anicletas of Nicomedia and many with them (\u2020 305-306)", "short": "Martyrs Photios"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Martyrs Anicetas and Photios (his nephew) were natives of Nicomedia. Anicetas, a military official, denounced the emperor Diocletian (284-305) for having set up in the city square an implement of execution for frightening Christians. The enraged emperor ordered Saint Anicetas to be tortured, and later condemned him to be devoured by wild beasts. But the lions they set loose became gentle and fondled up to him. Suddenly there began a strong earthquake, resulting in the collapse of the pagan temple of Hercules, and many pagans perished beneath the crumbled city walls. The executioner took up a sword to cut off the saint\u2019s head, but he himself fell down insensible. They tried to break Saint Anicetas on the wheel and burn him with fire, but the wheel stopped and the fire went out. They threw the martyr into a furnace with boiling tin, but the tin got cold. Thus the Lord preserved His servant for the edification of many. The martyr\u2019s nephew, Saint Photios, saluted the sufferer and turn to the emperor, remarking: \u201cO idol-worshipper, thine gods\u2014be nothing!\u201d The sword, held over the new confessor, instead struck the executioner himself. Then the martyrs were thrown into prison. After three days Diocletian began to urge them: \u201cWorship our gods, and I shalt give ye glory and riches.\u201d The martyrs answered: \u201cPerish thou with thine honour and riches!\u201d Then they tied them by the legs to wild horses, but the saints, dragged along the ground, remained unharmed. They did not suffer either in the heated up bath-house, which tumbled apart. Finally Diocletian ordered a great furnace to be fired up, and many Christians, inspired by the deeds of Saints Anicetas and Photios, went in themselves with the words: \u201cWe are Christians!\u201d They all died with prayer on their lips. The bodies of Saints Anicetas and Photios were not harmed by the fire, and even their hair remained whole. seeing this, many of the pagans came to believe in Christ. This event happened in the year 305.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In their sufferings, O Lord, * Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * they set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By their supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}}}}, "4426": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Comana (3<sup>rd</sup> C)", "short": "Hieromartyr Alexander"}}, "4427": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Pamphilius and Captonus", "short": "Martyrs Pamphilius"}}, "4432": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Hyppolytus, Concordius, Iren\u00e6us, and Abundius of Rome (\u2020 258)", "short": "Martyrs Hyppolytus"}}, "4433": {"name": {"nominative": "Icons of the Mother of God: \u201cSeven Arrows\u201d and \u201cStrastnaya\u201d", "short": "Icons of"}}, "4437": {"name": {"nominative": "Prophet Micah (8<sup>th</sup> C BC)", "short": "Prophet Micah"}, "rank": 1}, "4440": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Marcellus, Bishop of Apameia (\u2020 c. 389)", "short": "Hieromartyr Marcellus"}}, "4444": {"name": {"nominative": "The Dormition (Repose) of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary", "short": "The Dormition"}, "rank": 7}, "4447": {"name": {"nominative": "Translation of the Holy Icon of Christ \u201cNot-Made-By-Hands\u201d from Edessa to Constantinople (944)", "short": "Holy Napkin"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of the Not-Made-by-Hand Image of our Lord Jesus Christ occurred in the year 944. Tradition relates, that during the time of the preaching of the Saviour, Abgar rules in Edessa. He was stricken all over his body with leprosy. Reports about the great miracles, worked by the Lord, spread throughout Syria (Mt. 4: 24)and reached even Abgar. Without having seen the Saviour, Abgar believed in Him as the Son of God and wrote a letter with a request to come and heal him. He sent with this letter to Palestine his own portrait-painter Ananias, having commissioned him to make a depiction of the Divine Teacher. Ananias arrived in Jerusalem and caught glimpse of the Lord, surrounded by people. He was not able to get close to Him because of the large throng of people, listening to the preaching of the Saviour. Then he stood on an high-up rock and attempted from afar to render the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, but this for him turned out in no wise successful. The Saviour Himself caught sight of him, called to him by name and gave over to him for Abgar a short letter in which, having praised the faith of this ruler, He promised to send His disciple for both healing from leprosy and guidance for salvation. Then the Lord asked that there be brought Him water and a cloth (linen, or washcloth). He washed His Face, drying it with the cloth, and upon it was imprinted His Divine Countenance. Ananias took the cloth and the letter of the Saviour to Edessa. With reverence Abgar took the holy thing and he received healing; only a small part of traces of the terrible affliction remained upon his face until the arrival of the disciple promised by the Lord. He was the Disciple from the Seventy Saint Thaddeus (Comm. 21 August), who preached the Gospel and baptised the believer Abgar and all the people of Edessa. Having inscribed upon the Image Not-Made-by-Hand the words \u201cOChrist God, let no one hoping on Thee be ashamed thereof,\u201d Abgar adorned it and placed it in a niche over the city gates. </p><p>For many years the inhabitants kept a pious custom to bow down before the Image Not-Made-by-Hand, when they went forth from the gates. But one of the great-grandsons of Abgar, later ruling Edessa, fell into idolatry. He decided to take down the Image from the city wall. In a vision the Lord ordered the Edessa bishop to hide His image. The bishop, coming by night with his clergy, lit a lampada before it and walled it over with a pottery-board and bricks. Many years passed, and the people forgot about it. But in the year 545, when the Persian emperor Chosr\u0153s I besieged Edessa and the position of the city seemed hopeless, the Most Holy Mother of God appeared to Eulabios and ordered him to secure the Image from the walled-in niche, and it would save the city from the enemy. Having opened the niche, the bishop found the Not-Made-by-Hand Image: in front of it was burning the lampada, and upon the pottery-board, closing in the niche, was the imaged likeness. After the making of church procession with the Image Not-Made-by-Hand along the city walls, the Persian army withdrew. </p><p>In the year 630 Arabs seized hold of Edessa, but they did not hinder the reverencing of the Image Not-Made-by-Hand, the fame of which had spread throughout all the East. In the year 944 the emperor Constantine Porphyrigenitos (912-959) wanted to transfer the Image to the then capital of Orthodoxy and he paid a ransom for it to the emir-ruler of the city. With great reverence the Not-Made-by-Hand Image of the Saviour and that letter, which He had written to Abgar, were transported by clergy to Constantinople. On 16 August the Image of the Saviour was placed in the Tharossa church of the Most Holy Mother of God. About what happened later with the Not-Made-by-Hand Image there exist several traditions. According to one,\u2014crusaders ran off with it during the time of their rule at Constantinople (1204-1261), but the ship, on which the sacred thing was taken, perished in the waters of the Sea of Marmora. According to another tradition, the Image Not-Made-by-Hand was transported around 1362 to Genoa, where it is preserved in a monastery in honour of the Apostle Bartholomew. It is known, that the Image Not-Made-by-Hand repeatedly gave from itself exact imprints. One of these, named \u201cOn Ceramic,\u201d was imprinted when Ananias hid the image in a wall on his way to Edessa; another, imprinted on a cloak, wound up in Gruzia (Georgia). Possibly, the variance of traditions about the original Image Not-Made-by-Hand derives from the existence of several exact imprints. </p><p>During the time of the Iconoclast heresy the defenders of Icon-Veneration (Ikonodoules), having their blood spilt for holy icons, sang the tropar to the Not-Made-by-Hand Image. In proof of the veracity of Icon-Veneration, Pope Gregory II (715-731) dispatched a letter to the Eastern emperor, in which he pointed out the healing of king Abgar and the sojourn of the Not-Made-by-Hand Image at Edessa as a commonly known fact. The Image Not-Made-by-Hand was put on the standards of the Russian army, defending them from the enemy. In the Russian Orthodox Church it is a pious custom for a believer, before entering the temple, to read together with other prayers the tropar of the Not-Made-by-Hand Image of the Saviour. </p><p>According to the Prologue there are known 4 Not-Made-by-Hand Images of the Saviour: 1) at Edessa, of king Abgar\u201416 August; 2) the Kamulian,\u2014Saint Gregory of Nyssa (Comm. 10 January) wrote about its discovery, while according to the Monk Nikodemos of the Holy Mount (\u2020 1809, Comm. 1 July), the Kamulian image appeared in the year 392, but it had in appearance an image of the Mother of God\u20149 August; 3) in the time of emperor Tiberius (578-582), Saint Mary Syncletika (Comm. 11 August) received healing from this; 4) on ceramic tiles\u201416 August.</p><p>The feast in honour of the Transfer of the Image Not-Made-by-Hand, made together with the After-Feast of the Dormition, they call the third-above Saviour Image, the \u201cSaviour on Linen Cloth.\u201d The particular reverence of this feast in the Russian Orthodox Church is also expressed in iconography\u2014the icon of the Not-Made-by-Hand Image was one of the most widely distributed.</p>"}, "rank": 3, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>We bow down before Thine all-pure image, O Good One, * asking forgiveness of our transgressions, O Christ God; * for Thou wast well pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh of Thine own will, * that Thou mightest save what Thou hadst created from slavery to the enemy. * Wherefore, we cry out to Thee in thanksgiving: ** Thou hast filled all things with joy, O our Savior, Who hast come to gave the world.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>O uncircumscribable Word of the Father, * knowing the victorious imag, * uninscibed and divinely wrought, * of Thine ineffable and divine dispensation towards man, * of Thy true incarnations, ** we honor it with veneration.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}}}}, "4448": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Diomedes the Physician of Tarsus in Cilicia (\u2020 298)", "short": "Martyr Diomedes"}, "rank": 1}, "4449": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Cherimon of Egypt", "short": "Venerable Cherimon"}}, "4455": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Myron the Presbyter of Cyzicus (\u2020 250)", "short": "Martyr Myron"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Holy Martyr Myron was a presbyter in Ach\u00e6ia (Greece), and lived during the III Century. He suffered in the year 250 under the emperor Decius (249-251). The presbyter was gentle and kind to people, but he was also courageous in the defense of his spiritual children. One time, on the feast of the Nativity of Christ, he was celebrating Divine-services. The local governor Antipater came into the church with soldiers so as to arrest those praying there and to subject them to torture. Seeing this, Saint Myron began heatedly to plead for his flock, denouncing the governor for his cruelty. The saint was delivered over to torture,\u2014they took him and struck at his body with iron rods. They then threw the presbyter into a red-hot oven, but the Lord preserved the martyr\u2014at the very moment when about 150 men at a nearby pagan temple were scorched by the oven fire. The governor then began to demand the martyr to worship idols. Having received from Saint Myron a firm refusal, Antipater ordered the leather thongs to be cut from his skin. Saint Myron took one of the leather thongs and threw it in the face of his tormentor. Falling into a rage, Antipater gave orders to strike Saint Myron all over his stripped body, and then to deliver the martyr over to wild beasts for devouring. But the beasts would not touch him. Perceiving himself defeated, Antipater in his blind rage committed suicide. They then took Saint Myron to the city of Kizika, where he was beheaded by the sword (\u2020 250).</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Having loved Christ from childhood * and observed His divine commandments, O all-glorious one, * thou didst make haste to Him wholly, O most honorable Myron, * and dost pray earnestly with the angels. ** Entreat forgiveness of sins for all who honor thy memory.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4458": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius, Coronatus and their companions at C\u00e6sarea in Bithynia (\u2020 c. 249-251)", "short": "Martyrs Thyrsus"}}, "4459": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Patrocles of Troyes (\u2020 c. 270-275)", "short": "Martyr Patrocles"}}, "4460": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Straton, Philip, Eutychian and Cyprian, of Nicomedia (\u2020 c. 303)", "short": "Martyrs Straton"}}, "4467": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Hermes, Serapion, and Polienus of Rome (2<sup>nd</sup> c.)", "short": "Martyrs Hermes"}}, "4468": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Emilian the Bishop and with him Hilarion, Dionysius, and Hermippus (\u2020 c. 300)", "short": "Hieromartyr Emilian"}}, "4469": {"name": {"nominative": "Saints John (\u2020 674) and George (\u2020 683), Patriarchs of Constantinople", "short": "Saints John"}}, "4470": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyrs of Belgorod: Barlaam, Sergius, Elija, Vyacheslav, Ioasaph, John, Anthony, Micah, Vissarion, Matthew, Euthemius, Barnabus, Dimitry, Savva, Hermogenes, Arcadius, Euthemius, Marcellus, John, James, Peter, James, Alexander, Theodore, Peter, Sergius, and Alexey (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Martyrs"}}, "4479": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Timothy, Agapios and Thekla (\u2020 c. 304)", "short": "Martyrs Timothy"}}, "4481": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God \u201cof the Don\u201d", "short": "Icon of"}}, "4484": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Philip, Bishop of Heraclius and with him the Martyrs Sevirus, Memnon, and the 37 Martyrs burned at Thrace (\u2020 304)", "short": "Hieromartyr Philip"}}, "4488": {"name": {"nominative": "Apostle of the Seventy Thaddeus (\u2020 c. 44)", "short": "Apostle of"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Disciple from the Seventy, Thaddeus, was by descent an Hebrew, and he was born in the Syrian city of Edessa. (The holy Disciple from the Seventy Thaddeus mustneeds be distinguished from the Apostle from the Twelve, Jude, also called Thaddeus or Levi, Comm. 19 June). Having come to Jerusalem for a feastday, he heard the preaching of John the Forerunner and, having received from him baptism in Jordan, he remained in Palestine. In beholding the Saviour, he became His follower, and was chosen by the Lord amidst the number of the Seventy Disciples, which He sent by twos for preaching to the cities and locales, which He intended to visit (Lk. 10: 1). After the Ascension of the Saviour to Heaven, the Disciple Thaddeus preached the good-news in Syria and Mesopotamia. He came preaching the Gospel to Edessa and he converted to Christ king Abgar, the people and the pagan-priests. He backed up his preaching with many miracles (about which Abgar wrote to the Assyrian emperor Nerses); he established there priests and built up the Edessa Church. Prince Abgar wanted to reward the Disciple Thaddeus with rich gifts, but he refused and went preaching to other cities, converting many pagans to the Christian faith. Having arrived preaching in the city of Berit (Beirut), he founded there the Church, and it was in this city that he peacefully died in the year 44. (This place for his death is indicated in the Slavonic Meneion, but according to other sources he died in Edessa. According to an ancient Armenian tradition, the Disciple Thaddeus after various tortures was beheaded by the sword on 21 December in the Artaz region in the year 50).</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O holy apostle Thaddeus * entreat the merciful God ** that He grant to our souls remission of transgressions.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "3"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Church, ever enlightened by thy miracles, * hath acquired thee as an all-radiant star, O Apostle Thaddeus. ** Save those who with faith honor thy memory.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4489": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Bassa of Edessa and her sons: Theognios, Agapios and Pistos (\u2020 c. 305-311)", "short": "Martyr Bassa"}, "rank": 1}, "4493": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Agathonicus of Nicomedia and his companions: Zotikos, Theoprepios, Acyndinos, Severian, Zeno and others who suffered under Maximian (\u2020 c. 305-311)", "short": "Martyrs Agathonicus"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Martyrs Agathonikes, Zotikos, Theoprepios (in Slavonic: Bogolep), Akyndinos, Severian, Zinon and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305). The Martyr Agathonikes was descended from the illustrious lineage of the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia. Having become well versed in Holy Scripture, he converted many pagans to Christ, in which number was also the most eminent member of the Senate (its \u201cprinceps\u201d or leader). Comitus Evtolmius was sent to the Pontine (lower Black Sea) region, where he crucified the followers of the Christian Zotikos, all who had refused to offer sacrifice to idols, but Zotikos himself he took with him. In Nicomedia Evtolmius arrested the Martyr Agathonikes (together with the princeps), and also Theoprepios, Akyndinos and Severian. After tortures, Evtolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for trial by the emperor. But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, he put to death the Martyrs Zotikos, Theoprepios and Akyndinos - who were unable to proceed further behind the chariot of the governor because of wounds received during the time of torture. The Martyr Severian was put to death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonikes together with others was beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor, in Selymbria.</p><p>The relics of the Martyr Agathonikes within a church named for him was seen at Constantinople in the year 1200 by the Russian pilgrim Antonii. And in the XIV Century Philotheos, the archbishop of Selymbria, devoted a discourse of laudation to the Martyr Agathonikes.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>In their sufferings, O Lord, * Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee our God; * for, possessed of Thy might, * they set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons. ** By their supplications save Thou our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Having acquired a good name, O divinely wise one, * thou didst convert wicked men to the Faith, * not fearing tortures, O glorious Agathonicus. * Wherefore, thou hast become an heir to good things, ** and with those who suffered</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}}}}, "4494": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Anthusa and Hieromartyr Bishop Athanasius, who baptised her two servants: Charasim and Neophite", "short": "Venerable Anthusa"}}, "4496": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Eulapia the Virgin of Barcelona", "short": "Venerable Eulapia"}}, "4498": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God \u201cGeorgian\u201d", "short": "Icon of"}}, "4500": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Lupus, the slave of St Demetrius of Thessalonica (\u2020 c. 306)", "short": "Martyr Lupus"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Martyr Luppos lived at the end of the III Century - beginning II Century, and was a faithful servant of the holy Great Martyr Demetrios of Soluneia (Thessalonika, Comm. 26 October). Being present at the death of his master, he soaked his own clothing with his blood and took a ring from his hand. With this clothing, and likewise with the ring and the name of the Great Martyr Demetrios, Saint Luppos worked at Soluneia many miracles. He destroyed pagan idols, for which he was subjected to persecution by the pagans, but by the power of God he was preserved unharmed. Saint Luppos voluntarily delivered himself over into the hands of the torturers and by order of the emperor Maximian Galerius he was beheaded by the sword (\u2020 post 306).</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "", "Type": "1", "Tone": "1"}}}}, "4501": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Ireneaus, Bishop of Lyon (\u2020 202)", "short": "Hieromartyr Ireneaus"}}, "4502": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Eutychius (\u2020 c. 540) and Florentius (\u2020 547) of Nursia", "short": "Venerable Eutychius"}}, "4503": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Callinicus, Patriarch of Constantinople (\u2020 705)", "short": "Saint Callinicus"}}, "4505": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Eutychius, disciple of the Apostle John the Theologian (1<sup>st</sup> C)", "short": "Hieromartyr Eutychius"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Hieromartyr Eutykhios, a disciple of the holy Apostles John the Theologian and Paul, lived from the I Century into the beginning II Century, and was from the city of Palestinian Sebasteia. Although Saint Eutykhios is not reckoned among the number of the 70 Disciples, he received the title Disciple for his labours together with the older Apostles, by whom he was made bishop. Having heard the preaching about Christ the Saviour, Saint Eutykhios at first became a student of the Apostle John the Theologian, and then having met the Apostle Paul, he preached together with him on the early journeys. Saint Eutykhios underwent many sufferings: they starved him with hunger, struck at his body with iron, they flung him in the fire and then for devouring by wild beasts. One time there was let loose upon the saint a lion, which brought fright to everyone in that it rendered praise to the Creator\u2014having been given human voice. The Priestmartyr Eutykhios finished with his works in his native city, where he was beheaded with a sword at the beginning of the II Century.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>As thou didst share in the ways of the apostles * and didst occupy their throne, * thou didst find thine activity to be a passage to divine vision, * O divinely inspired one. * Wherefore, ordering the word of truth, * thou didst suffer for the Faith even to the shedding of thy blood. ** O hieromartyr Eutychius, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>As one who shared the throne of the apostles and the adornment of holy hierarchs, * O Eutyches, thou wast glorified in martyrdom, * didst shine forth like the sun, illumining all, * and didst dispel the profound night of ungodliness, ** Wherefore, we honor thee as a truly divine initiate of the mysteries of Christ.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "3"}}}}, "4509": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Tation of Claudiopolis (\u2020 305)", "short": "Martyr Tation"}}, "4510": {"name": {"nominative": "Virginmartyr Sira of Persia (\u2020 588)", "short": "Virginmartyr Sira"}}, "4511": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable George Limniotes the Confessor of Mt Olympus (3<sup>rd</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable George"}}, "4512": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God \u201cPetrovskaya\u201d", "short": "Icon of"}}, "4517": {"name": {"nominative": "Saints Barsis (\u2020 378) and Eulogios, Bishops of Edessa, and Saint Protogenos, Bishop of Carrhae, Confessors (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Saints Barsis"}}, "4530": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Kuksha and Pimen the Faster, of the Kiev Caves, near caves (\u2020 c. 1114)", "short": "Hieromartyr Kuksha"}}, "4531": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Hosia the Confessor, Bishop of Cordova (\u2020 359)", "short": "Saint Hosia"}}, "4532": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Liberius the Confessor and Pope of Rome (\u2020 366)", "short": "Saint Liberius"}}, "4533": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Pimen of Palestine (\u2020 c. 602)", "short": "Venerable Pimen"}}, "4539": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Susanna, Princess of Rana, Georgia (5<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Martyr Susanna"}}, "4546": {"name": {"nominative": "Saints Alexander (\u2020 340), John (\u2020 595), and Paul the New (\u2020 784), Patriarchs of Constantinople", "short": "Saints Alexander"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>Saints Alexander, John and Paul, Constantinople Patriarchs, lived at different times, but each of them happened to clash with the activities of heretics who sought to distort the teachings of the Church. Saint Alexander (325-340) was a \u201cchor-bishop\u201d (vicarbishop) during the period of the first patriarch of Constantinople, Saint Mitrophanes (315-325), and because of the patriarch\u2019s extreme age substituted for him at the First \u0152cumenical Council at Nic\u00e6a against the Arians (325). Upon his death, Saint Mitrophanes had instructed in his will to elect his vicar to the Constantinople throne. During these times His Holiness Patriarch Alexander had to contend with the Arians and with pagans. Once in a dispute with a pagan philosopher the saint said to him: \u201cIn the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ I command thee to be quiet!,\u201d and the pagan suddenly became voiceless. When he gestured with signs of acknowledgement of his errors and affirmation of the correctness of the Christian teaching, then his speech returned to him and he believed in Christ together with many other pagan-philosophers. </p><p>The heretic Arius was punished through the prayer of Saint Alexander. The heretic deceitfully agreed to enter into communion with the Orthodox, and the emperor Saint Constantine set a day for receiving Arius. All night long Saint Alexander prayed, imploring the Lord not to permit the heretic to be received into communion with the Church. In the morning, when Arius triumphantly went to the church, surrounded by imperial counselors and soldiers, he was stricken with illness on the Constantine Square,\u2014his belly exploded and the innards fell out. </p><p>His Holiness Patriarch Alexander, having toiled much, died in the year 340 at the age of 98. Saint Gregory the Theologian (or Nazianzen, Comm. 25 January) made mention about him afterwards in words of praise to the people of Constantinople. </p><p>Saint John the Faster (582-595) is in particular remembered by the Church on 2 September (the account about him is located under this heading).</p><p>Saint Paul, by birth a Cypriot, became Patriarch of Constantinople (780-784) during the reign of the Iconoclast-emperor Leo IV the Khazar (775-780), and was a virtuous and pious but timid man. Viewing the martyrdom, which the Orthodox endured for holy icons, the saint concealed his Orthodoxy and associated with the iconoclasts. After the death of the emperor Leo, he wanted to restore icon-veneration but was not able to accomplish since, since the iconoclasts were still quite powerful. The saint realised, that it was not in his powers to guide the flock, and so he left the patriarchal throne and went secretly to the monastery of Saint Florus, where he took the schema. He repented his silence and association with the iconoclasts and talked of the necessity for convening the Eighth \u0152cumenical Council to condemn the Iconoclast heresy. Upon his advice, there was chosen to the patriarchal throne Saint Tarasios (784-806), at that time a prominent imperial counselor. The saint died a schema-monk in the year 804.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O God of our fathers, * deal with us ever according to Thy meekness. * Deprive us not of Thy mercy, * but through their supplications ** direct our life in peace.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Crucified by the love of Christ and having taken His yoke upon you as a yoke, * ye showed yourselves to be emulators of His life * and became partakers of His divine glory, * O divinely wise Alexander, wondrous John and glorious Paul. ** Wherefore, standing before His throne, ye earnestly make supplication for our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}}}}, "4550": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Christopher the Roman of Palestine (6<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Christopher"}}, "4551": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Wonderworker Phantine", "short": "Venerable Wonderworker Phantine"}}, "4552": {"name": {"nominative": "Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs: Savva I, Savva II, Nicodemus, Joannicius, Arsenius, Eustathius, James, Daniel, Ephraim, Spiridon, Macarius, Gabriel, and Gregory", "short": "Synaxis of"}}, "4557": {"name": {"nominative": "Placing of the Venerable Sash of the Most Holy Mother of God in Constantinople (c 395-408)", "short": "Theotokos"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Placing of the Venerable Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God in the Constantinople Blachern\u00e6 Church was during the reign of the emperor Arcadius (395408). Before this the holy relict, entrusted to the Apostle Thomas by the Mother of God Herself, was after Her Dormition thereafter kept at Jerusalem by pious Christians. After many years, during the reign of emperor Leo the Wise (886-911), from the Belt of the Mother of God was accomplished a miraculous healing of his spouse Zoa, suffering from an unclean spirit.</p><p>The empress had a vision, that she would be healed of her infirmity when the Belt of the Mother of God would be placed upon her. The emperor turned with his petition to the Patriarch. The Patriarch removed the seal and opened the vessel in which the relict was kept: the Belt of the Mother of God appeared completely whole and undamaged by time. The Patriarch placed the Belt on the sick empress, and she immediately was freed from her infirmity. They served a solemn thanksgiving molieben to the Most Holy Mother of God, and the venerable Belt they placed back into the vessel and resealed the seal.</p><p>In commemoration of the miraculous occurrence and the twofold Placing of the venerable Belt, the feast of the Placing of the Venerable Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God was established. Parts of the holy Belt are in the Athos Batopedia monastery, in Trier monastery and in Gruzia (Georgia).</p>"}, "rank": 3, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O Ever-virgin Theotokos, protection of mankind: * thou hast given to thy city a mighty legacy, * the robe and cincture of thy most honored body, * which have remained incorrupt through thy seedless birthgiving. * For in thee are nature and time renewed. ** Wherefore, we beseech thee to grant peace to thy city and great mercy to our souls.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Thy precious cincture, which encircled thy womb * which was pleasing to God, O Theotokos, * is the invincible might of thy city and an inexhaustible treasury of good things, ** O only Ever-virgin who gavest birth.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "2"}, "KONTAKION/2": {"text": "<p>Today thy temple doth celebrate the deposition * of thy precious cincture, O all-hymned one, * and it earnestly crieth out to thee: * Rejoice, O Virgin, ** thou boast of Christians!</p>", "Type": "2", "Tone": "4"}}}}, "4558": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (\u2020 258)", "short": "Hieromartyr Cyprian"}}, "4559": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Gennadius, Patriarch of Constantinople (\u2020 471)", "short": "Saint Gennadius"}}, "4561": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Hilarion the Great (\u2020 371-372)", "short": "Venerable Hilarion"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "", "text": "The Monk Ilarion the Great was born in the year 291 in the Palestinian village of Tabath. He was sent for study to Alexandria, where he became acquainted with Christianity and accepted holy Baptism. Hearing an account of the angelic life of the Monk Anthony the Great (Comm. 17 January), Ilarion set out to him, in order to study that which is pleasing to God. Ilarion soon returned to his native-land. His parents had already died. Having distributed his familial inheritance to the poor, Ilarion set out into the wilderness surrounding he city of Maium. The monk struggled intensely with impure thoughts, vexations of the mind and the burning of the flesh, defeating them with heavy toil, fasting and fervent prayer. The devil sought to terrorise the saint with phantoms and apparitions. During times of prayer Saint Ilarion heard children crying, women wailing, and the growling of lions and other wild beasts. The monk perceived that it was the demons causing these terrors, in order to drive him away from the wilderness, and therefore he overcame his fear with the help of fervent prayer. \n\nOne time robbers fell upon the Monk Ilarion, and he by the power of his words persuaded them to forsake the life of crime.\n\nSoon all Palestine learned about the holy ascetic. The Lord vouchsafed to the Monk Ilarion the power to cast out unclean spirits. With this graced gift he loosed the bounds of many of the afflicted. The sick came for healing, and the monk cured them free of charge, saying, that the grace of God is not for sale. By means of smell the saint learned with which passion this or that man was afflicted. And they came to the Monk Ilarion wanting to save their soul under his guidance. With the blessing of the Monk Ilarion, monasteries began to spring up throughout all of Palestine. Going from one monastery to another, he set in them a strict ascetic manner of life. About seven years before his death (+ 371-372) the Monk Ilarion resettled to Cyprus, where he asceticised in a solitary place, until the Lord summoned him to Himself."}, "rank": 2}, "4566": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Theophilus and James, Abbots of Omucha in Pskov (c. 1412)", "short": "Venerable Theophilus"}}, "4567": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Dasius, Gaius, and Zoticus", "short": "Martyrs Dasius"}}, "4571": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Abercius, Bishop and Wonderworker of Hieropolis (\u2020 c. 167)", "short": "Hierarch"}}, "4574": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Bishop Alexander", "short": "Hieromartyr Bishop Alexander"}}, "4579": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Ignatius, Patriarch of Constantinople (\u2020 877-878)", "short": "Saint Ignatius"}}, "4581": {"name": {"nominative": "Icon of the Mother of God \u201cJoy of All Who Sorrow\u201d (1688)", "short": "Icon of"}, "rank": 4}, "4582": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Arethas and with him 4299 Martyrs (\u2020 523)", "short": "Martyr Arethas"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Reference Book for Clergy-Servers. Translator: Fr. Stephen Janos.", "text": "<p>The Martyr Aretha and with him 4299 Martyrs suffered for the Lord Jesus Christ in the VI Century. Aretha was governor of the city of Negran in Arabia, the inhabitants of which were Christian. The Arabian (or Omirite) king, Dunaan, who was Jewish, decided to extirpate Christianity from the land, and he issued an edict that all followers of Christ were to be put to death. The inhabitants of Negran remained faithful to the Lord, and Dunaan came with a large army to destroy the city. At the city-walls of Negran the king's heralds announced, that Dunaan would let live only those who renounced the Crucified Galileian and His Cross, as a \"sign of malediction\". Not daring to assault the Christian city by force, Dunaan resorted to a ruse, swearing an oath that he would not force the Christians into Judaism, but would merely impose a tribute-tax on Negran. The inhabitants of the city would not heed the advice of Saint Aretha [his name in Greek means \"virtue\", as if here literally to suggest that the people \"would not heed the voice of virtue\"], and putting their trust in Dunaan, they opened wide the city-gates.</p><p>The very next day Dunaan gave orders to start up an immense bon-fire and throw in it all the clergy of the Church of the city, so as to frighten all the rest of the Christians. Thus were burnt 427 men. The governor Aretha and the other chief men were thrown into prison. Then the oppressor sent out through the city his messengers, to convert the Christians to Judaism. And Dunaan himself conversed with those inhabitants brought forth from the prisons, saying: \"I do not demand of you that ye should renounce the God of heaven and earth, nor do I want that ye should worship idols, but I want merely that ye do not believe in Jesus Christ, since the Crucified One was a man, and not God\". The holy martyrs replied to this, that Jesus\u2014is God the Word, the Second Person of the Holy\u00a0Trinity, Who for the salvation of mankind had become flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. \"We shalt not abjure Christ, since that He is for us\u2014Life, and death for\u00a0Him\u2014is the finding of Life\",\u2014declared the sufferers to Dunaan. And more than four\u00a0thousand Christians\u2014men, women, both the aged and children\u2014from the city of Negran and surrounding villages accepted a martyr's death for Christ.</p>"}, "rank": 1}, "4583": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Arethas (12th C), Sisoes (13th C) and Theophilus (12th-13th C), Hermits of the Kiev Caves", "short": "Venerable Arethas"}}, "4584": {"name": {"nominative": "Blessed Elezboi, King of Ethiopia (\u2020 c. 553-555)", "short": "Blessed Elezboi"}}, "4585": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Syncletia and her 2 daughters (6<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Martyr Syncletia"}}, "4586": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Athanasius, Patriarch of Constantinople", "short": "Venerable Athanasius"}}, "4589": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrs Marcian and Martyrios, Notaries of Constantinople (\u2020 c. 355)", "short": "Martyrs"}}, "4591": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Anastasius the Fuller, at Salona in Dalmatia (3<sup>rd</sup> C)", "short": "Martyr Anastasius"}}, "4592": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Tabitha, the widow raised from the dead by the Apostle Peter (1<sup>st</sup> C)", "short": "Saint Tabitha"}}, "4596": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Athanasius of Medicia", "short": "Venerable Athanasius"}}, "4597": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Dimitri of Basarbov of Bulgaria (\u2020 1685)", "short": "Saint Dimitri"}}, "4606": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Stephen the Hymnographer of St Sabbas Monastery (4<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Stephen"}, "rank": 1}, "4607": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Neophite, Bishop of Urbnia", "short": "Hieromartyr Neophite"}}, "4610": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Abramios, Wonderworker of Rostov (1073-1077)", "short": "Venerable Abramios"}, "rank": 3}, "4612": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Abraham the Recluse and his niece, Blessed Maria of Mesopotamia (\u2020 c. 360)", "short": "Venerable Abraham"}, "rank": 1}, "4614": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Zenobios, Bishop of Aegea, and his sister Zenobia in Cilicia (\u2020 285)", "short": "Hieromartyr Zenobios"}, "rank": 1}, "4615": {"name": {"nominative": "Apostles of the 70: Tertius, Mark, Justus and Artemis (1<sup>st</sup> C)", "short": "Apostles of"}}, "4617": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Eutropia of Alexandria (\u2020 c. 250)", "short": "Martyr Eutropia"}}, "4618": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Stephen Miliutin the King of Serbia, his brother Dragutin and their mother Helen", "short": "Saint Stephen"}}, "4619": {"name": {"nominative": "Apostles of the 70: Stachias, Amplias, Urban, Narcissos, Apellias and Aristoboulos (1<sup>st</sup> C)", "short": "Apostles of"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Fr. Eugene Tarris", "text": "<p> The Holy Apostle Andrew consecrated St. Stachys as Bishop of Byzantium, over which he was hierarch for 16 years and died in peace. St. Amplias was Bishop in Diospolis (Lydda), and St. Urban in Macedonia. The Apostle Andrew consecrated both of them as bishops, and they zealously preached Christ to the pagans and for this they died as martyrs from both Jews and Hellenes. St. Narcissus was bishop in Athens. St. Apelles was hierarch in Heraclea. See March 16 concerning the Holy Apostle Aristobulus. In the church services all these are called Holy Apostles.</p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>O Holy Apostles, pray to the merciful God that He may grant our souls remission of offenses.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "3", "Translator": "Aleksandr Andreev"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>As sacred treasuries of the All Holy Spirit, and radiances of the Glorious Sun, let us dutifully hymn the wise Apostles: Apelles, Urban and Aristobulus, Amplius, Narcissus and Stachys, whom the grace of our God hath gathered together.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0", "Translator": "Aleksandr Andreev"}}}}, "4620": {"name": {"nominative": "Translation of the relics of the Martyr Epimachus of Pelusium", "short": "Translation"}}, "4621": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Spiridon and Nicodimus, the Prosphora-bakers of the Kiev Caves (12th C)", "short": "Venerable Spiridon"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "", "text": "<p> They were ascetics in the Kievan Monastery of the Caves in the 12th Century. They were both of simple folk and were occupied in the monastery baking prosphora accompanied with the works of continual prayer and fasting. Their relics are in the St. Anthony Cave. The relics of St. Spiridon repose in such a way that the first three fingers on the right hand are combined for making the sign of the cross. </p>"}}, "4622": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Maura of Constantinople (5<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Saint Maura"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "", "text": "<p> She was an ascetic in Constantinople, where she founded a monastery in which she died in the 5<sup>th</sup> Century. </p>"}}, "4627": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch (\u2020 381)", "short": "Saint Meletius"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch, was at first a bishop of Sebasteia in Armenia (c.357), and afterwards he was summoned by the emperor Constantius to Antioch to help defend against the Arian heresy, and received there the cathedra-seat.</p><p>Saint Meletius struggled quite zealously against the Arian error, but through the intrigues of the heretics he was thrice deposed from his cathedra-seat; Constantius had become surrounded by the Arians and had been swayed over to their position. In all this Saint Meletius was distinguished by an extraordinary gentleness, and he constantly led along his flock by the example of his own virtue and kindly disposition, presupposing that upon suchlike a soil sprouts more readily the seeds of the true teaching of the faith.</p><p>Saint Meletius was the one who ordained as deacon the future hierarch Saint Basil the Great. And Saint Meletius also baptised and encouraged the growth under him of another of the greatest luminaries of Orthodoxy\u2014Saint John Chrysostom, who afterwards wrote an eulogy to his former archpastor. </p><p>After Constantius, the throne was occupied by Julian the Apostate, and the saint again was expelled, having to hide himself away in secret places for his safety. But again returning under the emperor Jovian in the year 363, Saint Meletius wrote his theological tract, \u201cExposition of the Faith,\u201d which facilitated the conversion to Orthodoxy of many of the Arians.</p><p>In the year 381, under the emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395), the Second \u0152cumenical Council was convened. Already in the year 380 the saint had set off on his way to the Second \u0152cumenical Council at Constantinople, and came to preside over it. Before the start of the Council, Saint Meletius raised up his hand displaying three fingers, and then conjoining together two fingers and bending the one he blessed the people, proclaiming: \u201cWe apprehend three hypostatic-persons, and we speak about one self-same nature,\u201d\u2014and with this declaration of the saint there flashed the fire of a lightning-bolt. During the time of the Council Saint Meletius expired to the Lord. Saint Gregory of Nyssa honoured the memory of the deceased with an eulogistic word. </p><p>There are preserved discourses of Saint Meletius concerning the One-in-Essence nature of the Son of God with God the Father, and also his letter to the emperor Jovian about the confessing of the Holy Trinity. The relics of Saint Meletius were transferred from Constantinople to Antioch. </p>"}, "rank": 1, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "<p>The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, * a model of meekness and a teacher of abstinence * wherefore thou hast attained the heights through humility * and riches through poverty. ** O hierarch Meletius our father, entreat Christ God that our souls be saved.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Fearing the boldness of thy spirit, * the apostate Macedonius fleeth; * but we, thy servants, celebrating a service of prayer to thee, * have recourse to thee with love, O Meletius, conversor with the angels, * fiery sword of Christ our God who cuttest down all the ungodly; ** and we hymn thee as a beacon enlightening all.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "6"}}}}, "4629": {"name": {"nominative": "St Matrona the Blind of Moscow (\u2020 1952)", "short": "St Matrona"}, "rank": 4}, "4630": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Anatolius of Optina, the Younger (\u2020 1922)", "short": "Venerable Anatolius"}}, "4631": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Anatolius of Optina, the elder (\u2020 1894)", "short": "Venerable Anatolius"}}, "4632": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Anthony of Optina (\u2020 1865)", "short": "Venerable Anthony"}}, "4634": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Barsonophius of Optina (\u2020 1913)", "short": "Venerable Barsonophius"}}, "4635": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Hillarion of Optina", "short": "Venerable Hillarion"}}, "4636": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Joseph of Optina (\u2020 1911)", "short": "Venerable Joseph"}}, "4637": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Martyr Isaaki II of Optina (\u2020 1938)", "short": "Venerable Martyr"}}, "4638": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Isaac (the First) of Optina (\u2020 1894)", "short": "Venerable Isaac"}}, "4639": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Leo of Optina", "short": "Venerable Leo"}}, "4640": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Macarius of Optina (\u2020 1860)", "short": "Venerable Macarius"}}, "4641": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Moses of Optina (\u2020 1862)", "short": "Venerable Moses"}}, "4643": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Nikon, the Confessor of Optina (\u2020 1931)", "short": "Venerable Nikon"}}, "4644": {"name": {"nominative": "St Tikhon the Confessor, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia and Enlightener of North America (\u2020 1925)", "short": "St Tikhon"}}, "4645": {"name": {"nominative": "Finding of the Relics of Venerable Ambrose of Optina (1998)", "short": "Finding"}}, "4724": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Augustine, Archbishop of Kaluga and those with him (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4725": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Hieromartyr and Confessor Agathangel, Metropolitan of Yaroslavl (\u2020 1928)", "short": "Holy Hieromartyr"}}, "4734": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Alexander, Archbishop of Semipalatinsk (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4739": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable New Confessor George (\u2020 1932)", "short": "Venerable New"}}, "4746": {"name": {"nominative": "Righteous Alexius, archpriest of Moscow (\u2020 1923)", "short": "Righteous Alexius"}}, "4747": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Heraclius the New Confessor (\u2020 1936)", "short": "Venerable Heraclius"}}, "4749": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Ambrose the Confessor, bishop of Kamenets-Podolskiy (\u2020 1932)", "short": "Saint Ambrose"}}, "4750": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Amphilochiy, Bishop of Krasnoyarsk and those with him (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4755": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyr Andrew (1941)", "short": "New Martyr"}}, "4756": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyrs Archbishop Andronicus of Perm, Priests Alexander, Alexis, Alexander, Valentine, Benjamin, Victor, Alexander, Paul, Vladimir, Ignatius, Michael, Nicholas, Paul, Alexander, Nicholas, Deacon Gregory and Martyrs Athanasius and Alexander (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Hieromartyrs"}}, "4761": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Arkadiy, Bishop of Bezhetsk (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}, "services": {"0": {}, "1": {"LITURGY/0": {"text": ""}}, "2": {"LITURGY/0": {"text": ""}}}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "", "text": "<p>He was murdered by the NKVD in Butovo near Moscow on 29 (16) December 1937. (full life needs translation)</p>"}}, "4762": {"name": {"nominative": "Hieromartyr Arsenius, Metropolitan of Rostov (\u2020 1772)", "short": "Hieromartyr Arsenius"}}, "4769": {"name": {"nominative": "34 Venerable Martyrs of Valaam, who suffered at the hands of the Swedes (\u2020 1578): Titus, Tychon, Gelasius, Sergius, Barlaam, Sabbas, Conon, Silvester, Cyprian, P\u0153men, John, Samonas, Jonah, David, Cornelius, Nephon, Athanasius, Serapion, Barlaam, Athanasius, Anthony, Luke, Leontius, Thomas, Dionysius, Philip, Ignatius, Basil, Pakhomius, Basil, Theophilus, John, Theodore, and John", "short": "Venerable Martyrs of Valaam"}}, "4771": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Barsonuphius, bishop of Kirillovo and those with him (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4772": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy New Martyr Basil, bishop of Chernigov (\u2020 1918)", "short": "Holy New"}}, "4776": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest Basil (\u2020 1930)", "short": "New Hieromartyr Basil"}}, "4777": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Vasily the Confessor, bishop of Kineshemsk (1945)", "short": "Saint Vasily"}}, "4778": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyrs Priests Basil, Alexander, and Christopher, Martyrs Macarius and Sergius (\u2020 1922)", "short": "New Hieromartyrs"}}, "4781": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieroconfessor Victor, bishop of Glazov (\u2020 1934)", "short": "New Hieroconfessor"}}, "4785": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Makariy, bishop of Ekaterinoslav and those with him (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4791": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest Vladimir (\u2020 1938)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4794": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyrs Hermogenes, bishop of Tobolsk, Priests Ephraim, Michael, and Peter, and Martyr Constantine (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Hieromartyrs"}}, "4795": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest Gregory (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4797": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Damascene, bishop of Starodub and those with him (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4798": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Dmitry, archbishop of Mozhaisk and those with him (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4802": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Eugene, Metropolitan of Nizhniy Novgorod (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4805": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyrs Priests Zosimas, Nicholas, Basil, John, Leontius, Vladimir, Parthenius, John, John, Michael; Deacon Eugene; Venerable Martyrs Anna, Faith and Irene; Martyr Paul (\u2020 1938)", "short": "New Hieromartyr Zosimas and companions"}}, "4807": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest James (\u2020 1943)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4817": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Hierarch Innocent, Archbishop of Cherson (\u2020 1857)", "short": "Holy Hierarch"}}, "4819": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest John (\u2020 1934)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4823": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Seraphim, Archbishop of Smolensk and those with him (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4836": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Jonah, bishop of Velizh, and those with him (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4839": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Cyril, Metropolitan of Kazan (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4842": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Nicholas, Archbishop of Vladimir, and those with him (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4843": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Laurentius, Bishop of Balakhninsk (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4845": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyr Macarius, bishop of Orel (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Martyr"}}, "4852": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest Michael (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4856": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyrs Priests Michael and John (\u2020 1930)", "short": "New Hieromartyrs"}}, "4857": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Nikita, bishop of Orekhovo-Zuevo, and those with him (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4859": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyr Nicodimus, archbishop of Kostroma (\u2020 1938)", "short": "New Martyr"}}, "4864": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyr Nicholas the Presbyter (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Martyr"}}, "4867": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest Nicholas and those with him (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4872": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Royal Passion-bearers Tsar Nicholas, Tsaritsa Alexandra, Crown Prince Aleksy, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia and those killed with them (\u2020 1918)", "short": "Royal Passion-bearers"}, "rank": 4}, "4874": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyrs Priests Alexis, Nicholas, Michael and Martyr Sergius (\u2020 1938)", "short": "New Hieromartyrs"}}, "4876": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyr Nina (\u2020 1938)", "short": "New Martyr"}}, "4879": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Onuphry, Archbishop of Kursk (\u2020 1938)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4882": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyrs Pavlin, Bishop of Mogilev, Artemiy, Archbishop of Ekaterinburg, and those with them (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyrs"}}, "4884": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyrs Peter and Prochorus (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Martyrs"}}, "4886": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyrs Priests Nicholas, Alexis and Alexis; Deacon Symeon; Venerable Martyr Peter; and Venerable Martyr Sophia (\u2020 1938)", "short": "New Hieromartyr Nicholas and companions"}}, "4888": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Peter, Archbishop of Voronezh (\u2020 1929)", "short": "New Hieromartyr Peter"}}, "4890": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Pimen, bishop of Vernyi (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4892": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Archimandrite Sergius and 11 monks of Zilantiev Monastery (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4894": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Prokopi, Archbishop of Odessa and those with him (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4896": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Sebastian the New Confessor, of Karaganda (\u2020 1966)", "short": "Venerable Sebastian"}}, "4897": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Seraphim Vyritsky (\u2020 1949)", "short": "Venerable Seraphim"}}, "4898": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyr Seraphim, bishop of Dmitrov (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Martyr"}}, "4904": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyrs Priests Basil, Alexander, Basil, and Serge (\u2020 1938);", "short": "New Hieromartyrs"}}, "4905": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest Sergius (\u2020 1938)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4910": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Sergius the New Confessor (\u2020 1948)", "short": "Venerable Sergius"}}, "4911": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Sylvester, Archbishop of Omsk (\u2020 1920)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4913": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyrs Michael, Simieon, and Dimitrius (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Martyrs"}}, "4914": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyr Simeon, bishop of Ufa (\u2020 1921)", "short": "New Martyr"}}, "4918": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Tikhon, Archbishop of Voronezh and 160 priests killed with him (\u2020 1919)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "4926": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy New Martyr Theophan, Bishop of Solikamsk (\u2020 1918)", "short": "Holy New"}}, "4927": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest Philosoph and his children Martyrs Boris and Nicholas (\u2020 1918)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "43101": {"name": {"nominative": "Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles, Great Prince Vladimir (in Baptism Basil), Enlightener of Russia (\u2020 1015)", "short": "Prince Vladimir"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "The Clergyman\u2019s Handbook. Moscow. 1978. English translation Copyright 1997 Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>Few names in the annals of history can compare in significance with the name of holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, the Baptiser of Rus\u2032, who stands forever at the onset of the foreordained spiritual destiny of the Russian Church and the Russian Orthodox people. Vladimir was the grandson of holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, and he was the son of Svyatoslav (\u2020 972). His mother, Malusha (\u2020 1001)\u2014was the daughter of Malk Liubechanin, whom historians identify with Mal, prince of the Drevlyani. Having subdued an uprising of the Drevlyani and conquered their cities, Princess Olga gave orders to execute prince Mal, for his attempt to marry her after his murder of her husband Igor, and she took to herself the children of Mal, Dobrynya and Malusha. Dobrynya grew up to be a valiant brave warrior, endowed with a mind for state affairs, and he was later on an excellent help to his nephew Vladimir in matters of military and state administration.</p><p>The \u201ccapable girl\u201d Malusha became a Christian (together with Great-Princess Olga at Constantinople [Tsar\u2032grad]), but she preserved in herself a bit of the mysterious darkness of the pagan Drevlyani forests. And thus she fell in love with the austere warrior Svyatoslav, who against the will of his mother Olga made her his wife. The enraged Olga, reckoning as unseemly the marriage of her \u201chousekeeper\u201d and captive servant with her son Svyatoslav, heir to the Great Kiev principality, sent Malusha away to her own native region not far off from Vybut\u2032. And there in about the year 960 was born the boy, called with the Russian pagan name\u2014Volodimir (in Slavonic: Vladimir), meaning peaceful ruler, ruling with a special talent for peace.</p><p>In the year 970 Svyatoslav set out on a campaign from which he was fated not to return. He had divided the Russian Land amongst his three sons. At Kiev Yaropolk was prince; at Ovrucha, the centre of the Drevlyani lands, there was Oleg; at Novgorod there was Vladimir. His first years as prince we see Vladimir as a fierce pagan. He heads a campaign, in which the whole of pagan Rus\u2032, is sympathetic to him, against Yaropolk the Christian, or in any case, according to the chronicles, \u201chaving given great freedom to the Christians,\u201d on July 11<sup>th</sup> 978 he enters into Kiev, having become the \u201csole ruler\u201d of the Kiev realm, \u201chaving subdued the surrounding lands, some\u2014by peaceful means, and the unsubmissive ones\u2014by the sword.\u201d</p><p>Young Vladimir indulged himself in a wild sensuous life, though far from being the libertine that they sometimes portray him. He \u201cshepherded his land with truth, valour and reason,\u201d as a good and diligent master, of necessity he extended and defended its boundaries by force of arms, and in returning from military campaign, he made for his companions and for all Kiev liberal and merry feastings.</p><p>But the Lord prepared him for another task. Where sin increases, there\u2014in the words of the Apostle,\u2014grace abounds. \u201cAnd upon him did come visitation of the Most High, and the All-Merciful eye of the Good God did gaze upon him, and shine forth the thought in his heart, of understanding the vanity of idolous delusion, and of appealing to the One God, Creator of all things both visible and invisible.\u201d The matter of the acceptance of Baptism was facilitated through external circumstances. The Byzantine Empire was in upheaval under the blows of the mutinous regiments of Bardas Sclerus and Bardas Phocas, each of which sought to gain the imperial throne. In these difficult circumstances the emperors\u2014the coregent brothers Basil the Bulgar-Slayer and Constantine, turned for help to Vladimir.</p><p>Events unfolded quickly. In August 987 Bardas Phocas proclaimed himself emperor and moved against Constantinople, and in Autumn of that same year the emissaries of emperor Basil were at Kiev. \u201cAnd having exhausted his (Basil\u2019s) wealth, it compelled him to enter into an alliance with the emperor of the Russians. They were his enemies, but he besought their help,\u2014writes one of the Arab chronicles of events in the 980\u2019s.\u2014And the emperor of the Russians did consent to this, and did make common cause with him.\u201d</p><p>In reward for his military help, Vladimir besought the hand of the emperor\u2019s sister Anna, which for the Byzantines was an unheard of audacity. Princesses of the imperial lineage did not go off to marry \u201cbarbarian\u201d rulers, even though they be Christian. At this same time the emperor Otto the Great was seeking the hand of this Anna for his son, and he was refused, but herein regarding Vladimir Constantinople was obliged to consent.</p><p>An agreement was concluded, according to which Vladimir had to send in aid to the emperors six thousand Varangians, to accept holy Baptism, and under these conditions he would receive the hand of the imperial daughter Anna. Thus in the strife of human events the will of God directed the entering of Rus\u2032 into the graced bosom of the \u0152cumenical Church. Great Prince Vladimir accepted Baptism and dispatched the military assistance to Byzantium. With the aid of the Russians, the mutineers were destroyed and Bardas Phocas killed. But the Greeks, gladdened by their unexpected deliverance, were in no hurry to fulfill their part of the agreement.</p><p>Vexed at the Greek duplicity, Prince Vladimir \u201chastened to collect his forces\u201d and he moved \u201cagainst Kherson, the Greek city,\u201d the ancient Chersoneses. The \u201cimpenetrable\u201d rampart of the Byzantine realm on the Black Sea fell, and it was one of the vitally important hubs of the economic and mercantile links of the empire. This blow was so much felt, that its echo resounded throughout all the regions of Byzantium.</p><p>Vladimir again had the upper hand. His emissaries, the commanders (voyevoda ) Oleg and Sjbern soon arrived in Constantinople for the imperial daughter. Eight days passed in Anna\u2019s preparation, during which time her brothers consoled her, stressing the significance of the opportunity before her: to enable the enlightening of the Russian realm and its lands, and to make them forever friends of the Roman Byzantine realm. At Taurida, Saint Vladimir awaited her, and to his titles there was added a new one\u2014C\u00e6sar (tsar\u2032 or emperor). It required the haughty rulers of Constantinople to accede also in this\u2014to bestow upon their new brother-in-law the C\u00e6sar (that is, the imperial) insignia. In certain of the Greek historians, Saint Vladimir is termed from these times as a \u201cmighty basileios-king,\u201d he coins money in the Byzantine style and is depicted on it with the symbols of imperial might: in imperial attire, and on his head\u2014the imperial crown, and in his right hand\u2014the sceptre with cross.</p><p>Together with the empress Anna, there arrived for the Russian cathedra-seat metropolitan Michael\u2014ordained by holy Patriarch Nicholas II Chrysobergos, and he came with his retinue and clergy, and many holy relics and other holy things. In ancient Chersoneses, where each stone brings to mind Saint Andrew the First-Called, there took place the marriage-crowning of Saint Vladimir and Blessed Anna, both reminiscent and likewise affirming the oneness of the Gospel good-news of Christ in Rus\u2032 and in Byzantium. Kherson, the \u201cempress\u2019s dowry,\u201d was returned to Byzantium. In the Spring of 988 the great prince with his spouse set out through the Crimea, Taman, and the Azov lands, which had come into the complexion of his vast realm, on the trip of return to Kiev. Leading the great princely cortege with frequent prayers (moliebens) and incessant priestly singing they carried crosses, icons, and holy relics. It seemed, that the \u0152cumenical Holy Church was moving into the spacious Russian land, and renewed in the font of Baptism, Holy Rus\u2032 came forth to meet Christ and His Church.</p><p>There ensued the unforgettable and quite singular event in Russian history: the morning of the Baptism of the Kievans in the waters of the River Dneipr. On the evening beforehand, Saint Vladimir declared throughout the city: \u201cIf anyone on the morrow g\u0153th not into the river\u2014be they rich or poor, beggar or slave\u2014that one be mine enemy.\u201d The sacred wish of the holy prince was fulfilled without a murmur: \u201call our land all at the same time did glorify Christ with the Father and the Holy Spirit.\u201d</p><p>It is difficult to overestimate the deep spiritual transformation\u2014effected by the prayers of Saint Vladimir, effected within the Russian people, in all the entirety of its life and world-outlook. In the pure Kievan waters, as in a \u201cbath of regeneration,\u201d there was realised a mysteried transfiguration of the Russian spiritual element, the spiritual birth of the nation, called by God to yet unforeseen deeds of Christian service to mankind.\u2014\u201cThen did the darkness of the idols begin to lift from us, and the dawn of Orthodoxy appear, and the Sun of the Gospel didst illumine our land.\u201d In memory of this sacred event, the renewal of Rus\u2032 by water and the Spirit, there was established within the Russian Church the custom of an annual church procession \u201cto the water\u201d on 1 August, combined afterwards with the feast day of the Bring-Forth of the Venerable Wood of the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, in common with the Greek Church, and likewise the Russian Church feast day of the All-Merciful Saviour and the Most Holy Mother of God (established by Saint Andrei Bogoliubsky in the year 1164). In this combination of feasts there is found a precise expression of the Russian theological consciousness, for which both Baptism and the Cross are inseparable.</p><p>Everywhere throughout Holy Rus\u2032, from the ancient cities to the far outposts, Saint Vladimir gave orders to tumble down the pagan sanctuaries, to flog the idols, and in their place to chop along the hilly woods for churches, in which to consecrate altars for the Bloodless Sacrifice. Churches of God grew up along the face of the earth, at high elevated places, and at the bends of the rivers, along the ancient trail \u201cfrom the Variangians to the Greeks\u201d\u2014figuratively as road signs, and lamps of national holiness. As regards the famed church-building activity of holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, the Kiev Metropolitan Saint Ilarion (author of the \u201cWord about the Law and Grace\u201d) exclaimed: \u201cThey demolished the pagan temples, and built up churches, they destroyed the idols and produced holy icons, the demons are fled, and the Cross hath sanctified the cities.\u201d From the early centuries of Christianity it was the custom to raise up churches upon the ruins of pagan sanctuaries or upon the blood of the holy martyrs. Following this practise, Saint Vladimir built the church of Saint Basil the Great upon an hill, where a sanctuary of Perun had been located, and he situated the stone church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God (Desyatinnaya or the Tithe Church) on the place of the martyrdom of the holy Varangian Martyrs (Comm. July 12<sup>th</sup>). The magnificent temple intended to become the place of serving for the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus\u2032\u2014and hence the primal-altar of the Russian Church, was built in five years: it was richly adorned with wall-fresco painting, crosses, icons and sacred vessels, brought from Kherson. The day of the consecration of the church of the Most Holy Mother of God, May 12<sup>th</sup>(in some manuscripts May 1<sup>th</sup>), was ordered by Saint Vladimir to be inserted as an annual celebration in the Church calendar lists. This event was tied in with other previous happenings for the celebration of May 11<sup>th</sup>, and it provided the new Church a twofold sense of succession. Under this day in the Saints is noted the churchly \u201crenewal of Constantinople\u201d\u2014dedicated by the holy emperor Saint Constantine as the new capital of the Roman Empire, the Constantine-city Constantinople, dedicated to the Most Holy Mother of God (330). And on this same day of May 11<sup>th</sup>, under holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, there had been consecrated at Kiev the church of Sophia\u2014the Wisdom of God (in the year 960). Saint Vladimir, having had the cathedral church consecrated to the Most Holy Mother of God, followed the example of Saint Constantine in dedicating the capital city of the Russian Land, Kiev, to the Queen of Heaven.</p><p>And then there was bestown on the Church a tithe or tenth; and since this church had become the centre of the All-Russian gathering of churchly tithes, they called it the Desyatinnaya (Tithe) church. The most ancient text of the deed-grant document, or church ustav-rule by holy Prince Vladimir spoke thusly: \u201cFor I do bestow this church of the Holy Mother of God a tenth of all mine principality, and likewise throughout all the Russian Land from all the princely jurisdiction a tithe of squirrel-pelts, and from the merchant\u2014a tithe of the week, and from households each year\u2014a tenth of every herd and every livelihood, to the wondrous Mother of God and the wondrous Saviour.\u201d The ustav likewise specified \u201cchurch people\u201d as being free from the jurisdictional power of the prince and his \u201ctiuni\u201d-officials, and placed them under the jurisdiction of the metropolitan.</p><p>The chronicle has preserved a prayer of Saint Vladimir, with which he turned to the Almighty at the consecration of the Tithe Church of the Dormition: \u201cO Lord God, look Thou down from Heaven and behold, and visit Thine vineyard, which Thy right-hand hath planted. And make this new people, whom Thou hast converted in heart and mind\u2014to know Thee, the True God. And look down upon this Thine church, which Thy unworthy servant hath built in the name of the Mother Who hath given birth to Thee, She the Ever-Virgin Mother of God. And whos\u0153ver doth pray in this church, let his prayer then be heard, on account of the prayers to the All-Pure Mother of God.\u201d </p><p>With the Tithe Church of the Dormition and bishop Anastasias, certain historians have made a connection with the beginnings of Russian chronicle writing. At it were compiled the Life of Saint Olga and the account of the Varangian Martyrs in their original form, and likewise the \u201cAccount, How in the Taking of Kherson, Vladimir came to be Baptised.\u201d Here also there originated the early Greek redaction of the Lives of the holy Martyrs Boris and Gleb.</p><p>The Kiev Metropolitan cathedra-seat during the time of Saint Vladimir was occupied successively by the Metropolitan Saint Michael (\u2020 June 15<sup>th</sup>, 991, Comm. September 30<sup>th</sup>), Metropolitan Theophylactus\u2014transferred to Kiev from the see of Armenian Sebasteia (991-997), Metropolitan Leontius (997-1008), and Metropolitan John I (1008-1037). Through their efforts the first dioceses of the Russian Church were opened: at Novgorod (its first representative was Saint Joachim the Khersonite\u2014\u2020 1030, compiler of the Joachim\u2019s Chronicle), Vladimir-Volyn (opened May 11<sup>th</sup>, 992), Chernigov, Pereslavl\u2032, Belgorod, and Rostov. \u201cAnd thus throughout all the cities and villages there were set up churches and monasteries, and the clergy did increase, and the Orthodox Faith did blossom forth and shine like the sun.\u201d To advance the faith amongst the newly enlightened people, learned people and schools were needed for their preparation. Saint Vladimir therefore with holy Metropolitan Michael \u201cdid command fathers and mothers to take their young children and send them to schools to learn reading and writing.\u201d Saint Joachim the Khersonite (\u20201030) set up such a school at Novgorod, and they did likewise in other cities. \u201cAnd there were a multitude of schools of scholars, and of these were there a multitude of wisdom-loving philosophers.\u201d</p><p>With a firm hand Saint Vladimir held in check enemies at the frontiers, and he built cities with fortifications. He was the first in Russian history to set up a \u201cnotched boundary\u201d\u2014a line of defensive points against nomadic peoples. \u201cVolodimir did begin to set up cities along the Desna, along the Vystra, along the Trubezha, along the Sula and along the Stugna. And he did settle them with the Novgorodians, the Smoliani, the Chuds, and the Vyatichi. And he did war against the Pechenegs and defeated them.\u201d But the actual means was often the peaceful Christian preaching amongst the steppe pagans. In the Nikolsk\u2019s Chronicles under the year 990 was written: \u201cAnd in that same year there came to Vladimir at Kiev four princes from the Bulgars and they were illumined with Divine Baptism.\u201d In the following year \u201c there came the Pecheneg prince Kuchug and accepted the Greek faith, and he was baptised in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and did service to Vladimir with a pure heart.\u201d Under the influence of the holy prince there were baptised also several apparent foreigners, as for example, the Norwegian king Olaf Trueggvason (\u2020 1000) who lived several years at Kiev, and also the renowned Torvald the Wanderer\u2014founder of a monastery of Saint John the Precursor along the Dneipr near Polotsk, among others. In faraway Iceland the poet-skalds called God the \u201cProtector of the Greeks and Russians.\u201d</p><p>Amidst the Christian preaching was also the renowned feastings of Saint Vladimir: after Liturgy on Sundays and Church Great-Feasts there were put out abundant feasting tables for the Kievans, they rang the bells, choirs sang praise, the \u201ctransported infirm\u201d sang bylini-ballads and spiritual verses. On May 12<sup>th</sup>, 996, for example, on the occasion of the consecration of the Tithe Church of the Dormition, the prince \u201cmade a bright feast,\u201d \u201cdistributing goods to many of the poor, and destitute and wanderers, and through the churches and the monasteries. To the sick and the needy he delivered through the streets casks and barrels of mead, and bread, and meat, and fish, and cheese, desiring that all might come and eat, glorifying God.\u201d Feasts were likewise arrayed in honour of the victories of Kievan bogatyr-warriors, and the regiments of Vladimir\u2019s retinue\u2014of Dobrynya, Aleksandr Popovich, and Rogda the Bold.</p><p>In the year 1007, Saint Vladimir transferred the relics of holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga to the Tithe Church of the Dormition. And four years later, in 1011, there was also buried there his spouse and companion in many of his undertakings, the Blessed Empress Anna. After her death the prince entered into a new marriage\u2014with the young daughter of the German Count Kuno von Enningen, granddaughter of the emperor Otto the Great.</p><p>The era of Saint Vladimir was a crucial initial period for the state formation of Orthodox Rus\u2032. The unification of the Slavic lands and the formation of state boundaries under the domain of the Riurikids (descendants of Rurik, the founder of the dynasty) resulted from a strenuous spiritual and political struggle with neighbouring tribes and states. The Baptism of Rus\u2032 by Orthodox Byzantium was a most important step in its state self-definition. The chief enemy of Vladimir became the Polish king Boleslav the Brave, whose plans included the extensive unification of the West-Slavic and East-Slavic tribes under the \u00e6gis of Catholic Poland. This rivalry arose still back in the times, when Vladimir was still a pagan: \u201cIn the year 6489 (981), Vladimir went against the Lakhs and took their cities, Peremyshl\u2032, Cherven\u2032, and other cities, which be under Rus\u2032.\u201d The final years of the tenth century are likewise filled with the wars of Vladimir and Boleslav.</p><p>After a short lull (the first decade of the eleventh century), the \u201cgreat stand-off\u201d enters into a new phase: in the year 1013 at Kiev a conspiracy against Saint Vladimir is discovered: Svyatopolk the Accursed, who is married to a daughter of Boleslav, yearns for power. The instigator of the conspiracy is the clergyman of Boleslav\u2014the Kolobzheg Catholic bishop Reibern.</p><p>The conspiracy of Svyatopolk and Reibern was an all-out threat to the historical existence of the Russian state and the Russian Church. Saint Vladimir took decisive measures. All the three involved were arrested, and Reibern soon died in prison.</p><p>Saint Vladimir did not take revenge on those that \u201copposed and hated\u201d him. Under the pretense of feigned repentance, Svyatopolk was set free.</p><p>A new misfortune erupted in the North, at Novgorod. Yaroslav, still not so very much \u201cthe Wise\u201d\u2014as he was later to go down in Russian history, in the year 1010 having become ruler of Novgorod, decided to defect from his father the great prince of Kiev, and he formed his own separate army, moving on Kiev to demand the customary tribute and tithe. The unity of the Russian land, for which Saint Vladimir had struggled all his life, was threatened with ruin. In both anger and in sorrow Saint Vladimir gave orders to \u201csecure the dams and set the bridges,\u201d and to prepare for a campaign against Novgorod. His powers were on the decline. In the preparations for his final campaign, happily not undertaken, the Baptiser of Rus\u2032 fell grievously ill and gave up his spirit to the Lord in the village of Spas-Berestov, on 15 July 1015. He had ruled the Russian realm for thirty-seven years (978-1015), and twenty-eight of these years had been spent since holy Baptism. </p><p>Preparing for a new struggle for power and hoping for Polish help in it, and to play for time, Svyatopolk attempted to conceal the death of his father. But patriotically inclined Kievan boyar-nobles, secretly by night, removed the body of the deceased sovereign from the Berestov court, where Svyatopolk\u2019s people were guarding it, and they conveyed the body to Kiev. At the Tithe Church of the Dormition the coffin with the relics of Saint Vladimir was met by Kievan clergy with Metropolitan John at the head. The holy relics were placed in a marble crypt, set within the Clement chapel of the Tithe Church of the Dormition alongside the marble crypt of Empress Anna.</p><p>The name and deeds of holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, whom the people called the Splendid Sun, is interwoven with all the successive history of the Russian Church. \u201cThrough him we too have come to worship and to know Christ, the True Life,\u2014testified Saint Ilarion. His deeds were continued by his sons, and grandsons and descendants\u2014rulers of the Russian land over the course of almost six centuries: from Yaroslav the Wise with the taking of the first steps towards the independent existence of the Russian Church\u2014down to the last of the Riurikids, tsar Feodor Ivanovich, under whom (in 1589) the Russian Orthodox Church became the fifth independent Patriarchate in the dyptich lists of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches.</p><p>The feastday celebration to holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir was established under Saint Alexander Nevsky, in memory of the intercession of Saint Vladimir on May 15<sup>th</sup>, 1240, for his help in gaining the renowned victory by Nevsky over Swedish crusaders.</p><p>But the first reverencing of the holy prince began in Rus\u2032 rather earlier. The Metropolitan of Kiev Saint Ilarion (\u2020 1053), in his \u201cWord on Law and Grace,\u201d spoken on the day of memory of Saint Vladimir at the saint\u2019s crypt in the Tithe Church of the Dormition, calls him \u201can apostolic sovereign,\u201d \u201clike\u201d Saint Constantine, and he compares his apostolic evangelisation of the Russian Land to that of the evangelisation by the holy Apostles.</p>"}, "rank": 5, "services": {"LITURGY": {"TROPARION/1": {"text": "Seated on the high throne of Kiev, the mother of cities saved by God, thou didst emulate the merchant who sought the goodly pearl, O Vladimir glorious in might, and examining and sending emissaries to the Imperial City to learn about the Orthodox Faith, thou didst find Christ the priceless Pearl, Who chose thee as a second Paul and in the holy font removed thy blindness, spiritual and bodily. Wherefore, we, thy people, celebrate thy repose. Pray thou, that Russia, thy land, be saved, and that peace and great mercy be granted to the Orthodox people.", "Type": "1", "Tone": "4"}, "KONTAKION/1": {"text": "<p>Emulating the great Apostle Paul in thy maturity, O most glorious Vladimir, * and putting aside all thy zeal for idols as childish thoughts, * thou hast adorned thyself with the purple robe of divine baptism. * And standing now in gladness before Christ the Savior, * pray thou that Russia, thy land, be saved, ** and that peace and great mercy be granted to the Orthodox people.</p>", "Type": "1", "Tone": "0"}}}}, "43501": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Mary (known as the Monk Marinus), and her father, the Venerable Eugene at Alexandria (6<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Mary"}}, "43601": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Boniface the Merciful, Bishop of Florence (6<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Saint Boniface"}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1999-2008 Archpriest Eugene D. Tarris.", "text": "He was born in the province of Tuscany, Italy and lived in the sixth century. He was glorified for disinterestedness, love for the poor and working wonders."}}, "43801": {"name": {"nominative": "Translation of the relics of the Blessed Vsevolod, in Holy Baptism Gabriel, Prince of Pskov (1834)", "short": "Translation"}}, "43802": {"name": {"nominative": "Finding of the relics of Saint Vsevolod, in baptism Gabriel, Prince of Pskov (1192)", "short": "Finding"}}, "43901": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Zoe and Photina (5<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Zoe"}, "services": {"0": {}, "1": {"LITURGY/0": {"text": ""}}, "2": {"LITURGY/0": {"text": ""}}}, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "Bulgakov Handbook. Copyright 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.", "text": "<p>The Monk Martinian at age 18 settled into the wilderness, somewhat off from the city of Palestinian C\u00e6sarea, where he dwelt in ascetic deeds and silence for 25 years, and he was granted a graced gift of healing illness. But the enemy of the race of man would not stop bothering the hermit with various temptations. One time a profligate woman got into a wager with some dissolute people, as to whether she could seduce Saint Martinian, the fame of whose virtuous life had spread throughout all the city. She came to him at night-time under the guise of a wandering suppliant asking night lodging. The saint let her enter, since the weather outside was inclement. But here the wicked guest changed over into her good clothes and began to tempt the ascetic. The saint thereupon rushed out of the cell, set alight a fire and put his bare feet upon the burning coals. He said such as this to himself: \ufffdIt is hard enough for thee, Martinian, to suffer this temporal fire, now then wilt thou instead suffer the eternal fire, prepared for thee by the devil?\ufffd The woman, shaken by the spectacle, became repentant and besought the saint to guide her onto the way of repentance. At his directing she set off to Bethlehem, to a monastery of Saint Paula, where she dwelt for 12 years in strict ascetic deeds until her blessed end. The name of this woman was Zoa.<p></p>Having recovered from his scorching, Saint Martinian set off to an uninhabited rocky island, and lived on it under the open sky for several years, nourished by the victuals brought by a certain sailor from time to time, and in return the monk weaved baskets for him. <p></p>One time a powerful storm wrecked a ship, and to the island of Saint Martinian the waves carried on the ship debris a maiden named Photinia. Saint Martinian helped her to survive the island. \ufffdRemain here,\ufffdsaid he to her,\ufffdfor here is bread and water, and in two months a boat will come,\ufffd\ufffd and he jumped into the sea and swam off. Two dolphins carried him to dry land. Thereafter Blessed Martinian began to lead the life of a wanderer. And so passed two years. One time, having come to Athens, the saint fell ill, and sensing the nearness of his end, he went into church and lay upon the floor, and calling out to the bishop he besought him to give his body over to burial. This occurred in about the year 422.</p>"}}, "44101": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyrdom of Saint Wenceslaus (V\u00e1clav/Vyacheslav), Prince of the Czech Lands (\u2020 935)", "short": "Wenceslaus"}}, "46801": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Flavian the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople (\u2020 449-450)", "short": "Saint Flavian"}}, "47101": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Genadiy, Archbishop of Novgorod (\u2020 1505)", "short": "Saint Genadiy"}}, "49702": {"name": {"nominative": "Consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr George at Kiev (1051-1054)", "short": "Consecration of"}, "rank": 1}, "49801": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable George of Georgia, on Mt. Athos (\u2020 1065)", "short": "Venerable George"}}, "414501": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Longin of Yarensk (\u2020 1544-1545)", "short": "Venerable Longin"}}, "427801": {"name": {"nominative": "Icons of the Mother of God: \u201cAtskurskaya,\u201d \u201cOf the Pskov Caves,\u201d \u201cThe Giver of Reason,\u201d and \u201cOf the Crimea\u201d", "short": "Icons"}}, "432001": {"name": {"nominative": "Apostle of the 70 Nicanor the Deacon (\u2020 38)", "short": "Nicanor"}}, "438611": {"name": {"nominative": "Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of the Lord", "short": "Afterfeast of"}}, "439001": {"name": {"nominative": "Venerable Pimen the Faster of the Kiev Caves, far caves (13th-14<sup>th</sup> C)", "short": "Venerable Pimen"}}, "444411": {"name": {"nominative": "Forefeast of the Dormition of the Mother of God", "short": "Forefeast of"}, "rank": 2}, "444412": {"name": {"nominative": "Afterfeast of the Dormition", "short": "Afterfeast of"}}, "444414": {"name": {"nominative": "Apodosis of the Dormition", "short": "Theotokos"}, "rank": 3}, "462001": {"name": {"nominative": "Martyr Epimachus of Alexandria (\u2020 c. 250)", "short": "Martyr Epimachus"}, "rank": 1, "life": {"id": "", "copyright": "", "text": "<p>He was born in Egypt and from the first for a long time was an ascetic in desert solitude on the hills of Pelusium. During the persecution of Christians in Alexandria, St. Epimachus, burning with zealousness for the true faith, went into the city, destroyed pagan altars and firmly preached Christ to the pagans. After enduring many tortures he was beheaded for this in about the year 250.</p>"}}, "464501": {"name": {"nominative": "Saint Ambrose, Elder of Optina, the Wonderworker (\u2020 1891)", "short": "Saint Ambrose"}, "rank": 4}, "468312": {"name": {"nominative": "Apodosis of the Transfiguration of the Lord", "short": "Apodosis of"}, "rank": 3}, "474701": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyrs Seraphim and Theognostus (1921)", "short": "New Martyrs"}}, "476604": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest Basil (\u2020 1930)", "short": "New Hieromartyr Basil"}}, "476605": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyrs Priests Peter and Valerian (\u2020 1930)", "short": "New Hieromartyrs Peter and Valerian"}}, "476606": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest John (\u2020 1933)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}, "476607": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest Sergius (\u2020 1933)", "short": "Sergius"}}, "476608": {"name": {"nominative": "St. Michael the New Hieroconfessor (\u2020 1935)", "short": "St. Michael"}}, "476609": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyr Priest Dimitry (1937)", "short": "New Martyr"}}, "476610": {"name": {"nominative": "New Martyrs Priests Alexander, Peter, Michael, John, Dimitriy, and Alexey (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Martyrs"}}, "476614": {"name": {"nominative": "New Hieromartyr Priest John (\u2020 1937)", "short": "New Hieromartyr"}}} |