01. MARCH
Venerable Martyr Eudocia
The venerable martyr Eudocia lived in the Phoenician city of Heliopolis
during the reign of Trajan. Eudocia was a great debaucher at first.
After that she was a penitent, ascetic, and finally a martyr. Through
her debauchery she amassed a great fortune. The change in her life
came about inadvertently through God's Providence and a certain
elder, the monk Herman. Coming into the city on assignment, he resided
at the home of a Christian whose house was adjacent to that of Eudocia.
In the evening and according to monastic tradition, he began to
recite the Psalter and to read a chapter on the dreadful judgment.
Eudocia heard him and attentively eavesdropped on his words to the
end. Fear and terror overcame her, and she remained awake until
dawn. At daybreak, she sent her servant to beseech the monk to come
to her. Herman came and a lengthy conversation took place between
them about faith and salvation in general. As a result of the conversation,
Eudocia petitioned the local bishop to baptize her. Following her
baptism, Eudocia bequeathed her entire estate to the Church to be
distributed among the poor. She dismissed her servants and slaves
and withdrew to a convent. Thus, Eudocia resolved to dedicate herself
to the monastic life, obedience, patience, long vigils, prayer and
fasting. After thirteen months, Eudocia was elected abbess. Eudocia
lived in the convent for fifty-six years and was found worthy before
God. He endowed her with much grace so that she raised even the
dead. When the persecution of Christians began under Prince Vincent,
St. Eudocia was beheaded. Eudocia is a glorious example of how a
vessel of impurity can be purified, sanctified and filled with the
Grace of the Holy Spirit, the precious odor of heaven.
Venerable Agapius
He was a novice under the spiritual direction of a priest in the
Vatopedi Monastery on Mt. Athos. Captured by pirates, Agapius was
sold as a slave in Magnesia. After twelve years, he was miraculously
freed through the help of the All-Holy Mother of God and returned
to Vatopedi. He baptized his former master and became his spiritual
father. Agapius continued the remainder of his life in asceticism
in Vatopedi and died peacefully in the Lord.
Holy Female Martyr, Antonina
Antonina was born in Nicaea. Because of her faith in Christ, she
was arrested and brutally tortured. Finally, she was sewn in a sack
and drowned in a lake in the year 302 A.D. God saved her soul and
continuously glorified her among the angels in heaven and among
the faithful on earth.
02. MARCH
Hieromartyr Theodotus, Bishop of Kyrenia
on the Island of Cyprus
Because of his wisdom and kindness, Theodotus was elected to the
episcopacy and governed the Church of God with love and zeal. When
the persecution of Christians began during the reign of the wicked
Emperor Licinius, this godly man was brought to trial and put through
many tortures. When the torturer Sabinus advised him to deny Christ
and to bow down before pagan idols and to worship them, Theodotus
replied, "If you knew the goodness of my God in Whom I hope, that
because of these temporary sufferings, will make me worthy of eternal
life, you also would wish to suffer in the same manner as I." The
torturers began to strike his body with nails, and he prayed to
God with gratitude. Thinking his end was near, Theodotus counseled
and taught the Christians who were assembled around him. By the
Providence of God, the Emperor Constantine at that time proclaimed
freedom to Christians and ordered that all who were sentenced be
released for the sake of Christ. And so, this saint was freed and
returned to his prior position in Kyrenia. Astortured as he was,
Theodotus lived for several more years. After that, he found repose
in the Lord, Whom he faithfully served and for Whom he suffered.
In the year 302 A.D. his earthly life ended and was translated to
the mansions of our Lord.
Holy Martyr Troadius
As a young man he suffered for Christ. Gregory of Neo-Caesarea
saw in a vision how bravely Troadius withstood his tortures for
Christ until the time he was killed. He saw his soul, which was
separated from the body, joyfully hurrying toward heaven. St. Troadius
suffered and was glorified in the third century.
Four-Hundred and Forty Martyrs
They were killed by the Lombards in Italy about the year 579 A.D.
St. Gregory Dialogues writes about them. In one place, forty of
them were beheaded. At another place, four-hundred of them were
also beheaded, all because they refused to eat of the sacrifices
of the idols. Additionally, these four-hundred refused to dance
around the heads of the goats offered to the demons as a sacrifice
by the pagans, as was the custom of the Lombards.
Venerable Agathon
Agathon was a great Egyptian ascetic who practiced extreme asceticism
in the fifth century. He was a contemporary of St. Macarius and
a disciple of St. Lot (Egyptian Ascetic). He labored and tried to
fulfill all the commandments of our Lord. One of the brethren complimented
him on a small knife with which he used to cut brushwood used for
making baskets. Upon hearing this compliment, the saint joyfully
handed over the knife to that brother as a gift. St. Agathon also
said, "It would be very satisfying for me if I could assume unto
myself the body of a leper and give him mine." Is this not perfect
love?
Martyr Euthalia
This holy Euthalia was a virgin from Sicily. She had a mother
of the same name and a brother named Sermilianus. All were unbaptized
pagans. Her mother Euthalia suffered from an issue of blood. The
holy martyrs, Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus(see May 10th)T(051002),
appeared to her in a dream and told her that she would be healed
only if she became baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Euthalia professed her faith in Christ, was baptized, and indeed
recovered. Upon seeing this miracle, evenEuthalia's daughter was
baptized. After that, Sermilianus began to mock and ridicule his
mother and sister because of their faith in Christ. He threatened
them. The mother became frightened and fled her home. Then the brother
began to persecute his sister. His sister was not frightened, for
Christ was more dear to her than her brother. She said to Sermilianus,
"I am a Christian and I am not afraid of death." The wicked brother
then sent a servant to defile her. When the servant attacked St.
Euthalia, he lost his eyesight. The evil brother saw this miracle
but still remained hard of heart. Just as Cain pursued Abel, Sermilianus
pursued his sister, caught her and beheaded her. Thus, the holy
virgin Euthalia was wedded with the wreath of eternal glory. By
this example, the words of the Lord Christ were fulfilled: that
He brought a sword among men, which causes variances between relations
in blood, but not between relations in faith. "Do not think that
I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring
not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his
father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against
her mother-in-law" (St. Matthew 10:34,35).
03. MARCH
030301. Holy Martyrs, Eutropius, Cleonicus and Basilliscus
They were companions of St. Theodore Tiro. When the righteous
Theodore gloriously died, they remained behind in prison, and for
a long time they were not sentenced due to a change in the emperor's
deputy in the city of Amasea. When the new governor arrived, more
inhuman than his predecessor, he ordered that these three be brought
before him. All three were youths. Eutropius and Cleonicus wereblood
brothers, and Basilliscus was a kinsman of St. Theodore. All three
were like blood brothers in brotherly love. As such, they said before
the governor, "As the Holy Trinity is undivided, so also are we
by our faith undivided and in love inseparable." In vain was all
the flattery on the part of the governor and in vain were his attempts
to bribe Eutropius. First of all, the deputy invited Eutropius to
dine with him. Eutropius refused, quoting from the Psalms, "Happy
the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked" (Psalm 1:1).
After that, the deputy offered him a large amount of money, one
hundred-fifty litres of silver, which Eutropius also refused and
reminded the governor that because of silver, Judas lost his soul.
After all attempts at interrogation and torture, the first two were
sentenced to be crucified, and Basilliscus was sentenced to be beheaded.
And so it was, two brothers crucified on two crosses for which they
gave thanks to Christ that He made them worthy of the same death
by which He Himself died. The third, Basilliscus, was beheaded.
They all entered the Kingdom of Joy where St. Theodore, their commander,
awaited them and who before them was glorified by Christ the Lord
and Victor. They suffered honorably in the year 308 A.D.
030302. Saint Piama the Egyptian
For the sake of Christ, Piama did not wish to marry; she dedicated
herself to a life of asceticism in the home of her mother. She ate
very little food, and that, every other day. She spent most of her
time in prayer and contemplation. Piama possessed the "Gift of Discernment."
She died peacefully, wedding her soul to the Lord about the year
377 A.D.
030303. Unknown Maiden
Coming from a wealthy home in Alexandria, she had a good father
who suffered much and came to an evil end, and an evil mother who
lived well, died peacefully and was buried with honors. Perplexed
as to whether she should live according to the example of her father
or her mother, this maiden had a vision which revealed to her the
conditions of her mother and her father in the other world. She
saw her father in the Kingdom of God and her mother in darkness
and in torment. This vision helped themaiden to decide that she
would dedicate her whole life to God and, like her father, would
adhere to the commandments of God, without considering all the adversities
and the misfortunes which she would have to endure. She was faithful
to the will of God to the end and, with the help of God, was made
worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven where she was reunited with her
God-loving father.
04. MARCH
030401. Venerable Gerasimus
This remarkable and famous saint first learned about the ascetical
lifein the Egyptian Thebaid. He then went to the Jordan and there
founded a community in which there were seventy monks. This community
still exists today. He instituted a special Constitution (Rule)
for his monastery by which the monks spent five days in their cells
weaving baskets, reeds and rush mats. They were never allowed to
light a fire in their cells. For five days they ate only a little
dry bread and dates. The monks were required to keep their cells
open so that when they went out, anyone could enter and remove whatever
he needed from their cells. On Saturdays and Sundays they gathered
in the monastic church. They had a common meal with a few vegetables
and a little wine to the glory of God. Each monk would then bring
in and place before the feet of the abbot that which he had made
during the past five days. Each monk had only one robe. St. Gerasimus
was an example to all. During the Great Lenten Fast he did not eat
anything except what he received in Holy Communion. On one occasion,
he saw a lion roaring from pain because there was a thorn in his
paw. Gerasimus drew near to the lion, crossed himself, and removed
the thorn in the animal's paw. The lion became so tame that he returned
with Gerasimus to the monastery and remained there until the elder's
death. When Gerasimus died, the lion succumbed from sorrow for him.
Gerasimus attended the Fourth Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon, 451
A.D.) during the reign of Marcian and Plucheria. Even though in
the beginning, Gerasimus leaned toward the Monophysite heresy of
Eutyches and Dioscorus, he was a great defender and champion of
Orthodoxy at the Council. St. Euthymius dissuaded him from this
heresy. Of all of the disciples of Gerasimus, the most famous was
St. Cyriacus the Recluse. St. Gerasimus died in the year 475 A.D.,
and was translated into the eternal joy of his Lord.
030402. Holy Martyrs Paul and Juliana
Paul and Juliana were brother and sister from Ptolemais in Phoenicia.
They were brutally tortured for the sake of Christ by the Emperor
Aurelius and were finally beheaded. Before their martyrdom many
of their miracles were manifested, and were witnessed by many pagans.
Through these miracles, many of the pagans were converted to the
Faith. Several of these were beheaded and received their wreaths
in the year 273 A.D.
030403. Saint James the Faster
He lived in the sixth century. He was so perfected in pleasing
God that Jamescured the most gravely ill through his prayers. But
the enemy of mankind lured him into great temptations. At one time,
an immoral woman was sent to him by some scoffers. She misrepresented
herself to James, pretending to be crying yet all the while luring
him into sin. Seeing that he was going to yield to sin, James placed
his left hand into the fire and held it there for some time until
it was scorched. Seeing this, the woman was filled with fear and
terror, repented and amended her life. On another occasion, James
did not flee from his temptation, but rather he succumbs to a maiden,
who was brought as alunatic by her parents to be cured of her insanity.
He, indeed, healed her and after that, sinned with her. Then in
order to conceal his sin he killed her and threw her into a river.
As is common, the steps from adultery to murder are not too distant.
James lived for ten years after that as a penitent in an open grave.
At thattime there was a great drought which caused both people and
live-stock to suffer. As a result of his prayers, rain fell; James
knew that God had forgiven him. Here is an example, similar to that
of David, of how twisted is the demon of evil; how by God's permission,
the greatest spiritual giants can be overthrown, and through sincere
and contrite penance, God, according to His mercy, forgives even
the greatest sins and does not punish those when they punish themselves.
05. MARCH
030501. Holy Martyr Conon of Isauria
He was brought up in the Faith of Christ and baptized in the name
of the All-Holy and Life-giving Trinity by the Archangel Michael,
the Commander of the Angelic Hosts of God. Until his death, the
archangel of God invisibly watched over him. Conon was illumined
and empowered by the Grace of the Holy Spirit so that his heart
was not driven by anything worldly but only by the spiritual and
heavenly. When his parents forced him into marriage, the first evening
he took a candle and placed it under a utensil and asked his bride,
"Which is better, light or darkness?" She replied, "Light." He then
began to talk to her about the Faith of Christ and the spiritual
life as being far more superior and more appealing than the physical.
In this he succeeded. Afterwards Conon converted his wife and her
parents to the Faith of Christ. Conon and his wife lived as brother
and sister. Shortly thereafter, his wife and parents died, and he
withdrew completely from this worldly life and devoted himself completely
to prayer, fasting and pious thoughts. He performed great miracles
through which he converted many to Christianity. Among other examples,
Conon compelled evil spirits to serve him. During the time of a
persecution, he was captured, tortured and pierced throughout with
knives. The sick anointed themselves with his blood and they were
healed. After that, he lived for two additional years in his town
of Isauria and presented himself before the Lord. This glorious
saint lived and was martyred in the second century.
030502. Holy Martyr Conon the Gardener
Conon was born in Nazareth. He was kind and innocent and in all
things found favor with God. During the reign of Decius, Conon was
persecuted, suffered and martyred for Christ. Throughout, he remained
strong in the Faith. He sharply rebuked and criticized the pagan
judges because of their stupidity. With nails driven into his feet
and tied to the prince's chariot, this virtuous and innocent saint
was dragged until he was completely exhausted and fell. It was then
that he prayed for the last time and gave up his soul to God in
the year 251 A.D.
030503. Venerable Hesychius the Faster
Hesychius was born near Brusa in the eighth century. He then retreated
to Mount Maion which had an evil reputation because of demonic apparitions.
There, Hesychius built a hut for himself and a chapel dedicated
to the honor of St. Andrew the Apostle. He surrounded it with a
garden which he cultivated in order to live by his own labor. By
his prayers he performed many miracles. Hesychius prophesied that
after his death a convent would be built on that place. A month
before, he foresaw the day and hour of his death. At midnight on
the foreseen day, some men saw his hut glowing with an extraordinary
light. When they arrived, they found him dead. Hesychius died peacefully
and was received into the kingdom of His Lord in the year 790 A.D.
He was buried in the church of St. Andrew. Later, Theophylactus,
the Bishop of Amasea, translated his body to Amasea.
030504. Venerable Mark the Ascetic
Mark was an ascetic and miracle-worker. In his fortieth year he
was tonsured a monk by his teacher St. John Chrysostom. Mark then
spent sixty more years in the wilderness of Nitria in fasting, prayer
and writing many spiritual works concerning the salvation of souls.
He knew the entire Holy Scriptures by heart. He was very merciful
and kind. He wept much for the misfortunes which had befallen all
of God's creation. On one occasion, while crying, he prayed to God
for a blind puppy of a hyena and the puppy received its sight. In
thanksgiving the mother of the hyena brought him a sheepskin. The
saint forbade the hyena in the future to kill any more sheep of
poor people. He received Communion at the hands of the angels. His
homilies concerning the spiritual law, on repentance, and on sobriety,
etc., are ranked among the first-class literature of the Church.
These works were praised by the great Patriarch Photius himself.
06. MARCH
030601. Holy Forty-Two Martyrs From Ammoria
They were all commanders of the Byzantine Emperor Theophilus.
When the Emperor Theophilus lost the battle against the Saracens
at the city of Ammoria, the Saracens captured the city, enslaved
many Christians and among them these commanders. The remaining Christians
were either killed or sold into slavery. The commanders were thrown
into prison where they remained for seven years. Many times the
Muslim leaders came to them. They counseled and advised the commanders
to embrace the Islamic Faith, but the commanders did not want to
hear about it. When the Saracens spoke to the commanders, saying,
"Mohammed is the true prophet and not Christ," the commanders asked
them, "If there were two men debating about a field and the one
said, "This field is mine," and the other, "It is not, it is mine,"
and near by, one of them had many witnesses saying it is his field
and the other had no witnesses, but only himself, what would you
say, "Whose field is it?" The Saracens answered, "Indeed, to him
who had many witnesses!" "You have judged correctly," the commanders
answered. That is the way with Christ and Mohammed. Christ has many
witnesses: the Prophets of old, from Moses to John the Forerunner,
whom you also recognize and who witness to and about Him (Christ),
but Mohammed witnesses only to himself that he is a prophet and
does not have even one witness. The Saracens were ashamed and again
they tried to defend their faith in this manner: "Our faith is better
than the Christian Faith as proved by this: God gave us the victory
over you and gave us the best land in the world and a kingdom much
greater than Christianity." To that the commanders replied, "If
it were so, then the idolatry of the Egyptians, Babylonians, Hellenes,
Romans, and the fire-worship of the Persians would be the true faith
for, at one time, all of these people conquered the others and ruled
over them. It is evident that your victory, power and wealth do
not prove the truth of your faith. We know that God, at times, gives
victory to Christians and, at other times, allows torture and suffering
so as to correct them and to bring them to repentance and purification
of their sins." After seven years, they were beheaded in the year
845 A.D. Their bodies were then thrown into the Euphrates river,
but they floated to the other side of the shore where they were
gathered and honorably buried by Christians.
030602. Blessed Job
Job was born in Moscow in the year 1635 A.D. Church singing and
liturgical services drew him to the Church. He became the spiritual
father to Emperor Peter the Great but, because of intrigue, he withdrew
into the Slovecki Monastery, where he underwent a difficult life
of asceticism. In the year 1720 A.D., in his eighty fifth year,
he died in the Lord. Before his death he cried out, "Blessed is
the God of our Fathers and as He is thus, I am not afraid but, with
joy, I leave this world."
030603. Holy Martyrs Conon the Father and Conon the Son
When the father was already an old man, the son was a youngster
of seventeen years. During the reign of Domentian, they were sawed
in half for their faith in Christ and were glorified and honored
in the Church on earth and in heaven. They honorably suffered in
the year 275 A.D.
07. MARCH
030701. Holy Seven Hieromartyrs in Cherson: Basil, Ephrem, Eugenius,
Elpidus, Agathadorus, Aetherius, and Capito
All of them were bishops in Cherson at different times. All suffered
and were martyred at the hands of unbelievers, whether they were
Jews, Greeks or Scythians, except Aetherius, who died peacefully.
All of them were sent by the Patriarch of Jerusalem as missionaries
to bring the light of the Gospel to these wild and uncivilized areas.
They were tortured and suffered for their Lord. In Cherson, Basil
raised the son of a prince from the dead which embittered the Jews
and they, in turn, brought an accusation against him. He was tied
and bound by the feet and dragged through the streets until his
soul departed him. Ephrem was beheaded. Eugenius, Elpidus and Agathadorus
were beaten with rods and stoned until they gave up their souls
to God. Aetherius lived during the reign of Emperor Constantine
the Great. He governed the Church in freedom and peace, erected
a large church in Cherson, and died peacefully. When the last of
them, Capito, was appointed bishop for the wild and savage Scythians,
they sought a sign from him that they may believe. They suggested
that he enter into a fiery furnace and, if he was not consumed,
they would all believe in Christ. With fervent prayers and hope
in God, Capito placed his episcopal pallium over his shoulders,
signed himself with the sign of the cross, and entered into the
flaming hot furnace, keeping his heart close to God. He remained
in the flames for about an hour without any injury or damage, either
to his body or to his vesture. He came out in good health. Then,
at once, all of them cried out: "One is God, the God of the Christians,
great and mighty, Who protects His servant in the flaming furnace."
The entire city and all the vicinity were then baptized. This miracle
was spoken of at length at the First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea,
325 A.D.). The participants in the Council all glorified God and
praised the steadfast and solid faith of St. Capito. It happened
that while Capito was traveling along the Dnieper river, he was
captured by the pagan Scythians and was drowned. All these seven
priestly-martyrs suffered during the early years of the fourth century.
030702. Venerable Emilianus
Emilianus was born in Rome and committed many grave sins in his
youth. When Emilianus came to his senses, he refrained from sinning
and began to tremble just thinking about the judgment of God. Emilianus
immediately entered a monastery and by fasting, vigils and obedience,
he tamed and shriveled his body. He was an ideal example to his
brethren in all virtuous acts of asceticism. Frequently at night,
he would step out of the monastery and enter into a nearby cave
to pray. Not knowing where Emilianus was going, the abbot of the
monastery secretly followed him one night. The abbot saw Emilianus
standing at prayer in reverence and in tears. All at once, a heavenly
light, brighter than the sun, encompassed the entire mountain but
especially the cave and Emilianus. A voice was heard from heaven
saying, "Emilianus, your sins are forgiven you." Filled with fright,
the abbot hurried back to the monastery. The next day, he revealed
to the brethren what he had seen and heard the previous night. Great
respect was shown to Emilianus by the brethren. He lived long and
died to the Lord.
08. MARCH
030801. Saint Theophylactus, Bishop of Nicomedia
When the emperor's advisor Tarasius, as a layman, was elected
Patriarch ofConstantinople, then with him and from him, many of
his friends, admirers, and others of the laity received the monastic
tonsure. Among them was Theophylactus. Tarasius appointed him Bishop
of Nicomedia. As a bishop, Theophylactus was a good shepherd to
his entrusted flock and proved to be exceptionally filled with compassion
toward the less fortunate and indigent. After the death of St. Tarasius,
the Patriarchal Throne was occupied by Nicephorus and shortly after
that, the Imperial Throne was occupied by Leo the Armenian, who
was an Iconoclast and, as such, raised up a absolute storm in the
Church of Christ. Even though Iconoclasm had been anathematized
by the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 783 A.D.), nevertheless,
Emperor Leo re-instated it and by this wanted to supplant Orthodoxy.
Saint Theophylactus opposed the emperor to his face and, when the
emperor would not yield, Theophylactus said to him, "O emperor,
violent injury will unexpectedly befall you, and you will not find
anyone who will save you from it." Because of these words and by
the order of the emperor, Theophylactus was ousted from his position
and banished into exile, where he spent thirty years undergoing
many hardships and insults and, where, in the end, he rendered his
soul to the Lord about the year 845 A.D.
030802. Holy Hieromartyr Theodoretus
The Emperor Constantine built a cathedral church of special beauty
in Antioch. The people called this church "the golden church" because
of the gold-plated exterior and interior and because of the many
appointments of gold and silver housed in it. The emperor donated
a great deal of land to this church for the upkeep of the clergy
whose number was significant. The custodian of these appointments
and all other precious items in the church was the presbyter Theodoretus,
and rare devotion. When Julian the Apostate began his reign, he
denied Christ and, even though he was baptized, stirred up a persecution
against Christians. Julian, his uncle of the same name, came to
Antioch and began to plunder the "golden church." He summoned Theodoretus,
the custodian of the treasury, to court and counseled him to deny
Christ. Not only did Theodoretus refuse to deny Christ, but he also
insulted the Emperor Julian because of his apostasy from the True
Faith and his return to idolatry, as a dog returning to his own
vomit. When the wicked judge, out of rage, urinated in the "golden
church," St. Theodoretus prophesied a horrible death for him, which
shortly happened. Theodoretus was beheaded by an axe for his faith
in Christ. From the time that Judge Julian had urinated in the church,
he felt pains in the lower part of his body. The entire lower half
of his body was eaten away by worms, so that he vomited up his apostate
soul in the most horrible pains. Also, according to the prophecy
of Theodoretus, Felix, Julian's assistant, diedof a hemorrhage from
the mouth immediately after the beheading of this righteous man.
St. Theodoretus was beheaded in the year 362 A.D. and was translated
to the All-glorious kingdom of Christ the King.
09. MARCH
030901. Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastea
All of them were soldiers in the Roman army and steadfastly believed
in the Lord Jesus. When the persecution of Christians began during
the reign of Licinius, they were brought to trial before the commander.
When he threatened to strip them of their honor as soldiers, one
of them, St. Candidus, responded, "Not only the honor of being a
soldier, but take away our bodies, for nothing is more dear or honorable,
to us than Christ our God." After that, the commander ordered his
servants to stone the holy martyrs. While the servants were hurling
stones at the Christians, the stones turned and fell back on the
servants, severely striking them. One of the stones struck the commander's
face and knocked out his teeth. The torturers, angry as wild beasts,
bound all of the holy martyrs and tossed them into the lake and
stationed a guard around it so as to prevent any of them from escaping.
There was a terrible frost and the lake froze around the bodies
of the martyrs. So that their pain and suffering would be worsened,
and in order to persuade one of them to deny Christ and acknowledge
the idols of Rome, the torturers heated a bath by the side of the
lake in sight of the frozen martyrs. Indeed, one of them was persuaded.
He came out of the water and entered the bath. And behold, an extraordinary
light appeared from heaven which warmed the water in the lake and
the bodies of the martyrs. With that light, thirty-nine wreaths
descended from heaven over their heads. Upon seeing this, a guard
on the shore removed all his clothes, confessed the Name of the
Lord Jesus and entered the lake so that he could become worthy of
the fortieth wreath in place of the betrayer. Indeed, the last wreath
descended upon him. The next day the entire town was astonished
when they saw that the martyrs were still alive. Then, the wicked
judges ordered that the lower part of their legs be broken and their
bodies thrown into the water so Christians could not recover them.
On the third day the martyrs appeared to Peter, the local bishop,
and summoned him to gather their relics and remove them from the
water The bishop with his clergy went out into the dark of night
and beheld the relics of the martyrs shining brightly in the water.
Every bone which was separated from their bodies floated to the
top and glowed like a candle. Bishop Peter gathered and honorably
buried them. The souls of these martyrs, who suffered for all of
us, went to the Lord Jesus, resurrected with glory. They suffered
honorably and were crowned with unfading glory in the year 320 A.D.
030902. Venerable Filomorus
He lived and mortified himself in Galatia in the fourth century.
It is said about him that he was so perfected in all virtues that
he resembled an angel rather than a man. He was especially glorified
because of his patience. He was persecuted by the Emperor Julian
the Apostate and suffered much for Christ. After the death of Julian,this
wicked persecutor of Christ, St. Filomorus lived peacefully, benefiting
many. He died in his eightieth year.
030903. Saint Caesarius
St. Caesarius, the brother of Gregory the Theologian who died
in the year 369 A.D., was also a theological writer. Among other
things he attempted to answer the question: How long a time did
Adam and Eve spend in Paradise before their expulsion? Some have
determined the time to be six hours; others, twenty-four hours;
and still others, three days. St. Caesarius was of the mind that
the length of time was forty days. "Because," he says, "Our Lord
fasted forty days in the wilderness and during that time He was
tempted by the devil. Since the old Adam could not resist the temptation
of the devil in the abundance of Paradise, the new Adam resisted
the devil gallantly in the hungry and thirsty wilderness."
10. MARCH
031001. Holy Martyr Codratus of Corinth and Others With Him
During the time of the persecution of Christians, many of the
faithful fled to the mountains and into the caves. So did the mother
of Codratus. She was pregnant at the time and gave birth to Codratus
in the forest and died shortly thereafter. Codratus was cared for
by, fed by and guided by Divine Providence and by his Guardian Angel.
Codratus grew up in nature and in solitude. He, who gave manna from
heaven to the Israelites in the wilderness, dropped from the clouds
a sweet dew on the mouth of the child Codratus. When he was twelve
years old, he entered into town and there some benevolent men took
a liking to him and provided him with an education. He studied medicine
and healed the sick, as much with natural cures and even more by
the power of the spirit and prayer, which he was accustomed to since
his childhood. When a new persecution arose again under Decius,
Codratus was brought to trial and cast into prison. Five companions
joined him and confessed the name of Christ. They were Cyprian,
Dionysius, Anectus, Paul and Crescens. They were all dragged through
the streets by the pagans, especially by their children. They were
beaten with rods and stoned until they were eventually dragged to
the scaffold. There, the martyrs prayed to God and were beheaded.
On this spot a source of watergushed out of the ground which is
still called Codratus even today and is a reminder of the heroic
deaths of these six holy innocents for Christ. They honorably suffered
for the truth in the year 250 A.D. in Corinth during the reign of
Emperor Decius and his governor, Jason.
031002. Holy Martyr Codratus of Nicomedia
He was a wealthy nobleman and at the same time a staunch baptized
Christian. During time of persecution when Valerian imprisoned many
Christians, Codratus bribed the jailers and entered the prison bringing
with him various foodstuffs for those in captivity and strengthened
them in their faith. When they were brought before the judge who
questioned them about their names, their homeland, and their rank,
they remained silent. Then Codratus suddenly appeared behind them
and cried out with a loud voice, "By name, we are Christians; servants
of Jesus Christ the Lord, by title and by birth; and our city and
homeland is heaven." After this declaration, he was also arrested
and after prolonged and cruel torture was beheaded with the others.
031003. Venerable Mother Anastasia
Anastasia was a patrician and lady of the imperial palace of Emperor
Justinian. After she was widowed and when she perceived that Empress
Theodora could not tolerate her, she immediately slipped out of
Constantinople and turned up in the wilderness of Egypt. The renown
spiritual father Abba Daniel tonsured her a nun and presented her
as the monk Anastasius the eunuch according to her wishes so that,
as a woman under the guise of a man, she could easily be protected
and hidden from the pursuit of the emperor. Anastasia then closed
herself off in a narrow cell where she spent twenty-eight years
and died there in the year 563 A.D. Before her death, the Elder
Daniel saw her face glow like the sun.
11. MARCH
031101. Saint Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem
Sophronius was born in Damascus of distinguished parents. Having
acquired worldly wisdom, he was, nevertheless, not satisfied but
went to seek and acquire spiritual wisdom. In the monastery (Lavra)
of St. Theodosius, he found himself in the company of a monk, John
Moschus, whom he choose for his teacher, and together with him traveled
about and visisted monasteries and those ascetics in Egypt who were
practicing the life of asceticism. His watch word was "Each day
learn more about spiritual wisdom." All that they had learned they
wrote down and later published two books under the title, "Spiritual
Meadow." Later on, they traveled to Rome, where Moschus died leaving
a testament to Sophronius to have his body taken, either to Sinai
or to the Monastery of St. Theodosius. Sophronius fulfilled the
desires and wishes of his teacher and translated his body to the
Monastery of St. Theodosius and thereafter remained in Jerusalem
which, at that time, was liberated from the Persians. He was present
at the Translation of the Honorable Cross from Persia which the
Emperor Heraclius carried on his shoulders into the Holy City. The
aged Patriarch Zacharias, who had also returned from bondage, did
not live long thereafter when he took up habitation in the other
world. Patriarch Zacharias was replaced by Modestus who died in
634 A.D. Modestus was replaced by Blessed Sophronius. He governed
the Church for ten years with exceptional wisdom and zeal. He rose
up in defense of Orthodoxy against the heresy of Monotheletism which
he condemned at his Council in Jerusalem before it was condemned
at the Sixth Ecumenical Council (Constantinople, 680 A.D.). He wrote
The Life of St. Mary the Egyptian, complied The Order of the Greater
Blessing of Water, and introduced several new hymns and songs in
the various liturgical services. When the Arab Caliph captured Jerusalem,
Sophronius begged him to spare the lives of the Christians which
Omar insincerely promised. When Omar immediately began to plunder
and maltreat the Christians in Jerusalem, Sophronius, with lamentation,
prayed to God to take him from among the living on earth, so that
he would not witness the desecration of the Holy Shrines. God heard
his prayer and took Sophronius to Himself into His heavenly mansion
in the year 644 A.D.
031102. Holy Martyr Pionius and Others With Him
Pionius was priest from Syria. He suffered in Smyrna during the
time ofpersecution under Decius. He was condemned to be crucified,
for which he was exceedingly glad. As soon as the soldiers formed
a cross and laid it upon the ground, Pionius freely lay on the cross,
stretched out his arms and ordered the soldiers to nail him in the
hands with spikes. The cross was inserted in the ground upside down
and a fire was ignited under the head of the martyr. Many people
gathered around. Pionius closed his eyes and prayed to God within
himself. The flames of the fire did not even catch the hairs of
his head on fire. When, at last, the fire was extinguished and when
everyone thought that Pionius was dead, he opened his eyes and cried
out rejoicing, "O God, receive my soul," and expired. This saint
wrote " The Life of St. Polycarp of Smyrna," with whom he rejoices
in the Kingdom of Christ. He suffered and was glorified in the year
250 A.D.
031103. Venerable Gregory Sinaites
Gregory was the abbot of Mount Sinai, a great ascetic and a just
man. On the vigil of Pascha (the Feast of the Resurrection of Our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ),an angel of the Lord conveyed him
to Jerusalem for the Divine Services and returned him again to Sinai
the same day. He died peacefully in the sixth century.
12. MARCH
031201. Venerable Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes is called the Sygrian (Sigrian) because of Sygriana
(Sigriana), the place of his birth. He was a kinsman of the Emperor
Leo Isaurian and his son Copronymos. He possessed great wealth and
splendor. But all of this lost its worth for Theophanes when the
Lord Christ began to reign in his soul. He resisted his own marriage
and, when he was compelled to marry, succeeded in counseling his
bride to live together in chastity, as brother and sister. As soon
as his parents died, his wife entered a convent and he, a monastery.
His monastery was located in the Sygrian Mountains in the Province
of Cyzicus. The one-time glorious and wealthy Theophanes lived in
this monastery as the least of the poor. All were amazed at the
change in him. Having become renown because of his strong faith,
abstinence, and wisdom, he was summoned to the Seventh Ecumenical
Council (Nicaea, 783 A.D.)where the veneration of icons was confirmed.
Because of his purity and chastity, God bestowed upon him the gift
of performing miracles, by which he cured all diseases, especially
maniacal disorders and insanity. He prayed to God for all the sick
and the unfortunate and, through his prayers, helped them. Only
when he became ill and his illness lingered for a while, did he
refuse to pray to God for the restoration of his own health but
endured his illness with gratitude. When the Iconoclastic persecution
resumed again under the wicked Leo the Armenian, Theophanes was
brought to Constantinople and cast into prison, where he languished
for two years in hardships, pain and humiliation. Then the emperor
banished him into exile to the island of Samothrace, which he had
earlier foreseen in his spirit and had mentioned it to his jailers.
After he arrived at Samothrace, he lived for twenty-three days and
appeared before His Lord and Creator to receive his merited wreath
of glory.
031202. Venerable Simeon the New Theologian
This God-bearing and great Father of the Church was born in Galatia,
Paphlagonia. Simeon was educated in Constantinople and was assigned
as a courtier in attendance to the Emperors Basil and Constantine
Porphyrogenitus. Simeon left all for the sake of Christ and retreated
to a monastery. He lived a life of asceticism under the direction
of the Elder Simeon, after which he became the abbot of the Monastery
of St. Mamas and in the end became a recluse. He is the greatest
theologian after St. Gregory the Theologian. Simeon felt God's Grace
in his heart. His words are true spiritual and theological revelations.
He died in 1032 A.D. His relics are miracle-performing.
031203. Saint Gregory Dialogues, the Pope of Rome
The son of Senator Gordianus and afterwards, himself, a senator
and mayor of the city of Rome. As soon as his father died, Gregory
surrendered himself to the spiritual life. From his wealth he built
six monasteries in Sicily and the seventh in the city of Rome, in
honor of St. Andrew the Apostle, in which he was tonsured a monk.
Sylvia, his mother, entered a convent and was tonsured a nun. After
the death of Pope Pelagius II, Gregory was chosen Pope. He fled
from this honor and authority hiding himself in the mountains and
ravines, but the Lord revealed him to those who were seeking him
in the following manner: a fiery column appeared from the ground
to heaven over the place where Gregory hid himself. He was exceptionally
charitable. All of his income was used for building shelters and
hospices for the needy. Often he invited less fortunate men and
served them around the table. He spent his time writing beneficial
(inspirational) books. He is also called Dialogues because he wrote
a book under that name in which he extolled the miracles of the
Italian saints. He also composed the "Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified
Gifts," which is celebrated on Wednesdays and Fridays of the Great
Lenten Season. His Arch-deacon Peter saw a dove flying above Gregory's
head as he was seated and writing. He presented himself before the
Lord in the year 604 A.D.
13. MARCH
031301. Saint Nicephorus, Patriarch of Constantinople
Nicephorus governed the Holy Church wisely and zealously as one
of the greatest Arch-pastors of Constantinople. When Leo the Armenian
rose up against icons, Nicephorus alone defied the emperor. He first
counseled the emperor and then later unmasked him. That is why the
depraved emperor banished him to the island of Prokenesis. On this
island there was a monastery which Nicephorous had built in honor
of Saint Theodore. This confessor of the Orthodox Faith remained
in this monastery for thirteen years and afterwards presented himself
to the Lord in the year 827 A.D. Since all the iconoclastic emperors
had perished, and Michael, with his mother Theodora, sat on the
Imperial Throne, Patriarch Methodius then was restored to the Patriarchal
Throne. The relics of St. Nicephorous were translated from Prokenesis
to Constantinople in 846 A.D. and were reposed, first in the Church
of the Divine Wisdom of God (St. Sophia), from which he was banished
during his life, and later reposed in the Church of the Twelve Apostles.
The principal feast of this great hierarch is commemorated on June
2 and again on March 13 when the discovery and translation of his
incorruptible relics is commemorated. On March 13, St. Nicephorous
was banished from Constantinople and then, again, on March 13, nineteen
years later, his relics were returned to the Capitol.
031302. Saint Christina the Persian
For her unwavering confession of faith in Christ, she was cruelly
tortured in Persia in the fourth century. So much did they torture
her, flogging her with a whip, that she became weak and died. Her
soul then departed from her tortured body and entered into the joy
of Christ, the King and Lord.
031303. Hieromartyr, Publius
This priestly-martyr was successor to the episcopal throne of
the glorious Dionysius the Areopagite in Athens. As a bishop, he
was tortured by the pagans and beheaded in the second century. After
a brief period of torture, he inherited life eternal.
14. MARCH
031401. Venerable Benedict
Benedict was born in Nursia (Norcia) a province in Italy, in the
year 480 A.D., of wealthy and distinguished parents. He did not
remain long in school for he alone saw that because of lack of knowledge
one can lose "the great understanding of his soul." He left school
"an unlearned wise man and an understanding fool." He retreated
to a monastery where he was tonsured by the monk Romanus after which
he withdrew to a steep mountain where he remained in a cave for
more than three years in a great struggle over his soul. Romanus
brought him bread and lowered it down the steep mountain on a rope
to the opening of the cave. When Benedict became known in the vicinity
and in order to retreat from the glory of man, he withdrew from
this cave. He was merciless toward himself. Once, when an unclean
and raging passion of the flesh seized him, he removed all his clothes
and rolled around naked in the thorns until he repelled every thought
of a woman. God endowed him with many spiritual gifts: he discerned
thoughts; he healed; he expelled evil spirits; he raised the dead;
he appeared to some openly; and to others who were distant, he appeared
in dreams. At one time, Benedict perceived that the glass of wine
served to him was poisoned. When he made the sign of the cross over
it, the glass burst. In the beginning he established twelve monasteries
and in all of them, he placed twelve monks each. Later on, he founded
the special order of the Benedictines which exists even today in
the Roman Church. On the sixth day before his death, he ordered
that his grave which had been prepared earlier be opened for the
saint foresaw that his end was near. He assembled all the monks,
counseled them and then gave up his soul to the Lord whom he had
faithfully served in poverty and in purity. Scholastica, his sister
by birth, lived in a convent and looking up to her brother, she
greatly mortified herself and reached a high state of spiritual
perfection. When St. Benedict gave up his soul, two monks, one traveling
on the road and one at prayer in a far away cell, simultaneously
saw the same vision. They saw a path extending from earth to heaven,
covered with a precious woven fiber and illuminated on both sides
by rows of men. At the head of the path, there stood a man of indescribable
beauty and light who said to them that this path was prepared for
Benedict, favored by God. As a result of this vision, these two
brothers learned that their good abbot departed from this world.
He died peacefully in the year 543 A.D. and entered into the eternal
Kingdom of Christ the King.
031402. Saint Euschemon, Bishop of Lampsacus
At the time of the Iconoclastic controversy Euschemon endured
persecution and imprisonment. He died during the reign of Emperor
Theophilus, the Iconoclast (829-842 A.D.).
031403. Saint Theognostus
Theognostus was Metropolitan of Kiev. He was a Greek by origin
and a successor to St. Peter of Kiev. He suffered much from the
Mongol hordes, especially at the hands of Janibeg Khan. Theognostus
was slandered by his own Russian people before the Mongolian emperor
because he did not render the emperor any tribute for his episcopal
rank. When the emperor summoned and questioned him concerning this,
Theognostus replied: "Christ our God has redeemed this Church from
paganism by His Precious Blood. For what and on what should I pay
tribute to the pagans?" In the end he was released and returned
home. He governed the Church for twenty-five years. He died to the
Lord in the year 1353 A.D.
15. MARCH
031501. Holy Martyr Agapius and the Seven With Him: Publius,
Timolaus, Romulus, Alexander, Alexander, Dionysius and Dionysius
They all suffered in Caesarea in Palestine at the hand of Prince
Urban during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. All seven were extremely
young men, none of whom were Christians, except Agapius. Neither
were they baptized with water, but theirs was a "baptism by blood."
One day these seven young men were observing how Christians were
being tortured; one in the fire, another on the gallows and a third
before wild beasts. Seeing with what great forbearance these Christians
endured all pain and sufferings, these seven became inflamed with
a zeal for Christ. They tied their hands behind their backs and
came before Urban saying, "We also are Christians." The flattery
and threats of Urban remained, but in vain. These young men were
joined by a distinguished citizen of this town, Agapius, who, until
then, had suffered much for Christ. They became all the more enflamed
in their faith and love for the Lord. All were beheaded in the year
303 A.D. and took up their abode in the mansions of the Heavenly
King.
031502. Holy Martyr Alexander
Alexander was from the city of Side in Pamphylia. A deputy of
the Emperor Aurelius asked Alexander, "Who are you and what are
you?" To that, Alexander replied that, he is a shepherd of the flock
of Christ." "And where is this flock of Christ?," further inquired
the wicked and suspicious governor. Alexander replied, "Throughout
the entire world where men live whom Christ the God created, and
among those who believe in Him, they are His sheep. But all who
are fallen away from their Creator and are slaves to creation, to
man-made things and to dead idols, such as you, are estranged from
His flock. At the dreadful judgment of God, they will be placed
on the left with the goats." The wicked judge then ordered that
Alexander, first of all, be beaten with oxen straps and then thrown
into a fiery furnace. But the fire did not harm him in any way.
After that, he was skinned and was thrown to the wild beasts, but
the beasts would not touch him. Finally, the deputy ordered thatAlexander
be beheaded. Just as soon as the judge pronounced the sentence,
he became possessed by an evil spirit and went insane. Howling,
the judge was led before his god-idol and on the way, his evil soul
was wrenched from him. St. Alexander suffered between the years
270 - 275 A.D.
031503. Holy Martyr Nicander, the Egyptian
Nicander was skinned and then beheaded for his faith in Christ.
As a physician, his crime was that he ministered to Christian martyrs
and honorably buried their martyred bodies. He suffered honorable
in the year 302 A.D.
16. MARCH
031601. Holy Apostle Aristobulus, One of the Seventy Apostles
Born in Cyprus, Aristobulus was the brother of the Apostle Barnabas.
He followed the Apostle Paul, who mentions him in his Epistle to
the Romans saying, "Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus"
(Romans 16:10). When the great apostle appointed many bishops throughout
the various parts of the world, he appointed Aristobulus as bishop
for the British, that is, England. In Britain the people were savages,
heathen and wicked. Aristobulus endured many indescribable tortures,
misfortunes and evil among them. They struck and beat him mercilessly,
dragged him about the streets, ridiculed and mocked him. Finally
this holy man succeeded by the power of the Grace of God. He enlightened
the people, baptized them in the name of Christ the Lord, built
churches, ordained priests and deacons and, in the end, died there
peacefully and entered into the Kingdom of the Lord, Whom he faithfully
served.
031602. Holy Martyr Sabinus
Sabinus was a Syrian from the city of Hermopolis and an official
of that city. At the time of a persecution against the Christians,
he withdrew to a mountain with a large number of other Christians
and closed himself off in a hut, where he spent his time in fasting
and prayer. A certain beggar, who brought him food and for whom
Sabinus performed a good deed, reported him. As did Judas to Christ,
so also, this unfortunate one betrayed his benefactor for two pieces
of gold. Sabinus, with six others, were apprehended, bound by the
soldiers and brought to stand trial. After great and enormous pains
he was cast into the Nile river where he gave up his soul to God
in the year 287.A.D.
031603. Hieromartyrs Trophimus and Thallus
They were born in Syria and were brothers by birth. They openly
and freely preached Christ and denounced the folly of the Hellenes
(Greeks) and Romans. The enraged pagans decided to have them stoned
to death, but when they began hurling stones upon these two holy
brothers, the stones reverted and struck the assailants and the
brothers remained unharmed. Afterward they were both crucified.
From their crosses the brothers taught and encouraged those Christians
who stood sorrowfully around. After much agony they presented their
souls to the Lord to Whom they remained faithful to the end. They
suffered honorably in the year 300 A.D., in the city of Bofor.
17. MARCH
031701. Saint Alexis, the Man of God
Varied are the paths upon which God leads those who desire to
please Him and to fulfill His Law. There lived in Rome at the time
of Emperor Honorius a high-ranking dignitary, Euphemian, who was
highly respected and extremely wealthy. He and his wife, Algae,
led a God-pleasing life. Even though he was wealthy, Euphemian sat
at the table once a day, only after the setting of the sun. He had
an only son, Alexis, who, when he had reached the age of maturity,
was compelled to marry. But on that same night, he left not only
his wife but the home of his father as well. Alexis boarded a boat
and arrived at the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia, where there was
a renown image of our Lord, sent there by our Lord Himself to Emperor
Abgar. Having venerated this image, Alexis clothed himself in the
dress of a beggar and, as such, lived in the city for seventeen
years, continually praying to God in the vestibule of the Church
of the Holy Mother of God. When it became public that he was a man
of God, he became frightened of the praise of men, departed Edessa
and boarded a boat and traveled to Laodicea. According to God's
Providence, the boat was carried away and sailed all the way to
Rome. Considering this to be the finger of God, Alexis decided to
go to the house of his father and there, as an unknown, continued
his life of self-denial. His father did not recognize him but out
of charity allowed him to live in his courtyard in a hut. Alexis
remained here for seventeen years living only on bread and water.
Mistreated by the servants in various ways, he endured all to the
end. When his end approached, he wrote a letter, clenched it in
his hand, laid down and died on March 17, 411 A.D. At the same time
there was a revelation in the Church of the Twelve Apostles, and
in the presence of the emperor and the patriarch, a voice was heard
which said, "Seek out the Man of God." Shortly after that, it was
revealed that this Man of God resided at the house of Euphemian.
The emperor along with the pope and an entire retinue arrived at
the home of Euphemian and after a lengthy discussion learned that
the beggar was that "Man of God." When they entered his hut, they
found Alexis dead but his face shown as the sun. From that letter
his parents learned that it was their son Alexis. Also, his bride,
who for 34 years lived without him, learned that he was her husband.
All were overcome with immense grief and pain. Later, they were
comforted after seeing how God glorified His chosen one. By touching
his body, many of the sick were healed, and from his body flowed
a sweet-smelling oil (Chrism). His body was buried in a sarcophagus
of marble and jasper. His head reposes in the Church of St. Laurus
in the Peloponnese.
031702. Holy Martyr Marinus
Marinus was a soldier. Not only did he not want to offer sacrifices
to the idols, but if others made sacrifices, he scattered and trampled
them under his feet. As a result of this, Marinus was tortured and
beheaded in the third century. A certain Senator, Astyrius, clothed
in a priceless white garment witnessed the suffering of St. Marinus.
Astyrius was so overcome with enthusiasm for the Faith of Christ,
Who gives to His followers so much courage, that he placed the martyred
body on his shoulders, removed it and buried it with honors. Upon
seeing this, the pagans murdered him also as a Christian.
18. MARCH
031801. Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem
Cyril was born in Jerusalem during the reign of Constantine the
Great and died during the reign of Theodosius the Great (315-386
A.D.) He was ordained a priest in 346 A.D. and succeeded to the
throne of Blessed Maximus, Patriarch of Jerusalem in 350 A.D. On
three occasions he was dethroned and banished into exile until finally,
during the reign of Theodosius, he was restored and lived peacefully
for eight years and then gave up his soul to the Lord. He underwent
two difficult struggles: one, against the Arians, who became powerful
under Constantius, the son of Constantine, and the other during
the reign of Julian the Apostate (this turncoat) and with the Jews.
At the time of the dominance of the Arians and on the Day of Pentecost,
a sign of the cross, brighter than the sun, appeared which stretched
over Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives and lasted for several hours
from the ninth hour in the morning. Concerning this phenomenon,
seen by all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a report was written to
Emperor Constantius which served much in establishing Orthodoxy
against the heretics. During the time of the Apostate, still another
sign occurred. In order to humiliate the Christians Julian persuaded
the Jews to restore the Temple of Solomon. Cyril prayed to God that
this not happen. There was a terrible earthquake which destroyed
all that had been newly built. Then the Jews began restoration anew.
Again, there was an earthquake which destroyed not only the newly
constructed portion but overturned and scattered the old stones
beneath the ground which supported the Temple. And so the words
of the Lord came true that "there will not be left here a stone
upon another stone that will not be thrown down" (St. Matthew 13:2
- St. Luke 2:6). Among the many writings of this holy father is
his Catechetical Discourses, a first class work preserved to the
present which confirms the faith and practice of Orthodoxy. This
saint was a unique arch-pastor and a great ascetic. He was meek
and humble, exhausted from fasting, and pallid. After a life of
many labors and noble struggles for the Orthodox Faith, Cyril peacefully
died and took up habitation in the eternal court of the Lord.
031802. Aninus, the Wonder-Worker
Aninus was born in Chalcedon. He was of short stature as was Zacchaeus
of old but great in spirit and faith. He withdrew from the world
in his fifteenth year and settled in a hut near the Euphrates river
where he prayed to God and atoned for his sins, at first with his
teacher Mayum and, after his death, alone. Through the power of
his prayers, he replenished a dry well with water, healed the sick
of various maladies and tamed wild beasts. A trained lion accompanied
him and was at his service at all times. He discerned the future.
When Pionius, a stylite, was attacked and badly beaten by robbers
some distance away from Aninus, Pionius decided to descend from
the pillar and proceed to complain to the judges. St. Aninus "discerned
the soul" of this stylite and his intention. He sent a letter to
Pionius, by his lion, counseling him to abandon his intention, to
forgive his assailants and to continue in his asceticism. His charity
was inexpressible. The bishop of Neo-Caesarea presented him with
a donkey in order to ease the burden of carrying water from the
river, but he gave the donkey to a needy man who had complained
to him about his poverty. The bishop presented him with another
donkey and he gave that one away. Finally, the bishop gave him a
third donkey, not only to serve as a water-carrier but one that
Aninus was to care for and to return. Before his death Aninus saw
Moses, Aaron and Or (Egyptian Ascetic) approaching him, and they
called out to him, "Aninus, the Lord is calling you, arise and come
with us." He revealed this to his disciples and gave up his soul
to the Lord, Whom he faithfully served. He was one-hundred ten years
old when his earthly life was ended.
19. MARCH
031901. Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria and the Others With
Them
Chrysanthus was the only son of Polemius, a distinguished patrician,
who settled in Rome from Alexandria. As the son of wealthy parents,
Chrysanthus studied all the secular subjects, having the most learned
men for instructors. But secular wisdom confused him and left him
in uncertainty as to what is truth. As a result of this, he grieved.
But God, who plans all and everything, alleviated his grief. A written
copy of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles came into the hands
of the young Chrysanthus. Having read them, Chrysanthus was enlightened
with the truth, and he desired a teacher and found one in the person
of a certain priest, Carpophorus, who taught and baptized him. This
did not please his father, who attempted everything in order to
dissuade him from believing in Christ. Not succeeding, the wicked
father at first tried to corrupt him by placing him alone with an
immoral woman. In this, Chrysanthus was victorious over himself
and persevered in chastity. His father then coerced him into marring
Daria, a pagan girl. Chrysanthus counseled Daria to embrace the
Faith in Christ and to live together as brother and sister, although
pretending to be married. When his father died, Chrysanthus began
to confess Christ openly and to live as a Christian, both he and
his entire household. During the reign of Emperor Numerian, he and
Daria were cruelly tortured for their faith. Even the torturer Claudius,
witnessing the forbearance of these honorable martyrs and the miracles
which were manifested during their agony, embraced the Faith of
Christ along with his entire household. For this, Claudius was drowned.
Both of his sons were beheaded. His wife, after having recited her
prayers, died on the gallows. Daria was so steadfast in her agony
that the pagans cried out, "Daria is a goddess!" Finally, it was
decreed that Chrysanthus and Daria be buried in a deep pit and covered
with stones. Later, a church was erected on this site. There was
a cave near this pit where some Christians assembled for prayer
and Communion in memory of the Saints Chrysanthus and Daria. Hearing
of this, the pagans attacked and sealed off this cave. By such a
death, the pagans drove these Christians from this world to a better
world where Christ reigns eternally. These glorious martyrs, Chrysanthus
and Daria and the others with them, among whom were Diodorus the
priest and Marianus the deacon, suffered for Christ in Rome in the
year 284 A.D.
031902. Holy Martyr Pancharius
Pancharius was born in Villach, Germany (present day Austria).
He was a high-ranking officer at the court of Diocletian and Maximian.
At first, he denied Christ but, being counseled by his mother and
sister, he returned to the Faith of Christ and died for it in the
year 302 A.D.
20. MARCH
032001. Venerable Martyrs, John and Others From the Monastic
Brotherhood of Saint Sabas the Sanctified Near Jerusalem
This glorious monastery, which still exists today, was visited
by our own Serbian St. Sava and endowed by several Serbian rulers.
Many times it was attacked by brutal Arabs, pillaged and laid waste.
But, by the Divine Providence of God, it was always restored and
is preserved until today. During the reign of Constantine and Irene,
it was attacked and pillaged by the Arabs. The monks did not want
to flee but, counseling with their abbot Thomas, they said, "We
have fled from the world into this wilderness for the sake of our
love for Christ and it would be shameful if we fled from the wilderness
out of fear of men. If we are slain here, we will be slain because
of our love for Christ for Whose cause we came to live here." Having
decided, they awaited the armed Arabs, unarmed as lambs before wolves.
Some of the monks the Arabs killed with arrows and some they sealed
off in the cave of St. Sabas. They lighted a fire at the entrance
of the cave and all were suffocated by the smoke. Thus many of them
died as martyrs for the sake of Christ and were translated into
the Kingdom of Him Whom they loved and for Whose love they perished.
They suffered honorably prior to the Feast of the Resurrection in
796 A.D., during the reign of Constantine and Irene and Elijah,
the Patriarch of Jerusalem. A just punishment quickly befell these
savage attackers. Returning to their tents, they began to quarrel
among themselves and in mutual combat all were slain. This occurred
in the year 796 A.D.
032002. Holy Martyr Photina
This was the Samaritan woman who had the rare fortune to converse
with the Lord Christ Himself at the Well of Jacob, near Sychar (St.
John 4:4-31). Believing in the Lord, Photina afterwards went to
preach His Gospel with Victor and Josiah her two sons, and with
her five sisters, Anatolia, Phota, Photida, Parasceve and Cyriaca.
They had gone to Carthage in Africa. There they were arrested and
taken to Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero and were thrown into
prison. By God's Divine Providence, Domnina, the daughter of Nero,
came into contact with St. Photina and was converted to the Faith
of Christ by her. After imprisonment they all suffered for the sake
of Christ. Photina, who for the first time was enlightened with
the light of truth at the well of Sychar, was now thrown into a
well where she died and entered into the eternal kingdom of Christ.
21. MARCH
032101. Saint James, Bishop and Confessor
Neither the place of his birth nor the place where James served
as bishop are known. Only this is known: he fulfilled the law of
Christ and spent much time in mortifying himself through strict
fasting and prayer. During the time of Copronymos, James endured
great hardships and suffering at the hands of the Iconoclasts, such
as hunger, imprisonment and ridicule of all sorts. Finally, he gave
up his soul to God, Whom he had faithfully served in this life.
He lived and suffered in the eighth century.
032102. Venerable Cyril, the Bishop of Catania in Sicily
Born in Antioch, Cyril was a disciple of St. Peter. He governed
the flock of Christ well. With the aid of prayer, he had the gift
of working many miracles. He did so with bitter water which was
unfit to drink. In that place in the summer, there was no other
water, but through prayer he changed this bitter water into sweet
drinkable water. He died peacefully.
032103. Saint Thomas, Patriarch of Constantinople
Thomas lived during the reign of the Emperors Maurice and Phocas
and at the time of the Patriarchs St. John the Faster and Cyriac.
Because of his great piety and zeal, Thomas attracted the attention
of St. John and was advanced to the order of patriarchal deputy
by that saint. Following the death of Cyriac, Thomas was elected
patriarch. At this time, an extraordinary event occurred. On one
occasion when there was a procession with crosses, the crosses began
to sway on their own and began to strike one another. All the people
were amazed at this. When the patriarch learned about this being
an actual occurrence, he summoned Theodore Sykeon, the renown hermit
who possessed the "gift of discernment." The patriarch implored
Theodore to explain to him what this incident foretells. Theodore
prayed to God and revealed to the patriarch that this occurrence
portents great misfortunes, both for the Church and for the Greek
Empire, which will surface as a result of internal religious and
internal political dissensions. Christians will fight and annihilate
each other. All of this was shortly fulfilled. Thomas implored Theodore
to pray for him that God would take him before these tragedies begin.
"Do you command that I come to you or that we see each other over
there before God." This is how Theodore replied to the patriarch,
indicating that the patriarch would die soon. That very same day
the patriarch became ill and died. Shortly after him, St. Theodore
also died. St. Thomas died and took up habitation with the Lord
in 610 A.D.
032104. Venerable Serapion
Serapion was a companion of St. Anthony the Great. He was the
abbot of the Monastery of Arsina in the Nitrian wilderness where
there were over eleven thousand monks. Paladius and Sozomenus called
him "Great." He died about the year 366 A.D. St. Serapion wrote,
"Do not think that sickness is difficult; only sin is difficult.
Sickness accompanies us only to the grave but sin follows the sinner
even after the grave."
22. MARCH
032201. Hieromartyr Basil, Presbyter of Ancyra
Under Emperor Constantius, Basil endured and suffered much at
the hands of the Arians. At that time he was renown as a great zealot
of Orthodoxy and a true shepherd of his entrusted flock in Ancyra.
When Julian the Apostate ascended the throne, he began to persecute
Christians. Because Basil openly unmasked this latest impurity and
strengthened his people in the Faith, he was cast into prison. When
Emperor Julian came to Ancyra, Basil was brought before him and
the emperor tried to persuade him to abandon his faith in Christ,
promising him honors and riches. Basil answered the emperor; "I
believe in my Christ, Whom you denied and Who gave you this earthly
kingdom; but, that will be taken away from you, shortly. Have you
no shame of the sacred altar under which you were saved when they
sought to kill you as an eight year old child? That is why this
temporary kingdom will be taken from you shortly and your body will
not be buried when your soul is violently wrested from you in bitter
pains." Julian became enraged and ordered that seven strips of skin
be pealed from his body everyday. The tormentors did this for several
days. When Basil appeared again before the emperor, he took a belt
of his own skin and threw it into the face of Julian and crying
out to him said, "Take it, Julian, and eat if this kind of food
is sweet to you but, for me, Christ is Life." This incident was
proclaimed throughout the towns, and the emperor, out of shame,
secretly departed from Ancyra to Antioch. They continued to torture
Basil with red hot irons until he gave up his soul to God, for Whom
he suffered in the year 363 A.D.
032202. Saint Drosida
Drosida was the daughter of Emperor Trajan. She was captured with
five other women at night while they were gathering the bodies of
the tortured martyrs for Christ. For this she was severely disfigured
by the emperor. Those five women were horribly tortured and, in
the end, were thrown into a vat of molten copper, where they gave
up their souls to their Lord. Drosida remained under the strict
guard of the emperor. She escaped from the palace and baptized herself
in a river. After eight days she gave up her soul to God.
032203. Venerable Martyr, Euthymius
Euthymius was born in the village of Dimitsana in the Peloponnese.
As a child, Euthymius lived as a Christian but, later on, he went
to Romania where he gave himself over to a life of great debauchery.
In this debauchery an evil spirit lead him to become a Muslim. As
soon as he did that, Euthymius began to repent bitterly. He again
returned to the Faith of Christ and was tonsured a monk in Athos,
the Holy Mountain. After several years spent in strict fasting and
prayer, he decided to die for Christ. With the blessing of his spiritual
father, he traveled to Constantinople where he succeeded somehow
to come before the Grand Vezir. Euthymius began to cross himself,
to praise Christ and to insult Mohammed in the presence of the Vezir.
After prolonged torture he was sentenced to death and beheaded on
Palm Sunday, March 22, 1814 A.D. Many miraculous healings of the
sick occurred over his relics. His honorable head is preserved in
the Russian Monastery of St. Panteteimom (Pantaleon) in the Holy
Mountain. And so, this twenty-year old youth, at first, died to
Christ and after that died for Christ.
23. MARCH
032301. Holy Hieromartyr Nicon
Nicon was born in Naples of a pagan father and Christian mother.
Nicon was a Roman officer in Naples and was not baptized, even though
his mother tutored him secretly from his father in the Faith of
Christ. Once, when Nicon was sent into battle with his troops, his
mother counseled him to make the sign of the cross and to call upon
Christ for help if any misfortune would befall him. And, indeed,
while in battle, Nicon's troops were completely surrounded; and,
toward the end of the battle, Nicon made the sign of the cross in
his heart and cried out to Christ. Immediately, he was filled with
unusual strength and pursued his enemies. Some he slew and others
he forced to flee. Returning to his home, Nicon continuously cried
out in amazement, "Great is the Christian God." Since he had made
his mother happy with the news of his victory with the help of the
Cross of Christ, he secretly sailed to Asia where Theodosius the
Bishop of Cyzicus baptized him. Following his baptism, he secluded
himself in a monastery where he devoted himself to study and asceticism.
Before his death Theodosius had a vision in which he was told to
ordain Nicon as his successor. Immediately the aged Theodosius summoned
Nicon and ordained him a deacon; after that, a priest, and then,
a bishop. Shortly thereafter, according to God's Providence, Nicon
came to Naples where he discovered that his mother was still living.
Following his mother's death, Nicon, with nine disciples, his former
war companions, withdrew to Sicily and there dedicated himself to
preaching the Gospel. However, at that time there was a terrible
persecution of Christians. Prince Quintianus captured Nicon with
his companions and inflicted great pain and suffering upon them.
His one-hundred ninety disciples and companions were beheaded. The
tormentor tied Nicon to the tail of a horse, hurled him from a steep
wall into a gorge, beat him, and skinned him; but Nicon survived
all of these tortures. Finally, he was beheaded and took up habitation
with the Lord. His body was left in the fields to be devoured by
the birds. A certain herdsman, with a rabid evil spirit, tripped
and fell over the dead body of Christ's martyr and immediately the
herdsman was healed. Proclaiming the news about Nicon's body, Christians
came forth and honorably buried the body of Nicon. St. Nicon suffered
during the reign of the Emperor Decius.
032302. Venerable Nicon of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev
Nicon was a companion of St. Anthony of the Caves and a spiritual
father to the Venerable Theodosius. Because of the monastic tonsuring
of the Boyar Barlaam and of the eunuch Ephrem, Nicon was threatened
by Prince Izjaslav; but his wife, the princess, turned the anger
of the prince into the fear of God. Then Nicon, the holy one, was
left in peace. Wanting to adorn the church with icons, Nicon implored
God for assistance. As a result of his prayers, certain Greek iconographers
unexpectedly came to Kiev from Constantinople. St. Anthony and St.
Theodosius appeared to these iconographers in a vision and directed
them to Nicon in Kiev. Nicon was praised because of his courageous
asceticism and spiritual wisdom. Against his will, Nicon, in his
old age, became the abbot of Pecer. He presented himself to the
Lord in the year 1066 A.D. His incorruptible relics are persevered
in the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev.
24. MARCH
032401. Saint Artemon Bishop of Seleucia
Artemon was born and educated in Seleucia. When the Apostle Paul
came to that city, he met Artemon, strengthened him even more in
the Faith of Christ and appointed him bishop of that city. Artemon
governed his entrusted flock with love and zeal. He was a physician
of the souls as well as the bodies of men. He entered into eternity
in ripe old age.
032402. Venerable James, the Confessor
James suffered while defending icons under Leo the Armenian. He
was a monk and a member of the brotherhood of the Studite Monastery.
When the Studite Theodore the Great was in exile, James was subjected
to severe tortures in order to persuade him to renounce the veneration
of icons. To the end he remained steadfast and faithful to Orthodoxy.
Beaten and tortured, he was finally sent back to the monastery after
the wicked Emperor Leo came to a wretched end. As a result of severe
blows, he died in the monastery and took up habitation among the
heavenly citizens.
032403. Hieromartyr Parthenius, Patriarch of Constantinople
Parthenius was born on the Island of Mytilene. He was the bishop
of Chios for a long time. Afterwards he was elected patriarch of
Constantinople. Because of false rumors that he allegedly worked
against the State, the Turks initially proposed that he become a
Muslim. When he adamantly refused, they hanged him in the year 1657
A.D.
032404. Commemoration of the Miracle in the Monastery of the
Caves in Kiev
Two companions, John and Sergius, vowed to adopt each other as
blood brothers before an icon of the Holy Mother of God in this
monastery. John was a wealthy man, and he had a five year old son
Zacharias. John became very ill. Before his death, John commended
his son to the care of Sergius and bequeathed a large amount of
gold and silver to him for safe keeping so that Sergius would hand
it over to his son Zacharias when he reached maturity. When Zacharias
reached maturity, Sergius denied that he received anything from
the deceased John. Then Zacharias said, "Let him swear before that
very icon of the All-Holy Mother of God, before whom he entered
into a blood-brother relationship with my deceased father; and if
he swears that he did not receive anything from my father John,
then I will not seek anything from him." Sergius agreed. When Sergius
swore this, he wanted to approach and venerate the icon, but a force
held him back and would not allow it. Sergius then began to cry
out in a crazed manner to the Holy Fathers, Anthony and Theodosius;
"Do not allow this unmerciful angel to destroy me!" That was the
demon that attacked him by God's permission. After that, Sergius
showed them all the money that John entrusted to him. When they
opened the chest, they discovered that the amount had doubled. This
amount was doubled by God's Providence. After receiving the money,
Zacharias gave it to the monastery and was then tonsured a monk.
Zacharias lived for a long time and was made worthy of the great
gifts of God and was translated peacefully into eternity.
032405. Venerable Zacharias
Zacharias was the son of Carion the Egyptian. Zacharias left his
wife and children and became a monk. He took his father with him
because his mother was unable to care for him. Even though Zacharias
was younger than most of the elders in the Scete, he was favored
with greater gifts of Grace than many of the others were. He felt
that his whole being was on fire with the Grace of God. To the question
of St. Macarius: "Who is the ideal monk?" Zacharias replied, "He
who continually compels himself to fulfill the commandments of God."
To the question of Abba Moses: "What does it mean to be a monk?"
Zacharias removed his monastic head gear (Kamilavka) and trampled
it underfoot and said, "If a man is not shattered as this, he cannot
be a monk." He was a great light among the monks of the wilderness
and while still young died to the Lord.
25. MARCH
032501. Annunciation
In the house of Joseph, the All-Holy Virgin continued to live
as she did in the Temple of Solomon, occupying her time in the reading
of Sacred Scripture, in prayer, in Godly-thoughts, in fasting and
in handiwork. She rarely went anywhere outside the house nor was
she interested in worldly things and events. She spoke very little
to anyone, if at all, and never without special need. More frequently
she communicated with both of Joseph's daughters. When the fullness
of time had come, as prophesied by Daniel the Prophet, and when
God was pleased to fulfill His promise to the banished Adam and
to the Prophets, the great Archangel Gabriel appeared in the chamber
of the All-Holy Virgin and, as some priestly writers wrote, precisely
at that same moment when she held open the book of the Prophet Isaiah
and was contemplating his great prophecy: "Behold, the virgin shall
be with child, and bear a son!" (Isaiah 7:13). Gabriel appeared
in all of his angelic brightness and saluted her: "Rejoice, highly
favored one! The Lord is with you" (St. Luke 1:28), and the rest
in order as it is written in the Gospel of the saintly Luke. With
this angelic annunciation and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon
the Virgin, the salvation of mankind and restoration of all creation
began. The history of the New Testament was opened by the words
of the Archangel Gabriel: "Rejoice, highly favored one" This is
to imply that the New Testament was to signify joy to mankind and
to all created things. It is from this that the Annunciation is
considered not only a great feast, but a joyful feast as well.
032502. Holy Female Martyrs Pelagia, Theodosia and Dula
These three holy women suffered for the Lord. After imprisonment
and sufferings both Pelagia and Theodosia were beheaded. St. Dula,
who was a servant girl, suffered alone in the city of Nicomedia.
These three white roses, watered by the blood of the martyrs, were
transplanted by God into His heavenly garden.
26. MARCH
032601. Holy Archangel Gabriel
Gabriel is the announcer of the Incarnation of the Son of God.
He is one of the seven archangels who stand before the Throne of
God. He appeared to Zacharias about the birth of the Forerunner.
Gabriel said of himself, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God" (St.
Luke 1:19). His name Gabriel means "Man - God." The Holy Fathers,
in speaking about the Annunciation, interpret that an archangel
with such a name was sent to signify who and what He would be like,
who must be born of the All-Pure One. Therefore, He will be Man-God,
mighty and powerful God. Some of the Fathers understood that this
same Gabriel appeared to Joachim and Anna concerning the birth of
the Virgin Mary and that Gabriel instructed Moses in the wilderness
to write the Book of Genesis. The Holy Fathers think that Gabriel
has pre-eminence in the first and greatest order of heavenly powers,
that is, the Seraphic Order, since the Seraphims stand closest to
God. He is, therefore, one of the seven Seraphims, closest to God.
The names of the seven are MICHAEL, GABRIEL, RAPHAEL, URIEL, SALATHIEL,
JEGUDIEL, BARACHIEL. To this number some even add JEREMIEL. Each
one has their own particular service and all are equal in honor.
Why did God not send Michael? Because Michael's service is to suppress
the enemies of the Faith of God while Gabriel's is the mission of
announcing the salvation of mankind(see July 13th)(071301)
032602. Hieromartyr Irenaeus of Srem
It is thought that Irenaeus was a Slav. He was married and had
children prior to becoming a bishop. He suffered for Christ during
the reign of Maximian. At the time of horrible sufferings, his relatives
stood around him crying and begged him to spare himself and them
(that is, to deny Christ). But this wonderful priestly-martyr loved
the wounds of Christ more than all the riches of this world. At
the same time Seren, a certain gardener in Srem, also suffered at
the hands of Prince Probus, as did Afrius suffer in Regia. Because
Irenaeus did not want to deny his faith, Prince Probus ordered that
he be hurled from a bridge into the Sava river, where this shepherd
of Christ's flock died and took up habitation among the citizens
of heaven. He honorably suffered in the year 304 A.D.
032603. Venerable Malchus
Malchus was a farmer from the vicinity of Antioch, and from his
youth his entire soul was directed toward God. The Arabs enslaved
him and while in slavery forced him to take a black woman for a
wife. He converted her to the Faith of Christ and they lived together
as brother and sister. Conspiring with each other, they escaped
from bondage. The Arabs almost overtook them. They found shelter
in a cave in which they saw a lioness with her pups, and they became
frightened. But God protected them. The lioness did not harm them
but killed an Arab who wanted to enter the cave to apprehend the
runaways. Arriving at their destination, his wife entered a convent
and Malchus entered a monastery. He lived many years, mortifying
himself, and took up habitation among the citizens of heaven in
the fourth century.
032604. Venerable Basil, the New
At first Basil lived in the forest without shelter or hearth.
When he was captured, they questioned him saying," Who are you?"
He replied, "One of the living on earth." They suspected him and
thinking that he was a spy, tortured him. In the end, he lived for
many years in freedom in Constantinople. He discerned all the human
mysteries of man, perceived the future and worked great miracles.
His maid was the elder woman Theodora who, when she died, appeared
to Gregory, Basil's novice, and described to him the twenty levels
of judgment (Mitarstvo) through which every soul must pass. On March
25, 944 A.D., St. Basil peacefully died and took up habitation in
the wonderful heavenly family. After his death he was seen in great
glory by a citizen of Constantinople.
27. MARCH
032701. Holy Martyr, Matrona
As an orphan girl Matrona was a servant in the home of a Jew in
Thessalonica. The wife of the Jew continuously mocked Matrona because
of her faith in Christ and tried to persuade her to deny Christ
and to attend the synagogue. But the meek Matrona went about her
work conscientiously and did not say anything to her mistress. But
in secret she prayed to Christ the God. On one occasion the Jewess
discovered that Matrona was attending church unbeknown to her and,
in anger, questioned her as to why she did not attend the synagogue
rather than the church? To that, Matrona replied, "Because in the
Christian churches, God lives and He withdraws from the Jewish synagogues."
Furious, because of this type of bold reply, the Jewess beat Matrona,
locked her up in a dark room, and, in addition to that, bound her
hands. The next day as she was kneeling in prayer and glorifying
God, her ropes had fallen off by the power of God. Afterwards, on
two occasions, she was locked up again and, in the end, died of
starvation. This evil Jewish woman then took the body of this holy
maiden and hurled it to the ground from the heights of her home.
Christians took the body of this martyr and buried it with honors.
Alexander the bishop, learning of the many miraculous works of this
holy martyr, erected a church over her grave. The evil Jewess received
her just punishment when she slipped, fell to the pavement, and
was smashed to death from the same spot at the top of the house
from which she hurled down Matrona's body.
032702. Venerable John "The Discerner"
John was a woodsman until his twenty-fifth year and then, driven
by an insatiable desire for constant prayer, withdrew into the wilderness
where he lived until his death, during his ninetieth year. He was
a corporeal being but lived as an incorporeal being. He discerned
the heart of every person who came to him and was able to discern
their name, their desires, and their thoughts. He prophesied to
Emperor Theodosius the outcome of his battles. He prophesied for
generals, monastics, and for all who found it necessary to know
what was hidden for them in the darkness of future days. A prince
once begged John to receive his wife who especially wanted to meet
him. The saint did not allow empty inquisitiveness but appeared
to the wife of the prince in a dream showing her what he was like.
When the woman described her vision in the dream to her husband,
he confirmed that, indeed, this was the likeness of the saint. To
every visitor, he taught humility as the basis of the virtues, always
citing examples from life of how pride has toppled many exalted
characters into dust and led them into serious sins. He endured
many assaults of evil spirits. On one occasion, Satan appeared to
him with a myriad of demons under the guise of shining angels. They
pressured him to worship Satan, lying to him, saying that it (Satan)
is Christ. But John answered wisely, "I bow down and worship my
King, Jesus Christ, everyday. If that were He, He would not demand
me to do so now, especially since I already worship Him." Following
these words, all the evil powers vanished as smoke. He died peacefully
kneeling in prayer in his ninetieth year.
032703. Venerable Paphnutius
Paphnutius was a disciple of St. Anthony the Great. By his sanctity
of life, Paphnutius converted many sinners to the path of repentance,
as did St. Thais, who is commemorated on October 8. Paphnutius resembled
an incorporeal angel more than a corporeal man. He died toward the
end of the fourth century.
28. MARCH
032801. Venerable Martyr Eustratius of the Caves in Kiev
Eustratius was very wealthy and, being touched with love for Christ,
distributed his entire estate for the sake of Christ and entered
the monastery of Pecer and was tonsured a monk. When the Polovtsians
waged war against Kiev in 1097 A.D., they plundered the monastery
and slew many Christians, including monks. Eustratius, alone, with
some of the faithful, were sold into slavery to a Jew in the city
of Khorsum (Chresom). This Jew ridiculed the Faith of Christ and
attempted to coerce the Christians into embracing the Jewish religion.
Seeing that they had no other alternative, they all agreed to starve
themselves to death and not to deny the True Faith. Eustratius encouraged
the Christians to follow that decision. They all died of hunger;
some after three days, some after four and some after seven. Being
accustomed to fasting, Eustratius, alone, remained alive and endured
fourteen days without food. The Jew, angered because he lost money
with which he purchased the slaves, took out his revenge on Eustratius
by nailing him to a cross. Eustratius praised God from the cross
and prophesied a severe and imminent death for the Jew. Wild with
rage, the Jew pierced him with a spear. The saint of God gave up
his soul to his Savior. His body was thrown into the sea, but it
floated to the surface. Great miracles occurred over this martyr's
body. Shortly after the death of Eustratius, the Byzantine emperor
decreed that the Jews of the city of Khorsum be punished for their
wickedness toward Christians. This tormentor of Christians was hung
on a tree and received the reward of Judas.
032802. Venerable Hilarion, the New Confessor
Hilarion was the abbot of a monastery of Pelekit, near Hellespont.
He glowed as the sun with the spirit of God, healed people and expelled
evil spirits. This man of God suffered at the time when Leo the
Armenian began the Iconoclastic persecution. With forty of his monks,
Hilarion was sent into exile near Ephesus and died there in prison
and took up habitation in the Kingdom of Christ in 754 A.D.
032803. Venerable Hesychius of Jerusalem
A presbyter and profound theologian, Hesychius was a disciple
of St. Gregory the Theologian and a contemporary of St. Euthymius
the Great. One should read his glorious work "Concerning Sobriety
in Prayer." He died peacefully in the year 434 A.D.
032804. Holy Martyr Boyan, Bulgarian Prince
Boyan was the son of Krutogan and the nephew of Grubash. Boyan
confessed his faith in Christ; however, his brother Milomir was
a pagan. By decree of his brother, Boyan was beheaded for the True
Faith in the year 827 A.D.
032805. Miraculous Occurrence of Taxiotis
Taxiotis was a soldier from Carthage. He spent his entire life
in grievous sinsbut finally repented, left the military service
and lived a God-pleasing life. While he was with his wife on his
estate near the city, he committed adultery with the wife of his
farm worker. Afterwards, he was bitten by a snake and died immediately.
Taxiotis was dead for six hours after which he arose. Then, on the
fourth day, he spoke and related how and what kind of level of judgment
he had passed through until he came to the level of judgment (Mitarstvo)
for adultery. There, he fell into the dark abode of demons from
which he was led out by an angel who attested on his behalf and
was sent back in the flesh to repent for his latest sin. He repented
for forty days, going from church to church, beating his head against
the doors and thresholds, always crying and telling of the terrible
sufferings which sinners undergo in the other world. He implored
men not to sin but to repent for those sins already committed. On
the fortieth day, with rejoicing, Taxiotis took up habitation into
the Kingdom of the Merciful God.
29. MARCH
032901. Saint Mark, Confessor and Bishop of Arethusa in Syria
We are told about Mark's suffering by St. Gregory the Theologian
and by Blessed Theodorit. According to this report, Mark, during
the reign of Emperor Constantine, destroyed a pagan temple and converted
many to the Faith of Christ. When Julian ascended the throne and,
shortly thereafter, apostatized from the Faith of Christ, a citizen
of Arethusa then also denied Christ and reverted to paganism. Then
they rose up against Mark because he destroyed their temple, seeking
that he either rebuild the temple or pay a large sum of money. Since
the aged Mark refused to do either of the two, he was flogged, mocked
and dragged through the streets. After that they severed his ears
with a thin but strong thread. They then stripped him, rubbed him
with honey, and left him tied to a tree in the heat of summer so
that he would be bitten by wasps, mosquitoes, and hornets. The martyr
of Christ endured all without moaning. Mark was very old, but in
his countenance he shone like an angel. The pagans reduced the price
for their temple even more and finally sought from Mark an insignificant
sum, which he could have easily given, but he refused to give even
one coin for this purpose. His patience made an enormous impression
on the citizens, and they began to admire him for it and to feel
sorry for him. They then lowered the cost of the temple to practically
nothing, in order to allow him to live. Finally, they permitted
him to go free, and one by one they all received instruction from
him and returned to the Faith of Christ. At the same time, in the
city of Heliopolis at the foot of Mt. Lebanon Cyril a deacon, suffered
for a similar act. During the time when Christianity enjoyed freedom,
Cyril destroyed some idols and under Julian the Apostate, was brutally
tortured. So embittered were the pagans against him that when they
killed him, they tore and ripped open his entrails with their teeth.
The same day on which St. Cyril suffered, many others also suffered.
The spiteful pagans carved up their bodies into pieces, mixed them
with barley and feed it to the swine. Punishment reached them swiftly:
all of their teeth fell out and an unbearable stench emitted from
their mouths.
032902. Venerable John the Hermit
John was the son of Juliana, a Christian woman in Armenia. As
a young boy, he left his mother and withdrew into the wilderness,
completely enflamed with love toward Christ the Lord. In the wilderness,
he first surrendered himself to the guidance of a spiritual director,
Pharmutius, who had been found so worthy before God that an angel
of God brought him bread daily. Afterwards, the young John distanced
himself and withdrew into solitude. He lowered himself into a dry
well where he spent ten years in fasting, prayer and vigils. St.
Pharmutius brought bread from the angel and gave it to him. So that
John would not become proud, the angel of God did not want to give
bread to the young John personally, but rather through his spiritual
father Pharmutius. After ten years of difficult mortification in
the well, St. John presented himself to the Lord. His relics revealed
itself to be wonder-working. He lived and was glorified by God and
men in the fourth century.
30. MARCH
033001. Venerable John Climacus
John Climacus is the author of "The Ladder of Divine Ascent."
John came to Mt. Sinai as a sixteen year old youth and remained
there, first as a novice under obedience, and afterwards as a recluse,
and finally as abbot of Sinai until his eightieth year. He died
around the year 563 A.D. His biographer, the monk Daniel, says about
him: "His body ascended the heights of Sinai, while his soul ascended
the heights of heaven." He remained under obedience with his spiritual
father, Martyrius, for nineteen years. Anastasius of Sinai, seeing
the young John, prophesied that he would become the abbot of Sinai.
After the death of his spiritual father, John withdrew into a cave,
where he lived a difficult life of asceticism for twenty years.
His disciple, Moses, fell asleep one day under the shade of a large
stone. John, in prayer in his cell, saw that his disciple was in
danger and prayed to God for him. Later on, when Moses returned,
he fell on his knees and gave thanks to his spiritual father for
saving him from certain death. He related how, in a dream, he heard
John calling him and he jumped up and, at that moment, the stone
tumbled. Had he not jumped, the stone would have crushed him. At
the insistence of the brotherhood, John agreed to become abbot and
directed the salvation of the souls of men with zeal and love. From
someone John heard a reproach that he talked too much. Not being
angered by this, John however remained silent for an entire year
and did not utter a word until the brothers implored him to speak
and to continue to teach them his God-given wisdom. On one occasion,
when six-hundred pilgrims came to the Monastery of Sinai, everyone
saw an agile youth in Jewish attire serving at a table and giving
orders to other servants and assigning them. All at once, this young
man disappeared. When everyone noticed this and began to question
it, John said to them, "Do not seek him, for that was Moses the
Prophet serving in my place." During the time of his silence in
the cave, John wrote many worthwhile books, of which the most glorious
is "The Ladder." This book is still read by many, even today. In
this book, John describes the method of elevating the soul to God,
as ascending a ladder. Before his death, John designated George,
his brother in the flesh, as abbot. George grieved much because
of his separation from John. Then John said to him, that, if he
(John) were found worthy to be near God in the other world, he would
pray to Him, that, he, (George), would be taken to heaven that same
year. And, so it was. After ten months George succeeded and settled
among the citizens of heaven as did his great brother, John.
033002. Memorial to a Monk Who Joyfully Died and Who Never Judged
Anyone in His Life
This monk was lazy, careless, and lacking in his prayer life;
but throughout all of his life, he did not judge anyone. While dying,
he was happy. When the brethren asked him how is it that with so
many sins, you die happy? He replied, "I now see angels who are
showing me a letter with my numerous sins. I said to them, Our Lord
said: "stop judging and you will not be judged" (St. Luke 6:37).
I have never judged anyone, and I hope in the mercy of God that
He will not judge me." And the angels tore up the paper. Upon hearing
this, the monks were astonished and learned from it.
31. MARCH
033101. Hieromartyr Hypatius the Bishop of Gangra
Hypatius was born in Cilicia and was the bishop of Gangra. He
was present at the First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 325. A.D.)
and was renowned throughout because of his pious and saintly life
and his miracle-working. The Emperor Constantius ordered that a
likeness of Hypatius be made during the saint's lifetime. The emperor
kept this likeness in his palace as a weapon against all adverse
powers. Once upon returning from Constantinople, Hypatius was attacked
in a narrow gorge by Novatian heretics and, along with others, was
hurled to the ground in mud. At that moment a woman from that group
struck him in the head with a stone and, thus, the saint died. Immediately
that woman went insane and took that same stone and struck herself
with it. When they took her to the grave of St. Hypatius, he interceded
before God on her behalf. She was healed by the great compassionate
soul of Hypatius and lived the remainder of her life in repentance
and prayer. St. Hypatius died and took up habitation in the eternal
Kingdom of Christ the God, in the year 326 A.D.
033102. Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow
Jonah was born in the province of Kostrom. In his twelfth year
he was tonsured a monk and as such lived for a long time in the
Simonov Monastery in Moscow. At the time of Metropolitan Photius,
Jonah became Bishop of Ryazn. When Photius died, Jonah was elected
as metropolitan and sent to the patriarch in Constantinople for
approval and consecration. At the same time, Isidorus, a Bulgarian
by descent, outwitted Jonah and arrived before him in Constantinople
and was consecrated as the Metropolitan of the Russians. Jonah returned
to his cathedral in Ryazn. Isidorus, the malicious one, ended his
incumbency of the Metropolitan See nefariously. Isidorus attended
the Council of Florence (1439 A.D.) and then, after three years,
returned to Moscow. Everyone attacked him as an apostate from Orthodoxy
and banished him. It is unknown where he ended his life. Jonah,
the good and wise shepherd, ascended the throne of the Metropolitan
See. He was a great worker of miracles, "a discerner," and a spiritual
director. When the Agarians surrounded Moscow, Jonah repelled them
through his prayers. In his later years he wished that he could
be afflicted by an illness so that he could suffer pain and that,
through pain, completely purify himself before his departure to
the other world. According to his wishes, God permitted a sore on
his foot, which was preceded by a vision to a certain priest, James.
The saint died from these wounds and took up habitation among the
heavenly citizens on March 31, 1461 A.D. Many miracles have occurred
over his relics. A certain mute, John by name, was brought before
the relics of the saint. John kissed the hand of Jonah and, as he
related later, the hand grabbed him by the tongue and he felt a
sharp pain. When the hand released his tongue, John returned to
those people who brought him and began to talk as though he was
never a mute.
033103. Hieromartyr Audas
Audas was a bishop of the city of Susa. He was beheaded for Christ
in the year 418 A.D. in Persia by Emperor Yezdegird. His deacon,
St. Benjamin, was released by the tormentors with the understanding
that he would never preach the Gospel again. In the beginning he
agreed, but Benjamin could not sustain this in his heart and continued
to spread the truth of Christ among the people. For this Benjamin
was captured and killed three years after St. Audas in the year
421 A.D.
033104. Venerable Apollonius
Apollonius was a renowned Egyptian ascetic. In his fifteenth year
he renounced the world and withdrew to a mountain where he lived
for forty years feeding on vegetation. After that, he established
a monastery in which five-hundred monks lived. He died peacefully
in the year 395 A.D.
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