Eastern Christianity Saints & Feasts

**Edwin1961** · #1 Oct 1, '05, 8:29 am

I would like to present this thread for the posting of ALL our Saints, Holy Ones, and Feasts that we ALL share in common in Chronological Order. (For example, today is October 1st. and those Feasts/Saints will be posted on that day and discussion on that day's Feasts/Saints will be given. Tomorrow, another set of Feast/Saints will be posted for October 2nd. and so on.

This thread, I hope, Is NOT for what divides us but UNITES us in the acts and examples of these Holy Ones of Our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

If there is going to be any complaining and bickering about 'other things', take it to another thread, please.

**Edwin1961** · #2 Oct 1, '05, 8:32 am

October 1st.

The Protection of Our Most Blessed Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary

(Information from "The Orthodox Herald" published by F. and M. Basil Stroyen) :

One of the situations which multi-ethnic parishes face is which Holy Days to commemorate. For example, the Protection of the Mother of God on October 1/14 is only found on the Church calendar in those parishes which use the "Russian" Synaxarion. Although the incident it commemorates took place in Constantinople, it is not included in the Greek Synaxarion. In the Russian Churches this is one of the favorite Holy Days. Many churches and cathedrals are dedicated to the Protection (Pokrov, Aghia Skepi) of the Mother of God.

The Mother of God appeared several times after she left this earth. One of these times occurred in the 10th century in the Blachernae Church in Constantinople, in which were preserved her robe, veil and part of her belt. During the Vigil at 4 a.m., the Saints Andrew and Epiphanios saw a majestic woman walking toward the ambo (the area before the altar). She was not alone. St. John the Baptist, St. John the Theologian, and other saints and choirs of angels were escorting her. On reaching the center of the church, the Mother of God knelt down and prayed for a long time. She prayed so fervently that her face was bathed in tears. Then, she stood up and went before the altar table, where she again prayed. Then she removed the veil over her head. It shone like lightning. She held it high, stretched over her arms, in a gesture of prayer of intercession for those present in the church and on us.

As a result, this commemoration on October 1/14 was instituted to remind us both of this event, and of the Mother of God's constant protection, whenever we prayerfully seek that protection, that shelter, in distress.

**Edwin1961** · #3 Oct 1, '05, 8:36 am

October 1

The Holy Apostle Ananias

Apolytikion: Third Tone

O Holy Apostle Ananias, intercede with the merciful God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.

Kontakion: Second Tone

Our most fervent advocate in intercession who dost hearken most quickly to them that pray to thee, receive our supplication, O Ananias, and implore Christ, Who alone is glorified in the Saints, to have mercy on us.

Reading:
Saint Ananias, whose name means "God is gracious," was from Damascus, where by divine revelation he was commanded to baptize the Apostle Paul (Acts 9: 10-17). He completed the course of martyrdom when he was stoned to death during the proconsulate of Lucian.

Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA

**Edwin1961** · #4 Oct 1, '05, 8:44 am

October 1
Our Venerable Father Romanos the Hymnographer

St. Romanos the Hymnographer

October 1st
Troparion (Tone 4)
Thou didst gladden Christ's Church by thy melodies like an inspired heavenly trumpet. For thou wast enlightened by the Mother of God and didst shine on the world as God's poet. We lovingly honour thee, O righteous Romanus.

St. Romanos was born in Emesa, Syria. He served in Beirut, then in Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. He was illiterate, had no musical training and had an irritating voice, but he loved to sing in church. He was despised by some of the clergy. He prayed, weeping to the Theotokos. She appeared to him in a dream and told him to swallow a piece of paper that she handed him. It was Christmas day and Romanos went up to the ambo and sang with an angelic voice what has come down to us as the Kontakion of the Nativity. St. Romanos went on to compose more than 1,000 kontakia. He reposed in 530 as a deacon at the Cathedral.

**Edwin1961** · #5 Oct 2, '05, 5:14 am

October 2
Of the holy Bishop Martyr Cyprian and the holy Virgin Martyr Justina.

Justina was from Damascus and had dedicated her virginity to Christ; Cyprian came from Antioch in the region of Coele-Syria and Arabia and was given to magic and was a worshipper of demons. He learned their impotence because having tried all his craft in order to entice Justina to love, he was smitten by the sign of the Cross and acknowledged the truth. He abandoned demonic error and came to Christ; he burned all his magic books, was baptized and later succeeded to the episcopal throne of his native country. He was arrested with Justina by the count of Damascus. They both endured numerous tortures at his hands and were sent finally to Diocletian at Nikomedia, where their heads were cut off in around the year 304.

Apolytikion. Tone 4. You shared their way of life. [Common]

You shared their way of life and you succeeded to the Apostles’ thrones; you found the practice, O God-inspired, to climb the heights of contemplation; rightly proclaiming the word of truth; and in faith you struggled to shedding of blood, Bishop and Martyr Cyprian; intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion. Tone 1. The angelic choir [The soldiers watching].
From the magic art, O Cyprian inspired by God, you turned to the knowledge of God, and you were declared a wise healer for the world, granting cures to those who honour you with Justina. With her intercede with the Master who loves humankind that your servants may be saved.

**Edwin1961** · #6 Oct 2, '05, 5:23 am

October 2 & October 15
Holy Saint Andrew, the Fool For Christ

A rich man named Theognostus, was serving as a bodyguard in Constantinople under the Emperor Leo the Great (886-912). Among his slaves there was Andrew, a Slav by birth. He was a calm and kindhearted young man. Theognostus liked him and took care of his education. Andrew frequented the church of God, studied the Scriptures diligently and liked to read the lives of Saints. Gradually the desire to devote himself totally to God grew stronger in him and following a sign from above he took upon himself a very difficult and unusual ascetic feat of fool-for-Christ, that is he started acting as if he was insane.

Acting insane, Andrew was brought to the Saint Anastasia church to be taken care of. Saint martyr Anastasia appeared to him in a dream and encouraged him to continue his ascetic feat. So Andrew was faking madness to the extent that he was regarded hopelessly insane and they drove him away from the territory of the church. After that Saint Andrew lived in the streets of the capital going around hungry and half-naked. Most people shunned him, some would mock and beat him up. Even the beggars to whom he gave his last coins would despise him. But Saint Andrew endured all his sufferings humbly and was praying for those who hurt him.

Yet, it was not always that Andrew pretended to be insane; talking to his spiritual father or to his disciple - a wealthy young man Epiphanus - Saint Andrew would remove the mask of folly, and then his holy wisdom and extraordinary spiritual beauty would be revealed. For the life of deepest humbleness and spiritual purity, God endowed Saint Andrew with the gifts of discernment and prophecy. Epiphanus learned a lot from his saint fool-for-Christ teacher who also predicted that with time Epiphanus would become an Archbishop and a famous preacher. The prophecy came true.

Once Saint Andrew, like the Supreme Apostle Paul, was taken to the third Sky and heard the unspoken words there that cannot be heard by people (1Cor. 2:9). There he had the honor of seeing Lord Jesus Christ himself, angels and many Holy Saints, yet he was surprised not to see the Most Holy Virgin. He asked where She was and they told him that She went down to the world of many sufferings to help people and to console those in sorrow.

Some time later Saint Andrew was also blessed with the vision of Most Holy Theotokos in the Vlahern church of Constantinople. This significant event of Her appearance is commemorated during the feast of the Protection of Holy Theotokos. When Saint Andrew and Epiphanus were praying in church, all of a sudden the dome of the church seemed to be opened and Saint Andrew saw the Holy Virgin surrounded by many angels and Saints. She was praying and extending Her homophor over those in prayer. "Do you see the Sovereign Lady of all?" - Andrew asked his disciple as if he could not believe his eyes. "I do, holy father and I am awed" - said Epiphanus.

Andrew, the fool-for-Christ, went into rest at the age of 66 in the year 936. His life was described by the presbyter of Saint Sofia church, who was a spiritual father to Saint Andrew and his disciple Epiphanus.

**Edwin1961** · #7 Oct 3, '05, 4:50 am

October 3
Bishop Martry Denis the Areopagite

The PriestMartyrs Dionysius (Denis), Bishop of Athens were killed at Lutetium (ancient name of Paris) in Gaul [modern-day France, where Saint Dionysius is honoured as the patron saint of France, under the French name-forms "Denis" or "Denys"]. This occurred in the year 96 (another source suggests the year 110, during the time of persecution under the Roman emperor Dometian (81-96). Saint Dionysius lived originally in the city of Athens. He was raised there and received a fine classical Greek education. He then set off to Egypt, where he studied astronomy at the city of Heliopolis. Together with his friend Apollophonos he witnessed the solar eclipse occurring at the moment of the death by Crucifixion on the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Either now the Creator of all the world doth suffer, or this visible world is coming to an end", -- Dionysius said then. Upon his return to Athens from Egypt, he was chosen to be a member of the Areopagus Council (Athenian high court) ["Areo-pagus" means literally Mars(Ares)-hill, a location in Athens anciently].
When the holy Apostle Paul preached at the place of the Athenian Areopagus (Acts 17: 16-34), Dionysius accepted his salvific proclamation and became a Christian [trans. note: Dionysius was one of the few converts of Saint Paul at Athens. It is very significant and highly symbolic that the pagan Greeks had situated at the Areopagus the "altar to the Unknown God", Whom actually Saint Paul preached the knowledge of. The subsequent "via negativa" or "apophaticism" of Saint Dionysius is an especially important contribution to both theology and philosophy]. Over the course of three years Saint Dionysius remained a companion of the holy Apostle Paul in preaching the Word of God. Later on, the Apostle Paul established him as bishop of the city of Athens. And in the year 57 Saint Dionysius was present at the repose of the MostHoly Mother of God.
Already during the lifetime of the Mother of God, Saint Dionysius had journeyed especially from Athens to Jerusalem, so as to meet Her. He wrote to his teacher the Apostle Paul: "I witness by God, that besides the verymost God Himself, there be naught else in such measure filled with Divine power and grace. No one amongst mankind can fully grasp in mind, what I beheld. I confess before God: when I was with John, who did shine out amidst the Apostles, like the sun in the sky -- when I was brought before the countenance of the MostHoly Virgin, I experienced an inexpressible sensation. Before me gleamed a sort of Divine radiance. It transfixed my spirit. I perceived the fragrance of indescribable aromatics and was filled with such delight, that my very body became faint, and my spirit fain but could bear these signs and marks of eternal beatitude and Heavenly power. The grace from Her overwhelmed my heart, and shook my very spirit. Had I not in mind thine instruction, I should have mistaken Her for the very God. It is impossible to stand before greater blessedness than this, which I then perceived".

**Edwin1961** · #8 Oct 4, '05, 4:48 am

October 4
Holy Hieromartyr Hierotheus, Bishop of Athens

A member of the Athens Areopagus (Supreme Court), he was converted to
Christ by the Holy Apostle Paul. He was consecrated Bishop of Athens by the
latter and died as a martyr in the Ist. Century. He was present at the burial of the
Most Holy Virgin and "with the divine pronouncement" "he delighted" "the hearts
of the faithful and the sacred company of the God-preaching Apostles, singing the
mysteries of God".

Kontakion, tone 8
We praise you as the Hierarch of Athens,
For you mystically expounded strange and ineffable things.
For you were revealed as a God-pleasing singer.
O All-blessed Hierotheus,
Pray to save all of us who have fallen into sin, //
So that we may cry out: "Rejoice, O Divinely-wise Father".

**Edwin1961** · #9 Oct 4, '05, 4:54 am

October 4
Venerable and God-Bearing Father, Saint Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi

Kontakion 1
O Holy Father Francis, we, your spiritual children gather to sing a hymn of praise in your honour, glorifying Christ Who first called you from His Cross to follow Him and renew His Church. Marveling at your unsurpassed virtues of humility and poverty as a living icon of Jesus Crucified, who received the hundred-fold reward in His Kingdom.

Venerable Father Francis of Assisi
Also known as Francis Bernardone; il Poverello
Son of Pietro Bernadone, a rich cloth merchant. Though he had a good education and became part of his father's business, he also had a somewhat misspent youth. Street brawler and some-time soldier. Captured during a conflict between Assisi and Perugia, he spent over a year as a prisoner of war. During this time he had a conversion experience, including a reported message from Christ calling him to leave this worldly life. Upon release, Francis began taking his religion seriously.

He took the Gospels as the rule of his life, Jesus Christ as his literal example. He dressed in rough clothes, begged for his sustenance, and preached purity and peace. His family disapproved, and his father disinherited him; Francis formally renounced his wealth and inheritance. He visited hospitals, served the sick, preached in the streets, and took all men and women as siblings. He began to attract followers in 1209, and with papal blessing, founded the Franciscans based on a simple statment by Jesus: "Leave all and follow me." In 1212 Clare of Assisi became his spiritual student, which led to the founding of the Poor Clares. Visited and preached to the Saracens. Composed songs and hymns to God and nature. Lived with animals, worked with his hands, cared for lepers, cleaned churches, and sent food to thieves. In 1221 he resigned direction of the Franciscans.

While in meditation on Mount Alvernia in the Apennines in September 1224, Francis received the stigmata, which periodically bled during the remaining two years of his life. This miracle has a separate memorial on 17 September.

In the Middle Ages people who believed to be possessed by Beelzebub especially called upon the intercession of Saint Francis, the theory being that he was the demon's opposite number in heaven.

**Edwin1961** · #10 Oct 5, '05, 3:42 am

October 5

Holy Martyr Charitina

Distinguished by strict chastity and piety, St. Charitina spent her life in fasting, prayer and reading sacred books. By her God-pleasing way of life she converted many to Christ and during the reign of Emperor Diocletian was seized for torture because of this in the city of Amisus in Pontus. After brutal torture for Christ's sake she was thrown in the sea about the year 304.

Kontakion, tone 2

Having fortified your soul with faith and strengthened by understanding,
You openly put the violent enemy to shame, O Charitina.
You stood before Christ wearing a robe empurpled by your blood, All Blessed One,
And now you rejoice with the angels, praying for us, O Passion-bearer.

**Edwin1961** · #11 Oct 6, '05, 3:30 am

October 6
The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas

The name Thomas means, "twin." He was one of the Twelve, a Galilean by birth. Sophroneus (not the famous Patriarch of Jerusalem [7th Century, but a friend of Jerome's), quoted also by Jerome, says that Saint Thomas preached to the Parthians, Pesians, Medes, Hyrcanians, Bactrians, and neighbouring nations. According to Heracleon, the Apostle died a natural death; according to other accounts, he was martyred at Meliapur His tomb was known by Saint John Chrysostom to be at Edessa in Syria, to which city his holy relics may have been translated from India in the fourth century.

Apolytikion: Third Tone
O Holy Apostle Thomas, intercede with the merciful God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.

Kontakion: Fourth Tone
Christ's Apostle, who was filled with God's divine grace, he who was His genuine and faithful servant in all truth, all-lauded Thomas exclaimed aloud in deep repentance: Thou art both my God and Lord.

**Edwin1961** · #12 Oct 7, '05, 3:47 am

October 7

Holy Martyrs Sergius & Bacchus

Sergius and Bacchus
Martyrs, d. in the Diocletian persecution in Coele-Syria about 303. Their martyrdom is well authenticated by the earliest martyrologies and by the early veneration paid them, as well as by such historians as Theodoret. They were officers of troops on the frontier, Sergius being primicerius, and Bacchus secundarius. According to the legend, they were high in esteem of the Caesar Maximianus on account of their bravery, but this favor was turned into hate when they acknowledged their Christian faith.
When examined under torture they were beaten so severely with thongs that Bacchus died under the blows. Sergius, though, had much more suffering to endure; among other tortures, as the legend relates, he had to run eighteen miles in shoes which were covered on the soles with sharp-pointed nails that pierced through the foot. He was finally beheaded. The burial-place of Sergius and Bacchus was pointed out in the city of Resaph; in honor of Sergius the Emperor Justinian also built churches in honor of Sergius at Constantinople and Acre; the one at Constantinople, now a mosque, is a great work of Byzantine art.
In the East, Sergius and Bacchus were universally honored. Since the seventh century they have a celebrated church in Rome. Christian art represents the two saints as soldiers in military garb with branches of palm in their hands. Their feast is observed on 7 October. The Church calendar gives the two saints Marcellus and Apuleius on the same day as Sergius and Bacchus. They are said to have been converted to Christianity by the miracles of St. Peter.
According to the "Martyrologium Romanum" they suffered martyrdom soon after the deaths of Sts. Peter and Paul and were buried near Rome. Their existing Acts are not genuine and agree to a great extent with those of Sts. Nereus and Achilleus. The veneration of the two saints is very old. A mass is assigned to them in the "Sacramentarium" of Pope Gelasius.

PRAYER TO THE SAINTS
Loving Creator, through the intercession of your holy martyrs Sergius & Bachus
who died for their love of You and each other, hear our petitions we now place before You. (your needs)
Grant these petitions we Your children now offer in the name of Sergius & Bacchus one in love and symbols of Your Love for all creation. In the name of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

prodromos · #13 Oct 7, '05, 5:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwin1961

I would like to present this thread for the posting of ALL our Saints, Holy Ones, and Feasts that we ALL share in common in Chronological Order.

I'm honestly not trying to be a pain, but you posted St Francis of Assisi who does not fit your criteria, unless by Eastern you mean Catholic. St Francis is not venerated by the Orthodox Church.

Another nitpick. Could you possibly find another picture of SS. Sergius and Bacchus that is not called "gay saints.jpg"

.Just because the homesexual community has interpreted their deep friendship as homosexual does not make it so.

Feel free to ask for this post to be deleted afterwards. I just wanted to draw these issues to your attention.

John

**Edwin1961** · #14 Oct 8, '05, 4:36 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by prodromos

I'm honestly not trying to be a pain, but you posted St Francis of Assisi who does not fit your criteria, unless by Eastern you mean Catholic. St Francis is not venerated by the Orthodox Church.

Another nitpick. Could you possibly find another picture of SS. Sergius and Bacchus that is not called "gay saints.jpg"

.Just because the homesexual community has interpreted their deep friendship as homosexual does not make it so.

Feel free to ask for this post to be deleted afterwards. I just wanted to draw these issues to your attention.

John

I was not able to find any other icon for Sergius & Bacchus....it is a shame that certain group want to claim them for their agenda. Just like the rainbow, these groups want to take what is good, holy, and pure, and want to desicrate them.

As for St. Francis, in the Byzantine Catholic tradition, he IS in our calander. Here we go again nit picking.... I originally wanted to title this thread Eastern (Catholic) Saints & Feasts but the Moderator thought otherwise.
As for now, I'm an EASTERN Catholic and I get the list of the saints form several sources online and from our church bulletin.

**Edwin1961** · #15 Oct 8, '05, 4:37 am

October 8
Venerable Mother Pelagia

This Saint was a prominent actress of the city of Antioch, and a pagan, who lived a life of unrestrained prodigality and led many to perdition. Instructed and baptized by a certain bishop named Nonnus, she departed for the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem, where she lived as a recluse, feigning to be a eunuch called Pelagius. She lived in such holiness and repentance that within three or four years she was deemed worthy to repose in an odour of sanctity, in the middle of the fifth century. Her tomb on the Mount of Olives has been a place of pilgrimage ever since.

Troparion Tone 4
In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Pelagia, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.

Kontakion Tone 2
With fasting didst thou consume thy body utterly; with vigilant prayer didst thou entreat thy Fashioner that complete forgiveness of thy former deeds be granted thee, which, O Mother, thou didst receive. The path of repentance hast thou shown to us.