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Icons
of the Mother of God
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Saints
Herodion (Rodion), Agabus (Ahab), Asinkritos, Rufus, Phlegontos
and Hermas are among the Seventy Disciples, chosen by
Christ and sent by Him to preach (Sobor-Assemblage of Seventy
Disciples -- Comm. 4 January).
The
holy Disciple Herodion was a kinsman of the Apostle Paul
and his companion on many journeys. When Christianity had
spread to the Balkan Peninsula, the Apostles Peter and Paul
established the Disciple Herodion as Bishop of Patara. The
Disciple Herodion zealously preached the Word of God and
converted many of the Greek pagans and Jews to Christianity.
Enraged
by the preaching of the disciple, the idol-worshippers and
Jews with one accord fell upon Saint Herodion, and they
began to beat him with sticks and pelt him with stones.
One of the mob struck him with a knife, and the saint fell
down. But when the murderers were gone, the Lord restored
him to health unharmed.
After
this, Saint Herodion continued to accompany the Apostle
Paul some years further. When the holy Apostle Peter was
crucified (+ c. 67), the Disciple Herodion at the same time
also and with Saint Olympos was beheaded by the sword.
The
holy Disciple Agabus was endowed with the gift of prophecy.
He predicted (Acts 11: 27-28) the famine during the time
of the emperor Claudius (41-52), and foretold the suffering
of the Apostle Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 21: 11). The Disciple
Agabus preached in many lands and converted many pagans
to Christ.
The
Disciple Rufus (Ruphus), to whom the holy Apostle Paul gives
greeting in the Epistle to the Romans (Rom. 16: 11-15),
was bishop of the Greek city of Thebes. The Disciple Asincritos
(Rom. 16: 14) -- was bishop in Hyrcania (Asia Minor). The
Disciple Phlegontos -- bishop in the city of Marathon (Thrace).
The Disciple Hermas -- bishop in Dalmatia (there is yet
another Disciple from the Seventy by the name of Hermas,
who occupied a cathedra-seat in the Thracian city of Philippopolis).
All
these disciples for their intrepid service to Christ underwent
fierce sufferings and were found worthy of a martyr's crown.
Sainted
Celestine (Celestinus), Pope of Rome (422-432), a zealous
champion of Orthodoxy, lived during the reign of the holy
Emperor Theodosius the Younger (408-450). He received quite
excellent an education, and he knew philosophy well, but
most of all he studied the Holy Scripture and pondered over
theological questions. The virtuous life of the saint and
his authority as a theologian won him the general esteem
and love of the clergy and people. After the death of holy
Pope Saint Boniface (418-422), Saint Celestine was chosen
to the cathedra-chair of Bishop of Rome.
During
these times emerged the heresy of Nestorius. At the Local
Council in Rome in the year 430, Saint Celestine denounced
this heresy and condemned Nestorius as an heretic. After
the Council Saint Celestine wrote a missive to Saint Cyril,
Archbishop of Alexandria (Comm. 18
January), stating that if Nestorius after 10 days did
not recant his false teachings, then he should be deposed
and excommunicated.
Saint
Celestine directed also a series of missives to other Churches,
Constantinople and Antioch, in which he unmasked and denounced
the Nestorian heresy.
The
following two years after the Council, Saint Celestine preached
incessantly the true teaching about Christ the God-Man,
and thus he died at peace on 6 April 432.
The
Monk Ruphii, Hermit of Pechersk, asceticised at the
Kievo-Pechersk monastery during the XIV Century. He was
distinguished for his obedience and glorified as a lover
of toil and fasting. He was buried in the Farther Caves.
He is celebrated a second time on 28 August, together amidst
the Sobor-Assemblage of the Monks of the Farther Caves.
The
Holy Martyr Pausilipos suffered under the emperor Adrian
(117-138). Through denunciation by pagans he was led to
trial before the emperor and staunchly declared himself
a Christian. They beat him with iron rods and handed over
to the governor named Precius, who for a long time attempted
to make the martyr offer sacrifice to idols. The martyr
remained steadfast, and finally the governor gave orders
to fetter him and take him off to execution. Along the way
Saint Pausilipos prayed fervently, that the Lord would spare
him from the hand of the executioner and send him a quick
death. The Lord hearkened to him: the martyr, beaten up
and weak, had such a sensation of power, that the iron fetters
shattered and freed him from their hold. These were thrown
behind him, but Saint Pausilipos died in flight. Christians
buried the body of the martyr with reverence.
The
Holy Martyr John the Shipmaster (Naukleros) suffered
a psychological sickness. One time, when he was found in
an unconscious state, the Turks made over him the rite of
conversion to their religion. Coming to his senses, the
saint angrily threw from his head the symbol of Islam --
the turban. He bitterly bewailed the indignity that had
occurred and continued to live as a Christian. The Turks
then threw the martyr into prison. Neither lecturings, nor
beatings, nor threats could bend the will of the saint,
and he repeatedly replied: "I believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ and I refuse your faith". After many torments
they burnt the martyr in the city of Koe on 8 April 1669.
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