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 Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:42 pm |
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November 5
1. The Venerable Martyrs Galaction and Episteme
Both Galaction and Episteme were born in the city of Edessa, in
Phoenicia. Galaction's mother was barren until she was baptized. After
her baptism, she converted her husband [Cleitophon] to the true Faith,
baptized her son Galaction, and raised him in the Christian Faith.
When Galaction was old enough to marry, his good mother, Leucippa,
entered into rest, and his father betrothed him to a pagan-born maiden
named Episteme. By no means did Galaction want to enter into marriage,
and convinced Episteme to be baptized, then to be tonsured a nun at
the same time that he became a monk. Both of them withdrew to Mount
Publion-Galaction to a monastery and Episteme to a convent. They
proved to be shining lights in their monasteries. They were first in
labor, first in prayer, first in humility and obedience, and first in
love. They neither left their monasteries nor did they see one another
until just before their death. A fierce persecution began and both of
them were brought before the tribunal. When the pagans mercilessly
whipped Galaction, Episteme wept. Then they whipped her. After that,
they cut off their hands, their feet and then their heads. Their
friend Eutolius took their bodies and honorably buried them. Eutolius
had been a slave of Episteme's parents, and then a monk with
Galaction. He also wrote the life of these wonderful martyrs of Christ
who suffered and received their wreaths in heaven in the year 253.
2. The Holy Apostles Patrobas, Hermes, Linus, Gaius and Philologus
They were of the Seventy. Patrobas was Bishop of Neapolis, Hermes of
Philipopolis (Romans 16:14), Linus of Rome (II Timothy 4:21), Gaius of
Ephesus (Roman 16:23), and Philologus of Synope (Romans 16:15). All of
them fulfilled the Law of Christ with love and took up their abode in
the Kingdom of Christ.
3. Saint Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod
Jonah was born in Novgorod and was orphaned early. A certain God-
fearing widow took him and educated him. Seeing him as a child,
Michael, the fool-for-Christ of Klops said to him prophetically:
``Ivanushka, study diligently, for you will become archbishop in
Novgorod the Great.'' And indeed, following the death of Archbishop
Euthymius, Jonah was chosen and consecrated in his place. Jonah was
devout and merciful to a rare degree for a mortal man. He built
churches and monasteries and cared for his flock as a true good
shepherd. He was offered the throne of Moscow as Metropolitan but
declined, excusing himself because of his age. He entered into rest
peacefully on November 5, 1570, and settled in the joyful heavenly
habitations. One hundred years following his death there was a great
fire in Novgorod. The relics of this saint did not burn in the furious
flames, but on the contrary, from then on manifested healing power and
emitted a wonderful fragrance. |
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