συνοδικός
December 23 / December 10
2018 (7527)
MARTYRS MENAS, HERMOGENES, AND EUGRAPHUS (310). MARTYR GEMELLUS OF PAPHLAGONIA (361). VEN THOMAS OF BITHYNIA (10TH C.)
Nativity (St Philip's) Fast
• Our Lady of LORETO
The title Our Lady of Loreto refers to the Holy House of Loreto, the house in which Mary was born, and where the Annunciation occurred, and to an ancient statue of Our Lady which is found there. Tradition says that a band of angels scooped up the little house from the Holy Land, and transported it first to Tersato, Dalmatia in 1291, then Recanati, Italy in 1294, and finally to Loreto, Italy where it has been for centuries. It was this flight that led to her patronage of people involved in aviation, and the long life of the house that has led to the patronage of builders, construction workers, etc.
• Translation of the Holy House of Loreto (1291/1294)
The feast is so named from the tradition that the house where the Holy Family lived in Nazareth, was transported by angels to the city of Loreto, Italy. The Holy House is now encased by a basilica. It has been one of the famous shrines of the Blessed Virgin since the 13th century.
An ancient tradition tells that the walls of the Shrine existed in Nazareth, Galilea: the Holy House is the same House where Our Lady Mary was born, grew up and received the angelic announcement. Thousands of miracles attributed to Our Lady have been recorded at Loreto. The tradition and history of the Holy House goes back to Apostolic times. From the earliest days of Christianity, the little house and the grotto which formed one side of the Holy House have been a place of worship and pilgrimage. Shortly after the year 313, Constantine the Great had a large Basilica built over the Holy House of Nazareth. The Holy House and the grotto formed part of the crypt of the new church. About the year 1090, the Saracens invaded the Holy Land, plundering and destroying many of the shrines sacred to Christians. One of these was the Basilica in Nazareth, but the Holy House and grotto in the crypt were left intact. Another Basilica was built during the 12th century to protect the Holy House and offer ample room for pilgrims. This second Basilica was destroyed when the Moslems overpowered the crusaders in 1263. Again the Holy House escaped destruction and was left intact under the ruins of the Basilica. Finally, in 1291 the crusaders were completely driven out of the Holy Land and it was at this point in history that the Holy House disappeared from Palestine and made its appearance in what is now known as present day Croatia, where a most important shrine was erected, Our Lady of Trsat (Tersatto in Italian pronunciation). Tradition tells us that on May 10, 1291, the Holy House of Nazareth was raised from its foundations in Nazareth and transported by Angels across the Mediterranean from Palestine to Dalmatia to the small town of Tersatto. With the Moslems taking over Albania in 1294 and the possibility of profanation, the House disappeared from Tersatto. According to some shepherds, it was seen on December 10, 1294, being borne aloft by Angels across the Adriatic sea and came to rest in a wooded area four miles from Recanati, Italy. The news spread fast and thousands came to examine the tiny house which resembled a church. The House became a place of pilgrimage and many miracles took place there. Bandits from the nearby wooded area began to plague the pilgrims, so the House was borne to a safer spot a short distance away. But the spot where the House was finally to rest was still not settled since the two brothers who owned the land were quarreling. The House was moved a third time to the site it now occupies. The brothers became reconciled as soon as the House settled in its final location. Incidentally, wherever it landed, the Holy House rested miraculously on the ground, without a foundation. Once again miracles attended the presence of the House, and the townspeople sent a deputation of men to Tersatto and then to Nazareth to determine for certain the origin of the Holy House. Sixteen men, all reliable citizens, took with them measurements and full details of the House, and after several months arrived back with the report that in their opinion, the House had really come from Nazareth.
• MM MERCURIUS and companions (300) a group of soldiers told to escort Christian prisoners to their place of execution in Lentini in Sicily. The soldiers were so impressed by the prisoners that they too declared themselves believers in Christ and all of them were beheaded together
• Holy Martyrs MENAS 弥纳 Kallikelados 麦洛迪 (the Melodius, Most Eloquent), eparch HERMOGENES 埃尔默格尼 and EUGRAPHUS 艾弗格拉佛 scribe of Menas (313) of Alexandria
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Μηνᾶς, Ἑρμογένης καὶ Εὔγραφος
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me" (Ps. 22:4).
After bringing peace to Alexandria and winning the respect of both pagans and Christians, Menas decided to openly confess his Christian Faith, hoping to embolden the Christians of Alexandria and to be a heroic example. Distinguished for his gift of eloquence, for which he earned the epithet of Kallikelados ("beautiful-sounding"), Menas openly began to preach the Christian faith and he converted many pagans to Christ.
• Blessed JOVAN 约翰 the Despot of Serbia (1503) and his parents: Blessed STEPHAN 斯特梵 the Blind, Branković, Despot of Serbia (1446); with his wife Venerabless Mother ANGELINA 安格利纳 (1520) Branković, Queen of Serbia, W., tonsured a nun, Ktitoress of Monastery Krušedol, Fndr. of Monastery "Meeting of the Lord in the Temple"
• Hieromartyr IAKOV Shestakov, presbiter, priest (1858-1918) day of martyrdom, murdered slaughtered and stabbed by Red Army soldiers on the way for bread in 10 versts from village Khokhlovka of Perm
• Hieromartyr ALEXANDER Shkl’arev, presbiter, archpriest of Solikamsk (1918) day of martyrdom after guilty tortures, shoted near Perm
• Hieromartyr JEVGRAF Pletnöv, presbiter, archpriest (1868-1918) day of martyrdom, shoted in Perm together with son Martyr MICHAEL Pletnöv (1897-1918), or burned in engine room of locomotive
• Day of Martyrdom after prison in R’azan’ of New Hieromartyrs presbiters ANATOLIJ Pravdolübov, archpriest (1862-1937) shoted together with: NICHOLAS Dinarijev, Priest NICHOLAS Karasöv (1901-1937); archpriest EUGENE Kharkov (1891-1937); archpriest CONSTANTINE Bazhanov (1879-1937); archpriest ALEXANDER Tuberovskij (1881-1937)
• Martyr PETR Grishyn (1937) day of martyrdom, shoted after prison in R’azan’
• Martyr JEVSEVIJ Tr’akhov (1870-1937) day of martyrdom, shoted after prison in R’azan’
• Martyr MICHAEL Jakun’kin (1878-1937) day of martyrdom, shoted after prison in R’azan’
• Martyr DOROFEJ Klimashev (1869-1937) day of martyrdom, shoted after prison in R’azan’
• Martyr LAVRENTIJ Kogtev (1880-1937) day of martyrdom, shoted after prison in R’azan’
• Martyr GREGORY Berdenev (1890-1937) day of martyrdom, shoted after prison in R’azan’
• Martyress ALEXANDRA Ustükhina (1882-1937) day of martyrdom, shoted after prison in R’azan’
• Martyress TATIANA Jegorova (1937) day of martyrdom, shoted after prison in R’azan’
• Hieromartyr MICHAEL Kobozev, presbiter, archpriest (1874-1937) day of martyrdom, shoted in prison in R’azhsk of R’azan’
• Hosiosmartyr hieromonk SERGIUS (Nicholas Sorokin) (1900-1937) day of martyrdom after prison in Sreznevo of R’azan’, shoted
• Martyress EUDOCIA (after 1937)
• Hieromartyr NICHOLAS Rozov, presbiter, presbiter (1892-1938) day of death in prison in KZ in Katomysh of Solikamsk at Perm
• Hieromartyr ALEXIS Vvedenskij, presbiter, presbiter (1890-1938) day of death in Samarskoje of Karlag KZ, Karaganda, Kazakhstan
• Confessoress ANNA Ivashkina (1894-1948) died in prison hospital in Tashkent // FEB 9 //
• Confessoress TATIANA B’akireva (1890-1948) of R’azan’
• Confessoress THECLA Makusheva (1901-1954) of R’azan’
• Hieroconfessoress shemanun ANNA (Anisija Stol’arova) (1895-1958) of Sreznevo at R’azan’
• Confessor FELIX (1954) at Soviet Union
Born to the nobility, the son of Count Gualterio of Sassovivo, Foligno, Umbria, Italy who gave land to Blessed Mainard the land to build the Benedictine Holy Cross Abbey. Albert became a monk and later abbot there.
• Sainted ATHANASIUS Bishop of Methona (880/900)
• Venerable DEINIOL of Bangor (584)
• DEUSDEDIT of Brescia (700) Bishop of Brescia in Italy, he played a leading part in the Councils against Monothelitism
• ERKONWALD Bishop of London (693)
• Martyr EVGENIJ beaten to death
Ὁ Ἅγιος Εὐγένιος ὁ Μάρτυρας
• VM EULALIA of Mérida (Eulalia of Barcelona) in Spain, Pat. of Oviedo (304)
The most famous virgin-martyr in Spain. Prudentius wrote a long hymn describing her martyrdom and she is mentioned by other writers. Born in Mérida, aged 13 she was burnt at the stake there under Diocletian.
She was but twelve years of age when the bloody edicts of Dioclesian were issued, by which it was ordered that all persons, without exception of age, sex, or profession, should be compelled to offer sacrifice to the gods of the empire. Eulalia, young as she was, took the publication of this order for the signal of battle: but her mother, observing her impatient ardour for martyrdom, carried her into the country. The saint found means to make her escape by night, and after much fatigue, arrived at Merida before break of day. As soon as the court sat the same morning, she presented herself before the cruel judge, whose name was Dacianus, and reproached him with impiety in attempting to destroy souls, by compelling them to renounce the only true God. The governor commanded her to be seized, and, first employing caresses, represented to her the advantages which her birth, youth, and fortune gave her in the world, and the grief which her disobedience would bring to her parents. Then he had recourse to threats, and caused the most dreadful instruments of torture to be placed before her eyes, saying to her, all this you shall escape if you will but touch a little salt and frankincense with the tip of your finger. Provoked at these seducing flatteries, she threw down the idol, trampled upon the cake which was laid for the sacrifice, and, as Prudentius relates, spat at the judge: an action only to be excused by her youth and inattention under the influence of a warm zeal, and fear of the snares which were laid for her. At the judge’s order two executioners began to tear her tender sides with iron hooks, so as to leave the very bones bare. In the mean time she called the strokes so many trophies of Christ. Next, lighted torches were applied to her breasts and sides; under which torment, instead of groans, nothing was heard from her mouth but thanksgivings. The fire at length catching her hair, surrounded her head and face, and the saint was stifled by the smoke and flame. Prudentius tells us that a white dove seemed to come out of her mouth, and to wing its way upward when the holy martyr expired: at which prodigy the executioners were so much terrified that they fled and left the body. A great snow that fell covered it and the whole form where it lay; which circumstance shows that the holy martyr suffered in winter. The treasure of her relics was carefully entombed by the Christians near the place of her martyrdom; afterwards a stately church was erected on the spot, and the relics were covered by the altar which was raised over them, before Prudentius wrote his hymn on the holy martyr in the fourth century. He assures us that "pilgrims came to venerate her bones; and that she, near the throne of God, beholds them, and, being made propitious by hymns, protects her clients." Her relics are kept with great veneration at Oviedo, where she is honoured as patroness.
• Holy Martyr GEMELLUS 革麦洛 of Many Contests (the Much-suffering), of Ancyra (361) of Paphlagonia subjected to cruel tortures
Ὁ Ἅγιος Γέμελλος ὁ Μάρτυρας
• GREGORY III (741) born in Syria, he became Pope of Rome from 731 to 741. He was much troubled by Iconoclasm and the raids of the Lombards
Priest at Saint Crisogono Church in Rome, Italy; except that his father's name was John, nothing else is known about his life prior to being elected 90th pope by popular acclamation in 731. Noted for his learning and virtue. The beginning of his pontificate was troubled by the excesses of the iconoclasts. He called a synod in November 731 to condemn iconoclasm; iconoclast leaders responded by seizing papal territories and assets, and insisting on the ecclestiastical allegiance to the Patriarch of Constantinople. The end of Gregory's reign was troubled by the invasions of the Lombards, against these he sought the help of Charles Martel, establishing ties with the French crown that would echo for centuries. Gregory promoted the Church in northern Europe, supporting the missions of Saint Boniface in Germany and Saint Willibald in Bohemia, bestowed palliums on Egbert of York and Saint Tatwine of Canterbury, beautified Rome, and supported monasticism in general.
• GUITMARUS (765) 4th Abbot of Saint-Riquier in France
• HILDEMAR (844) a monk at Corbie who became Bishop of Beauvais in France in 821
• Sainted IOASAPH 约阿撒弗 (secular name Joachim Gorlenko) bishop of Belgorod (1705-1754)
Daily, at 3:00 in the afternoon, the hour in which our Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross, St Joasaph would offer this special Prayer to the Saviour: “Blessed is the day and hour in which my Lord Jesus Christ was born, suffered on the Cross, and died for my sake. O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, in the hour of my death welcome the spirit of Thy servant, an earthly wanderer, by the prayers of Thy Most-holy Mother and all Thy saints, for Thou art blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.”
St Joasaph offers his Prayer for our use as well.
• VM JULIA at Mérida, Spain (304) together with St Eulalia in Mérida in Spain under Diocletian
• Commemoration of Blessed JULIANA (Ulana) the 1st cousin of St Joasaph (18th c.)
• Venerable LEONTIUS
• Martyr MARJAN by stoning
Ὁ Ἅγιος Μαριανὸς ὁ Μάρτυρας
• Hieromartyr MILTIADES (Melchiades) Pope of Rome (314) condemned Donatism and was venerated as a martyr on account of his many sufferings during the persecution of Maximian
Pope during the time that Constantine the Great declared tolerance for Christians in the Roman Empire. Counted as a martyr on many lists due to the sufferings he endured prior to the toleration decree. May have been Pope when the Church was given the Lateran Palace which became the pope's residence and the seat of the central administration of the Church. Saint Augustine of Hippo thought highly of him, and mentioned him in his writings.
• Martyr NICHOLAS of Vounenis // MAY 9 //
Seeing that it was impossible to turn the Saint away from his Christian Faith, cutters beheaded him, thus the renowned one received the crown of the contest. His holy relic remained unburied on that mountain, guarded by divine Angels so that it was unharmed and incorrupt. Later the Saint appeared to be miraculous, healing the lepers, making the lame walk, and various others he healed of their illnesses, those who run to him with Faith.
• SCANLACH of Ard-Scanlaighe, in Cinel-Ardgail. She was of the race of Laeghaire, son of Niall
• SINDULF (Sindulphus) of Vienne (669) the 31st Bishop of Vienne in France
• Hieromartyr TEOTEKN by sword
Ὁ Ἅγιος Θεότεκνος ὁ Μάρτυρας
• Venerable Abbot THOMAS 多马 Defourkinos (Thomas the Righteous), of Mt Kyminas of Bithynia (900)
Ὁ Ὅσιος Θωμᾶς ὁ Δεφουρκινός
• Martyr WAKHTANG III (1308) King of Georgia
Σύναξις Ἀρχιστράτηγου Μιχαὴλ ἐν τοῖς Ἄδδᾳ (ἢ Ἀδδᾷ)
The Battle of Coronate took place in 689, after King Cunicpert returned from exile and ousted Alahis, Usurper Kingand Duke of Trent, from the capital Pavia. Duke Alahis, fled towards the east, into Austria. There he assembled an army to march against the king. Within the same year, Alahis crossed the River Adda, the border between Neustria and Austria, and faced Cunincpert in the plain of Coronate. Wishing to spare the Lombard blood of so many, Cunincpert offered Alahis, to engage him in single combat, but Alahisrefused and both camps prepared for battle. Fearing for Cunincpert's life, a deacon named Seno begged the king to lend him his armor, so that he, the deacon, appeared to be the king and distract all troubles from Cunincpert. Finally, Cunincpert agreed to that plan and battle was joined. Once Alahis spotted the supposed king, he charged and killed him. When Alahis was about to take off the helmet, and present to his troops the dead king, he realised that he had only slain a cleric; in fury, Alahis swore a horrible oath, as Paul the Deacon recorded:
"Woe is me! We have done nothing when we have brought the battle to this point that we have killed a churchman! Therefore, I now make this kind of a vow that if God shall give me the victory I will fill a whole well with the members of churchmen."
Cunincpert's men were horrified by the news that the King had been killed, but Cunincpert assured them all that he was alive and well. Again the two hosts drew together for the battle, and again Cunincpert renewed his offer to settle the quarrel by single combat and spare the lives of the people, but Alahis again refused to accept the challenge, this time alleging that he saw among the standards of his rival the image of the Archangel Michael.
The trumpets sounded again for the charge, neither side gave way to the other, a terrible slaughter was made of Lombard warriors, but at length Alahis fell, and the victory remained with King Cunincpert. Great was the slaughter among the fleeing troops of Alahis, and those who were not killed by the sword, drowned in the River Adda. The head and legs of Alahis were cut off, leaving only his torso, the body of the brave deacon Seno, however, was buried by the king’s order before the gates of the church of St John. Cunincpert returned to Pavia in great triumph and later founded a monastery in honor of St George the Martyr on the battlefield of Coronate in memory of his victory.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
愿上帝怜恤我罪人
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
for the sake of the prayers
of Thy most pure Mother,
our holy and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us.
Amen.
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Blessed be God.
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