• συνοδικός • February 2 / January 20 •

συνοδικός

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February 2 / January 20
2018 （7526）

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• M SEBASTIAN, together MM ZOE and her husband NICOSTRATUS; MARCELLINUS and others at Rome (287)
Sebastian is one of the most renowned of all the martyrs of Rome. According to his Life, he was an officer in the imperial army and a favourite of Diocletian. Nevertheless, when he was discovered to be Orthodox no mercy was shown him. Tied to a tree, his body was made a target for Roman archers and he was finally martyred with clubs. His church is one of the seven main churches in Rome. As one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages, Saint Sebastian is patron of many: archers, armorers, athletes, bookbinders, burial societies, arrowsmiths, corn-chandlers, gardeners, ironmongers, lead-founders, municipal police, needle-makers, neighborhood watch operations, physicians, potters, racquet-makers, soldiers, and stone masons. He is invoked against cattlepest, epilepsy, enemies of religion, the plague, and by the dying.
• Martyrs BASSUS 瓦索, EUSEBIUS 艾弗塞维, EUTYCHIUS 艾弗提希 and BASILIDES 瓦西里迪 the Roman senator (303) at Nicomedia
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Βάσσος, Εὐσέβιος, Εὐτύχιος καὶ Βασιλείδης οἱ Μάρτυρες
They came to Faith in Christ, and received holy Baptism, after seeing Bishop Theopemptos of Nicomedia (Jan 5) bravely endure the torments of the faithless, and working miracles by the power of Christ. Having been denounced to the emperor and standing before him, they first had their belts removed, a sign of their exalted office, then each received a different end to their life. Saint Bassus was cast inside a pit up to his thighs, and after his hands were cut off as well as his entire body, he came to an end. Saint Eusebius was suspended upside down, and being cut to pieces with an axe, he came to end. Saint Eutyches was violently stretched out to four stakes, and after being cut into three parts, he had a blessed end. Saint Basilides had his stomach ripped open with a knife, and his life came to an end. In this way all four received crowns of martyrdom.
• Holy Martyrs INNAS 英纳, PINNAS 平纳 and RIMMAS (Nirras) 林玛 in Scythia, the first martyrs in the lands that are now inhabited by the Slavic people (350) disciples of St Andrew the Apostle the first missionary to the lands north of the Black Sea
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἰννᾶς, Πιννᾶς, Ριμμᾶς οἱ Μάρτυρες
They taught about the Name of Christ and they baptised many barbarians converted to the true faith. For this there were seized by the local prince, but they would not recant from Christ nor would they offer sacrifice to idols. A fierce winter then prevailed; the rivers were so solid with frost, that on the ice there travelled not only people, but also horses with carts. The prince gave orders to put large timbers on the ice and bind the saints to them, gradually lowering them into the freezing water. When the ice reached the necks of the saints they, worn out by the terrible cold, offered to the Lord their blessed souls.
• Martyrs THERSES and AGNIA
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Θύρσος καὶ Ἁγνὴ οἱ Μάρτυρες
• MM ELPIDIUS, DANAX and HELEN (also Helena)
• MM LEONTIUS, CYRIACUS, VITUS, CENDEUS, URSUS, FLORUS and FELIX and VMM MARCIA and CHELEDONIA (also Chelidonia) at Nicomedia (Ismid) in Asia Minor
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NEW MARTYRS AND CONFESSORS in the 20th century
• New Hieromartyr PETR 彼得 Skipetrov, presbiter, archpriest (1863-1918) cruelly murdered by Bolsheviks, at St Alexander Nevsky Lavra in Petrograd
• New Hieromartyr NICHOLAS Vostorgov, presbiter, priest (1875-1930) died in central hospital of prison in Solovki KZ of Archangelsk
• Martyr THEODOR Gusev, member of church council of St Nicholas church in Sidorovskoje of Zvenigorod of Moskow (1874-1940) died in Jugvostoklag KZ in Blagoveshchensk of Amur
• New Hieromartyr PAVEL Dobromyslov, presbiter, archpriest (1940)
• New Hieromartyr Presbyter IOAN Pettai, of Estonia
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας
• Venerable Hieroconfessor Abbot EUTHYMIUS (Ekvtime) 艾科弗提玫 Kereselidze the Confessor, of Georgia (1865-1944)
The ancient school of Georgian chant is preserved up to this day primarily as a result of Abbot Ekvtime’s fearless labors. Saint Ekvtime Kereselidze, like Saint Ekvtime of Mt Athos for whom he was named, dedicated his life to the enrichment of his mother Church. Like Saint Ekvtime Taqaishvili, the Man of God, he gave his talents and energies to the preservation of Georgia’s unique spiritual heritage. He was a monk-ascetic and a scholar who prayed fervently. Several of his theological treatises are preserved at Samtavro. From his youth Saint Ekvtime was for others an example of virginity, humility and patience. The Synod called him Ekvtime the Confessor, thereby recognizing his confession of the Faith and his vital role in the preservation of the rich tradition of national liturgical song.
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• AGATHO (681) Pope of Rome from 678 to 681. A Sicilian from Palermo, he called for the holding of the Sixth Oecumenical Council in Constantinople in 680 against Monothelitism
• Martyress ANNA at Rome (302)
Ἡ Ἁγία Ἄννα ἡ Μάρτυς
• Martyr EUSEBIUS (298)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Εὐσέβιος ὁ Μάρτυρας
• Venerable schemamonk EUTHYMIUS 艾弗提弥 the Great (473)
Ὁ Ὅσιος Εὐθύμιος ὁ Μέγας
• Bishop EUTHYMIUS of Pereyaslav (1149)
• Venerable hieroschemamonk EUTHYMIUS 艾弗提弥 the Silent of Kiev Caves, from the Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves) in Kiev (1319) Ukraine. The Relics are kept at St Theodosy Far Caves of the Lavra
Ὁ Ἅγιος Εὐθύμιος
He imposed upon himself a vow of silence, opening his mouth only for Divine Services and for prayer. The silent schemamonk priest ate only herbs.
• Patriarch EUTHYMIUS 艾弗提弥 of Turnovo (1400) Bulgaria
Ὁ Ἅγιος Εὐθύμιος Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Τυρνόβου
• Venerable abbot EUTHYMIUS 艾弗提弥 of Syanzhemsk and Vlolgda (1465)
• Venerable EUTHYMIUS 艾弗提弥 of Archangelsk and Karelia (1523)
Ὁ Ὅσιος Εὐθύμιος ἐκ Ρωσίας
• Hieromartyr FABIAN (250) succeeded St Antherus as Pope of Rome in 236 and was martyred in 250 under Decius. St Cyprian described him as an "incomparable man" and added that the glory of his death matched the purity and goodness of his life; the Patron of lead-founders and potters
• Abbot FÉCHÍN (also known as Vigean, Virgin) 斐金 of Fobhar (Fore) (665) born in Connaught in Ireland, he founded several monasteries. His name is connected with Fobhar (Fore) in Westmeath. Ecclefechan and St Vigean's near Arbroath in Scotland are also called after him
• GENNADIUS the Abbot of Monastery Vatopedi, Mt Athos (14th c.)
• Repose of Elder GERASIM the founder of Ascension Monastery, Irkutsk (1676)
• Venerable LAURENCE 劳伦提 the Recluse of Kiev Caves, from the Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves) in Kiev (1291) Ukraine. The Relics are kept at St Theodosy Far Caves of the Lavra
Ὁ Ἅγιος Λαυρέντιος
• LEO (Leo Marcellus) 莱 the Great, Confessor and Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (474) also called "Makellis" and "the Thracian"
Ὁ Ἅγιος Λέων Μακέλλης ὁ Μέγας
Leo's coronation as emperor on 7 February 457, was the first known to involve the Patriarch of Constantinople. Leo I made an alliance with the Isaurians and was thus able to eliminate Aspar. The price of the alliance was the marriage of Leo's daughter to Tarasicodissa, leader of the Isaurians who, as Zeno, became emperor in 474. In 469, Aspar attempted to assassinate Zeno and very nearly succeeded. Finally, in 471, Aspar's son Ardabur was implicated in a plot against Leo and Ardabur was killed by palace eunuchs acting on Leo's orders. After this, Leo acquired the nickname "Makellis", derived from the Latin word for "butcher" and resembling his original name "Marcellus".
• MAURUS of Cesena (946) became monk and Abbot of Classe in Ravenna in Italy (926), and finally Bishop of Cesena. He built for himself a cell on a hill near the city, where he spent part of his time in prayer. After his repose the cell grew into the monastery of Santa Maria del Monte • Abbot MOLAGGA (also known as Laicin, Molacca) of Fermoy (655) born in Ireland, he was a disciple of St David in Wales. He founded a monastery in Fulachmhin (Fermoy) in Ireland
• Martyr NEOPHYTUS of Nicaea (310) was a youth, less than 15years old, who was martyred at Nicaea under Galerius
• NEOPHYTUS 奈奥斐特 of Vatopedi, Mt Athos (14th c.)
• Blessed PETER 彼得 the Merciful, the former Customs Inspector (the Tax Collector) of Constantinople (6th c.)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Πέτρος ὁ Τελώνης
• THEODORE 德奥多若 Kuzmich of Tomsk (1864)
Ὁ Ὅσιος Θεόδωρος ὁ Δίκαιος ἐκ Ρωσίας
• Righteous UTA of Uttenweiler (722)
• New Martyr ZACHARIAS 匝哈利亚 in Patrai in Morea (1782)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ζαχαρίας ὁ Νεομάρτυρας
He renounced Christ to become a Moslem, then went to ancient Patras and worked there as a furrier. He had a book, THE SALVATION OF SINNERS, which he often read. Αμαρτωλών σωτηρία: A devotional work composed by Agapios Landos (1600-1671), an Athonite monk from Crete. It was greatly appreciated throughout the dark period of the Turkish occupation, and is still widely read in Greece. The book moved him to repentence, and he wept bitterly for the great evil he had done. After some time Elder blessed Zachariah to go back to the Moslems and declare his faith in Christ. On his way, the saint asked forgiveness from each Christian he met. The holy martyr went to the judge’s house and said that he had been deceived when he accepted their religion, but now he had come to his senses and returned to Christ. Saint Zachariah was thrown into prison, where he was beaten three times a day. Finally, the saint died by being stretched out on a rack. Christians asked for his body so they might bury it, but the Moslems refused. They said, "He is neither one of you, nor one of us, for he denied both religions. Therefore, he is unworthy of burial." His body was dragged through the streets and thrown into a dry well, landing on its knees in an upright position. Christians saw a radiant light over the well the next night, and hastened to venerate the saint. The Turks filled the well with dirt and debris to prevent such gatherings in the future. By shedding his blood, the holy New Martyr Zachariah washed away the sin of his denial of Christ and received an unfading crown of glory.

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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.