Eastern Christianity Saints & Feasts

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FEBRUARY 5
THE HOLY FEMALE MARTYR AGATHA
Agatha, this glorious virgin and martyr for Christ, was born in the Sicilian town of Palermo of noble and wealthy parents. When Emperor Decius began a persecution against Christians, St. Agatha was arrested and brought to trial before Judge Quintian. The judge, seeing Agatha beautiful in countenance, desired to have her for his wife. When he suggested this, Agatha answered that she is the bride of Christ and cannot be unfaithful to her Betrothed. Quintian subjected her to cruel tortures. Agatha was ridiculed, whipped, bound to a tree and flogged until blood flowed. After that, the judge again tried to persuade her to deny Christ and to avoid any further torture and suffering. To that the bride of Christ replied: “These tortures are very beneficial for me; just as wheat cannot arrive at the granary before it is cleansed from the chaff, so my soul cannot enter into Paradise if my body, beforehand, is not humbled by tortures.” Then, the torturer ordered that her breasts be cut off and that she be cast into prison. St. Peter appeared to Agatha in prison and restored her to health and wholeness of body. Again, Agatha was led out for torture and again, cast into prison where she gave up her soul to God in the year 251 A.D. in the town of Catania during the reign of Emperor Decius. After her death, the torturer Quintian departed for Palermo to usurp her estate. However, along the way, his horse and the horses of his soldiers became wild with rage. Quintian was bitten on the face, thrown to the ground and trampled to death. Swift was the punishment of God that reached out for this savage crime perpetrated against St. Agatha.

THE HOLY FEMALE MARTYR THEODULA
Theodula suffered for Christ during the reign of the nefarious Roman Emperor Diocletian. During her torture, Theodula brought one of her torturers, Heladius, to his senses and converted him to the Faith of Christ. When Heladius openly confessed his faith in Christ, he was beheaded. Theodula held up very courageously at her trial at which time the judge referred to her as being “deranged.” To that Theodula responded: “You, who have forgotten the One True God and bow down before lifeless stones, are deranged.” The judge then subjected Theodula to cruel tortures, which she heroically endured and, by her heroism during this torturing, she astonished many and converted them to Christ. Among those were two distinguished citizens: Macarius and Evgarius. With these two and many others, Theodula was thrown into a fiery furnace where they all honorably died and were made worthy of the kingdom of Christ.

SAINT POLYEUCTUS, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE
Because of his great mind, religious zeal and eloquence, Polyeuctus was called “a second Chrysostom.” During the time that Patriarch Polyeuctus governed the Church and Emperor Constantine Porphryogenitus ruled the empire, the Russian Princess Olga traveled to Constantinople and was baptized in the year 957 A.D. The patriarch baptized her and the emperor was her godfather. Prophetically, St. Polyeuctus said to her: “Blessed are you among Russian women, for you have loved light and cast off darkness; the sons of Russia will bless you to the last generation.” From among the simple monks, Polyeuctus was elevated as patriarch in the year 946 A.D., and remained on the patriarchal throne until his death in 970 A.D.

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FEBRUARY 5
(Continued)

Today’s Readings:
1 John 2:18-3:10
18: Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour.
19: They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us.
20: But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know.
21: I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth.
22: Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
23: No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24: Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25: And this is what he has promised us, eternal life.
26: I write this to you about those who would deceive you;
27: but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him.
28: And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
29: If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that every one who does right is born of him.
1: See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2: Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
3: And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
4: Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
5: You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
6: No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.
7: Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous.
8: He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
9: No one born of God commits sin; for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.
10: By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother.

Mark 11:1-11
1: And when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Beth’phage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
2: and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat; untie it and bring it.
3: If any one says to you, Why are you doing this?' say, The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’”
4: And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door out in the open street; and they untied it.
5: And those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
6: And they told them what Jesus had said; and they let them go.
7: And they brought the colt to Jesus, and threw their garments on it; and he sat upon it.
8: And many spread their garments on the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields.
9: And those who went before and those who followed cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
10: Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!”
11: And he entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
 
**FEBRUARY 6

SAINT BUCOLUS, BISHOP OF SMYRNA**
Bucolus was a disciple of St. John the Theologian, who consecrated him bishop of Smyrna. In Smyrna, there were few that were baptized. In the darkness of paganism, St. Bucolus shown as a bright candle. He distinguished himself with every virtue, especially meekness and humility. Before his death, Bucolus consecrated the glorious Polycarp as his successor to the espicopacy. He died peacefully and took up habitation with the Lord.

THE HOLY FEMALE MARTYR FAUSTA
Fausta was martyred for Christ during the reign of Emperor Maximian between 305 A.D. - 311 A.D. By her heroism, Fausta astonished her persecutors and succeeded to convert them to Christianity: the eighty-year old pagan priest Evilasis and Maximus, the Eparch. When the judge threatened Fausta with more severe tortures, she asked him to make her an icon with the depictions of all those tortures with which he threatened her. When the icon was completed, it was shown to her and St. Fausta said: “As this icon does not feel any pain, so my body does not feel any pain from your punishments, for my soul is secure in the Lord.” The judge then threw her into a vat of boiling hot water where this thirteen-year-old girl died with prayer on her lips and her soul entered Paradise.

THE HOLY FEMALE MARTYR DOROTHEA
Dorothea was a prominent and beautiful maiden from Caesarea in Cappadocia. Sapricius, the administrator of the province, turned Dorothea over to the two pagan sisters Christina and Kallista in order to dissuade her from Christ. But, the opposite occurred; Dorothea succeeded to convert both sisters to the Faith of Christ. Enraged, Sapricius ordered the two sisters bound back to back and threw them into a vat of pitch and set it on fire. He then sentenced Dorothea to death. She joyfully heard the sentence and cried out: “I give thanks to You, O Soul-loving Christ, that You are leading me into Your All-holy mansions!” Theophilus, a certain nobleman who was present, laughed at these words and cried out to Dorothea: “Listen, O bride of Christ, send me apples and flowers from the pomegranate tree from the Paradise of your Bridegroom.” “Indeed, I will do that,” replied the martyr. When Dorothea was at the place of execution, all at once a beautiful young man appeared with three beautiful apples and three red flowers from the pomegranate. That was an angel of God and it was winter. Dorothea asked the angel to bring them to Theophilus and to tell him: “Behold, this is what you desired!” When Theophilus received the message and saw the gift, he was thoroughly frightened. For him, everything turned upside down and he, a confirmed pagan, became a Christian. He was tortured and slain for Christ and his soul entered the Paradise of the Lord Jesus soon after St. Dorothea.

SAINT PHOTIUS, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE
Photius was a great beacon of the Church. He was the emperor’s relative and a grandson of the glorious Patriarch Tarasius. He was a vigorous protector of the Church from the authority-loving pope and other Roman distortions of the Faith. In six days he went through all the ranks from a layman to patriarch. He was consecrated patriarch on Christmas day, 857 A.D. and died in the Lord in the year 891 A.D.

THE VENERABLE BARSANUPHIUS AND THE VENERABLE JOHN
Both Barsanuphius and John were great ascetics, discerners and miracle-workers from Gaza. They left a famous work entitled the “Book of Answers” dealing with many questions about the spiritual life. They lived in the sixth century.

THE HOLY FEMALE MARTYRS MARTHA AND MARY AND THEIR BROTHER LYCARION
All three were crucified for Christ and then pierced and slain with a lance.

Today’s Readings:
1 John 3:10-20
Mark 14:10-42
 
FEBRUARY 7
Our Venerable Father Parthenius, Bishop of Lampsacus
The Passing of the Martyr and Priest Peter Verhun (1957)

SAINT PARTHENIUS, BISHOP OF LAMPSACUS
Parthenius was the son of a deacon from the town of Melitopolis. As a child he remembered well the words of the Gospel and endeavored to fulfill them. He settled in the area of a lake where he fished. He then sold the fish and distributed the money to the poor. By God’s Providence he was chosen as bishop of Lampsacus. He cleansed the town of paganism, closed the idolatrous temples, built many churches and strengthened the faithful in the Faith. Through prayer, he healed every manner of illness and he was particularly powerful over evil spirits. On one occasion when he wanted to cast out an evil spirit from an insane man, the evil spirit begged him not to do so. Parthenius said to him: “I will give you another man into whom you can enter and in him, you can dwell.” The evil spirit asked him: “Who is this man?” “I am that man,” replied the saint, “enter and dwell in me!” Upon hearing this, the evil spirit fled as though burned by fire crying out: “How can I enter into the house of God!” St. Parthenius lived a long time and through his work manifested an abundant love for God and man. Parthenius entered into the eternal rest of Christ in the fourth century.

THE VENERABLE LUKE OF HELLAS
Luke was born in Castoria. Even as a child, he never desired to taste meat and always conducted his life in chastity and in prayer. At one time, Luke entered a field to sow grains of wheat, but along the way he distributed a greater portion of the grains of wheat to the poor and the lesser portion which was left over, he planted. From that lesser amount of seeds of wheat, God gave him a greater harvest than had previously come from the entire amount. After that, Luke left his widowed mother and entered a monastery. The grieving mother prayed earnestly to God to reveal to her the secret where her son could be found. God heard the prayers of the mother. The abbot of that monastery, where Luke had fled, dreamed on three consecutive nights that a certain woman sharply rebuked him because he took away her only son. The abbot then ordered Luke to immediately return to his mother. Luke went, visited with his mother and once again, parted from her without returning. He atoned on “Mount Johannitsa,” near Corinth. At night he prayed to God and during the day he worked in the garden and in the field, not for his sake but for the sake of the indigent and the visitors. However, Luke fed only on bread made of barley. God bestowed upon him the gift of working miracles. Luke died peacefully in the year 946 A.D. From time to time, Chrism [oil] flowed from his relics.

THE VENERABLE MASTRIDIA
Mastridia lived in Jerusalem where she led an austere life of asceticism. A certain young man fell in love with her and began to annoy her. In order to save herself and this young man from sin, Mastridia took a small basket of moistened berries and retreated into the wilderness. She spent seventeen years in the wilderness and during the entire time, by the power of God, neither did she lace berries, which she brought, nor did her clothing wear out. Mastridia died peacefully about the year 580 A.D.

THE ONE-THOUSAND THREE MARTYRS AT NICOMEDIA
They all suffered from Christ during the reign of Emperor Diocletian.

Today’s Readings
1 John 3:21-24 1 John 4:1-6
Mark 14:43-72 Mark 15:1
 
**FEBRUARY 8

THE HOLY GREAT MARTYR THEODORE STRATELATES**
There are martyrdoms more precious than precious. The preciousness of martyrdom depends upon the greatness of the good which a Christian abandons and in lieu of that, accepts suffering; and still, it depends upon the greatness of the suffering which he endures for Christ’s sake. St. Theodore, a Roman commander in the army of Emperor Licinius and mayor of the town of Heraclea, scorned his youth, handsome appearance, military rank and the good graces of the emperor. In place of all that, he accepted horrible tortures for the sake of Christ. At first, Theodore was flogged and received six-hundred lashes on his stomach. After this, he was raised on a cross and was completely pierced with lances. Finally, Theodore was beheaded. Why all of this? Because, St. Theodore loved Christ the Lord above all else in the world. He abhorred the stupid idolatry of the superstitious Emperor Licinius. He smashed the idols of silver and gold and distributed pieces of them to the poor. He converted many to the Faith of Christ and called upon Emperor Licinius himself to reject idolatry and to believe in the One Living God. During the entire time of his tortures, St. Theodore said repeatedly: "Glory to You my God, glory to You! St. Theodore suffered on February 8, 319 A.D., at 3:00 p.m. and entered into the kingdom of Christ. St. Theodore is considered the Protector of Soldiers who call upon him for assistance. His miracle-working relics were translated from Euchaita to Constantinople and interred in the church of Balchernae.

THE HOLY PROPHET ZECHARIAH
Zechariah was the eleventh of the Twelve Minor Prophets and together with Haggai, persuaded Prince Zerubbabel to restore the Temple of Jerusalem. Zechariah prophesied the solemn entrance of Christ into Jerusalem: "On a colt, the foal of an *" (Zechariah 9:9). He also prophesied Judas’ betrayal for thirty pieces of silver: “And they counted out my wages, thirty pieces of silver” (Zechariah 11:12) and the abandoning of Christ by the apostles during the time of His passion: “Strike the shepherd that the sheep may be dispersed” (Zechariah 13:7).() The Prophet Zechariah is called the “sickle-beholder” because he saw in a vision, a sickle coming down from heaven to mow down the unjust; especially thieves and blasphemers of the Name of God. Zechariah died in the latter half of the reign of Darius Hystapes about the year 520 B.C.
() St. Matthew 26:31 - St. Mark 14:27

SAINT SAVA II, ARCHBISHOP OF THE SERBS
Sava was the son of King Steven (Stefan) the First-crowned and nephew of Saint Sava I. Before tonsuring, Sava was called Predislav. Following the example of his great uncle [St. Sava] Predislav was tonsured a monk and zealously dedicated himself to a life of asceticism. He was chosen Archbishop of the Serbs, succeeding St. Arsenius under the name of Sava II. He governed the Church with great devotion and love. Sava II died in the year 1268 A.D. His relics repose in the Monastery at Pec.

Today’s Readings
1 John 4:20-21 1 John 5:1-21
Mark 15:1-15
 
**FEBRUARY 9

THE HOLY MARTYR NICEPHORUS**
The biography of this martyr Nicephorus clearly demonstrates how God rejects pride and crowns humility and love with glory. There lived in Antioch two close friends, the learned priest Sapricius and the simple ordinary citizen Nicephorus. Somehow, their friendship turned into a terrible hatred for each other. The God-fearing Nicephorus attempted on many occasions to make peace with the priest. However, at no time did Sapricius desire to be reconciled. When the persecution of Christians began, the presbyter Sapricius was condemned to death and brought to the place of execution. The sorrowful Nicephorus followed after Sapricius beseeching him along the way to, at least, forgive him before his death that they might depart in peace. “I beseech you, O martyr of Christ,” said Nicephorus, “forgive me if I have sinned against you!” Sapricius did not even want to look at his opponent but quietly and arrogantly walked toward his death. Upon seeing the hardness of the priest’s heart, God did not want to accept the sacrifice of his martyrdom and to crown him with a wreath but He mysteriously withheld His grace. At the last moment, Sapricius denied Christ and declared before the executioners that he would bow down before the idols. So it is with blind hatred! Nicephorus implored Sapricius not to deny Christ saying: “O my beloved brother, do not do that; do not deny our Lord Jesus Christ; do not forfeit the heavenly wreath!” But, all was in vain. Sapricius remained adamant. Then, Nicephorus cried out to the executioners: “I, also, am a Christian; behead me in place of Sapricius!” The executioners informed the judge of this and he ordered the release of Sapricius and, in his place, beheaded Nicephorus. Nicephorus joyfully lowered his head on the block and was beheaded. Thus, he was made worthy of the kingdom and was crowned with the immortal wreath of glory. This occurred in the year 260 A.D. during the reign of Gallienus.

THE PRIEST-MARTYR PETER DAMASKIN
Some think that Peter Damaskin lived in the eighth century and others think he lived in the twelfth century. This difference of thought comes from the face that there were two Peter Damaskins. The one about whom we are speaking was a great ascetic. He was unselfish beyond measure. Peter Damaskin did not even possess one book; rather, he borrowed books and read them. He read assiduously, gathering wisdom as a bee gathers honey. For a while, he was a bishop in Damascus but when he spoke out against Islam and the Manichean heresy, the Arabs severed his tongue and banished him into exile deep in Arabia. However, God granted him the power of speech so that, even in exile, he preached the Gospel and converted many to the Faith of Christ. He compiled and bequeathed to his posterity a precious book about the spiritual life. He died as a confessor and martyr and took up habitation in the kingdom of Christ.

Today’s Readings
2 John 1-13
Mark 15:22, 25, 33-41
 
**FEBRUARY 10
THE FIRST ALL SOULS SATURDAY

THE PRIESTLY-MARTYR CHARALAMPUS**
This great saint Haralambos was a bishop in Magnesia and suffered for Christ in his one-hundred and thirteenth year. When a terrible persecution began during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus, the Elder Haralambos did not hide from the persecutors but freely and openly preached the Faith of Christ. He endured all tortures as though he were in someone else’s body. When they skinned him alive, the forgiving elder said to the emperor’s soldiers: “Thank you, my brethren, for in scraping my old body you renew my spirit for a new eternal life.” He worked many miracles and converted many to the Faith. Even the emperor’s daughter, Galina, abandoned the idolatry of her father and become a Christian. Condemned to death and brought to the place of execution, St. Haralambos raised his hands to heaven and prayed to God for all people that God grant them bodily health and spiritual salvation and that He multiply their fruits of the earth. “O Lord, You know that men are flesh and blood; forgive them their sins and pour out Your Grace on all!” After prayer, this holy elder gave up his soul to God before the executioner lowered the sword on his neck. He suffered in the year 202 A.D. The emperor’s daughter, Galina, removed his body and honorably buried it.

THE VENERABLE PROCHORUS, THE ORACH-EATER
Prochorus was a miracle-worker of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev. He is called the Orach-Eater because during the time that he lived in the Monastery of the Caves he did not taste of bread, rather he fed on orach, mixing it in his own way and from it prepared a type of bread. Whenever he would give someone his orach bread with a blessing, the bread tasted sweet as though prepared from honey; if someone stole the bread, it was as bitter as wormwood. One time when there was a shortage of salt in Russia, Prochorus distributed ashes to the people as though it were salt. The ashes, which he distributed with his blessing, were as salt. However, the ashes which someone would take on their own, was as ordinary ashes. Prince Svyatopolk ordered all the ashes from Prochorus’ cell be taken to his palace without the permission and the blessing of the monk, Prochorus. When the ashes were removed, those who tasted of it were convinced that it was ashes and not salt. Then Prochorus told the people who came to him for salt to go to the emperor’s palace and when the prince tosses out the ashes from his residence, to take them and carry them home as though they were salt. The people did so and again, the ashes were as salt. Believing in this, the prince himself was filled with respect and love toward the holy Prochorus, so that when he died in the year 1107 A.D., the prince, with his own hands, placed Prochorus in the tomb along side the great Russian Saints Anthony and Theodosius.

Today’s Readings
1 Corinthians 10:23-28
Luke 21:8-9, 25-27, 33-36
 
**FEBRUARY 11
SUNDAY OF MEATFARE

THE PRIESTLY-MARTYR BLAISE**
Blaise was born in the Province of Cappadocia. From his early childhood, he was God-fearing and meek. Because of his great virtues, he was chosen as bishop of the city of Sebastea [in Armenia]. Blaise was a great spiritual and moral beacon in this pagan city. At the time of a grave persecution of Christians, St. Blaise encouraged his flock and visited the martyrs of Christ in prison, especially among them was the eminent and glorious Eustratius. When the city of Sebastea was completely depleted of Christians - some were slain, and others fled - the Elder Blaise withdrew to Mt. Argeos and settled there in a cave. Wild beasts recognized the holy man, gathered around him and he tenderly caressed them. But the persecutors found the saint in this remote place and brought him to trial. Along the way, Blaise cured a young boy who had a bone caught in his throat. To the plea of the poor widow whose pig had been snatched by a wolf, the saint, by the power of his prayer, commanded the wolf to return it. The sinister judges tortured Blaise severely: flogging him and scrapping him with an iron comb. By his steadfastness in the Faith of Christ, Blaise converted many pagans to the Faith. Seven women and two children languished in prison with him. The women were beheaded first and, after that, the wonderful Blaise with these two children was beheaded. He suffered and was glorified in the year 316 A.D. People pray to St. Blaise for the well being of their domestic livestock and for protection against wild beasts. However, in the west, he is also invoked for diseases of the throat.

THE HOLY MARTYR GEORGE OF KRATOVO
By origin, George was a Serb from the town of Kratovo. He was a silversmith by trade and, in his heart and soul, was a convinced and a devout Christian. George was eighteen years old when the Turks tried to convert him to Islam. George remained as firm as a diamond in his faith. The Turks tortured him with many cruel tortures and finally burned him at the stake. He suffered for the beautiful Faith of Christ on February 11, 1515 A.D. in Sofia, Bulgaria, during the reign of Sultan Selim and was glorified with unfading glory in the heavens.

SAINT THEODORA
Theodora, a Greek empress, was the wife of the nefarious Emperor Theophilus the Iconoclast. After the death of Theophilus, Theodora became the ruling empress and reigned together with her son Michael III. At the Council in Constantinople (842 A.D.), she immediately restored the veneration of icons. On this occasion, the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy was instituted which is still celebrated today on the First Sunday of the Honorable Fast [First Sunday in Lent]. This holy and meritorious woman of the Church gave up her soul to God on February 11, 867 A.D. It was at that time, by the divine and wonderful Providence of God, at the solemn triumph of Orthodoxy over all heresies, that St. Cyril and St. Methodius were sent as Christian missionaries to the Slavs.

Today’s Readings
1 Corinthians 8:8-13 1 Corinthians 9:1-2
Matthew 25:31-46
 
**FEBRUARY 12

SAINT MELETIUS, ARHCBISHOP OF ANTIOCH**
Meletius, this great and holy man, was an exceptional interpreter and protector of Orthodoxy. His entire life was dedicated in a struggle against the Arian heresy which did not recognize the Son of God as god and blasphemed the Holy Trinity. On three occasions, Meletius was banished and exiled from his archepiscopal throne to Armenia. The struggle between the Orthodox and the heretics was waged so bitterly that on one occasion, when St. Meletius was preaching to the people in Church concerning the Holy Trinity in unity, his personal deacon, a heretic, raced toward him and covered his mouth with his hand. Not being able to speak with his mouth covered, Meletius spoke in signs. Namely, he raised his clenched hand in the air, opening at first his three fingers and showed them to the people. After that, he closed his hand and raised up one finger. He participated in the Second Ecumenical Council [Constantinople 381 A.D.], where Emperor Theodosius showed him special honor. At this Council, God revealed a miracle through His hierarch. Namely, when Meletius was propounding the dogma of the Holy Trinity to Arius, at first he only raised three fingers, separately one by one, and after that folded them into one. At that moment, before all those present, a light shown like lightening from his hand. At this Council Meletius confirmed Gregory the Theologian on the patriarchal throne in Constantinople. Earlier, however, Meletius had ordained Basil the Great to the deaconate and baptized John Chrysostom. After the close of the Council, St. Meletius completed his earthly life in Constantinople. His relics were translated to Antioch.

**THE VENERABLE MARIA **
Maria was a young woman with indomitable courage. After the death of her mother, her father desired the monastic tonsure. Maria did not wish to be separated from her father and they both agreed to journey to a monastery for monks: Maria with cropped hair and in masculine attire, appeared as a young man. Her father died and Maria was tonsured a monk and received the name Marius. In the proximity of the monastery, there was an inn and the daughter of the innkeeper was attracted to Marius, the alleged monk. After unsuccessfully pursing Marius, the innkeeper’s daughter accused Marius of illicit sexual relations with her, for she had become pregnant with someone else and had given birth to a son. Maria did not defend herself and was banished from the monastery with ridicule. With someone else’s child in her arms, Maria lived for three years in a grove belonging to the monastery enduring hunger, frost and every difficulty and deprivation. Meanwhile, the innkeeper’s daughter went insane and soon after that Maria also died. Only after her death was it discovered that the “monk Marius” was a woman. The deranged daughter of the innkeeper, as soon as she touched the body of St. Maria, was healed and after that acknowledged her terrible sin. St. Maria died and took up habitation in eternal joy in the year 508 A.D.

SAINT ANTHONY, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE
At first, Anthony was a great ascetic of exceptional charity and later was patriarch during the reign of Emperor Leo the Wise (889 A.D. 912 A.D.). He tonsured his father a monk and founded a monastery over the relics of St. Callia.

**ST. CALLIA **
Callia was generous toward the poor out of pure Christian charity both as a maiden and later as a married woman. Callia’s husband was a wealthy but miserly man. Once, when he returned from his business trip, he saw that his wife had distributed his wealth to the poor and then killed her. But God glorified this charitable soul in this manner: many who were ill were healed by her relics. Convinced of this, the Patriarch Saint Anthony, built a monastery over her relics.

Continued
 
February 12
Continued

Today’s Readings
3 John 1-15
: The elder to the beloved Ga’ius, whom I love in the truth.
2: Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in health; I know that it is well with your soul.
3: For I greatly rejoiced when some of the brethren arrived and testified to the truth of your life, as indeed you do follow the truth.
4: No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth.
5: Beloved, it is a loyal thing you do when you render any service to the brethren, especially to strangers,
6: who have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey as befits God’s service.
7: For they have set out for his sake and have accepted nothing from the heathen.
8: So we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers in the truth.
9: I have written something to the church; but Diot’rephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority.
10: So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, prating against me with evil words. And not content with that, he refuses himself to welcome the brethren, and also stops those who want to welcome them and puts them out of the church.
11: Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen God.
12: Deme’trius has testimony from every one, and from the truth itself; I testify to him too, and you know my testimony is true.
13: I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink;
14: I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face.
15: Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them.

Luke 19:29-40 & 22:7-39
29: When he drew near to Beth’phage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,
30: saying, “Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here.
31: If any one asks you, Why are you untying it?' you shall say this, The Lord has need of it.’”
32: So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them.
33: And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34: And they said, “The Lord has need of it.”
35: And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it.
36: And as he rode along, they spread their garments on the road.
37: As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,
38: saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39: And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
40: He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

(Continued)
 
February 12
Part Three
Continued

Luke 22:7-39
7: Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed.
8: So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it.”
9: They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?”
10: He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters,
11: and tell the householder, The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' 12: And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready." 13: And they went, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover. 14: And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. 15: And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16: for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17: And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; 18: for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19: And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20: And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21: But behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22: For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!" 23: And they began to question one another, which of them it was that would do this. 24: A dispute also arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25: And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26: But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27: For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28: "You are those who have continued with me in my trials; 29: and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30: that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32: but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." 33: And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34: He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me." 35: And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing." 36: He said to them, "But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. 37: For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, And he was reckoned with transgressors’; for what is written about me has its fulfilment.”
38: And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
39: And he came out, and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him.
 
**FEBRUARY 13
DEATH OF CYRIL aPOSTLE TO THE sLAVS

THE VENERABLE MARTINIAN**
The glorious and most wonderful life of Martinian is worthwhile to read in its entirety. What did he not endure just to fulfill the commandments of the Lord! At age eighteen, Martinian retreated to a mountain in Cappadocia called “The Place of the Ark” where he lived for twenty-five years in fasting, vigils, prayer and struggling with many temptations. When a woman came to tempt him and, he perceiving that he will succumb to sin with her, Martinian leaped into the fire barefooted and remained in the fire until the pain brought tears to his eyes and subdued any lust within himself. When another temptation erupted, Martinian fled to an isolated rock in the sea and there he lived. During a shipwreck a young woman swam to this rock. Martinian jumped into the sea to avoid any further temptation, but a dolphin rescued him on its back and by God’s Providence brought him ashore. Martinian then decided never to make any place his permanent home but to continually travel. In two years, Martinian passed through one hundred and sixty-four towns correcting and counseling people. He finally reached Athens where he died in the year 422 A.D.

THE FEMALE SAINTS ZOE AND PHOTINA
At first Zoe was a prostitute and a temptress of St. Martinian. When she saw this ascetic leap into the fire in order to subdue in himself all lust, she bitterly repented, retreated to a convent in Bethlehem where, as an ascetic and recluse, heroically lived a life of mortification. Repenting of all her sins, she received from God the gift of working miracles. By the winds of the sea St. Photina was cast on the island where St. Martinian had isolated himself. Martinian immediately fled the island and Photina remained there in fasting and prayer where she died.

THE VENERABLE SIMEON [MIROTOCIVI], FROM WHOSE RELICS FLOWED MYRRH - CHRISM
Stefan Nemanja [Nehemiah], the great ruler [Great Zupan] of the Serbian people, the consolidator of Serbian lands, creator of the independent Serbian state, defender of Orthodoxy and exterminator of heresy. At first, he was baptized in the Latin Church but later left this Church and embraced the Orthodox Church. In the beginning, he was dependent on the Greeks with regard to the State, but later he freed himself from this dependence and became completely autonomous. When Stefan consolidated the State and the Orthodox Faith in the State, then, following the example of his son Sava, received the monastic tonsure in Studenica Monastery in the year 1195 A.D., and received the name Simeon. His wife Anna withdrew to a convent, embraced the monastic tonsure and received the name Anastasia. After two years as a monk in Studenica, Simeon traveled to Athos, the Holy Mountain. There he took up residence in the Monastery Vatopedi together with his son Sava. Father and son spend their days and nights in prayer. There, they built six chapels dedicated to: the Savior, The Unmercenary Saints, St. George, St. Theodore, The Forerunner and St. Nicholas. They purchased the ruins of Hilendar and erected a glorious monastery in which Simeon lived only eight months and then died. When Simeon was on his deathbed, Sava, according to his father’s wishes, placed him on a simple mat. With eyes directed toward the icon of the Mother of God and the Savior, the blessed elder spoke these last words: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6), and took up habitation with the Lord on February 13, 1200 A.D.

Continued
 
February 13
Continued

Today’s Readings
Hebrews 7:26-8:2
26: For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
27: He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
28: Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.
1: Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
2: a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord.

John 10:9-16
9: I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12: He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13: He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep.
14: I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,
15: as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16: And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
 
**FEBRUARY 14 **

THE VENERABLE AUXENTIUS
Auxentius was a very prominent aristocrat among the noblemen and courtiers at the court of Emperor Theodosius the Younger in Constantinople. Enflamed with love for Christ, Auxentius was tonsured a monk and remained for a short time in Constantinople. When men began to praise him, he fled from their praise and settled on a mountain called Skopa near Chalcedon, which later was referred to as Auxentius’ Mountain. His desire to remain there permanently, hidden from men, was not realized for some shepherds discovered him and make his whereabouts known. They began to bring the sick to him for healing. He healed many. He restored sight to the blind; cleansed lepers anointing them with oil; he also raised the palsied and freed many who were demon possessed. All of this was reason for amazement, but his humbleness was cause for even greater amazement. Whenever he was implored to heal someone he defended himself with the words: “I, also, am a sinful man!” Compelled by many requests, he approached healing in the following manner: he either invited all present to pray to God together with him for the sick person; or he first strengthened the faith in the people and then he told them that God will give to them according to their faith; or he prayed over the head of the sick person: “The Lord Jesus Christ heals you!” He did this so that the act of working miracles would not be attributed to him but rather to God Almighty. He participated at the Fourth Ecumenical Council [Chalcedon, 451 A.D.] and strongly defended the Faith against the Eutychian and Nestorian heresies. In the year 470 A.D., the Lord took his youthful soul in his old age and his aged body remained in the earth from which it was created.

THE VENERABLE ISSAC, RECLUSE OF THE MONASTERY OF THE CAVES IN KIEV
Issac lived during the time of Saints Anthony and Theodosius. He came to the monastery as a wealthy merchant. He left all and distributed everything to the poor and dedicated himself to the most strict form of asceticism in an enclosed cell. St. Anthony himself passed one prosfora through an opening every other day. Deluded by demons who appeared to him in angelic light he bowed down to them and, after that, he bowed down before Satan himself believing that he was Christ. Because of that he became ill, and remained ill for two years after which he regained his health and became a more cautious and a more experienced ascetic. Because of this, before his death, God bestowed upon him abundant Grace. He died in the year 1090 A.D.

Today’s Readings
[Joel 2:12-26](12: “Yet even now,” says the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;)
 
**FEBRUARY 15

THE HOLY APOSTLE ONESIMUS**
Onesimus was one of the Seventy Lesser Apostles. He was a slave of Philemon but transgressed against his master and fled to Rome where he heard the Gospel from the Apostle Paul and was baptized. Since the Apostle Paul earlier converted Philemon to the True Faith, he reconciled the two of them, Philemon and Onesimus, master and slave, writing a special epistle to Philemon. It is one of the most emotional compositions which exists in Holy Scripture. “I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me” (Philemon 1:10,15,16). Moved by this letter Philemon, indeed, received Onesimus as a brother freeing him from slavery. Later, Onesimus was consecrated a bishop by the apostles themselves and accepted the episcopal throne at Ephesus following the Apostle Timothy. This is evident from the Epistle of Ignatius the God-bearer [Theophorus]. At the time of Trajan’s persecution, Onesimus, already an old man, was arrested and brought to Rome. In Rome, Onesimus gave an accounting of himself before judge Tertycus, was imprisoned and finally beheaded. A wealthy woman removed his body, placed it in a silver arcophagus and buried it honorably in the year 109 A.D.

THE VENERABLE EUSEBIUS, A SYRIAN HERMIT
In the beginning Eusebius lived an asectical life under the direction of holy men and later he withdrew and became a recluse. He fed entirely on plant life. He did not even taste fruit. He spent all of his time in prayer in the open spaces enduring all conditions of weather. He lived to be ninety-five years of age and died peacefully in the year 440 A.D.

(Continued)
 
February 15
(Continued)

Today’s Readings
Jude 11-25
11: Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain, and abandon themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error, and perish in Korah’s rebellion.
12: These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they boldly carouse together, looking after themselves; waterless clouds, carried along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;
13: wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars for whom the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved for ever.
14: It was of these also that Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with his holy myriads,
15: to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness which they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
16: These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own passions, loud-mouthed boasters, flattering people to gain advantage.
17: But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18: they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”
19: It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
20: But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;
21: keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22: And convince some, who doubt;
23: save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24: Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing,
25: to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen.

Continued
 
February 15
Continued Part 3

Today’s Readings:

Luke 23:1-34 & 44-55
1: Then the whole company of them arose, and brought him before Pilate.
2: And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king.”
3: And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.”
4: And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no crime in this man.”
5: But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”
6: When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.
7: And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.
8: When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.
9: So he questioned him at some length; but he made no answer.
10: The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.
11: And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then, arraying him in gorgeous apparel, he sent him back to Pilate.
12: And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
13: Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14: and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him;
15: neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him;
16: I will therefore chastise him and release him.”
18: But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barab’bas” –
19: a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder.
20: Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus;
21: but they shouted out, “Crucify, crucify him!”
22: A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise him and release him.”
23: But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.
24: So Pilate gave sentence that their demand should be granted.
25: He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
26: And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyre’ne, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
27: And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.
28: But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29: For behold, the days are coming when they will say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck!' 30: Then they will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us’; and to the hills, `Cover us.’
31: For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32: Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
33: And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.
34: And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots
44: It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,
45: while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
46: Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
47: Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!”
48: And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.
49: And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.
50: Now there was a man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathe’a. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man,
51: who had not consented to their purpose and deed, and he was looking for the kingdom of God.
52: This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53: Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud, and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid.
54: It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.
55: The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid;
56: then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
 
**FEBRUARY 16

THE TWELVE HOLY MARTYRS WHO SUFFERED DURING THE REIGN OF EMPEROR DIOCLETIAN**
Pamphilus, the first of the martyrs, was a presbyter of the church at Caesarea in Palestine. He was a learned and devout man who corrected the text of the New Testament from the errors of the various copiers. He alone, recopied this salvific book and gave it to those who desired it. The second was the Deacon Valentine, old in years and grey in wisdom. He was an excellent authority of Holy Scripture and knew them completely by heart. The third was Paul, an honorable and distinguished man who, during a previous persecution, was cast into the fire for Christ. Besides them, there were five brothers, according to the flesh and spirit, who were born in Egypt and were returning to their homeland after being forced to work in the mines of Cilicia. At the gates of Caesarea they declared that they were Christians for which they were brought to court. To the question: “What are your names?” They responded: “The pagan names which our mother gave to us, we discarded and we call ourselves: Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Samuel and Daniel.” To the question: “Where are you from?” They responded: “From Jerusalem on High.” All of them were beheaded and with them a young man Porphyrius who sought the bodies of the martyrs in order to bury them. Porphyrius they burned alive as well as Seleucus, formerly an officer who had approached and kissed the martyrs before the sword fell on their heads. Also the aged Theodulus, a servant of a Roman judge, who, during the funeral kissed one of the martyrs. Finally Julian, who reverenced and praised the lifeless bodies of the martyrs. And so they gave little for much, the inexpensive for the precious and mortality for immortality and took up habitation with the Lord in the year 308 A.D.

SAINT MARUTHAS
Maruthas was Bishop of Tagrith in Mesopotamia. He was known for his faith and goodness. Maruthas mitigated the anger of the Persian Emperor Yezdegeherd toward Christians, begged from him the relics of the four-hundred martyrs in Persia and founded a town called Martyropolis, where he reposed these holy relics. He ended his earthly course and took up habitation with the Lord in the year 422 A.D.

THE HOLY VENERABLE MARTYR ROMAN
Roman was a simple and illiterate peasant from Carpenesion. Learning of the heroism and glory of the martyrs of Christ, the young Roman desired martyrdom for himself. He went to Thessalonica were he began to praise the Faith of Christ on the streets and referred Islam as a fable. The Turks tortured him horribly and then sold him to a galley captain. Christians ransomed him from the captain and sent him to the Holy Mountain [Athos] where he was tonsured a monk by the illustrious Elder Acacius. But Roman further desired martyrdom for Christ. With the blessing of the Elder Acacius, Roman traveled to Constantinople pretending insanity and began to lead a dog along the Turkish streets. To the question: “What are you doing?” Roman responded that he is feeding the dog as Christians feed the Turks. The Turks threw him into a dry well, where he remained without bread for forty days. They then removed him from the well and beheaded him. A light emanated from his body for three days. An Englishman removed his body and took it to England. A certain monk dipped a towel in the blood of the martyr. This towel is preserved, even today, in the Dochiariu Monastery [Mt. Athos]. This glorious soldier of Christ suffered in the year 1694 A.D.

(Continued)
 
February 16’
Continued

Today’s Readings
Zechariah 8:7-17 & 8:19-23
7: Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country;
8: and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness."
9: Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets, since the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
10: For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in; for I set every man against his fellow.
11: But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, says the LORD of hosts.
12: For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
13: And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”
14: For thus says the LORD of hosts: “As I purposed to do evil to you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts,
15: so again have I purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not.
16: These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace,
17: do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, says the LORD.”
19: "Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love truth and peace.
20: “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities;
21: the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I am going.' 22: Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the LORD. 23: Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
 
**FEBRUARY 17
ALL HOLY ASCETICAL FATHERS AND MOTHERS

THE HOLY GREAT MARTRY THEODORE TIRO**
The word Tiro means recruit. Just as soon as Theodore had entered the army in the Marmarite regiment in the town of Amasea then the persecution of Christians began under the Emperors Maximian and Maximus. As Theodore did not try to conceal the fact that he also was a Christian, he was dragged to court and thrown into prison which was then locked and sealed because the nefarious judge wanted Theodore to die of starvation. The Lord Christ Himself appeared to Theodore in prison and encouraged His martyr, saying to him: “Fear not Theodore, I am with you; do not partake of earthly food and drink anymore, for you will be with Me in the other world in the heavens; eternal and permanent.” At that moment there appeared a multitude of angels in the prison and the entire prison shown brightly and the guards, seeing angels dressed in white raiment, became very frightened. After that, St. Theodore was taken out, tortured and condemned to death. Theodore was tossed into a fire and gave up his holy soul to God the Most High. He suffered in the year 306 A.D.

VENERABLE THEODOSIUS THE BULGARIAN AND ROMAN HIS DISCIPLE
As a monk, St. Theodosius settled not far from the city of Trnovo [Bulgaria] where he established a monastic community, which was named after him. He notably distinguished himself at a council in Bulgaria against the Bogomils in the year 1360 A.D. Protecting the Orthodox Faith at this council, by his reasoning, he shamed the Bogomils. He ended his earthy life in Constantinople in the year 1362 A.D. His disciple, Roman, continued to live a life of asceticism in Theodosius’ community until his death.

SAINT MIRIAM
Miriam was the sister of the Holy Apostle Philip. She traveled with her brother and together with him preached the Gospel in Hierapolis and in other places. Following the martyr’s death of Philip, Miriam continued her missionary work in Lycaonia where she died.

Today’s Readings
Romans 14:19-23
19: Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20: Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for any one to make others fall by what he eats;
21: it is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother stumble.
22: The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God; happy is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves.
23: But he who has doubts is condemned, if he eats, because he does not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Matthew 6:1-13
1: "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2: "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3: But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4: so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5: "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6: But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7: "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8: Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9: Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11: Give us this day our daily bread;
12: And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors;
13: And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
 
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