Daily Readings:
Saints/Feasts/Fasts to be commemmorated/celebrated: Fast of the Nativity
Monkmartyr and Confessor Stephen the New of Mt St Auxentius
Commemorated on November 28
The Monk Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New was born in 715 at Constantinople into a pious Christian family. His parents, having two daughters, prayed the Lord for a son. The mother of the new-born Stephen took him to the Blachernae church of the Most Holy Theotokos and dedicated him to God.
During the reign of the emperor Leo the Isaurian (716-741) there was a persecution against the holy icons and against those venerating them. With the support of the emperor, the adherents of the Iconoclast heresy seized control of the supreme positions of authority in the Empire and in the Church. Persecuted by the powers of this world, Orthodoxy was preserved in monasteries far from the capital, in solitary cells, and in the brave and faithful hearts of its followers.
The Orthodox parents of St Stephen, grieved by the prevailing impiety, fled from Constantinople to Bithynia, and they gave over their sixteen-year-old son in obedience to the monk John, who labored in asceticism in a solitary place on the Mount of St Auxentius. St Stephen dwelt with the venerable monk John for more than fifteen years, devoting himself totally to this spirit-bearing Elder, and learning monastic activity from him. Here Stephen received the news that his father was dead, and his mother and sisters had been tonsured as nuns.
After a certain time his teacher John also died. With deep sorrow St Stephen buried his venerable body, and continued with monastic effort in his cave by himself. Soon monks began to come to the ascetic, desiring to learn from him the virtuous and salvific life, and a monastery was established, with St Stephen as the igumen. At forty-two years of age Stephen left the monastery he founded, and he went to another mountain, on whose summit he dwelt in deep seclusion in a solitary cell. But here also a community of monks soon gathered, seeking the spiritual guidance of St Stephen.
Leo the Isaurian was succeeded by Constantine Copronymos (741-775), a fiercer persecutor of the Orthodox, and an even more zealous iconoclast. The emperor convened an Iconoclast Council, attended by 358 bishops from the Eastern provinces. However, except for Constantine, the Archbishop of Constantinople, illegitimately raised to the patriarchal throne by the power of Copronymos, not one of the other patriarchs participated in the wicked doings of this Council, thus making it less likely to style itself as "ecumenical." This council of heretics, at the instigation of the emperor and the archbishop, described icons as idols, and pronounced an anathema on all who venerated icons in the Orthodox manner, and it described icon veneration as heresy.
Meanwhile, the monastery of Mount Auxentius and its igumen became known in the capital. They told the emperor about the ascetic life of the monks, about their Orthodox piety, about the igumen Stephen's gift of wonderworking, and of how St Stephen's fame had spread far beyond the region of the monastery, and that the name of its head was accorded universal respect and love. The saint's open encouragement of icon veneration and the implied rebuff to the persecutors of Orthodoxy within the monastery of Mount Auxentius especially angered the emperor. Archbishop Constantine realized that in the person of St Stephen he had a strong and implacable opponent of his iconoclastic intentions, and he plotted how he might draw him over to his side or else destroy him.
They tried to lure St Stephen into the Iconoclast camp, at first with flattery and bribery, then by threats, but in vain. Then they slandered the saint, accusing him of falling into sin with the nun Anna. But his guilt was not proven, since the nun courageously denied any guilt and died under torture and beatings. Finally, the emperor gave orders to lock up the saint in prison, and to destroy his monastery. Iconoclast bishops were sent to St Stephen in prison, trying to persuade him of the dogmatic correctness of the Iconoclast position. But the saint easily refuted all the arguments of the heretics and he remained true to Orthodoxy.
Then the emperor ordered that the saint be exiled on one of the islands in the Sea of Marmora. St Stephen settled into a cave, and there also his disciples soon gathered. After a certain while the saint left the brethren and took upon himself the exploit of living atop a pillar. News of the stylite Stephen, and the miracles worked by his prayers, spread throughout all the Empire and strengthened the faith and spirit of Orthodoxy in the people.
The emperor gave orders to transfer St Stephen to prison on the island of Pharos, and then to bring him to trial. At the trial, the saint refuted the arguments of the heretics sitting in judgment upon him. He explained the dogmatic essence of icon veneration, and he denounced the Iconoclasts because in blaspheming icons, they blasphemed Christ and the Mother of God. As proof, the saint pointed to a golden coin inscribed with the image of the emperor. He asked the judges what would happen to a man who threw the coin to the ground , and then trampled the emperor's image under his feet. They replied that such a man would certainly be punished for dishonoring the image of the emperor. The saint said that an even greater punishment awaited anyone who would dishonor the image of the King of Heaven and His Saints, and with that he spat on the coin, threw it to the ground, and began to trample it underfoot.
The emperor gave orders to take the saint to prison, where already there were languishing 342 Elders, condemned for the veneration of icons. In this prison St Stephen spent eleven months, consoling the imprisoned. The prison became like a monastery, where the usual prayers and hymns were chanted according to the Typikon. The people came to the prison in crowds and asked St Stephen to pray for them.
When the emperor learned that the saint had organized a monastery in prison, where they prayed venerated holy icons, he sent two of his own servants, twin-brothers, to beat the saint to death. When these brothers went to the prison and beheld the face of the monk shining with a divine light, they fell down on their knees before him, asking his forgiveness and prayers, then they told the emperor that his command had been carried out. But the emperor learned the truth and he resorted to yet another lie. Informing his soldiers that the saint was plotting to remove him from the throne, he sent them to the prison. The holy confessor himself came out to the furious soldiers, who seized him and dragged him through the streets of the city. They then threw the lacerated body of the martyr into a pit, where they were wont to bury criminals.
On the following morning a fiery cloud appeared over Mount Auxentius, and then a heavy darkness descended upon the capital, accompanied by hail, which killed many people.
Troparion - Tone 4
Trained in asceticism on the mountain,
with the weapon of the Cross you destroyed the spiritual assaults of the hostile powers, all-blessed one;
Again you bravely prepared for combat
and slew Copronymus with the sword of faith;
for both struggles you have been crowned by God, monk-martyr Stephen of eternal memory.
Kontakion - Tone 8
Lovers of the feasts, from the heart with hymns let us praise in faith godlike Stephen the lover of the Trinity,
for he honored the fair icon icon of the Master and of His Mother.
Now let us rejoice together and cry out to him with love:
"Rejoice, ever glorious Father."
Monkmartyr and Confessor Auxentius and many others
Commemorated on November 28
The Holy Martyrs Stephen, Basil, Gregory, another Gregory, John and many others suffered for the veneration of holy icons with the Monk Martyr Stephen the New, with whom they languished together in prison. After his martyric death, they were executed
Monkmartyr and Confessor Basil and many others
Commemorated on November 28
The Holy Martyrs Stephen, Basil, Gregory, another Gregory, John and many others suffered for the veneration of holy icons with the Monk Martyr Stephen the New, with whom they languished together in prison. After his martyric death, they were executed.
Monkmartyr and Confessor Gregory and many others
Commemorated on November 28
The Holy Martyrs Stephen, Basil, Gregory, another Gregory, John and many others suffered for the veneration of holy icons with the Monk Martyr Stephen the New, with whom they languished together in prison. After his martyric death, they were executed
Monkmartyr and Confessor Stephen and many others
Commemorated on November 28
The Holy Martyrs Stephen, Basil, Gregory, another Gregory, John and many others suffered for the veneration of holy icons with the Monk Martyr Stephen the New, with whom they languished together in prison. After his martyric death, they were executed
Monkmartyr and Confessor Gregory (another) and many others
Commemorated on November 28
The Holy Martyrs Stephen, Basil, Gregory, another Gregory, John and many others suffered for the veneration of holy icons with the holy Martyr St Stephen the New, with whom they languished together in prison. After his martyric death, they were executed
Monkmartyr and Confessor John and many others
Commemorated on November 28
The Holy Martyrs Stephen, Basil, Gregory, another Gregory, John and many others suffered for the veneration of holy icons with the holy Martyr St Stephen the New, with whom they languished together in prison. After his martyric death, they were executed.
Monkmartyr and Confessor Andrew and many others
Commemorated on November 28
The Holy Martyrs Stephen, Basil, Gregory, another Gregory, John and many others suffered for the veneration of holy icons with the holy Martyr St Stephen the New, with whom they languished together in prison. After his martyric death, they were executed.
Monkmartyr and Confessor Peter and many others
Commemorated on November 28
The Holy Martyrs Stephen, Basil, Gregory, another Gregory, John and many others suffered for the veneration of holy icons with the holy Martyr St Stephen the New, with whom they languished together in prison. After his martyric death, they were executed
Martyr Anna
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Anna was a noblewoman who sold all her possessions and gave the money to the poor. She received the monastic tonsure from St Stephen the New while he was living on Mt Auxentius in Bithynia. He sent her to live in the women's monastery called Trichinarion (Community of hairshirt-wearers).
When the iconoclasts tried to turn St Stephen from venerating the holy icons, they tried flattery, bribery, and threats, but all their efforts were in vain. Then they accused him of visiting the Trichinarion Monastery at night and falling into sin with the nun Anna. Although her own maidservant testified against her (she was promised her freedom and marriage to a nobleman if she did), St Anna denied any guilt.
The emperor's soldiers came to the monastery and seized St Anna and brought her before him, but she refused to lie about St Stephen. Therefore Emperor Constantine threw her into a dungeon in Constantinople.
The next morning the emperor sat in a public building with an assembled crowd, and had St Anna brought to his presence. Since she insisted that both she and St Stephen were innocent, the emperor had her stripped naked in the sight of all. During her interrogation, she remained silent. Meanwhile, her maidservant falsely swore that St Stephen had sinned with her mistress.
Angered by her refusal to speak, the emperor had St Anna stretched out on the ground, where soldiers beat her with rods. During this torment, she said, "I have never sinned with Stephen. Lord, have mercy." The soldiers continued to beat her until she was almost dead.
The emperor returned to his palace, leaving orders that St Anna be imprisoned in one of the city's abandoned monasteries. There she departed to the Lord, receiving from Him the twin crowns of virginity and martyrdom.
Martyr Irenarchus at Sebaste Commemorated on November 28
The Holy Martyr Irenarchus was from Sebaste, Armenia, and lived during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). When he was young, he would minister to the martyrs in prison after they were tortured.
He once saw seven women being tortured for Christ, who bravely endured their torments. St Irenarchus marveled at this because they showed great courage in standing up to the tyrant, even though they were weak by nature.
Illumined by divine grace, St Irenarchus confessed Christ. First he endured trials by fire and water, then he was beheaded with the seven holy women in the year 303.
7 Women Martyrs at Sebaste
Commemorated on November 28
These seven women martyrs suffered for Christ at Sebaste during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). After vicious tortures, they were beheaded along with St Irenarchus in 303
St Theodore the Archbishop of Rostov Commemorated on November 28
Saint Theodore, Archbishop of Rostov, in the world John, was the son of Stephen (brother of St Sergius of Radonezh), who occupied an important post under Prince Andrew of Radonezh. Left a widower, Stephen became a monk, and together with his twelve-year-old son, he went to the monastery to St Sergius, who foreseeing the ascetic life of the child John, tonsured him with the name Theodore on the Feast of St Theodore the Hair-Shirt Wearer (April 20).
After Theodore attained an appropriate age, he was given a blessing to be ordined to the priesthood. With the blessing of St Sergius, St Theodore built a church in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and founded a monastery on the banks of the River Moskva, at the place called Simonovo. Soon the monastery began to attract a throng of people. St Theodore built a cell five versts from the Moscow Kremlin, and pursued new ascetical labors, and here disciples gathered around him. St Sergius, visiting this place, blessed the founding of a monastery, and Metropolitan Alexis blessed the construction of a church in the name of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos at Novoe Simonovo, which also had its foundations laid in 1379. The old Simonov monastery remained the burial place of monks.
Because of his virtuous life and strict asceticism, St Theodore became known in Moscow. The Metropolitan St Alexis elevated him to the rank of igumen, and Great Prince Demetrius of the Don chose him as his father confessor. St Theodore journeyed to Constantinople several times on church matters for the Russian Metropolitan. On his first journey in 1384, Patriarch Nilus made him an archimandrite. The Simonov monastery was put directly under the Patriarch, thus became stavropegial. In 1387, he was consecrated archbishop and occupied the See of Rostov.
Being the igumen, and then the archimandrite of the Simonov monastery, and despite being occupied with churchly matters, St Theodore stalwartly guided those in the monastic life and counted many great and famous ascetics among his disciples. Saints Cyril (June 9) and Therapon (May 27), the future founders of two famous White Lake monasteries, were tonsured at the Simonov monastery. St Theodore occupied himself with iconography, and he adorned with icons of his own painting both the Simonov monastery, and many Moscow churches.
At Rostov, Archbishop Theodore founded the Nativity of the Virgin monastery.
The blessed death of the saint occurred on November 28, 1394. His relics are in the Rostov Dormition cathedral.
St Theodore is also commemorated on May 23.
Martyr Timothy at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Timothy was a bishop who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with his fellow bishop Theodore; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361.
Martyr Timothy the Presbyter at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Theodore was a presbyter who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Peter the Presbyter at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Peter was a presbyter who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361.
Martyr John the Presbyter at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint John was a presbyter who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Sergius the Presbyter at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Sergius was a presbyter who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Theodore the Bishop at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Theodore was a bishop who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishop Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Nicephorus the Presbyter at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Nicephorus was a presbyter who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Basil the Deacon at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Basil was a deacon who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacon Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Thomas the Deacon at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Thomas was a deacon who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacon Basi; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Hierotheus the Monk at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Hierotheus was a monk who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Daniel the Monk at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Daniel was a monk who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Chariton the Monk at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Chariton was a monk who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Socrates the Monk at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Socrates was a monk who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Comasius the Monk at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Comasius was a monk who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius; and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361.
Martyr Eusebius at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Eusebius was a monk who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius, and Etymasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361
Martyr Etymasius at Tiberiopolis
Commemorated on November 28
Saint Etymasius was a layman who was imprisoned by Julian the Apostate (331-363) together with the bishops Theodore and Timothy; the priests Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, Nicephorus; the deacons Basil and Thomas; the monks Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, and Comasius. They all suffered martyrdom in Tiberiopolis in 361.
Hieromartyr Metropolitan Seraphim of Chichagov
Martyr Hristo of Bulgaria
Scriptural Readings:
Luke 24:12-35 (5th Matins Gospel)
12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"
19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.
25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.
30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"
35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Ephesians 6:10-17 (Epistle)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Luke 13:10-17 (Gospel)
10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.
12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."
13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."
15 The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?
16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound-think of it-for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?
17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.
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