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Holy Wonderworking
Unmercenary Physicians Cosmas and Damian at Rome
Commemorated
on July 1
St. Andrew of Crete
Feastday: July 4
He was born in Damascus about 600. At a young age he went to Jerusalem
where he was was tonsured a monk at the Monastery of St. Sava. He stayed there for then years, serving as secretary to the
patriarch. The patriarch sent Andrew to Constantinople as his representative to the Sixth Ecumenical Council. In about 700
he was chosen to be archbishop of Gortyna in Crete. Andrew was not distinguished for his theological ability or dogmatic steadfastness.
Rather, his gifts were devotional and mystical. He composed many hymns for the Church, including his "Great Canon
of Repentance" which has 250 verses and is sung by the Church during Great Lent. Andrew wrote many other hymns, each with
its own melody (called ideomela) and he was a great preacher. He died in peace about 740.
Source: "A Daily Calendar of Saints" by Rev. Lawrence R. Farley
These holy brothers, Ss. Cosmas and Damian of Rome, were born in the third century of Christian
parents that raised them in piety and chastity. Ss. Cosmas and Damian were physicians that were given the gift of healing.
They are called unmercenaries, because they refused payment. The brothers told those seeking healing from them: "It is not by our own power that we treat you, but by the power of Christ, the true
God. Believe in Him and be healed." Through their faith and the power of healing, they brought many to the Faith rousing
the anger of the Roman authorities. The local Christians convinced them to hide, but they surrendered themselves when
they heard of other Christians being imprisoned in their place. They were imprisoned and put on trial in front of Emperor
Carinus, being accused of sorcery. They professed their faith in Jesus Christ. The emperor Carinus was then struck
blind and pleaded with the Saints to heal him and promised to release them and to repent and join the Faithful. Ss.
Cosmas and Damian did so and the emperor did as he promised. Seeing this and the fame that the brothers found from the
miracles that occurred through them, their former teacher became filled with envy. He invited them into the wilderness
to collect healing herbs. Ss. Cosmas and Damian, trusting their teacher went suspecting nothing, only to be murdered
and thrown into the river. Many are still healed through their intercessions.
Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene
Commemorated on July 22
Saint Mary was from Magdala in Galilee on the Sea of Tiberias, and for this was named Magdalene. When the Lord Jesus
cast out seven demons from her, from which she had been suffering, she became His faithful and inseparable disciple, following
Him and ministering unto Him even to the time of His crucifixion and burial. Then, returning to Jerusalem together with the
rest of the Myrrh-bearers, she prepared the fragrant spices for anointing the body of the Lord. And on the Lord's day they
came very early to the tomb, even before the Angels appeared declaring the Resurrection of the Lord. When Mary Magdalene saw
the stone taken away from the tomb, she ran and proclaimed it to Peter and John. And returning immediately to the tomb and
weeping outside, she was deemed worthy to be the first of the Myrrh-bearers to behold the Lord arisen from the dead, and when
she fell at His feet, she heard Him say, "Touch Me not." After the Lord's Ascension, nothing certain is known concerning her.
Some accounts say that she went to Rome and later returned to Jerusalem, and from there proceeded to Ephesus, where she ended
her life, preaching Christ. Although it is sometimes said that Saint Mary Magdalene was the "sinful woman" of the Gospel,
this is nowhere stated in the tradition of the Church, in the sacred hymnology, or in the Holy Gospels themselves, which say
only that our Lord cast seven demons out of her, not that she was a fallen woman. "Madeleine" is a form of Magdalene.
Source: GOArch
Icon: OCA
St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr & Healer
Commemorated on July 27
This Saint, who had Nicomedia as his homeland, was the son of Eustorgius and Eubula. His father was an idolater, but his
mother was a Christian from her ancestors. It was through her that he was instructed in piety, and still later, he was catechized
in the Faith of Christ by Saint Hermolaus (see July 26) and baptized by him. Being proficient in the physician's vocation,
he practiced it in a philanthropic manner, healing every illness more by the grace of Christ than by medicines. Thus, although
his parents had named him Pantoleon ("in all things a lion"), because of the compassion he showed for the souls and bodies
of all, he was worthily renamed Panteleimon, meaning "all-merciful." On one occasion, when he restored the sight of a certain
blind man by calling on the Divine Name, he enlightened also the eyes of this man's soul to the knowledge of the truth. This
also became the cause for the martyrdom of him who had been blind, since when he was asked by whom and in what manner his
eyes had been opened, in imitation of that blind man of the Gospel he confessed with boldness both who the physician was and
the manner of his healing. For this he was put to death immediately. Panteleimon was arrested also, and having endured many
wounds, he was finally beheaded in the year 305, during the reign of Maximian. Saint Panteleimon is one of the Holy Unmercenaries,
and is held in special honor among them, even as Saint George is among the Martyrs.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Saint Macrina
Commemorated on July 19
St. Macrina came from a family of five other saints. Her brothers were Saint Basil the
Great, Saint Gregory of Nyssa, and Saint Peter, bishop of Sebasteia. Her parents were Saint Basil the Elder and Saint Emmilia.
When her betrothed died, she committed her life to Jesus Christ and encourage her mother towards monasticism. Because of the
resurrection of the dead, she believed it iportant to remain faithful to one's departed spouse. She helped to direct the thoughts
of her brothers towards God and away from secular life. Once, she received a wound on her breast, and our of modesty, she
would not show her doctor or even her mother. Instead, she prayed to God with tears, and bending down she mixed dust with
her tears and with that mixture, she healed herself. With her brothers, she created an orphanage and a hospital. She also
created a convent that attracted many and became a spiritual haven.
Source: "2006 Daily Lives, Miracles, and Wisdom of the Saints and Fasting Calendar"
Icon of the Mother of
God "the Joy of All who sorrow" (with coins) in St. Petersburg
Commemorated on July 23
The Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of
All Who Sorrow" (With Coins) was glorified in the year 1888 in Petersburg, when during the time of a terrible thunderstorm
lightning struck in a chapel. All was burned or singed, except for this icon of the Queen of Heaven. It was knocked to the
floor, and the poor box broke open at the same time. Somehow, twelve small coins (half-kopeck pieces), became attached to
the icon. A church was built in 1898 on the site of the chapel.
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Grand Duchess Elizabeth
Commemorated on July 5
Saint Elizabeth was the older sister of Tsarina Alexandra,
and was married to the Grand Duke Sergius, the governor of Moscow. She converted to Orthodoxy from Protestantism of her own
free will, and organized women from all levels of society to help the soldiers at the front and in the hospitals.
Grand
Duke Sergius was killed by an assassin's bomb on February 4, 1905, just as St Elizabeth was leaving for her workshops. Remarkably,
she visited her husband's killer in prison and urged him to repent.
After this, she began to withdraw from her former
social life. She devoted herself to the Convent of Sts Martha and Mary, a community of nuns which focused on worshiping God
and also helping the poor. She moved out of the palace into a building she purchased on Ordinka. Women from the nobility,
and also from the common people, were attracted to the convent.
St Elizabeth nursed sick and wounded soldiers in the
hospitals and on the battle front. On Pascha of 1918, the Communists ordered her to leave Moscow, and join the royal family
near Ekaterinburg. She left with a novice, Sister Barbara, and an escort of Latvian guards.
After arriving in Ekaterinburg,
St Elizabeth was denied access to the Tsar's family. She was placed in a convent, where she was warmly received by the sisters.
At the end of May St Elizabeth was moved to nearby Alopaevsk with the Grand Dukes Sergius, John, and Constantine,
and the young Count Vladimir Paley. They were all housed in a schoolhouse on the edge of town. St Elizabeth was under guard,
but was permitted to go to church and work in the garden.
On the night of July 5, they were all taken to a place twelve
miles from Alopaevsk, and executed. The Grand Duke Sergius was shot, but the others were thrown down a mineshaft, then grenades
were tossed after them. St Elizabeth lived for several hours, and could be heard singing hymns.
The bodies of St Elizabeth
and St Barbara were taken to Jerusalem in 1920, and buried in the church of St Mary Magdalene.
source: OCA
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| Grand Duchess Elizabeth, New Martyr |
St. Athanasius
the Founder of the Great Lavra and Coenobitic Monasticism on Mt. Athos
Commemorated on July 5
Saint Athanasius had Trebizond for his homeland. He first entered the monastic life on the mountain called Kymaeos or Kyminas,
which is in Mysia of Bithynia, then he went to Mount Athos and founded a large monastery, which is known as the Great Lavra.
He became so renowned for his virtue that from Rome, Calabria, Georgia, and elsewhere, rulers, men of wealth and nobility,
abbots, and even bishops came to him and were subject to him. When the time for his departure was at hand, God revealed to
him how it would take place, so that he was able to instruct his spiritual children not to be troubled when it should come
to pass. A new church was being built for the sake of the many who came to him, and only the dome had not been finished. Together
with six of the brethren, the Saint went to the top of the church to help the workmen. The dome collapsed, and they fell.
Five were killed at once, and the Saint died three hours later. His holy body remained incorrupt and he worked many miracles
after his death. He reposed about the end of the tenth century. (Source: GOArch)
The All-Praised Olga, Equal-To-The-Apostles, Princess
of Kiev
Commemorated on July 11
Saint Olga, renowned for her wisdom and sobriety, in her youth became the wife of Igor, Great Prince of Kiev,
who ruled during the tenth century. After her husband's death, she herself ruled capably, and was finally moved to accept
the Faith of Christ. She traveled to Constantinople to receive Holy Baptism. The Emperor, seeing her outward beauty and inward
greatness, asked her to marry him. She said she could not do this before she was baptized; she furthermore asked him to be
her Godfather at the font, which he agreed to do. After she was baptized (receiving the name of Helen), the Emperor repeated
his proposal of marriage. She answered that now he was her father, through holy Baptism, and that not even among the heathen
was it heard of a man marrying his daughter. Gracefully accepting to be outwitted by her, he sent her back to her land with
priests and sacred texts and holy icons. Although her son Svyatoslav remained a pagan, she planted the seed of faith in her
grandson Vladimir (see July 15). She reposed in peace in 969.
St. Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles
Feastday: July 15
He knew of the Christian faith from his grandmother Olga, but continued to be a pagan. In 980, ne
became prince of Kievan Rus and had to decide how best to rule his people and guide them among the other nations and which
reigion would be best for them. His ambassadors went abroad to examine the religions of the other nations and those from Constantinople
brought back word that the worship there was so overwhelming that they "did not know whether they were on earth or in heaven."
"There," among the Christians, they said, "we know God dwells among men. We cannot forget that beauty." They also pointed
out the the Christian faith of his grandmother Olga. This counsel worked in his heart and he thus decided to convert in 988.
He proposed to the emperor of Constantinople that his sister Anna marry him and that Russia he allied with Byzantium.
Thus Vladimir traveled to Kherson to be baptized by the bishop there. When he returned home, he announced to his people that
all should join him as Christians. He destroyed their idols, including the dreaded idol Perun, which he threw into the Dneiper
River. This act greatly impressed the people and the hold of the old religion was broken. Many were then baptized in the Dneiper
River, after which Vladimir began the task of converting his entire country. He furthered literacy and sent clergy throughout
the country to preach to all. He himself changed from being a fierce warrior to a person who was also concerned for the poor
and needy. He died in peace in 1015, the enlightener of the land of the Rus.
Source: "A Daily Calendar of Saints" by Rev. Lawrence R. Farley
St. Marina, Greatmartyr of Antioch in Pisidia
Commemorated on July 17
The Holy Great Martyr Marina was born
in Asia Minor, in the city of Antioch of Pisidia (southern Asia Minor), into the family of a pagan priest. In infancy she
lost her mother, and her father gave her into the care of a nursemaid, who raised Marina in the Orthodox Faith. Upon learning
that his daughter had become a Christian, the father angrily disowned her. During the time of the persecution against Christians
under the emperor Diocletian (284-305), when she was fifteen years old, St Marina was arrested and locked up in prison. With
firm trust in the will of God and His help, the young prisoner prepared for her impending fate.
The governor Olymbrios,
charmed with the beautiful girl, tried to persuade her to renounce the Christian Faith and become his wife. But the saint,
unswayed, refused his offers. The vexed governor gave the holy martyr over to torture. Having beaten her fiercely, they fastened
the saint with nails to a board and tore at her body with tridents. The governor himself, unable to bear the horror of these
tortures, hid his face in his hands. But the holy martyr remained unyielding. Thrown for the night into prison, she was granted
heavenly aid and healed of her wounds. They stripped her and tied her to a tree, then burned the martyr with fire. Barely
alive, the martyr prayed: "Lord, You have granted me to go through fire for Your Name, grant me also to go through the water
of holy Baptism."
Hearing the word "water", the governor gave orders to drown the saint in a large cauldron. The martyr
besought the Lord that this manner of execution should become for her holy Baptism. When they plunged her into the water,
there suddenly shone a light, and a snow-white dove came down from Heaven, bearing in its beak a golden crown. The fetters
put upon St Marina came apart by themselves. The martyr stood up in the fount of Baptism glorifying the Holy Trinity, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. St Marina emerged from the fount completely healed, without any trace of burns. Amazed at this miracle,
the people glorified the True God, and many came to believe. This brought the governor into a rage, and he gave orders to
kill anyone who might confess the Name of Christ. 15,000 Christians perished there, and the holy Martyr Marina was beheaded.
The sufferings of the Great Martyr Marina were described by an eyewitness of the event, named Theotimos.
Up until
the taking of Constantinople by Western crusaders in the year 1204, the relics of the Great Martyr Marina were in the Panteponteia
monastery. According to other sources, they were located in Antioch until the year 908 and from there transferred to Italy.
Now they are in Athens, in a church dedicated to the holy Virgin Martyr. Her venerable hand was transferred to Mount Athos,
to the Batopedi monastery.
Source: OCA
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