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Sts. Cosmas and Damian
The brothers Cosmas and Damian were
born into a wealthy family in Asia Minor during the early years of the Church. Each
was blessed with a keen intellect, and together they received the best education and
training in the science of medicine. Believing that "of the most high cometh
healing" their religious devotion strengthened them in their work. While they
were students, they vowed to provide their medical skill without charge to the suffering
Christian community. Because they refused to accept money they became known as
unmercenaries, and they were also acknowledged as miracle workers for the remarkable cures
they effected.
As time went on, the brothers' love
of the Savior became more and more evident, until it subordinated their great dedication
to medical science.
They were held in such veneration
that they remained unchallenged by even the most avowed pagan enemies of
Christianity. They worked for God and man during their long and full lives, and They
died peacefully of natural causes.
St. Catherine
St. Catherine was
unknown in the city of Alexandria in Egypt until she stepped forth at the age of eighteen
into the public forum in defense of the Christian faith. In those times this public
forum was the only source of information and of the stimulation and exchange of thought.
The beautiful and
noble Catherine impressed the forum audience with quiet dignity from the moment she
appeared to speak. While throwing the haughty pagan thinkers into confusion, she
captured the hearts of her listeners and she quickly won many converts.
Her enemies
appealed to the Emperor Maxentius who authorized whatever punishment was deemed necessary
for her crimes against the state. Courageously she declined to disavow her Savior in
exchange for clemency.
She was placed on a
wheel of spikes which was revolved producing an inhuman torture on her body until death at
last took her to the arms of her Savior. She died in the year 311 and eventually her
remains were brought to the monastery at Mt. Sinai which bears her name.
St. Anastasia of Rome
St. Anastasia was
born into one of Rome's most celebrated noble families in the third century. She was
endowed with a rare beauty which was the envy of many. At a time when most young
women take full advantage of their position and charm, she made a dramatic turn to Christ
at the age of nineteen.
Her new Christian
faith was all that mattered to Anastasia, and she sought the advice of her Christian
friends as to how she could best serve the Lord.
She had no desire
to leave her country, and instead she chose to live a solitary ascetical life not far from
Rome. Directing her highly educated mind to the cause of Christ, her reputation for
piety and sacrifice grew. Soon others disavowed their social order to follow her
example.
Anastasia was
charged with treason and she was summoned before the Governor Probius. He marveled
at her beauty, but he was annoyed with her refusal to embrace the pagan gods. She
remained steadfast and his annoyance turned to wrath.
She was beheaded on
October 29, 258 and her remains were left along the roadside near Rome. She lay there for
weeks in a state of preservation, and no insects or birds preyed upon her flesh.
Finally a group of Roman Christians snatched Anastasia and gave her a Christian burial.
St. Demetrius
St. Demetrius lived
in Thessalonike, the city of Alexander the Great who named it for his sister. He was
a powerful orator and he debated with the great minds of the day in the public forum.
Demetrius was also
in the military service. Though his Christianity was tolerated in Thessalonike, when
the Emperor Maximanius heard of the soldier who was a devout Christian he was stripped of
his military rank and imprisoned. His friend Nestor, at great personal risk, visited
him regularly and tried to intercede for him.
Demetrius had told
Nestor that the power of the Lord could be transmitted through him to another making him
invincible against any foe. The young Nestor, filled with the spirit of the true
believer, agreed to challenge the best gladiator knowing that the power of God through
Demetrius would prevail.
The scowling Lyaeos
entered and the spectators settled back to witness another of his victories. But
they soon rose in disbelief when the promised victim not only withstood the attack, but
also soundly defeated the greatest gladiator. Nestor scorned the thumbs down signal
of the mob who now screamed for death, and the young Christian walked away from his foe.
The frustrated
emperor ordered the deaths of both Demetrius and Nestor and the Roman soldiers quickly
executed them. Not all who left the arena that day remained pagans.
St. Simeon Stylite
St. Simeon was an
earthbound shepherd with deep Christian roots that originated in Antioch in Syria.
He ascended the
pillar which was located about sixteen miles from the city of Aleppo on the road to
Antioch. Through his self denial, he hoped to bring other people to a deeper
awareness and a greater closeness to God. In this he was successful.
Simeon could sit
and stand but he could not lie down in his restricted abode. This gave him more room
for intellectual effort, prayer and meditation.
He was considered
to be by far the greatest hermit in all Christendom, and as he stoically stood or sat atop
his pillar thousands of Pilgrims came to view him and hear his wisdom.
After many years
his followers pleaded for him to descend back into their society. But he refused
saying that he had made a solemn vow that his only descent would come after his
death. The ruins of his pillar remain, a shrine to the greatest ascetic of all who
died in 459 after establishing a precedent which many followed but none equaled.
St. John of Damascus
St. John was born in 675 in Damascus in Syria which at this time was ruled by Caliphs who
merely tolerated Christianity. Since his father was an important man and a good
friend of the Caliph, he received every advantage. An excellent theologian, he wrote
many books on the Christian religion. His explanation on the use of icons became a
guide for both clergy and laity.
While he was away,
those who envied him created suspicion in the mind of the Caliph. When he returned,
the Caliph was convinced of his treachery. He summoned John to court, and ordered
that his right hand be hacked off by a scimitar so that he could not write again.
But the Caliph's rage became fear when John picked up his severed hand and reattached it
to his wrist. It was miraculously restored by the Lord's healing.
John forgave the
Caliph but he said that he could no longer serve any other but the Lord whom he could
never repay for the miracle of the restoration of his hand. John then turned his
life completely over to the Savior and he went to Palestine.
Here he entered a
monastery. And with encouragement from the abbot, he used the right hand which had
been severed to write the words and music that came from the depth of his love for
Jesus. The result was some of the most beautiful hymns ever created and which are
sung t this day in both the Eastern and Western Churches. He continued writing his
masterpieces until his peaceful death on December 4, 745.
St. Mary of Egypt
St. Mary was born
and raised in Egypt during the reign of the Emperor Justinian (527-565). She was a
very beautiful woman.
She and her
entourage were in Jerusalem for the feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross. Not
one to avoid a celebration, she joined a group of Christians. With curiosity she
entered the line of marchers into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which is erected on the
site of Christ's tomb. She experienced a strange delight in the silence which was so
different from the orgies to which she was accustomed.
At the door of the
Church, Mary found that she could not enter. Held back by and unseen power, she
looked at her former companions, she now saw their wretchedness. She realized that
her follies prevented her entrance into the Church and she vowed to atone for her sins and
to seek the way of Jesus.
From that moment on
she devoted herself to delighting in the work of the Lord rather than in the vain
pleasures of the flesh. She turned her back on the sensual world and entered a
convent in the desert on the banks of the river Jordan.
For forty years her
noble spirit was on of the most compelling forces in Christendom. She was an
inspiration to the many who sought her, for they found divine serenity in her
exemplary service. Living in gratitude for her deliverance. Mary became know
as the Penitent Saint.
St. Thekla
St. Thekla was born of humble parents in Iconium in Asia
Minor about twenty-five years after the birth of Jesus. When she was eighteen years
old, her mother took her to listen and learn about a New Faith that was bringing joy to
the poor in spirit. They were privileged to hear St. Paul. His message so
moved Thekla that she sought him out and he personally converted her to
Christianity. Thekla begged her mother to let her go with him. Her mother told
her that she was free to go to serve the Lord.
When the
missionaries split into groups into the pagan countries, Thekla set out on a journey into
many strange lands. People were anxious to hear the words of the girl whose
reputation preceded her. She was apprehended by an unnamed barbaric pagan ruler.
Thekla then
suffered tortures which would have ended the life of an ordinary mortal, but the Lord had
made her superhuman. She walked out of fires unscathed, lances bounced off her, and
nails could not penetrate her skin. Her pagan foes retreated in awe. She died
of natural causes at the age of ninety.
St. Stephen
St. Stephen was one
of the seven deacons of the original Church in Jerusalem. Before he entered the
service of Christ, Stephen had studied under the rabbinical tutor Gamaliel who was the
mentor of St. Paul. Stephen was also a qualified religious scholar who once tried to
discredit Jesus until he came to embrace Him.
His preaching and
missionary work were confined to Jerusalem. He used the Old testament in promoting
the Messiah, citing the prophecies that told that a Savior would be born and that the
Savior was Jesus Christ. He exhorted all to answer the call of Christ and to find
salvation.
When he addressed an
extremely hostile crowd, he was seized and dragged into the street. At the city
gates, the bloodthirsty mob began pelting him with stones. Stephen died a brutal
death at the hand of those with whom he had grown up.
The early Christian
buried Stephen in a small chapel which was dedicated to his memory in Jerusalem. He
is the first martyr because he would have the last to deny Him.
St. Constantine
St. Constantine,
who was born in the lower valley of the Danuba in the mid 280's, became an emperor of
great power. As Emperor of Gaul he ruled the civilized world of the Roman Empire.
He told of having
seen a cross of light in the sky just before his successful campaign against Maxentius,
and he embraced Christianity as the true Faith. Ending the war in the ancient city
of Byzantium, he rebuilt it and renamed it Constantinople.
He called the
ecumenical council at Nicea in 325. The Emperor Constantine the Great used his
influence to effect the signing of the historic Creed and created unity and strength.
St. Constantine
died on May 21, 337. The reign of St. Constantine has proved to be the greatest of
any ruler in history, not only for Christianity but for the world as well.
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