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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 the 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 work 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 t 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 t 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 wee 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
hi 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 t 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
b Caliphs who merely tolerated Christianity. Since his father was
an important man and a god friend of the Caliph, he received ever 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 bon 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 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 server 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 wo was the mentor of St. Paul. Stephen
was also 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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