January 23 / January 10

1.  Saint Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa

Gregory was the brother of Basil the Great. At first, he was only a presbyter since he was married; but when his wife, Blessed Theosevia, reposed, Gregory was chosen and consecrated Bishop of Nyssa. He was distinguished by his great secular learning and spiritual experience. He participated in the Second Ecumenical Council [Constantinople, 381]. It is thought that he composed the second half of the Symbol of Faith [the Creed].

He was a great orator, an interpreter of Holy Scripture, and a theologian. Because of their defeat, the Arians especially attacked him as their worst enemy, so that during the reign of Emperor Valens—their ally of the same mind—they succeeded in ousting Gregory from the episcopal throne and sent him into exile. This Holy Father spent eight years in exile, patiently enduring all miseries and all humiliations. He finally re- posed in old age toward the end of the fourth century, and entered into the Kingdom of God, remaining throughout the ages as a great beacon of the Church on earth.

2.    The Venerable Ammon, Egyptian Ascetic, of Nitria (5th c.)

For fourteen years, Ammon prayed to God and struggled to conquer anger within himself. He attained such perfection of goodness that he was not even conscious that evil existed in the world. He was particularly knowledgeable in Holy Scripture. He reposed at the beginning of the fifth century.

3.   Saint Marcian, priest of Constantinople (471)

Marcian was born in Rome. After being ordained a presbyter, he lived the remainder of his life in Constantinople, during the greater part of the reign of Emperor Marcian and Empress Pulcheria. Inheriting enormous wealth from his parents, Marcian generally spent it on two goals—building or restoring churches, and charity for the poor. He built two new churches in Constantinople, both famous for their beauty and sacredness, dedicated to St. Anastasia and St. Irene. When he was asked: “Why do you spend so much on churches?” he replied: “If I had a daughter and wanted to marry her to a nobleman, would I not spend much gold in order to adorn her as a worthy bride? And here I am adorning the Church, the Bride of Christ.” As generous as this wonderful man was toward the churches and the indigent, so was he austere, very austere, toward himself, following the apostolic ex- hortation: Having food and raiment let us be therewith content (I Timothy 6:8). It is written about him: “He was totally in God and God in him.” And he departed to God, in the fullness of years and good works, in the year 471.

• Dometian, bishop of Melitene (601).
• Blessed Theosebia the Deaconess (385), sister of Macrina, Basil the Great, Peter of Sebaste, and Gregory of Nyssa.
• Paul, founder of Obnora Monastery (Vologda) (1429), and his disciple St. Macarius, founder of Pisma Monastery (Kostroma) (15th c.).
• Monk-martyr Ephraim, elder of Obnora, and six monks of Obnora whose relics are incorrupt (1538).
• Antipas of Calapodeshti (Romania) and Valaam Monastery (1882).
• Theophan the Recluse, bishop of Tambov (1894).
• New Hieromartyrs Peter Uspensky, archpriest of Radushino (Zaraisk) (1930), and Anatole (Grisyuk), metropolitan of Odessa and Kherson (1938).
• New Martyr Arsenia (Dobronravova), abbess of the Holy Resurrection—St. Theodore Convent (Shuisk) (1939).

HYMN OF PRAISE

Saint Gregory and Saint Marcian

The Spirit possesses the gifts, the Spirit imparts the gifts:
To some, blessed mercy; to some, bold understanding;
To some, a special virgin’s purity;
To some, a living love or a sound mind.
According to the strength of one’s faith, the Spirit adds new gifts.
If faith grows, which moves mountains,
Then the treasury of the Spirit is opened,
And gift upon gift descends like rain upon the faithful one.
St. Gregory, because of his great faith,
Soared like an eagle to spiritual heights.
St. Marcian, because of his great faith,
Was illuminated with heavenly mercy.
The light of theology was imparted to Gregory.
To Marcian was given grace, the oil of praise.
O Heavenly Spirit, Lord and King,
Do not withhold Thy wondrous gifts from us,
But, through the prayers of Thy chosen vessels,
Save us from condemnation on the day of the Dread Judgment

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