January 29 / January 16
January 29 / January 16
1. Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy and All-glorious Apostle Peter
St. Peter is commemorated on this day because of thechains with which he was shackled by the lawless Herod and which fell from him during the appearance of an angel in prison (Acts 12:7). The chains were preserved by Christians as much for the memory of this great apostle as for their healing power, for many of the sick were healed by touching them, as was the case with the apron of the Apostle Paul (Acts 19:12). St. Juvenal, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, gave these chains as a gift
to the Empress Eudocia, the exiled wife of Emperor Theodosius the Younger. She divided them into two and sent one half to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople and the other half to Rome, to her daughter, Empress Eudoxia, the wife of Valentian. Eudoxia built the Church of St. Peter and placed these chains in it, together with those chains with which Peter was shackled before his death under Emperor Nero.
2. The Venerable Martyr Damaskin of Gabrovo
Damaskin led a life of asceticism at Hilandar Monastery, where he became the abbot. When he sought payment of a debt due to the monastery from some Turks, they persuaded a Moslem woman to enter the house where Damaskin lived. Then those Turks came and, finding this woman, dragged Damaskin before the Cadi [Moslem judge], who then proposed to him: either be hanged or convert to Islam. To this Damaskin responded decisively: “It would be insanity if I, for this transient life, were to purchase eternal death.” He was hanged in the year 1771 in Svishtov. Thus, Damaskin sacrificed his body in order to save his soul. But God’s punishment im- mediately befell his murderers. While they set out to cross the Danube River in a rowboat, a storm arose and capsized the boat, and they drowned.
3. The Venerable Romil the Sinaite, of Ravanica Monastery (Serbia) (1375)
Romil was born in Vidin. He was a disciple of St. Gregory of Sinai. He lived a life of asceticism in several monasteries. Constantine Tsamblak lived together with him in the Monastery of Ravanica [Serbia]. St. Romil reposed in the Lord in about the year 1375, at Ravanica Monastery. His companions were Saints Nestor, Martinius, Daniel, Sisoes, Zosimus and Gregory.
- Martyr Danax the Reader, in Macedonia (2nd ).
- Honoratus, archbishop of Arles and founder of Lerins Monastery (429).
- James of Tarentaise (429).
- Martyr Sigebert, king of the East Angles (635).
- Fursey, Irish missionary monk of Burgh Castle (East Anglia), Lagny, and Peronne (Gaul) (650).
- Blessed Maximus, priest of Totma (Vologda), fool-for-Christ (1650).
- New Hieromartyr Nicholas, priest, of Mytilene (1777).
- The Holy Martyr Junilla.
HYMN OF PRAISE
Saint Leonilla
Leonilla, a grandmother aged,
By the Spirit was made as powerful as a lioness.
When she had prepared her grandsons for God,
She herself became a martyr.
The tribune screamed to Leonilla,
Hissing with bitter anger:
“Go, Grandmother, to the dungeon
And counsel your grandsons.
Counsel them to deny
The so-called Christ God.
Either they renounce Christ
Or they renounce their young lives.”
Leonilla, in the dungeon,
To her grandsons spoke:
“Do not be afraid of worldly powers,
Even though they burn you alive.
Cleave to the glorious Christ And His Gospel.
For you He has prepared
An eternity of radiance and joy.
Do not be afraid of bitter wounds,
For they shall pass.
Neither be afraid of death —
Death can neither hide not annihilate
Those who are faithful to Christ.”
Three grandsons, in the midst of the fire,
Offered up praise to God,
While the evil one beheaded
Their dear grandmother Leonilla.
To read the Reflection, Contemplation, and Homily for this day,
you can purchase your copy of the Prologue of Ohrid at our St. Sebastian Bookstore
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