March 15 / March 2

1.  The Hiero-confessor Theodotus, Bishop of Cyrenia on Cyprus (ca. 326)

Because of his wisdom and virtue, Theodotus was elected to the episcopacy and governed the Church of God with love and zeal. When the persecution of Christians began during the reign of the wicked Emperor Licinius, this godly man was brought to trial and put through many tortures. When the torturer Sabinus advised him to deny Christ and to bow down before pagan idols and worship them, Theodotus replied: “If you knew the goodness of my God, Who I hope will make me worthy of eternal life because of these temporary sufferings, you also would wish to suffer in the same manner as I.” The torturers began to strike his body with nails, and he prayed to God with gratitude. Thinking his end was near, Theodotus counseled and taught the Christians who were assembled around him. By the providence of God, Emperor Constantine at that time proclaimed freedom to Christians and ordered that all who were sentenced for the sake of Christ be released. Thus, this saint was freed and re-

turned to his former position in Cyrenia. As tortured as

he had been, Theodotus lived for several more years. After that, he found repose in the Lord, Whom he had faithfully served and for Whom he had suffered. In the year 302, his earthly life ended, and he passed on to the mansions of the Lord.

2.    The Holy Martyr Troadius of Neo-Caesarea (3rd c.)

He suffered for Christ as a young man. Gregory of Neocaesarea saw in a vision how bravely Troadius withstood his tortures for Christ until the time he was killed. He saw his soul, when it had separated from the body, joyfully hastening toward heaven. St. Troadius suffered and was glorified in the third century.

3.   The 440 Martyrs slain by the Lombards in Italy (ca. 579)

They were slain by the Lombards in Italy in about the year 579. St. Gregory the Dialogist writes about them. In one place, forty of them were beheaded. At another place, four hundred of them were beheaded, all be-cause they refused to eat of the sacrifices to the idols. Additionally, these four hundred refused to dance around a goat’s head which had been offered to the demons as a pagan sacrifice, as was the custom of the Lombards.

4.    The Venerable Agathon of Egypt, monk (5th c.)

Agathon was a great Egyptian ascetic of the fifth century. He was a contemporary of St. Macarius and a disciple of St. Lot. He took care to fulfill all the commandments of the Lord. One of the brethren complimented him on a small knife, which he used to cut brushwood used for making baskets. Upon hearing this compliment, the saint joyfully handed over the knife to that brother as a gift. St. Agathon also said: “I would be satisfied to assume the body of a leper and give him mine.” Is this not perfect love?

5.   The Virgin-Martyr Euthalia of Sicily (257)

This holy Euthalia was a virgin from Sicily. She had a mother of the same name and a brother named Sermilianus. All were unbaptized pagans. Her mother Euthalia suffered from an issue of blood. The holy martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus (May 10) appeared to her in a dream and told her that she would be healed only if she was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Euthalia professed her faith in Christ, was baptized, and indeed recovered. Upon seeing this miracle, Euthalia’s daughter was also baptized. Afterward, Sermilianus began to mock and ridicule his mother and sister because of their faith in Christ. He threatened them, causing the mother to become frightened and flee her home. Then the brother began to persecute his sister. His sister was not frightened, for Christ was dearer to her than her brother. She said to Sermilianus: “I am a Christian and I am not afraid of death.” The wicked brother then sent a servant to defile her. When the servant attacked St. Euthalia, he lost his eyesight. The evil brother saw this miracle but still remained hard-hearted.

Just as Cain pursued Abel, Sermilianus pursued his sister, caught her, and beheaded her. Thus, the holy virgin Euthalia was crowned with the wreath of eternal glory. By this example the words of the Lord Christ were fulfilled: that He came to bring a sword among men, which causes division among blood relations but not among the faithful (cf. Matthew 10:34–35).

• Hieromartyrs Nestor, bishop, and Tribimius, deacon, at Perge in Pamphylia (ca. 250).
• Martyr Hesychius the Palatine, of Antioch (ca. 304).
• Chad, bishop of Lichfield (England) (672).
• Arsenius, bishop of Tver (1409).
• Sabbatius, monk, of Tver (1434), and his disciple St. Euphrosynus (1460).
• Barsanuphius (1459) and Sabbas (1467), abbots, of Tver.
• New Martyr Theodore Sladic of Komogovina (1788).
• Joachim (Papoulakis), a monk of Vatopedi (Mt. Athos) and Ithaca (1868).
• (Greek cal.: St. Cointus [Quintus] of Phrygia, confessor, and wonderworker [283]).
• The appearance of the Kolomenskoye “Reigning” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1917).

HYMN OF PRAISE

Saint Agathon

Reticent Agathon studied for three years
With a pebble under his tongue in order to remain silent,
That by his tongue he would not serve sin,
But only speak words of solace to men
And glorify God,
Who created him.
Once when the saint began to speak
Of anger, he said:
“The one over whom anger takes control
Does not please God, either now or ever,
We have the power to resurrect the dead,
But from an angry one God accepts no sacrifices.”
When death hung over Agathon,
The brethren gathered to see him, frail.
He whispered prayers with great fear;
Sigh upon sigh poured forth from his breast.
The brethren asked him: “Are you also afraid,
O all-good father, as you stand before God?
You were utterly good to everyone—this is known to all.
Among the stones of men, you glistened like gold!”
Then the elder said with a countenance more radiant:
“My children, before the judgment of God I now stand.
The judgment of man is one thing, and the judgment of God is another.”
—And a more powerful sigh seized the elder.

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