April 21 / April 8

Saint Niphon, Bishop of Novgorod (1156)

Niphon was distinguished by his great zeal in constructing and restoring the churches of God and by showing great courage in opposing the tyrannical princes. Thirteen days before Niphon’s death, St. Theodosius appeared to him and announced his imminent passing over to the other world. He reposed in the year 1156.

Saint Celestine, Pope of Rome (432)

Celestine was a great champion of the Orthodox Faith. At the time of the Third Ecumenical Council [Ephesus, 431], Celestine wrote an epistle against the heretic Nestorius. He reposed peacefully in the year 432.

• Martyr Pausilipus of Thrace (ca. 117-138).
• Monk-martyrs Josiah and Joseph, of Kharasam, Persia (ca. 341).
• Philaret of Seminara, Calabria (ca. 1070).
• Rufus the Recluse, of the Kiev Caves (14th c.).
• New Martyr John (Koulikas) (1564).
• New Martyr John Naukliros (“the Navigator”), on Kos (1699).
• New Hieromartyr Sergius Rodakovsky, archpriest, of Belorussia (1933).
• Spanish Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (792).

HYMN OF PRAISE

The Holy Apostles

The holy apostles of God
Ran the race and reached the goal.
They despised the vanity of the world;
they strove toward God.
They sacrificed the worldly and acquired the eternal.
Love for Christ, stronger than all other powers,
Shone from them through the darkness of paganism.
The race is over, the battle won,
The army of heroes is brought to Christ.
Many are the wreaths of victory in Christ:
If you desire, you too can be crowned.
Holy apostles, pray to God,
That He deprive us not of the Kingdom of Heaven.

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