June 22 / June 9
The Hieromartyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata
Eusebius was a great denouncer of Arian- ism. When the throne of Antioch became vacant, Meletius was elected patriarch at the insistence of Eusebius. Meletius was a great beacon of the Church, who, after his death, was found worthy of great praise by St. John Chrysostom. However, the Arians quickly banished Meletius from Antioch. When Constantine’s pernicious son Constantius died, another much worse than he was crowned—Julian the Apostate. During Julian’s persecution of Christians, St. Eusebius removed his clerical attire, donned a soldier’s uniform and, under the guise of a soldier, visited the persecuted Church throughout Syria, Phoenicia and Pales- tine, strengthening the Orthodox Faith every-fresco in the Monastery of the Doussikon, Greece, 16th c.) where and ordaining the necessary priests, deacons and other clergy and, in some places, bishops. Following the turbulent death of Julian, St. Eusebius counseled Meletius to convene a council in Antioch in 361, at which twenty-seven hierarchs were present. The Arian heresy was condemned once more and the Faith of Orthodoxy was proclaimed in the same manner as it had been expressed at the First Ecumenical Council [Nicaea, 325]. Along with Meletius and Eusebius, St. Pelagius of Laodicea, a well known, chaste and ascetic man, made a great impact at the Council of Antioch. This council was held during the reign of the pious Emperor Jovian. How- ever, Emperor Jovian soon died and the wicked Valens was crowned, and a persecution of Orthodoxy again ensued. St. Meletius was exiled to Armenia, Eusebius to Thrace, and Pelagius to Arabia. After Valens, Gratian was crowned emperor, and he granted freedom to the Church and recalled the exiled hierarchs to their sees. Thus they returned: Meletius to Antioch, Eusebius to Samosata, and Pelagius to Laodicea. At that time many dioceses and parishes were vacant, and Eusebius zealously hastened to find canonical shepherds for the people. When he came to the town of Doliche to enthrone the newly elected bishop, Marinus, and to denounce the Arian heresy (which was strong in that town), a fanatical heretic hurled a ceramic tile at Eusebius’s head and mortally wounded him. Thus this great zealot, saint and martyr of Orthodoxy reposed, to live eternally in the blessedness of Paradise. He suffered in the year 380.
The Holy Martyrs Zeno and his servant Zenas, of Philadelphia in Arabia (Amman) (304)
Zeno was a Roman officer in the Arabian town of Philadelphia, and Zenas was his servant. When the persecution of Christians began during the reign of Emperor Maximian, St. Zeno boldly appeared before the commander Maximus, confessed his faith in the One Living God, and counseled Maximus to renounce lifeless idols and embrace the only true Faith. The commander became enraged and cast Zeno into prison. When the faithful Zenas visited his master in prison, he was also seized and arrested. Both of them were tortured for Christ and finally thrown into a fire into which the pagans had poured oil. Their souls were crowned with wreaths in the Kingdom of Christ, and their bodily remains were interred in the Church of St. George at a place called Cyparisson.
- Martyrs Galacteon, Juliana, and Saturninus, of
- Alban, protomartyr of Britain (ca. 304).
- Athanasius, bishop of Chytri on Cyprus (4th c.).
- Paulinus the Merciful, bishop of Nola (431).
- 1,480 martyrs of Samaria in Palestine (ca. 615).
- Basil, abbot, of Patalaria Monastery (8th-9th c.).
- Anastasia (Anna) of Serbia, mother of St. Sava (1200).
- Gregory, metropolitan of Wallachia (1834).
HYMN OF PRAISE
Saints Eusebius, Meletius and Pelagius
The Church is never without shepherds,
Nor without suffering, nor without heroes.
When the sharp sword flashed in Goliath-like manner,
The shepherd of Samosata offered resistance.
Eusebius and with him Meletius,
Like two stars—and the third, Pelagius— Zealots of Holy Orthodoxy,
Glorious saints of God’s Church.
At that time there was suffering for Christians,
Bitter suffering from both sides.
On one side, the wild heretics;
On the other side, the insane emperors.
It was difficult to preserve one’s soul,
And to uphold the truth of God
Against lies and against violence.
Amidst the tares was a little sweet basil,
A little immortelle, a little feather grass.
Three hierarchs—three fragrant flowers:
Enough honey for all the poison of the world.
Eusebius began as a zealot
And ended his life as a martyr.
O Eusebius, thou high priest,
Bless us, O God-pleaser!
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