May 2 / April 19
The Venerable John of the Ancient Caves in Palestine (8th c.)
John lived a life of asceticism in the so-called Ancient Caves or Lavra of Chariton the Great, in Palestine. Having loved Christ the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his mind, John, at an early age, began to travel to the holy places, listening to the instructions and counsels of the holy men. Finally, he settled in the Caves of Chariton. There he gave himself to rigorous asceticism, spending days and years in fasting, prayer, and vigils, continuously meditating on death and teaching himself humility. As a well-ripened fruit, he was plucked by death and took up his habitation in Paradise. He lived and died in the eighth century.
The Holy Martyrs Christopher, Theonas, and Antonius (303)
Christopher, Theonas, and Antonius were young officers serving un- der Emperor Diocletian. When St. George the Great Martyr was being tortured, they witnessed his sufferings as well as the miracles that occurred at that time. Seeing all of this, they came before the emperor, laid down their arms, removed their military belts, and bravely confessed the name of the Lord Jesus. For that, they were subjected to great torture and were finally thrown into the fire. Their bodies were consumed, while their souls went to God and entered into eternal joy. They honorably suffered in Nicomedia in the year 303.
Saint Tryphon, Patriarch of Constantinople (933)
The Emperor Romanus, who reigned over Byzantium at the beginning of the tenth century, had a son, Theophylactus, who was sixteen years old when Patriarch Stephen died. The emperor wanted his son to be elevated to the patriarchal throne, for he had promised him this spiritual calling from his youth. Yet, because his son was a minor, the emperor was ashamed to do this. The patriarchal throne was assumed by Tryphon, a simple but chaste and pious old man. Tryphon remained on the throne for three years. When the son of the emperor reached his twentieth year, the emperor thought to remove Tryphon at any cost and install his son as patriarch. The saint of God, Tryphon, did not want to relinquish his throne voluntarily, for no other reason than because he considered it to be a great scandal for such a young man to be elevated to such a responsible and burdensome position as that of patriarch. Through the intrigue of an iniquitous bishop, the signature of the innocent Tryphon was obtained by guile on a blank sheet of paper. Later on, in the imperial court, the alleged resignation of the patriarch was written above that signature and was announced by the emperor. As a result of this, there arose a great confusion in the Church, for the laity and the clergy stood by Tryphon, the godly man. The emperor then forcibly removed the aged patriarch, sending him to a monastery, while his son Theophylactus was consecrated as patriarch. St. Tryphon lived as an ascetic in this monastery for two years and five months and went to the Lord in the year 933.
The Venerable Martyr Agathangelus Mt. Athos (1819)
Agathangelus was from Thrace. His secular name was Athanasius. Serving the Turks, he was forcibly converted to Islam in Smyrna. As a penitent, he has tonsured a monk on the Holy Mountain in the Monastery of Esphigmenou. Still tormented by his conscience, he desired to wash away his sin with his own blood. He departed for Smyrna, where he showed the Turks a cross and an icon of the Resurrection of Christ. He was beheaded on April 19, 1819, in his nineteenth year. Following his death, he appeared alive to Germanus, his spiritual father.
The Venerable Simeon the Barefoot of Mt. Athos (1594)
Simeon lived a life of asceticism on the Holy Mountain, and for a short while, he was the abbot of the Monastery of Philotheou. He strengthened Christians in the Faith in many areas of the Balkans and was famous for his miracle-working. He walked barefoot, for which he is called “the Barefoot.” He reposed in Constantinople.
- George the Confessor, bishop of Antioch in Pisidia (813-820).
- Hieromartyr Alphege, archbishop of Canterbury (1012).
- Nicephorus, abbot, of Katabad.
- Hieromartyr Paphnutius of Jerusalem.
- Uncovering of the relics (1621) of Joachim, founder of Opochka Monastery (Pskov) (ca. 1550).
- New Hiero-confessor Victor (Ostrovidov), bishop of Glazov (1934).
- Matrona the Blind, of Moscow (1952).
- (Greek: Martyrs Theodore of Perge in Pamphylia, his mother Philippa, and Dioscorus, Socrates, and Dionysius [2nd c.]).
HYMN OF PRAISE
Saint Tryphon
Innocent Tryphon, gray-haired shepherd,
Through innocence obtained an unfading wreath.
The emperor, out of empty vanity, desired wrongly,
Not fearing God or God’s punishment.
To be patriarch is an honor before men
But a burden before God and before angels.
A lad can tend an irrational flock,
But where is his wisdom for a rational one?
Kindhearted Tryphon guarded the righteousness of God;
“That can never be, O Emperor,” said he.
“Give the patriarchal throne to a mature man, one wiser than me,
Who will steer the Ship of God through the rocks,
And not to a child, even though he be your son,
Who would smash the Ship of God against the rocks!”
Emperor Romanus did as he himself wished,
And saddened St. Tryphon and the people.
But the eye of God roams throughout the world,
Seeking where to bestow a wreath and where vengeance.
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