February 22 / February 9
The Holy Martyr Nicephorus of Antioch (ca. 275)
The biography of this martyr clearly demonstrates how God rejects pride and crowns humility and love with glory. There lived in Antioch two close friends, the learned priest Sapricius and the simple layman Nicepho- rus. Somehow their friendship turned into a terrible hatred for each other. The God-fearing Nicephorus attempted on many occasions to make peace with the priest. However, at no time did Sapricius desire to be reconciled. When the persecution of Christians began, the presbyter Sapricius was condemned to death and brought to the place of execution. The sorrowful Nicephorus followed after Sapricius, beseeching him along the way to forgive him before his death, that they might depart in peace.
“I beseech you, O martyr of Christ,” said Nicephorus, “forgive me if I have sinned against you!” Sapricius did not even want to look at his opponent, but quietly and arrogantly walked toward his death. Upon seeing the hardness of the priest’s heart, God did not want to accept the sacrifice of his martyrdom and crown him with a wreath, and instead He mysteriously withheld His grace. At the last moment, Sapricius denied Christ and declared before the executioners that he would bow down before the idols. So it is with blind hatred! Nicephorus implored Sapricius not to deny Christ, saying: “O my beloved brother, do not do that; do not deny our Lord Jesus Christ; do not forfeit the heavenly wreath!” But all was in vain. Sapricius remained adamant. Then Nicephorus cried out to the executioners: “I too am a Christian; behead me in place of Sapricius!” The executioners informed the judge of this, and the judge ordered the release of Sapri- cius and beheaded Nicephorus in his place. Nicephorus joyfully lowered his head on the block and was beheaded. Thus, he was made worthy of the Kingdom and was crowned with the immortal wreath of glory. This occurred in the year 260, during the reign of Gallienus.
The Hieromartyr Peter Damascene (743)
Some think that Peter Damascene lived in the eighth century and others think he lived in the twelfth century. This difference of thought comes from the fact that there were two Peter Damascenes. The one about whom we are now speaking was a great ascetic. He was unselfish beyond measure. Peter Damascene did not even possess a single book, but rather borrowed books and read them. He read assiduously, gathering wisdom as a bee gathers honey. For a while he was a bishop in Damascus, but when he spoke out against Islam and the Manichean heresy, the Arabs severed his tongue and banished him into exile deep in Arabia. However, God granted him the power of speech, so that, even in exile, he preached the Gospel and converted many to the Christian Faith. He compiled and bequeathed to posterity a precious book about the spiritual life. He died as a confessor and martyr and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ.
- Hieromartyrs Marcellus, bishop of Sicily, Philagrius, bishop of Cyprus, and Pan- cratius, bishop of Taormina, disciples of Apostle Peter (1st ).
- Martyr Apollonia of Alexandria (249).
- Romanus the Wonderworker, of Cilicia, near Antioch (5th c.).
- Aemilianus and Bracchio, of Tours (Gaul) (6th c.).
- Teilo, bishop of Llandaff, Wales (6th c.).
- Pancratius, hieromonk of the Kiev Caves (13th c.).
- Gennadius (1516) and Nicephorus (1557), monks, of Vazhe Lake (Vologda).
- Uncovering of the relics (1805) of Innocent, bishop of Irkutsk (1731).
- Uncovering of the relics (1992) of New Hiero-confessor Tikhon, patriarch of Mos- cow and all Russia (1925).
HYMN OF PRAISE
Saint Peter Damascene
Damascene numbers eight types of knowledge
For spiritual and godly men.
First: the knowledge of sorrow and all temptations.
Second: the knowledge of the sum of one’s transgressions,
One’s transgressions and God’s forgiveness.
Third: the knowledge of horror, pain and fear,
Before death, in death and after separation from the body,
When before the righteous judgment the soul stands alone.
Fourth: the knowledge of Christ the Savior,
His life and that of all the saints,
Of the saints—their deeds, patience and words,
Which, like a silver bell, resound throughout the ages.
Fifth: the knowledge of natural attributes,
Of physical phenomena, variation and change.
Sixth: the knowledge of forms and things,
All sensory beings and natural phantoms.
Seventh: the knowledge of the world, rational and spiritual,
The angelic world and the world of hades—of both good and evil.
Eighth: the knowledge of God,
The One, Holy, Mighty and Immortal.
This knowledge is called Theology:
To it, few are elevated.
A theologian needs the greatest purity,
For the impure heart does not reach heaven.
Damascene appropriated the seven elementary types of knowledge,
And to the eighth, the knowledge of God, he was raised.
The eighth is given and bestowed by God:
It is neither learned nor earned.
To read the Reflection, Contemplation, and Homily for this day,
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