October 15 / October 2
1. Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ, of Constantinople (911)
Andrew was a Slav by birth. As a young man, he was enslaved; and was bought by Theognostus, a wealthy man in Constantinople, during the reign of Emperor Leo the Wise (son of Emperor Basil the Macedonian). An- drew was handsome in body and soul. Theognostus took a liking to An- drew, and allowed him to become literate. Andrew fervently prayed to God, and with love attended church services. Obeying a heavenly revelation, he adopted the ascesis of foolishness for Christ. Once, when he went to the well for water, he tore off his clothes, and slashed them with a knife, feigning insanity. Saddened by this, his master Theognostus bound him in chains and brought him to the Church of St. Anastasia the Deliverer from Bonds, so that prayers would be read for him. But Andrew did not improve, and his master freed him as mentally ill. Andrew pretended insanity by day, but prayed to God all night long. He lived without shelter of any kind. He even spent the nights outside, walked around half-naked in a single tattered garment, and ate only a little bread when good men would give it to him. He shared all that he received with the beggars, and would mock them—to avoid being be thanked by them—for holy Andrew wanted all his reward to come from God. Therefore, the great grace of God entered into him and he was able to discern the secrets of men, perceive angels and demons, exorcize demons from men, and correct men from their sins. Andrew had a most beautiful vision of Paradise and the exalted powers of heaven. He also saw the Lord Christ on His throne of glory; and he, with his disciple Epiphanius, saw the Most-holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae as she covered the Christian people with her omophorion. This occurrence is celebrated as the Feast of the Protection of the Most-holy The- Theotokos (October 1). In a vision he also heard ineffable, heavenly words that he dared not repeat to men. After a life of almost unparalleled harshness of ascesis, Andrew entered into rest in the eternal glory of his Lord in 911.
2. The Hieromartyr Cyprian and Virgin-Martyr Justina, of Antioch
Cyprian moved from Carthage to Antioch, where Justina lived with her parents, Edesius and Cleodonia. Edesius was a pagan priest, and his entire household was pagan. But when Justina visited a Christian church and learned the true Faith, she converted both her father and mother to the Christian Faith. All three received baptism by Optatus the bishop. Cyprian, however, was a magician, who consorted with impure spirits and practiced sorcery. A certain dissolute pagan youth named Aglaidas was willing to pay any price to charm Justina, for she was beautiful. The holy virgin Justina rejected him adamantly, and he sought help from Cyprian. Cyprian invoked one evil spirit after another, to inflame Justina with impure passion for Aglaidas, but did not succeed. By the sign of the Cross and prayer to God, she drove the evil spirits away. After this futile effort, Cyprian recognized the power of the Cross and was baptized. Eventually, he was made a presbyter, then a bishop. Embittered pagans denounced him and Justina; both were tried in Damascus, tortured, and then beheaded in Nicomedia. They entered into rest at the end of the third century.
3. The Holy Martyrs David and Constantine, princes of Argveti, Georgia (740)
David and Constantine were Christian princes from Argveti (Georgia). They were condemned to death by Caliph Emilel Mumenim, and were drowned in a river in Imereti in the year 740. Before their death, they prayed to God that He forgive the sins of all who would invoke them in prayer for help. After their prayers were completed, lightning struck, and a voice from heaven said that their prayers had been heard. The saints’ relics repose at the Monastery of Motsameta in Georgia.
- Damaris of Athens (1st c.).
- Hieromartyr Leodegarius (Leger), bishop of Autun (679).
- Great-martyr Theodore (Gavra) of Atran in Chaldia of Pontus (1180).
- Anna, princess of Kashin (Euphrosyne in monasticism) (1368).
- Cassian the Greek, monk, of Uglich (1504).
- Blessed Cyprian of Suzdal, fool-for-Christ (1622).
- New Martyr Hadji George of Philadelphia in Asia Minor (1794).
- Theodore Ushakov, admiral of the Russian Navy (1817).
HYMN OF PRAISE
Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ
Fool-for-Christ Andrew stood at night
Under the starry firmament, praying:
“O Most-high God, three Persons in one Essence,
Salvation and Revival of souls that slumber!
O sweet Jesus, sweeter than life,
Treasury of joy and eternal beauty,
Cleanse the shepherds, enlighten the kings,
Console the troubled and sanctify the whole world.
Do not separate even me, the sinner,
Andrew the Fool-for-Christ,
From Thy holy people, O Lord!”
O Saint Andrew, full of God’s wisdom,
You who taught the world by words of foolishness—
With the language of the world you spoke to the world,
And by feigned foolishness you glorified Christ.
Men despised you for your foolishness,
And their dogs rose up from their lairs and chased you!
You were God’s altar on the rubbish heap of the world.
You censed the world with your prayers—
And the world is not worthy of this marvel.
Glory to you, Andrew, holy Fool-for-Christ!”
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