May 3 / April 20
The Venerable Theodore Trichinas, hermit, near Constantinople (400) Theodore was a citizen of Constantinople and the son of wealthy par- As a young man, he left his parents’ home and riches and entered an eremitic monastery in Thrace. Here he imposed upon himself a most rigorous life of asceticism. He slept on stones in order to sleepless. He traveled everywhere bareheaded and clothed himself in one garment made of goat’s hair, for which he was called “Trichinas”, “hairy” or “the Hair-shirt Wearer.” Because of his great ascetic labors for the sake of the salvation of his soul, God be- stowed upon him the great gift of miracle-working, both during his lifetime and after death. He died peacefully in about the year 400. His body was seen to be flowing with myrrh.
The Venerable Anastasius of Mount Sinai
Anastasius was the abbot of Mount Sinai. In the beginning, he was a monk for an extended period of time under the glorious Abbot John Climacus. After John’s death, he then became the abbot. Besides being a great ascetic, Anastasius was an eloquent author of the lives of the saints as well as instructional writings. He led a bitter struggle against the heretics, the so-called acephalites (headless ones), who denied the decisions of the Fourth Ecumenical Council [Chalcedon, 451]. He reposed in old age in the year 685 and took up his habitation with the Lord, Whom he had faithfully served.
Blessed Anastasius of Sinai, Patriarch of Antioch (599)
While a monk on Mount Sinai, Anastasius was elected Patriarch of Antioch, during the reign of Emperor Justinian. He was elevated to this rank by virtue of his charity, chaste life, great spiritual learning, and staunch faith. Then, Emperor Justinian fell into the heresy of Docetism.*) Eutychi- us, Patriarch of Constantinople, and Blessed Anastasius sharply protested against this. The emperor banished Eutychius and also wanted to banish Anastasius, but he was unable to find anything to reproach in his life. How- ever, when Justinian died, having repented beforehand and having reinstated Eutychius to the throne, his successor, Justin, succeeded in banishing Anastasius on the basis of some spurious calumnies. Anastasius remained in exile for twenty-three years but was reinstated to the throne of Antioch during the reign of Emperor Maurice. He governed the Church of God for six more years and ended his earthly sojourn in the year 599.
Blessed Gregory, Patriarch of Antioch
Gregory was an Armenian by birth. He was Abbot of the Pharanite Monastery, below Mount Sinai. When Blessed Anastasius was banished from his throne, Gregory, against his will, was installed as Patriarch of Antioch. Blessed Patriarch Sophronius [and St. John Moschus] also write very favorably about him in the Spiritual Meadow. Gregory was distinguished by his great compassion, especially toward sinners. He reposed in the Lord in the year 593.
The Holy Apostle Zacchaeus, of the Seventy, Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine
At first, Zacchaeus was a tax collector and a sinner. When our Lord saw him in a tree in Jericho and entered his home, Zacchaeus was brought to repentance (Luke 19:1–10). Later on, Zacchaeus followed the Apostle Peter, who appointed him Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine, where he faithfully served the Gospel and reposed peacefully.
The Venerable Athanasius (1380) and Ioasaph (1423) of Meteora, abbots
Athanasius was born in 1310. He lived the ascetic life on the Holy Mountain. He founded the famous Meteora Monastery in Thessaly. He possessed the great gift of clairvoyance and miracle-working. Our holy Father Joasaph was named John Urosh Paleologus in the world. His father, Symeon Urosh, was descended through his paternal family from the illustrious Serbian Nemanjić dynasty (see 13 Feb.). He peacefully completed his earthly sojourn in 1423.
- Theotimus, bishop of Tomis in Moesia (ca. 410).
- Hieromartyr Anastasius II, patriarch of Antioch (609).
- Caedwalla, king of the West Saxons (689).
- Alexander, founder of Oshevensk Monastery (Arkhangelsk) (1479).
- Child-martyr Gabriel of Slutsk (Poland) (1690).
- New Hiero-confessor Theodosius (Ganitsky), bishop of Kolomna (1937).
- The Venerable Father John the Paleolavrite.
- Translation of the relics (1991) of Nikolai (Velimirovich), bishop of Ohrid and Zhicha (1956) from America to Serbia.
HYMN OF PRAISE
Saint Anastasius
Anastasius, God-bearing father,
Took upon himself the labor of fasting and prayer.
Asceticism he maintained, long and persistent,
Until with the spirit he learned the mysteries.
Then he opened his honeyed mouth:
“Christ,” said he, “is the rock of salvation.
Do not insanely say: ‘He lived a long time ago.
Where is He now that He might speak unto me?’
The Gospel, His Holy Covenant—
Who is able to resist it?
It speaks to you in place of Christ Himself;
It is His all-pure mouth!
Again you say: ‘I desire to see Him!’
Look with your whole mind and heart
At Holy Communion. From wine and bread,
There He is in the flesh—what else do you need?
Repent, O brother, repent of your sins.
A thousand deaths surround you!
Confess your sins to your spiritual father,
Then drink His Blood and eat His Body.
Only repent. If you begin with repentance,
You will live with justice and with shining hope.
Repent, O brother, repent of your sins.
Around you stand a thousand deaths!”
To read the Reflection, Contemplation, and Homily for this day,
you can purchase your copy of the Prologue of Ohrid at our St. Sebastian Bookstore
or download our Kindle E-Book version at Amazon.com.