August 4 / July 22
1. Holy Myrrh-bearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene (1st c.)
One of the myrrh-bearing women and equal to the apostles, Mary was born in the town of Magdala, along the shore of Lake Gennesaret, of the tribe of Issa- char. She was tormented by seven evil spirits—from which she was freed by the Lord Jesus and made whole. She was a faithful follower and servant of the Lord during His earthly life. She stood beneath the Cross on Golgotha and grieved bitterly with the All-holy Theotokos. After the death of the Lord, she visited His sepulcher three times. When the Lord rose again she saw Him on two occasions: once by herself, and once with the other myrrh-bearing women. She traveled to Rome and appeared before Tiberias Caesar, presenting him with a red egg, and giving him the salutation: “Christ is Risen!” She also denounced Pontius Pilate to Caesar for his unjust condemnation of the Lord Jesus. Caesar accepted her accusation and transferred Pilate from Jerusalem to Gaul where, in disfavor with the emperor, this unjust judge died of a dread disease. After this, she returned from Rome to Ephesus, to assist St. John the Theologian in the work of preaching the Gospel. With great love toward the resurrected Lord, with great zeal for the Faith and as a true apostle of Christ, she proclaimed the Holy Gospel to the world. She died peacefully in Ephesus. According to tradition, the cave she was buried in was the same cave in which the Seven Youths (August 4) later slept a wondrous sleep for hundreds of years, then came to life and again died. The relics of St. Mary Magdalene were later transferred to Constantinople. There is a beautiful Russian Orthodox convent dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene near the Garden of Gethsemane.
2. The Hieromartyr Phocas, Bishop of Sinope (117)
On this day, we commemorate the translation of the relics of St. Phocas from Pontus to Constantinople, in about the year 404. The primary feast of this saint is September 22, on which his life and his sufferings are recorded. One miracle of this saint is commemorated on the present day as well. The Arabs captured a man named Pontinus. They shackled him, bound his hands behind his back, and left him to die. Lying face down on the ground, and unable to move, Pontinus cried out: “O Holy Martyr Phocas, have mercy on me and save me!” Having said this he fell asleep and, in a dream, Saint Phocas approached him, touched him by the hand, and said: “The Lord Jesus Christ forgives you!” When the man awoke, he found himself loosed from his bonds. He arose and departed for his home. St. Phocas became the patron saint of his household.
3. The Venerable Cornelius, Monk, of Pereyaslavl (1693)
Cornelius was tonsured a monk at the age of fifteen by an elder named Paul. He eventually withdrew into the wilderness, to a life of silence. Cornelius lived in silence for thirty years, not speaking so much as a word to anyone, so that many believed that he was a mute. He became so withered through fasting that he resembled a skeleton. Before his death, he received the great schema and found repose in the Lord on July 22, 1693.
4. The Holy Virgin-Martyr Marcella of Chios (14th c.)
St. Marcella is greatly venerated on the island of Chios. In the church dedicated to her there, miracles occur every year. However, her life is not known. According to tradition, Marcella was an unusually pious girl who was left motherless at an early age. Her bestial, pagan father wanted to live with his daughter as with a wife. Marcella fled from her father, but he, enraged like a wild beast, caught up with her and cut her into pieces. In the proximity of her church, there are certain stones that, from time to time, become as if covered with blood. People take these stones, bring them to church, and pray to St. Marcella. They then touch the sick with them, who are thereby healed.
- Cyril I, patriarch of Antioch (298).
- Wandregisilus of Caux (Gaul) (668).
- Blessed Cyprian of Suzdal, fool-for-Christ (1622)
HYMN OF PRAISE
Saint Mary Magdalene
Magdalene was shrouded in dark sorrow
Because of the bloody death of the Son of God.
Sorrow from love is most bitter sorrow—
She had neither consolation nor friend in the world.
Her tears were her comfort,
and pain was her only friend.
For St. Magdalene,
the world was turned to darkness.
As a weak human, she sought light,
And Mary groped in the darkness, without hope.
Even His tomb to her was light—but lo! the tomb is empty!
“He has been stolen,” she thought, “naked and unanointed!”
Bitterly she wept, and there was no end to her weeping.
Then she heard the voice of a man beside her:
Woman, why weepest thou?
Whom seekest thou?
“You ask Whom I seek? Do you wish to calm me?
If you have taken His body, tell me where you have put it.”
Jesus looked upon her as she wept and sorrowed
And called to her in a sweet voice:
“Mary!” Light shone forth in Mary’s heart:
O voice now recognized, incomparably sweet,
O voice overflowing with life and power!
With this voice the Lord healed the sick,
With this voice He raised the dead.
O life-giving voice—O wondrous voice!
Mary sprang up and turned around:
“Rabboni!” she cried as the sun arose.
For Mary and for the world, a New Day dawned.
To read the Reflection, Contemplation, and Homily for this day,
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