December 12 / November 29
1. The Holy Martyr Paramon and 370 others with him, at Bithynia (250) In Asian Bithynia, Governor Aquilinus fiercely persecuted Once, he captured 370 Christians, brought them with him, and bound them at a place where there was an idolatrous temple of the god Poseidon. Here, the wicked governor tried to force them to worship and offer sacrifice to the idol. Even though the governor threatened death for anyone who did not obey his order, not a single Christian submitted. Just then, a respected man by the name of Paramon passed along the road beside the temple. He stopped beside the masses of shackled people and learned what was happening. Then he cried out: “Oh, how many innocent righteous ones does this foul governor desire to slaughter because they will not worship his dead and mute idols?” Paramon then continued on his way, and the infuriated governor sent his servants to slay him. The servants caught up to Paramon, seized him and pierced his tongue with a thorn, then stripped him naked and stabbed his entire body. Holy Paramon, with prayer in his heart, gave up his soul to God. After that, the 370 martyrs, great as sons of God and innocent as lambs, were beheaded and thus entered into the Immortal Kingdom of Christ the Lord. They suffered in the year 250.
2. The Venerable Acacius of Sinai
In his famous book, The Ladder, St. John Clima- cus relates the life of this saint. The young Acacius was a novice under an evil elder in the monastery on Sinai. The irascible elder daily reproached and insulted Acacius and often beat, tormented and mal- treated him in every possible way. However, Acacius did not complain but endured this all patiently, with the assurance that it was beneficial for his salvation. Whenever anyone asked him how he was doing, he replied: “Well, as before the Lord God!” After nine years of obedience and torment, Acacius died. The elder buried him and then expressed sorrow to another elder saying: “Acacius, my disciple died.” “I do not believe it,” replied the holy elder, “Acacius did not die.” Then both of them went to the grave of the dead man and that holy elder cried out: “Brother Acacius, did you die?” Acacius, obedient even after death replied: “Father, I have not died, for it is impossible for an obedient one to die.” Then, the evil elder repented and shut himself in a cell near Acacius’s grave where, in repentance and prayer, he spent the remainder of his life.
3. The Holy Hieromartyr Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth
He was an eminent pastor and teacher. He was beheaded for Christ in the year 182.
4. Saint Tiridates, King of Armenia (4th c.)
Tiridates was a contemporary of Diocletian. At first, he furiously persecuted Christians, but God’s punishment befell him and he went insane and became like a beast, as had happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Tiridates was miraculously healed of his insanity by St. Gregory of Armenia (September 30). From then until his death, Tiridates spent his life in repentance and devotion. He died peacefully in the fourth century.
5. The Holy Martyr Apollonius
Apollonius was a Roman senator. Accused because of his faith in Christ, he confessed it before the entire senate, for which he was beheaded with the sword in Rome in the year 186.
- Hieromartyr Saturninus, bishop of Toulouse (ca. 257).
- Martyr Philoumenus of Ancyra, and with him Martyrs Valerian and Phaedrus (274).
- Pitirim of Egypt (4th c.), disciple of St. Anthony the Great.
- Brendan of Birr (571).
- Hieromartyr Abibus, bishop of Nekresi in Georgia (6th ).
- Radboud, bishop of Utrecht (917).
- Nectarius the Obedient, of the Kiev Caves (12th c.).
- St. Mardarije of Libertyville and Chicago, missionary and first Serbian bishop in America (1935).
HYMN OF PRAISE
The Venerable Acacius of Sinai
The elder summoned his novice:
“Brother Acacius, where are you?”
The elder called once more:
“Acacius, are you dead?”
“No, Father, I am not dead,”
The monk humbly replied,
“For him who faithfully obeys,
There is no death.”
The irascible elder was amazed,
Amazed, and began to weep.
The elder bitterly wept,
And repented of his wickedness.
Why does the cruel elder repent?
Truly, he has a reason.
Into the wilderness, the sinner went
To atone for his evil.
Acacius, the wondrous monk,
By obedience, saved his soul;
And his soul now rejoices,
And his name is glorified.
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