December 5 / November 22

1. The Holy Martyrs Cecilia, Valerian, Tiburtius, and Maximus, at Rome (288)

Cecilia was born in Rome of wealthy and eminent parents. She had great faith in Christ the Lord and a great zeal for the Faith. Vowing life- long virginity to God, St. Cecilia wore a coarse hair shirt beneath the costly raiment that her parents gave her. When her parents coerced her into marriage with Valerian, a pagan, Cecilia counseled her bridegroom on their wedding night to go to Bishop Urban to be baptized, and then live in chastity. Accepting the Christian Faith, Valerian also converted his brother Tiburtius. Soon after, both brothers were condemned to death for their faith. But their faithfulness did not falter, even in the face of death. Led to the place of execution, these wonderful brothers also succeeded in converting the captain of the guard, Maximus, to the Faith. Then all three suffered together for Christ the Lord. St. Cecilia buried their bodies together. Cecilia was then brought to trial, for she tirelessly won pagans over to the Christian Faith. In only one evening, she won over four hundred souls. When the judge asked her from whence such boldness came, she answered: “From a pure conscience and undoubting faith.” After cruel torture, Cecilia was condemned to beheading. The executioner struck her three times on the neck with the sword, but he was unable to kill her. She was only wounded, and blood flowed from her wounds, which the faithful collected in handkerchiefs, sponges and bowls for the sake of healing. Three days after this, the martyr and virgin of Christ gave her soul to her Lord, with Whom she eternally rejoices. St. Cecilia suffered with the others in about the year 230. Her relics lie in Rome, in the church dedicated to her. In the Western Church, St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of church singing and music.

3.  Saint Callistus II, Patriarch of Constantinople (Mt. Athos) (1397) Callistus is called “Xanthopoulos” after the cell of that name on Mount Athos, where he lived for a long time in asceticism with his companion, With this same Ignatius, St. Callistus wrote in one hundred chap- ters of his personal experience of a life of stillness. This work occupies a very prominent place in ascetical literature. Callistus was greatly influenced by his teacher, St. Gregory of Sinai, and wrote his Life. Having be-come Patriarch of Constantinople, St. Callistus became ill and reposed while on a journey to Serbia. Before he undertook his journey this was prophesied to him by St. Maximus of Kapsokalyvia of the Holy Mountain.

3. The Holy Martyr Menignus, at Parium (250)

Menignus was born on the Hellespont. He worked as a linen-bleacher, for which he was called “the Fuller.” At the time of Emperor Decius, he tore up the imperial decree declaring a persecution of Christians. For this, he was thrown into prison, where the Lord Himself appeared to him and encouraged him, saying: “Be not afraid, I am with thee.” At that moment his chains melted like wax, the prison opened of itself, and he went out. He was ar- rested again and tried. They tortured him inhumanly, severing his fingers and toes and beheading him. At night, his severed head glowed like a lamp.

4.  The Holy Righteous Michael the Soldier

Michael was a Bulgarian by birth. With his companions, he fought in the Greek army against the Hagarenes and Ethiopians, where he displayed marvelous fearlessness. He killed a terrible serpent and freed a maiden. Soon afterward, this righteous man took up his abode in eternal life. He lived and reposed in the ninth century. He was first buried somewhere in Thrace, but Emperor Kalo-John translated his relics to Trnovo in 1206.

5. The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Philemon and Archippus, Martyr Apphia, wife of Philemon, and St. Onesimus, disciple of St. Paul (1st c.). (See February 19)

• Martyr Procopius the Reader, at Caesarea in Palestine (303).
• Martyr Agapion of Greece (304).
• Martyrs Stephen, Mark, and Mark (another), at Antioch in Pisidia (4th ).
• Agabbas of Syria (5th c.).
• Germanus of Eikoiphinissa in Macedonia (9th c.).
• Clement of Ochrid, bishop of Greater Macedonia (916).
• Yaropolk-Peter, prince of Vladimir in Volhynia (1086).
• Martyrdom of Michael, great prince of Tver (1318).
• New Hieromartyrs Ioasaph, bishop of Mogilev, Gerasim, hieromonk of the Zo- sima Hermitage (Smolensk), and Alexis, archpriest, of Tver (1937).
• New Monk-martyrs Eutychius, Abner, Sava, and Mark, of Optina Monastery, and with them Martyr Boris (1937).

HYMN OF PRAISE The Holy Martyr Cecilia

Cecilia—strong in faith, rich in faith—

Her faith is more beautiful than the stars, more precious than gold.
She nailed herself to the Lord, as to the Cross,
And sacrificed youth, joy, marriage and honor for Christ!
The cruel demon could steal nothing from her;
And when only her body remained, she gave it to Christ.
For the love of Christ, she gave the whole world—
Even two worlds: her body and her pure soul.
Thus does the flame of faith burn, and the flame of love,
And by that flame, Cecilia glorified herself.

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