January 16 / January 3
January 16 / January 3
1. The Prophet Malachi
Chronologically, Malachi was the last of the prophets. He was born after the return of the Hebrews from the Babylonian Captivity in 538 b.c. He was unusually handsome in countenance. According to tradition, the people called him an angel, perhaps because of his external beauty or be-cause of his spiritual purity, or even perhaps because of his association with an angel of God. On many occasions, he spoke face to face with an angel. When this occurred, others heard the angel’s voice, but they were not worthy to see the face of the angel. The young Malachi prophesied that which the angel proclaimed. He cried out against ungrateful Israel and against the lawless priests. Five hundred years before Christ, Malachi clearly prophesied the coming and the mission of John the Baptist (Malachi 3:1). But he is chiefly the prophet of the day of the Dread Judgment. He reposed in the Lord while still young. Following him, there were no more prophets in Israel until John the Baptist.
2. The Holy Martyr Gordius of Caesarea in Cappadocia (ca. 314)
Gordius was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia. He was an officer in the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Licinius. When terrible persecution of the Christians broke out, Gordius left the army and his rank and withdrew to the wilderness of Sinai. Alone on Mount Horeb, Gordius spent his time in prayer and contemplation of the mysteries of heaven and earth. He especially pondered the vanity and worthlessness of all that men strive and fight for on earth, and finally came to the desire to die and enter into the eternal and incorruptible life. With this desire, he descended into the town at the time of certain pagan races and games. Gordius presented himself to the governor of that town, declaring that he was a Christian. In vain did the governor try, through flatteries and threats, to dissuade him from the Faith. Gordius remained unwavering and firm as a diamond, saying: “Is it not sheer folly to purchase, with this short-lived life, a life of eternal torment and spiritual death?” Being condemned to death, he joyfully hurried to the scaffold and, along the way, spoke to the executioners of the glorious and sweet teachings of Christ. With the name of Christ on his lips, Gordius offered his young body to the sword and his righteous soul to God, in the year 320.
3. Saint Genevieve of Paris (ca. 502)
Genevieve was born in the village of Nanterre, seven miles from Paris, about the year 420. She is the patroness of the city of Paris. Through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving she was made worthy of the Kingdom of God, and she reposed on January 3, 512, in the eighty-ninth year of her life. Her relics were for the most part burnt and thrown into the River Seine by the Revolutionaries in 1793.
- Findlugan of Islay (7th c.).
- Peter of Atroa (837).
- Thomais of Lesbos (10th c.).
- Righteous Euthymius (Taqaishvili) the Man of God, of Tbilisi (1953).
- The Venerable Acacius of Latros, the Wonderworker, who founded the Lavra of the Mother of God of the
HYMN OF PRAISE
The Holy Prophet Malachi
Malachi proclaims what the angel tells him:
“The day, the day, oh, the day is coming!
The day which like an oven will blaze.
Who will endure it? Who will survive it?
Who, with their righteousness, will stand before the Judge?
All non-believers will be like dry stubble,
Food for the hungry fire.
Weeping, sighing and shrieking!
The fire overflows and moves like a river.
Here, what can the tongue of a sinner say?
O My priests, you who do not render Me praise,
Why do your tongues not sing the glory of the Lord?
Everywhere among the people, you have become despised,
Since you scorn My judgment, Law and miracles.
I, the Lord, am speaking—the Lord of hosts.
Oh, the judgment is severe upon those odious sorcerers!
When the fire pursues them, with smoke and a dreadful rumble,
Then the hand of the Lord will not caress anymore.
Repent, O people, while days remain to you,
Return to Me and I will return to you.
I the Lord am speaking, the Lord of hosts,
Return to Me and I will return to you.”
Malachi proclaims what the angel tells him:
“The day, the day, oh, the day is coming!
The day which like an oven will blaze.”
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