March 12 / February 27

1.  The Venerable Procopius the Confessor, of Decapolis (750)

This saint was from Decapolis by the Sea of Galilee, for which reason he was called the Decapolite. In his youth he devoted himself to a life of asceticism and accomplished all the prescribed labors by which the heart is purified and the spirit is elevated to God. When the wicked Leo the Is- aurian began his persecution of the icons and their venerators, Procopius rose up in their defense. He showed that the veneration of icons is not idolatry, for Christians know that by bowing down before icons they are bowing down not to lifeless matter, but to living saints who are depicted in the icons. Because of this, Procopius was arrested, brutally tortured, flogged, and scraped with an iron brush. When the wicked Emperor Leo was slain in the body—for he had lost his soul earlier—icons were restored in the churches, and Procopius returned to his monastery, where he spent the remainder of his days in peace. In his old age, he was translated to the Kingdom of God. There he gazes with joy upon the living angels and saints, whose images on icons he honored on earth. He died peacefully in the eighth century.

2.    The Venerable Thalelaeus, hermit, of Gabala in Syria (ca. 460)

Thalelaeus was a Syrian ascetic. At first, he resided in the Monastery of St. Sava the Sanctified near Jerusalem, but later he settled in a pagan cemetery known for appearances of evil spirits and monsters. In order to conquer fear within himself through faith in God, Thalelaeus settled in this cemetery, where he lived for many years, enduring many assaults from evil spirits both day and night. Because of his great faith and love for God, God endowed him with the gift of working miracles, through which he did much good for sick and suffering people. He reposed in about the year 460.

3.   The Venerable Titus of the Monastery of the Kiev Caves

Titus was a priest and had a sincere love for Deacon Evagrius, as a brother for brother. But as great as their love was in the beginning, it later became a mutual hostility and hatred sown by the devil. They hated each other so much that, when one would be censing in the church, the other would turn and walk out of the church. Titus attempted many times to reconcile with his antagonist but in vain. Titus became ill and everyone thought that he was going to die. He begged them to bring Evagrius to him, that he might forgive him. Forcefully they dragged Evagrius to the bedside of Titus, but Evagrius broke free and fled, saying that he would not forgive Titus in this world or the other world. As soon as he said this, he fell to the ground and died. Titus arose from his bed healthy and related how the demons had been hovering around him until he had forgiven Evagrius. When he forgave, the demons fled and attacked Evagrius, and angels of God surrounded Titus. Titus reposed in the year 1190.

4.    The Venerable Stephen, monk, of Constantinople (614)

At first, Stephen was a palace official of Emperor Maurice. Later he left the palace service and, driven by love for Christ, built a charitable hospice for the aged in Constantinople. He reposed peacefully in the year 614.

5.   The Holy Martyr Julian and his disciple Chroniun, at Alexandria (250-252)

Julian suffered so severely from gout that he was able neither to stand nor walk. Because of his faith in Christ, he was brought on a pallet before the judge. He was burned alive at the stake along with his disciple Chronion, in Alexandria during the reign of Emperor Decius.

• Martyr Gelasius the Actor, of Heliopolis (297).
• Macarius, bishop of Jerusalem (334).
• Asclepius and James of Nimouza, monks, near Cyrrhus (5th c.).
• Leander, bishop of Seville (600-601).
• Pitirim, bishop of Tambov (1698).
• New Martyr Elias of Trebizond (1749).
• (Greek : St. Timothy of Caesarea, monk).

HYMN OF PRAISE

Forgiveness

That God may forgive us, let us forgive men.
We are all on this earth as temporary guests.
Prolonged fasting and prayer is in vain
Without forgiveness and true mercy.

God is the true Physician; sins are leprosy.
Whomever God cleanses, God also glorifies.

Every merciful act of men,
God rewards with mercy.
He who returns sin with sin perishes without mercy.
Pus is not cleansed by pus from infected wounds,

Neither is the darkness of the dungeon dispelled by darkness,
But pure balm heals the festering wound,

And light disperses the darkness of the dungeon.
To the seriously wounded, mercy is like a balm;
As a torch, everyone rejoices in mercy.

The madman says: “I have no need of mercy!”

But, when he is overcome by misery, he cries out for mercy!
Men bathe in the mercy of God,

And that mercy of God awakens us to life!
That God may forgive us, let us forgive men,
We are all on this earth as temporary guests.

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