May 20 / May 7
May 20 / May 7
Commemoration of the Appearance of the Honorable Cross over Jerusalem in a.d. 351.
During the time of St. Constantine’s son, Emperor Constantius, and Patriarch Cyril of Jerusalem, the Honorable Cross appeared about 9:00 a.m., stretching from Golgotha to above the Mount of Olives. This Cross was brighter than the sun and more beautiful than the most beautiful rainbow. All the people, both believing and unbelieving, left their work and observed this heavenly sign in fear and amazement. Many unbelievers converted to the Christian Faith, and many Arian heretics abandoned their evil heresy and returned to Orthodoxy. About this sign, Patriarch Cyril wrote a letter to Emperor Constantius, who had inclinations toward Arianism. This occurred on May 7, 357. Thus, even on this occasion it was demonstrated that the Christian Faith is not worldly theorizing, according to the sensual understanding of man. Rather it is God’s power, demonstrated through numerous miracles and signs.
The Holy Martyr Acacius
St. Acacius was a Roman officer during the reign of Emperor Maximian. Answering at his trial for his faith in Christ, he said that he inherited this devout Faith from his parents and was strengthened in it by witnessing the many miraculous healings wrought by the relics of Christian saints. After courageously enduring great tortures in the Thracian city of Pyrrinthus, Acacius was taken to Byzantium. There he endured new tortures until he was finally beheaded. He suffered honorably and took up his habitation in the Eternal Kingdom of joy in the year 303.
The Venerable Fathers of Georgia
(St. John of Zedazeni in Georgia, and 12 disciples, 6th c.)
In the sixth century, two hundred years after St. Nina preached the Gospel in Georgia, the Most-holy Mother of God appeared to John, an Antiochian ascetic, and commanded that he select twelve of his disciples and go to Georgia to strengthen the Orthodox Faith. And so he did. Arriving in Georgia, these twelve missionaries were solemnly received by the prince of that country and the Catholicos Eulalius and immediately began their work with zeal. The people gathered around them in masses, and they strengthened the people in the Faith with great wisdom and many miracles. The head of these Christ-loving missionaries was St. John of Zedazeni and the names of the others were: Abibus, Anthony, David, Zenon, Thaddaeus, Jesse, Isidore, Joseph, Michael, Pyrrus, Stephen and Shio. With apostolic zeal they all confirmed the Christian Faith in Georgia, established many monasteries, and left many disciples after them. Thus, they were made worthy of glory in heaven and power on earth.
- Lydia of Philippi (1st c.). .
- Uncovering of the relics of Euthymius the Great (473).
- Domitianus, bishop of Maastricht (560).
- John of Beverley, bishop of York (721).
- Repose of Nilus, founder of Sora Skete (Belozersk) (1508).
- New Martyr Pachomius the Russian, of Usaki, near Philadelphia (1730).
- Uncovering of the relics (1815) of Nilus the Myrrh-gusher, of Mt. Athos (1651).
- (Greek : St. John the Confessor, of Psycha on the Bosphorus [ca. 825]).
- “Zhirovits” (1470) and “Lyubech” (11th ) Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos.
HYMN OF PRAISE
The Holy Martyr Acacius
Acacius, soldier of the King Most-high,
Prepares for death,
His soul filled with the incense of prayer.
The godless judge asks him:
“Why does not Christ deliver the faithful?
Why does He not punish your tormentors,
When you call Him Almighty God?”
The martyr meekly replies to him:
“The Lord Christ is great in mercy,
Long-suffering in mercy and in patience.
He awaits repentance from the sinner,
And patient suffering from the faithful.
If He immediately punished sinners
How would He reveal His mercy?
And the righteous—if they would not suffer,
By what would they show the power of God?
By what would they shine before the world?”
Having said these words,
Acacius is beheaded,
And his soul ascends to Paradise.
To read the Reflection, Contemplation, and Homily for this day,
you can purchase your copy of the Prologue of Ohrid at our St. Sebastian Bookstore
or download our Kindle E-Book version at Amazon.com.
