November 11 / October 29

1.  The Venerable Virgin-martyr Anastasia the Roman (ca. 250)

She was born in Rome of noble parents, and was left an orphan at the age of three. As an orphan, she was taken to a convent near Rome where the abbess was Sophia, a nun of the highest level of perfection. After sev- enteen years, Anastasia was well known—among the Christians as a great ascetic, and among the pagans as a rare beauty. Probus, the pagan gover- nor, heard of Anastasia and sent his soldiers to bring her to him. For two hours, the good Abbess Sophia counseled Anastasia how to keep the Faith, how to resist flattering deceits, and how to endure torture. Anastasia said to her: “My heart is ready to suffer for Christ; my soul is ready to die for my Sweet Jesus.” Brought before the governor, Anastasia openly expressed her faith in Christ the Lord, and when the governor tried to turn her away from the Faith—first by promises and then by threats—the martyr said to him: “I am ready to die for my Lord not only once, but—oh, if it were only possible—a hundred times!” When they stripped her naked to hu- miliate her, she cried out to the servants: “Whip me, cut me up and tear me apart, cover my naked body with wounds and cover my shame with blood!” She was beaten, torn and cut up. On two occasions she felt a great thirst and asked for water, and a Christian, Cyril, gave her a drink, for which he was blessed by the martyr of Christ and beheaded by the pagans. Anastasia’s breasts and tongue were severed, but an angel of God appeared and sustained her. Finally, she was beheaded outside the city. Blessed So- phia found her body and buried it honorably. Anastasia was crowned with the wreath of martyrdom during the reign of Decius.

2.  The Venerable Abramius the Recluse and his niece Mary, of Mesopotamia

Forced to do so by his parents, he married, but on the very day of his wedding he left his bride, his parents’ home and all that he possessed, and withdrew into solitude to live a life of strict asceticism. He labored thus for fifty years, and left his cell only twice during that time. The first time, he left at the order of his bishop to convert a pagan village to the Christian Faith. The second time he came out to save his licentious niece Mary (397). He entered peacefully into rest in the year 360, at the age of seventy. (See “Re- flection” below.)

3.  The Venerable New Monk-martyr Timothy of Esphigmenou

He was from the village of Kessana in Thrace. He was married and had two daughters. His wife was seized by the Turks and became a Moslem. In order to save his wife from the harem, he pretended to become a Moslem. After rescuing his wife, he conducted her to a convent, while he went to the Great Lavra on Mount Athos and then to the Monastery of Esphigm- enou. He desired martyrdom for Christ, like Agathangelus of Esphigme- nou, and was beheaded in Jedrene on October 29, 1820. His body was thrown into a river, but his clothing was retrieved by Elder Germanus, the spiritual father of Esphigmenou.

• Martyrs Claudius, Asterius, Neon, and Theonilla, of Aegae in Cilicia (285).
• Ermelindis, anchoress, in Meldaert (Belgium) (ca. 592).
• Colman of Kilmacduagh (Ireland) (632).
• Anna (known as Euphemianus) of Mt. Olympus in Bithynia (826).
• . Glorification (1994) of Equal-to-the-Apostles Rostislav, prince of Greater Moravia (870).
• Serapion of Zarzma, Georgia (900).
• Abramius, archimandrite, of Rostov (1073).
• Abramius the Recluse, of the Near Caves in Kiev (13th-14th c.).
• New Martyr Athanasius of Sparta, at Mountania (1653).
• (Greek : Martyr Melitena of Marcionopolis).

HYMN OF PRAISE

The Venerable Abramius the Recluse

St. Abramius left his bride
And dedicated his life to strict asceticism.
By asceticism he worked out his salvation,
And wisely directed others to salvation.
Demonic power attacked the saint,
But in the name of Christ he crushed it.
The demon took on various, horrible guises,
To scare and hinder the man of God.
This man of God did not allow himself to fear,
Or separate his mind from God,
But shone on the world like a candle,
Glorifying the One God, the Most-holy Trinity.
Imprisoned, alone and not wanted by the world,
Abramius became a prisoner for the sake of Christ
For fifty years—fifty years!
Of tears, fasting and struggle—all for the Son of God:
For fifty years—fifty years!
Established on Christ, the firm Foundation.
Glory to Abramius, Christ’s soldier,
That, on the mortal earth,
he has shown us immortality!

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