- The Beginning of the Church's Year
- The First Ecumenical Council established that the Church's year
would begin on September 1st, continuing the practice of the Roman
Empire at that time. For centuries, the beginning of the civil year
coincided with the Church year, but later changed.
- Our Holy Father Symeon Stylites (459)
Born in Syria, he was a shepherd, but at the age of eighteen he left
home and became a monk, practicing the strictest asceticism. At times
he fasted for forty days. After a few years at a monastery he took up
an ascetical discipline unique at that time: mounting a pillar, he stood
on it night and day in prayer. Though he sought only seclusion and
prayer, his holiness became famous, and thousands would make pilgrimage
to receive a word from him or to touch his garments. Countless nomadic
Arabs came to faith in Christ through the power of his example and
prayers. To retreat further from the world, he used progressively
taller pillars: his first pillar was about ten feet high, his final one
about fifty. He was known also for the soundness of his counsel: he
confirned the Orthodox doctrine at the Council of Chalcedon and
persuaded the Empress Eudocia, who had been seduced by Monophysite
beliefs, to return to the true Christian faith. After about forty years
lived in asceticism, he reposed in peace at the age of sixty-nine.
He was at first suspected of taking up his way of life out of pride,
but his monastic brethren confirmed his humility thus: They went to him
as a group, and told him that the brotherhood had decided that he should
come down from his pillar and rejoin them. Immediately he began to
climb down from the pillar. Seeing his obedience and humility, they
told him to remain with their blessing.
- Righteous Joshua, Son of Nun
- In the Septuagint he is called Jesus, the Greek form of Joshua.
Of the Hebrews who fled Egypt in the Exodus, only he and Caleb were
found worthy to enter the Promised Land. He was Moses' chosen successor
to lead the Hebrew people. Read his story in the Old Testament book
that bears his name. He reposed at the age of 110, about 1500 years
before Christ.
source: http://www.abbamoses.com
