- Martyr Mamas of Caesarea in Cappadocia (275), and his parents, Martyrs Theodotus and Rufina
- He began his life in the cruelest of circumstances: both of his
parents were imprisoned for their faith in Christ. First his father,
Theodotus, died in prison, then his mother, Rufina, died shortly after
his birth, so the infant was left alone in prison beside the bodies of
his parents. But an angel appeared to the widow Ammia, telling her to
go to the prison and rescue the child. Ammia obtained the city
governor's permission to bury the parents and bring the child home. He
was called Mamas because he was mute until the age of five and his first
word was `Mama'. Despite his late beginning, he showed unusual
intelligence and, having been brought up in piety, soon openly
proclaimed his Christian faith. When he was only fifteen years old he
was arrested and brought before the Emperor Aurelian. The Emperor,
perhaps seeking to spare the boy, told him to deny Christ only with his
lips, and the State would not concern itself with his heart. Mamas
replied `I shall not deny my God and King Jesus Christ either in my
heart or with my lips.' He was sent to be tortured, but miraculously
escaped and lived in the mountains near Caesarea. There he lived in
solitude and prayer and befriended many wild beasts. In time, he was
discovered by the persecutors and stabbed to death with a trident by a
pagan priest.
- St John IV, Patriarch of Constantinople, known as John the Faster (595)
- He was born and raised in Constantinople. When he came of age he
worked as a goldsmith and an engraver at the mint; but, renouncing
worldly things, he was ordained a deacon and given charge of the
distribution of alms in Constantinople. He gave freely to all with no
consideration of their worthiness. The Synaxarion says 'the more he distributed the more God filled his purse, so that it seemed inexhaustible.'
-
Upon the death of Patriarch Eutyches in 582, John became Patriarch and
reigned for thirteen years, reposing in peace in 595. (It was during
his reign that the term "Ecumenical Patriarch" began to be used to refer
to the Patriarch of Constantinople.) St John was known for his great
asceticism and fasting, and as a powerful intercessor and wonderworker.
So generous was he to the poor that he used up all his funds in
almsgiving and had to ask the Emperor for a loan, which he used to give
more alms. After his repose, his only possessions were found to be an
old cassock, a linen shirt and a wooden spoon.
source: http://www.abbamoses.com |
