- St Andrew the Fool for Christ (911)
- St Andrew was bought as a slave by Theognostos,a wealthy citizen of
Constantinople, during the reign of the Emperor Leo the Wise.
Theognostos recognized Andrew's unusual ability and taught him to read
and write. Despite this Andrew, obeying a divine revelation, took up the
ascesis of folly for Christ, behaving as a madman all day and secretly
praying most of the night. His master endeavored to have him cured of
his apparent madness, having prayers read over him in church, but to no
avail. Finally he discharged Andrew, who thereafter lived in absolute
poverty in Constantinople, clothing himself in rags and living on the
bread given him by kindly Christians. Anything that he received, beyond
that needed for bare survival, he gave to beggars, usually mocking and
insulting them at the same time so as not to be thanked or praised for
his deeds. Such was the wholeheartedness of his prayers that he was
given grace to see angels and demons, to discern the secrets of others,
thereby turning them from their sins. It was he who, with his disciple
Epiphanius, saw the vision of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God
(see October 1). After a life of profound ascetic struggle, he reposed
in peace.
- Hieromartyr Cyprian and Virgin-Martyr Justina (304).
- "Saint Justina, who was from Damascus, lived in virginity for the
sake of Christ. Saint Cyprian, who was from Antioch, began as an
initiate of magic and worshipper of the demons. A certain foolish young
man who had been smitten with Justina's beauty hired Cyprian to draw her
to love him; when Cyprian had used every demonic device he knew, and
had failed, being repulsed by the power of Christ Whom Justina invoked,
he understood the weakness of the demons and came to know the truth.
Delivered from demonic delusion, he came to Christ and burned all his
books of magic, was baptized, and later ascended the episcopal throne in
his country. Later, he and Justina were arrested by the Count of
Damascus, and having endured many torments at his hands, they were sent
finally to Diocletian in Nicomedia, where they were beheaded in the year
304." (Great Horologion)
-
source: http://www.abbamoses.com
|
