- Holy Virgin Martyr Anastasia of Rome (256)
- She lived in Rome during the reigns of the Emperors Decius and
Valerian. At an early age she left all to embrace a life of unceasing
prayer, entering a small monastery in Rome, directed by a nun named
Sophia. For her Christian faith, she was seized and brought before the
governor Probus and, when she boldly confessed Christ and refused to
honor the idols, was subjected to a series of vicious tortures, under
which she died. An angel led Sophia to retrieve her holy relics, which
are now venerated at the monastery of Grigoriou on Mt Athos.
-
We are sometimes told that monasticism developed in the Church after
Christianity became accepted and grew more worldly. The story of St
Anastasia is one of many evidences in the lives of the Saints that what
we now call monasticism was present from the earliest days of the
Church.
- Our Holy Father Abramius (366) and his niece Mary (371) of Mesopotamia
- Abramius was a Christian of noble birth who, early in life, left all
(including a young bride) to live as a solitary monk. This he did for
fifty years. When Abramius' brother died, leaving his seven-year-old
daughter Mary orphaned and alone, The Saint took her under his care,
giving her a monastic cell near his own. Though Mary devoted herself
joyfully to the monastic life, when she was about twenty she fell into
sin with a corrupt monk who visited the hermitage. Far worse, she then
fell into despair, thinking that she had cast away her salvation, and
fled the hermitage to become a harlot in a nearby town. Abramius,
unaware of what had happened or where she had gone, prayed constantly
for her safety and to be shown where she had fled.
-
One day a traveler told Abramius what had become of his niece.
Immediately he rose up, dressed himself as a soldier and went to the
brothel where Mary worked, "for the salvation of a soul meant more to
him than hermitage, Habit, ascesis or prayer itself" (Synaxarion).
Still disguised, he ordered a meal, his first wine and meat for fifty
years, then went with Mary to her room. Only then did he reveal
himself, and with tears, not accusing her at all, pleaded with her to
leave that place and return with him. "Let us go, my child; let us
return to our hermitage. Let your fault be mine. I will answer for it
before Christ on the day of judgment." She returned with him and, with
repentance, prayed so ardently that she was soon granted not only
assurance of forgiveness but the power to work miracles. St Abramius
reposed in peace in great old age; Mary followed him into eternal joy
five years later.
source: http://www.abbamoses.com |
