- Our Holy Father, Confessor and Martyr Stephen the New (767)
- He was born in
Constantinople in 715 to pious parents named John and Anna. His mother had prayed often to
the most holy Theotokos to be granted a son, and received a revelation from our Lady that she
would conceive the son she desired. When the child was born, she named him Stephen,
following a prophecy of the Patriarch St Germanos (commemorated May 12). Stephen entered
monastic life as a youth, and so distinguished himself in asceticism and virtue that the hermits of
Mt Auxentius appointed him their leader at a young age.
-
'During the reign of Constantine V (741-775), Stephen showed his love of Orthodoxy in
contending for the Faith... Besides being a fierce Iconoclast, Constantine raised up a ruthless
persecution of monasticism. He held a council in 754 that anathematized the holy icons.
Because Saint Stephen rejected this council, the Emperor framed false accusations against him
and exiled him. But while in exile Saint Stephen performed healings with holy icons and turned
many away from Iconoclasm. When he was brought before the Emperor again, he showed him a
coin and asked whose image the coin bore. "Mine," said the tyrant. "If any man trample upon
thine image, is he liable to punishment?" asked the Saint. When they that stood by answered
yes, the Saint groaned because of their blindness, and said if they thought dishonouring the image
of a corruptible king worthy of punishment, what torment would they receive who trampled upon
the image of the Master Christ and of the Mother of God? Then he threw the coin to the ground
and trampled on it. He was condemned to eleven months in bonds and imprisonment. Later, he
was dragged over the earth and was stoned, like Stephen the First Martyr; wherefore he is called
Stephen the New. Finally, he was struck with a wooden club on the temple and his head was
shattered, and thus he gave up his spirit in the year 767.' (Great Horologion)
-
Irenarchos and his Companion Martyrs at SebasteSaint Irenarchus, who was from Sebastia, lived during the reign of Diocletian.
In his youth he ministered to the holy Martyrs during the time of their
punishment in prison. Once, on beholding seven women being tormented
in behalf of Christ, and marvelling at their courage, and seeing how,
although they were weak in body, they nonetheless became like men before
the tyrant and put him to shame, the Saint was enlightened by divine
grace and confessed Christ with boldness. Tried by fire and water,
he was beheaded together with the holy women in the year 298. source: http://www.abbamoses.com; http://www.truechristianity.info |
