January 23, 2014 Commemoration of St. Vahan of Goghten Vahan of Goghten was the son of Prince Khosrov, the Governor of the province of Goghten. In childhood, together with many other Armenian princes, he was captivated by the Arabs and was taken to Damask, where is circumcised and renamed Vahab. Vahan was a very clever and skilled young man. Receiving proper education he undertook various responsibilities in the royal court. Despite the fact that he was brought up and educated in Arabic environment, Vahan knew about his ancestors. He hadn’t forgotten that he had been Christian and came from a noble family. In 719 AD The Armenian Pontiff Hovhannes of Odzoun paid a visit to the Governor of Damask, and upon his request the Governor allowed the captives to return to their homeland. Taking the opportunity Vahan also expressed wish to visit his homeland and was allowed on condition of returning. Reaching Armenia, Vahan became aware of the Governor’s death and took a decision to remain in his homeland. He married the daughter of the Prince Babken, the Governor of Syounik province, and lived there. However, the New Governor of Damask began the searches for Vahan. The latter concealing himself, wandered in his homeland, in Georgia, visited many churches and monasteries and finally stopped in the town Routsap, in Syria. Rejecting the governor’s suggestion to change his faith, he was martyred in 737 AD. On the day of the saint’s commemoration a special church hymn is sung, the author of which is his sister Khosrovidoukht. Commemoration of the Virgin Eugine, her father - Philippus, her mother Klothia and her two servants Philippus was a Roman nobleman. Being appointed the Governor of Egypt, together with his family he moved to Alexandria. Eugine, the daughter of Philippus, upon his father advice began to study in Alexandria. During the studies she read the Apostle St. Paul’s epistles with great interest. Believing in Christ, Eugine and her two servants were baptized and became Christians. Then wearing man’s clothing, she entered a monastery and later became the Abbess. A young woman fell in love with Eugine and being refused by her, blamed her in an attempt to rape. Facing the judge, who was her father, Eugine was forced to reveal the truth and to identify herself. Her father and other relatives, listening from Eugine about the Savior, became Christians. Becoming aware of that reality, the Emperor ordered to kill Philippus. Their family moved to Rome, where they were beheaded because of being Christians. Eugine was beheaded on the day of the Holy Feast of Nativity and Theophany. Soon after that Eugine’s mother - Klothia, was martyred, too.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 03:31:52 +0000
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