22nd October: Memory of Saint Abercius, the Wonderworker Equal-to-the-Apostles, Bishop of Hierapolis, (under Antoninus, he died between 161-180) The Seven Holy Children Martyrs who fell asleep at Ephesus (ca.250) Abercius was Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia Salutaris under Emperor Mark Anthony (161-180), and died around the end of the Second century. He had his epitaph engraved during his lifetime, in the symbolic form of the First century Christians: The citizen of an eminent city, I made this tomb...My name is Abercius. I am the disciple of a chaste shepherd who feeds his flock of ewes on mountains and plains; who has very great eyes which see everything. He taught me the faithful Scriptures. He sent me to Rome to behold the Sovereign City and to see the Queen in golden raiment and golden shoes. There I saw a people who wear a splendid seal..., and everywhere faith led me. Everywhere it served me a fish from the spring, mighty and pure, whom a pure Virgin caught. It gave fish without ceasing to friends to eat. It has a delicious wine which it gives with bread...Let the brother who understands pray for Abercius... This moment is actually found in Rome, in the Lateran Museum. It is said that the seven brothers of Ephesus were walled up alive in a grotto around 250 by Optimus, the proto-consul of Asia, under Emperor Decius. The legend says that they were restored to life for a time, three hundred years after their martyrdom. This legend has been taken by the Koran (sourate al-Kahf). (Source: rongolini) Apolytikion: Ἦχος πλ. α’. Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον. Ἀποστόλων τὸν ζῆλον ἐκμιμησάμενος, τὴ Ἐκκλησία ἐκλάμπεις ὡς ἑωσφόρος ἀστήρ, τὴν θεόσδοτον ἰσχὺν φαίνων τοὶς ἔργοις σοί, σὺ γὰρ θαυμάτων ἱερῶν, τᾶς δυνάμεις ἐνεργῶν, Ἀβέρκιε Ἱεράρχα, πρὸς εὐσέβειας εἰσόδους, τοὺς πλανωμένους καθωδήγησας. https://youtube/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TD0YSndvME8#t=10
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 18:05:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015