Lives of all saints commemorated on September 3

The Hieromartyr Anthimus, Bishop of Nicomedia, and those with him suffered during the persecution against Christians under the emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311). The persecution became particularly intense after a fire at the imperial court at Nicomedia. The pagans accused the Christians of setting the fire and reacted against them with terrible ferocity.

In Nicomedia alone, on the day of the Nativity of Christ, as many as twenty thousand Christians were burned inside a church. However, this monstrous inhumanity did not frighten the Christians, who firmly confessed their faith and endured martyrdom for Christ.

Saints Dorotheus, Mardonius, Migdonius, Peter, Indes and Gorgonius died during this period. One of them was beheaded by the sword, others perished by burning, or being buried alive, or by drowning in the sea. The soldier Zeno boldly denounced the emperor Maximian, for which he was stoned, and then beheaded.

Then the holy Virgin Martyr Domna, a former pagan priestess, perished at the hands of the pagans, and also Saint Euthymius, because of their concern that the bodies of the holy martyrs should be buried. Bishop Anthimus, who headed the Church of Nicomedia, hid himself in a village not far from Nicomedia at the request of his flock. From there he sent letters to the Christians, urging them to cleave firmly to the holy Faith and not to fear tortures.

One of his letters, sent with Deacon Theophilus, was intercepted and given to the emperor Maximian. Theophilus was interrogated and died under torture, without revealing to his torturers the whereabouts of Bishop Anthimus. After a while Maximian managed to learn where Saint Anthimus was, and sent a detachment of soldiers after him.

The bishop met them along the way, but the soldiers did not recognize the saint. He invited them to join him and provided a meal, after which he revealed that he was the one they sought. The soldiers did not know what to do. They wanted to leave him and tell the emperor that they had not found him. Bishop Anthimus was not one to tolerate a lie, and so he would not consent to this.

The soldiers came to believe in Christ and received holy Baptism. The saint ordered them to carry out the emperor’s instructions. When Bishop Anthimus was brought before the emperor, the emperor ordered that the instruments of execution be brought out and placed before him. “Do you think, emperor, to frighten me with these tools of execution?” asked the saint. “No indeed, you cannot frighten one who wishes to die for Christ! Execution is frightening only for the cowardly, for whom the present life is most precious.” The emperor then directed that the saint be fiercely tortured and beheaded by the sword.

Bishop Anthimus joyfully glorified God with his last breath, and received the crown of martyrdom. (See December 28 for another account of the Nicomedian martyrs.)

Saint Theoctistus of Palestine was a great ascetic who lived in the Judean wilderness in the Wadi Mukellik. At first, he was the companion of Saint Euthymius the Great (January 20) in the ascetic lfe. So great was their mutual affection and oneness of mind that they seemed to live as one soul in two bodies. They were persons of similar virtue and holiness, and they encouraged one another in their struggles. Each year after the Leave-taking of Theophany, they would go into the desert to struggle and pray in solitude, returning to their cells on Palm Sunday.

After five years together, Saints Euthymius and Theoctistus went into the desert for Great Lent, and in a wadi they discovered a large cave which later became a church. They decided to remain there, believing that they had been led there by God. They ate wild herbs to sustain themselves, and met with no other people for some time.

The Lord did not wish these great luminaries to remain hidden, however. He wanted their wisdom and holiness of life to become known in order to benefit others. One day, shepherds from Bethany found the ascetics and went back to their village and told others about them. After that, many people came to hear of them, and monks came from other monasteries to visit them. Some even stayed there in order to be instructed by them.

So many monks gathered around them that they were obliged to build a lavra over the cave church. Saint Euthymius made Theoctistus the igumen of the lavra, while he himself lived in seclusion in the cave. The wise Theoctistus accepted all who came to him, confessing them and treating the infirmities of their wounded souls with appropriate spiritual remedies.

When he had reached an advanced old age, Saint Theoctistus became very ill. Saint Euthymius (who was ninety years old himself) visited him and took care of him. When Saint Theoctistus went to the Lord in 467, Patriarch Anastasius of Jerusalem came and presided at his burial service.

Saint Theoctistus of Palestine should not be confused with Saint Theoctistus of Sicily (January 4).

No information available at this time.

Blessed John the Merciful of Rostov (also known as “the Hairy”) struggled at Rostov in the exploit of holy foolishness, enduring much deprivation and sorrow. He did not have a permanent shelter, and at times took his rest at the house of his spiritual Father, a priest at the church of All Saints, or with one of the aged widows.

Living in humility, patience and unceasing prayer, he spiritually nourished many people, among them Saint Irenarchus, Hermit of Rostov (January 13). After a long life of pursuing asceticism, he died on September 3, 1580 and was buried, according to his final wishes, beside the church of Saint Blaise beyond the altar.

He had “hair upon his head abundantly,” therefore he was called “Hairy.” The title “Merciful” was given to Blessed John because of the many healings that occurred at his grave, and also in connection with the memory of the holy Patriarch John the Merciful (November 12), whose name he shared.

Saint Phoebe is mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans 16:1-2. "I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, the deaconess¹ of the church of Cenchrea² that you may receive her in the Lord, as befits the saints, and may assist her in whatever business she has need of you, for she has been a helper of many, and of myself as well" (Romans 16:1-2).

She may have been the one who delivered this Epistle, and then planned to continue her work in Rome.

¹ Since Saint Paul called her diakonos, Origen concluded that this passage meant that women were appointed to the ministry of the Church (Commentary on Romans, Book 10, chapter 17). Saint John Chrysostom merely says: "Moreover, he has added to her rank by mentioning her as being a 'deaconess' (On Romans, Homily XXX). There are two possibilities: the word could mean 'servant' in a general sense (as in Matthew 20:26; 22:13; John 2:5:9; and in Romans 13:4. It may refer to her as one who had a special ministry to women, preparing them for Baptism, instruction, etc.

² The village of Cenchrea (Κεγχρεαί) was a ship's wharf in Corinth.

The Martyr Basilissa of Nicomedia suffered for her faith in Christ under the emperor Diocletian. The Nicomedia governor Alexander gave orders to arrest the nine-year-old Basilissa and force her to renounce Christ. But the young maiden displayed unshakable firmness in fidelity to her Lord, and so she was subjected to protracted and intense torture.

Through the grace of God, the holy martyr remained alive and unharmed. This was evident to all those present as a manifestation of the power of God, and it so upset the governor Alexander, that he also came to believe in Christ and confessed himself a Christian.

Baptized later by Bishop Anthimus, he lived for a short while in deep repentance, and then departed peacefully to the Lord, as did Saint Basilissa some while after him. Her death was peaceful and accompanied by miraculous signs of God’s mercy.

Saint Aristion was the bishop of lesser Alexandria in Cilicia (Asia Minor). He was born in the small town of Aribazo in the eparchy of Apamea, Syria at the beginning of the second century. His parents were pagans, and he spent his early years in an atmosphere of idolatry.

We do not know what sort of early education Saint Aristion received, nor where he studied, but it did not satisfy his search for the truth. A ten-year-old boy who lived in the same town, the future martyr Anthony, showed him the path which led to the truth. Anthony instructed him in the true Faith, and Aristion increased in piety and zeal for God.

It is significant that Anthony, despite the constant fear of persecution, exile and even danger to his own life, was not just a member of the local church, but also preached the Faith to others. It is certain that Aristion prayed for his young friend and remembered his courage and strength, for Anthony’s efforts to bring Aristion to the saving Faith had born fruit and were not in vain. Not only did Anthony give himself to the Church through his martyrdom at the age of twenty, he also gave it another saint and martyr: Saint Aristion

Years later, Saint Aristion was consecrated bishop for Isso in Cilicia, which is found in lesser Alexandria. He was a good shepherd to his flock, and cared diligently for their souls.

One day the ruler of Alexandria had Saint Aristion arrested because he was a Christian. Although he was placed on public trial, the holy bishop was calm and showed no fear. His whole demeanor made the Roman eparch realize that it would not easy to deal with this man who stood before him. He tried to turn Aristion from Christ through flattery and promises of reward, but the saint stood firm. Seeing that his words had no effect on the bishop, he threatened him with fierce tortures. He was not influenced by these threats, however.

Saint Aristion stood before the eparch and his counselors, gazing at them with love and concern for their salvation. Even in his weakness, this captive was stronger than his captors, and he refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods.

Before a multitude of idolaters, Saint Aristion spoke of the Triune God, by Whom all things were created. He also told them about the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, which was accomplished through God’s saving dispensation. He explained that Christ brings salvation to fallen man, thereby giving him another chance to attain the true purpose of his life—theosis.

“How poor these soulless statues of the gods are,” the bishop said, “and how helpless the eparch looks in his radiant apparel.”

All who heard the saint speak were amazed and asked one another where he got such courage. Aristion invited them to believe in the truth which he was revealing to them. Those who watched understood that this holy man was someone special, and they wanted to hear more about his beliefs.

The Roman eparch could not find any way to resist Aristion except through violence, so he sentenced him to death. He commanded his soldiers to prepare a large furnace and then throw him into the flames.The saint went to his martyrdom without resistance, remaining brave and strong until the end. The few Christians who were present tried not to weep.They whispered prayers for him, and were saddened because their father was leaving them. They knew, however, that their archpastor would not cease praying for them, especially now that he was going to Christ. They could hear Saint Aristion singing hymns in the fire until his last breath.

The eparch did not know what a terrible mistake he had made. He did not realize that death is not the end for men, nor for the truth. Nothing could separate Saint Aristion from the Fountain of Life, and so the Lord bestowed upon him an imperishable crown of glory.

After the flames died down, his spiritual children approached the furnace and collected as many of his bones as they could. With great reverence they put the holy relics in a secret place, which remains unknown to the present day.

A more detailed biography of the saint has been published (in Greek): THE HOLY HIEROMARTYR ARISTION, by John G. Thalassinos (Athens, 2003). This volume also contains the Service to the saint, which was composed by Hieromonk Athanasius of Simonopetra Monastery on Mt. Athos.

Saint Joannicius, Patriarch of Serbia, was a native of the city of Prizren. At first, he was a secretary under King Karl (Charles) of Serbia, and later on from the year 1339, he guided the Church as Archbishop.

In the year 1346 a Council of all the Serbian archpastors, and including also the Patriarch of Bulgaria, at the wish of King Dushan, chose Archbishop Joannicius as Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Saint Joannicius reposed on September 3, 1349 and was buried in the Pech monastery.

The exact origin of this Icon is unknown. The miracles by which it was glorified, and the information which has come down to us, date back to the VI century, and even then it was called ancient. Evidence of the Icon's presence in Sozopol can be documented up to the VIII century, after which it is no longer mentioned.

At that time (between 565-577) the exiled Patriarch Eutykhios of Constantinople (April 6), was living in the nearby city of Amasia. The presbyter Eustáthios, a contemporary of Patriarch Eutykhios, who also wrote his Life, mentions several of the Patriarch's miracles, which Father Eustathios himself witnessed.

There was a married couple in Amasia whose children were all stillborn. The heartbroken parents, grieving over their misfortune, asked the Patriarch to pray for them, so that the Lord would turn away His wrath from them and give them a living child. Saint Eutykhios, after praying fervently for them, anointed them both with holy oil, some from the Honorable Cross, and some from the Holy Icon of our Most Pure Lady Theotokos at Sozopol saying: "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

After this short prayer, Saint Eutykhios became silent for a while; then, as if illumined by divine grace, he told the couple: "Name the child Peter, and he will live." Father Eustathios, who was present at that time, asked Saint Eutykhios: "And if the child is a girl, what should she be called?" Saint Eutykhios replied: "No, let them call him Peter, and he shall live."

Trusting in God's mercy, the overjoyed couple returned home. In due time, a son was born to them, just as Saint Eutykhios had predicted, and he was named Peter in Holy Baptism. In addition to that child, they had another son, whom they called John, with the Patriarch's blessing. The children grew up healthy and thrived, and the parents, and all the inhabitants of the city who knew about this miracle glorified God.

Eleusippos, a disciple of the great ascetic Theodore the Sykeote (April 22), who accompanied his teacher everywhere, witnessed a miracle of the myrrh flowing from the Pisidia Icon of the Mother of God. Around the year 600, as Saint Theodore was returning from Constantinople, he stopped at Sozopol in order to venerate the miraculous Myrrh-streaming Icon of the Mother of God. Entering the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, and stretching out his hands in prayer in the form of a cross, Saint Theodore pressed his eyes to the wonderworking icon, and a miraculous power flowed from the Icon of the Mother of God and healed the Saint's eyes as he stood before her. Seeing this sign of grace-filled power, all those who were present exclaimed: "Truly, this man is a great servant of God."

At the start of the iconoclastic persecution under Emperor Leo the Isaurian (716-741), Saint Germanus (May 12) wrote a letter to Bishop Thomas of Claudiopolis, justifying the veneration of holy icons by the Church's practice. In support of this he cited the image of the Savior not made by hands at Edessa, and the Icons of the Mother of God, painted by the Evangelist Luke. He stated that through various icons, God has worked many miracles. For example, He gave healing to the sick, as Saint Germanus had experienced himself. The most remarkable thing is that there had been no objection or doubt to the fact that the Icon of the Most Pure Mother of God at Pisidia had poured forth a stream of myrrh from her right hand. This miracle was witnessed by many. The truth of Patriarch Germanus's letter was confirmed by the Seventh Ecumenical Synod at which it was read.

According to written sources, the copy of the Most Holy Theotokos Icon is one of the oldest Byzantine icons. The church in which it was kept was built in honor of the Theotokos at Sozopol, Pisidia (today Uluborlu is a city and district of the province of Isparta, Turkey), from which the Icon got its name: Pisidiotissa (Παναγία Πισιδιώτισσα). This is a rather rare icon: the Virgin holds the Child on her left hand, and blesses with with her right. Testimonies say that it was from her right hand that the myrrh flowed from the original Icon.

A copy of the ancient wonderworking Icon was made in 1608 at Moscow's Novospassky Monastery. Other sources say that there was a copy of the Pisidia Icon, which was the cell Icon of the nun Martha, the mother of Tsar Michael Romanov. After her death, it was placed in the Novospassky Monastery. Unfortunately, all traces of the Icon were lost after 1918.

In 2015, a significant event occurred. In the province of Alanya, near the city of Uluborlu (formerly Sozopol, Pisidia), the first Christian church was opened and dedicated to the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Pisidia.

The ceremony of opening the new church was led by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Sotirios of Pisidia, thanks to whom the construction of the church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Alanya became possible, and the priest of this church, Father Constantine (Shevchenko), originally from Kazan, Russia, was appointed as priest of the newly rebuilt church, where he arrived in early October 2016.

In the region of Alanya there is a large Russian-speaking community of Orthodox Christians, which established a holiday on the opening day of the temple. Russian parishioners venerate and bow down before a copy of the Pisidiotissa Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, located in the Novospassky Monastery of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

The most recent miracle occurred in 2014. Vladyka Sotḗrios was on a visit to Athens, Greece, where he met a married couple who were expecting a child. Vladyka presented them with a paper copy of the new Icon. Later, twins were born in the family. The child (a girl) could not breathe on her own and was placed in an incubator with a respirator. The doctors stated that only surgery could save the child. The parents immediately contacted Vladyka Sotḗrios and asked him to pray for their daughter. The mother decided to pray before the Pisidia Icon of the Mother of God. The operation was scheduled for September 3. According to the new calendar, that is on the Icon's Feast Day. However, preoperative studies on that day revealed that the disease was gone. The child was disconnected from the respirator and given to her mother, who was able to hug her for the first time. Further tests showed that the girl was completely well.

No information available at this time.