Friday December 10/23 ns 3033 • Holy Martyrs Menás, Hermógenes, and Évgraphos ~ Fast day ~ The Precious Pearl by Saint John of Damascus

Both Menás and Hermógenes were born in Athens. They both lived in Byzantium, being held in great honor by the emperor and the people. Menás was known for his great learning and eloquence of speech and, although he acted outwardly as a pagan, he was a convinced Christian in his heart. Hermógenes was Eparch of Byzantium and acted as a pagan both inwardly and outwardly, but he was compassionate and performed many good deeds.

When a dispute flared up between the Christians and the pagans in Alexandria, Emperor Maximin dispatched Menás to calm the disturbance and to root out the Christians from the city. Menás went and restored peace, but he declared himself a Christian and converted many pagans to the true Faith by his eloquence and many miracles.

Hearing of this, the emperor sent Hermógenes to punish Menás and to smother Christianity. Hermógenes brought Menás to trial, cut off his feet and tongue, gouged out his eyes, and then cast him into prison. In prison, the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to Menás, healing and comforting His suffering servant. Seeing Menás miraculously healed, Hermógenes was baptized. He began to preach the powerful Christian Faith and was consecrated as Bishop of Alexandria. Then the enraged Maximin went to Alexandria himself and subjected Menás and Hermógenes to cruel tortures, which they courageously endured, helped by God's grace.

Beholding the bravery of these soldiers of Christ and the miracles of God upon them, Évgraphos, secretary and friend of St. Menás, appeared before the tribunal and cried out to the emperor's face: "I too am a Christian!'' The emperor became enraged, drew his sword and beheaded St. Évgraphos. Following this, the evil emperor ordered the executioner to behead St. Menás and St. Hermógenes. Their holy relics, thrown into the sea, miraculously floated to Constantinople, where the bishop, to whom this was revealed in a dream, solemnly met them and honorably buried them.

Saint Titus 1:15-2:10 KJV

15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

2 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.


Saint Luke 21:37-22:8 KJV

37 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

22 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

The Precious Pearl

 

Saint John of Damascus

The enjoyment of this present life, though it seems to give delight and sweetness, is well thrust from us. 

At the very moment of its being it ceases to be, and for our joy repays us with sorrow sevenfold.

Its happiness and its sorrow more frail than a shadow, and, like the traces of a ship passing over the sea, or a bird flying through the air, quickly disappear.  But the hope of the life to come which the Christians preach is certain and quite sure; howbeit in this world it has tribulation, whereas our pleasures now are short-lived, and in the beyond they only win us correction and everlasting punishment without release.

For the pleasures of life are temporary, but its pain eternal; while the Christians labors are temporary but their pleasure and gain immortal. Therefore, right it is to exchange the corruptible for the incorruptible.