Monday Oct 21/ November 3 ns 2025 • St. Hilarion the Great, Translation of the Relics of St. Christódoulos of Pátmos, Holy Martyr Ursula of Cologne and her companions: II Cor. 9:6-11; St. Luke 10:22-24

Rejoice, Womb of Divine Incarnation

Monday

October 21

Nov. 3 new style

2025

Saint Hilarion the New,

Abbot of the Dalmáton Monastery

Translation of the Relics of
St. Christódoulos of Pátmos, 

Holy Martyr Ursula of Cologne et al.

Hilarion was the abbot of the Dalmáton monastery in Constantinople. He was a disciple of Gregory of Decapolis and an imitator of the life of Hilarion the Great whose name he took.

Hilarion was powerful in prayer, persevering and courageous in suffering. He suffered much for the sake of icons at the time of the evil iconoclastic emperors, Leo the Armenian and others. Later, the Emperor Leo was slain by his own soldiers in the same church and on the same spot where he first ridiculed holy icons and from which he removed the first icon.

St. Hilarion was then released from prison but only for a short time. Again, he was tortured and detained in prison until the reign of the right-believing Empress Theodora. Hilarion was clairvoyant and a discerner. He saw the angels of God as they were taking the soul of St. Theodore the Studite to heaven. Pleasing God, he fell asleep and entered the Kingdom of God in the year 845 A.D. in his seventieth year.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

King James Version

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Saint Luke 10:22-24

King James Version

22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

A SPIRITUAL PSALTER

Saint Ephraem the Syrian

Using the eyes of my heart I have observed the Lord sitting in great glory and I thought I heard Him tell my soul: O soul, how is it, that you have found your heavenly bridal chamber that is full of the light of glory, to be vile?

How is it that you were offended by the beneficial things that I prepared for you in the land of life?

How is it that you have become a stranger to Me by unseemly acts and thoughts?

How is it that you have no interest in readying yourself so that you might stand in a worthy manner in My presence at My coming?

How is it that you do not guard your lamp so it is prepared in expectation of the announcement, "See, the bridegroom comes," so that you go out to meet Me with gladness?

How is it that you take no care to arrange an appropriate wedding garment?

How is it that you do not compose yourself to come in with gladness to the holy, divine bridal chamber?

How is it that you do not join yourself to Me, who have saved you from death? I have accepted death to make you ready to be My bride. I have arranged the everlasting kingdom for you as an inheritance. All My good things which I, as a King, have given to you.

On account of you I became a man, because I wanted to ransom your life from depravity.

On account of you I have readied a bridal chamber in heaven and ordered the angels to lead you into that bridal chamber, that you might enter with gladness. But you have turned from Me, your groom, and from the indescribable good things which I have arranged for you.

But you have turned from Me, your groom, and from the indescribable good things which I have arranged for you. Yet who is more appealing than Me, Who redeemed all creation by My mercy?

What father provides life as I do? But, O soul, you have forsaken Me, and longed for another, a vile stranger. Who would not start to shudder in horror when hearing these words?

Who would not, in shame, fall down, weep tears, and call out, "Why did I come forth from the womb of my mother?

Is it to anger the Good, Holy and compassionate God? But, grant, O Lord, that we should be sedate and separate ourselves from vain anxieties, so that we would return to a sound mind and come back to you, in Whom only is all true goodness for us."