The Holy Martyrs Marcian and Martyrios, were clergymen under Paul, the Patriarch of Constantinople, during the reign of Emperor Constantius. With the death of the great Emperor Constantine, the Arian heresy, which until then had been suppressed, revived and gained momentum. Even Emperor Constantius himself leaned toward this heresy. There were two influential noblemen at the emperor's court, Eusebius and Philip, both of whom were ardent Arians. Under their influence, Patriarch Paul was ousted from the patriarchal throne and banished to Armenia, where the Arians strangled him. Then the dishonorable Macedonius seized the patriarchal throne.
At that time Orthodoxy had two bitter struggles: against the pagans and against the heretics. Marcian and Martyrios interceded with all their strength and determination on the side of Orthodoxy. Marcian was a reader and Martyrios was a subdeacon at the cathedral church of Hagia Sophia; under Patriarch Paul they had been patriarchal notaries (secretaries). The Arians at first tried to bribe them, but when these holy men rejected this with scorn, the heretics condemned them to death. When they were brought to the executioner, they raised their hands and prayed to God, giving Him thanks for a martyr's end to their lives: "Lord, we rejoice that we depart from this life by such a death. Make us worthy to be partakers of eternal life. Thou art our life!'' They placed their necks beneath the sword and were beheaded in the year 355. Later, St. John Chrysostomos built a church in their name over their miracle-working relics.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 KJV
8 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Saint Luke 7:1-10 KJV
7 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
by Saint John Cassian
So, then, it is by these signs that this carnal pride of which we spoke is made manifest.
First, there is a loudness in the proud man’s talk, a bitterness in his silent moods; when he is pleased, his laughter is loud and profuse; when he is serious, he is gloomy beyond reason. There is rancor in his replies to questions, glibness in his speech; his words break out unrestrained by any seriousness of heart. Of patience he knows nothing; charity is a stranger to him; he is bold in insulting others, cowardly in bearing their insults. He does not easily render obedience save where the thing commanded fits in with his own wish and desire. He is not to be appeased when one admonishes him; he is weak in curtailing his own wishes, very stubborn when asked to yield to those of others. He is always doing his best to establish his own opinions, but never ready to bow to those of anyone else. Finally, although he is quite incapable of giving salutary counsel, he is always more ready to trust his own judgment than to that of the elders.
If you could be with the One Who
ceaselessly gives the fullness of
love, joy and freedom;
With whom would you rather be?
CHRIST IS IN US
Saint John 17:23
How well does Christ know you?
How well do you know Christ?
Ascetical homilies are the God-given rewards granted to those, who is asceticism, from the Holy Apostles on, gave and give their very life, whether by breath or blood, to their love of Christ and His two salvific commands.
If we, in turn, contemplate and reflect on those homilies we will find crucial clarity in scripture but also clarity in definition of our spiritual status as we take up the Cross to transcend from transient darkness to the Eternal Light of the Holy Trinity.
For previous ASCETICAL HOMILIES & VIGNETTES, click HERE
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