CHEESEFARE MONDAY
ABSTAIN FROM MEAT
Cheesefare Monday, Pamphilus the Martyr & his Companions, Flavianos, Patriarch of Constantinople, Romanos the Younger
ST. JOHN’S THIRD UNIVERSAL LETTER 1:1-15
The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in health; I know that it is well with your soul. For I greatly rejoiced when some of the brethren arrived and testified to the truth of your life, as indeed you do follow the truth. No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth.
Beloved, it is a loyal thing you do when you render any service to the brethren, especially to strangers, who have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey as befits God's service. For they have set out for his sake and have accepted nothing from the heathen. So we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers in the truth.
I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority. So if I come I will bring up what he is doing, prating against me with evil words. And not content with that, he refuses himself to welcome the brethren, and also stops those who want to welcome them and puts them out of the church.
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen God. Demetrios has testimony from every one, and from the truth itself; I testify to him too, and you know my testimony is true.
I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them.
LUKE 19:29-40; 22:7-39
At that time, when Jesus drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here. If any one asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say this, 'The Lord has need of it.'" So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of it." And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it. And as he rode along, they spread their garments on the road. As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So he sent Peter and John, saying; "Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it." They said to him, "Where will you have us prepare it?" He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters, and tell the householder, 'The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready." And they went, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover.
And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!" And they began to question one another, which of them it was that would do this.
A dispute also arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves.
You are those who have continued with me in my trials; and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me.
And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing." He said to them, "But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, 'And he was reckoned with transgressors'; for what is written about me has its fulfillment." And they said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." And he said to them, "It is enough.
And he came out, and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him.
Martyrs Pamphilius the Presbyter, Valens the Deacon, and those with them, at Caesarea in Palestine
The Holy Martyrs Pamphίlios the Presbyter, Valens the Deacon, Paul, Porphyrios, Séleukos, Theódoulos, Julian, Samuel, Elias, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah suffered martyrdom during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284 – 305) at Caesarea in Palestine.
The holy Martyr Pamphίlios, a native of the city of Beirut, was educated at Alexandria, after which he was ordained as a priest at Caesarea. He devoted much labor to collating manuscripts and correcting the copyists' errors in the manuscripts of the New Testament. These texts were copied and distributed to anyone who wanted them. Thus, many pagans were converted to Christ by them.
His works were gathered into the extensive library of spiritual books available for the enlightenment of Christians. Saint Jerome (IV-V century) had deep respect for Saint Pamphίlios and considered himself fortunate to have located and acquired several of his manuscripts.
Actively assisting Saint Pamphίlios in proclaiming the faith in Christ were Saint Valens, a Deacon of the Church, and Elias, a man stooped with age and well-versed in the Holy Scriptures, and Saint Paul, ardent in his faith and love for Christ the Savior. All three were imprisoned for two years by Urban, the governor of Palestinian Caesarea.
During the rule of his successor Firmilian, 130 Christians were sentenced in Egypt and sent to Cilicia (Asia Minor) to work in the gold mines. Five young brothers accompanied them to the place of exile. On their return to Egypt they were detained at Caesarea and thrown into prison for confessing Christ.
These young men appeared before Firmilian, together with those previously imprisoned incarcerated: Saints Pamphίlios, Valens and Paul. The five Egyptian youths took the names of Old Testament Prophets, Elias, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Samuel, and Daniel. Asked where they were from, the youths said that they were citizens of Jerusalem, meaning the heavenly Jerusalem. Firmilian knew nothing of such a city, since Jerusalem had been razed to the ground by Emperor Titus in the year 70. Emperor Hadrian (117-138) built a new city on the site, which was called Aelia Capitolina.
Firmilian tortured the youths for a long time, trying to learn the location of this unknown city, and he tried to persuade them to apostatize. Accomplishing nothing, the governor sentenced them to be beheaded with a sword, along with Pamphίlios, Valens, and Paul.
Before this took place, one of Pamphilios' servants endured suffering. This was the eighteen-year-old youth Porphyrios, who was meek and humble. He had heard the death sentence for the condemned martyrs, and asked the governor for permission to bury the bodies after their execution. Because of this he was also sentenced to death, and was thrown into a fire.
A pious Christian named Séleukos, a former soldier, praised the deeds of the Martyrs. He went to Pamphίlios and told him of the martyric death of Saint Porphyrios. He was arrested by soldiers and, on Firmilian’s orders, he was beheaded with a sword, together with the others.
One of the governor’s servants, Theódoulos, was a man of venerable age, and a secret Christian. He met the Martyrs as they were being led to execution. He embraced them and asked them to pray for him. Soldiers brought him before Firmilian, at whose orders he was crucified.
The young Julian, a native of Cappadocia who had come to Caesarea, saw the bodies of the Saints which had been thrown to wild beasts without burial. Julian knelt down and venerated the bodies of the sufferers. Soldiers apprehended him and took him to the governor, who condemned him to be burnt alive. The bodies of all twelve Martyrs remained unburied for four days, but neither beasts nor birds would touch them. Embarrassed by this situation, the pagans permitted the Christians to take the bodies of the martyrs and bury them.
Although these twelve Martyrs came from various places, they were also united by their love for Christ, and from Him they received unfading crowns of glory.
Saint Maruthas, Bishop of Martyropolis in Mesopotamia
Saint Maruthas was Bishop of Tagrith (Martyropolis), a city which he founded between the Byzantine Empire and Persia. He was famed for his knowledge and his piety, he wrote about the martyrs, and he suffered for his faith in Christ under the Persian emperor Sapor. He also left behind other works in the Syrian language, among which the most famous are: “Commentary on the Gospel,” “Verses of Maruthas,” “Liturgy of Maruthas” and “The 73 Canons of the Ecumenical Council at Nicea” (325) with an account of the acts of the Council.
In the year 381 Saint Maruthas participated in the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople, convened against the heresy of Macedonius. In 383, he attended the Council of Antioch against the Messalians.
During the years 403-404 Saint Maruthas set off to Constantinople to plead with the emperor Arcadius to protect Persian Christians. He was twice sent by the emperor Theodosius the Younger to the Shah Izdegerd to secure the peace between the Empire and Persia.
In the year 414 Saint Maruthas, having done his duty as envoy to the court of Izdegerd, persuaded the Shah to a favorable disposition towards Christians, and he assisted greatly in the freedom of Christians in Persia. He rebuilt Christian churches razed during the persecution by the Persian ruler Sapor. He also located relics of saints who had suffered martyrdom and transferred them to Martyropolis. He died there in 422. The relics of Saint Maruthas were later transferred to Egypt and placed in a skete monastery of the Mother of God.
Persian Martyrs in Martyropolis in Mesopotamia
No information available at this time.
Saint Flavian, Archbishop of Antioch
Saint Flavian, Archbishop of Antioch, was a contemporary of Saint John Chrysostom. He attempted to obtain from the emperor Theodosius (379-395) a pardon for the citizens of Antioch, who had angered the emperor by destroying his statue. Saint Flavian’s death was peaceful and without illness. He is also commemorated on September 27.
New Martyr Elias
The Holy New Martyr Elias (Nikolayevich) was born in a Moscow village in the XIX century. He studied at the Moscow Theological Academy and married a devout woman named Eugenia. Then he was then ordained as a priest and served in the small church of a poorhouse, and in the parish of Saint Nicholas Tolmachev in Moscow, before the October revolution of 1917 broke out.
Saint Elias was a most pious priest. His church was a beacon of spiritual light for many believers. He was married, but he lived an ascetical life. In 1932 the Soviet secret police arrested and imprisoned him. He was exiled to the Krasnaya Visera River region. Matushka Eugenia spent the entire night in prayer and tears. But in the morning she fell asleep and then she saw the Theotokos in a dream, who told her not to be afraid.
Two years later, Matushka Eugenia visited him at his place of exile and brought him a Gospel and a small vial of holy water. The guards confiscated the Gospel. When they asked her what was in the vial, she replied that for them it was plain water, but for herself and her husband it was sacred, their medicine. The Saint looked as if he had been tortured. They did not allow him to serve, and this caused him immeasurable grief. He began to tell Eugenia of his martyrdom. When they brought him and many others to the place of exile, they were forced to walk on the surface of the melting snow. The thin layer of ice was breaking up beneath their feet and the "convicts" were sinking in the snow up to the waist. Wet to the bone, with nothing to eat or drink all day, they were forced to spend the night inside a hut. The exhausted men immediately fell to the floor and fell asleep as if dead. Only the Saint stayed awake. Around midnight he cried from the depths of his heart: "Lord, why have you forsaken me? I have served you so faithfully. I devoted my entire life to You. How many times have I read the Akathist Hymn and the Canons? I served in the church with reverence. Why, O Lord, have You forsaken me, and why do I suffer so much? O Most Holy Theotokos, Holy Hierarch Nicholas, Holy Father Seraphim, and all the Saints of God! After all my prayers to you, why am I tormented so much?"
Suddenly a divine visitation, like a flame, touched his aching soul and flooded it with otherworldly consolation. The light of faith secretly illumined his heart and ignited in him an inexpressible and irresistible love for Christ, which, as the Apostle Paul says, "he heard unspeakable words which no man may utter."1 When dawn came, he was a young man, born again as if he had been baptized in fire.
As he bade farewell to Matushka Eugenia, the Saint said to her: "You know, my heart is ablaze for Christ. I think I came here to understand that there is absolutely nothing better, nothing more wonderful than He. I wish to die for Him!"
When Matushka arrived back in Moscow, she learned that there had been a fire in the concentration camp and that Saint Elias was burned along with eleven other Christians.
1 2 Corinthians 12:4.
Saint Peter Antiochian Orthodox Church 