6th Sunday of Luke




Marcianos & Martyrios the Notaries, Chrysanthe
October 25
These Martyrs were disciples of Saint Paul the Confessor (see Nov. 6). Martyrius was a subdeacon, Marcian a chanter and reader. They were beheaded by the Arians in the year 346. Miracles were wrought at their tomb, and demons were cast out; Saint John Chrysostom began the building of the church in their honour in Constantinople, and it was completed by patriarch Sisinius.

Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Tabitha, who was raised from the dead by Peter the Apostle
October 25



Monday of the 6th Week



Commemoration of the Great Earthquake in Constantinople
October 26
The great earthquake commemorated here took place in 740, during the reign of Leo the Isaurian, the first of the Iconoclast emperors.


Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Demetrios the Myrrhbearer & Great Martyr of Thessaloniki
October 26
Saint Demetrius was a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the Faith of Christ. When Maximian first came to Thessalonica in 290, he raised the Saint to the rank of Duke of Thessaly. But when it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bath-house. While the games were under way in the city, Maximian was a spectator there. A certain friend of his, a barbarian who was a notable wrestler, Lyaeus by name, waxing haughty because of the height and strength of his body, boasted in the stadium and challenged the citizens to a contest with him. All that fought with him were defeated. Seeing this, a certain youth named Nestor, aquaintance of Demetrius', came to the Saint in the bath-house and asked his blessing to fight Lyaeus single-handed. Receiving this blessing and sealing himself with the sign of the precious Cross, he presented himself in the stadium, and said, "O God of Demetrius, help me!" and straightway he engaged Lyaeus in combat and smote him with a mortal blow to the heart, leaving the former boaster lifeless upon the earth. Maximian was sorely grieved over this, and when he learned who was the cause of this defeat, he commanded straightway and Demetrius was pierced with lances while he was yet in the bath-house, As for Nestor, Maximian commanded that he be slain with his own sword.


Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Tuesday of the 6th Week



Nestor the Martyr of Thessaloniki
October 27
As mentioned in the account concerning Saint Demetrius (October 26), this Saint contested during the reign of Maximian, in the year 290.


Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Icon Courtesy of St. Isaac Skete



Kyriakos, Patriarch of Constantinople
October 27


Wednesday of the 6th Week



Holy Protection of the Theotokos
October 28


Holy Martyrs Terrence and Eunice
October 28
Both the country and the time of the martyrdom of these holy Martyrs are unknown. All were beheaded, after having endured many bitter torments.

Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Our Righteous Father Steven the Sabbaite
October 28
Saint Stephen passed his life in ascetical discipline in the Monastery of Saint Sabbas, from whence also he received the name Sabbaite. He was consecrated bishop and reposed about the year 790, bequeathing to the Church a number of melismatic troparia.



Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Athanasius, Patriarch of Constantinople
October 28


Angelis, Manuel, George, & Nicholas, New Martyrs of Crete
October 28


Thursday of the 6th Week



Anastasia the Martyr of Rome
October 29
Saint Anastasia, who was young in age and lived in a convent, was seized by the impious. Confessing Christ openly and with boldness and enduring manifold torments, she was beheaded in the year 256, during the reign of Valerian.

Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Avramios the Recluse & his niece Maria of Mesopotamia
October 29
Our Righteous Father Abramius, born in Edessa in Mesopotamia in 296, took up the monastic life and brought many pagans to Christ. Mary, his niece, upon the death of her parents, joined Abramius at his hermitage and under his guidance advanced swiftly in the love of God. Through the wiles of the evil one, however, she fell into sin, and falling from them into despair, she left her uncle and became a harlot. When he learned where his niece was, Abramius put on the clothes of a man of the world and went to visit her in disguise. Through his exhortations, Mary returned to her first hope in the mercy of God, was rescued from the life of harlotry, and ended her life in great holiness. He himself reposed in the year 366. Saints Abramius and Mary were friends of Saint Ephraim the Syrian, and it was he who wrote their account.

Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Friday of the 6th Week



Cleopas, Apostle of the 70
October 30


Zenobios & Zenobia the Martyrs
October 30
These Saints were from Aegae in Cilicia, brought up in piety by their parents. Zenobius was a physician, and healed many freely by the power of God; because of his virtue he was consecrated Bishop of Aegae. With his sister he was taken by Lysias the Governor, and after many tortures they were beheaded, about the year 290, during the reign of Diocletian.

Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Saturday of the 6th Week



Amplias, Apellos, Stachyos, Urbanos, Aristovoulos & Narcissos of the 70
October 31
Of these holy Apostles, Stachys became the first Bishop of Byzantium, consecrated by the Apostle Andrew. Having sherpherded his people for sixteen years, he reposed in the Lord. As for the others, each one shone forth in the episcopal see appointed to him.
Reading Courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



Nicholas the new Martyr, Epimarchos of Alexandria
October 31