Commemoration Day of
St. Anastasius the Priest,
St. Varus, and St. Theodota
and Her Martyred Sons
St. Anastasius the Priest
St. Anastasius was Persian by nationality, and his original name was Makundat.
In AD 614, when the Persians conquered Jerusalem and carried away the Cross of Christ into captivity in Persia, Makundat was an ordinary soldier in the Persian army.
He became interested in the Cross, and “a love for Christianity arose in his heart, and he began listening to the words of truth from Christians.”
Eventually, he traveled to Jerusalem, where he was baptized as a Christian and received the name Anastasius. He then entered the Monastery of St. Sabbas, became a monk, and deepened his understanding of his newfound faith.
He was later sent to Caesarea in Palestine to carry out missionary work. At that time, the city was under Persian rule. Upon encountering Persian Magi (Zoroastrian priests), Anastasius sought to convert them to Christianity.
However, they regarded him as a spy and brought him before their governor. He was subjected to severe torture and thrown into prison.
After spending some time in prison, he was sent to Persia, where the Magi made repeated but unsuccessful attempts to persuade him to renounce his Christian faith.
While imprisoned, he endured severe flogging and ultimately received the crown of martyrdom through beheading.
It is said that his holy relics were later transferred to Rome and placed in a church dedicated to him, which still stands today and bears his name.
The Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates his feast day on the seventh Monday following the Feast of the Holy Cross.
St. Varus the Soldier
St. Varus was a Roman soldier who served in Egypt during the reign of Emperor Maximinus, toward the end of the third century.
When seven hermits were arrested and imprisoned for their Christian faith, one of them died that same night.
Varus, wishing to receive the crown of martyrdom himself, voluntarily took the deceased hermit's place.
Enraged by his action, the judge ordered Varus to be subjected to brutal torture, which ultimately resulted in his death.
Thus, St. Varus received the crown of martyrdom for his steadfast faith in Christ.
The Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates his feast day on the seventh Monday following the Feast of the Holy Cross.
St. Theodota and Her Martyred Sons
St. Theodota, also known as Theodorite, was a devout Christian widow from Iconium. She had three sons, whom she had raised in the worship of God and in the Christian faith.
A pagan nobleman fell in love with her and wished to marry her, but Theodota refused his proposal.
Angered by her rejection, the nobleman ordered her children to be tortured before her very eyes.
Despite the terrible suffering inflicted upon them, her sons courageously endured the torments and steadfastly refused to renounce their Christian faith.
Finally, in AD 300, during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, Theodota and her three sons were all thrown into a fire, where they suffered martyrdom.
The Armenian Apostolic Church commemorates St. Theodota and her martyred sons on the seventh Monday following the Feast of the Holy Cross.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
~ Proverbs 3:1-6 ~
My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
~ Jeremiah 17:7-8 ~
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.
~ 2 Timothy 2:3-10 ~
Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier's aim is to please the enlisting officer. And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
~ Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 19:27-29 ~
Then Peter said in reply, "Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.