Commemoration Day of
Saints Gurias, Samonas,
Abibus the Deacon,
Romanus the Hermit,
Barulas the Child Confessor,
and Hesychius the Soldier
Sts. Gurias and Samonas, Priests
According to the Armenian Synaxarion (Yaysmawurk), Gurias and Samonas were two priests from Edessa who lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian.
They were arrested for being Christians and brought before the judge of their city, who ordered them to burn incense before the idols and worship the image of the emperor. When they refused, they were suspended by one hand. After their joints had been dislocated, they were asked whether they would obey the command given to them.
When they again refused, their hands and feet were bound, and they were thrown into a deep pit, where they were kept without food or water for three days. They were then taken out of the pit and suspended by one foot. When this torture also failed to make them renounce their faith, they were beheaded at the beginning of the fourth century.
The Armenian Church commemorates their feast on the ninth Thursday following the Feast of the Holy Cross.
St. Abibus the Deacon
At the beginning of the fourth century, Abibus served as a deacon of the Church of Edessa. During the persecutions, he traveled from village to village, proclaiming the Word of God and encouraging the faithful not to fear suffering and torture.
When Emperor Licinius learned of his activities, he ordered his arrest, but the authorities were unable to capture him. Consequently, they imprisoned his mother and relatives. Upon hearing this, Abibus voluntarily surrendered himself to the authorities.
The judge attempted to persuade him to renounce Christ, but Abibus remained steadfast in his faith. He was therefore sentenced to death by fire.
As he was being led to his martyrdom, his mother and relatives followed him, dressed in white garments and filled with joy, knowing that their beloved family member was about to receive the crown of martyrdom.
Abibus first offered a prayer and then cast himself into the flames, surrendering his soul to God in the year 312.
He was buried in the same place where the priests Gurias and Samonas, who had suffered martyrdom in the same city during that period, had been laid to rest. For this reason, his memory is celebrated together with theirs.
The Armenian Church commemorates his feast on the ninth Thursday following the Feast of the Holy Cross.
Sts. Romanus and Barulas (the Child Confessor)
During the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian, Romanus, a religious ascetic, was arrested and brought to trial because of his Christian faith.
Standing before the judge, Romanus declared:
"Even if you were to ask a child whether it is right to worship the one true God, the Creator of heaven and earth, or to worship many gods, the child would give you the correct answer."
A child named Barulas was then summoned at random and asked this very question.
The child replied:
"The God whom people worship must be one. The God whom we worship has an Only-Begotten Son, who is One with the Father. There is no need for many gods; even children would not believe in them."
Enraged by the child's response, the judge immediately ordered the innocent boy to be put to death. Thus, Barulas suffered martyrdom in the year 303.
The Armenian Church commemorates his feast on the ninth Thursday following the Feast of the Holy Cross.
St. Hesychius the Soldier
Hesychius was a soldier and a secret Christian serving in the imperial court of Emperor Maximinus. He was faithful both to God and to his fellow human beings. Because of his loyalty and distinguished service, he was promoted to the rank of Magister and became one of the high-ranking officials of the imperial court.
While Maximinus was in Antioch, he issued an order forbidding Christians from holding positions either in the imperial court or in the army.
Accordingly, the emperor declared:
"Whoever is a Christian must surrender his imperial belt and resign from his position."
Among those who stepped down was Hesychius. He personally appeared before the emperor, openly declared himself a Christian, and surrendered his imperial belt, the symbol of his rank and authority.
Maximinus became furious. Seeking to humiliate his formerly faithful official, he ordered Hesychius to be stripped of his noble garments and dressed in women's clothing. He then assigned him to perform the domestic duties of the female servants of the imperial palace.
Out of love for Christ, Hesychius accepted this humiliation and disgrace without complaint.
When the emperor learned that Hesychius was enduring these insults patiently and without resentment, he summoned him and said:
"O former Magister, are you not ashamed to subject yourself to such disgrace? Why did you abandon your honorable position in the imperial court for the sake of the Christian faith? Can the Christians give you the rank and honor that you received from me, or the even greater honors that you would have attained?"
Hesychius replied:
"The glory that you have given me, and that which you promise to give me, is temporary, but the loss it brings is eternal. The promise of Christ, however, is everlasting and immortal life."
Upon hearing these words, the emperor ordered that a heavy stone be tied around Hesychius's neck and that he be thrown into the Orontes River.
Thus, the blessed witness of Christ met his martyrdom and, at the beginning of the fourth century, inherited the heavenly crown.
The Armenian Church commemorates his feast on the ninth Thursday following the Feast of the Holy Cross.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
~ Proverbs 28:10-18 ~
Those who mislead the upright into evil ways will fall into pits of their own making, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance. The rich is wise in self-esteem, but an intelligent poor person sees through the pose. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked prevail, people go into hiding. No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Happy is the one who is never without fear, but one who is hard-hearted will fall into calamity. Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor; but one who hates unjust gain will enjoy a long life. If someone is burdened with the blood of another, let that killer be a fugitive until death; let no one offer assistance. One who walks in integrity will be safe, but whoever follows crooked ways will fall into the Pit.
~ Baruch 3:31–4:4 ~
No one knows the way to her, or is concerned about the path to her. But the one who knows all things knows her, he found her by his understanding. He who prepared the earth for all time filled it with four-footed beasts; he who sends forth the light, and it goes; he called it, and it obeyed him contained in fear; the stars shone in their watches, and were glad; he called them, and they said, “Here we are!” They shone with gladness for him who made them. This is our God; no other can be compared to him. He found the whole way to knowledge, and gave her to his servant Jacob and to Israel, whom he loved. Afterward she appeared on earth and lived among humankind. She is the book of the commandments of God, the law that endures forever. All who hold her fast will live, and those who forsake her will die. Turn, O Jacob, and take hold of her; walk toward the radiance of her light. Do not give your glory to another, or your advantages to an alien people. Happy are we, O Israel, for what is pleasing to God is known to us.
~ 2 Timothy 1:6-12 ~
For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him.
~ 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.