Commemoration DAY of
the Holy Fathers Barlaam,
Anthimus, and Irenaeus
Barlaam
The Greek and Latin form of his name is Barlaam, while among our ancestors he was known as Bargham. He was a venerable old man who, according to Eastern martyrologies, lived in the vicinity of Antioch around the third century. According to Western martyrologies, however, he lived near Caesarea and was martyred during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, around A.D. 304.
He was a simple villager, but a man filled with faith and devotion to God. Because he was a Christian, he was arrested and brought before the imperial tribunal, where he was ordered to offer sacrifice to the idols.
When he refused, the emperor ordered incense to be placed in the palm of his hand and burning coals to be placed upon it. The intention was that, if he could no longer endure the burning and dropped the incense, he would be considered to have offered sacrifice to the idols and would therefore be released.
The virtuous old man, however, held his hand motionless until it was completely burned. Amid these torments, he surrendered his pure soul to God.
Anthimus, Bishop of Nicomedia
At the beginning of the fourth century, during the reign of the “impious” Emperor Maximinus, Anthimus was Bishop of Nicomedia.
From childhood he had been trained in virtue. He lived a celibate and ascetic life, eating uncooked food, with the exception of barley bread. He converted many pagans to Christianity.
Because of the persecutions, he took refuge in the mountains together with his faithful. The emperor sent men to arrest him. When they arrived, Anthimus first received them hospitably and only afterward revealed that he himself was the man they were seeking.
The men had become so fond of him that they advised him not to accompany them, saying:
“We will say that we could not find him.”
The saint, however, would not agree. Instead, he willingly went with them, preaching the Gospel to them along the way and converting all of them to the faith.
Anthimus was interrogated and gave courageous answers. He was subjected to unbearable tortures and then thrown into prison. There, he preached to his fellow prisoners and converted many of them to Christianity.
Finally, he was martyred by beheading.
The Armenian Church commemorates St. Anthimus together with Bishop Irenaeus on the Thursday following the second Sunday after the Feast of the Holy Cross.
Irenaeus, Bishop of Sirmium
Sirmium, an ancient city and one of the early centers of Christianity, was located in the region of Slavonia. At the beginning of the fourth century, during the persecutions initiated by Diocletian and Maximinus, Irenaeus was bishop of this city.
He was arrested and brought before the provincial governor, where he “confessed and boldly proclaimed the true faith of Jesus Christ.”
He was subjected to severe tortures and imprisoned. In the end, when he remained steadfast in his faith, he was taken to the bridge of the city. There, after praying, he was beheaded.
The Armenian Church commemorates St. Irenaeus on the Thursday following the second Sunday after the Feast of the Holy Cross.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
~ Wisdom of Solomon 10:9-12 ~
Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her. When a righteous man fled from his brother’s wrath, she guided him on straight paths; she showed him the kingdom of God and gave him knowledge of holy things; she prospered him in his labors and increased the fruit of his toil. When his oppressors were covetous, she stood by him and made him rich. She protected him from his enemies and kept him safe from those who lay in wait for him; in his arduous contest she declared him victorious, so that he might learn that godliness is more powerful than anything else.
~ Malachi 2:5-7 ~
My covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
~ 1 Peter 5:1-7 ~
Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it —not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
~ Holy Gospel of St. John 10:11-16 ~
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”