Orthodox Calendar July 28
Saints Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon and Parmenas, Apostles of the Seventy
They were among the first deacons in the Church of Christ. In the Acts of the Holy Apostles (6:1-6) it is said that the twelve Apostles chose seven men: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and appointed them to serve as deacons. They are commemorated together on July 28, although they died at various times and in various places.
There he wrote down the Book of Revelation concerning the final fate of the world. Upon returning to Nicomedia, Saint Prochorus converted pagans to Christ in the city of Antioch, where he suffered martyrdom.
Nicanor > Saint Nicanor suffered on the same day that the holy Protomartyr Stephen (December 27) and many other Christians were killed by stoning, he is commemorated on December 28.
Timon > Saint Timon was later appointed by the Apostles as bishop of the city of Bostra in Arabia and suffered from the Jews and pagans for preaching the Gospel. He was thrown into a furnace, but by the power of God he came out of it unharmed. The tradition of the Roman Church says that Saint Timon died by crucifixion. Saint Timon of the Seventy is also commemorated on December 30.
Parmenas > Saint Parmenas zealously preached Christ in Macedonia. He died after being afflicted with an illness. Some say that Saint Parmenas suffered martyrdom under Trajan (98-117) in the final year of his reign.
Troparion — Tone 3
O holy apostle Prochorus, / entreat the merciful God, / to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Saint Irene Chrysovolantou
She is represented in the icon of the Saints Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon and Parmenas, celșebrated on the same day. She was from an IXth-century wealthy family of Cappadocia and was heading to Constantinople to marry the future Emperor Michael when she met Saint Joannicius who told her to go to the Monastery of Chrysovalantou.
She became the abbess of the monastery and performed many miracles. On great feasts she kept vigil praying in the monastery courtyard while the cypress trees bowed in front of her.
One year she was told from above to welcome the sailor who would come the next dayand bring her apples. It was a gift from St. John in Paradise.
An angel informed Saint Irene that she would be called to the Lord on the day after Saint Panteleimon’s feast. She smiled when she saw the angels who had been sent to receive her soul. Then she closed her eyes and surrendered her soul to God at 101 years of age.
At her chapel on Mount Olympus, Greece, the nuns planted a cypress which miraculously turned into an apple tree whose fruit is shared with the pilgrims and faithful.
Troparion — Tone 5
(Podoben: “Let us the faithful praise and worship the Word…”)
You did not obtain an earthly kingdom, / but now Christ, your most comely Bridegroom, has deemed you worthy of incorruptible crowns; / for you dedicated yourself to Him with all your heart and soul, / O Venerable Mother Irene, the glory of Chrysovalantou, our refuge and our help.
Venerable Paul of Xeropotamou
Saint Paul of Xeropotamou, in the world Procopius, was the son of the Byzantine Emperor Michael Kuropalatos, who later resigned from the imperial office and became a monk in a monastery he built. Having received the finest education, Procopius became one of the most learned men of his time.
He exchanged his fine garb for beggar’s rags, and he went to the Holy Mountain [Athos], to Xeropotamou. He built a cell there at the ruins of an old monastery founded by the empress Pulcheria in honor of the Forty Martyrs (March 9). From Cosmas, a hermit, he received monastic tonsure with the name Paul.
Out of humility the saint did not reveal his erudition to anyone. The fame of Paul’s strict life quickly spread throughout the Holy Mountain. He became called Paul of Xeropotamou, and the monastery where he pursued monasticism, to the present day bears the name Xeropotamou (“dry river”).
At that time the emperor Romanus, a relative of Paul, ascended the throne. Through the Protos of the Holy Mountain he requested the saint to come to Constantinople and planned a splendid reception for him. The humble Paul, not betraying his monastic duty, appeared with a cross and in torn robes amid the courtly splendor and magnificence.
Saint Paul confirmed his fame as a chosen one of God, miraculously healing the grievously ill Romanus by placing his hand on him. But the vanity of courtly life, promised by the gratitude of the emperor, did not interest the saint; he returned to the Holy Mountain, having asked one favor of the emperor: to restore the Xeropotamou monastery.
In the holy altar in the consecrated cathedral church of the restored monastery, was put a piece of the Venerable Wood of the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, given to Saint Paul by the emperor Romanus.
Soon the Xeropotamou monastery was filled by a throng of monks, wanting to put themselves under the guidance of the holy ascetic, but Saint Paul, having entrusted the rule of the monastery to one of the brethren, moved off to the remote wilderness. His quiet was again disturbed by disciples, not wanting to leave their Elder.
Then the monk requested of the emperor the means for the building of a new monastery. Thus the saint founded a monastery in the name of the holy Great Martyr and Victory-Bearer Saint George. The first head of the new monastery was Saint Paul himself, who also brought a piece of the Venerable Wood of the Cross of the Lord there.
Having been informed in advance by the Lord of his impending end, the saint summoned the brethren of the Xeropotamou and the new Georgikos monasteries and gave them his final instructions. On the day of his death, Saint Paul donned the mantle, and read the prayer of Saint Joannicius, which he said continually: “My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit, O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee,” and he received the Holy Mysteries of Christ.
Saint Paul had instructed in his will to bury his body on the peninsula of Pongosa (opposite the Holy Mountain). But by the will of God the ship was driven to the shores of Constantinople, where the Emperor and Patriarch with the pious took the body of the saint and solemnly placed it in the Great Church (Hagia Sophia). After the sacking of Constantinople by the Crusaders, the relics of Saint Paul were transferred to Venice.
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Paul, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
5th Sunday after Pentecost (The healing of the Gadarene demoniac)
Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1
When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.
Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region. So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.
