Orthodox Calendar, October 15
Saint Magdalena of Malajnica
Saint Magdalena was born on November 22, 1895 (Old Style), the day after the Feast of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple, into a devout Christian family in the village of Šćiubic. Her father, Milenko Ilić, was of Serbian origin, and her mother, Milca, a Romanian from the old Cătălinici family that had come from Transylvania. At her Baptism, performed on 3/16 December, she received the name Magdalena, a sign of her calling to a life of humility and service.
From her earliest childhood, she showed a love for prayer and for the Church. Although in those times girls were not encouraged to study, she learned to read and write, receiving from God the gift of wisdom and steadfast faith.
At the age of nineteen, on the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord (2 February 1914), she was married in the nearby Romanian village of Malajnica. Yet the will of the Lord was otherwise: her husband Miloš fell in the First World War, leaving her a widow with a small child. Then Saint Magdalena strengthened her faith, often saying, “God sees.” This phrase became the seal of her soul.
During the Bulgarian occupation (1915–1918), the priests were arrested and killed, and the church in Šćiubic was left without shepherds. Then Saint Magdalena, by the grace of Christ, kept the chanter’s stand of the church, preserving the flame of faith. In times of spiritual darkness, when many went astray to soothsayers because they could not understand the liturgical language, she, being fluent in both Romanian and Serbian, became a bridge between peoples and a comfort to the faithful. Thus she made herself also a bridge between earth and heaven, as one chosen by God and intercessor before His Heavenly Throne.
Through frost, storm, and heat, she would walk five kilometres on foot to the church, tirelessly reading and singing at the services. Seeing her humility and zeal, the bishops granted her the blessing to enter the altar—a most uncommon privilege for women in those days.
Living as a nun in the world, she fasted continually, prayed by night, and guided people in the ways of God. Many did not know when the feasts or fasts were, but she would gently explain to them, always saying, “God sees.”
When she watched over the sheep, she would recite passages from the Holy Books, and the place where she prayed was later chosen for the building of a monastery—a sign that God accepted her labour of love.
On October 15, 1962 (Old Style: 2 October), with a candle in her hand and making the Sign of the Cross until her last breath, Saint Magdalena passed to the Lord. Her face shone brightly, as though she beheld Christ coming for her soul.
Her funeral service was celebrated in the cathedral of Negotin by many priests and monks, and the people bore witness, saying: “She was a saint! None like her has been born again!”
Her holy relics are kept today in the church of Malajnica Monastery, venerated with devotion by both Romanian and Serbian faithful.
On the very place where she once tended her sheep and prayed, a monastery was built. The children who used to hide in the bushes to see her walking to church kept in their hearts the memory of her ceaseless prayers.
She once dreamt that she flew to Jerusalem, and God fulfilled her desire, taking her spirit to the Tomb of the Saviour.
All who knew her say:
“She never spoke ill of anyone, never quarrelled; she always said, ‘God sees.’”
“She sang in the altar with the priests and was a simple (white) monk of Christ.”
“She lived as a saint and died as a saint.”
Glory to God in His Saints!
Hieromartyr Lucian, Presbyter of Antioch
The saint was born in the Syrian city of Samosata. At twelve years of age he was left orphaned.
Lucian distributed his possessions to the poor, and went to the city of Edessa to the confessor Macarius, under the guidance of whom he diligently read Holy Scripture and learned the ascetic life. For his pious and zealous spreading of Christianity among the Jews and pagans, Lucian was made a presbyter.
In Antioch, Saint Lucian opened a school where many students gathered. He taught them how to understand the Holy Scriptures, and how to live a virtuous life. Saint Lucian occupied himself with teaching, and he corrected the Greek text of the Septuagint, which had been corrupted in many places by copyists and by heretics who deliberately distorted it in order to support their false teachings.
The entire Greek text of the Bible which he corrected was hidden in a wall at the time of his confession of Christ, and it was found during the lifetime of Saint Constantine the Great.
During the persecution of Diocletian, Saint Lucian was arrested and was sent to prison in Nicomedia, where for nine years he encouraged other Christians with him to remain steadfast in their confession of Christ, urging them not to fear tortures or death.
Saint Lucian died in prison from many terrible tortures and from hunger. Before his death, he wished to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ on the Feast of Theophany. Certain Christians who visited him brought bread and wine for the Eucharist.
The hieromartyr, bound by chains and lying on a bed of sharp potsherds, was compelled to offer the Bloodless Sacrifice upon his chest, and all the Christians there in prison received Communion.
The next day the emperor sent people to see if the saint was still alive. Saint Lucian said three times, “I am a Christian,” then surrendered his soul to God. The body of the holy martyr was thrown into the sea, but after thirty days dolphins brought it to shore. Believers reverently buried the body of the much-suffering Saint Lucian.
Saint Lucian was originally commemorated on January 7, the day of his death. Later, when the celebration of the Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist was appointed for this day, the feast of Saint Lucian was transferred to October 15.
The October date may be associated with the dedication of a church which was built in Antioch by Saint Helen (May 21) over Saint Lucian’s holy relics.
Although he was only a priest, sometimes Saint Lucian is depicted in the vestments of a bishop. The Stroganov Guide for Iconographers was published in Russia in 1869, based on a 1606 manuscript. There Saint Lucian is depicted wearing a phelonion and holding a Gospel.
He does not wear the omophorion of a bishop, however. Another handbook, the Litsevoy Podlinnik, states that Saint Lucian is to be depicted with the omophorion.
It may be that the Russians thought of Saint Lucian as a bishop because of his importance to the Church, and so that is how they depicted him. Similarly, Saint Charalampus (February 10) is depicted as a priest in Greek icons, and as a bishop in Russian icons.
Troparion — Tone 4
Your holy martyr Lucian, O Lord, / through his suffering has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. / For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through his intercessions, save our souls!
Tr by oca.org
