Orthodox Calendar, September 23

The Conception of the Venerable Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John

The holy Prophet Malachi prophesied that before the Messiah’s birth His Forerunner would appear, and would indicate His coming. The Jews therefore in awaiting the Messiah also awaited the appearance of His Forerunner.

In a city of the hills of Judea in the land of Palestine lived the righteous priest Saint Zachariah and his wife Saint Elizabeth, zealously observing the commandments of the Lord. The couple, however, had a misfortune: they remained childless in their old age, and they prayed unceasingly to God to grant them a child.

Once, when Saint Zachariah took his turn as priest at the Temple of Jerusalem, he went into the Sanctuary to offer incense. Going behind the veil of the Sanctuary, he beheld an angel of God standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

Saint Zachariah was astonished and halted in fear, but the angel said to him, “Fear not, Zachariah, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.”

But Zachariah did not believe the words of the heavenly messenger, and then the angel said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you the good news. Behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words….”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zachariah and they were astonished that he had not come out from the Sanctuary after so long a time.

And when he did come out, he was supposed to pronounce a blessing upon the people, but could not do so because he had been struck speechless. When Zachariah explained by gestures that he was unable to speak, the people then understood that he had experienced a vision.

The prophecy of the Archangel was fulfilled, and Righteous Elizabeth was delivered from her barrenness, and gave birth to John, the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord.

Troparion — Tone 4

(Podoben: “Be quick to anticipate”)
Be glad, O barren one who has not given birth until now, / for behold, you have conceived the lamp of the Sun, / and He shall enlighten all the earth, which is afflicted with blindness. / Dance, O Zachariah, and cry out with boldness: / The Prophet of the Most High is about to be born.

Venerables Xanthippi and Polyxeni

Saints Xantipa and Polyxenia were two sisters who lived in Spain in the 1st century, at the time when the Holy Apostles were preaching the Gospel.

Saint Xantipa was married to Probus, and both of them were pagans. However, they heard about the teachings of Saint Paul the Apostle. A strong desire to know the true God was kindled in Saint Xantipa’s soul.

When Saint Paul arrived in their city, Saint Xantipa felt great joy and realized that he was the man she had been waiting for—the one who would make God known to her.

Although her husband opposed her, after several attempts, the two of them were eventually baptized.

Meanwhile, Saint Polyxenia, who was still a pagan, was kidnapped and taken aboard a ship. Saint Peter the Apostle, warned through a divine vision, prayed for the young woman, and God miraculously preserved her virginity.

The ship reached the shores of Greece, where, with the help of Saint Philip the Apostle, Saint Polyxenia escaped from her captors.

The young woman then found shelter in the den of a lioness, which, miraculously, did not harm her but instead led her out of the forest.

Saint Polyxenia later met Saint Andrew the Apostle, who baptized both her and another virgin named Rebecca.

Saint Polyxenia and Rebecca set out on their journey back to Spain, but they faced many dangers along the way. Through the suffering they endured, they converted many people to Christianity.

Eventually, the two sisters were reunited, and Saint Xantipa told Saint Polyxenia that she had prayed for forty days that God would protect her virginity.

Troparion — Tone 3

You received the light of the divine Faith, / and your works shone with piety, O divinely-inspired Polyxénē; / you glorified Christ in your life / as well as by your blameless actions; / therefore intercede with the Lord Who glorified you, to grant us great mercy.

• The Holy Martyrs Andrew, John, Peter, and Antony, who suffered in Africa;
• Saint Martyr Raida, the Virgin;
• Saint New Martyr Nicholas the Baker (Pantopolitus);
• Saint Tikhon the Athonite, the spiritual father of Saint Paisios the Athonite;
• Saint New Martyr John of Konitsa.