Martyr, with Trophimus, and thirteen martyrs with them, suffered during the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Brought to trial, they bravely confessed themselves Christians and refused to offer sacrifice to idols. After fierce tortures, they broke the legs of the holy martyrs and threw them into a fire. Strengthened by the Lord, they came out of the fire completely unharmed, and they glorified Christ all the more. Unable to break the will of the holy confessors, the torturers beheaded them.
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Bishop

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July 24th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Mathew the Hermit according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Mattai Renuoyo was born in the early 4th century in the city of Amid or in a village close by. Little is known about his early life. Mor Mattai was a monk in that region when the anti-Christian persecution of Julian the apostate took place.

In 361, Mor Mattai & other monks were forced to flee to Nineveh where he found a hermitage on Alfaf Mountain in the Nineveh plains. It was during that time that he met prince St. Behnam, the son of Sencharib, during a hunting trip. Mattai taught him about Christianity & Behnam became a disciple of Mattai. Impressed by his teachings, Behnam went back to his mother & persuaded her to let him take his sister Sara, who had leprosy, to the saint. She was cured by the saint & after the miracle, both Sara and Behnam were baptized by the saint alongside Behnam’s forty companions. Upon learning of his children’s conversion, King Sencharib killed his children & their forty companions on a hill in Nimrud.

The king was then struck with a disease. Behnam appeared to his mother in a dream & told her to get Mor Mattai. She did & the saint cured the king. To show his gratitude, the king built a monastery in the mountain where Mor Mattai healed his daughter. This became known as Dayro d-Mor Mattai Nineveh.

Biography courtesy of Syriac Orthodox Resources

Oh Mor Mattai! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

About Dayro d-Mor Mattai Nineveh: https://goo.gl/Tzgo4a

Biography in Arabic: https://goo.gl/ZTTVvm

https://urhotheway.com/2020/09/17/st-matthew-the-hermit/

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

He was a former servant of pagans

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July 24th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. James the Just +62AD according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Yac’ub was the first Archbishop of Jerusalem. He is the brother of Jesus by virtue of being born to a previous wife of Joseph. He was called ‘James the Just’ because he was a righteous man who was steadfast in prayer, frequently found alone in the church, praying on his knees so often that they became hard as camel.

He wrote the general Epistle in his name. Mor Yac’ub formulated the Divine Liturgy known as the Anaphora of St. James. This is the oldest form of worship in the history of Christianity. This form of worship is the ‘Holy Qurbono’ preserved & handed down through the centuries by the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch.

Persecutors of James demanded a denial of his faith in Jesus Christ in public. He instead affirmed his faith that Christ, our Lord & Saviour, is the Son of God. They threw him down from the top of the church. Even though he survived the fall, he was subsequently beaten to death with a fuller’s club. Thus Mor Yac’ub attained the crown of martyrdom.

St. John of Dara in his ‘Commentary on the Eucharist’ (quoting Sts. Basil, Epiphanius, & John Chrysostom) states that Christ himself entrusted the Qurobo to James on third day of the week of Pentecost; who then communicated St. John the Apostle who finally communicated St. Mary the mother of God. The Syriac Orthodox Church continues to use a part of the prior Qurobo in preparation of the next lahmo (Eucharist Bread) thereby maintaining the unbroken connection to the Holy Apostles for the last 2000 years.

Mor Yac’ub is commemorated every Sunday in the Thubden d-Qadishe (5th Thubden/Dypthic) of the Syriac Orthodox Church Holy Qurbono; describing him as, “Jacob, the first Archbishop of Jerusalem, the Apostle & martyr”.

Biography adapted from ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Yac’ub! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

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Abdul Messih was a Jewish shepherd boy (formally known as Aser) who lived near Sinjar in the Persian Empire. He converted to Christianity and pierced his ear to put on an earring, apparently the sign of slavery. He was martyred by his father.

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Constantine, bishop of Edessa was one of the most noted disciples of Jacob of Edessa with whom he was a monk at the Monastery of Eusebona. He held the office of bishop in several dioceses including, Emesa and, after the death of Jacob, Edessa. He also participated in the synod held at Manazgirt in 726.

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St. Anna the mother of St. Mary

Virgin martyr

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

July 26th is the anniversary of the Catholicos Enthronement of His Beatitude Mor Baselius Thomas I.

On Friday July 26, 2002 the thrice blessed late Patriarch of Antioch and all the East His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory consecrated then 73-year old HG Mor Dionysius Thomas as the Catholicos (Maphriyano) with the title ‘Baselius Thomas I’ at a solemn function held at St. Peter & St. Paul Cathedral in Mor Ephrem Monastery, Ma`arat Sayyidnaya, near Damascus. Thus, fulfilling the wishes of a multitude of faithful, the Malankara Church received a Catholicos after a gap of six years (late Catholicos of the East Mor Baselios Paulose II of blessed memory died in 1996).

In the Syriac Orthodox Church hierarchy, the Catholicos (Maphrian) is second in rank to the supreme spiritual head, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. As the head of the Syriac Church in India, the Catholicos presides over the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Church. He is also the Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.

Fourteen Syriac Orthodox Metropolitans from India, Syria, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Lebanon, Jerusalem, Turkey & Australia attended the enthronement ceremony as co-celebrants. Thirtyfive Rabans, many clergy, nuns & laity were also present on the occasion to participate in the historical ceremony. Representatives from the Governments of Syria & India attended the consecration ceremony as special guests. The consecration ceremony started with the celebration of Holy Qurbono by HH the Patriarch, followed by the enthronement, signing of ‘Susthathikon’ (Patriarchal decree of appointment) & ‘Axios’ (Rising & Declaration). The ceremonial events ended with the completion of the Holy Qurbono by the newly consecrated HB Catholicos Mor Baselius Thomas I. The Sunthroniso was held at Marthoma Cheriyapally Kothamangalam on 31st July 2002.

Barekmor Abun! Congratulations to our Bavathirumeni on this blessed day. May God almighty grant you many more years to shepherd the Malankara Jacobite Church. Remember us all in your prayers and Holy Qurbono.

http://www.syriacchristianity.info/StGG/Catholicos_ThomasI.htm

In hagiography: Andronicus was a married man from Alexandria. His wife was Athanasia, and when their children died, they lived apart as monastics. In the Syriac version of the story of Athanasia, she is found living in the desert as a eunuch by the monk Daniel of Scetis. Daniel and his disciple give her the sacraments before she dies, and when she dies, they discover that she was a woman.

Vat. LXIX

Martyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates of Nicomedia, were among the small number of those remaining alive after 20,000 Christians were burned alive in a church at Nicomedia in the year 303, on the orders of the emperor Maximian (284-305).

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Patriarch of Antioch

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July 27th is the Commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Osio +377 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Osio was born to God fearing Christian parents who were childless for many years. They prayed unceasingly to have a child, & God blessed them with Osio. An angel appeared to a monk named Mark, telling him to baptize the child with the name Osio (Syriac for doctor), for God will work many wonders through the child.

His parents wanted him to marry the governor’s daughter, but Osio refused. He left to Jerusalem, desiring to give up worldly comforts, choosing to follow the divine path instead. Eventually, Osio was ordained as a priest. He then journeyed to Mount Sinai where he stayed for sometime, finally reaching the Kafra desert. It was here that he met Mor Dimet, becoming his disciple. Mor Osio stayed with Mor Dimet for 14 years until the latter’s demise.

Osio was well known for his prayerful life, strict asceticism & most importantly his fasting. He evangelized many & carried out great charity work. Thousands of individuals followed Christ after hearing his preaching. Osio traveled to Homs, Antioch & Nicodemia, healing the sick & protecting the villagers from wild animals. After returning to Antioch from Nicodemia, Osio realized his end was near. He called his students to his deathbed & said, “Children, I am going. As long as you live on this earth, do not deviate from the path I have taught you. Be careful not to fall into faulty ways. Continue worshipping God. Always tread the path of virtue & purity. This world and everything in it are mere shadows.” Mor Osio left for the heavenly abode in AD377. His dukhrono is a major feast for the Syriac Orthodox faithful of Aleppo on October 15th.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Osio Hakeemo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen

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Life of Mor Osio in Garshuni: https://bit.ly/OsioGarshuni

July 27th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Simon the Stylite +459 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Shem’un Destonoyo was born in the village of Sesan, a place on the border of Cicilia & Syria in 392AD. His father’s name was John & his mother’s name was Martha. Before his mother had conceived of him, St. John the Baptist appeared to her in a dream & told her of her conception & what her son would become. Simon was a shepherd at a young age. While in the fields with his flock, an angel of the Lord appeared in a vision. Later, he disposed of his properties & the assets of his aunt, which had been entrusted to him. He distributed part of the proceeds among the poor & needy. The remaining assets he took to the monastery of Eusebona at Tell ‘Ada, situated between Antioch & Alleppo. He joined the monastery with his brother Shemse when he was in the teens.

Later, he dug a pit of about 4 ft in the garden & stood in the pit for about two months. After the midnight prayer he used to stand with a big stone hung around his neck. He also stood on a roller to resist sleep in the night. His fellow hermits were jealous about these practices of Simon & raised some false accusations against him. Thus, he left the monastery of Eusebona. The head of the monastery gave him four coins which he refused to accept saying, “May your prayers be the viaticum for me.” Mor Shem’un then reached the village of Telanissos(modern day Taladah), Deir Samaan. He sat beneath a tree & prayed, “O God, My Lord, by Thy will you protected me from all adversities. Help & guide me until I reach the heavenly abode.” He then reached the nearby Monastery of Morris. He healed several sick people while staying in this monastery. St. Simon was in the habit of observing the forty-day lent in all its seriousness. During the forty-day lent he did not eat anything. In AD423, he prepared a platform of about 4 ft. high & stood on it for about five years. Mor Shem’un went around the nearby villages to preach the Gospel. Angels, prophets Elijah & Moses appeared to him. Several miracles happened through the prayers of St. Simon. He later left the Monastery of Morris, to a nearby hilltop.

St. Simon spent about forty years on a pillar upon the hilltop. He prayed, “O Lord, my God, let not the hands of mortal men be necessary for my help. Let not me step down from this pillar to see men on earth. Help me O Lord to end my life on this pillar on which I ascended by your grace. According to Thy will, accompany the soul of Thy servant from this place.” Satan became envious of the saint for all his good deeds. St. Simon developed ulcers which caused him to suffer for 9 months. Emperor Theodosius sent 3 bishops to make St. Simon step down, but he refused. Instead, he spent his time in prayer & fasting. The Saint asked Christ to supply him with water, & a spring of water sprang up at the foot of the pillar. He preached to many people, taught them, & brought many back to the knowledge of Christ. He would write letters of instruction to those gathered. After his death in 459AD, his body was taken to Antioch in great veneration & entombed in a church there.

While Chalcedonians claim him to be a supporter of Chalcedon, Syriac letters in the British Museum written by Mor Shem’un Destonoyo indicate that he was a Miaphysite & opposed the result of the Council of Chalcedon in 451AD.

He is honored in the 5th Dypthic (Thubden d-Qadishe) every Sunday in the Syriac Orthodox Church.

A large complex was built in his honour comprising of 4 separate cathedrals with the pillar of Mor Shem’un as the central monument. Now known as Qalat Siman. It was a prominent pilgrimage site. It suffered major damage following an earthquake. Later it was sacked following the Muslim conquest of Syria. In 2011 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 2012 it was taken over by terrorists. It was again heavily damaged by air strikes in 2016.

Biography adapted from, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Shem’un Destonoyo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

A Defense of the Orthodoxy of St. Simon the Stylite: http://bit.ly/3t6L3PJ

Hymns of St. Severus of Antioch on St. Simon the Stylite:

Come, hear, and I will tell you
The sublime and great height of the life of Simeon the just and righteous brings into the mind of believers the words of the Lord which he spoke, A city that is I set upon the top of a hill cannot be hid. For by ascending to a sublime height of virtues he showed this clearly and by means of his stand­ing on the column, signifying that he is a pillar and foundation of the truth as it is written; drawing both unbelievers and barbarians to godliness, and those who were sitting in the darkness of error to the light of knowledge, like a brightly-shining star by its rising: by whose prayers, Saviour of all, have pity and mercy upon us.


St. Severus the Great of Antioch Cathedral Homily # 30

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Probably different from Mor Osio?

Martyr

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

On MASOCNA Calendar

Abba Poemon

July 28th is the anniversary of the demise of of HG Mor Osthatheos Thomas +2000. Late Mor Osthatheos Thomas was the former Bishop of Kochi Diocese.

Thomas was born on 5 June 1904 to Mathai Panthalumakkil, Sitharkuzhi(Pachilakkat) Puthenpurayil & Annamma. He spent his childhood at his native Puthuveli Koothatukulam. He received the order of Korooyo from Malankara Metropolitan St. Coorilos Paulose, Kochuparambil(Panampady) at the age of nine. He joined Pambakuda seminary for theology. He was the disciple of Rev. Raban Geevarghese Kochuparambil & Rev. Konat Mathen malfono & Metropolitan Mor Themotheos Augen. Following the advice of the Patriarchal Delegate, Mor Yulios Elias Qoro, he offered his services at St. Mathias Church, Madras. He later taught at St. Stephen’s Church School Keeramabara, Vadakara High School (11 years as headmaster), helped establish TTC School Vadakara, & helped start English Medium High School Perambur, Chennai.

The Malankara Synod selected him as a Metropolitan when he was 71. Mor Ignatius Yac’ub III of blessed memory consecrated him Metropolitan with the name Osthatheos on 12 June 1975. From 1975 to 1982, he was the assistant Metropolitan of Kandanad & Kottayam dioceses. He was appointed as the Metropolitan of Kochi during the first visit of late Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory, to Malankara in 1982. He transformed Kymtha Chapel into the diocesan headquarters, & instituted many other developments across the diocese. He founded ‘The Gregorian Academy.’

The Holy See honoured Mor Osthatheos by bestowing on him the title ‘Snugro’d Haymonoutho’ (the protector of faith). He was deputed to help HB Catholicos Baselius Paulose II who was unwell. He also did a commendable service as the chairman of the litigation committee of the Church. Thirumeni later retired from administrative duties, but continued training deacons of the diocese. He entered eternal rest at the age of 96 on July 28th 2000. Mor Osthatheos Thomas was entombed at ‘Kymtha Seminary’ Cathedral, Thiruvankulam.

Biography courtesy, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Huthomo sung by HG Mor Osthatheos Isaac (relative of late Mor Osthatheos Thomas) in memorial: https://youtu.be/Xq9JSZdrnjQ

Among the Seventy Two (72) Disciples

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Daughter of Emperor Zeno and daughter of a nobleman.

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The Holy martyr Theodota and her three young children lived during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305). She was a Christian, a native of the city of Nicea, Bithynia. After being widowed, Saint Theodota led a pious life and raised her sons in the Christian Faith. She had a spiritual friendship with Saint Anastasia

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Theodosius the Great (the younger)

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July 30th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of Mor Gregorios Yuhannon bar’Ebroyo +1286 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Also known as Gregory Abu’l Faraj or bar Hebraeus, he was the son of Deacon Tajal-Din Ahroun who was a physician. Many historians mistakenly considered them Jewish converts to Christianity because of the name bar’Ebroyo (son of a Hebrew) & Aaron. However, Mor Gregorios himself has refuted the claim in a poem. On his Chrismation, he was given the name John. He was raised in Melitene, the birth place of many of our great Syriac scholars, philosophers, & historians. Their family had to leave Melitene because of Tatar raids against the city in 1243 AD, settling in the great city of Antioch, sadly even Antioch was ransacked by the Tartars after a few years. At the age of 18, bar’Ebroyo became a monk. He was then consecrated Metropolitan with the title Gregorios for the diocese of Gubos, later he was given the charge of Laqabin & then Aleppo. He was extremely fond of learning since his childhood. He learnt medicine from his father, studied the available Holy books with interpretations. After becoming a bishop, his zeal for learning from sources outside his own Church & nations increased as he encountered leaders & scholars of different peoples & Churches & had to debate them on matters of theology, politics etc. He completed his studies in medicine, then further went on to study the natural sciences of the Greeks, logic, & rhetoric (from the teacher, Nestorian bishop Jacob) from a multitude of the brightest minds of his time. Mor Gregorios was a polyglot who mastered Syriac, Arabic, Armenian, Persian. During this time he never neglected his duties to his Archdioceses, where tremendous growth was recorded under his tenure. Devastatingly, in 1258AD Aleppo was attacked by the Tartars, Mor Gregorios pleaded with the Tartar King to stop, but sadly countless people were killed in the massacre.

HH Patriarch Mor Ignatius IV Yeshu took notice of this bright star of the Church. In 1264 Mor Gregorios Yuhannon Bar’Ebroyo was consecrated as Maphryono of the East (Catholicos) in an elaborate ceremony held in the city of Sis, of the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia. The event was attended by thousands of faithful, Armenian King Hethum, countless religious & political dignitaries. His headquarters was Dayro d-Mor Mattai Nineveh however he would frequently visit Tabriz & Maragh, Iran. During his 22 year reign as Maphrian, bar’Ebroyo built countless churches, ordained many bishops, initiated many monastic orders. He worked tirelessly for the interests of the Syriac Orthodox Church & entered into dialogue with numerous political & religious leaders to secure the position of the Church & her faithful in society.

Mor Gregorios was a scholar par excellence. He is the Doctor of the Syriac Church for all times, ages & generations. The World History, Secular History, & Church History (Chronicon Ecclesiasticum) are his most acclaimed works which have been praised by countless scholars, Orientalists & historians. Bar’Ebroyo also wrote the magnum opus Ktobo d-Awsar Roze (The Book of the Storehouse of Mysteries) which is a commentary of the entire Holy Bible. His books Mnorath Kudshe (Lamp of the Sanctuary) & Ktobo d-zalge (Book of Rays) were heavily referenced by Dionysius Geevarghese Vattasseril in his book Mathopadesa Sarangal, & the books written by late Kadavil Thirumeni of blessed memory. In addition, bar’Ebroyo also wrote the Nomocanon (Ktobo d-hudoye or The Book of Directions) which is the official Canon Law of the Syriac Orthodox Church. A full list of his works can be found on https://goo.gl/FesZTD & in ‘The History of Syriac Literature and Sciences’ by late HH Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum of blessed memory. His abridged version of the St. James liturgy is currently followed by all the West-Syriac churches today.

On a visit to Maragha (Iranian Persia), Mor Gregorios fell ill with fever. He reposed in the Lord at the age of 60. Countless faithful, important political dignitaries & prominent religious leaders came to pay their respects at his funeral. In attendance was Nestorian Catholicos Mar Yahballaha III who recently moved his seat to Maragha. Bar’Ebroyo was buried in the Church of Maragha, but his remains were later transferred to Dayro d-Mor Mattai.

Maphryono Mor Gregorios Yuhannon bar’Ebroyo is described as The Ocean of Wisdom, The Light of East & West, The Prince of Learning Men, The Greatest Sage, The Holy Father, The Most Learned Man Possessing Divine Knowledge, & The Encyclopedia of the 13th Century.  He is the Syriac Orthodox Church’s greatest & boldest knight that could never be challenged or matched in all branches of learning, theological & otherwise.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’ and Syriac Orthodox Resources (SOR website).

Oh Mor Gregorios Yuhannon bar’Ebroyo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

http://sor.cua.edu/Personage/BarcEbroyo/Budge.html

Lecture Series – Life and Works of Mor Gregorios Bar Ebroyo (courtesy Hymonutho): https://bit.ly/3E1oksM

Fixed Feast

in the city of Nisibis, the martyrs Adelphos and Gaios

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July 30th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Cyril Patriarch of Alexandria +444 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Coorilos was born in 376 AD in Alexandria. He was consecrated bishop by his uncle. On 17 October, AD 412 he became the Patriarch of Alexandria.

Nestorius who ascended as the Patriarch of Constantinople in AD 421 started spreading heresies about Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. According to him Mary was mother only to the humanness of Christ, who earned His divinity only after His birth. Nestorius also indoctrinated that it was wrong to address Mary as the mother of God; instead she should be called only as the mother of Christ.

St. Cyril presided over the Council of Ephesus convened by Emperor Theodosyus II. The Council which commenced on 22 June, 431 AD was attended by one hundred and fifty-nine bishops. The Council of Ephesus analysed the heresies of Nestorius and declared that “in Jesus Christ the God head and man head have converged into one unity and that Mary was the mother of God (Theotokos/Yoldath Aloho) The profound interpretations of St. Cyril earned him the title, “the Doctor of Incarnation” He also countered the opinions of Nestorius in a book titled, “The true faith about the Incarnation of Christ.”

St. Cyril is described in the fifth diptych (thubden) of the Holy Qurbono, as one who proved clearly the incarnation of Jesus Christ and as the tower of honesty. The glorious saint is also described as one who revealed the humanhood of the Word. He had learned theology from many eminent scholars but he encouraged instruction from none other than the very ancient teachers. It was a strong edict practiced by him. Mor Coorilos also wrote commentaries on the Gospels and other books of the Holy Bible.

The protector of True faith, St. Cyril, had to face much harassment from the disciples of Nestorius as he opposed their dissenting views. St. Cyril is presented as a quarrel monger by some historians but his stand was always clear, “peace is desirable but it should not be at the cost of faith”.

Biography courtesy, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Coorilos! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

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July 30th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Dioscorus +454 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Dioscorus I was the 25th Pope of Alexandria & presided over the second Holy Ecumenical Synod convened at St. Mary’s church in Ephesus on 8 August AD 449. It was attended by 150 bishops.The heresy that Jesus born of Mary possessed two natures even after the miraculous union, was condemned by this synod. This synod decided not to move away from the decision reached by all other universal synods prior to it. St. Dioscorus faced many tribulations as he refused to divert from the teachings of ancient Church fathers about Christology.

There was a schism following the decision of the AD449 synod, among the members of monasteries, prelates & administrators about the dual nature of Christ. As this dispute reached its height, the faithful Orthodox Emperor Theodosius died on 28 July AD450 without leaving an heir. His sister Pulcheria was a nun. The prelates of the Nestorian congregation who desired the support of the rulers allowed her to marry. She married Marcian & ascended the throne as the queen. Marcian supported the dyophysite position.

Mor Dioscorus had to face a trial in the Chalcedon Synod. He said Falvian of Constantinople was banished because he believed Christ had two natures after attaining the human form. He possessed letters of Church fathers like St. Athanasius, St. Gregory & St. Coorilos to prove that Jesus who attained the human form after the union has only one united nature (Miaphysite theology) & it was wrong to say he had dual separate natures, known as dyophysite theology. St. Dioscorus specifically stated at the Council, One should not conceive of two natures but of one incarnate nature of the Word. He knew he too might be banished like those fathers but he was not ready to give up their teaching.

The Chalcedon Synod of AD451 suspended Mor Dioscorus & he was compelled by Marcian’s commander to sign the decisions of the synod. The saint refused saying, “Even if my hand is severed & blood flows over the paper I will not sign it.” Then according to the orders of Marcian he was banished to Gangra (now Cankri, Turkey) where he passed away 3 years later after consecrating Timothy II as legitimate Orthodox (Miaphysite) Pope of Alexandria. Mor Dioscorus is commemorated every Sunday in the Thubden d-Qadishe (5th Thubden/Dypthic) of the Syriac Orthodox Church Holy Qurbono.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Dioscorus! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. By your prayers may the Holy Orthodox Church and her faithful be protected from all manner of persecution. Amen.

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

July 30th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Jacob Baradaeus +578 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Yac’ub Burd’ono was born in Tella Mawzalt also known as Constantina (Viranşehir,Turkey) near Nisbis, to the Syriac Orthodox priest Theophilose bar Manu. His parents did not have children for a long time & in fulfillment of a vow made by his parents, he was dedicated to God. At the age of 2, Jacob was entrusted to the care of Eustathius, abbot of the Monastery (Reesh Dayroyo), in Phaselita. Here he learnt Greek, Syriac & the basics of asceticism. One day his mother visited the monastery wanting to take him with her. He was not willing to go home even for a visit saying, “I am fully dedicated to Christ, my mother has no share in me.” He distributed all the properties that he inherited from his parents among the poor, & reserved nothing for himself.

Jacob was ordained deacon & later Priest. He was known for working miracles; sick people came from far & wide to be healed by him. St. Jacob raised the dead, restored sight to the blind, gave rain, & even made the Sun stand still. His fame spread all over the East.

Mor Yac’ub lived during one of the harshest periods of the Syriac Church. After the Church refused the Chalcedonian formula of faith, it came under the oppression of the Byzantine emperors. The Syriac Orthodox Church did not accept the Chalcedonian definition, but along with the Copts accepted only the 3 Holy Ecumenical Synods. The Church affirms that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Son of God, who took a perfect manhood without sin, & who bore the human sins on the cross & died for the sake of all humanity. Jesus made His Humanity one with His Divinity without mixing nor mingling nor changing. The teachings of St. Athanasius & St. Cyril of Alexandria & St. Severus of Antioch are very important in understanding the tenet of Christology of the Syriac Orthodox Church. This faith is known as Miaphysite, while the Chalcedonian faith is dyophysite & resembles the Nestorian heresy which was rejected previously.

Emperor Justinian had resolved to enforce the Chalcedonian decrees universally, & the Bishops, clergy & faithful who refused to accept the decrees were punished with imprisonment, deprivation, exile or death. As a result, the Orthodox were deprived of their spiritual leaders & for about ten years many churches had to forgo the sacraments. The faithful were not ready to accept the sacraments from the heretics. Chalcedonians were known as the Melchites/Melkites (from the Syriac Malkoye – the royal party or the Emperor’s men) since the emperor ardently supported them. The wife of Justinian was however a staunch Orthodox Christian, the daughter of a Syriac Orthodox priest. It is important to know that Empress Theodora was enthroned with equal rights & powers as her husband. St. Theodora requested Mor Yac’ub to visit Constantinople, however he didn’t want to go. He later received a vision from Mor Severus & Mor John of Tella directing him & so he went. While the Emperor & the courts wished to persecute Jacob, he was welcomed with honour by the Empress. At the personal castle of Theodora, many Orthodox faithful & leaders sought refuge including Coptic Pope Theodosius I.

With the support of the Ghassanid King al-Harith Ibn Jabalah al-Ghassani (The Ghassanids were an ethnic Arab Syriac Orthodox kingdom), Theodora managed to get Mor Yac’ub Burd’ono ordained as universal bishop by Patriarch Theodosius I of Alexandria, Patriarch Anthimus I of Constantinople & another imprisoned metropolitan to spread the Orthodox faith & ordain clergy.

St. Jacob is known by the surname Baradaeus. The surname Baradaeus is derived from ‘baradai’ (clad in rags) or the ragged beggars garb, patched-up out of the old saddle-cloths which he used for his multiple swift & secret journeys across the land. He walked on foot through Asia minor, Syria, Mesopotamia, the adjacent provinces, the borders of Persia & into Alexandria. He both exhorted the faithful & sent encyclicals encouraging them to remain steadfast in the true Orthodox faith. He ordained 2 Patriarchs; Mor Sergius & Mor Paul II, at least 27 bishops & thousands of priests & deacons for the Orthodox Church. The Melchites were furious at the successful efforts of St. Jacob in protecting the true faith, even offering a reward for his capture. But by the grace of God almighty, Mor Yac’ub always eluded the persecutors. He also worked tirelessly to reconcile the Miaphysites & the Chalcedonians but extremism, misunderstanding & ecclesiastical politics hindered his efforts.

Mor Yac’ub wrote an anaphora in fifteen pages beginning with “O Lord, the most Holy Father of peace” & several letters, four of which were published in the Syriac Documents—3 addressed to John of Ephesus & others, & a general letter to the various clergy which is mentioned in his lengthy biography.

He continued his work for thirty-five years, tirelessly fighting the good fight for the Church of God, which he diligently supported in the time of great adversity until he died at the Monastery of Romanus or the Monastery of Cassian on July 30, 578AD. According to a short account by Mor Quryaqos, bishop of Mardin, the remains of Mor Yac’ub were kept at the Monastery of Cassian in the confines of Egypt until A. Gr. 933 (A.D. 622), when they were translated to the Monastery of Phaselita, near Tella Mouzalat by Mor Zakkai, bishop of Tella. A portion of the relics of Mor Yac’ub Burd’ono was interred at St. Stephen’s Bes-ania Church, Chelad, Kothamangalam by St. Gregorius Geevarghese Chathuruthil (Parumala Thirumeni).

Although the political & dynastic storms again the Holy Church swept that portion of the world, the efforts of St Jacob preserved the true undefiled Orthodox (Miaphysite) Faith. The Melchites (Chalcedonians, including current EO & Roman Catholics) derogatorily referred to all Miaphysites (including the Coptics, Armenians, Abbyssinians etc) as Jacobites. The term Jacobite was used to insinuate that the Miaphysite Orthodox broke away from the Melchites. The name Jacobite has been associated with the Orthodox Church since the 6th century, it was used by the Melchites to disgrace the noble Church. However, the Syriac Orthodox Church does not consider St. Jacob as the founder of the Church, but one of its greatest fathers. Mor Yac’ub Burd’ono did not introduce any new doctrines to the Church but fought to preserve its True Orthodox faith & Apostolic origins since the Holy Throne was established by St. Peter the chief of the Holy Apostles in AD 37.

All Orthodox faithful should gratefully remember St. Jacob Baradaeus as he is responsible for restoring the Church from extinction by his indomitable zeal & untiring activity, as the Church was threatened by the persecution of imperial power. He is one of the most illustrious Church Fathers, known for his godliness & piety; he attained the summit of religious & austere asceticism. Mor Yac’ub Burd’ono was arguably the greatest Apostolic fighter in support of the true Orthodox faith, unceasingly working to protect & promote Orthodoxy in the face of immense persecution. He is honored in the 5th Dypthic (Thubden d-Qadishe) every Sunday in the Syriac Orthodox Church as …Our venerable and Holy Father Mor Jacob Baradaeus, the upholder of the Orthodox faith

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’ and Syriac Orthodox Resources (SOR website).

Oh Mor Yac’ub Burd’ono! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

To read the biography of Mor Yac’ub Burd’ono in Arabic: https://goo.gl/mBo4pX

Fixed Feast

Pope Timothy Aelurus, the cat

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Among the Seventy Two (72) Disciples

Vat. LXIX

July 31st is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Anthimus according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. He was the last Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople.

The Orthodox Churches refused to accept the Council of Chalcedon held in 451AD, only accepting the 3 Holy Ecumenical Synods & espousing the Miaphysite Christological formula of St. Cyril. Mor Anthimus was originally the Archbishop of Trebizond. He regularly corresponded with Mor Severus of Antioch & Mor Theodosius of Alexandria. With the help of St. Empress Theodora, Anthimus became the Patriarch of Constantinople following the death of Epiphanius. Emperor Justinian had resolved to enforce the Chalcedonian decrees universally, & the metropolitans, clergy & faithful who refused to accept the decrees were punished with imprisonment, deprivation, exile or death. Roman Pope Agapetus arrived in Constantinople & with the support of the Emperor he exiled Anthimus, & recognised the Chalcedonian Mennas as the Patriarch. Anthimus was forced into exile, being taken into the protection of Empress Theodora.

With the support of the Ghassanid King al-Harith Ibn Jabalah al-Ghassani (The Ghassanids were an ethnic Arab Syriac Orthodox kingdom), St. Theodora managed to get Mor Yac’ub Burd’ono ordained as universal bishop by Patriarch Theodosius I of Alexandria, Patriarch Anthimus of Constantinople & another imprisoned metropolitan, to spread the Orthodox faith & ordain clergy. Thus the True Orthodox faith was able to survive even under Byzantine imperial persecution.

Patriarch Anthimus reposed while in exile & an Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople never succeeded him. However, his legacy lives on in the Oriental Orthodox Church. He is honored in the 5th Dypthic (Thubden d-Qadishe) every Sunday in the Syriac Orthodox Holy Qurbono.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Anthimus of Constantinople! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Note: The inclusion of this event in the online calendar is for educational purposes, and to remind the faithful of the mercy of our Lord as shown through the Holy Synod in granting us a shortened fasting period. Please follow the fasting period as per Patriarchal Encyclicals and guidance from one’s spiritual father.

On August 1st the Syriac Orthodox faithful of Malankara will commence the Fast of the Mother of God (sawmo d-Yoldath Aloho) in preparation for the commemoration of her Assumption (Shunoyo).

In his article about the Holy Virgin Mary, the thrice blessed late HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I of blessed memory states, Her Assumption in the flesh and soul was not instituted by the Syriac Church as doctrine. The Virgin’s Assumption is a confessional patristic tradition based on the Syriac narrative of Apostle St.Thomas. During the Assumption, St. Thomas was given the Girdle (soonoro/belt) of the Virgin as testimony to the other Holy Apostles that she was translated to heaven. Syriac tradition reports that St. Thomas took the girdle of the Virgin Mary with him to India where he was martyred at the hands of pagan priests. When Thomas’ relics were taken to Edessa in the fourth century the Holy girdle was brought with them. Finally the girdle reached the Church of the Virgin in Homs, which has been called the Church of the Virgin’s Girdle (Um al-Zennar Church) ever since.

In addition, the book ascribed to Dionysius the Areopagyte, the bishop of Athens (+95AD) relates that ”upon the dormition of St. Mary, all the Apostles gathered together so quickly coming from the Four Corners of Earth, where they were preaching the word. They arrived in Jerusalem, the Residence City of blessed Mary, & then Jesus came with His angels. Jesus received her soul and handed it to Michael the Archangel. Jesus appeared once more & transferred her holy body to heaven on a cloud. Up there, her body was united to her soul to enjoy her everlasting joy.”

Due to the sacredness of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the Church instituted that the faithful should go on a fast in preparation for the celebration of this Feast. The faithful would only have one meal a day to break the fast, consisting of only simple vegan foods. This fast traditionally began on the 1st of August every year and ended on the 15th with Holy Qurbono for the Feast of the Assumption (Hido d’shunoyo). Pursuant to the decision taken by the Council of Homs in 1946 it became five days starting on August 10. However, it is common for the faithful of Malankara to follow the status quo and begin their fast on August 1st even to this day.

May the intercession of the Holy Virgin Mary, the mother of God (Bthultho Yoldath Aloho) bless all the faithful who wholeheartedly keep the fast & earnestly seek her prayers. Amen.

Article about Shunoyo Fast by HG Mor Themotheos Thomas Metropolitan: https://goo.gl/2SuKB8

Arabic article on fasting by late HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I: https://goo.gl/y1Dt2M

Prayer book for the intercession of St. Mary in Malayalam/Manglish: https://tinyurl.com/nym2636c

Prayer book for the intercession of St. Mary in English: https://tinyurl.com/3ms4cacc

Intercessory prayers to St. Mary by HG Mor Polycarpus Zachariah: https://youtu.be/ZbMd6QNOO1A

(Abgar ukomo u Malko d’Urha).

King Abgar, a contemporary of our Lord, was believed to have corresponded with Him. This tradition is based on various sources including ‘Doctrine of Addai’ (one of the earliest Syriac Christian writings, & the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius (who personally testified that he read the correspondence in the archives of Edessa). During the public ministry of our Lord, King Abgar who was suffering from an incurable disease, sent a letter reiterating his belief in the Lord & requesting Him to visit Edessa so that he could get cured. He also extended an invitation to the Lord to live there as he had heard about the squabbles of the Jews. Jesus replied that He was unable to visit at that time, but ensured that He would send one of His disciples. King Abgar is one of the very first who believed in Jesus without seeing Him & without doubting.

After the ascension of our Savior, St. Thaddeus one of the Seventy disciples, as instructed by the Lord, was sent to King Abgar. Thaddeus went to meet King Abgar carrying with him a square face-cloth which Christ used. The cloth had an image of Christ miraculously imprinted on it. When King Abgar held this relic, he was healed immediately. This cloth known as the ‘Mandylion’ of Christ, is the very first Holy icon. This icon was not created by man & therefore has the title ‘Not made by Human Hands’ The king & his subjects became Christians. Edessa thus became the first Christian kingdom.

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according to (the reckoning of) the Greeks, – the martyrs, who were from those that were interred at Antioch, that is to say in Kerateion, who were the sons of Šamūnī, mentioned in (the book of) the Maccabees

August 1st is the commemoration of the dukhrono of the Holy Maccabee saints Shmuni, her seven sons & their teacher Eleazar (qadishe maqaboye Mort Shmuni u s’habho bnayo w’Eli’ozor malfonhun) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mort Shmuni & her 7 sons along with Mor Eliozor suffered martyrdom under emperor Antiochus IV. Their story is written in the 2nd book of Maccabees. While her name is not mentioned in the Bible, within the Syriac tradition she is known as Shmuni. Though they lived before the time of Christ, they are counted among the company of the saints for attaining the crown of martyrdom. Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on Mort Shmuni & her 7 sons, including St. Gregory Nazianzus & St. John Chrysostom.

The pagan king wanted the faithful Shmuni & her sons to consume pig meat. However, they refused to as they did not wish to break the law given by God to Prophet Moses. Enraged, the king ordered them to be tortured & killed. One by one, each son was brutally tortured & then burnt alive within a large pot of flames. St. Shmuni seeing her sons tortured & killed still trusted God & she, bore it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had in the Lord. After all the sons were killed, St. Shmuni too suffered the same fate. Thus they all attained the crown of martyrdom for following the law of God. Their teacher St. Eleazar was also martyred along with them. Many miracles are attributed to the intercession of St. Shmuni & her sons.

According to the Syriac Fenqitho (book of festal offices), the name of her sons are Habroun, Hebsoun, Bakhous, Adai, Tarsai, Maqbai and Yawnothon.

There are many Syriac churches dedicated in her honour, one of the oldest being Mort Shmuni Syriac Orthodox Church in Qarqosh, Iraq which is 1500 years old. This is the home parish of St. Baselios Yeldho Maphriyano +1685 who is entombed in Kothamangalam.

Biography adapted from, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mort Shmuni, her 7 sons and Mor Eliozor! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Tone for the commemoration of saints: 8

Listen to a sermon about Mort Shmuni by our beloved late Catholicos of the East HB Mor Baselius Paulose II +1996 of blessed memory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVaQ5RsP0oM

Cathedral Homily LII of St. Severus: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/severus_sermon_52.htm

St. Shmuni in various Syriac sources: http://bit.ly/ShmuniSyriacSources

Huthomo by HG Mor Osthatheos Isaac: https://youtu.be/RkJ4_QmpljI

https://urhotheway.com/2020/08/02/morth-shmoni-her-seven-sons/


St. Severus the Great of Antioch Cathedral Homily # 52

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the commemoration of Xystus, bishop of Rome,

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Ruben was a stylite of Qartmin

RsOH

August 1st is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. King Constantine the Great +337 and his mother St. Helena +328 according the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Constantine the Great was the son of Flavius Constantius & Helena. He was brought up in Drepanum his mother’s birthplace.

With his Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, the three-centuries-long persecution came to an end. The external threat of the persecution by the Roman government ended However the internal threat of the Arian heresy sprung forth. Constantine convened the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea to combat the Arian heresy in 325AD. The council repudiated the Arian heresy and formulated the statement of faith known as The Nicene Creed

Constantine’s adherence to Christianity was closely associated with his rise to power. He fought the Battle of the Milvian Bridge (according to Eusebius, during the campaign against Maxentius) in the name of the Christian God, having received instructions in a dream to paint the Christian monogram (Cross) on his troops’ shields to invoke the help of Christ. In the Syriac Orthodox Church the prayers on the feast of the Holy Cross on 14 September allude to this event. In addition the Sh’himo prayers of Friday say, May the cross of light that was shown to Constantine in the sky be a high wall to the churches and the monasteries.

He issued numerous laws relating to Christian practices. He extended several privileges to the clergy. Emperor Constantine died on 21 May A.D. 337 at Ancryona, Izmit, Turkey. Shortly before his death, he was baptised by Eusebius of Nicomedia. After his baptism he refused to wear the imperial purple and died wearing the white baptismal robe. He was entombed in the church of the Holy Apostles.

Mort Queen Helena the mother of St. King Constantine was born in Drepanum. She married Constantine Chlorus, who after the birth of Constantine, later divorced her for political reasons. Helen embraced Christianity at the instance of Constantine at the age of 63.

Queen Helen was very considerate to the poor and needy. Queen Helen was eager to discover the cross on which Jesus was crucified. This is evident from the hymn recited during the procession of MidLent (phelgo d-sawmo/paathinombu):

Queen Helen came Jerusalem – From Rome, Royal town
To worship the Cross on which – Jesus was hanged on
She called together – All the Jews she knew
Asked them to show her – Place of Jesus Cross
They told her that they got a – Leading commander
If you ask him, he will show – Place of Jesus Cross
Halleluiah.. Vu .. Halleluiah….

Three crosses were discovered on March 24 while preparing the site for constructing the church at Golgotha. In the Sh’himo The Bo’outho of Mor Yacoub of Sarug (the Prayer of the third hour for Friday) describes the anecdote vividly:

“Judas stood up and girded his loins manfully and dug and found three crosses which lay together; the mother of the king was sad because of this, because she did not know which was the cross of the Son of God.

Judas said to her: do not be grieved, blessed one, the Lord lives who will show you which is his cross. The Father was pleased to show the cross of light by means of a dead youth, who was being accompanied on the way to the grave.

When they placed them one after the other on the dead man, the people cried: living cross, show your power; the dead man saw the cross of light and rose from the bier and all who saw him gave glory to him who raised him up”

The portions of this cross were considered to be very precious and prelates used pieces of this cross in their handcross during the fourth century. A portion of the cross is inserted in the handcross of St. Gregorius Abdul Jaleel +1671 of North Paravur.

The last days of Queen Helen were spent at Palestine and her dead body was taken to Rome when she passed.

Biographies courtesy Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of The Syriac Orthodox Church

Oh Mor Constantine and Morth Helena plead for us before God’s throne of grace! May the power of the true Holy Cross protect us from the evil one and all his forces. Amen

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at Nicomedia, Philippos and four others

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August 2nd is the anniversary of the release of Vishuda Grantham (Malayalam translation of the Syriac Peshito Holy Bible).

On August 2nd 1994, late ‘Malankara Malfono’ (Doctor of the Malankara Church), ‘Korooso Dasroro’ (Proclaimer of the faith),  ‘Mtargmono d Etho’ (Translator of the Church) Reesh Cor-Episcopo (Archpriest) Most Rev. Fr. Dr. Kurian Kaniyamparambil released the completed Malayalam translation of the Syriac Peshito Holy Bible. The Vishudha Grandham (Holy Bible) was released after the painstaking efforts to meticulously and authentically translate the Syriac Holy Bible without error so that the faithful in Malankara could read the scripture as intended by the Church.

What is the Peshito, and why is it important? The Peshito/Peshita is the Syriac version of the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible being the divine word of God almighty. Since the translation of the books of the Holy Bible into Syriac started as early as the first century, the Syriac version preserves the very ancient renditions of the original texts. In fact Syriac, the language of the Peshitta, is a dialect of Aramaic akin to the Aramaic of the Jewish exile and the Palestinian Aramaic of Jesus Christ. This sociolinguistic connection with the Semitic world gives new insights into the words of the Bible currently undisclosed by Western languages. Moreover, the Peshito Holy Bible is full of distinctive readings that are absent in other versions. The Peshito Bible is the official scripture of the various Syriac Churches including the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch.

Prior to the translation of the Peshito into Malayalam by our Reesh Cor-Episcopo, the faithful in India were forced to rely on translations made by Europe Protestant missionaries who used German or English versions as their source. These texts were riddled with errors of translation in comparison to the original ancient texts.

The Syriac Peshito and its authentic translation are the foundations of true Orthodox Christian spiritual enlightenment. When one uses a different translation such as Bible Society etc, they are deviating from the scripture as intended by the Holy Fathers of the Church guided by the Holy Spirit. Sadly, there are countless faithful who continue using unauthorized translations within their homes, even when the perfect Vishuda Grantham is available. We encourage all Syriac Orthodox faithful of Malankara to begin using only the Vishudha Grandham & Syriac Peshito Holy Bible as the basis of scripture in their homes, and churches.

May the great efforts and labour of love by late Reesh Cor-Episcopo not be in vain…

A Conversation on the ‘Peshitta Bible’ (courtesy Urho the Way): https://bit.ly/3poMl8W

To know more about the importance of this Malayalam translation please watch: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10213345984944900&id=1256738283

Thanks to the diligent work of Mr. Cherian Jacob in the USA (with spiritual guidance from Fr. Jose Daniel & Very Rev Fr. Kuriakose Moolayil Cor-Episcopo http://vishudhagrandham.com) the complete Vishudha Grandham is available on mobile applications. This wonderful effort has brought the Malayalam translation of the Syriac Peshito to the digital age. You can have the true Holy Bible in your pocket. The app has both the Malayalam Vishuda Grantham and the transliteration (Manglish) into English script for those who cannot read Malayalam but can understand it.

To download for Android: https://goo.gl/QHNsCv

To download for Apple iOS: https://goo.gl/eAeTkq

Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_nsnEjhrVGpMSsYFJv31Hw

Below photo: 
The Holy Bible (Vishudha Grandham) being taken reverently from Mar Thoma Church, Kothamangalam on August 2, 1994 for its release by the late Catholicos HB Mor Baselius Paulose-II (middle) of blessed memory.

Also seen in the photo is the present Catholicos HB Mor Baselius Thomas-I, late lamented HG Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Perumpilly Thirumeni) and Metropolitan HG Mor Themotheos Thomas.

Saint Gamaliel was a Pharisee, a doctor of the Law (Acts 5:34), and the teacher of Saint Paul (Acts 22:3).

Saint Abibas was the twenty-year-old son of Saint Gamaliel, who died before his father. His relics were uncovered along with those of Saints Stephen, Gamaliel, and Nicodemus in 415.

The relics of Saints Stephen, Gamaliel, Abibas, and Nicodemus were transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople in 428 and placed in the church of the holy deacon Laurence

RSoH

August 2nd is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Ahudemeh +575 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Ahudemeh was born to in Balad, Iran to a Nestorian family. He received theological education under Nestorian teachers & subsequently became a Nestorian bishop. However, he left the heresy of Nestorianism & embraced the Orthodox (Miaphysite) True faith. He preached to the nomadic Arab tribes of Beth Arabaye province of the Persian Empire, & countless ethnic Arabs accepted the Orthodox faith. He built a Monastery dedicated to Mor Sergius so the Arabs did not have to go to the Byzantine Empire to pray, but it was sadly destroyed by the Nestorians.

The Miaphysites came under fierce persecution within the Byzantine Empire after they rejected the Council of Chalcedon. Many miaphysites took refuge in the Persian Empire. However, the Persian Sassanid Shah did not welcome them. He believed the Miaphysites to be spies who were loyal to Byzantine, as their spiritual leader (Patriarch of Antioch and all the East) was residing within Byzantine territory. The Nestorians also spread lies to deceive the Shah into believing that Orthodox could not be trusted. So the Orthodox faithful were persecuted simultaneously in Byzantine & in Persia.

Shah Khosrau decided to hold a debate between the Orthodox & the Nestorians at his court to see which faith was superior. The Nestorians were represented by their leader Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Joseph who was also the physician of Shah Khosrau. The Orthodox were represented by Mor Ahudemeh. At the end of the debate, the Shah realized that the Orthodox faith was superior & therefore granted the Orthodox freedom to worship & build churches, monasteries etc.

Mor Yac’ub Burd’ono seeing the greatness of Mor Ahudemeh, consecrated him Metropolitan of the East to protect, shepherd & promote the Syriac Orthodox Church in the territories of the Persian Sassanid Empire. He was counted as the first Metropolitan of the See of the East after it had been usurped by the Nestorians. With greater authority, Mor Ahudemeh began strengthening the Orthodox Church, rebuilding monasteries, evangelizing etc.

The son of Shah Khosrau was baptized to Christianity by Mor Ahudemeh who sent him to Byzantine for safety, which angered the emperor. The Shah imprisoned Mor Ahudemeh. The Syriac Orthodox Arab tribes who were converted by the missions of Mor Ahudemeh offered 3 times his weight in gold to the emperor for Mor Ahudemeh’s freedom. However, Mor Ahudemeh declined, deciding to remain in prison & was later executed. Thus he attained the crown of martyrdom. His mortal remains were interred in Qronta, opposite Tikrit.

Mor Ahudemeh was also a philosopher, theologian & scholar known for his great intelligence. He was a staunch supporter of Orthodoxy even till his death.

Oh Mor Ahudemeh! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Biography adapted from, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sleepers

Information about the legend including English translation made by the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kKUvd_U-1ma7ixGMN8sfVYCm-brfs7bn/view?usp=drivesdk

Mentioned by the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory in his article on Islam.

For the Syrians the Legend of the Cave was an event with which God proves that He, the creator, can bring back to life the dead on the day of the resurrection. It was handed down in the Syriac language in excellent style, verse and prose. It belongs to the Syrian tradition and was studied thoroughly also by the great chroniclers like Zachariah the Rhetor (+536), John of Ephesus (+587), the Monk of Zuqnin (+775) and others. We also have a poem, containing 74 verses in 7-syllable meter, by Mor Jacob of Serugh (+521). The church remembers these Seven Sleepers on November 24 [should be October 24] every year. They have their own liturgical prayer in which the truth of their sleeping and awakening is documented and handed down. http://syriacchristianity.info/PZakka/ShortHisIslam.htm

RSoH

The Transfer of the Relics of the Holy Protomartyr Stephen from Jerusalem to Constantinople took place about the year 428.

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Solitary Ihidoyo

https://gedsh.bethmardutho.org/Ihidaya

Monasticism in Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch (Hymonutho lecture series): https://bit.ly/MonasticismHymonutho

Vat. LXIX

In hagiography: Cyriacus was bishop of Amida and came from the monastery of Mar Zakka near Edessa. His church was seized by the Chalcedonians, but he restored his churches under Khusro II. He was the author of 30 ecclesiastical canons.

In hagiography: Lazarus the Confessor was possibly a monk of Qartmin commemorated for martyrdom under a Persian general.


Possibly Mor Lazarus (martyred by Persian sword) mentioned in the Life of Mor Samuel of Qartmin


Or he is one of those who were martyred during the persecution by Barsauma of Nisibis. 

RSoH

In hagiography: Isaiah was a bishop of Edessa. He was named with the approval of the Persians who occupied the city. He refused to give communion to Heraclius on account of the emperor’s support of Chalcedon.

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The Martyr Eudocia was a native of Anatolia, living in the fourth century. The army of the Persian emperor Sapor took her into captivity with 9,000 Christians. Since she knew the Holy Scriptures well, she instructed the prisoners. The saint also preached to the Persian women and converted many of them to Christianity. For this she was subjected to lengthy and fierce tortures and then beheaded.

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Teacher of St. John the Dwarf

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Mor Shalito, an Aramaic name meaning “the One with Authority”, was born into a pagan family in Egypt in the 4th century. In that time, the Emperor Constantine I the Great (306-337) called on the gentiles to turn away from idols and to start worshipping the one living God. Shalito was 15 years old when he renounced the idols, left his father’s house and was baptized. He had been taught well in philosophical sciences. After his baptism, he began to study the Holy Scriptures day and night and pray the Psalms.

A Confessor Before Arian Rulers in Alexandria
At the age of twenty years he entered a monastery in Alexandria where he was instructed under the guidance of Pope Athanasius the Great (* 295; Pope: 328-373). When Shalito was 25 years old, Pope Athanasius was exiled by the Arians. St. Shalito encouraged and strengthened the faithful not to deviate from the true faith.
A certain judge in Alexandria called Lularianus gave the order to bring Shalito before him. He questioned him about his faith. Shalito confessed his faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one true God; Christ, the Son of God, is not a creature of God, but consubstantial with Him, born of the Virgin Mary Mother of God. Because Shalito confessed this faith and did not deny, the judge had him imprisoned to prevent him from convincing others of this faith. In prison, he was tortured and tormented, yet he remained true to the faith, although Lularianus promised him high ranks and honor on the Patriarchal See of Alexandria. At night, Shalito was strengthened by Christ, raised and comforted. Then he began to teach the fellow prisoners about the true faith and to warn them of the heresy of Arius who taught that Christ was a creature of God. When the judge received the report that Shalito preaches in prison, he exiled him from Alexandria. Throughout Egypt, the Saint made many disciples and converted many pagans to the true faith.

In the Monastery of St. Pachomius and Hermit
One day he came to a village of pagans outside of Alexandria, who mocked him when they realized that he was a Christian. Suddenly, one of them became afflicted by leprosy, so that all were filled with fear and asked Shalito to heal him. He anointed the body of the afflicted one with consecrated oil, and he was immediately healed. The villagers came to the true faith and were baptized, 532 in number. He instructed them in the history of salvation, whereupon they collected their gold in great love and built three churches from it. The Saint went around in that area, preached and baptized innumerable people.
He was simple and humble and a steadfast ascetic in fasting and prayer. In this asceticism he spent five years in the monastery of St. Pachomius. One day, he cast out a demon from a possessed to whom the brothers did not dare to approach and therefore asked Shalito for help. After this miracle they greatly honored him.
He, however, so as not to fall into pride, left the monastery and withdrew to a mountain where he lived for ten years in a crevice, without being seen by anybody. His food consisted of wild roots and shoots of dates. In that deserted place he had to go through many fights against the Evil One. Satan could not bring the Saint to fall with his illusions, because Shalito ashamed him by the sign of the cross. The hermit was often attacked and beaten by demons. But Christ never abandoned him, strengthening him through revelations and visions, by which he was encouraged.
One day he was concerned that the Arian heresy could spread in the world. Then he saw in the spirit a fire eating and destroying hay, thorns, and weed. He was given to understand that the thorns were the Arian and all the other heresies, and the fire is the true faith of the holy apostolic Church.

Among the Discipleship of St. Augin in Mesopotamia
Then he went to a monastery where many monks lived. After receiving a revelation that the great Saint Augin (+363) would come soon, he chose from among the brothers seventy and said that he would go with them under the direction of Augin to the East to Mesopotamia in order to stop deceptive heresies and to spread the Gospel of Christ. They all stood up with him and went forth to meet St. Augin. Also St. Augin himself explained to the 71 that he was about to move to the East to spread the Good News of the Lord over there. They all knelt, prayed and marched up to Nisibis, which lay on the border of the Roman and the Persian Empire. They settled down in the Izlo Mountains (now Bagok in the south-east Turkey) where they built cells for themselves.
After three years, the bubonic plague spread in Nisibis which St. Shalito caused to cease by his prayer. One of the most prestigious in Nisibis saw in a dream that it was Shalito who had caused it to cease by his prayer. They brought all their sick and afflicted to him, and he healed them of their various diseases, 1,023 people.

Together With St. Jacob Bishop of Nisibis
At that time the great Saint Mor Jacob was consecrated Bishop of Nisibis (+338). This Saint visited Augin and his disciples on the Izlo Mountains. Bishop Jacob revealed his project to St. Augin to have a church built in Nisibis, and he was strengthened and encouraged therein. Both took also Shalito and prayed at the place where the church should stand. Then an angel came from heaven to them who measured the church from one side, Bishop Jacob from another, Augin measured the third side, and Shalito the fourth. The holy bishop had this church built, and the Lord brought it to completion.

Raising a Dead
St. Jacob had another church built in the mountains of Qardu (Ararat-Mountains) where the ark of Noah had come to rest. For the consecration of that church he took Mor Augin, Mor Shalito and many other disciples to accompany him. On their way they came to a thick forest where Shalito went to do his prayer. A young man ran towards him, wailing and crying, because his brother had been eaten by a giant monster. Mor Shalito began to pray, caused the monster to spit out the child, cursed the monster, so that it died immediately. He anointed the child with holy oil, and brought his dead body back to life. His brother ran into his village and made this great miracle known to all the villagers, so that all ran to the Saint, and asked him and his companions for their blessing. Those pagan villagers asked also to be baptized. Jacob of Nisibis baptized them all, and they participated in the Holy Communion. Many of those accompanied St. Jacob to the consecration of the Church. And the boy which Mor Shalito had raised from the dead, accompanied him and became his disciple. Augin called him “Ahee-Moreh”, meaning “His Lord has Revived Him”.

The Ministry of the Hermit and Missionary by the Tigris
Since Shalito was being praised and honored among the disciples of Mor Augin more and more, he moved away one night to escape from vain glory. When he asked God in his prayer for a new place, the Holy Spirit said to him to move to Beth-Zabdai (now in the south-east Turkey), where he would remain until the end of his earthly life. When he reached at the Tigris-River, he made the sign of the cross on the river and crossed it on the water. He found a narrow cave on a mountain and dwelt there, where he suffered much from the cold, for it was snowing heavily there. Even the first two months he stayed without food.
When Satan saw that Mor Shalito never tired of doing good, he entered an idol statue that was being worshiped in the neighboring village, and spoke through the idol to the villagers that if they don’t beat up and drive away the man who lives on the mountain, a disciple of the Nazarene, he would destroy their village. So they all started on their way in anger and beat St. Shalito half-dead. After they walked away, the grace of God came down upon him and he recovered. That night the angel of the Lord struck the whole village with the bubonic plague. One of them saw in a dream that the reason of the disease was that they had committed an offense against the servant of God who had to pray for them that the plague may cease. That man revealed his dream to all the villagers, and full of repentance t

Sabellius and Shapira were the parents of Taliam and had him at the age of 52. A revelation predicted that Talia, at age two, would kill impious kings. This news reached the ears of the governor, and they were all arrested. The child was tried and tortured multiple times, and his parents were stoned. He was cut in many pieces, but still found intact. He was finally killed after many ordeals, and his example converted people. He was a martyr at age two. A shrine at Romaniya was built to him.

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In hagiography: Thuthael was a stylite and disciple of Samuel of Qartmin, and was raised from the dead.

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Mor Addai Addai has been venerated since the earliest times as one of the evangelists of the Tigris-Euphrates region along with Mor. Mari.

http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/Sts.%20adai%20and%20mari.htm

August 6th is the Feast of the Transfiguration (Hido d-Mtalé) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. It is also known as Koodara Perunaal.

The feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord is celebrated each year on August 6th which is forty days before the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross (S’hkohteh da-Slibo), because the transfiguration of the Lord took place, according to one tradition, forty days before His crucifixion. The Ma`de`dono (aanduthaksa; Book of Church Festivals), does not contain a special service for this feast in contrast to the other feasts of our Lord. However, as with every Sunday there are daily offices from the Phanqitho along with special hymns for post-Gospel, kasoloki, & huthomo which reflect the Biblical tradition & theological significance of this day.

Historically, the origin of this feast is related most likely to the Dedication of the churches of Mount Tabor, and was introduced into the Syriac Orthodox Liturgy in the seventh century or possibly much later.

The feast commemorates the transfiguration or metamorphosis of Christ on Mount Tabor, when our Lord appeared in His divine glory before the Apostles Peter, James, & John. Conversing with Christ is the Prophet Elijah and Prophet Moses. It also represents symbolically the transformation that happens in each individual & the whole creation by assimilating the salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ.

For detailed information about the Feast of the Transfiguration: https://goo.gl/SYJGzP

The Holy Bible readings from the Church Lectionary:

Evening:
St. Matthew 16:27-17:13

Morning:
St. Mark 8:38-9:13

Before Holy Qurbono:
Deuteronomy 16:13-15
Exodus 19:24:20-6
Joshua 3:1-7
Zachariah 14:16-19
Isaiah 60:12-15 61:1-3

Holy Qurbono:
I John 2:23-3:1
Romans 11:25-36
St. Luke 9:27-36

For sermons/commentaries based on the Gospel: https://goo.gl/xQGyBo

Kingdom of Heaven Revealed at Mount of Transfiguration by Dr. Sinu P. John: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uMu3QkEW5ZS8BHV8bQRDJNW_DYNF7nTO/view?usp=drivesdk

Hymns for Transfiguration: https://goo.gl/oxQSyE

Tone for the Feast of the Transfiguration: 6

Fixed Feast

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In hagiography: Abel was the first stylite saint of the Monastery of Qartmin and was a patron against eye disease and paralysis. According to hagiographic tradition, Philoxenus of Mabbug called upon him for a benediction.


Mor Abel (visited by Mor Akhsnoyo) mentioned in the Life of Mor Samuel of Qartmin

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Mor Abrohom of the High Mountain was the teacher of Mor Barsawmo.

Mor Hobil was a monk of Qartmin. He was a stylite and contemporary of Mor Philoxenus of Mabbug. He led a holy life of asceticism upon his pillar.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

In Midyat Turkey, the Monastery of St. Hobel & St. Abraham (Mor Hobil Mor Abrohom Manastırı ܡܪܝ ܗܒܝܠ ܘܡܪܝ ܐܒܪܗܡ) is a pilgrimage site and refuge for the faithful.

Oh Mor Abrohom and Mor Hobil! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

In hagiography: the “Egyptians of Qartmin” were a group of 800 monks from Egypt who were buried at Qartmin. Their legend was connected to the crania in the monastery Qartmin. Eight hundred princes on pilgrimage from Egypt became monks of Qartmin.

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August 8th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St Raboula of Edessa +435 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Raboula Urhoyo was born in a wealthy family of Kenneshrin/Qinnasrin village (Chalcis near Aleppo, Syria). His father was a pagan priest & mother was a Christian. He learned Greek & Syriac, got married in his youth & led a family life.

Once while listening to an evangelical talk in Mor Abraham Dayaro in Kenneshrin he felt a desire to listen to & study the word of God. Later he learned theology from Mor Eusebius of Smishath & Aakkak Episcopo of Aleppo. When he returned to Kennishrin he lived away from his family making his wife & children lead an ascetic life. He freed his slaves & shared his riches with the poor, later joining Mor Abraham Dayro.

St. Raboula was ordained a priest in AD 388 & in AD 411 after the death of Bishop Diogenes of Urhoy (Edessa), Raboula was ordained as the successor by the Patriarch of Antioch. He was a close friend of St. Cyril of Alexandria. Mor Raboula was vehemently opposed to Nestorianism. With fierce determination he combatted the growing rise of heresy in his diocese & elsewhere, even traveling to Constantinople to preach the true faith & denounce Nestorian ideology in front of Patriarch Theodosius (who was leaning towards Nestorianism).

His literary legacy comprises of rules for the ascetics, rules for the children of the covenant, rules about services in the Church, a few madraso, sugeetho & bovootho. He is a well known for abolishing the use of the Syriac Diatessaron (harmonized combination of the Gospels) ordering instead that the Syriac translations of the 4 canonical Gospels be made available in every church.

It was customary for Raboula to stay at Mor Abraham Dayaro every year fasting & meditating for spiritual rejuvenation. He took part in the Synod of Ephesus in AD 431. His reign as Bishop of Edessa lasted for 24 years.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Raboula Urhoyo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

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Talia was the child of Sabellius and Shapira, who had him at the age of 52. A revelation predicted that Talia, at age two, would kill impious kings. This news reached the ears of the governor, and they were all arrested. The child was tried and tortured multiple times, and his parents were stoned. He was cut in many pieces, but still found intact. He was finally killed after many ordeals, and his example converted people. He was a martyr at age two. A shrine at Romaniya was built to him.

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Probably the Habib mentioned in John of Ephesus; Lives of Eastern Saints Volume I

Life of Habib: https://bit.ly/VitaHabib

Paris 146

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The commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Mathias the Apostle +64AD according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Mathias was born to the tribe of Ruben in Bethlehem. While he is not mentioned directly, it’s evident from the words of St. Peter that he was with the Holy Apostles throughout the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:21-22). St. Mathias was chosen as the replacement of Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Christ. When the Apostles & other believers gathered in the upper room of St. Mark’s home (now Dayro d-Mor Marqos), St. Peter the chief of the Apostles called upon them, telling them that to fulfill the scriptures, a replacement should be sought. Among the two candidates, the lot was cast upon Mathias who was chosen to be numbered among the remaining Apostles of our Lord. (Acts 1:15-22)

He preached the Gospel in Palestine, Abbyssinia, Cappadocia, Armenia & Georgia. Many miracles were performed by him, & even in the midst of ongoing persecution he was protected by the Lord.

Mor Mathias was stoned to death by the leaders of the Jewish Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. Thus he attained the crown of martyrdom.

Oh Mor Mathias Sleeho! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

The Martyrs Archdeacon Laurence, Pope Sixtus, Deacons Felicissimus and Agapitus, the Soldier Romanus were citizens of Rome, and suffered in the year 258 under the emperor Valerian (253-259)

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Disciple of St. Isidore of Pelusium

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Vat. LXIX

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

Eulogius was an ascetic who was a disciple of Mar Awgin. He was either a servant of a leper.

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

at Nikopolis, Paulos

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Martyr

In hagiography: Eusebonia was a martyr with Apollonius

August 12th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Azazael +304 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Izozoel (Mar Azazael) is a holy saint who loudly professed that age is not a barrier to be a worthy testimonial for Christ’s infinite love. It is believed that he was born in Samosata or Phrygia. His father was a very influential figure in the imperial court. After his parents’ death, his uncle took care of him. Even in his heartbreak, he received the kindness & warmth of Jesus’ love. Perhaps his uncle was a reason for his attraction to our Lord Jesus. The heart of Izozoel was filled with love & devotion to God. Along with his uncle, the holy saint began to proclaim the Gospel message of Jesus Christ in the neighboring regions where they were noticed by the king. Historical records exist which attest to the arrival of Mor Izozoel & his uncle to Rome. But there are two traditions in this regard. As per the first belief, St. Azazael & his uncle came to Rome to proclaim the Gospel. The second tradition states that both of them came to Rome as directed by the Emperor.

Mor Izozoel was 14 years old when he came to Rome. The preaching of the saint & his uncle attracted many of the countrymen to the Christian faith, infuriating the emperor, who summoned them to Rome for trial. Emperor Maximian ordered him to abandon the faith. When St. Azazael refused, he was brutally tortured. But that night, the Lord healed & comforted him. The emperor was shocked to see the saint regained his health completely overnight. However the emperor’s heart of stone did not soften. The Emperor attempted to tempt the saint, but it was all in vain. So he once again chose to torture Izozoel, but with even more brutality. The saint collapsed frequently. But every time the saint regained his health with the help of God’s grace. Failing repeatedly, the emperor fumed with rage. Finally, he ordered to kill the saint. St. Azazael was viciously murdered at the age of fourteen (or fifteen) in accordance with the emperor’s decree. Thus Mor Izozoel attained the crown of martyrdom. The faithful buried his relics. A large shrine was built there in AD550, & countless believers flocked there in veneration of the holy saint. The feast of Mor Izozoel is celebrated in the Syriac Orthodox Church on May 12th & August 12th.

In Western Christianity he is known as St. Pancras. It is believed that the King of Northumberland in Great Britain received a portion of saint’s relics & built a church dedicated to the martyr. Additionally, a number of churches in London & surroundings are in the name of the saint. A well known Railway station in London, England is named after St. Pancras.

Though young in age, his love for the Lord & courage during persecution until his final martyrdom serves as an exemplary model for us all.

Biography courtesy the Malayalam work by Fr. Dr. Greger R. Kollanoor. Translated into English by Miss. Shylin.

https://urhotheway.com/2020/08/11/st-azazael/

Oh Mor Izozoel! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Mor Simeon, commemorated on August 12, was from Edessa. He was a monk who went to Samosata on the Euphrates. He shared his cave with an anchorite called Elie and performed many miracles

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In hagiography: Thuthael was a stylite and disciple of Samuel of Qartmin.


Mor Tuthael the Stylite is mentioned in the Life of Mor Samuel of Qartmin.

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at Synnada in Phrygia, Antoninos

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Also saints John and Abraham

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sleepers

Information about the legend including English translation made by the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory: https://tinyurl.com/4ee3dcwd 

Mentioned by the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory in his article on Islam.

For the Syrians the Legend of the Cave was an event with which God proves that He, the creator, can bring back to life the dead on the day of the resurrection. It was handed down in the Syriac language in excellent style, verse and prose. It belongs to the Syrian tradition and was studied thoroughly also by the great chroniclers like Zachariah the Rhetor (+536), John of Ephesus (+587), the Monk of Zuqnin (+775) and others. We also have a poem, containing 74 verses in 7-syllable meter, by Mor Jacob of Serugh (+521). The church remembers these Seven Sleepers on November 24 [should be October 24] every year. They have their own liturgical prayer in which the truth of their sleeping and awakening is documented and handed down. http://syriacchristianity.info/PZakka/ShortHisIslam.htm

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

Known as Moses of Mesopotamia, Mor Ya`qub was the bishop of Nisibin from 308/9 A.D. till his death in AD 338. Mor Ya`qub has always been a prominent figure in the Syriac-speaking Church tradition. He acquired a reputation for great learning, ability and holiness. Little is known about his life; however, we know that he took a leading role in opposing the Arian heresy at the Council of Nicaea (325). He is honored as a malphono (i.e., theological doctor) by both the Syriac and Armenian Churches. Mor Ya`qub of Nisibin undertook the construction of a church building in Nisibin between 313 and 320. His relics were saved from the a Persian invasion and were send to Constantinople for safety around the year 970.

http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/St.%20James%20of%20nisibis.htm

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at Antioch, Barlāhā.

He was a former servant of pagans

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August 14th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Cosmas and St. Damian +306 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Qozma & Mor Dumyana were twin brothers. They were born in Arabia & they studied the sciences in Syria & became eminent in their skills in medicine. They treated patients without taking any fee, instead asking those who were healed to believe in Christ Jesus.

They were imprisoned by the order of Lysias, governor of Cilicia. The brothers were persecuted for their faith in Christ. It is recorded that while they were hanging on crosses, the mob stoned them, but the stones flew backwards & hit the tormentors; similarly, the arrows of archers who were brought up to shoot at them turned in the air & scattered the bowmen. After various torments, they were beheaded for the faith. Thus Mor Cosmas & Mor Damian attained the crown of martyrdom. Three others, Anthimus, Leontius & Euprepius are also said to have been martyred with them.

Many miracles of healing were ascribed to them after their death. St. Cosmas & St. Damian are the patron saints of doctors.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Qozma & Mor Dumyana! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Known as anargyroi (silverless) or unmercenaries RSoH

at Nicomedia, from the ancient (martyrs), Philippos and Antiochos.

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In hagiography: Theodota (Theodute) was the Bishop of Amida. He was born in Ingilene and was a monk at Qenneshrin. He served the poor. He taught chant to the monks at Qartmin. He was known to travel with a bag full of relics to use in healing others.

https://gedsh.bethmardutho.org/Theodotos-of-Amid

Vita: http://bit.ly/VitaTheodota

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August 15th is the Commemoration of the Assumption of St. Mary the mother of God (shunoyo d-yoldath Aloho Mariam) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

In his article about the Holy Virgin Mary, the thrice blessed late HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I of blessed memory states, Her Assumption in the flesh & soul was not instituted by the Syriac Church as doctrine. The Virgin’s Assumption is a confessional patristic tradition based on the Syriac narrative of Apostle St.Thomas. In this narrative we read about the gathering of the Apostles in spirit in Jerusalem for the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, & about the late arrival of Thomas, his encounter with the Virgin up in the sky on the way up to heaven, & his acquisition of her girdle, which he brought to the Apostles & his request to reopen her grave. Upon reopening, Apostles did not find her holy body. Thomas declared to them the truth of her ascension to heaven in her glorified flesh & that he witnessed her procession & received the girdle from her in testimony whereof. The Apostles believed him.

St. Jacob of Serugh (+521) said in his Memre in Syriac on the death of the Virgin Mary, “When the virgin was on her death bed, Angels, the righteous, prophets & fathers descended on her from high upon the order of God. The twelve Apostles and Evangelists came…they buried her in a rocky cave. Glory prevailed in heaven & on earth when the angels beheld her soul ascending and flying towards abodes of lights”.

In addition, the book ascribed to Dionysius the Areopagyte, the bishop of Athens (+95AD) relates that ”upon the dormition of St. Mary, all the Apostles gathered together so quickly coming from the Four Corners of Earth, where they were preaching the word. They arrived in Jerusalem, the Residence City of blessed Mary, & then Jesus came with His angels. Jesus received her soul and handed it to Michael the Archangel. Later Jesus appeared once more & transferred her holy body to heaven on a cloud. Up there, her body was united to her soul to enjoy her everlasting joy.”

During the Assumption, Mor Touma was given the Girdle (soonoro/belt) of the Virgin as testimony to the other Holy Apostles that she was translated to heaven. Syriac tradition reports that St. Thomas took the girdle of the Virgin Mary with him to India where he was martyred at the hands of pagan priests. When Thomas’ relics were taken to Edessa in the fourth century, the Holy girdle was brought with them. Finally the girdle reached the Church of the Virgin in Homs, which has been called the Church of the Virgin’s Girdle (Um al-Zennar Church) ever since. The girdle was discovered in 1852 during the time of Archbishop Mor Julius Peter (The thrice blessed late HH Mor Ignatius Peter IV of blessed memory). The girdle was placed in the Altar. The thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Mor Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum of blessed memory, rediscovered the girdle in 1953. It has been carbon tested by archeologists to determine its age; the authenticity is confirmed. Photographs of these events are also kept near to the Holy Girdle’s place. The two stone plates, one with a hole inside where the Holy Girdle was kept, & the other one which was covering the first stone plate with an inscription about it, is also kept in a nearby place of the Madbaho.The shrine of the girdle in the church in Homs has become a source of blessing for the faithful.

May the intercession of the Holy Virgin Mary, the mother of God (Bthultho Yoldath Aloho Mariam) bless all the faithful who earnestly seek her prayers.

For more info on Shunoyo: https://goo.gl/Ygey3R

The Holy Bible readings from the Church Lectionary:

Evening:
St. Luke 11:27-32
Mark 3:28-35
Matthew 12:43-45

Morning:
St. Luke 2:42-51
St. Matthew 12:46-50

Before Holy Qurbono:
Exodus 19:16-23
Joshua 4:4-10
Isaiah 45:14-19

Holy Qurbono:
Acts 7:44-53
Hebrews 9:3-12,
St. Luke 10:38-42
St. John 19:25-27

Tone of the Day: 7

Syriac prayers for Shunoyo: https://tinyurl.com/3mw4x4df 

Prayer book for the intercession of St. Mary in Malayalam/Manglish: https://tinyurl.com/mr36hvnb 

Prayer book for the intercession of St. Mary in English: https://tinyurl.com/22adj4ur 

Malankara World Shunoyo special supplement with sermons & other articles: https://goo.gl/RF6PTj

Malayalam Sermon by late Dr. Babu Paul IAS: https://tinyurl.com/bdfyz8u5

Huthomo sung by HG Mor Osthatheos Isaac: https://youtu.be/14MNlTFvgjI

Holy Girdle (Soonoro)
http://www.syriacchristianity.info/doc/HolyVirginMary.htm

Fixed Feast

August 16th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Philoxenus of Mabbug +523 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Also known as Mor Akhsnoyo, Xenaya was born in Tahal, Persia. He studied in Edessa followed by Tel’ada Antioch, later joining the Qartmin Monastery (aka Dayro d-Mor Gabriel) & entering priesthood. St. Philoxenus was consecrated bishop of Mabbug (Hierapolis) by HH Patriarch Peter II (Peter the Fuller). This was during a time of great turbulence in Christianity, hardly 30 years had passed since the infamous Council of Chalcedon. Philoxenus was a vehement champion of the Orthodox Miaphysite theology.

In AD512 St. Severius the Great Patriarch of Antioch replaced the Chalcedonian Flavius II. Mor Philoxenus became his trusted spokesperson. He was a renowned scholar, among the most learned theologians. He wrote several letters on ascetic life, the perfect Christian life, the Holy Trinity & the incarnation, in addition to three texts of Holy Qurbono, & prayers for different hours. Mor Philoxenus also commissioned Cor-Episcopo Polycarp to produce what is known as the ‘Philoxenian Bible’ in Syriac which was used in the Miaphysite churches till about the 7th century when it was superceded by the Syriac Peshito (which already existed in the complete form since the 5th century).

Regarding the incarnation, Mor Philoxenus wrote espousing the Miaphysite theology: “The very personality of God the word descended from heaven & became man in the womb of the Virgin, personally without conversion. Thus, He became a man who could be seen, felt, handled, & yet as God He continued to possess the spiritual, invisible, & impalpable character essential to Deity. Neither the deity nor the humanity was absorbed one by the other, nor converted one into the other. Nor again by a combination of the two natures was a third evolved as by chemical transformation”

Sadly, following the death of the faithful Orthodox Emperor Anastasius, Justin I became ruler. He adhered to the Chalcedonian faith, & began a great wave of persecution on the Orthodox Miaphysites. Justin I exiled both St. Severius & St. Philoxenus. While in exile Mor Akhsnoyo was murdered by suffocation of smoke. Thus on December 10th 523AD, he attained the crown of martyrdom. Mor Philoxenus of Mabbug is commemorated every Sunday in the Thubden d-Qadishe (5th Thubden/Dypthic) of the Syriac Orthodox Church Holy Qurbono.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Akhsnoyo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Priesthood according to Mor Philoxenus of Mabbug by Abouna Fr. Roger Akhrass: https://tinyurl.com/bp6rspw6

Lust in the Belly: https://tinyurl.com/yw5ej3xj 
Lecture Series – The Discourses of Mor Philoxenos of Mabbug (courtesy Urho the Way): https://bit.ly/3nihKHv

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Patriarch of Antioch Mor Quriaqos (Cyriacus) of Tagrit

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at Alexandria, the bishop Ōriōn.

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The Holy Martyr Myron was a presbyter in Achaia (Greece), and lived during the third century. He suffered in the year 250 under the emperor Decius (249-251). The presbyter was gentle and kind to people, but he was also courageous in the defense of his spiritual children

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Stratonike, her husband Seleucus, and their companions were martyrs from Cyziqus on the Sea of Marmara. Martyred under Maximinus, Stratonike was honored in the Hymns on the Holy Women, among the martyrs of the East and West.

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at Amaseia, Philanthēs and three others.’

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Martyrs

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Around 500 martyrs
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The late H.G. Mor Osthatheos Pathrose was Asst Metropolitan of Bangalore diocese.

Mor Osthatheos Pathrose passed away at the age of 59 on August 20th 2022 at Kuppuswamy Hospital Coimbatore, after a long period of illness.

Zel Bashlomo Abun!

http://syriacchristianity.info/bio/MalankaraPrelates/bio_OsthatheosPathros.htm

at Alexandria, the presbyter Dioskoridēs

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Mor Addai has been venerated since the earliest times as one of the evangelists of the Tigris-Euphrates region along with Mor. Mari.

http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/Sts.%20adai%20and%20mari.htm

Vat. LXIX

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The Martyr Bassa with her sons Theognis, Agapius and Pistus, lived in the city of Macedonian Edessa and she was married to a pagan priest. From childhood she had been raised in the Christian Faith, which she passed on to her sons

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The Martyr Lucius, a senator, was beheaded by the sword on the island of Crete in the year 310 for confessing his faith in Christ.

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from the ancient martyrs, Zōtikos and several others

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The Holy Youths Ananias (“God is gracious”), Azarias (“whom God helps”), and Misael (“Who is what God is?”) were companions of the Holy Prophet Daniel. They were chosen to serve in the king’s palace with Daniel (Daniel 1:6) and were all from the tribe of Judah. They gave Ananias the Chaldean name Shadrach (“royal”), Azarias the Chaldean name Abednego (“servant of Nego”), and Misael the Chaldean name Meshach (“guest”). They were thrown into a fiery furnace when they refused to worship the golden idol set up by King Nebuchadnezzar, but the angel of the Lord preserved them (Daniel 3:25).

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The Martyrs Agathonicus, Zoticus, Theoprepius, Acindynus, Severian, Zeno and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305)

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Martyr

Vat. LXIX

H.G. Mor Anthonios Yac’ub, Metropolitan of Honnavar Mission was consecrated on August 23rd 2009 by the thrice blessed late Patriarch H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory.

http://syriacchristianity.info/bio/MalankaraPrelates/bio_AnthoniosYaqub.htm

Paul of Edessa was a bishop from the Italian peninsula who left his see and travelled to Edessa where, in disguise, he was hired into service as a household servant by John of Edessa, a priest. The two lived a life of prayer and spiritual companionship. They travelled to Sinai. Back in Edessa, they interacted with Matthew the eunuch, a woman hiding in a monastery. They travelled to Jerusalem. Paul performed miracles and fled to Nisibis. John found him there, and Paul told him to return to Edessa. Paul died, and John died 8 months later. The story was set in the time of the Bishop Rabbula.

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August 23rd is the commemoration of the dhukrono of St. Eustathius of Antioch according to the liturgical calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Sometimes surnamed the Great, St. Eustathius of Antioch was a bishop & Patriarch of Antioch in the 324-337. At the Council of Nicæa (325), since he was presiding the council, he distinguished himself zealously against the Arians & was one of the most prominent opponents of Arianism, & from 325-330 he was engaged in an almost continuous literary warfare against the Arians.

But the mad Arius, as St. Eustathius called him, refused to renounce his errors. He & those who shared his opinion were excommunicated from the Church by the Council. Among the bishops who signed the Nicene Creed were some who sympathized with the heresy of Arius, but signed the Acts of the Council through fear of excommunication.

After the Council, his enemies plotted against St. Eustathius. With great cunning they gained his consent to convene a local Council at Antioch. Having bribed a certain profligate woman, they persuaded her to appear at the Council with an infant at her breast, & falsely declare that St. Eustathius was the father of the infant. The Arians declared St. Eustathius deposed with the help of King Constantius (who shared the heretical views of the Arians).

Even in exile, Saint Eustathius struggled for Orthodoxy with the same zeal. He died in exile in the year 337AD.

For full biography visit: http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/St.%20Eustathius,%20Patriarch%20of%20Antioch.htm

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H.G. Mor Irenious Paulose, Metropolitan of Kozhikode Diocese and Patriarchal Vicar of Muscat, was consecrated on August 24th 2008 by Late H.H. Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.

http://syriacchristianity.info/bio/MalankaraPrelates/bio_IreniousPaulose.htm

In hagiography: Bar Shebya or Bar Shabbai was a solitary and first bishop of Merv; he was deported from Byzantine territory to Ctesiphon. The sister or wife of Shapor, Shirawan, became Christian and built a church there which Bar Shabba consecrated.

Life of Mor Shabbay, Bishop of Merv: https://bit.ly/ShabbayMerv

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Marinos

Possibly St. Mary of Antioch?

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August 24th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Mathias the Apostle +64AD according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Mathias was born to the tribe of Ruben in Bethlehem. While he is not mentioned directly, it’s evident from the words of St. Peter that he was with the Holy Apostles throughout the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:21-22). St. Mathias was chosen as the replacement of Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Christ. When the Apostles & other believers gathered in the upper room of St. Mark’s home (now Dayro d-Mor Marqos), St. Peter the chief of the Apostles called upon them, telling them that to fulfill the scriptures, a replacement should be sought. Among the two candidates, the lot was cast upon Mathias who was chosen to be numbered among the remaining Apostles of our Lord. (Acts 1:15-22)

He preached the Gospel in Palestine, Abbyssinia, Cappadocia, Armenia & Georgia. Many miracles were performed by him, & even in the midst of ongoing persecution he was protected by the Lord.

Mor Mathias was stoned to death by the leaders of the Jewish Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. Thus he attained the crown of martyrdom.

Oh Mor Mathias Sleeho! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Paulinos

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August 25th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Titus the Evangelist according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

St. Titus, a gentile by birth, was born on the island of Crete. In his early years, he studied Greek philosophy. Although a gentile, he lived a virtuous life throughout his youth. According to tradition, at the age of 20, he was persuaded through a voice in a dream to abandon the Hellenistic pagan world which does not lead to salvation. St. Titus first found in Scriptures the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob while reading Isaiah chapter 47. The governor of Crete, and uncle of Titus sent him to Palestine to investigate reports of a miracle worker and prophet. In the Holy Land, St. Titus witnessed the miracles and glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and became a believer. He thus became one of the Seventy Two (72) Evangelists commissioned by our Lord. 

The Bible lists among the languages spoken at Pentecost was that of Crete (Acts 2:11). Titus accepted Holy Baptism from St. Paul and became his disciple and joined him in travels, St. Paul took Titus to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:1) where Paul testifies against those calling for mandatory circumcision, Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. (Galatians 2:3). St. Paul greatly loved St. Titus, considering him a brother and partner in labouring for the Gospel. Around the time of his second imprisonment, Paul wrote the Epistle to St. Titus. Titus preached in Judea, Dalmatia and Crete, becoming the first bishop of the latter. During Paul’s final stay in Rome, Titus stayed close to his spiritual father, and was greatly grieved by St. Paul’s martyrdom. St. Titus returned to Crete and led the flock there till his peaceful death strengthening them all in the Christian faith. 

Oh Mor Theethose sabrono! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church Volume V’

https://urhotheway.com/2020/08/25/st-titus/

Among the Seventy Two (72) Disciples

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Became bishop of Caesarea

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August 26th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Ananias the Hermit +816 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Hananyo was the Metropolitan of Kfartuta. He was originally from the Dayro d-Mor Mattai Nineveh, he was appointed by the thrice blessed late HH Patriarch Quryaqos of Takrit, of blessed memory . He was instrumental in renovating the buildings of what is known as the Saffron Monastery (Kurkmo Dayro) after a period of decline due to damage inflicted by the Persians. The Monastery eventually became dedicated in his honour as Dayro d-Mor Hananyo. St. Ananias lived a pious life, always full of joy & displaying great affection to the faithful, ever thankful to God. After completing the work of the Monastery, Mor Hananyo finally entered the abode of the saints in 816AD.

The Monastery of Mor Hananyo, also known as Kurkmo Dayro (in Syriac) or Deir ez-Za`faran (in Arabic) meaning the Saffron Monastery, is situated some five kilometers east of Mardin (in South eastern Turkey), in a shallow basin half-way up the side of the mountain ridge. This is one of the most famous & ancient structures of Upper Mesopotamia, & a prominent religious center of the Süryani Kadim (Syriac Orthodox Community). The origin of this imposing monastery goes back to the 5th century; mosaics remaining from that period are still present. It was originally built by Mor Sleymun (Solomon) in 493AD, but it suffered major damage at the hands of Persians prior to the repair work ordered by Mor Hananyo. From 1160 until 1932 it was the official seat of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East. Many scholars of the Church came from Saffron Monastery.

Oh Mor Hananyo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

To know more about Dayro d-Mor Hananyo: https://goo.gl/TEwZaz

Official website of Saffron Monastery: https://goo.gl/rMCMZp

August 26th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Bartholomew the Apostle according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Bartolmai Sleeho was born in the town of Kothine in Galilee. Bartholomew is also known as Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee. The Apostle Philip was a friend of Nathaniel. They were both awaiting the coming of the Messiah. It was at this time Jesus found Philip & asked him to follow Him (John 1:43). It was not accidental that he informed the matter to Nathaniel. “We have found him, of whom Moses in the Law & prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). The traditional belief of the Jews was that nothing good came out of Nazareth because there is no reference to Nazareth in the Old Testament. Philip asked Nathaniel ‘to come & see’ Jesus. The meeting between Jesus & Nathaniel caused the completion of faith & the anticipated waiting (John 1: 47 – 51).

After Pentecost, Bartholomew preached in Yemen, Arabia, Asia Minor & Parthia in modern Iran. He was to be crucified with Philip in Hierapolis, Turkey but they were saved by an earthquake. He escaped to Greater Armenia. Later he reached Lycaonia near Caspian Sea. This place was known as Albanopolis or Urbanopolis (Derband, on the west coast of the Caspian Sea). Today it is known by the name Azerbaijan & lies partly in Iran & partly in the former Soviet Union. While he was travelling in Azerbaijan, Astyages the ruler captured him under the influence of the pagans. He was flayed alive & crucified upside down. Thus St. Bartholomew the Apostle attained the crown of martyrdom. St. Bartholomew is one of the patron saints of Armenia.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Bartolmai Sleeho! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Vat. LXIX

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Hēsychios

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August 26th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Julian Saba according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Church tradition tells us that he was a teacher of St. Ephrem the Syrian. He is called Father of the Monks

In hagiography: Julian Saba lived near Edessa and practiced extreme asceticism. He had many disciples, and he fought against the Arians for the case of orthodoxy in Antioch.

His life has been preserved for us in Theodoret’s History of the Monks of Syria, in a collection of Syriac poems attributed to St. Ephrem , and in a Syriac memra attributed to St. Jacob of Serugh

Oh Mor Youlyané! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen

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The Martyrs Adrian and Natalia were married in their youth for one year prior to their martyrdom, and lived in Nicomedia during the time of the emperor Maximian (305-311).

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Abba Poemon

Vat. LXIX

the presbyter Sabās and Alexandros

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Known as Moses of Mesopotamia, Mor Ya`qub was the bishop of Nisibin from 308/9 A.D. till his death in AD 338. Mor Ya`qub has always been a prominent figure in the Syriac-speaking Church tradition. He acquired a reputation for great learning, ability and holiness. Little is known about his life; however, we know that he took a leading role in opposing the Arian heresy at the Council of Nicaea (325). He is honored as a malphono (i.e., theological doctor) by both the Syriac and Armenian Churches. Mor Ya`qub of Nisibin undertook the construction of a church building in Nisibin between 313 and 320. His relics were saved from the a Persian invasion and were send to Constantinople for safety around the year 970.

http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/St.%20James%20of%20nisibis.htm

Vat. LXIX

Vat. LXIX

Martyr from Greece who died in Rome

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August 28th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Moses the Abbyssinian +405 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Mushe Kushoyo (Musa al-Habashi) or as he is known in the Coptic Church, abba Moses the Strong, was an ethnic Ethiopian who lived in Egypt. He was physically a towering figure. Once a slave of an Egyptian official, after committing murder he was thrown out. Moses later joined a band of robbers, becoming their leader due to his sheer physicality & frightening demeanor. He is known to have taken revenge on individuals for minor things such as disturbing his sleep, going as far as swimming across the Nile River to slaughter the herd of someone’s who’s dog spoiled one of their robbery plans.

He lived a dreadfully sinful life. On the run from authorities, he took shelter amongst monks in the desert of Wadi El Natrun, where he was was so influenced by them that he sought to relinquish his evil past. By the great mercy of God, Moses repented & decided to live a solitary life of prayer & strict fasting. However, he still wrestled with his passions on a daily basis. He sought the advice of the elderly monk abba Isidore, who told him to fast regularly & to remain hungry so as to never give in to any form of profligacy. For six years St. Moses kept to himself in a solitary cell, every night after praying going to fill the water jugs of the sleeping monks around him, then returning to prayer, so as to keep his mind occupied from evil thoughts.

Once a band of thieves attacked him in his cell, he tied them up & carried them on his shoulders to the Church saying it was unchristian to harm them, they repented & joined a monastery. The bishop wanted to test Moses, so after ordaining him a deacon he declared, look now abba Moses is fully white! later recanting & abusing Moses as an unworthy Ethiopian not fit for the Altar. Moses replied, only outwardly am I white with these vestments, God knows I’m still dark within & he left the Altar without succumbing to anger. Upon seeing this humility & piousness the bishop ordained him a priest.

When he was 75, Moses learnt that the Monastery would be attacked by Berbers, & he told his fellow monks to leave, they asked him to escape as well but he replied, “For many years now, I have awaited the time when the words of my Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, should be fulfilled: ‘All who take up the sword, shall perish by the sword. The bandits came & killed all the remaining monks. Thus, St. Moses the Abbyssinian attained the crown of martyrdom. He was entombed in the Paromeos (Baramos) Monastery. There is a Syriac monastery called Dayro d-Mor Mushe Kushoyo dedicated in his honour in Syria, it is now administered by the Syrian Catholics.

Oh Mor Mushe Kushoyo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

August 29th is the commemoration of the beheading of St. John the Baptist according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Yuhannon Mam’dono, son of Zacharias the priest, known as the forerunner of Christ was martyred by the order of King Herod. When St. John rebuked Herod because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Phillip whom he had taken as a wife, he said to him, It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife. (Mark:6:18) Herod seized the Saint & cast him into prison; however, he feared John. An opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers & the chief men of Galilee. Herodias’ daughter herself came in & danced, pleasing Herod. He promised her anything she might ask for, even as much as half of his kingdom. She went to her mother saying, What shall I ask? Her mother replied, Ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. When Herod heard this, he was exceedingly sorry. But because of his promise & those who were sitting with him, he did not want to refuse her request. He therefore commanded his servants to cut off the head of Mor Yuhannon & they gave it to the damsel who gave it to her mother. (Mark 6:20-28)

Mor Yuhannon’s mortal remains are entombed in Sebaste. Syrian tradition states the head of St. John the Baptist is in the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist in Damascus Syria. After the rise of the Umayyad Dynasty, this church was converted into a mosque. However, the shrine housing his remains was kept intact. Today, Umayyad Mosque or Great Mosque of Damascus (Ğām’ Banī ‘Umayya al-Kabīr) continues to be a pilgrim site for both Christians and also Muslims (to whom he is known as prophet Yaha).

Oh Mor Yuhannon Mam’dono! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Evening:
St. Matthew 10: 16-33

Morning:
St. Luke 12: 1-12

Before Holy Qurbana:
Genesis 4: 3-12
Daniel 3: 14 -30

Holy Qurbana:
Acts 23 : 11 – 25
Romans 8: 31- 39
St. Mark 8:34-38, 13 : 9 – 13

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

In hagiography: John the Arab was a monk who originally was from a rich family in Ḥirta. He studied at Nisibis, went to Mount Sinjar, and became a shepherd. He found a place on Mount Izla, and he performed many miracles. Many fought over his relics after his death, and a monastery was built over his remains near the monastery of Mar Awgin.

August 29th is the dukhrono of St. John the Arab (Mor Yuhannon Tayoyo) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Yuhannon Tayoyo was a 5th century monk and the third abbott of Dayro d-Mor Augin.

In his hagiography, there is a miracle in regards to transformation of water into wine. Once John was sent to the village by his abbot St. Andreas to buy wine for the Holy Qurbono. On arriving there, he gave away the money meant for the purchase of wine to a poor man begging at the village gate. As he had no money to buy the wine, Mor Yuhannon filled the barrels with water and returned, worried at what the abbot would say. He reported the matter to the abbot. On inspection, they found to their surprise that the water had miraculously turned into wine.

This miracle of St. John the Arab is commemorated in one of the Huthomo of the Syriac Orthodox Liturgy:

Saint John who trans-formed water into superb wine, Ahudemeh – who restrained death – by his incense, Those cave dwellers – Matthew, Zachai – and Companions Abraham and – Daniel are – praying for us.

– General Huthomo I, (Tune of Mor Yac’ub) English text from JSC Publications English Huthomo book (Courtesy Qleedo+ app)


Life of St. John the Arab: https://bit.ly/LifeJohnArab 

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Pelagia was a circus dancer and prostitute in Antioch, but she converted to Christianity and became a ‘transvestite monk’, Pelagion, living in Jerusalem.
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at Ancyra, the martyr Gelōs and six others.

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Thecla

See: ‘The Reception of the Acts of Thecla in Syriac Christianity: Translation, Collection, and Reception’

https://urhotheway.com/2020/12/01/st-thecla-the-martyr/

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August 31st is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Gabriel +667 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Gabriel was born in Beth Qustan, where he attended a local school & learned how to read & write in a relatively short time. Even in his youth, Gabriel read holy books to obtain spiritual strength & wisdom. His parents wanted him to get married & build a family but he chose to live an ascetic life with God. When he was 15 years of age, he left his parents’ house while they were sleeping & went to the Monastery of the well-known ascetic Gewargis. Gewargis allowed him stay in the cloister & later the same year, Gabriel was inaugurated as a monk. He was known to sleep just two hours a day & spent the remainder of the time praying to God & reading books. He was very humble & he always walked barefoot & tortured himself, sometimes until he started to bleed. After seven years of staying at Gewargis’ cloister, he decided to leave the area because of the constant pressure he received from his parents. With permission from the abbot, Gabriel fled at night to Qartmin Monastery.

After some years, at the age of 39, Mor Gabriel was elected abbot of the Monastery. During his life, Gabriel is alleged to have performed many miracles. He is known to have resurrected 3 people. In 634, he was ordained as bishop of Tur Abdin. When St. Gabriel passed, thousands of people gathered on that day with ten bishops and hundreds of monks, nuns, and priests.

The Qartmin Monastery was later renamed in his honour. Dayro d’Mor Gabriel – Turabdin (Deyrulumur) is the oldest functioning Monastery in the entire world. Sadly it has been embroiled in a dispute between the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Turkish government which has usurped it along with 50+ other church institutions.

Oh Mor Gabriel! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Syriac prayers in honour of Mor Gabriel: https://tinyurl.com/yvccppd4

Life of Mor Gabriel: http://bit.ly/MorGabriel

Vita from Qartmin Trilogy: http://bit.ly/MarGabriel

Dayro d-Mor Gabriel renamed in his honour
http://www.morgabriel.org/history.html

http://sor.cua.edu/ChMon/MidyatDGabriel/index.html

when her parents girded her loins

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

Evening:
St. Luke 8:16-21

Morning:
St. Mark 3:31-35

Before Holy Qurbana:
Deuteronomy 26:16-27:10
Judges 13:2-14
Zechariah 2:10-13, 4:1-7, 8:3
Isaiah 63:15-64:5

Holy Qurbana:
I John 3:2-17
Hebrews 6:13-7:10
St. Luke 1:26-38

On September 1st the Syriac Orthodox Church commemorates the anniversary of the demise of His Beatitude Mor Baselius Paulose II +1996. HB was the Catholicos of the East & head of the Holy Synod in India, reigning from 1975 to 1996.

Paulose was born in Cherai, Kochi Kerala to Rev. Fr. Joseph Puthusseril & Elizabeth. He completed his secular education at CMS College Kottayam & UC College Aluva. He studied Syriac under his father who was a Malpan. He was ordained deacon by Mor Yulios Elias the Patriarchal Delegate to Malankara, followed by Priesthood 5 years later. He then became the personal secretary to Mor Yulios, & served as teacher at Dayro d-Mor Ignatius Manjinikkara.

Then Malankara Metropolitan Mor Athanasius Paulose, was in charge of the Kandanad diocese. As he was advancing in age, the faithful of Kandanad diocese chose Rev. Fr. PJ Paulose as designate. He accompanied Mor Yulios to Homs Syria, where he was consecrated bishop with the title Philexinos by the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Mor Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum of blessed memory on October 19 1952. He took charge of Kandanad Diocese in January, his temporary headquarters was Malekurishu Dayro founded by former Patriarchal Delegate St. Osthatheos Sleebo (gifted to the Holy Throne of Antioch by Kuriako Valayal). After the demise of Mor Dionysius Mikhayel +1956, the dioceses of Kottayam & Kollam were also the responsibility of Mor Philoxenus. The same year, the schismatic faction which had rebelled against the Holy See returned & there was a period of unity. Mor Philoxenus was assistant Metropolitan of Kandanad while Mor Timotheos Augin the senior. Mor Philoxenus did his level best to impart the true Orthodox faith & loyalty to the Holy Throne of Antioch among the faithful. He served as head of the Sunday School Association.

Sadly, the period of peace broke down once again due to the underhanded & sinful nature of those who sought only power. The Church in Malankara was again split in two. Subsequently, Mor Philoxenus was consecrated as Catholicos Mor Baselius Paulose II by the thrice blessed late HH Mor Ignatius Yac’ub III of blessed memory in Damascus on September 7th 1975. He was a great shepherd for the Syriac Orthodox faithful in Malankara, strengthening his spiritual children as the Church faced insurmountable obstacles, litigation & persecution. His unflinching loyalty to the Holy Throne of Antioch was an example for young & old alike. The faithful looked to him as a beacon of hope as the Church waded through times of great turbulence.

On June 25th 1980, HH Mor Ignatius Yac’ub III reposed in the Lord. HB Mor Baselius Paulose II chaired the Holy Synod for the election of Mor Severius Zakka as the next Patriarch. He officiated the consecration ceremony of Patriarch HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas on September 14th 1980. This was a historic moment because this was the first time that a Catholicos-Maphrian of Malankara (India) officiated the Patriarchal Enthronement ceremony! In addition, Mor Clemis Abraham Valiyametropolitan of the Knanaya Archdiocese also took part in the monumental event.

After serving the Malankara Church as Metropolitan for almost 44 years & as the Catholicose of the East for 21 years HB Mor Baselius Paulose II Bava passed away on September 1st 1996. His funeral ceremony was attended by tens of thousands of faithful. His mortal remains were entombed in the Malekurishu Dayro according to his last wishes.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Malayalam audio Biography by Basil C Alias: https://tinyurl.com/ydjhhckm
For full biography: https://goo.gl/fXLrR8

In hagiography: Mor Eutal (Awtal) was a disciple of Malke, son of Job of Ator, near Mosul. He was also known as the Arab. He came to Malke for healing, and his tomb was at the monastery of Mar Malke in Ṭur ʿAbdin.

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

In hagiography: Hormizd was a martyr of Beth Garmai under Yazdegerd. He had nine friends, and all were converts from Zoroastrianism or had Zoroastrian wives. They were tortured to death.

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September 1st is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Malke +315 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Malke was born to Yuhannon & Rafka in Qulezmo (Egypt), a wealthy family who had only a daughter & waited years for a son. From a young age, Malke was taught the true faith & he grew in wisdom. A very religious child, at the age of 11 he desired to be a monk much to the dismay of his parents who wanted him to get married in the future. Malke left his grieving family & traveled to Tur Izlo (Mount Izlo) where he stayed at the Monastery of his maternal uncle Mor Augin. He became the disciple of Mor Augin & was later ordained priest by Mor Yac’ub of Nisbis. He went to Jerusalem, then Egypt, then returned to the Dayro d-Mor Augin. Malke later left to live in solitude, he reached the village of Arkah. There a child had fallen in to a pit leaving the townsfolk in despair. He prayed at the site, suddenly the child came out of the pit unharmed, but with him was a demon. However, seeing the power of Mor Malke, the demon fled.

St. Malke built a monastery on the location where God exiled the devil. Then he heard a voice from the heaven saying, “Malke, servant of God, force out Astrasis & his demons. Put down the sign of the Cross & it will protect you from evil.” The Holy One went down to the place where the devil abode & cast them out as the Lord commanded. The demons left complaining bitterly. St. Malke measured the place for an altar & carved a sign of the Cross on the stone. The villagers of Arkah came in great numbers to help build the Monastery.

The devil had a crafty nature. He went to Constantinople & took possession of Asanasis the daughter of King Constantine. The King was greatly sorrowful. He sent for St. Malke to come & heal his daughter because she said he was the only one who could heal her. The girl was brought before the saint & fell convulsing on the ground. She turned black & writhed in agony biting her arms. St. Malke lifted his hands in prayer & asked for God for help. He told her to rise. When she stood up it was as if she had been sleeping a long time. The devil poured out of her in the form of a black smoke. St. Malke told him to go to the dung pile & sit on it. St. Malke then remained in the court of the King & healed many people. The King offered him half the Kingdom if he would stay. But St. Malke refused & instead asked for a well & the stone collar that fit over the top of it. The king watched in stunned disbelief as St. Malke called out from hiding the devil, Astrasis, & commanded him to put on the stone collar around his neck & the well on top of his head like a hat. They went off together with the saint pushing the devil in front of him like a donkey. When they arrived at the monastery the saint told the devil to put down the well & he drove him away like a filthy dog.The community then finished the building of the monastery. Many monks came & lived there.

St. Malke was full of love & mercy for all human beings. For the remainder of his life he fought against evil. When death approached he gave a final benediction, “My beloved, always be merciful, dedicate yourselves to fasting & prayer. Let truth, love, & peace be your merits for all of your lives. Fight against evil with good. St. Malke left for the Heavenly abode at the age of 93. He was entombed in the Beth Qadishe of Dayro d-Mor Malke, Tur Izlo Turkey.

Oh Mor Malke! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Syriac prayers in honour of Mor Malke: https://tinyurl.com/2pzn76ey

http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/St.%20Malke.htm

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On MASOCNA Calendar

6th century monk

October 7th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Sergius and St. Bacchus +303 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Sergius & Mor Bacchus were officers in the Roman army on the border of Syria, & they were close companions. The two were very close to Roman Emperor Maximian. Tradition states that Sergius & Bacchus were not willing to worship the Roman deity Jupiter for they were Christians. As punishment, they were dressed in female attire & paraded around the city in humiliation. They were then sent to Barbalissos(Beit Bales) where the military commander Antiochus was a friend of Sergius. There the pair was inflicted with great torture but they wouldn’t renounce their faith. After Bacchus died from the extreme torture, Antiochus ordered his body thrown into the river. Thus Mor Bacchus attained the crown of martyrdom.

Sergius was greatly disheartened, but later that night, Bacchus appeared to him in a dream, telling Sergius to remain steadfast in the faith. Antiochus continued to torture Sergius, driving nails into his feet, tied him up to a horse & ordered him to be dragged to the town of Resafa. There, even after continuous torture, Sergius would not renounce his faith in Christ. He was eventually beheaded. Thus Mor Sergius attained the crown of martyrdom.

St. Sergius & St. Bacchus were very popular throughout Late Antiquity. The close friendship between the saints is strongly emphasized in their hagiographies & traditions, making them one of the most famous examples of paired saints. Churches in their honor were built in several cities. In AD431 Bishop Alexander of Hierapolis renovated the church which was built over the tomb of Sergius. The church at Resafa & the tomb are now famous pilgrim centres. The Byzantine Emperor Justinian I renamed Resafa as Sergiopolis. Justinian built churches in the name of Sergius at Constantinople & Palestine. The Syriac Orthodox Church had a monastery in Azerbaijan dedicated to their honour.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Sergius & Mor Bacchus! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Jacob of Serugh’s metrical homily on Sargis and Bakhos: https://bit.ly/SergiusBacchusHomilybyJacob

https://urhotheway.com/2020/10/09/sergius-and-bacchus/

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according to (the reckoning of) the Greeks – the martyr Euprepios and two others

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Evening:
St. John 1:1-17

Morning:
St. Luke 2:15-20

Before Holy Qurbono:
Genesis 21:1-8
Job 19:21-20:4
Joshua 24:21-26
II Kings 4:8-17
Michah 5:1-8
Great Wisdom 8:19-9:3
Zachariah 2:10-3:10
Jeremiah 23:5-8
Daniel 2:31-47
Ezekiel 37:15-28
I Samuel 1:19-23
Isaiah 9:1-7

Holy Qurbono:
I John 1:1-2:6
Galatians 3:23-26, 29:4-7
Ephesians 3:20-2

the sons of Theodota

Theodote and her three sons, martyrs of Nicaea

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at Nicomedia, from the ancient martyrs, Apītarqīn, and Koskonios, and Zeno, and Melanippos,

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September 2nd is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Coorilos Yuyakim +1874 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Coorilos was the Reesh Episcopo of Malankara.

Mor Coorilos Yuyakim, was sent as a Delegate of the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch to Malankara. He helped the Syriac Orthodox faithful in Malankara in their struggle against the protestant reformers.

Born in 1818 to Malke bar Israel who belonged to the ‘Amir-d-gadhani’ family in Tur Abdin, he was one among 8 children (he had 5 brothers & two sisters). He was enthusiastic about Syriac spirituality even at a young age & studied Syriac along with Orthodox theology under the tutelage of Mor Severios. At the age of 21 he was ordained as a deacon & soon afterwards tonsured as a monk. He was appointed personal secretary of the Patriarch, serving for a number of years. On February 18th 1845 the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Elias II of blessed memory consecrated Raban Yuyakim as Metropolitan with the title Coorilos at the Monastery of Mor Hananyo (Kurkmo Dayro/Deir ez-Za`faran).

The Malankara Church was facing a tumultuous challenge at the time. Anglican missionaries spearheaded by bishop Daniel Wilson of Calcutta, with the support of the British colonial power, were attempting to spread the protestant faith in the Malankara Church. They managed to gain the support of a number of local priests, namely Abraham Malpan Palakunnathu from Maramon who systematically began altering the liturgy & practices of the Holy Church to fit in line with the Anglican beliefs. To put an end to this, Mor Dionysius IV (Cheppad Philipose) convened the Synod of Mavelikara at St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church in 1836. At this Synod it was affirmed that the Malankara Church was part of & under the authority of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate, & that no alteration in the faith, traditions or liturgy of the Malankara Church could be made without the sanction of the Supreme Pontiff the Patriarch of Antioch. These decisions are recorded in what is known as the Mavelikara Padiyola of 1836. However, the crisis in the Malankara continued & the Church leaders sent word to the Patriarchate requesting further assistance. The Patriarch was initially hesitant to send a prelate, preferring to ordain a native bishop for Malankara. The Patriarch also considered the difficulties faced by earlier missions & he conveyed this to the Malankara church. While the Patriarch was awaiting the reply from Malankara, one deacon Mathew the son of Mathachan Palakunnathu & nephew of Abraham Malpan reached Mardin where the Patriarch was residing, & under the guise of carrying a request from the Malankara, he faithful was consecrated by the Patriarch as Metropolitan with the title Athanasius on February 2nd 1842. When he returned to Malankara Mor Athanasius Mathew was not initially attempting to spread the protestant practices but extolled the faithful to remain steadfastly to Syriac Orthodoxy. The declaration of faith adopted at the Association meeting of the Malankara Church held at Kallumkathra under his leadership attests to this fact, which is recorded in the Kallumakathra Padiyola of 1843. However, soon afterwards he was swayed by his relative Abraham Malpan along with the British powers to wreak havoc by vigorously spreading the protestant agenda.

As the situation of the Malankara Church was in dire straits, Mor Dionysius sent word to the Patriarchate, Patriarch Ignatius Elias II sent his former secretary Mor Coorilos Yuyakim to Malankara, who arrived along with his brother Israel on 2nd Chingam 1846 in Cochin. After a thorough investigation of accusations against bishop Athanasius Mathew, Mor Coorilos published the excommunication letter given by the Patriarch of Antioch, & submitted it to the authorities. The older Mor Dionysius, seeing the more youthful & vibrant Mor Coorilos was the need of the hour in Malankara, requested that he manage the affairs of the Malankara Church especially at this troublesome time. Thus, Mor Coorilos Yuyakim became the Reesh Episcopo of Malankara.

An angered Athanasius, with the support of Anglicans, convinced the Raja of Travancore that he was the legal Metropolitan. He would later become founder of the Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church in Anglican communion. Additionally, Athanasius convinced the British Resident to publish an ordinance prohibiting foreign bishops from entering Travancore & Cochin. Mor Coorilos was deported & was forced to stay in Fort Cochin at Mattancherry. During his exile in Mattancherry, Mor Coorilos built St. George Syriac Orthodox Church to be used by the Delegates of the Holy See. Learning of the terrible situation, Patriarch Ignatius Yac’ub II of blessed memory sent Mor Athanasius Stephanos to Malankara. However he was not able to stop the Protestants who enjoyed the support of British colonial power, & he was forced to leave Kerala. Mor Athanasius Stephanos then went to London via Calcutta on 1st September 1852 & filed a petition in the Court of Directors of the British East India Company. The prohibition order on Syriac Metropolitans was cancelled in 1857 & as the travel ban on foreign metropolitans was lifted, Mor Coorilos Yuyakim could travel freely in Malankara.

The lifting of the prohibition was a major turning point at that period. The reinvigorated Mor Coorilos could now directly interact with the spiritual children in Malankara, he went to various regions strengthening the faith of the believers, uplifting their spirits & helped build many churches. Mor Coorilos mastered Malayalam & published a number of the Malayalam translations of the Syriac Liturgy. He was a highly educated person in theology & Biblical studies, along with being an excellent orator as well as a master in Syriac music & calligraphy. He left for us many letters & poems in Syriac.

Though further setbacks arose, the difficulties did not hinder Mor Coorilos from defending the true Orthodox Faith & the Syriac traditions. He also gained a friend & companion in Mor Dionysius V (Pulikkottil Joseph II), together they would strengthen the Malankara Church against the onslaught of colonial powers espousing the protestant heresies. Mor Coorilos Yuyakim was also blessed to have disciples in St. Gregorios Geevarghese Chathuruthil & St. Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil who both emulated the prayerful spiritual life of Mor Coorilos.

In addition to his efforts to strengthen the Malankara Church, Mor Coorilos was beloved for his piety & saintly nature. As a practitioner of traditional medicine, many flocked to him for curing of illnesses. He never neglected to do works of charity & to instill a love of God in everyone whom he encountered. Mor Coorilos spent his final days at Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Syrian Church (known as the second Jerusalem). On September 2nd 1874, Mor Coorilos Yuyakim departed for the heavenly abode after serving the Syriac Orthodox Church in Malankara for 28 years. His mortal remains were interred at the northern side of Mulanthuruthy Church. Countless faithful continued to flock to his tomb & seek his intercession for healing from illnesses. On October 10th 2008 vis Patriarchal Apostolic Bull E214/08, the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory declared Mor Coorilos Yuyakim as a saint, permitting the prayers at his tomb (Zadhiko). In 2017, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East HH Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II vis Patriarchal Apostolic Bull No. E I23/17; permitted the recitation of the name of St. Coorilos Yuyakim in the 5th Thubden (Thubden d-Qadishe) at all Malankara parishes across the world. Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II belongs to the family of Mor Coorilos Yuyakim in Tur Abdin.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’ and Syriac Christianity website

Oh Mor Coorilos Yuyakim! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

For full biography visit: https://goo.gl/s3LNYH

September 2nd is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Simon the Stylite +459 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Shem’un Destonoyo was born in the village of Sesan, a place on the border of Cicilia & Syria in 392AD. His father’s name was John & his mother’s name was Martha. Before his mother had conceived of him, St. John the Baptist appeared to her in a dream & told her of her conception & what her son would become. Simon was a shepherd at a young age. While in the fields with his flock, an angel of the Lord appeared in a vision. Later, he disposed of his properties & the assets of his aunt, which had been entrusted to him. He distributed part of the proceeds among the poor & needy. The remaining assets he took to the monastery of Eusebona at Tell ‘Ada, situated between Antioch & Alleppo. He joined the monastery with his brother Shemse when he was in the teens.

Later, he dug a pit of about 4 ft in the garden & stood in the pit for about two months. After the midnight prayer he used to stand with a big stone hung around his neck. He also stood on a roller to resist sleep in the night. His fellow hermits were jealous about these practices of Simon & raised some false accusations against him. Thus, he left the monastery of Eusebona. The head of the monastery gave him four coins which he refused to accept saying, “May your prayers be the viaticum for me.” Mor Shem’un then reached the village of Telanissos(modern day Taladah), Deir Samaan. He sat beneath a tree & prayed, “O God, My Lord, by Thy will you protected me from all adversities. Help & guide me until I reach the heavenly abode.” He then reached the nearby Monastery of Morris. He healed several sick people while staying in this monastery. St. Simon was in the habit of observing the forty-day lent in all its seriousness. During the forty-day lent he did not eat anything. In AD423, he prepared a platform of about 4 ft. high & stood on it for about five years. Mor Shem’un went around the nearby villages to preach the Gospel. Angels, prophets Elijah & Moses appeared to him. Several miracles happened through the prayers of St. Simon. He later left the Monastery of Morris, to a nearby hilltop.

St. Simon spent about forty years on a pillar upon the hilltop. He prayed, “O Lord, my God, let not the hands of mortal men be necessary for my help. Let not me step down from this pillar to see men on earth. Help me O Lord to end my life on this pillar on which I ascended by your grace. According to Thy will, accompany the soul of Thy servant from this place.” Satan became envious of the saint for all his good deeds. St. Simon developed ulcers which caused him to suffer for 9 months. Emperor Theodosius sent 3 bishops to make St. Simon step down, but he refused. Instead, he spent his time in prayer & fasting. The Saint asked Christ to supply him with water, & a spring of water sprang up at the foot of the pillar. He preached to many people, taught them, & brought many back to the knowledge of Christ. He would write letters of instruction to those gathered. After his death in 459AD, his body was taken to Antioch in great veneration & entombed in a church there.

While Chalcedonians claim him to be a supporter of Chalcedon, Syriac letters in the British Museum written by Mor Shem’un Destonoyo indicate that he was a Miaphysite & opposed the result of the Council of Chalcedon in 451AD.

He is honored in the 5th Dypthic (Thubden d-Qadishe) every Sunday in the Syriac Orthodox Church.

A large complex was built in his honour comprising of 4 separate cathedrals with the pillar of Mor Shem’un as the central monument. Now known as Qalat Siman. It was a prominent pilgrimage site. It suffered major damage following an earthquake. Later it was sacked following the Muslim conquest of Syria. In 2011 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 2012 it was taken over by terrorists. It was again heavily damaged by air strikes in 2016.

Biography adapted from, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Shem’un Destonoyo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

A Defense of the Orthodoxy of St. Simon the Stylite: http://bit.ly/3t6L3PJ

Hymns of St. Severus of Antioch on St. Simon the Stylite:

Come, hear, and I will tell you
The sublime and great height of the life of Simeon the just and righteous brings into the mind of believers the words of the Lord which he spoke, A city that is I set upon the top of a hill cannot be hid. For by ascending to a sublime height of virtues he showed this clearly and by means of his stand­ing on the column, signifying that he is a pillar and foundation of the truth as it is written; drawing both unbelievers and barbarians to godliness, and those who were sitting in the darkness of error to the light of knowledge, like a brightly-shining star by its rising: by whose prayers, Saviour of all, have pity and mercy upon us.


St. Severus the Great of Antioch Cathedral Homily # 30

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in the city of Edessa, Habīb, (by) the martyrdom of fire.

Mor Habib of Urhoy served as deacon in the village of Telzeha, Phoenicia. Under the persecution of Emperor Licinius, Deacon Habib went secretly into the churches of Telzeha, where he ministered, read the Scriptures, encouraged & strengthened many by his faith, admonishing the faithful to stand fast in the truth of their faith, not fearing their persecutors. As a result, Habib had to face brutal torture & persecution. But he was relentless in his faith. Finally, the soldiers tied him to a stake & burnt him alive. Thus Mor Habib attained the crown of martyrdom. His mother & other relatives took down his body but were astonished that it was unharmed.

Mor Jacob of Sarug has described the burning of Habib in his homily. “Habib the martyr adorned by flames called me from his pyre. I do not know if I can number him with Hanania. Who is more glorious Assariya or Habib? Habib fought against the sword & fire. His love was warmer than that of fire. Hence, he was not scared. Habib taught us to embrace death not fearing fire or sword

Life of St. Habib of Urhoy: https://bit.ly/VitaHabibEdessa



Homily on Habib the Martyr, Composed by Mar Jacob: https://bit.ly/HomilyHabibJacob

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September 2nd is the commemoration of the dukhrono of Sts. Gurias & Samona according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Gurias, the ascetic & his friend Mor Samona were two victims of the cruel persecutions during the reigns of Emperor Diocletian(A.D. 284 – 305) & Emperor Maximian (A.D. 305 – 311). These two saints were put through endless torments & were finally beheaded because of their faith in Christ (A.D. 299 – 306). Deacon Habib was the next saint to be martyred after them. They were all eventually entombed together.

Biography adapted from, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Gurias & Mor Samona! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Life of St. Gurias and St. Samona: https://bit.ly/GuriasSamona

A Homily on Guria and Shamuna, Composed by Mar Jacob: https://bit.ly/HomilyGuriasSamonabyJacob

Biography of Mor Gurias & Samona in Malayalam by Fr. Greger R. Kollanoor: https://tinyurl.com/2p8mp87z

The holy martyrs Theodotus and Rufina were the parents of Saint Mamas. They came from patrician families, and were honored by all for their Christian piety. Alexander, the magistrate of the city of Gangra, summoned them because they refused to obey the imperial decree requiring all citizens to worship the pagan gods. Those who disobeyed would be tortured and put to death.

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Evening:
St. Luke 2: 22- 35

Morning:
St. Luke 2:22-35

Before Holy Qurbana:
Leviticus 12:1-8, 22:17-23
II Samuel 5:1-6, 17-21
Isaiah 10:33-11:10

Holy Qurbana:
Acts 24:10-23
Ephesians 3: 13-21
St. Luke 2: 36-40

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Vat. LXIX

The martyr Anthimus, Bishop of Nicomedia, and those with him suffered during the persecution against Christians under the emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311). The persecution became particularly intense after a fire at the imperial court at Nicomedia. The pagans accused the Christians of setting the fire and reacted against them with terrible ferocity.

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In hagiography: Ithalaha was the bishop from Edessa who attended the Council of Nicaea. There are literary fragments attributed to him that survive in Armenian. He built the church of Cyrus and Saʿad.

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at Alexandria, the bishop Aristōn.

Hieromartyr St. Aristion of Alexandria (Kelladion), Bishop of Alexandria Scabiosa (modern Iskenderun)

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Bishops of Edessa

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Evening:
St. John 2: 1- 11

Morning:
St. Luke 16:1-18

Before Holy Qurbono:
Genesis 9:12-21
Exodus 20:7-22
I Kings 18:29-46
Joel 2:12-20
Isaiah 58:6-14

Holy Qurbono:
Acts 11:19-26
Ephesians 4:17-32
St. John 2:1-11

Saint Babylas (+253). A patriarch of Antioch (237 – 251), During the Decian persecution (249-251) he made an unwavering confession of faith and was thrown into prison where he died from his sufferings. He was, therefore, venerated as a martyr, (according to Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, VI, 39). He asked to be buried with his chains.

http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/St.%20Babylas,%20Patriarch%20of%20Antioch.htm

St. John Chrysostom Homily on St. Babylas: http://bit.ly/ChrysostomBabylas

St. Severus of Antioch veneration of St. Babylas https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZfoSYDxv1hV5vTQvU504bO_qmEwmj_EJ/view?usp=drivesdk

Hymns on St. Severus for the feast of St. Babylas of Antioch:

“Because the Lord hath done a wonder”
Let no man be surprised at seeing that Babylas the old and advanced in days, a man bowed down from length of time went down boldly to the arena and to the conflict of martyrdom and the boys of immature age and their mother. But let him praise Christ, the Word of God, who after the similitude of boys shared in blood and flesh and became man without change and so far helped and strengthened our feeble race. That even persons of tender age receive crowns of victory in the conflict against the devil who aforetime proudly boasted and said “I will go up to heaven, and above the stars of heaven will I set the seat of my kingdom: and I will be like unto the Most High.” Let us all in thanksgiving send up praise to Him by means of His Cross dissolved his power; and let us cry to Him, “Lord of all, praise to Thee!”

“Because of thy Grace, O God”
The great and divine Apostle Paul said that he prayed and entreated in a chain on behalf of the Gospel, and Babylas the martyr, imitating him, asked for the chain in which he was martyred to be buried with him, as a general the armour in which he did deeds of progress. Accordingly, even his dust is very formidable to the demons, and Apollo the idol, which was set at Daphne, was struck dumb and ceased to utter its lying folly, because of the neighbourhood of the dead man who was alive through the performance of the signs which he wrought. And to Julian the tyrant, who had gone mad and ordered demon worship; it was unable to give a deceitful revelation. And after the precious bones of the martyr had been removed and taken away, the spirit that speaks from the earth, the full of began to utter folly. And so through both facts, by its silence, I mean, and also by its foolish speaking, it proclaims and declares the victory of that combatant by whose prayers, Christ-God have mercy upon us.

September 4th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Dioscorus +454 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Dioscorus I was the 25th Pope of Alexandria & presided over the second Holy Ecumenical Synod convened at St. Mary’s church in Ephesus on 8 August AD 449. It was attended by 150 bishops.The heresy that Jesus born of Mary possessed two natures even after the miraculous union, was condemned by this synod. This synod decided not to move away from the decision reached by all other universal synods prior to it. St. Dioscorus faced many tribulations as he refused to divert from the teachings of ancient Church fathers about Christology.

There was a schism following the decision of the AD449 synod, among the members of monasteries, prelates & administrators about the dual nature of Christ. As this dispute reached its height, the faithful Orthodox Emperor Theodosius died on 28 July AD450 without leaving an heir. His sister Pulcheria was a nun. The prelates of the Nestorian congregation who desired the support of the rulers allowed her to marry. She married Marcian & ascended the throne as the queen. Marcian supported the dyophysite position.

Mor Dioscorus had to face a trial in the Chalcedon Synod. He said Falvian of Constantinople was banished because he believed Christ had two natures after attaining the human form. He possessed letters of Church fathers like St. Athanasius, St. Gregory & St. Coorilos to prove that Jesus who attained the human form after the union has only one united nature (Miaphysite theology) & it was wrong to say he had dual separate natures, known as dyophysite theology. St. Dioscorus specifically stated at the Council, One should not conceive of two natures but of one incarnate nature of the Word. He knew he too might be banished like those fathers but he was not ready to give up their teaching.

The Chalcedon Synod of AD451 suspended Mor Dioscorus & he was compelled by Marcian’s commander to sign the decisions of the synod. The saint refused saying, “Even if my hand is severed & blood flows over the paper I will not sign it.” Then according to the orders of Marcian he was banished to Gangra (now Cankri, Turkey) where he passed away 3 years later after consecrating Timothy II as legitimate Orthodox (Miaphysite) Pope of Alexandria. Mor Dioscorus is commemorated every Sunday in the Thubden d-Qadishe (5th Thubden/Dypthic) of the Syriac Orthodox Church Holy Qurbono.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Dioscorus! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. By your prayers may the Holy Orthodox Church and her faithful be protected from all manner of persecution. Amen.

at Ankyra, Markellos and eight others

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Evening:
St. Luke 11:27-32
Mark 3:28-35
Matthew 12:43-45

Morning:
St. Luke 2:42-51
St. Matthew 12:46-50

Before Holy Qurbono:
Exodus 19:16-23
Joshua 4:4-10
Isaiah 45:14-19

Holy Qurbono:
Acts 7:44-53
Hebrews 9:3-12,
St. Luke 10:38-42
St. John 19:25-27

In hagiography: This martyr, John of Kafar Sania, died under Maximinus Hercules.

at Alexandria, the presbyter Nouphios.

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September 5th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Sharbil of Edessa +105 and his sister St. Babai according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Sharbil Urhoyo was once the chief pagan priest of Edessa. Their history is recorded in the Syriac document ‘The Acts of Sharbil’. During this time, Trajan Ceasar commanded through his governors that all citizens should worship & give offerings to the idols of the deities Nebu & Bel. Bishop Barsamya, Priest Tiridath & deacon Shalula went to Sharbil to express their great displeasure with the ruling, & attempted to convince Sharbil to worship only the one true God. As he listened to them speak, he had a change of heart and repented, he desired to be a Christian. Sharbil & his sister Babai came to Barsamya later at night as promised. They confessed the faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit & received baptism. They wore garments suitable for Christians. Many men, women & leaders of the town followed Sharbil’s footsteps & accepted his new Christian beliefs.

The chief judge Lysanias learning of Sharbil’s conversion had him seized from the church & brought to trial. He told him to renounce Christ or face punishment. However, Sharbil would not deny Christ & so underwent extreme persecution. He was beaten, hung upside down, sharp iron combs were dragged into his body while salt & vinegar were applied to his fresh wounds. However, Sharbil remained unfazed by the torture, seeing it reward for knowing Christ who will provide true life to the believers. Without dismay, he continued to say, “Those who are saved by the Cross cannot worship idols of deceit. The created being cannot be worshipped. Only the Creator can be worshipped.” Finally the judge ordered Sharbil to be chopped into pieces & his head sawed off.

As per the custom of offering drinks to the murderers he too was offered wine. He did not accept it, instead he asked for time to pray. He turned to the east & prayed, “Lord Jesus, forgive me for the sins committed against you & for provoking your anger by turning to unholy sacrifice & oblations. Have mercy on me as you have been merciful to the robber. I entered your vineyard at the eleventh hour. Kindly spare me from the last judgement.” Sharbil’s sister Babai said, “May my spirit join you when you reach Christ whom you knowingly believed.” Enraged, the judge ordered her to be executed as well. Thus both St. Sharbil & St. Babai attained the crown of martyrdom. Barsamya the bishop had them entombed in the same place as his own father.

Oh Mor Sharbil Urhoyo & Mort Babai! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Life of the martyrs St. Sharbil and his sister St. Babai: https://bit.ly/VitaSharbilBabai

Biography in Malayalam: https://tinyurl.com/bdzdws7n

Mor Sharbil Dayro Thrikkothamangalam dedicated in his honour: https://goo.gl/oqzzHc

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Evening:
St. John 7:37-52, 8:12-20

Morning:
St. Luke 22:1-13

Before Holy Qurbana:
Exodus 12:1-11
Leviticus 16:3-10
Joshua 5:9-12
Ezekiel 45:18-25
I Samuel 10:17-21
Proverbs 1:10-19
Amos 2:4-7
Jeremiah 18:18-23
Zachariah 11:10-14
Isaiah 24:16-18 54:4-10

Holy Qurbana:
Acts 1:15-20
I Corinthians 11:23-34
St. Luke 22:14-30

Saint Eudoxius held the high position of a military commander in the imperial armies. He had a martyric death for Christ under the emperor Maximian Galerius, the successor of the emperor Diocletian.

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Martyr https://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/1_9.html?lang=en#1

Vat. LXIX

St. Severus the Great of Antioch Cathedral Homily # 78

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Admin: The inclusion of this event in the online calendar is for educational purposes. Please follow the guidance from one’s spiritual father. The Fast of the Cross is not found in the Hudaya Canon of Mor Gregorios bar Ebroyo and is not presently one of the fasts currently in vogue within the SOC worldwide.

In the Syriac Orthodox tradition, the mystery of the Holy Cross is understood as a living reality. The life of a Christian, and indeed all of creation is inexplicably linked through liturgical time with the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. The Cross is our key to deification, opening the door to paradise wherein all the types and symbols of the Cross are fulfilled. With this in mind, St. Ephrem the Syrian expounds:
 
The Cross is our weapon and wall, 
it is our life and light. 
The Cross reconciles and renews everybody, 
it consecrates and sanctifies everyone 
The Cross has become a breakthrough by which 
the two sides which were angry are reconciled. (HDisp. XX,2)


Ultimately, we are taught by the saints that the Holy Cross permeates the liturgical life of all members of Christ’s body in the Church, and it is through the Cross that salvation is enacted within the Holy Sacraments: Everything in the Church is consecrated, completed and perfected by the Cross: holy chrism, baptism, communion, ordinations, altars, sanctuaries, prayer houses and others. As Mor Severus the Patriarch and teacher of the universe said in his homily on the Cross, the Cross consecrates the new birth from baptism, completes and perfects the sacrifice which is rational and bloodless and all the service of priesthood and holy ministry. Why is everything in the Church consecrated and perfected by the Cross? Because the Cross portrays Christ Who consecrates all and is not Himself consecrated. Despite the presence of other symbols of Christ in the Church, it is through the Cross that the whole economy was completed. Through it, we received salvation and deliverance. (Mor Severios Moshe bar Kepha, as quoted and elaborated by St. Dionysius Yac’ub bar Salibi, referenced in Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, ‘The Sign of the Cross’. Pro Oriente Syriac Dialogue V 2003)

H.E. Mor Malatius Malki Malki, Patriarchal Vicar of Australia & New Zealand was consecrated on September 7th 2003 by late HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I.

Martyr

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Martyr, from Galatia
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Paulinos and four others.

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Admin: The inclusion of this event in the online calendar is for educational purposes. Please follow the guidance from one’s spiritual father. The Fast of the Cross is not found in the Hudaya Canon of Mor Gregorios bar Ebroyo and is not presently one of the fasts currently in vogue within the SOC worldwide.

Patriarch Mor Aphrem II brings to our attention different names associated with the Holy Cross within the patristic tradition:

i) The Living Cross – Sleebo Hayo

In baptism, the believers clothe themselves with the Cross, and thereafter an everlasting relationship is built with it. The Cross becomes the vehicle by which we receive the blessings promised by God. Even those blessings promised to the Fathers of the Old Testament become real and are acquired by the power of the Cross, as Aphrahat says: The spiritual blessings which were promised to Abraham, were distributed to the nations from the death of Christ on the Cross. (Demonstrations VIII)

In his Hymns on Nativity, St. Ephrem the Syrian writes: 

The Sheep of Christ rejoiced and stood before the baptism,
in the water they put on the likeness
of the glorious and living Cross
and was sealed by it

Reference: Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, ‘The Sign of the Cross’, in Pro Oriente Syriac Dialogue V 2003

September 8th is the commemoration of the Nativity of St. Mary the mother of God (dukhron mawlodho d’Yoldath Aloho Mariam) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

There are at least nine feasts for the Virgin Mary in the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. She and John the Baptist are the only two mortals whose nativity is celebrated liturgically. She is called the mother of God (more correctly: God-bearer, Theotokos or Yoldath Aloho). Through divine inspiration, countless hymns & prayers were written in her honour by the Holy Fathers. These praises feature in just about every liturgical feast and season. The commemoration of St. Mary’s nativity is celebrated in all Orthodox Churches and the feast is attested in Syriac calendar manuscripts from the first millennium.

In his article about the Holy Virgin Mary, the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory states, it is noteworthy to mention that the conception of Mary took place according to the natural law for she was of a man (Joachim) & a woman (Hanna). Mary is the child of two once-barren persons, just like Isaac, Samuel & John the Baptist. St. Mary was born in the tribe of Judah, a descendant of King David through her father & she was a descendant of the priestly Levi tribe of Aaron through her mother. She is the descendant of priests, prophets & kings.

The Birth of St. Mary in the Syriac Orthodox patristic tradition

There are various stories surrounding the circumstances of St. Mary’s birth and childhood. The narratives generally preserved in the Syriac tradition can be extracted from the liturgical texts and a work entitled Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of God which is subdivided into six books. Book 1 concerns the conception and birth of St. Mary, along with the Annunciation by Archangel Gabriel. An English translation of this text (from the Malayalam) prepared by Dr. Sarah Abraham Knight, will be the primary point of reference.

St. Yuyakim was a wealthy man and on the day of an important Jewish festival went to the temple to offer up the gifts. However, on account of his childlessness, he was insulted and rebuked by some individuals, deemed unworthy to offer up anything to God. In shameful despair, St. Yuyakim leaves the temple and laments upon his unfortunate circumstances. Comparing himself to righteous Biblical figures who were once-barren, he decides not to return home to his wife. He sets out to a forest and proclaims a vow of abstinence for 40 days, choosing to fast and pray until God grants him a child. St. Anne laments on her barren womb, and the absence of her husband makes her feel widowed. Crying out in distress to the Lord, she asks why she must suffer.

As she ends her supplication, an Angel of the Lord appears to St. Hannah and tells her that she will conceive a child, an offspring who will become known in all the world. St. Joachim also receives the miraculous message from an Angel and soon returns home. In an act of loving embrace, St. Ann throws her arms around her husband’s neck and says with joy, now I know how much my God has blessed me, for I was a widow but no longer am; I was barren and without children. Now I will give birth. Soon enough, St. Ann conceived and in the ninth month gave birth to St. Mary. Along with the parents, the astonished neighbors and temple folk praised God for this wonderous birth.

As St. Mary was born to her parents in their old age, at the age of three she was offered to the temple as fulfillment of their vow. The prayer from the Sh’himo on Friday morning reads, ”Mary became an orphan, for her parents passed away. She was left for the priests to take care of her. They took her to Jerusalem according to the command of Moses to be brought up there. The Lord of Prophets descended from high. He blessed and sanctified her. Hallelujah. May the prayer to her be a fence and protection to us”

Oh Virgin St. Mary the mother of God! Pray for us sinners, now & at all times & at the hour of our death (Morth Maryam bthulto emeh Daloho b‛oy ḥlofayn ḥaṭoyé hosho wabkhul ‛edon wabsho‛tho d-mawtan) Amen.

The Holy Bible readings from the Church Lectionary:

Evening:
St. Mathew 12:38-50

Morning:
St. Mark 3:31-35

Before Holy Qurbono:
Exodus 3:1-10
I Samuel 17:37-40, 48-51
Ezekiel 44:1-3
Isaiah 11:1-8

Holy Qurbono:
I John 3:2-16
Hebrews 2:14-18
St. Luke 8:16-21 11:27-28

Tone of the Day: 1

Malankara World Special Supplement for St. Mary: https://goo.gl/B7Uw7A

Syriac Prayers for Mawlodhe d’Yoldath Aloho Mariam: https://tinyurl.com/5n8eauzd

Hymns in honour of St. Mary: https://goo.gl/MMecq1

St. Jacob of Edessa, Letter on the Genealogy of St. Mary: http://bit.ly/MaryGenealogy

Fixed Feast

the presbyter Phaustos, and Ammonios, and twenty other martyrs.

A group of Christians martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian including Sts. Ammon, Dio, Faustus, Neoterius and Theophilus. Found in Euseubius’ Chronicle

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In hagiography: Theodota (Theodute) was the Bishop of Amida. He was born in Ingilene and was a monk at Qenneshrin. He served the poor. He taught chant to the monks at Qartmin. He was known to travel with a bag full of relics to use in healing others.

https://gedsh.bethmardutho.org/Theodotos-of-Amid

Vita: http://bit.ly/VitaTheodota

RSoH

Admin: The inclusion of this event in the online calendar is for educational purposes. Please follow the guidance from one’s spiritual father. The Fast of the Cross is not found in the Hudaya Canon of Mor Gregorios bar Ebroyo and is not presently one of the fasts currently in vogue within the SOC worldwide.

Patriarch Mor Aphrem II brings to our attention different names associated with the Holy Cross within the patristic tradition:

ii) The Life-Giving Cross – Sleebo Yoheb Haye


The Cross occupies such an important place in Patristic theology because in it all aspects of theology are present. In a special way the Cross contains the mysteries of the Resurrection. St. Ephrem comments on why Christ died on the Cross by saying: And He died the death of the Cross so that in it a mystery should be drawn. That is, through His death shall rise all who die because even at His crucifixion, He was standing up.

This notion of the Cross as being a carrier of the power of the resurrection is a prominent feature of Christian theology in general. The Orthodox French theologian, Olivier Clement refers to it when he writes that the Cross is seen as fundamentally life-giving because it is inseparable from the descent into hell, the resurrection and the ascension to the right hand of the Father. St. Philoxenos further clarifies this point when he shows the role of both the Cross and the Resurrection in our redemption. He writes: We believe that death was abolished not by the resurrection of our Lord, but by His death. The resurrection did not abolish death, it uncovered and made clear that death was abolished.


So the deacon sings during the Service of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: By waving the life-giving Cross solemnly from east to west and from north to south, the whole earth is sanctified

Reference: Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, ‘The Sign of the Cross’, in Pro Oriente Syriac Dialogue V 2003

September 9th is the Commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Osio +377 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Osio was born to God-fearing Christian parents who were childless for many years. They prayed unceasingly to have a child, & God blessed them with Osio. His parents wanted him to marry the governor’s daughter, but Osio refused. He left to Jerusalem, desiring to give up worldly comforts, choosing to follow the divine path instead. Eventually, Osio was ordained as a priest. He then journeyed to Mount Sinai where he stayed for sometime, finally reaching the Kafra desert. It was here that he met Mor Dimet, becoming his disciple. Mor Osio stayed with Mor Dimet for 14 years until the latter’s demise.

Osio was well known for his prayerful life, strict asceticism & most importantly his fasting. He evangelized many & carried out great charity work. Thousands of individuals followed Christ after hearing his preaching. Osio traveled to Homs, Antioch & Nicodemia, healing the sick & protecting the villagers from wild animals. After returning to Antioch from Nicodemia, Osio realized his end was near. He called his students to his deathbed & said, “Children, I am going. As long as you live on this earth, do not deviate from the path I have taught you. Be careful not to fall into faulty ways. Continue worshipping God. Always tread the path of virtue & purity. This world and everything in it are mere shadows.” Mor Osio left for the heavenly abode in AD377. His dukhrono is a major feast for the Syriac Orthodox faithful of Aleppo.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Osio Hakeemo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen

Life of Mor Osio in Garshuni: https://bit.ly/OsioGarshuni

Martyr https://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/1_11.html?lang=en#1

Vat. LXIX

September 9th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Julian the Hermit according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Youlyané Ounwoyo also known as Mor Elian was from Emesa (modern day Homs Syria). Church tradition tells us that he was a teacher of St. Ephrem the Syrian. He refused to renounce Christ & so was murdered by his father, a Roman officer. Thus Mor Youlyané attained the crown of martyrdom. A Monastery was built in his honour in the 5th century, however it was sadly destroyed by ISIS terrorists in 2015.

Oh Mor Youlyané Ounwoyo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen

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September 9th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of Sts. Joachim & Anne according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Yuyakim & Mort Hannah (Deena) are the parents of St. Mary the mother of God. They are both descendants of King David, additionally St. Anne comes from the priestly tribe of Levi & is a descendant of Aaron. They were both very pious & god fearing. Apocryphal texts & Church tradition tells us that Mort Hannah (who’s name means blessed in Hebrew) was barren & even to her old age could not have a child. They prayed & fasted continuously for a child, making a vow that their child will be offered unto God. An angel appeared before Hannah & said, “God has seen your tears. The fruit of your womb will be called ‘the blessed’ throughout the world.”Joachim also received a similar command. God blessed them with a child, whom they named Mariam.

As St. Mary was born to her parents in their old age, at the age of 3 she was offered to the temple as fulfillment of their vow. This event was once a Feast in the Syriac Orthodox Church Liturgical Calendar being celebrated on November 21st every year. After offering Mariam to the temple Joachim died & he was entombed in Jerusalem. Soon Hannah also died & was entombed along with her husband. The prayer from the book of daily offices (Sh’himo) on Friday morning reads, ”Mary became an orphan, for her parents passed away. She was left for the priests to take care of her. They took her to Jerusalem according to the command of Moses to be brought up there.

St. Queen Helena built a Church over their tomb, which was later taken over & made into a madrassa (Islamic school) in the 9th century.

Biography adapted from, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Yuyakim & Mort Hannah! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Admin: The inclusion of this event in the online calendar is for educational purposes. Please follow the guidance from one’s spiritual father. The Fast of the Cross is not found in the Hudaya Canon of Mor Gregorios bar Ebroyo and is not presently one of the fasts currently in vogue within the SOC worldwide.

Patriarch Mor Aphrem II brings to our attention different names associated with the Holy Cross within the patristic tradition:

iii) The Saving Cross – Sleebo Forooqoyo

The Cross is an historical event, which took place to prove Christ’s incarnation and serves as His vehicle in accomplishing the salvation of the world. lt is through the victory of the Cross over sin and death that we are saved. The Cross has paid our debt, liberated us, renewed our nature and given us baptism as the means by which we acquire the redemption of the Cross. The two prominent examples of the saving work of the Cross are Adam and the thief. Instead of being a means of punishment and death to them, the Cross becomes their way to life and salvation. With Adam and the thief then, the whole creation is saved by Christ’s Cross because in Christ the past, present and future become a sacred time participating in God’s mysteries.

This transcending of chronological boundaries is vividly painted in the following excerpt from the ‘Cave of Treasures’:

In everything, Christ made Himself like Adam, as it is written, and in the spot Melchizedek served as priest, where Abraham offered up a lamb as a sacrifice, there the wood of the Cross was stuck. This place is the middle of the earth, and there the four comers embrace together. Because, when God made the earth, His great power would run ahead of Him, and the earth would run after Him from the four comers; there, at Golgotha, God’s power arose and stopped; and there the four corners of the world embraced each other: this place is the door of the universe, and the place was opened. When Shem and Melchizedek put Adam’s body in the middle of the earth, the four comers ran and embraced Adam, and the door was shut immediately, and none of Adam’s children could open it. But when the Cross of Christ—the Savior of Adam and his children—was placed over it, the door of the place opened on Adam’s face. And when the Cross was fixed over him, Christ was wounded by the spear, and blood and water flowed from His side, they flowed into Adam’s mouth and became his baptism, and he was baptized with them.

Reference: Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, ‘The Sign of the Cross’, in Pro Oriente Syriac Dialogue V 2003; The Book of the Cave of Treasures (as quoted in ‘Invitation to Syriac Christianity’)

On MASOCNA Calendar

September 10th is the commemoration of the dhukrono of St. Matthew the Apostle according to the liturgical calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

St. Matthew, one of the twelve Apostles, is the author of the first Gospel. This has been the constant tradition of the Church and is confirmed by the Gospel itself. He was the son of Alpheus & was called to be an Apostle while sitting in the tax collector’s place at Capernaum. Before his conversation he was a publican, ie., a tax collector by profession. He is to be identified with the “Levi” in the Gospels of Mark and Luke.

St. Matthew can be considered as the prototype of a sinner saved by the grace of Christ. He was a tax collector, despised by the Jewish people for collaborating with the Roman Empire. Yet our Lord chose him to be among His Holy Apostles saying to those who questioned His choice, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Mark 2:17 KJV

The Holy Bible readings for the Feast of an Apostle according to Church Lectionary are as follows:

Evening:
St. Matthew 9: 35 – 10: 10

Morning:
St. Matthew 19: 27 – 30

Before Holy Qurbono:
Genesis 12 : 1 – 9
Daniel 1: 8 – 21
Isaiah 43: 1 – 7

Holy Qurbono:
Acts 1: 12 – 14
I Corinthians 12: 28 – 13: 10
St. Luke 6: 12 – 23

https://urhotheway.com/2021/02/28/st-matthew-the-apostle/

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

the presbyter Nemesios, and seventeen others

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Admin: The inclusion of this event in the online calendar is for educational purposes. Please follow the guidance from one’s spiritual father. The Fast of the Cross is not found in the Hudaya Canon of Mor Gregorios bar Ebroyo and is not presently one of the fasts currently in vogue within the SOC worldwide.

Patriarch Mor Aphrem II brings to our attention different names associated with the Holy Cross within the patristic tradition:

iv) The Cross of Reproach – Sleebo dHesdo

The humiliation of the Cross becomes glory when it carries Christ, just as the chariot of the Cherubim is filled with glory because the Lord is in it. This paradoxical interpretation is found also in St. Philoxenos when he writes in his commentary on John’s Prologue: He carried the Cross which is connected with disgrace so that we achieve a victory that is full of honour.

Mor Jacob of Sarug also uses this term in his homilies on the Apostle Thomas. In the second homily, we read that the Lord tells Thomas to take up the Cross and go to India, without feeling ashamed of it because it is the vehicle by which the Lord went to the land of the dead and destroyed both sin and death. James writes:
‘By this vehicle I killed the human killer, the evil, and by it I weakened death who had weakened the course of the earth. This Cross has become a vehicle for Me towards the dead, and by it I freed the thief from all captivity.’

Reflecting on the faith of the repentant thief, St. Ephrem the Syrian writes in his ‘Commentary on the Diatessaron’, It was because he had seen, with the eyes of faith, the dignity of our Lord instead of His shame, and His glory instead of His humiliation, that he said, Remember me. What is apparent now, the nails, the cross, will not make me forget what will be at the consummation and which is not yet visible, Your kingdom and Your glory.

Reference: Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, ‘The Sign of the Cross’, in Pro Oriente Syriac Dialogue V 2003; ‘Saint Ephrem’s Commentary on Tatian’s Diatessaron’

The Enigma of The Cross (courtesy Urho, the Way): https://urhotheway.com/2020/07/06/the-enigma-of-the-cross/

Theodore, bishop of Samosata, predicted that God would entrust Patriarch George with a high position in His church. Theodore also encouraged Mor George him to be faithful to his monastery.

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Mor Athanasius of Balad

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Mor Severus Sebokht, Bishop of Qinneshrin was a skillful and famous Doctor, a mathematician, a philosopher, nay the first scholar of the church who explored the obscurities of astronomical and natural sciences.

http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/St.%20Severus%20Sabukht.htm

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Admin: The inclusion of this event in the online calendar is for educational purposes. Please follow the guidance from one’s spiritual father. The Fast of the Cross is not found in the Hudaya Canon of Mor Gregorios bar Ebroyo and is not presently one of the fasts currently in vogue within the SOC worldwide.

Patriarch Mor Aphrem II brings to our attention different names associated with the Holy Cross within the patristic tradition:

v) The Cross of Light – Sleebo dNouhro

For the Syriac Fathers, this Cross of light is the same as the one on which Christ was crucified on Golgotha. However, the term Cross of Light is used mainly in connection with the eschatological Cross, the sign of Christ which will precede His second coming. This is made clear in St. Ephrem’s Serm.11,341-639 where he says that everybody will see the Cross of the Son; the Nations will be glad to see the Cross in which they took refuge and the Jews will be disgraced by it because they are the crucifiers of Christ. 

Mor Jacob of Sarug, on the other hand makes it clear that the Cross of light is the same one which was set up on Golgotha. He calls it the Cross of light because it dispersed the darkness which engulfed the world when Christ was crucified. He writes: 
The Cross of light showed itself on Golgotha, 
and scattered the darkness from the four corners by its shining. 

Having this in mind, Mor Jacob sees all the saints as rays of light shining from the Cross of light, or as Paul would say, they shine like stars in the world. James praises St. George the Martyr and says to him: 
You are fixed in the Cross of light like a ray, 
and your glory shines in the four corners oft he universe. 

In a Ge’ez (Ethiopian/Eritrean) homily on the Cross attributed to St. Jacob of Serugh, we read 
The Cross of light showed miracles to the children of man. By it, the horn of the Church is exalted. It is the Cross of light that saved the world from committing error. Grant me the light to see Your glory with the eyes of my mind. The Church knew that Satan fell by the Cross of light; and she boasted of it because it defeats the power of the enemy by the greatness of its power. She saw Him carrying life, standing at Golgotha. She called her children to acquire from it an eternal life. All rejoiced by the Cross of the Son of God. Our heart rejoices by Your Cross of light on whom You were crucified.

Reference: Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, ‘The Sign of the Cross’, in Pro Oriente Syriac Dialogue V 2003

https://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/1_14.html?lang=en#1

Vat. LXIX

RSoH

Admin: The inclusion of this event in the online calendar is for educational purposes. Please follow the guidance from one’s spiritual father. The Fast of the Cross is not found in the Hudaya Canon of Mor Gregorios bar Ebroyo and is not presently one of the fasts currently in vogue within the SOC worldwide.


The Finding of the True Cross in the Syriac Orthodox Tradition

In the early Syriac tradition, there were two separate feasts for the Holy Cross, one on May 22 for the Discovery and another on September 14 for the Exaltation (connected with the Jerusalem Encaenia festival).

Although most are aware of the standard narrative of St. Queen Helena finding the Holy Cross in Jerusalem with the assistance of St. Macarius the bishop (often citing Wikipedia or sources from the Greek and Latin Churches), the unique features as preserved in the Syriac world are not as widely known. One should keep in mind that even in the Greek and Latin Churches, attempts have been made to account for the various inventio crucis legends, and scholars have noted that even the more familiar story is historically unreliable. 


The Syriac version(s) of the story have been handed down within our liturgical texts and in the writings of the fathers. Notably, Mor Makarios has no role in any of these discovery narratives. There are 3-4 versions of the inventio crucis in Syriac, but we will consider only two here, The Protonike Legend and The Judas Kyriakos Legend. Although these legends are rarely found together in the same manuscript, they are constituent parts of a two-fold discovery tradition. The oldest manuscript of the Judas Kyriakos legend begins, The story of how the wood of the Cross which was found in Jerusalem, was found for the second time in the days of the blessed Queen Helena, mother of the victorious and God-loving Constantine, the Christian Emperor.

i) The Protonike Legend

This story, as narrated by Mor Addai to King Abgar, is set in the first century AD and concerns Queen Petronice, who is supposedly the wife of Emperor Claudius. She learns of Christ through the preaching of St. Peter the Holy Apostle and travels to Jerusalem, meeting Archbishop St. James the brother of our Lord. He informs her that Golgotha, the True Cross, and Christ’s Tomb are in possession of the Jews who are persecuting the Christians. Although an elaborate version of the Protonike/Petronike story is attested in manuscripts as early as the 5th century within the Doctrina Addai, a short version has been recorded in the Chronicle of Patriarch Mor Michael Rabo: The Queen Protonice, wife of Claudius, believed in the teaching of the Apostles. She went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to search for the wood of the Cross. She confided her affairs to Bishop James. Upon entering the Sepulcher, her daughter dropped dead at that moment. They brought three crosses and placed those of the two thieves on her body but nothing happened. When they placed the Cross of the Lord on her body, she came back to life. They knew that this was the Cross on which the Savior was crucified. St. James sends a letter to the Holy Apostles informing them of what has transpired. This is considered the first discovery of the True Cross.

ii) The Judas Kyriakos Legend

This legend is the more famous of the four, and it has been disseminated widely in the Middle Ages, including in Greek and Latin. In fact, the salient features of this story made its way into the Synaxariums of all Oriental Orthodox and Eastern jurisdictions. St. Jacob of Serugh’s ‘Homily on the Finding of the Cross’ draws upon this narrative. The Judas Kyriakos legend is astutely aware of the existence of the Protonoike Legend. For example, Judas tells Queen Helena: Behold more or less two hundred years the Cross has been hidden. These words refer to a later burial of the True Cross during the rule of Emperor Trajan after its initial discovery by Queen Protonice; opening up the possibility for Queen Helen to find it again. In summary, Queen Helen comes to Jerusalem in search of the Holy Cross but realizes that it has been hidden. Queen Helen is then introduced to a Jew named Judas, whom the Jerusalem Jewish community claims has the answer she seeks. After throwing him into a pit, by a divine act he is freed and then reveals the location of the True Cross, which is identified by the miraculous healing of a dying (or dead) person. Judas eventually becomes a Christian and is made bishop, taking on the name Cyriacus. A redacted version of this narrative as found in the Chronicle of Patriarch Mor Michael Rabo: Helena, mother of the victorious Constantine, journeyed to Jerusalem after having seen a dream. However, she found that the city had been ruined for a long while. She was hardly able to find the Cross of the Savior because the Jews had set on the site a statue of Aphrodite, lest the Christians would find it. She entered Jerusalem on May 25 accompanied by Sylvester, bishop of Rome. She inquired from some Jews about the place of the Cross. She threw their leader Judah into prison. Seven days later, Judah was converted, became a bishop and showed her the place of the Cross. The abominable statute of Aphrodite was removed, and they found three crosses and the tablet written by Pilate. However, they could not recognize which was the true cross. The bishop brought a dying woman on whom the crosses of the two thieves were placed but she did not move. When they placed on her the Cross of the Savior, she rose up. Queen Helena built a church over the Sepulcher (of the Savior) and placed a piece of the Cross in it. She sent the rest (of the Cross) to the emperor who fixed it on a grand imperial column. He fixed the nails of the cross in his crown and the bridle-bits of his horse. Thus, the prophecy was fulfilled [Zechariah 14:20]. Helena also built a church in Bethlehem and another one on the Mount of Olives. She treated the women with great humility. She personally prepared food for the nuns and the poor. This is considered the second discovery of the True Cross.

The Quqoyo recited for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (and also for MidLent) alludes to to the Judas Kyriakos legend:

(Sleebaye vandhippanai-Helenee ragnji)
Helen, the Queen went from 
Rome, – the city of kings, 
To Je-ru-sa-lem, to a-dore the 
holy cross. 
She called on the – Jews and told them, 
 ‘Come, show me the – place of His Cross’ 
 ‘We have a great teacher,’ they – 
answered her saying 
‘If you ask, he will show the – 
place where it is laid, 
Halleluiah, – «the» Cross of our Savior.’ Barekhmor


A further elaboration of this story is presented as one recites the First Qawmo of the Cross on Friday’s Lilyo from the Sh’himo (Pampakuda text).

September 12th is the Feast of the Twelve Apostles (Hido D’Trahsar S’hlihe) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

The names of the Holy Apostles along with the how they died and their Feast day in the Syriac Orthodox Church are as follows:

1. St. Peter: Mor Phetros was crucified upside-down. This was at his own request, as he wanted to kiss the feet of his Master, feeling unworthy to share the same death as the Lord. Commemorated on June 29th

2. St. Andrew: Mor Andrayos was bound to an X-shaped cross and left to hang for two days suffering starvation & intense pain until his last breath. Commemorated on November 30

3. St. James the Greater: Mor Yac’ub considered first to be martyred, was executed by the sword of King Herod Agrippa. Commemorated on May 1st

4. St. John: Mor Yuhannon was the only Apostle to not be martyred. He departed for the heavenly abode at the age of 120 in Ephesus. Commemorated on May 8

5. St. Philip: Mor Philipose was crucified upside down at the order of the Emperor. Commemorated on November 14

6. St. Bartholomew: Mor Barthulmai was flayed alive and then crucified upside down by the ruler of Azerbaijan. Commemorated on June 11

7. St. Thomas: Mor Touma died from his injuries after being pierced by a lance while preaching in Mylapore India. Commemorated on New Sunday (had b-shabo hadto/puthu nzhyaar), July 3rd (shifting of relics to Edessa from Mylapore) and December 21 (martyrdom)

8. St. Matthew: Mor Mathai was burnt alive then buried in Antioch. Commemorated on February 24, May 20(The Four Evangelists), August 24, September 21, November 16 (These multiple dates suggest his relics were moved around to various places in history)

9. St. James the lesser: Mor Yac’ub bar Halpphai was crucified while preaching in Egypt. Commemorated on October 23rd

10. St. Jude: Mor Labbaeus was stoned to death either in Yarvada or Ararat. Commemorated on May 10

11. St. Simon: Mor Shem’un was crucified while preaching in Persia. Commemorated on May 10

12. St. Mathias: Mor Mathias was stoned to death by the Jews of Jerusalem. Commemorated on March 4 and August 24

13. St. Paul: Mor Phawlos was beheaded in Rome by order of Emperor Nero. Commemorated on June 29th

To read the full biography of all the Holy Apostles see this book by Very Rev Fr. Mani Rajan Cor-Episcopa: https://tinyurl.com/537ycpc4

The Holy Bible readings from the Church Lectionary:

Evening:
St. Matthew 9:36-10:5

Morning:
St. John 21:15-25

Before Holy Qurbono:
Genesis 12:1-9
Jeremiah 16:16-21
I Kings 8:1-6
Daniel 1:1-9
Isaiah 43:1-14

Holy Qurbono:
Acts 1:12-14
I Corinthians 12:28-13:10
Matthew 20:1-16
St. Luke 6:12-23

Tone of the Day: 8

Syriac prayers for The Feast of the 12 Apostles (Hido D’Trahsar S’hlihe): https://tinyurl.com/2p8uj4mx

This Malayalam hymn from the Qolo of Ramsho (Evening prayers) of Wednesday’s Sh’himo (known as sleeba namaskaram in Malankara), is seeking the intercession of the 12 apostles for blessing of the 12 months of the year: https://youtu.be/y_r3zzZNa7s

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This greatest and most beloved of all Christian orators was born in Antioch the Great in the year 344 or 347; his pious parents were called Secundus and Anthusa. After his mother was widowed at the age of twenty, she devoted herself to bringing up John and his elder sister in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom

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Egyptian, possibly https://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/11_22.html?lang=en#1

Vat. LXIX

The earthquake in Antioch which occurred on September 13 & 14 in 458AD.

St. Severus the Great of Antioch Cathedral Homily # 41

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the bishop Hōros and the presbyter Serapiōn

Probably martyrs of Alexandria

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September 14th is the commemoration of the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross (Hido d’S’hkohteh da-Slibo) according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

In the Syriac Orthodox Church no sacrament or any kind of worship can be performed without the sign of the Cross. The Church places it at the very heart of her life and worship. It has become the sign and symbol of Christ’s death and Resurrection for us. Centuries ago, in some regions of the Church such as Mardin, an 8-day Fast of the Holy Cross preceded the September 14 feast.

In the early Syriac tradition, there were two separate feasts for the Holy Cross, one on May 22 for the Discovery and another on September 14 for the Exaltation (connected with the Jerusalem Encaenia festival). In the modern era, only the feast of September 14th remains prominent. Today the Holy Church jointly commemorates the historical discovery of the True Cross of our Lord & its exaltation amongst the faithful. 

The Cross was discovered by St. Queen Helena, the mother of St. King Constantine the Great. As the story goes, St. Helena made a vow through prayer & fasting that if her son became Christian she would find the True Cross. God willed & showed Constantine the sign of the Cross in the sky in the middle of the day & with it wrote, “In this sign you will conquer.” So Constantine took the symbol of the Cross as a banner for his army & conquered his enemies, becoming a devout Christian. In the morning prayers of Friday we recite from the Sh’himo: The king Constantine looked in the sky and saw a token of wonder, the sign of the Cross; and, when he inquired into the vision, it was said to him, ‘by this sign of life you shall gain the victory’. 

St. Helena sets out towards Jerusalem to find Golgotha, the True Cross, and Christ’s tomb. She soon realizes that these have been hidden. Queen Helen orders the locals to give her the location and is introduced to a Jew named Judas, whom the Jerusalem Jewish community claims has the answer she seeks. Judas is initially hesitant to reveal the answer, and is thrown into a pit for his disobedience. By an act of divine providence, he is freed and then repents. Judas then reveals the location of Golgotha. Three crosses were found along with the inscription ordered by Pontius Pilate. The True Cross is identified by the miraculous healing of dying individual brought in contact with it, Judas eventually becomes a Christian taking on the name Kyriakos. Further miracles are attested as occurring due to the presence of the True Cross. With the help of Cyriacus, St. Queen Helena discovers the nails which struck our Lord and sent them to her son, and Emperor Constantine fixed the nails of the Cross in his crown and the bridle-bits of his horse. Thus, the prophecy in Zechariah 14:20 is fulfilled.

In the Liturgy of this feast, there is a tradition of lighting a fire to commemorate Queen Helena ordering her soldiers to light a fire indicating the discovery. On her way to Jerusalem, she left one of her servants on a mountain. Once the cross was discovered, she ordered her men to light a fire on top of a nearby mountain. Having seen the fire, the servant staying on the next mountain lit another fire, & in this manner the news of the discovery of the Holy Cross reached the capital, Constantinople. On the eve of the Feast, a bonfire is lit an the faithful light up torches, carrying it in a procession.

The portions of the True Cross were considered to be very precious & various prelates used pieces in their handcross from the fourth century onward. A portion of the cross is inserted in the handcross of St. Gregorius Abdul Jaleel +1671 who is entombed in St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church North Paravur. Likewise many saints had portions of the True Cross in their possession such as Mor Aho the Ascetic who is buried with the relic at Dayro daslibo.

The Patriarch of Jerusalem (who was under the authority of the Patriarch of Antioch), Mor Makarios took the Cross onto a raised platform & lifted it on high, exalting it, for all the faithful to see. The people fell to their knees, bowing down before the Cross, crying out repeatedly, Lord, have mercy! To house the relic of the True Cross, St. Helen had a church built over the Holy Sepulcher. The Church was consecrated 9 years later on September 13th with a portion of the relics of the True Cross. The relic of the True Cross was shown to the faithful the next day on September 14th 335AD. Thus amongst Orthodox Christians the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross became an annual commemoration.

At Mor Sabor-Mor Aphroth Church Akaparambu, the blessed offering provided to the devotees on this feast is called panchasarayumanda and is considered renowned in the region.

Source: Patriarchal & Hekamtho journals; SOR

Sleebo otho d-shayno–Sleebo neesho d-zoqutho Sleebo d-behu freeqinan–w-beh khulan meshthabhrinan!
Shubha chinam thaan Sleebaa–vijayakodi thaan Sleebaa namme rekshicheedum-Sleebaayil pukazhunoo naam!
The Cross is the sign of peace–and the sign of victory. By the Cross we have been saved–and in it we all glory!

The Holy Bible readings from the Church Lectionary:

Evening:
St. Matthew 24:1-35

Morning:
St. Mark 13:1-33

Before Holy Qurbono:
Numbers 21:4-9
Genesis 48:13-20
I Samuel 17:37-53
Joshua 10:12-15
Daniel 7:21-28
Isaiah 65:1-7

Holy Qurbono:
Acts 13:26-39
Galatians 2:17-3:14
St. Luke 21:5-28

Malankara World Special Supplement for Slibo: https://goo.gl/PnKpbS

Tone of the Feast: 8


Sleeba Quqalion സ്ലീബാ കുക്കിലിയോൻ A Study (courtesy Hymonutho): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFBWi_2LPXU

The Types and Symbols of the Cross in Holy Scripture, a message for Holy Cross Feast (courtesy Hymonutho): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICdjVB3w8_c

Sermon by late Dr. D Babu Paul (courtesy Hymonutho): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTjcp-Vo3ew

The Order of the Feast of the Holy Cross: https://bit.ly/SleeboEnglish

Syriac Service from Ma’De’Dono: https://tinyurl.com/mu4kzvwm 

Slibo hymns on YouTube: https://goo.gl/3cxrRH

‘The Cross in the Writings of St. Ephrem’ (Thesis by Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II): http://bit.ly/MorAphremCross


Fixed Feast

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Renewal of all the churches and altars in the name of St. Mary the Theotokos

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in Galatia, Seleukos and five others

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H.E. Mor Dionysius Isa Gürbüz, Patriarchal Vicar of Switzerland & Austria was consecrated on September 15th 1996 by late HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I

http://syriacchristianity.info/bio/SyriacOrthodox/bio_DionysiusGurbuz.htm

H.E. Mor Severios Malke Mourad, Patriarchal Vicar of Brazil was consecrated on September 15th 1996 by late HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I.

In hagiography: Shayna was identified as Abramios of Antioch, a converted Jewish thief from Antioch.

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

Martyr
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There is a chapel in Hah dedicated to Mor Kashish. Probably, Mor Qashish was the monk then bishop mentioned in John of Ephesus’ Lives of the Eastern Saints. He went on pilgrimages and helped the Empress Theodora to build a hostel for the Miaphysites.

Life of Mor Kashish of Hah: https://bit.ly/LifeKashish

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Saint Acacius the Confessor lived during the Decian persecution, and was Bishop of Melitene, Armenia.

Arrested as a Christian, Saint Acacius was brought before the governor Marcianus, who ordered that he be tortured. He was not put to death, but was set free after a while, bearing the wounds of Christ on his body. He died in peace.

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Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemia

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at Ankyra, Eusebius

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September 17th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Andrew the Holy Apostle +60 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Andrayos Sleeho, the brother of St. Peter, was a native of the town of Bethsaida in Galilee, & a fisherman by profession. Being first a disciple of St. John the Baptist, he later joined Jesus Christ, bringing to Him his elder brother Simon, with whom he became a member of the Holy Apostles.

Tradition states that he travelled in Jordan, Arabia, Phoenicia (modern Lebanon) Osreon (South eastern Turkey) & preached the Gospel among people who spoke Armenian language. Besides that he travelled across Cappodocia, Bithynia, Galatia around the Black sea & went to Acacia. It is even believed that he carried the Gospel as far as Russia & Poland, & that he preached at Byzantium.

He is said to have been martyred by crucifixion as he precipitated the anger of the Roman provincial Governor. When he reached Patras/Patrae in Achaia/Acaia, he heard the Governor’s wife Maxilla (Maximilla) was on her deathbed. As he arrived at their palace he found Aegeates, the Governor with a drawn sword ready to kill himself after the imminent death of his wife. As St. Andrew prayed she recovered & accepted Jesus Christ as her saviour. Her brother-in-law also accepted the Christian belief. The Governor was furious as his brother & wife converted to Christianity & consequently Andrew was imprisoned.

It is recorded that a debate ensued as St. Andrew spread the true faith & spoke against the worship of idols & during the trial he was condemned to be crucified. In prison he influenced other prisoners & many repented. The Governor on hearing about this, issued orders to crucify him.

When Andrew saw the cross made of olive wood in the shape of ‘X‘ (St. Andrew’s Cross) he hugged it with great happiness. He prayed, “May Jesus who saved me through the Cross accept me now by the same cross.” He was not nailed but bound to the cross tightly & the cross was made to stand erect. He suffered hunger, thirst & intense pain for two days in the same posture. Even in the midst of his agony he was preaching the word of God. Half an hour before his ordeal came to an end his face lit up, then his soul departed for its heavenly abode. Thus Mor Andrayos attained the crown of martyrdom. He was entombed in Patras at the order of Maxilla. The relics of the saint was later taken to Constantinople in 357, & deposited in the church of the Holy Apostles, built by Constantine the Great.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Andrayos Sleeho! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

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at Chalcedon, Seleukos the Egyptian

Possibly St. Solochon the Martyr of Chalcedon?

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Sophie (sapientia) or wisdom with her three daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity, (also known as saints Pistis, Elpis, and Aghapi) were martyred in Rome under Hadrian. Sophie was invoked as a saint to fight malaria.

Stratonike, her husband Seleucus, and their companions were martyrs from Cyziqus on the Sea of Marmara. Martyred under Maximinus, Stratonike was honored in the Hymns on the Holy Women, among the martyrs of the East and West.

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

St. Thomas and The Syrian Christians of Kerala: https://urhotheway.com/lectures-on-st-thomas-and-the-syrian-christians-of-kerala/

Lecture Series – Malankara Church and Throne of St. Thomas (courtesy Hymonutho): https://bit.ly/30TN7AV

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August 2nd is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Ahudemeh +575 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Ahudemeh was born to in Balad, Iran to a Nestorian family. He received theological education under Nestorian teachers & subsequently became a Nestorian bishop. However, he left the heresy of Nestorianism & embraced the Orthodox (Miaphysite) True faith. He preached to the nomadic Arab tribes of Beth Arabaye province of the Persian Empire, & countless ethnic Arabs accepted the Orthodox faith. He built a Monastery dedicated to Mor Sergius so the Arabs did not have to go to the Byzantine Empire to pray, but it was sadly destroyed by the Nestorians.

The Miaphysites came under fierce persecution within the Byzantine Empire after they rejected the Council of Chalcedon. Many miaphysites took refuge in the Persian Empire. However, the Persian Sassanid Shah did not welcome them. He believed the Miaphysites to be spies who were loyal to Byzantine, as their spiritual leader (Patriarch of Antioch and all the East) was residing within Byzantine territory. The Nestorians also spread lies to deceive the Shah into believing that Orthodox could not be trusted. So the Orthodox faithful were persecuted simultaneously in Byzantine & in Persia.

Shah Khosrau decided to hold a debate between the Orthodox & the Nestorians at his court to see which faith was superior. The Nestorians were represented by their leader Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Joseph who was also the physician of Shah Khosrau. The Orthodox were represented by Mor Ahudemeh. At the end of the debate, the Shah realized that the Orthodox faith was superior & therefore granted the Orthodox freedom to worship & build churches, monasteries etc.

Mor Yac’ub Burd’ono seeing the greatness of Mor Ahudemeh, consecrated him Metropolitan of the East to protect, shepherd & promote the Syriac Orthodox Church in the territories of the Persian Sassanid Empire. He was counted as the first Metropolitan of the See of the East after it had been usurped by the Nestorians. With greater authority, Mor Ahudemeh began strengthening the Orthodox Church, rebuilding monasteries, evangelizing etc.

The son of Shah Khosrau was baptized to Christianity by Mor Ahudemeh who sent him to Byzantine for safety, which angered the emperor. The Shah imprisoned Mor Ahudemeh. The Syriac Orthodox Arab tribes who were converted by the missions of Mor Ahudemeh offered 3 times his weight in gold to the emperor for Mor Ahudemeh’s freedom. However, Mor Ahudemeh declined, deciding to remain in prison & was later executed. Thus he attained the crown of martyrdom. His mortal remains were interred in Qronta, opposite Tikrit.

Mor Ahudemeh was also a philosopher, theologian & scholar known for his great intelligence. He was a staunch supporter of Orthodoxy even till his death.

Oh Mor Ahudemeh! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Biography adapted from, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

September 18th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Mathew the Hermit according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Mattai Renuoyo was born in the early 4th century in the city of Amid or in a village close by. Little is known about his early life. Mor Mattai was a monk in that region when the anti-Christian persecution of Julian the apostate took place.

In 361, Mor Mattai & other monks were forced to flee to Nineveh where he found a hermitage on Alfaf Mountain in the Nineveh plains. It was during that time that he met prince St. Behnam, the son of Sencharib, during a hunting trip. Mattai taught him about Christianity & Behnam became a disciple of Mattai. Impressed by his teachings, Behnam went back to his mother & persuaded her to let him take his sister Sara, who had leprosy, to the saint. She was cured by the saint & after the miracle, both Sara and Behnam were baptized by the saint alongside Behnam’s forty companions. Upon learning of his children’s conversion, King Sencharib killed his children & their forty companions on a hill in Nimrud.

The king was then struck with a disease. Behnam appeared to his mother in a dream & told her to get Mor Mattai. She did & the saint cured the king. To show his gratitude, the king built a monastery in the mountain where Mor Mattai healed his daughter. This became known as Dayro d-Mor Mattai Nineveh.

Biography courtesy of Syriac Orthodox Resources

Oh Mor Mattai! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

About Dayro d-Mor Mattai Nineveh: https://goo.gl/Tzgo4a

Biography in Arabic: https://goo.gl/ZTTVvm

https://urhotheway.com/2020/09/17/st-matthew-the-hermit/

September 18th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Jacob the Recluse +421 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Yac’ub hbishoyo, the luminous example was born in 330 AD. in Egypt. In his school days, he was considered the shining example.He went to the desert on the edge of Alexandria, where he founded a monastery with Elisha, Mark, Joseph and Isaiah.

When, however, Julianus released a decision either to renounce Christian faith or to be delivered terrible torture, he, as a foreign huntsman, asked his brothers, saying, Come, let us worship God, and He will open His way for us. They neither drank nor ate nothing all the day and all night till they finally fell asleep. Mor Jakob saw a man in a dream, who asked him, Take your brethren, and go into this wilderness, for the Lord hath made a place for you there.
Their journey took them to Syria, where they sailed for three days. When they arrived, they saw a pillar built by a Gabriel who served to pray. The travelers sat down there and Gabriel, who was in the pillar, saw a light/ radiation, shouted out of the window to Jacob: Blessed Jacob. Jacob answered, Yes, sir! Gabriel: Why are you sitting there? Get up and come to your brother. The Lord has prepared you, and I ask you to carry out my funeral. After they had eaten and drunk, he asked Gabriel to pray and asked for the peace of the world. After ten psalms, the blessed Gabriel knelt before them, saying, My brethren, come and bring me the word of the Lord, for He will not allow me to rejoice with you even a day. Come closer now, give me peace and close my eyes. During the conversation, he died and all of them were crying. Immediately they heard a voice calling to them, Welcome, O man, who has performed the will of the Lord. The sanctuary of the righteous long after thee. When they received this words with astonishment, they got up and buried the corpse of Gabriel in his grave, which was under the pillar. After three years Satan tried to dissuade them from the truth. They were rehearsed by hallucinations for seven years. Then Mor Jacob brethren became tired and asked the saint to pray for God’s help, but the Blessed One demanded their patience. Then the Holy Father went down to the foot of the pillar, and wept before God, and said, Lord God, you gave serpents to the apostles, to whom they will fight, and to fight against all the evil forces do not perish thy servants, who trust in the Holy Name, and wait for thy rich gifts: confound and humble this enemy who will take you out of thy camp.

After two years, the Lord sent an angel with the message: Your prayers have been heard. Now get up quickly, and go into the city of Amida, for there is the Lord’s delight in resting you from your work. After sending his brothers away, he wandered around the desert and was abducted by the Holy Spirit. When he awoke, he found himself at the foot of the bank. When he saw a ship sailing on the sea, he wandered on the water to the ship. When he was asked of the crew, who thought to see a phantom, where he wanted to go, he said to Tarsus. When he got onto the ship a strong wind came up and the ship was at the port of Tarsus. There he first healed a terrible wound of a boy named Antonius and he healed many people in the city. Abbot Bar Shabo, from Tur Abdin, heard of him and invited him to the monastery for the night. The mayor of Hasankefh, Rufus and the metropolitan of the city, Mor Sergis, were also invited.

After two months a general of the Persians marched into these regions and the people fled into the castles. But the general surrounded the entire region with his entourage, and he himself stood in front of the castle. In the near was a village, Shiloh (Saleh), where there was a temple of the Persians. Also the general went to this temple. There, in the monastery, Bar Shabo and his ten disciples were tired up, the General called Bar Shabo, led by the devil, he told him to renounce their Christian faith, but Bar Shabo replied by spitting in his face. Then he and his ten disciples were beheaded. When Mor Jacob saw this, he rejoiced, and cried to his brethren, My sons, do not relax from the truth, see, today the Messiah calls us to his wedding. After a joy, he said, Those who are with us will be invited by the Messiah. And also they were beheaded by the sword except Mor Jacob.


One of the servants saw, as angels of God placed crowns on the heads of each who was beheaded and raised them up into heaven. This servant took off his clothes and dressed himself in one of the beheaded clothes and said, The Messiah calls me to his feast. And he too was beheaded. With them was fulfilled the word of David: We are led like lambs to the slaughter. A cloud came up and the sound of the angels sounded. Everyone ran away, but they drowned in the Tigris. When it was all over, and Mor Jacob saw what had happened, he was afraid of his holiness, and he cried and prayed, for the fear of God was great, for he blamed himself that this martyr was found, for it was him who did not allow people to flee.

He built an apartment from earth, for he would not leave this place. The name of St. Jacob was known and since he did not want to accept riches, they built a temple over the place where Bar Shabo and his followers were beheaded. In the night you could hear the call: Hallelujah. Until today it is called the House of the martyr Bar Shabo and his eleven disciples. Many people have been cured threw him. When his time approached, he went to the people, crucified the multitude, and said, The grace of the Lord shall come upon you. May He give you a good reward in His kingdom. The Lord should surround you with a strong wall. He shall keep you crossed under His Victory. Mor Jacob made the cross on himself and on 18th September of the year 421 he gave his soul to his Creator.

Oh Mor Yac’ub hbishoyo! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

Biography courtesy of translation by Ranya Kucukkaplan in ‘Syriac Orthodox Theology Facebook group’


Life of St. Jacob: https://bit.ly/LifeJacobRecluse

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Feast celebrated in Zeugma (A town on the Euphrates west of Edessa)

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at Nicomedia, Ōkeanos

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at Alexandria, Kastōr and eleven other martyrs

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Suffered for Christ during the reign of the Roman emperor Probus (276-282).

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at Synnada, from the ancient martyrs, Dorymedon

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In hagiography: Habib of Scetis was a monk who appears among a group of disciples of Mar Awgin. He may have become bishop of Tanaos or Athens.


Life of St. Habib of Scetis: https://bit.ly/LifeHabibScetis 

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Mar Pinḥas, martyr from Persia

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https://urhotheway.com/2021/02/28/st-matthew-the-apostle/

Son of Joseph, brother of our Lord Jesus Christ

Among the Seventy Two (72) Disciples

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Saint Babylas (+253). A patriarch of Antioch (237 – 251), During the Decian persecution (249-251) he made an unwavering confession of faith and was thrown into prison where he died from his sufferings. He was, therefore, venerated as a martyr, (according to Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, VI, 39). He asked to be buried with his chains.

http://www.soc-wus.org/ourchurch/St.%20Babylas,%20Patriarch%20of%20Antioch.htm

St. John Chrysostom Homily on St. Babylas: http://bit.ly/ChrysostomBabylas

St. Severus of Antioch’s veneration of St. Babylas, a brief overview: https://tinyurl.com/jfpdbc5e

Hymns on St. Severus for the feast of St. Babylas of Antioch:

“Because the Lord hath done a wonder”
Let no man be surprised at seeing that Babylas the old and advanced in days, a man bowed down from length of time went down boldly to the arena and to the conflict of martyrdom and the boys of immature age and their mother. But let him praise Christ, the Word of God, who after the similitude of boys shared in blood and flesh and became man without change and so far helped and strengthened our feeble race. That even persons of tender age receive crowns of victory in the conflict against the devil who aforetime proudly boasted and said “I will go up to heaven, and above the stars of heaven will I set the seat of my kingdom: and I will be like unto the Most High.” Let us all in thanksgiving send up praise to Him by means of His Cross dissolved his power; and let us cry to Him, “Lord of all, praise to Thee!”

“Because of thy Grace, O God”
The great and divine Apostle Paul said that he prayed and entreated in a chain on behalf of the Gospel, and Babylas the martyr, imitating him, asked for the chain in which he was martyred to be buried with him, as a general the armour in which he did deeds of progress. Accordingly, even his dust is very formidable to the demons, and Apollo the idol, which was set at Daphne, was struck dumb and ceased to utter its lying folly, because of the neighbourhood of the dead man who was alive through the performance of the signs which he wrought. And to Julian the tyrant, who had gone mad and ordered demon worship; it was unable to give a deceitful revelation. And after the precious bones of the martyr had been removed and taken away, the spirit that speaks from the earth, the full of began to utter folly. And so through both facts, by its silence, I mean, and also by its foolish speaking, it proclaims and declares the victory of that combatant by whose prayers, Christ-God have mercy upon us.

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In hagiography: Yazdin was an anchorite from the fifth century. He converted to Christianity from Zoroastrianism along with his brother, Dadisho. Dadisho’s son, Pethion, became a martyr and converted Adorhormizd and his daughter Anahid.

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at Ankyra, infants, who became martyrs from their mothers’ breasts.

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Lived to 969 years of age

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Womanhood – Reflections from the Syriac Orient (courtesy Urho the Way): https://bit.ly/2ZaQAuo

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September 23rd is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Julian Saba according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Church tradition tells us that he was a teacher of St. Ephrem the Syrian. He is called Father of the Monks

In hagiography: Julian Saba lived near Edessa and practiced extreme asceticism. He had many disciples, and he fought against the Arians for the case of orthodoxy in Antioch.

His life has been preserved for us in Theodoret’s History of the Monks of Syria, in a collection of Syriac poems attributed to St. Ephrem , and in a Syriac memra attributed to St. Jacob of Serugh

Oh Mor Youlyané! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen

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Thecla

See: ‘The Reception of the Acts of Thecla in Syriac Christianity: Translation, Collection, and Reception’

https://urhotheway.com/2020/12/01/st-thecla-the-martyr/


St. Severus the Great of Antioch Cathedral Homily # 97

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Prophet Zechariah the son of Berechiah, was one of the twelve minor prophets. He was from the tribe of Levi, born in the land of Gilead, and was exiled to the land of the Chaldeans.

In exile, he started to prophesy, in the second year of King Darius, 520 B.C. He prophesied about Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, that they would rebuild the temple. (Ezra 5:1; 6:14)

He prophesied also about the entrance of the Lord to Jerusalem riding a donkey, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9); the thirty pieces of silver that Judas Iscariot received to deliver his Master to the Jews (Matthew 26:14-15); the scattering of the disciples on the night of the crucifixion; the coming of Christ in glory; and the grief of the children of Israel who did not believe in Him (Zechariah 12:10). He also prophesied about many other things.

He was the prophet who was killed between the altar and the temple. He was buried in Jerusalem in the tomb of the prophets.

St. Severus of Antioch hymn on Prophet Zechariah:

Beg of the Lord and pray before Him (Psalms 37:7)
Zechariah the prophet, who foresaw and made announcement and spoke concerning the cessation and peace regarding the destruction of Jerusalem, and concerning the building of the temple, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as one that is fertile or fruitful and, The glory of this house shall be greater than its former glory, and regarding the suprasensual sickle that convicted of perjury, entreat Christ, the God of us all, to bestow upon His churches the peace and concord that comes from Him; and by means of Thy sickle to cut away and abolish the falsehood of all heresies and barbarian enemies or peoples who desire wars, and bestow upon us His grace and His great mercy.

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In hagiography: Denha was a monk of the convent of Qabratha.

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Saint Euphrosyne of Alexandria was born at the beginning of the fifth century in the city of Alexandria. She was the only child in her family of illustrious and rich parents. Since her mother died early, she was raised by her father, Paphnutius, a deeply believing and pious Christian.

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martyr Armenian Church

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Announcement of his conception

St. John is the youngest son of Zebedee & Salome. John’s older brother is St. James. He was the youngest of the disciples, & unlike the others he did not face martyrdom. John was the only Apostle present by Jesus’ side at the crucifixion. Christ entrusted the care of St. Mary to John as he was the one ‘Jesus loved the most’. St. Mary lived under John’s care until her death.

St. John lived in Jerusalem & later moved to Ephesus. He authored the Gospel & 3 epistles in his name. The book of Revelation was also written by him. He built many churches in Turkey & evangelized many to Christianity. Tradition states that he lived to 120 years of age. A church was built over the site of his tomb. However, this was converted to a mosque.

Huthomo: https://youtu.be/Sg1DcHVxmDo

The Syriac History of John (Apocryphal hagiography of St. John son of Zebedee): http://bit.ly/JohnSyriac

St. Severus of Antioch hymn on St. John the Evangelist:

All the peoples shall bless him (Psalms 72:17)
The preacher and Apostle, John the Evangelist, who by Christ, even God, his Master, was before named ‘son of thunder’, and for this reason divinely thundered with loud voice the words, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and stirred up and instilled wonder in all the ears of wise and of unwise. Whom also Jesus particularly loved more than the rest of the disciples his fellows, by whom He was proclaimed God, let us beg and beseech together with the God-bearer and Virgin to entreat for us, in order that, building all the service of works of virtue upon this foundation of faith, we may be admitted to find great mercy.


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During the years of St. Gregory the Illuminator imprisonment, a group of virgin nuns, led by Gayane, came to Armenia as they fled the Roman persecution of their Christian faith. Tiridates heard about the group and the legendary beauty of one of its members, Rhipsime. He brought them to the palace and demanded to marry the beautiful virgin; she refused. The king had the whole group tortured and killed. After this event, he fell ill and according to legend, adopted the behavior of a wild boar, aimlessly wandering around in the forest. Khosrovidukht had a dream wherein Gregory was still alive in the dungeon, and he was the only one able to cure the king. At this point it had been 13 years since his imprisonment, and the odds of him being alive were slim. They retrieved him, and, despite being incredibly malnourished, he was still alive. He was kept alive by a kind-hearted woman who threw a loaf of bread down in Khor Virap every day for him.

Gregory the wonderworker

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The Holy Martyr Paphnutius hailed from Egypt and struggled in the desert. During the persecution against Christians under Diocletian (284-305), the governor Hadrian commanded that Saint Paphnutius be brought to him.
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Loranṭyos (Laurence) and Agrippa were companions and martyrs under Diocletian. Agrippa was a prefect of Syria who had converted to the faith in Mesopotamia.

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In hagiography: Jonah of Ḥaḥ was a bishop of Ḥaḥ, martyred at Apamea.

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H.E. Mor Filuksinos Yusuf Çetyn, Patriarchal-Vicariate of Istanbul, Ankara & Izmir was consecrated on September 28th 1986 by late HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I.

https://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/2_1.html?lang=en#1

Vat. LXIX

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“Though I flee for Christ’s sake, yet His word did not flee [from Antioch]; it is close to where the law of the spirit desires to carry it.” – St. Severus the Great of Antioch, Letter 53

When Justin I, the Chalcedonian, succeeded Anastasius and became Emperor in 518, he severely persecuted the Orthodox Christians and exiled a group of Orthodox bishops. Mor Severus was forced to leave Antioch on September 25, and he arrived in the coastal city of Seleucia. From there, he moved to Egypt on September 29, 518.

In the absence of its shepherd, Antioch suffered many harsh persecutions; the Chalcedonians seized the opportunity of the exile of Mor Severus and installed illegal patriarchs, starting thus the line of succession of the Chalcedonian Patriarchs.

Our saintly Patriarch continued to administer the Church of Antioch from his exile in Egypt for a period of 20 years.

Letter of Patriarch St. Severus of Antioch on his flight to Egypt: https://bit.ly/SeverusLetterFlight

Life of St. Severus from the Copto-Ethiopic tradition: https://tinyurl.com/mu58vdaa

Lecture Series – St. Severus of Antioch (courtesy Urho the Way): https://bit.ly/3pxTeoy

Paris 146 and Vat. LXIX

at Perinthus, the bishop Eutychēs, and Genesios, and Sabinos, and Eutychēs, the martyrs


in Heraclea 

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H.G. Mor Theophilos Kuriakose, Resident Metropolitan and Professor of New Testament at MSOT Seminary was consecrated on September 29th 2003 by H.B. Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas I.

http://syriacchristianity.info/bio/MalankaraPrelates/bio_TheoKuriakose.htm

September 29th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of Qooberneeyto Hakeemo Mor Clemis Abraham Vayala +2002 the Chief Metropolitan of the East.

Unnithan was born to Kochiduccala & Pennamma of the Vayala family in Ranni. After completing primary studies in Ranni he went to Alwaye for high school where he stayed with Mor Athanasios Paulose (+1936). He received a BA degree, followed by another Masters with honors in Political Science at Annammalai University. Unnitan was ordained mzamrono by Mor Dioscorus Thomas, followed by quroyo by HH St. Ignatius Elias III Patriarch of Antioch. Both ordinations were in Valiyapally Ranni in 1931. After learning Syriac from Thazhath Valliyachan, he completed further theological studies at Thrikunnath Seminary, Alwaye & Mor Ignatius Dayro, Omallur studying under both Mor Yulios Elias Qoro & Abdul Ahad Raban (later Patriarch HH Yac’ub III). He was ordained priest by Mor Yulios Elias Qoro in 1947 at Valiyapally Ranni. In 1949 he left to Iraq to join the Theological Seminary in Mosul & studied there for 2 years. After being unanimously selected by the Knanaya Association, he was consecrated bishop with the title Mor Clemis Abraham by the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Mor Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum of blessed memory at the Patriarchal Cathedral of Homs Syria on April 15th 1951.

His first order of business as Knanaya Metropolitan was to introduce a 5 year plan to improve the progress of the Knanaya community. Mor Clemis went to the USA to study at the Union Theological Seminary in 1960. It was funded with the aid of a scholarship instituted by the millionaire John D. Rockefeller. Mor Clemis attained a Masters of Sacred Theology. After the passing of Malankara Metropolitan Mor Athanasius Paulose in 1953, Mor Clemis Abraham was selected to replace him by the Malankara Suriyani Kristhiani Association meeting held in June 1957 at St. Mary’s Cathedral Manarcad. He represented Malankara during the Holy Synod which elected new Patriarch HH Mor Ignatius Yac’ub III & in November 1957 he participated in the Holy Mouron (Myron/Chrism) consecration.

Mor Clemis worked tirelessly for the growth of the Knanaya (Syriac Urfalee of India) community. He laid the foundation stone for St. Thomas College Ranni, started the first iteration of the Knanaya Women’s Association & inaugurated the first convent for Knanaya nuns. During his tenure he created a reserve fund & money from this permanent central fund was used to start rubber plantation in the twenty five acres land of ‘Edessa Gardens’. It was also during his tenure that HH the Patriarch granted permission according to Bull No. 30/90 on 6 April 1990 to include St. Kanai Thoma’s name in the 5th Dypthic (Thubden d-Qadishe/5th Thubden).

A stalwart son of the Syriac Orthodox Church, he offered courageous leadership in all endeavours for the protection of the true faith. Mor Clemis was unflinching in his loyalty to the Holy See of Antioch. During the seventies when schism reared its ugly head in the Malankara Church, Mor Clemis Abraham provided leadership not only for the Knanaya Church but for all faithful who wished to remain in obedience to the Holy See of Antioch. He participated in the Patriarchal election of HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas in 1980.

For his dedicated service to the Church & excellent leadership capabilities, he was awarded the title Qooberneeyto Hakeemo (wise captain) by the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Mor Ignatius Zakka I of blessed memory during the Apostolic visit to Malankara in 1982. He was elevated to the rank of Chief Metropolitan of the East in 1989. Mor Clemis was active in Ecumenical forums, was invited to visit the Vatican & had an audience with the Pope twice in 1960 & 1980. He also worked to resolve issues between the Malankara Jacobites & Malankara Catholics in Nilackal

On September 29th 2002, Mor Clemis Abraham had his final Holy Communion, & passed away at night in Lissie Hospital Ernakulam. The burial was conducted on 1st October in Chingavanam Dayro church. It was attended by the Catholicos Mor Baselius Thomas I, the Patriarchal Delegate Archbishop Mor Yulios Yeshue Cicek, various metropolitans of the Malankara Church, the Chief Minister of Kerala & other eminent social, political & religious personalities.

Mor Clemis Abraham was a rare individual who had the great fortune to take part in the consecration of the Holy Chrism by 3 Patriarchs, HH Mor Aphrem I, HH Mor Yac’ub III & HH Mor Zakka I. He could also participate in the election of two Patriarchs. He faithfully served the Syriac Orthodox Church as bishop for over half a century.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

http://sor.cua.edu/Personage/Malankara/MClemisAVayala.html

The index fingers of 80,000 faithful Orthodox Christians in Alexandria were cut off because they believed in the one Incarnate nature of Christ and made the sign of the Cross with one extended finger.

♰ 728/729

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In hagiography: ʿAmmi of Ḥaḥ in Ṭur ʿAbdin became the first bishop of Ṭur ʿAbdin. He was a disciple of Simeon of Qartmin and martyred in Tanzi.


mentioned in the Life of Mor Samuel of Qartmin

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September 30th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Gregory the Illuminator +331 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Mor Gregorios is the patron saint of Armenia. Armenia was an exposed frontier & buffer state between the Roman & Persian empires. His father was prince Anak, a Parthian nobleman who assassinated King Khosrov II of the Arsacid dynasty. Following the assassination while trying to escape, Anak was killed. Gregory who was an infant along with his brother managed to escape with the help of their caretakers. While his brother was taken to Persia, Gregory was taken to Caesarea in Cappadocia (Kayseri, Turkey) & raised in a devout Christian home, educated by Holy Father Phirmilianos (Euthalius). Gregory got married to Mariam & they had two sons, Vrtanes & Aristaces (who became a bishop & attended the Council of Nicaea in 325AD). Eventually, Gregory embraced monasticism.

Gregory returned to Armenia to spread Christianity in his homeland. This was during a period of great persecution of Christians throughout the Roman Empire. The son of Khosrov II, Tiridates III ruled Armenia, & like Roman emperor Diocletian, he hated Christianity. Tiridates learnt that Gregory was the son of his father’s murderer, which angered him. He demanded that Gregory must renounce his Christian faith & worship the pagan idols. Gregory refused to deny Christ so he was thrown into a pit with deadly snakes & imprisoned for around 13 years. Tiridates fell ill & had a bout of insanity, having been betrayed by emperor Diocletian. Gregory was freed from the pit after Tiridates was miraculously cured following his prayers.

Reinvigorated, Mor Gregorios began preaching throughout Armenia, baptizing a multitude of individuals. After Tiridates was baptized, he proclaimed Christianity as the state religion of Armenia in 301AD, this was while Diocletian’s persecution of Christians continued throughout the rest of the Roman empire. Thus Armenia became the very first nation in history (not including the Syriac kingdom of King Abgar the Black) to embrace Christianity as the state religion. The pagan temples & idols were destroyed as countless churches were built. With the support of Tiridates, Gregory built the Cathedral of Etchmiadzin near Mount Ararat. The Mother Church in Etchmiadzin became & remains the spiritual & cultural center of Armenian Christianity & headquarters of the Mother See of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In 302AD Gregory was consecrated as Patriarch of Armenia by his childhood friend Leontius of Caesarea, becoming the first Catholicos of all Armenians. In 318AD he named his son Aristaces as successor. He entrusted his grandson also named Gregory (son of Vrtanes) to spread the Gospel of Christ throughout the Caucasus & Anatolia. St. Gregory in his old age retreated to a small monastery in Mount Sebuh with a group of monks, remaining there until his death in 331AD.

Biography courtesy of, ‘Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church’

Oh Mor Gregorios! Plead for us before God’s throne of grace. Amen.

The conversion to Christianity and acceptance of Christianity as the official state religion of the Armenian Kingdom in 301AD.

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