31 gennaio feste santi e memorie

31 gennaio feste santi e memorie

Saints VICTORIN, VICTOR, NICEPHORE, CLAUDE, DIODORE, SERAPION et PAPIAS, martyrs à Corinthe sous Dèce (entre 249 et 251).

Saints VICTOR, PUBLIUS, SATURNIN et POLYCARPE, martyrs en Afrique.

 

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyr Athanasia, O Lord, / Through her sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. / For having Your strength, she laid low her adversaries, / And shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through her intercessions, save our souls!
 

http://oca.org/saints/lives/2014/01/31/100382-martyr-athanasia-and-her-daughters-at-canopus-in-egypt

 

Saints CYR et JEAN, anargyres, et sainte ATHANASIE et ses filles THEODOTE, THEOCTISTIE et EUDOXIE, martyrs sous Dioclétien (vers 303). (Office à saints Cyr et Jean traduit en français par le père Denis Guillaume au tome I des Ménées.)Giovanni fu soldato e Ciro fu monaco dopo aver esercitato l'arte medica: ad Alessandria si mostrava, incorporata alla chiesa dei «Tre Fanciulli», la camera dove Ciro riceveva i clienti  Ciro e Giovanni, avendo un giorno saputo che quattro cristiane di Canopo, Teodosia (o Teodota), Teotista, Eudossia, e la loro madre Atanasia erano state arrestate si portarono a Canopo per incoraggiarle a non venire meno alla loro fede, ma furono anch'essi arrestati e condannati a morte, come avveniva contemporaneamente per le quattro cristiane. Gli uni e le altre furono decapitati verso il 303, sotto Diocleziano. Al principio del sec. V le reliquie dei ss. Ciro e Giovanni risposavano nella chiesa di S. Marco ad Alessandria.

Troparion — Tone 5

You have given us the miracles of Your martyrs, Cyrus and John, / as an invincible rampart; / through their prayers, frustrate the plans of the heathens, / and strengthen the faith of the Orthodox Christians, / for You alone are good and love mankind.

Kontakion — Tone 3

Podoben: “Today the Virgin...” / Having received the gift of miracles through divine grace, O saints, / you work wonders in the world unceasingly. / You remove all of our passions through your invisible surgery, / divinely-wise Cyrus and glorious John, / for you are truly divine physicians.

http://oca.org/saints/lives/2014/01/31/100381-wonderworker-and-unmercenary-john

 

Saints FIRMUS et RUSTICUS, martyrs à Vérone sous Maximien (303). Con questi nomi ci sono stati in Africa del Nord due martiri: Fermo, che morì a Cartagine (di fame) al tempo imperatore Decio, promotore di una delle più dure persecuzioni contro i cristiani (249-251). E Rustico, che invece fu ucciso con altri a Lambesa (Algeria) nel 259, sotto imperatore Valeriano.
I loro resti si trovano a Verona, in San Fermo Maggiore, singolare complesso sacro formato da due chiese costruite in tempi diversi l 'una sopra l' altra, nel XIII secolo e poi nel XIII-XIV

http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/65650

Sainte martyre TRIPHENE de Cyzique.

Saint GEMINIEN, premier évêque de Modène en Emilie (348).

http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/39175

Sainte MARCELLE, veuve et ascète à Rome (410). Appartenne ad una delle piú illustri famiglie romane: quella dei Marcelli (secondo altri dei Claudi). Nacque verso il 330, ma non ebbe la giovinezza felice, essendo ben presto rimasta orfana del padre. Contratto matrimonio in giovane età fu nuovamente colpita da un gravissimo lutto per la morte del marito avvenuta sette mesi dopo la celebrazione delle nozze. Questi luttuosi avvenimenti fecero maggiormente riflettere Marcella sulla caducità delle cose terrene tanto piú che nella fanciullezza era rimasta assai affascinata dalle mirabili attività del grande anacoreta Antonio, narrate nella sua casa dal vescovo Atanasio (340-343).
Lo spirito ascetico propugnato dal monachesimo, consistente nell'abbandono di ogni bene mondano, andò sempre piú conquistando l'animo della giovane vedova. Quando perciò le furono offerte vantaggiose seconde nozze col console Cereale (358), nonostante le premurose pressioni della madre Albina, oppose al ventilato matrimonio un netto rifiuto, motivato dal desiderio di dedicarsi interamente ad una vita ritirata facendo professione di perfetta castità.
Cosí Marcella, secondo s. Girolamo, fu la prima matrona romana che sviluppò fra le famiglie nobili i principi del monachesimo. Il suo maestoso palazzo dell'Aventino andò trasformandosi in un asceterio ove confluirono altre nobili romane come Sofronia, Asella, Principia, Marcellina, Lea; la stessa madre Albina si associò a questa nuova forma d i vita.
Piú che di vita monastica in senso stretto può parlarsi di gruppi ascetici senza precise regole, ma ispirati ai principi di austerità e di disprezzo del mondo, propri della scuola egiziana, assai conosciuti attraverso la vita di s. Antonio e le frequenti visite di monaci orientali. Lo stesso vescovo di Alessandria, Pietro, fu nel 373 ospite della casa Marcella e narrò la vita e le regole dei monaci egiziani.
Porse proprio dopo il 373 la casa di Marcella divenne un vero centro di propaganda monastica. Riservatezza, penitenza, digiuno, preghiera, studio, vesti dimesse, esclusione di vane conversazioni furono il quadro della vita quotidiana quale risulta dalle lettere di s. Girolamo, divenuto dal 382 il direttore spirituale del gruppo ascetico dell'Aventino. Nella domus di Marcella entravano vergini e vedove, preti e monaci per intrattenersi in conversazioni basate specialmente sulla S. Scrittura. Il sacro testo, specie il Salterio, non fu studiato solo superficialmente: per meglio comprenderne il significato Marcella imparò l'ebraico e sottopose al dotto Girolamo molte questioni esegetiche, come ne fanno fede varie lettere a lei dirette. Fra Girolamo e Marcella si strinse una profonda spirituale amicizia, continuata anche dopo la partenza del monaco per la Palestina.
Tuttavia questa donna fu di spirito piú moderato tanto da non condividere pienamente le violente diatribe e le acerbe polemiche del dotto esegeta. Simile moderazione dimostrò nelle pratiche ascetiche; pur amando e professando la povertà non alienò in favore della Chiesa e dei poveri tutti i suoi beni patrimoniali, anche per non recare dispiacere alla madre. Né volle trasferirsi a Betlemme, nonostante una pressante lettera delle amiche Paola ed Eustochio. Preferí invece continuare la diffusione della vita ascetica e penitente in Roma; per molti anni infatti la sua domus dell'Aventino rimase un cenacolo ascetico specie fra le vergini e le vedove della nobiltà.
Verso la fine del IV sec. si trasferí in un luogo piú isolato nelle vicinanze di Roma, forse un suo ager suburbanus, nel quale visse con la vergine Principia come madre e figlia. Rientrò in Roma nel 410 sotto il timore dell'invasione gota; in tale occasione Marcella subí percosse e maltrattamenti e a stento riuscí a salvare Principia dalle mani dei barbari, rifugiandosi nella basilica di S. Paolo.
Morí nello stesso anno e la sua festa è celebrata il 31 gennaio. 

Saints JULES, prêtre, et JULIEN, diacre, Grecs de nation, frères selon la chair et apôtres des îles du Lac Majeur (Lago Maggiore) entre la Lombardie et le Tessin (Vème siècle). Saint Jules est le patron d'Orta dans le Novarais. Giulio e Giuliano erano fratelli oriundi della Grecia; educati cristianarnente dai genitori, abbracciarono lo stato clericale e Giulio fu ordinato presbitero mentre Giuliano diacono.
Nauseati dagli errori diffusi dagli eretici e per sfuggire alle loro persecuzioni, decisero di allontanarsi dalla patria; si recarono allora dall'imperatore Teodosio dal quale ottennero l'autorizzazione a distruggere altari e boschi pagani ed edificare chiese cristiane. Passati poi in Italia dimorarono per un po' di tempo nei pressi di Roma ad Aqua Salvia, quindi attraversarono il Lazio e pervennero nell'Italia settentrionale predicando, convertendo molti alla vera fede e soprattutto edificando un. cospicuo numero di chiese, che raggiunsero il centinaio. Le due ultime le costruirono nei pressi del lago di Orta e precisamente la novantanovesima a Gozzano, dedicata a s. Lorenzo, dove rimase Giuliano che ivi anche morì e vi fu sepolto; l'altra, la centesima, Giulio la costruì sulla piccola isola esistente nel lago, dedicandola agli apostoli Pietro e Paolo e nella quale egli stesso fu poi sepolto.
Saint GEMINIEN III, évêque de Modène (458 ou 460). Saint GAUD (VALDUS, WALDUS), évêque d'Evreux, puis ermite à Scicy (491).

Saint MADOES ou MADIANUS (Ecosse).

Saint POUANGE, confesseur en Champagne (VIème siècle).

Saint WILGIS, père de saint Willibrord, ermite en Angleterre (VIIème siècle).

Saint NICET (NIZET, NICETIUS), évêque de Besançon (vers 611).

Saint AIDAN ou MAEDOC, évêque en Irlande (626). A Ferns in Irlanda, san Maedóc o Aidano, vescovo, che fondò in questo luogo un cenobio e rifulse per la grande austerità di vita. 
Saint ADAMNAN, Irlandais de nation, moine en Ecosse (vers 680).

Sainte ULPHIE, solitaire près d'Amiens (VIIIème siècle).

Saint BOBIN ou BOCIN, moine à Moutier-La Celle, puis évêque de Troyes (vers 766).

Saint ATHANASE, Sicilien de nation, évêque de Méthone dans le Péloponnèse (vers 880).

Saint EUSEBE, Irlandais de nation, moine à Saint-Gall puis ermite dans le Vorarlberg, martyr par la main des impies (884). AViktorsberg vicino a Rankweil nella Baviera meridionale, oggi in Austria, santo Eusebio, che, nato in Irlanda, fu pellegrino per Cristo e, divenuto poi monaco nel cenobio di San Gallo, visse infine da eremita.

Saint NICETAS, reclus de la Laure des Grottes de Kiev, puis évêque de Novgorod (1108). (Office traduit en français par le père Denis Guillaume au tome I du Supplément aux Ménées.)Saint Nikita, Bishop of Novgorod, in his youth entered the Kiev Caves monastery and soon wished to become a hermit. The igumen cautioned him that such an exploit was premature for a young monk, but he, trusting in his own strength, would not listen.

In the hermitage St Nikita fell into temptation. The devil appeared to him in the guise of an angel, and the inexperienced ascetic bowed down to him. The devil gave him advice, speaking as if to one who had attained perfection: "Don't bother to pray, just read and study other things, and I shall pray in your place." He stood near the hermit, giving the appearance of praying. The deceived monk Nikita came to surpass everyone in his knowledge of the Books of the Old Testament, but he would not speak about the Gospel, nor did he wish to hear it read.

The Elders of the Kiev Caves went to the monk, and after they had prayed, they expelled the devil from him. After this St Nikita remained a hermit with the blessing of the Elders, and lived in strict fasting and prayer, surpassing everyone in obedience and humility.

Through the prayer of the holy Elders, the merciful Lord brought him up from the depths of his fall to a high degree of spiritual perfection. Afterwards, he was made Bishop of Novgorod, and for his holy life God granted him the gift of wonderworking. Once, during a time of drought, he brought rain from the heavens by his prayers. Another time, he stopped a fire in the city. St Nikita guided the Novgorod flock for thirteen years, and then peacefully fell asleep in the Lord in 1109.

In 1558, during the reign of Tsar Ivan Vasilievich, Bishop Nikita was glorified as a saint. His relics now rest in the church of the holy Apostle Philip in Novgorod. He is also commemorated on May 14.

St Nikita is invoked for protection against lightning and fire. People also turn to the Most Holy Theotokos, glorified in her "Unburnt Bush Icon" (September 4), for this purpose.


Saint PACHÔME, fondateur du monastère de Kiensk (Russie 1525).

Saint ELIE ARDOUNIS, mort par le feu à Calamas (Péloponnèse) par la main des Musulmans (1686). 

Saint ARSENE de Paros, hiéromoine (Cyclades, 1877). Saint Arsenius was born on January 31, 1800 in Ioannina, Epirus of pious Orthodox parents. In holy Baptism he was given the name Athanasius. His parents died when he was quite young. He was only nine years old when he made his way to Kydoniai, Asia Minor, where he was received by Hieromonk Gregory Saraphis and enrolled in his school. His humility and piety endeared him to Fr Gregory and also to the other teachers. The boy remained at the school for five years, surpassing the other students in learning and in virtue.

One day the renowned Spiritual Father Daniel of Zagora, Thessaly came to the school to hear confessions. Athanasius became Daniel's disciple, remaining with him until the latter's death.

Not long after this, Fr Daniel decided to go to the Holy Mountain for quiet and spiritual struggles. Athanasius begged his Elder not to leave him, but to take him with him. He expressed the desire to travel to Mt. Athos, the Garden of the All-Holy Virgin, and to become a monk.

Fr Daniel instructed Athanasius in the monastic life, which is called "the art of arts, and the science of sciences." The holy Elder was a perfect teacher who was accomplished in the spiritual life, and Athanasius was an attentive student. After a time Fr Daniel tonsured his pupil, and told him he had to learn three important lessions. First, he must cut off his own will. Secondly, he must acquire humility. Finally, he must learn obedience. "If you cut off your will, if you become humble, and if you practice perfect obedience, you will also make progress in the other virtues, and God will glorify you."

After a further period of testing, Fr Daniel tonsured Athanasius into the Great Schema and gave him the name Arsenius. The saint remained on Mt. Athos with his Elder for six years. Then they had to leave the Holy Mountain because of the agitation against the so-called "Kollyvades," who called for a strict adherence to Holy Tradition. The name comes from the kollyva (boiled wheat) used in the memorial service. Part of the controversy involved the debate on whether it was proper to serve memorial services for the dead on Sunday. The Kollyvades believed that these services were inappropriate for the Day of Resurrection, but should be served on Saturday. The Kollyvades advocated frequent Communion, rather than the practice of receiving the Holy Mysteries only a few times during the year. When Fr Daniel and St Arsenius left Athos, it was probably due to the animosity of those who opposed the Kollyvades.

Early in 1821, before the Greek War of Independence, they went to the Monastery of Pendeli near Athens. Their stay was a brief one, for Fr Daniel forsaw the destruction of the monastery by the Turks.

The two made their way to the Cyclades Islands in the southern Aegean Sea. First they stopped at Paros, perhaps because some of the Kollyvades had settled there. Eventually, they decided to live on the island of Pholegandros. Since there were no teachers for the children, the inhabitants entreated Fr Daniel to allow St Arsenius to instruct their children. The Elder agreed, and had Arsenius ordained as a deacon. Then he was appointed to the teaching post by the government.

The saint remained there as a teacher from 1829-1840. He taught the required subjects in school, but he also helped his students to form a good character, and to live as pious Christians.

In 1840 St Arsenius entered the Monastery of St George on the island of Paros. Elder Daniel had passed away in 1837. Before his repose, he asked his disciple to take his remains to Mt. Athos after two years. St Arsenius left Plolegandros in obedience to Fr Daniel's request, planning to stop on Paros then continue to the Holy Mountain. On Paros the abbot of St George's Monastery, Fr Elias Georgiadis, told St Arsenius that it was God's will for him to remain on Paros. This was providential, because Mt. Athos was undergoing great difficulty after the Greek War of Independence. 3,000 Turkish soldiers occupied Athos, resulting in the departure of 5,000 of the 6,000 monks.

St Arsenius joined the community at St George's Monastery on the northern end of Paros. There he found spiritual strivers of true wisdom and excellent conduct, who were worthy models for him to follow.

When he was ordained to the holy priesthood at the age of forty-seven, St Arsenius intensified his spiritual efforts. Every day he studied the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers, and became adept at the unceasing prayer of the heart. He also began to show forth the gift of tears. In this, he resembled his patron St Arsenius the Great (May 8), who continuously wept tears of contrition.

Gradually, the inhabitants of Paros came to recognize him as an outstanding Father Confessor and spiritual guide. Whenever he stood before the holy altar, he felt that he was standing before God. He served with great compunction, and his face often became radiant like the face of an angel.

As his virtues became known to people, they flocked to him from near and far. He received all with paternal affection, treating each one with the proper spiritual medicine which would restore their souls to health.

A certain girl from Syros came to the Convent of the Transfiguration to visit her sister, who was a nun. The nun had previously been informed that her sister had fallen into a serious sin. When she learned that the girl was outside the doors of the convent, the nun screamed at her, "Go far away from here. Since you are defiled, you will defile the convent and the nuns." Instead of feeling pity for her sister, and trying to lead her to repentance, the nun and some of the other nuns struck the poor girl and told her to go away.

The wretched girl cried, "I have made a mistake. Forgive me!"

The nun shrieked, "Go away, or I will kill you to wash away the shame you have brought to our family."

"Have you no pity, my sister, don't you share my pain?"

"No," the nun shouted, "you are not my sister, you are a foul harlot."

"Where shall I go?" she sobbed.

"Go and drown yourself," was the heartless reply.

The poor girl fled from the convent, bleeding and wounded, intending to kill herself. At that very moment, St Arsenius was on his way to visit the convent. Seeing the girl in such a state, he asked her what was wrong. She explained that she had been led astray by corrupt men and women. Realizing her sin, she went to the convent to ask her sister for help

"See what they have done to me, Elder. What do you advise me to do? Shall I drown myself, or leap off a cliff?"

"I do not advise you to do either, my child. If you wish, I shall take you with me and heal the wounds of your soul and body," he said gently.

"Where will you take me?" the miserable girl asked.

"To the convent, my child."

"I beg you not to take me there, Elder. My sister and the other nuns said they would kill me if I came back."

The saint replied, "Do not be afraid. They will not kill you, because I shall entrust you to Christ, and no one will be able to harm you."

"Very well," she said, "If you entrust me to Christ I will not be afraid of them, for Christ is more powerful than they."

St Arsenius led her to the convent, consoling her and encouraging her to repentance and confession. After hearing her confession, he made her a nun. Then he called all the nuns into the church and severely rebuked those who wounded the girl. He reminded them of the parable of the Prodigal Son, and of how Christ had come to save sinners. He often associated with sinners, showing them great love and mercy.

"You, however, have done the opposite. Though you knew that her soul had been wounded by the devil, you did not feel sorry for her. You did not embrace her and try to save her from further sin, but you attacked her and beat her. Then you urged her to kill herself. Now I, your Spiritual Father, tell you that you are not nuns, you are not Christians, you are not even human beings. You are devoid of compassion, affection, and sympathy. You are murderesses! Therefore, I forbid you to receive Holy Communion for three years, unless you recognize your sin. Repent and confess, weep and ask forgiveness from God and from me, your Spiritual Father, and from the other nuns who did not participate in your sinful behavior."

The nuns began to weep bitterly and they repented. Thus, he lessened their penance and forgave them. He gave the girl's sister the penance of not receiving Holy Communion for a whole year. Because the other nuns had shared in this sin, he would not permit them to receive Communion for six months.

St Arsenius foresaw his death a month before it occurred. At the Liturgy for the Feast of St Basil, he announced that he would soon depart from them. With great effort, he was able to serve for the Feast of the Theophany. After the service, he told some nuns that this had been his last Liturgy.

News of the saint's illness and approaching death spread quickly to all the villages of Paros. People wept because they were about to lose their Spiritual Father, and they hastened to bid him farewell and to receive his blessing.

On the eve of his repose, he called the nuns of the convent to come to him. He told them that the next day he would leave this temporary life and enter into eternal life.

On January 31, 1877 St Arsenius received Holy Communion for the last time and fell asleep in the Lord. For three days, people came to kiss his body, then they followed the funeral procession to the burial site which he himself had selected.

St Arsenius of Paros was glorified by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1967. He is also commemorated on August 18 (the uncovering of his relics).