Holy apostle Aquila of the seventy
Saint Aquila, apostle of the seventy, was a Jew of Pontus living in the city of Rome with his wife Priscilla. During the reign of the emperor Claudius (41-54), all Jews were expelled from Rome, and Aquila and Priscilla were compelled to leave their home and to settle in Corinth, where they took up the trade of tent-making. There the holy apostle Paul came to them on his arrival from Athens, and finding them of the same trade, he lodged in their house and worked beside them, as Saint Luke records in the Acts of the Apostles.
The Lord opened the hearts of Aquila and Priscilla to receive the faith of Christ from the apostle's preaching, and they were baptised. From that time they became zealous helpers of the apostle in the work of the Gospel. They accompanied Paul to Ephesus, where they laboured for the conversion of the city; there they instructed the eloquent Apollos more accurately in the way of God, having heard him preach in the synagogue. The apostle remembers them with affection in his epistles, calling them his fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who had risked their own necks for his life, and he commends the church which met in their house.
After some years they returned to Rome, where again a church gathered in their dwelling. Saint Paul afterwards consecrated Aquila bishop and sent him to preach the Gospel in Asia, Achaia, and Heraclea. The holy apostle laboured tirelessly, converting pagans, strengthening newly enlightened Christians in the faith, ordaining presbyters, and overthrowing idols. According to ancient tradition his life was crowned with martyrdom: he was put to death by pagans during one of his preaching journeys.
His wife Priscilla, the companion of his apostolic labours, is also venerated as a saint.
Holy martyr Heraclius and his companions
The holy martyr Heraclius is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on 14 July together with the apostle Aquila and others who suffered for Christ in the early centuries of the Church. Heraclius, in company with the martyrs Paulinus and Benedimus, suffered for the faith at Athens. Citizens of that ancient city, they refused to take part in the public sacrifices to the idols and openly confessed themselves disciples of Christ.
Brought before the magistrates, they spoke fearlessly in defence of the faith, recalling that the very Athenians whom the apostle Paul had once addressed at the Areopagus had been called to abandon the worship of unknown gods for the worship of the one true God. Their bold confession enraged their persecutors. After being subjected to a variety of torments to compel them to sacrifice, they were beaten to death with clubs, completing their martyric struggle and joining the choir of saints.
Christians of the city took up the bodies of the holy martyrs and buried them with honour. Their memory was kept on 18 May, the principal date of their commemoration, but Saint Heraclius is also remembered on 14 July among the saints of the day, together with Aquila, Justus, and others. Some sources also associate with this date the memory of Saint Hilary, an Athenian martyr who suffered in similar circumstances.
Holy martyr Justus the Roman
The holy martyr Justus was a Roman soldier who lived in the days of the early Christian persecutions. While serving in the army he received a wonderful vision: the life-creating cross of the Lord appeared to him in the heavens, shining with great glory. Marvelling at the sign and pondering its meaning, he learned of the Christian faith and believed in Christ. From that time he distributed his possessions to the poor, freed his servants, and set himself to follow the Saviour with his whole heart.
When his confession became known, the prefect of Magnesia ordered him to be brought to trial. Standing before the tribunal, Justus boldly proclaimed Christ as the true God and refused to worship the idols. The judge subjected him to a series of harsh tortures, which the martyr endured with joy, considering his sufferings an honour for the sake of his Lord.
Finding all his torments without effect upon the saint's faith, the judge at last ordered him to be cast into a great fire. Justus stepped fearless into the flames, lifted up his eyes and his hands in prayer, and gave up his soul to God in the midst of the fire. The flames did not consume his body, which was found whole after the fire had died down. Christians took the holy relics with reverence and gave them honourable burial.
Venerable Onesimus the wonderworker of Magnesia
Saint Onesimus the wonderworker was born in Caesarea of Palestine at the beginning of the fourth century, of pious Christian parents. From childhood he was filled with the love of God and turned away from the games and amusements of his peers, taking pleasure rather in prayer, fasting, and the reading of the Holy Scriptures. As soon as his years allowed, he left his home and entered a monastery near Ephesus, where he received the angelic habit and gave himself wholly to the labours of the monastic life.
After a long apprenticeship in obedience and ascetic struggle, the saint was led by the Spirit to settle in the region of Magnesia in Asia Minor. There he founded a small monastery and gathered around him a brotherhood of God-loving men, whom he guided in the path of salvation. He himself remained at this monastery for the rest of his earthly life, devoting his days and nights to prayer, contemplation, and care for his spiritual children.
The Lord adorned his servant with the gift of working miracles. He healed the sick of every kind of infirmity, cast out unclean spirits, and brought consolation to the sorrowing. Many came to his cell from distant places to receive his counsel, and none went away without comfort. By his prayers, hardened sinners were brought to repentance and many pagans were drawn to the faith of Christ.
After many years of fruitful labour, Saint Onesimus reposed peacefully in old age, and his relics were enshrined in the monastery he had founded, where they continued to work miracles for the faithful.
Our Father among the Saints Joseph, Archbishop of Thessalonika
833
He was the brother of St Theodore the Studite (November 11), and is also sometimes called Studite. He is one of the inspired composers of the canons in the Lenten Triodion, many of which bear the title “by Joseph”. (He should not be confused with St Joseph the Hymnographer, who is commemorated April 3.) As Archbishop of Thessalonika, he suffered greatly for his zealous defense of the holy icons: he was imprisoned, and was exiled three times.
St Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, spiritual writer
1809
He is best known for his collections of Orthodox writings, most importantly the Philokalia, a five-volume compendium of writings on asceticism and prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer, by the holy Fathers of the Church. (The first four volumes have been translated into English). He produced an Orthodox edition of Unseen Warfare, originally by Lorenzo Scupoli, a Roman Catholic. (This was further revised by St Theophan the Recluse). He also edited the Pedalion (Rudder), a collection of the canons of the Orthodox Church with his commentary.
Note: The English edition of the Rudder needs to be read with care, since it includes additional comments by the translator, not clearly distinguished from those of the Saint.