Saint Alypius the Stylite of Adrianopolis
640
Saint Alypius was born in the city of Adrianopolis in Paphlagonia. His mother, a devout Christian, was widowed early and sent her son to be educated by Bishop Theodore, then gave all her livelihood to the poor and herself became a deaconess, living an ascetic life. The young Alypius served his bishop with humility and was later ordained deacon. While accompanying his bishop to Constantinople, the holy Martyr Euphemia appeared to him in a vision summoning him to return to Adrianopolis and to found a church in her name. With contributions of the faithful he built a church to Saint Euphemia on the site of a ruined pagan temple, said to be infested by legions of demons, all of whom he drove out by his prayers.
Beside the church Saint Alypius erected a pillar and ascended it to live as a stylite, that he might be nearer to heaven and freer for prayer. There he stood for fifty-three years exposed to the heat of summer and the cold of winter. When at last his feet would no longer support him, instead of descending he lay down upon his side and continued his ascesis in that posture for another fourteen years. Around the pillar two monasteries grew up, one for men and one for women, and the saint directed both with strict and wise rules. He worked many miracles of healing and was venerated as one of the three great stylites alongside Saint Symeon and Saint Daniel. He reposed in the year 640 at the age of 118.
Saint Innocent, First Bishop of Irkutsk
He was descended from a noble family near Chernigov. He became a monk at the Lavra of the Kiev Caves in 1706 and in 1721 was consecrated bishop. He was sent as a missionary to China but, due to political complications, could not gain entry into the country and settled temporarily near Lake Baikal in Siberia. He and his companions soon ran out of money and were forced to live for a time on alms and by day- labor. Rather than become discouraged, Saint Innocent made use of this time to learn the native language and found a school for the local Mongol people, many of whom he brought to the faith. In 1722 he was appointed Bishop of Irkutsk, a diocese that covered all the huge area of eastern Siberia. At the time of his appointment there were only about thirty churches in the whole diocese. For ten years the bishop devoted himself to converting the Mongol peoples, preaching to them and catechizing them in their own language. At the same time he worked for moral reform among the Russian Orthodox people of the region. As bishop, he lived in the Monastery of the Ascension in Irkutsk, where he established a firm ascetical life, in which he himself took a full part. He spent every night in prayer, meditation on the writings of the Fathers, and preparing sermons in both Russian and the local languages. Under the strain of the cruel Siberian climate the Saint fell ill and reposed in 1731. Many miracles take place to this day at his tomb. Among the people of Siberia he is honored as highly as Saint Nicholas and counted as the Enlightener of their land.
Saint James the Solitary of Cyrrhus
Saint James the Solitary, also called James the Hermit, was a disciple of the great Saint Maron of Syria, in whose company he was instructed in the ascetic life and the labours of repentance. After learning from his teacher he withdrew to a mountain near the city of Cyrrhus in Syria, where he chose to live exposed to wind, rain, and snow with no roof over his head, that he might more perfectly imitate the obedience of Christ. He always wore heavy iron chains, took food only in the evening, and gave himself to constant prayer.
By such labours he attained great spiritual perfection, and the Lord granted him authority over unclean spirits, the gift of healing diseases, and even the power of raising the dead. Many came to him from far away, drawn by reports of his holiness, and through him pagans were brought to Christ. Theodoret of Cyrrhus, who knew him personally, has left an account of his deeds in his Religious History. Tested late in life by a sore temptation, he overcame it through repentance and fervent prayer, and the Lord brought him at last in peace to the heavenly homeland in old age.
Saint Stylianos of Paphlagonia
Saint Stylianos was born in Paphlagonia of Asia Minor sometime between the fourth and the seventh centuries. From his mother's womb he was sanctified by the grace of God, and even as a child he loved silence, prayer, and the company of the holy. He inherited a great fortune from his parents, but he kept none of it: he distributed it all to the poor, the orphans, and the sick, desiring to imitate Christ in his self-emptying love. After dispensing his goods he withdrew to live as a hermit in a cave, where he gave himself to severe fasting, all-night vigil, and unceasing prayer.
The Lord granted him such grace that he came to be known throughout the region as a wonderworker, and many came to him to be healed of their illnesses and freed from demons. Above all he was loved as a protector and healer of children, and many mothers brought their sick infants to him and saw them restored to health. Childless women also went to him with tears, and through his intercessions received the gift of children. For this reason he is depicted in iconography holding an infant in his arms, smiling tenderly upon it. He reposed in peace at a great age, and continues to be invoked across the Orthodox world as the patron of children and of pregnant mothers.
Our Holy Father Alypius the Stylite
c. 607
He was from Adrianopolis in Bythinia, and took up the ascetical life at a young age. After many spiritual struggles he took up residence on a pillar, where he dwelt for fifty-three years. Crowds came to seek his intercession and counsel, and in time a women’s monastery was founded near the pillar. At times an unearthly light was seen to radiate from the top of the pillar, accompanied by thunder and lightning. He owned nothing, and once threw his only tunic down to a poor man in need, leaving himself completely exposed to the elements until a recluse dwelling nearby saw his condition and came to his help. After fifty-three years, Alypius suffered a stroke which paralyzed half his body, but he continued to live on the pillar for another fourteen years, giving up his soul to God at the age of ninety-nine.
St Nikon Metanoite
c. 1000
He was born about 930 to a pious and wealthy family near Trebizond. Once, making an inspection of the family’s estates, he was so affected by the wretched conditions of the poor fieldworkers that he despaired of happiness in this world and determined to live a monastic life. After years spent in a monastery, where he shone in obedience, prayer and self-denial, the Saint was given leave to travel in the ministry of the Gospel of Christ. For three years he wandered the East, without home or possessions, crying to everyone he met, “Repent!” and proclaiming with tears the message of salvation in Christ. He then spent seven years in Crete, then went to Greece, walking barefoot from place to place, preaching repentance and becoming so well known that he acquired the nickname “Metanoite,” meaning “Repent!” After driving a great plague from Sparta through his prayers, he settled near that city, building a great church dedicated to Christ the Savior, and living in the church for the remainder of his life. In time, a monastery was attached to the church for his disciples. His last counsel to his disciples was: “Flee pride, cleave to humility; do not despise the poor; keep clear of all evil, of all envy and of the remembrance of wrongs; forgive your brethren. Go regularly to church and confess your sins often to the priests and spiritual fathers. If you keep to these counsels, I will never abandon you.” He then gave his soul back to God. Saint Nikon was immediately venerated as a saint by the people of Sparta, and is regarded as the protector of the city, where his relics are venerated to this day.
Holy New Martyr George of Chios
1897
He was born of Christian parents on Chios. As a boy he was caught stealing melons from a garden with some companions. Brought before the Turkish judge, in fear of punishment he agreed to become a Muslim with the name Ahmed. (This was common practice under the Turkokratia: a Christian brought before the courts would be offered his freedom in return for conversion to Islam. Many gave in.) He returned home, weeping and lamenting his apostasy, and his parents put him (now aged ten) in the care of a good Christian woman to strengthen him in the faith and hide him from the Turkish authorities. At the age of twenty-one he was engaged to a young woman of the town, but quarreled with her brother who, knowing George’s past, went to the authorities and denounced him as an apostate from Islam. George was imprisoned and tortured, but rather than breaking him down his torments strengthened his love of Christ, and he resolved to offer up his life for Him. The priests and faithful of the town held all-night vigil, praying God to give courage to His New Martyr. At daybreak, George was led to the place of execution, saying over and over again the names of the Lord Jesus and his blessed Mother. He was shot, then beheaded, joining the ranks of the holy Martyrs.