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The Holy Martyr Nicephorus

The Holy Martyr NicephorusThe life of this holy martyr demonstrates clearly how God casts down pride and crowns humility and brotherly love with glory. There lived in Antioch two intimate friends, the learned priest Sapricius and the ordinary, simple townsman Nicephorus. Their friendship somehow turned into a terrible mutual hatred. Nicephorus, who feared God, tried many times to establish peace with the priest, but the latter would not respond. When a persecution of Christians broke out, the priest Sapricius was condemned to death and brought to the place of execution. Nicephorus stood in great distress in the path Sapricius was to take, begging him to forgive him before dying, and to part in peace. "I pray thee, thou martyr of Christ", said Nicephorus, "forgive me if I have in any way sinned against thee." Sapricius would not turn to his adversary, but calmly and proudly moved on to death. But, seeing the hardness of the priest"s heart, God would not have him receive the gift of martyrdom and the crowning with the wreath, and secretly withdrew His blessing. At the last moment, Sapricius denied Christ before the executioner and declared that he would worship idols. Hatred had blinded him to such an extent! Nicephorus entreated Sapricius not to deny Christ: "Oh, my beloved brother, do not do this! Do not deny our Lord Jesus Christ and lose the heavenly crown!" But all in vain; Sapricius was unmoved. Then Nicephorus cried out to the executioners: I too am a Christian; kill me in Sapricius"s place!" The executioners reported this to the judge, who ordered them to let Sapricius go and kill Nicephorus in his place. Nicephorus joyfully laid his head on the block and was beheaded. And thus he was made worthy of the Kingdom and crowned with the eternal wreath of glory. This came to pass in 260, in the reign of the Emperor Gallienus.

The Hieromartyr Peter Damascene

The Hieromartyr Peter DamasceneThis saint is considered by some to have lived in the eighth century, and by others in the twelfth. This difference of opinion arises from there having been two Peters Damascene. The one about whom we are speaking was a great ascetic. Utterly selfless, he had not one single book of his own, but borrowed them to read. And he read untiringly, gathering wisdom as a bee does honey. He was at some time bishop in Damascus, but spoke out so strongly against Islam and the Manichean heresy that the Arabs cut out his tongue and sent him into exile deep in Arabia. But God gave him the power of speech, so that there in exile he preached the Gospel and brought many to the Christian faith. He wrote, and left to his descendants, a precious book on the spiritual life. He died a confessor and martyr and entered into the Kingdom of Christ.

Hieromartyrs Marcellus, Philagrius and Pancratius

Hieromartyrs Marcellus, Philagrius and PancratiusThe Hieromartyrs Marcellus, Philagrius and Pancratius were disciples of the holy Apostle Peter and were made bishops by him: St Marcellus, of Sicily; Philagrius, of Cyprus, and Pancratius, of Taormina. They were put to death for spreading the faith of Christ among the pagans.

Venerable Pancratius of the Kiev Caves

Venerable Pancratius of the Kiev CavesThe holy hieromonk Pancratius performed the divine services with much grace, and received the gift of working miracles. He shared his gifts with those who asked, healing the sick with fasting, prayer, and by anointing them with holy oil.

Saint Romanus the Wonderworker of Cilicia

Saint Romanus the Wonderworker of Cilicia

April 1905
SunMonTueWedThuFriSut
      New Martyr Nicholas of Karamanos in Smyrna (1657)
1
oil
St. martyr Longinus
2
oil
Martyrs Philemon and Domnina of Rome
3
water
Martyrs Callinica and Basilissa of Rome (2nd c.)
4
water
Saint Ipomoni - holy and right believing Empress Helen Dragas Palaiologos
5
water
Martyrs Stephen and Peter of Kazan (1552)
6
water
St. Senuphius the Wonderworker of Latomos (9th c.)
7
fish
Martyr Pullius the Reader.
8
oil
Prophet Hanani (Ananias)
9
oil
Venerable Hilarion, monk, of Gdov (Pskov) (1476)
10
water
Venerables Jonah (1480) and Mark of the Pskov Caves
11
water
Hieromartyr Zacharias, bishop of Corinth (1684)
12
oil
St. Stephen the Wonderworker, monk
13
oil
Martyrs Geroncius and Basilides (3rd c.)
14
oil
Virgin-martyr Theodora of Palestine
15
oil
Venerable Nectarius, abbot, of Bezhetsk (1492
16
oil
Venerable Zosimas, abbot of Vorbozomsk (1550)
17
water
Five girls martyred at Neanidor of Lesbos
18
water
New Martyrs Manuel, Theodore, George, Michael, and another George, of Samothrace (1835)
19
water
Venerable Leucius, abbot of Volokolamsk (1492)
20
water
New Martyr John Naukliros ("the Navigator") in Thessaly (1699
21
water
Newly revealed Martyrs Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene of Lesbos (1463)
22
oil
+++ Palm Sunday (The Entry of our Lord into Jerusalem) - Cveti
23
fish
Venerables Euthymius (1456) and Chariton (1509), abbots of Syanzhema
24
water
St. Basil, bishop of Ryazan (1295)
25
water
Martyr Eleutherius of Persia (4th c.)
26
water
Thursday of Passion Week, Holy Thursday
27
oil
+++ Holy Friday, Good Friday
28
strict fast
Holy Saturday
29
strict fast
+++ Easter, Holy Pascha
30
fast-free
      
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Moon phases for April , 1905 (Serbia)
04 Apr 1905 New Moon
12 Apr 1905 First Quarter
19 Apr 1905 Full Moon
26 Apr 1905 Third Quarter