Saints for 2024-11-22

The Saints for today:

• Archippus the Apostle, Philemon the Apostle & his wife, Apphia, Onesimos the Disciple of Paul (Today's Epistle reading)
• Holy Martyr Cecilia and those with her,
• Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple
• Kallistos Xanthopoulos, Patriarch of Constantinople
• Anthimos, President of Crete
• Righteous Jacob of Evia

Archippus

According to the 4th century Apostolic Constitutions (7.46), Archippus was the first bishop of Laodicea in Phrygia (now part of Turkey). Another tradition states that he was one of the 72 disciples appointed by Jesus Christ in Luke 10:1. The Roman Catholic Church observes a feast day for Saint Archippus on March 20. The Eastern Orthodox Church observes a feast day on February 19 as well as November 22 along with Saints Philemon, Apphia, and Onesimus. According to tradition, he was stoned to death. (Wikipedia)

Saint Cecilia

Saint Cecilia (Latin: Sancta Caecilia), also spelled Cecelia, was a Roman Christian virgin martyr, who is venerated in Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, such as the Church of Sweden.[2] She became the patroness of music and musicians, it being written that, as the musicians played at her wedding, Cecilia "sang in her heart to the Lord". Musical compositions are dedicated to her, and her feast, on 22 November, is the occasion of concerts and musical festivals. She is also known as Cecilia of Rome. (Wikipedia)

Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos

Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos (Greek: Νικηφόρος Κάλλιστος Ξανθόπουλος; Latinized as Nicephorus Callistus Xanthopulus;[1] c. 1256 – 1335) was a Greek ecclesiastical historian and litterateur of the late Byzantine Empire.[2] His most popular work, the voluminous Ecclesiastica historia, constitutes a significant documentary source on primitive Christianity and its doctrinal controversies, as well as for hagiographical, liturgical, and legendary texts from Byzantine culture. (Wikipedia)

Anthimos President of Crete

He was born in Crete, at the beginning of the 14th century. For reasons which we do not know, he found himself in Athens, where he was appointed Metropolitan of the then insignificant Metropolis of Athens and Euripus (Evia), shepherding between the years 1339-1366.

In order to complete their work, the Cretan rebels asked the Ecumenical Patriarchate to send them an Orthodox Metropolitan. They even asked for their compatriot Anthimos. The Ecumenical Patriarchate responded positively to their request and in 1366, sent Anthimos to Crete, appointing him President of the Metropolis of Crete, appreciating him for his holiness, his love for the Church and his confessional attitude.

It is well worth reading the account of the tortures he received at the hands of the Latins (Orthodox Christianity Then and Now).

Righteous Jacob of Evia

The venerable Elder Iakovos Tsalikes, the admirable Abbot of the Monastery of the Venerable David in Evia, was a long-range star who shined in our days with the rays of his simplicity, his goodness, his equal-to-the-angels state and his numerous wonders.

Elder Iakavos was the personification of love, a living embodiment of "the new life in Christ", a projector of virtue and a mirror of humility and temperance.  (Orthodox Christianity Then and Now).