Saints for 12 November

You may not know that for the Eastern Orthodox the day begins at sunset rather than at midnight. This means that as I am writing this, it is already 12 November for us, at least liturgically. In practice, of course, we observe the days as this culture prefers it, starting at midnight. But, when we celebrate a liturgy, we keep it to the older pattern. So, for us, Vespers is the first liturgy of the day, not the last.

https://merangue.com/4vj1155fyc We are also in the habit of remembering different saints on different days of the year. They are our family, and we do not want to ever forget those important heroes of the faith, who set a high standard for us. Of course, today, in the USA, is Veteran’s Day. So, it is no surprise that I am remembering “our” veterans, the veterans of that great conflict against the principalities, powers, and authorities in high places. They now rest in peace.

https://nedediciones.com/uncategorized/inbhyk0 Listed below are summaries of three saints, three veterans of our spiritual warfare, whom we remember beginning this evening.

Synaxarion of John the Merciful

https://eloquentgushing.com/uoiomqe Saint John was born in 555 on the island of Cyprus in the city of Amathus; his father, Epiphanius, was a ruler of Cyprus. The Saint was consecrated Archbishop of Alexandria in 608. A man of exemplary uprightness, in his zeal for Orthodoxy he strove mightily to fight the many heresies among the Christians in Egypt; but above all, he was famous for his singular generosity, humility, and sympathy towards all, especially the poor. His mercy was so great that the report of it reached the Persian invaders of Jerusalem, who desired to see him because of it. Saint John reposed in 619, at the age of sixty-four.

Synaxarion of Nilus the Ascetic of Sinai

Saint Nilus, who had Constantinople as his homeland, was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom. He had formerly been an eparch of the city, then became an ascetic on Mount Sinai. He wrote epistles and various ascetical works, and reposed about 451.

Synaxarion of Martin, Bishop of Tours

https://www.completerehabsolutions.com/blog/k17xbdotrbd Saint Martin, the great luminary of Gaul, was the son of pagan parents. When he was still quite young he became a catechumen; at the age of twenty-two he received Holy Baptism. Then he undertook the labors of a monk, and was afterwards consecrated Bishop of Tours, renowned as an ascetic and wonderworker, a faithful shepherd of Christ’s flock. He converted many, both from paganism and heresy, cast out demons and raised the dead, and while undertaking all the apostolic burdens of a bishop, he never ceased to be a simple monk and man of prayer. His monastery became a center of monasticism not only for Gaul, but for all of Western Europe. A widely celebrated incident of his life took place when he was still a catechumen, fulfilling his military service. Seeing an ill-clad beggar asking alms at the gate of the city of Amiens and being overlooked by passersby, Saint Martin, having nothing else to give, rent his military cloak in two with his sword and gave half to the beggar, so that he might cover himself in the cold. That night, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him, clothed with the half of the cloak he had given to the beggar. Saint Martin’s cloak – capella in Latin – was kept in a sanctuary which came to be called capella, from which the word “chapel” is derived; and they under whose care it was kept were called cappellani, from which “chaplain” is derived. Saint Martin reposed in peace in the year 397.