The holy martyr Paramon was martyred in Bithynia in Asia Minor along with 370 other Christians during the persecution of the governor Aquilinus in the year 250.
The holy martyr Philemon was martyred at Ancyra in Galatia. It is said that in the persecution of Aurlian the emperor Philemon was taken to the fire. Then his feet and head were pierced with nails leading to his martyrdom.
Our venerable father Acacius, mentioned in “The Ladder”, was a novice living under an evil Elder. Through all of the abuse the Elder gave, Acacius was patiently trusting that the Lord would bring good out of evil. He died an early death and testified from the grave against the elder, who repented.
Your martyrs, O Lord our God, in their struggle received incorruptible crowns from You. With Your strength, they brought down the tyrants and broke the cowardly valor of demons. Through their prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.
You washed your soul clean from all impurity by following the divine mandates. This is how you endured your martyrdom. You refused to offer sacrifice to any idols; therefore, they pierced you with a spear. This is how you followed Christ. O all-blessed Paramon, pray for the world.
Titus 1:15 – 2:10
Titus, my son: To the clean all things are clean, but to those defiled unbelievers nothing is clean. Their very minds and consciences are tainted. They claim to “know God,” but by their actions they deny that he exists. They are disgusting – intractable and thoroughly incapable of any decent action.
As for yourself, let your speech be consistent with sound doctrine. Tell the older men that they must be temperate, serious-minded, and self-controlled; likewise sound in the faith, loving and steadfast. Similarly, the older women must behave in ways that befit those who belong to God. They must not be slanderous gossips or slaves to drink. By their good example they must teach the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, busy at home, kindly, submissive to their husbands. Thus the word of God will not fall into disrepute. Tell the young men to keep themselves completely under control – nor may you yourself fail to set them good example. Your teaching must have the integrity of serious, sound words to which no one can take exception. If it does, no opponent will be able to find anything bad to say about us, and hostility will yield to shame.
Slaves are to be submissive to their masters. They should try to please them in every way, not contradicting them nor stealing from them, but expressing a constant fidelity by their conduct, so as to adorn in every way possible the doctrine of God our Savior.
Luke 20: 19-26
At that time the scribes and high priests tried to get their hands on Jesus, but they were afraid of the people. They were well aware that Jesus has told the parable [of the tenant farmers] with them in mind. Waiting their chance, they sent spies to Jesus in the guise of honest men to trap him in speech, so that they might then hand him over to the office and authority of the procurator. They put him this problem: “Teacher, we know that your words and your doctrine are completely forthright, that you are no respecter of persons but teach the way of God in truth. May we pay tax to the emperor or not?” Realizing their duplicity Jesus said, “Show me a coin. Whose inscription do you read?” “Caesar’s,” they replied, to which he said, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” They were unable to trap him publicly in speech. His answer completely disconcerted them and reduced them to silence.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Thursday, November 28 –
