Ephesus Folder, and vicinity, Great Road to the Euphrates and Agean Seaport.kmz

Ephesus Folder, and vicinity, Great Road to the Euphrates and Agean Seaport

Ephesus (Agean Seport and Great Road Ephesus to the Euphrates)
Ephesus; Revelation 2: 1-7, The Message to Ephesus; Martyr Apollonius of Sardis, Commemorated on July 10; Translation of the relics of the Venerable Lazarus of Mt. Galerius Near Ephesus, Commemorated on July 17 ; Martyr Marcella of Chios, Commemorated on July 22; Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Commemorated on July 22; Martyr Acacius of Apamea, Commemorated on July 28; St Irene Chrysovolantou, Commemorated on July 28; Venerable Isaac the Ascetic of the Dalmatian Monastery at Constantinople, Commemorated on August 3 ; 7 Holy Youths "Seven Sleepers" of Ephesus, Commemorated August 4; Venerable Gregory of Sinai, Mt. Athos, Commemorated on August 8; Apostle Matthias of the Seventy, Commemorated on August 9; First Council of Ephesus ; The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15, Dormition = A peaceful and painless death, as well as the act of sleeping or falling asleep.; Venerable Christodoulos the Philosopher, Commemorated on August 18; Hieromartyr Cyprian the Bishop of Carthage, Commemorated on August 31; Commemoration of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae, Commemorated September 6 ; Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 7; Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the Third Ecumenical Council, Commemorated September 9 ; Apostle Apelles of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10; Apostle Clement of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10 ; Apostle Lucius of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10; Martyr Diodorus of Laodicea, Commemorated September 11 ; Hieromartyr Cornelius the Centurion, Commemorated September 13 ; Martyr Porphyrius the Actor, Commemorated on September 15 ; Hieromartyr Hypatius the Bishop of Ephesus, Commemorated on September 21 ; Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on September 26; Martyr Adauctus and His Daughter of Ephesus, Commemorated October 4 ; Martyr Callisthene and her father Audactus of Ephesus, Commemorated October 4 ; Icon of the Mother of God of Korsun, Commemorated on October 9 ; PHILIP, DEACON AND EVANGELIST (11 OCT NT); IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR (17 OCT 107) ; 7 Holy Youths "œSeven Sleepers"Â of Ephesus, Commemorated on October 22 ; Apostle Gaius of the Seventy, Commemorated on November 5 ; Venerable Lazarus the Wonderworker of Mt. Galesius Near Ephesus, Commemorated on November 7 ; Martyr Onesiphorus of Ephesus, Commemorated on November 9 ; St Justinian the Emperor, Commemorated on November 14 ; Martyr Menignus at Parium, Commemorated on November 22 ; Martyr Myrope of Chios, Commemorated on December 2 ; Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy, Commemorated on December 8 ; Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy, Commemorated on December 8 ; Venerable Arsenius of Latros, Commemorated on December 13 ; Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer the Bishop of Antioch, Commemorated on December 20 ; JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (27 DEC NT) ; Venerable Marcellus the Abbot of the Monastery of the "Unsleeping Ones", Commemorated December 29 ; Hieromartyr Theogenes the Bishop of Parium on the Hellespont, Commemorated on January 2 ; Apostle Mark the Evangelist of the Seventy, Commemorated January 4 ; Apostle Timothy of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Gaius of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; St Cyril the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated on January 18 ; St Mark the Archbishop of Ephesus, Commemorated on January 19 ; Venerable Euthymius the Great, Commemorated on January 20 ; Apostle Timothy of the Seventy, Commemorated January 22 ; THE CONVERSION OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, (JANUARY 25) ; New Martyr Theodore, Commemorated on January 30 ; Venerable Vendemianus the Hermit of Bithynia, Commemorated February 1 ; Venerable Isidore of Pelusium, Commemorated February 4 ; St Bucolus the Bishop of Smyrna, Commemorated on February 6; TIMOTHY AND TITUS; Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy, Commemorated February 15; Hieromartyr Theodore of Atchara, Commemorated February 17; St Auxibius Bishop of Soli, Cyprus, Commemorated on February 17 ; St Flavian the Confessor the Patriarch of Constantinople, Commemorated on February 18 ; Hieromartyr Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna, Commemorated February 23 ; Venerable Agapius of Vatopedi, Commemorated on March 1; Hieromartyr Pionius of Smyrna and those with him, Commemorated on March 11; St Euschemon the Confessor and Bishop of Lampsacus, Commemorated on March 14; Hieromartyr Trophimus of Laodicea, Commemorated on March 16 ; Martyr Nikon in Sicily, Commemorated on March 23; Apostle Apollos of the Seventy, Commemorated on March 30; Prophet Joad, Commemorated on March 30; St George the Confessor the Bishop of Mitylene, Commemorated on April 7; New Martyr Raphael of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9; St Eleni (who was also called Susanna), New martyr of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9; Hieromartyr Antipas the Bishop of Pergamum and Disciple of St John the Theologian, Commemorated on April 11 ; St Basil the Confessor the Bishop of Parium, Commemorated on April 12; St Acacius the Bishop of Melitene, Commemorated on April 17; Monkmartyr Agathangelus of Esphigmenou of Mt Athos, Commemorated on April 19; Apostle and Evangelist Mark, Commemorated on April 25; Martyr Diodorus the Deacon at Aphrodisias in Anatolia, Commemorated on April 29; Martyr Maximus of Ephesus, Commemorated on April 30; Philip of PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES (1 MAY NT); Venerable Nicephorus of Chios, Commemorated on May 1; Hieromartyr Albian the Bishop of Anaea in Asia Minor, Commemorated on May 4; Greatmartyr Irene of Thessalonica, Commemorated on May 5 ; Monkmartyr Pachomius of Mt Athos, Commemorated on May 7; Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on May 8; Translation of the relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari, Commemorated on May 9; St George the Bishop of Mitylene, Commemorated on May 16; Martyr Justin the Philosopher and those with him at Rome, Commemorated on June 1; JUSTIN MARTYR, PHILOSOPHER, APOLOGIST, AND MARTYR (1 JUNE 167); St Cyril the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated on June 9 ; IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS, THEOLOGIAN (28 JUN 202) ; Jacob Riis of WALTER RAUSCHENBUSCH, WASHINGTON GLADDEN, and JACOB RIIS, PROPHETIC WITNESSES, 1918, 1918, 1914, Commemorated July 2 ; St Anatolius the Patriarch of Constantinople, Commemorated on July 3;

New Ephesus (Kusantasi), near Old Ephesus
New Ephesus (Kusantasi), near Old Ephesus; New Martyr John of Crete, Commemorated on September 15;

Lydia - Greater Lydia - West of Sakarya and Akarcay Rivers
Lydia (Hermes River Valley or Greater Lydia - area west of Sakarya and Akarcay Rivers, Western Asia Minor); Translation of the relics of the Venerable Lazarus of Mt. Galerius Near Ephesus, Commemorated on July 17; Hieromartyr Theogenes the Bishop of Parium on the Hellespont, Commemorated on January 2 ; Hieromartyr Trophimus of Laodicea, Commemorated on March 16 ; Apostle Barnabas of the Seventy, Commemorated on June 11 ;

Ephesus 30-1959, Ephesus History Folder

Ephesus, 20-100, John, Theologian, dormition, 14 d afloat to Ephesus, Rome, poison, b oil, e to Patmos, rev, b t E
Ephesus, 30-100, St John the Theologian, of Patmos and Ephesus; the Dormition of the Mother of God the Apostle John went to Ephesus and other cities of Asia Minor to preach the Gospel, taking with him his own disciple Prochorus. They boarded a ship, which floundered during a terrible tempest. All the travellers were cast up upon dry ground, and only the Apostle John remained in the depths of the sea. Prochorus wept bitterly, bereft of his spiritual father and guide, and he went on towards Ephesus alone. the fourteenth day of his journey he stood at the shore of the sea and saw that the waves had cast a man ashore. Going up to him, he recognized the Apostle John, whom the Lord had preserved alive for fourteen days in the sea. Teacher and disciple went to Ephesus, where the Apostle John preached incessantly to the pagans about Christ. His preaching was accompanied by such numerous and great miracles, that the number of believers increased with each day. this time there had begun a persecution of Christians under the emperor Nero (56-68). They took the Apostle John for trial at Rome. Saint John was sentenced to death for his confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but the Lord preserved His chosen one. The apostle drank a cup of deadly poison, but he remained alive. Later, he emerged unharmed from a cauldron of boiling oil into which he had been thrown on orders from the torturer. this, they sent the Apostle John off to imprisonment to the island of Patmos, where he spent many years. Proceeding along on his way to the place of exile, Saint John worked many miracles. On the island of Patmos, his preaching and miracles attracted to him all the inhabitants of the island, and he enlightened them with the light of the Gospel. He cast out many devils from the pagan temples, and he healed a great multitude of the sick. with demonic powers showed great hostility to the preaching of the holy apostle. He especially frightened the chief sorcerer of them all, named Kinops, who boasted that they would destroy the apostle. But the great John, by the grace of God acting through him, destroyed all the demonic artifices to which Kinops resorted, and the haughty sorcerer perished in the depths of the sea. Apostle John withdrew with his disciple Prochorus to a desolate height, where he imposed upon himself a three-day fast. As Saint John prayed the earth quaked and thunder rumbled. Prochorus fell to the ground in fright. The Apostle John lifted him up and told him to write down what he was about to say. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev 1:8), proclaimed the Spirit of God through the Apostle John. Thus in about the year 67 the Book of Revelation was written, known also as the “Apocalypse,” of the holy Apostle John the Theologian. In this Book were predictions of the tribulations of the Church and of the end of the world. his prolonged exile, the Apostle John received his freedom and returned to Ephesus, where he continued with his activity, instructing Christians to guard against false teachers and their erroneous teachings. In the year 95, the Apostle John wrote his Gospel at Ephesus. He called for all Christians to love the Lord and one another, and by this to fulfill the commands of Christ. The Church calls Saint John the “Apostle of Love”, since he constantly taught that without love man cannot come near to God. Martyr Hermione, daughter of Saint Philip the Deacon, Commemorated on September 4; Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on September 26; Holy, Glorious All-laudable Apostle and Evangelist, Virgin, and Beloved Friend of Christ, John the Theologian was the son of Zebedee and Salome, a daughter of Saint Joseph the Betrothed. He was called by our Lord Jesus Christ to be one of His Apostles at the same time as his elder brother James. This took place at Lake Gennesareth (i.e. the Sea of Galilee). Leaving behind their father, both brothers followed the Lord. Apostle John was especially loved by the Savior for his sacrificial love and his virginal purity. After his calling, the Apostle John did not part from the Lord, and he was one of the three apostles who were particularly close to Him. Saint John the Theologian was present when the Lord restored the daughter of Jairus to life, and he was a witness to the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor. the Last Supper, he reclined next to the Lord, and laid his head upon His breast. He also asked the name of the Savior’s betrayer. The Apostle John followed after the Lord when they led Him bound from the Garden of Gethsemane to the court of the iniquitous High Priests Annas and Caiphas. He was there in the courtyard of the High Priest during the interrogations of his Teacher and he resolutely followed after him on the way to Golgotha, grieving with all his heart. the foot of the Cross he stood with the Mother of God and heard the words of the Crucified Lord addressed to Her from the Cross: “Woman, behold Thy son.” Then the Lord said to him, “Behold thy Mother” (John 19:26-27). From that moment the Apostle John, like a loving son, concerned himself over the Most Holy Virgin Mary, and he served Her until Her Dormition. the Dormition of the Mother of God the Apostle John went to Ephesus and other cities of Asia Minor to preach the Gospel, taking with him his own disciple Prochorus. They boarded a ship, which floundered during a terrible tempest. All the travellers were cast up upon dry ground, and only the Apostle John remained in the depths of the sea. Prochorus wept bitterly, bereft of his spiritual father and guide, and he went on towards Ephesus alone. the fourteenth day of his journey he stood at the shore of the sea and saw that the waves had cast a man ashore. Going up to him, he recognized the Apostle John, whom the Lord had preserved alive for fourteen days in the sea. Teacher and disciple went to Ephesus, where the Apostle John preached incessantly to the pagans about Christ. His preaching was accompanied by such numerous and great miracles, that the number of believers increased with each day. this time there had begun a persecution of Christians under the emperor Nero (56-68). They took the Apostle John for trial at Rome. Saint John was sentenced to death for his confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but the Lord preserved His chosen one. The apostle drank a cup of deadly poison, but he remained alive. Later, he emerged unharmed from a cauldron of boiling oil into which he had been thrown on orders from the torturer. this, they sent the Apostle John off to imprisonment to the island of Patmos, where he spent many years. Proceeding along on his way to the place of exile, Saint John worked many miracles. On the island of Patmos, his preaching and miracles attracted to him all the inhabitants of the island, and he enlightened them with the light of the Gospel. He cast out many devils from the pagan temples, and he healed a great multitude of the sick. with demonic powers showed great hostility to the preaching of the holy apostle. He especially frightened the chief sorcerer of them all, named Kinops, who boasted that they would destroy the apostle. But the great John, by the grace of God acting through him, destroyed all the demonic artifices to which Kinops resorted, and the haughty sorcerer perished in the depths of the sea. Apostle John withdrew with his disciple Prochorus to a desolate height, where he imposed upon himself a three-day fast. As Saint John prayed the earth quaked and thunder rumbled. Prochorus fell to the ground in fright. The Apostle John lifted him up and told him to write down what he was about to say. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev 1:8), proclaimed the Spirit of God through the Apostle John. Thus in about the year 67 the Book of Revelation was written, known also as the “Apocalypse,” of the holy Apostle John the Theologian. In this Book were predictions of the tribulations of the Church and of the end of the world. his prolonged exile, the Apostle John received his freedom and returned to Ephesus, where he continued with his activity, instructing Christians to guard against false teachers and their erroneous teachings. In the year 95, the Apostle John wrote his Gospel at Ephesus. He called for all Christians to love the Lord and one another, and by this to fulfill the commands of Christ. The Church calls Saint John the “Apostle of Love”, since he constantly taught that without love man cannot come near to God. his three Epistles, Saint John speaks of the significance of love for God and for neighbor. Already in his old age, he learned of a youth who had strayed from the true path to follow the leader of a band of robbers, so Saint John went out into the wilderness to seek him. Seeing the holy Elder, the guilty one tried to hide himself, but the Apostle John ran after him and besought him to stop. He promised to take the sins of the youth upon himself, if only he would repent and not bring ruin upon his soul. Shaken by the intense love of the holy Elder, the youth actually did repent and turn his life around. John reposed when he was more than a hundred years old. He far outlived the other eyewitnesses of the Lord, and for a long time he remained the only remaining eyewitness of the earthly life of the Savior. it was time for the departure of the Apostle John, he went out beyond the city limits of Ephesus with the families of his disciples. He bade them prepare for him a cross-shaped grave, in which he lay, telling his disciples that they should cover him over with the soil. The disciples tearfully kissed their beloved teacher, but not wanting to be disobedient, they fulfilled his bidding. They covered the face of the saint with a cloth and filled in the grave. Learning of this, other disciples of Saint John came to the place of his burial. When they opened the grave, they found it empty. year from the grave of the holy Apostle John on May 8 came forth a fine dust, which believers gathered up and were healed of sicknesses by it. Therefore, the Church also celebrates the memory of the holy Apostle John the Theologian on May 8. The Lord bestowed on His beloved disciple John and John’s brother James the name “Sons of Thunder” an awesome messenger accompanied by the cleansing power of heavenly fire. And precisely by this the Savior pointed out the flaming, fiery, sacrificial character of Christian love, the preacher of which was the Apostle John the Theologian. The eagle, symbol of the lofty heights of his theological thought, is the iconographic symbol of the Evangelist John the Theologian. The appellation “Theologian” is bestown by Holy Church only to Saint John among the immediate disciples and Apostles of Christ, as being the seer of the mysterious Judgments of God. Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on May 8; Church commemorates Saint John on this day because of the annual pilgrimage to his grave. Saint John was more than one hundred years old, he took seven of his disciples and went to a spot outside the city of Ephesus. There he told them to dig a grave in the form of a cross. Then he climbed into the grave and told his disciples to cover him with earth. Later, the grave was opened and the saint’s body was not there. year on May 8 a red dust would arise from the grave which the faithful collected in order to be healed of their illnesses. John’s main Feast is on September 26.

Ephesus, 30-61, Aquila of the 70, wife Priscilla, When P and A heard Apollos, they explained to him C baptism
Ephesus, 30-61, Aquila of the 70, wife Priscilla, When P and A heard Apollos, they explained to him C baptism; Ephesus, 30-61, Apollos; was a 1st-century Alexandrian Jewish Christian mentioned several times in the New Testament. A contemporary and colleague of Paul the Apostle, he played an important role in the early development of the churches of Ephesus and Corinth. Apostle Aquila of the Seventy, Commemorated on July 14; Aquila, Apostle of the 70: It is possible that he was a disciple of the Apostle Paul, a native of Pontus and a Jew, living in the city of Rome with his wife Priscilla (they are commemorated on February 13 on the Greek Calendar). During the reign of the emperor Claudius (41-54) all the Jews were banished from Rome, so Saint Aquilla and his wife were compelled to leave. They settled in Corinth. A short while later, the holy Apostle Paul arrived there from Athens preaching the Gospel. Having made the acquaintance of Aquila, he began to live at his house and labored together with him, making tents. received Baptism from the Apostle Paul, Aquila and Priscilla bacame his devoted and zealous disciples. They accompanied the apostle to Ephesus. The Apostle Paul instructed them to continue the preaching of the Gospel at Ephesus, and he himself went to Jerusalem, in order to be present for the feast of Pentecost. At Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla heard the bold preaching of a newcomer from Alexandria, the Jew Apollos. He had been instructed in the fundamentals of the Faith, but knew only the baptism of John the Forerunner. They called him over and explained more precisely about the way of the Lord. the death of the emperor Claudius, Jews were permitted to return to Italy, and Aquila and Priscilla then returned to Rome. The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans recalls his faithful disciples, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who put forth their heads for my soul, whom I do not alone thank, but also all the Church of the Gentiles and the church of their household” (Rom. 16: 3-4). Saint Aquila did not long dwell in Rome: the Apostle Paul made him a bishop in Asia. Saint Aquila zealously labored at preaching the Gospel in Asia, Achaia and Heraklia. He converted pagans to Christ, he confirmed newly-converted Christians in the faith, he established presbyters and destroyed idols. Saint Priscilla constantly assisted him in the apostolic work. Saint Aquila ended his life a martyr: pagans murdered him. According to the Tradition of the Church, Saint Priscilla was killed together with him.

Ephesus, 35-61, Apollos, When P and A heard him, they explained to him C baptism
Ephesus, 35-61, Apollos; was a 1st-century Alexandrian Jewish Christian mentioned several times in the New Testament. A contemporary and colleague of Paul the Apostle, he played an important role in the early development of the churches of Ephesus and Corinth. Apostle Aquila of the Seventy, Commemorated on July 14; Aquila, Apostle of the 70: It is possible that he was a disciple of the Apostle Paul, a native of Pontus and a Jew, living in the city of Rome with his wife Priscilla (they are commemorated on February 13 on the Greek Calendar). During the reign of the emperor Claudius (41-54) all the Jews were banished from Rome, so Saint Aquilla and his wife were compelled to leave. They settled in Corinth. A short while later, the holy Apostle Paul arrived there from Athens preaching the Gospel. Having made the acquaintance of Aquila, he began to live at his house and labored together with him, making tents. received Baptism from the Apostle Paul, Aquila and Priscilla bacame his devoted and zealous disciples. They accompanied the apostle to Ephesus. The Apostle Paul instructed them to continue the preaching of the Gospel at Ephesus, and he himself went to Jerusalem, in order to be present for the feast of Pentecost. At Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla heard the bold preaching of a newcomer from Alexandria, the Jew Apollos. He had been instructed in the fundamentals of the Faith, but knew only the baptism of John the Forerunner. They called him over and explained more precisely about the way of the Lord. the death of the emperor Claudius, Jews were permitted to return to Italy, and Aquila and Priscilla then returned to Rome. The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans recalls his faithful disciples, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who put forth their heads for my soul, whom I do not alone thank, but also all the Church of the Gentiles and the church of their household” (Rom. 16: 3-4). Saint Aquila did not long dwell in Rome: the Apostle Paul made him a bishop in Asia. Saint Aquila zealously labored at preaching the Gospel in Asia, Achaia and Heraklia. He converted pagans to Christ, he confirmed newly-converted Christians in the faith, he established presbyters and destroyed idols. Saint Priscilla constantly assisted him in the apostolic work. Saint Aquila ended his life a martyr: pagans murdered him. According to the Tradition of the Church, Saint Priscilla was killed together with him.

Ephesus, 35-61, Apostle Apollos, Alexandria native, eloquent in scriptures, to Ephesus, HS, Corinth Achaia, Crete, Smyrna bishop
Egypt, 35-61, Apostle Apollos, Alexandria native, eloquent in scriptures, to Ephesus, HS, Corinth Achaia, Crete, Smyrna bishop; Alexandria; Apostle Apollos of the Seventy, Commemorated on December 8 ; Apollos (September 10) was a native of Alexandria and was a man of erudition. The chief place of his service was at Corinth. He toiled there for a long time and converted many to Christ. Towards the end of his life he preached on the island of Crete and was Bishop of Caesarea. Apostle Apollos of the Seventy, Commemorated on March 30; the Acts of the Holy Apostles we read the following: “A certain Jew named Apollos, born in Alexandria, eloquent and well-versed in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. He was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Hearing him, Aquila and Priscilla took him and more precisely explained to him the way of the Lord. And when he resolved to go to Achaia, the brethren wrote and asked the disciples to receive him. When he got there, he greatly helped those who believed by grace, for he powerfully confounded the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:24-28). Holy Apostle Apollos assisted the Apostle Paul. Saint Paul speaks about the spread of Christianity among the Corinthians, “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Cor.3:6). Saint Apollos was later bishop at Smyrna (Asia Minor). Apollos is also commemorated on December 8 and the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles on January 4. Holy Apostles of the Seventy: Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus, Commemorated on December 8;

Ephesus, 30-70, Apelles of the Seventy, died at Smyrna as a good soldier of Christ
Greece, 30-70, Apelles of the Seventy, Bishop, Heraclea, Trachis, Thessaly; Heraclea, Trachis; Dormition of the Righteous Anna, the Mother of the Most Holy Theotokos, Commemorated on July 25 ; Apostle Apelles of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10 ; Apelles Apelles was an important figure in the early Church, who labored diligently to spread the message of the Gospel. His zeal led him to Rome, where he became a support for the faithful. He knew the Apostle Paul, who mentioned him in the Epistle to the Romans (16:10): "Greet Apelles, who is approved (or "has been tested") in Christ." Apelles is said to have died at Smyrna as a good soldier of Christ, laboring until his last breath to make firm the Gospel. Some say he was the Bishop of Heraklion in Trakhis. Apostle Apelles of the Seventy, Commemorated on October 31 ; Apelles, one of the Seventy Apostles, was bishop at Heraclion in Trachis.

Ephesus, 30-70, Apostle Gaius of the Seventy, Bishop at Ephesus after Timothy
Ephesus, 30-70, Apostle Gaius of the Seventy; Gaius (Rom 16:23), was Bishop of Ephesus after Saint Timothy. Patrobus, Hermes, Linus, Gaius, and Philologus, Apostles of the Seventy, preached the Gospel in various cities, each enduring various hardships in their service as bishops. Saint Patrobus (Rom 16:14) was Bishop of Neopolis (now Naples) and Puteoli in Italy. Saint Hermes was bishop in the city of Philippoplis where he died a martyr. Saint Linus (2 Tim 4:21) was a successor to the Apostle Peter at Rome. Saint Gaius (Rom 16:23), was Bishop of Ephesus after Saint Timothy. The Apostle Andrew consecrated Saint Philologus (Rom 16:15) as bishop of the city of Sinope (in the Black Sea region). Apostle Apelles of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10 ; Seventy Apostles; Apelles of Heraklion;

Ephesus, 30-70, Saint Mary Magdalene, first to proclaim his resurrection
Galilee, 30-70, Saint Mary Magdalene, Magdala, Galilee (Magdalan or Magadan); Holy Myrrh-Bearer Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene. On the banks of Lake Genesareth (Galilee), between the cities of Capharnum and Tiberias, was the small city of Magdala, the remains of which have survived to our day. Now only the small village of Mejhdel stands on the site. woman whose name has entered forever into the Gospel account was born and grew up in Magdala. The Gospel tells us nothing of Mary’s younger years, but Tradition informs us that Mary of Magdala was young and pretty, and led a sinful life. It says in the Gospels that the Lord expelled seven devils from Mary (Luke. 8:2). From the moment of her healing Mary led a new life, and became a true disciple of the Savior. Gospel relates that Mary followed after the Lord, when He went with the Apostles through the cities and villages of Judea and Galilee preaching about the Kingdom of God. Together with the pious women Joanna, wife of Choza (steward of Herod), Susanna and others, she served Him from her own possessions (Luke 8:1-3) and undoubtedly shared with the Apostles the evangelic tasks in common with the other women. The Evangelist Luke, evidently, has her in view together with the other women, stating that at the moment of the Procession of Christ onto Golgotha, when after the Scourging He took on Himself the heavy Cross, collapsing under its weight, the women followed after Him weeping and wailing, but He consoled them. The Gospel relates that Mary Magdalene was present on Golgotha at the moment of the Lord’s Crucifixion. While all the disciples of the Savior ran away, she remained fearlessly at the Cross together with the Mother of God and the Apostle John. Evangelists also list among those standing at the Cross the mother of the Apostle James, and Salome, and other women followers of the Lord from Galilee, but all mention Mary Magdalene first. Saint John, in addition to the Mother of God, names only her and Mary Cleopas. This indicates how much she stood out from all the women who gathered around the Lord. was faithful to Him not only in the days of His Glory, but also at the moment of His extreme humiliation and insult. As the Evangelist Matthew relates, she was present at the Burial of the Lord. Before her eyes Joseph and Νikόdēmos went out to the tomb with His lifeless Body. She watched as they covered over the entrance to the cave with a large stone, entombing the Source of Life. to the Law in which she was raised, Mary together with the other women spent the following day at rest, because it was the great day of the Sabbath, coinciding with the Feast of Passover. But all the rest of the peaceful day the women gathered spices to go to the Grave of the Lord at dawn on Sunday and anoint His Body according to the custom of the Jews. is necessary to mention that, having agreed to go on the first day of the week to the Tomb early in the morning, the holy women had no possibility of meeting with one another on Saturday. They went separately on Friday evening to their own homes. They went out only at dawn the following day to go to the Sepulchre, not all together, but each from her own house. Evangelist Matthew writes that the women came to the grave at dawn, or as the Evangelist Mark expresses, extremely early before the rising of the sun. The Evangelist John, elaborating upon these, says that Mary came to the grave so early that it was still dark. Obviously, she waited impatiently for the end of night, but it was not yet daybreak. She ran to the place where the Lord’s Body lay. went to the tomb alone. Seeing the stone pushed away from the cave, she ran away in fear to tell the close Apostles of Christ, Peter and John. Hearing the strange message that the Lord was gone from the tomb, both Apostles ran to the tomb and, seeing the shroud and winding cloths, they were amazed. They went and said nothing to anyone, but Mary returned to the tomb and stood about the entrance to the tomb and wept. Here in this dark tomb so recently lay her lifeless Lord. proof that the tomb really was empty, she went down to it and saw a strange sight. She saw two angels in white garments, one sitting at the head, the other at the foot, where the Body of Jesus had been placed. They asked her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” She answered them with the words which she had said to the Apostles, “They have taken my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” At that moment, she turned around and saw the Risen Jesus standing near the grave, but she did not recognize Him. asked Mary, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom dost thou seek?” She answered thinking that she was seeing the gardener, “Sir, if thou hast taken him, tell where thou hast put Him, and I will take Him away.” she recognized the Lord’s voice. This was the voice she heard in those days and years, when she followed the Lord through all the cities and places where He preached. He spoke her name, and she gave a joyful shout, “Rabbi” (Teacher). and love, fondness and deep veneration, a feeling of thankfulness and recognition at His Splendor as great Teacher, all came together in this single outcry. She was able to say nothing more and she threw herself down at the feet of her Teacher to wash them with tears of joy. But the Lord said to her: “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and tell them: ‘I ascend to My Father, and your Father; to My God and to your God.’” came to herself and again ran to the Apostles, to do the will of Him sending her to preach. Again she ran into the house, where the Apostles still remained in dismay, and proclaimed to them the joyous message, “I have seen the Lord!” This was the first preaching in the world about the Resurrection. Apostles proclaimed the Glad Tidings to the world, but she proclaimed it to the Apostles themselves. Scripture does not tell us about the life of Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection of Christ, but it is impossible to doubt, that if in the terrifying minutes of Christ’s Crucifixion she was at the foot of His Cross with His All-Pure Mother and Saint John, she must have stayed with them during the happier time after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Thus in the Acts of the Apostles Saint Luke writes that all the Apostles with one mind stayed in prayer and supplication, with certain women and Mary the Mother of Jesus and His brethren. Tradition testifies that when the Apostles departed from Jerusalem to preach to all the ends of the earth, then Mary Magdalene also went with them. A daring woman, whose heart was full of reminiscence of the Resurrection, she went beyond her native borders and went to preach in pagan Rome. Everywhere she proclaimed to people about Christ and His teaching. When many did not believe that Christ is risen, she repeated to them what she had said to the Apostles on the radiant morning of the Resurrection: “I have seen the Lord!” With this message she went all over Italy. relates that in Italy Mary Magdalene visited Emperor Tiberias (14-37 A.D.) and proclaimed to him Christ’s Resurrection. According to Tradition, she brought him a red egg as a symbol of the Resurrection, a symbol of new life with the words: “Christ is Risen!” Then she told the emperor that in his Province of Judea the unjustly condemned Jesus the Galilean, a holy man, a miracleworker, powerful before God and all mankind, had been executed at the instigation of the Jewish High Priests, and the sentence confirmed by the procurator appointed by Tiberias, Pontius Pilate. repeated the words of the Apostles, that we are redeemed from the vanity of life not with perishable silver or gold, but rather by the precious Blood of Christ. to Mary Magdalene the custom to give each other paschal eggs on the day of the Radiant Resurrection of Christ spread among Christians over all the world. In one ancient Greek manuscript, written on parchment, kept in the monastery library of Saint Athanasius near Thessalonica, is a prayer read on the day of Holy Pascha for the blessing of eggs and cheese. In it is indicated that the igumen in passing out the blessed eggs says to the brethren: “Thus have we received from the holy Fathers, who preserved this custom from the very time of the holy Apostles, therefore the holy Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene first showed believers the example of this joyful offering.” Magdalene continued her preaching in Italy and in the city of Rome itself. Evidently, the Apostle Paul has her in mind in his Epistle to the Romans (16: 6), where together with other ascetics of evangelic preaching he mentions Mary (Mariam), who as he expresses “has bestowed much labor on us.” Evidently, she extensively served the Church in its means of subsistence and its difficulties, being exposed to dangers, and sharing with the Apostles the labors of preaching. to Church Tradition, she remained in Rome until the arrival of the Apostle Paul, and for two more years following his departure from Rome after the first court judgment upon him. From Rome, Saint Mary Magdalene, already bent with age, moved to Ephesus where the holy Apostle John unceasingly labored. There the saint finished her earthly life and was buried. holy relics were transferred in the ninth century to Constantinople, and placed in the monastery Church of Saint Lazarus. In the era of the Crusader campaigns they were transferred to Italy and placed at Rome under the altar of the Lateran Cathedral. Part of the relics of Mary Magdalene are said to be in Provage, France near Marseilles, where over them at the foot of a steep mountain a splendid church is built in her honor. Orthodox Church honors the holy memory of Saint Mary Magdalene, the woman called by the Lord Himself from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. immersed in sin and having received healing, she sincerely and irrevocably began a new life and never wavered from that path. Mary loved the Lord Who called her to a new life. She was faithful to Him not only when He was surrounded by enthusiastic crowds and winning recognition as a miracle-worker, but also when all the disciples deserted Him in fear and He, humiliated and crucified, hung in torment upon the Cross. This is why the Lord, knowing her faithfulness, appeared to her first, and esteemed her worthy to be first to proclaim His Resurrection. Magdala, Galilee (Magdalan or Magadan, between Capharnum and Tiberias); Matthew 15:29-39, Jesus Cures Many People, and Feeding the Four Thousand They returned to Magadan.; The Holy Myrrh-Bearer Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene. On the banks of Lake Genesareth (Galilee), between the cities of Capharnum and Tiberias, was the small city of Magdala, the remains of which have survived to our day. Now only the small village of Mejhdel stands on the site. Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Commemorated on July 22; MARY MAGDALENE, FIRST WITNESS OF THE RESURRECTION (22 JULY NT);

Ephesus, 30-70, Clement of the Seventy, Bishop, Sardis, Lydia
Sardis, On highway to Agean Sea; Lydia (Hermes River Valley); Martyr Apollonius of Sardis, Commemorated on July 10; The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15; Dedication of the Church of the Greatmartyr George in Lydia, Commemorated on November 3 ; Martyr Apollonius of Sardis; Apostle Clement of the Seventy, Commemorated September 10 ; Saint Clement Paul refers to Clement in his Epistle to the Phillipians (4:3). After mentioning the women Euodia and Syntykhe, who assisted him in proclaiming the Gospel, he speaks of Clement as one of his coworkers, "whose names are in the Book of Life." Clement later became a bishop at Sardika in Asia Minor. Eusebius mistakenly identified him with Clement of Rome (History of the Church 3. 15, 1). Today's Saint reposed after enduring many trials in order to strengthen his flock, and to hand down to them the truth of the Gospel. Martyr Carpus at Pergamus, Commemorated on October 13; Hieromartyr Euthymius the Bishop of Sardis, Commemorated on December 26 ; Hieromartyr Therapon the Bishop of Sardis, Commemorated on May 27;

Ephesus, 33-73, Apostle Philip the Deacon and Evangelist, Bishop of Tralles til old age
Ephesus, 33-73, Apostle Philip the Deacon, Bishop of Tralles; Tralles (Meander River 5); Trallians (Illyrian Tribe); Apostle Philip of the Seventy, One of the Seven Deacons, Commemorated on October 11; Apostle Philip of the Seventy, one of the 7 Deacons is not to be confused with Saint Philip one of the Twelve Apostles (November 14). This Philip was born in Palestine, was married and had children. the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Twelve Apostles made Philip a deacon in the Church of Jerusalem. Along with the other six deacons, they appointed him to deal with the offerings of the faithful and attend to the concerns of the widowed, the orphaned and the needy. The eldest among the seven deacons was the holy Archdeacon Stephen. the persecution of Christians began, the Jews stoned the Protomartyr Stephen. Apostle Philip left Jerusalem and settled in Samaria. There he successfully preached Christianity. Among the disciple’s converts was the noted magician Simon, who “after being baptized, continued with Philip.” (Acts 8:9-13) the command of an angel of the Lord, Saint Philip set out upon the road connecting Jerusalem with Gaza. There he met an official of the empress of Ethiopia, whom also he converted to Christianity (Acts 8:26-39). holy disciple Philip tirelessly preached the Word of God in many of the lands of the Near East adjoining Palestine. Jerusalem the Apostles made him a bishop and sent him to Tralles in Asia Minor, where he also baptized many. Saint Philip died in old age.

Ephesus, 35-61, Apostle Tychicus of the 70, sent to Ephesus and Colosse
Phyrgia, 35-61, Apostle Tychicus of the 70, Colossae (Great Road, Lycus River 1); Tychicus /ËˆtÉªkÉªkÉ™s/ was an Asiatic Christian who, with Trophimus, accompanied the Apostle Paul on a part of his journey from Macedonia to Jerusalem. He is also alluded to have been with Paul in Rome, where the apostle sent him to Ephesus, probably for the purpose of building up and encouraging the church there.[1] In the New Testament, he is mentioned five times (Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21â€“22; Colossians 4:7; Titus 3:12; 2 Timothy 4:12).[2] Contents 1 Appearance in the Bible 2 Additional Detail 3 References 4 External links Appearance in the Bible[edit] (1) Acts 20:4 states that Tychicus was from the Roman province of Asia. The Western text indicates that he was an Ephesian. (2) In Ephesians 6:21, the author (traditionally identified as Paul) calls Tychicus a "dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord" (NIV), (3) while in Colossians, he says he is "a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord." In both Ephesians and Colossians, the author indicates that he is sending Tychicus to the Christians to whom he is writing, in order to encourage them.[2] (4) The passages in the Epistle to Titus (Titus 3:12) and to Timothy show that Tychicus was again with Paul after the appeal to the emperor had resulted in the apostle regaining his freedom. The passage in Titus evidently refers to the interval between Paul's first and second Roman imprisonments, and while he was again engaged in missionary journeys. The apostle writes to Titus, who was in Crete in charge of the churches there, that he intended to send either Artemas or Tychicus to him, so as to take the oversight of the work of the gospel in that island so that Titus might be free to come to be with the apostle at Nicopolis.[1] (5) The last passage where Tychicus is mentioned occurs in 2 Timothy, which was written in Rome not long before Paul's execution. To the very end Paul was busy as ever in the work of the gospel; and though it would have been a comfort to him to have his friends beside him, yet the interests of the kingdom of Christ are uppermost in his thoughts, and he sends these friends to help the progress of the work. To the last, Tychicus was serviceable as ever: "Tychicus I sent to Ephesus" (2 Timothy 4:12). As Timothy was in charge of the church in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3), the coming of Tychicus would set him free, so as to enable him to set off at once to rejoin Paul at Rome, as the apostle desired him (2 Timothy 4:9, 2 Timothy 4:21).[1] Additional Detail[edit] The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that different traditions make him out to be the Bishop of Colophon, Chalcedon or Neapolis in Cyprus.[3] Hippolytus of Rome lists Tychicus as one of the seventy disciples. His feast is kept on 29 April.[3] Colossae or Chonae means plunging. ; Commemoration of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae, Commemorated September 6 ; St Archippus of Herapolis, Commemorated September 6 ; Apostle Philemon of the Seventy, Commemorated on November 22 ; Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy, Commemorated November 22 ; Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy, Commemorated on December 8 ; Apostle Philemon of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Archippus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy, Commemorated on February 15; Martyr Archippus of the Seventy Apostles, Commemorated February 19; Apostle Philemon the Martyr of the Seventy, Commemorated February 19 ;

Ephesus, 35-61, Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy, Corinth, Colophon and Caeserea
Greece, 35, Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy, Corinth and Caeserea ; was the chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth, who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, was seized and beaten by the mob in the presence of Gallio, the Roman governor, when he refused to proceed against Paul at the instigation of the Jews. The motives of this assault against Sosthenes are not recorded. Some manuscripts insert the mob was composed of "Greeks"; others read "Jews".[1] historians identify this Sosthenes with a companion of Paul the Apostle referred to as "Sosthenes our brother", a convert to the Christian faith and co-author of the First Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:1-“2). It is not clear whether this identification is tenable.[1] According to Protestant theologian Heinrich Meyer, "Theodoret and most commentators, including Flatt, Billroth, Ewald, Maier [and] Hofmann, identify Sosthenes with the person so named in Acts 18:17, but this is rightly denied by Michaelis, Pott, Rackert, and de Wette".[2] has also been suggested that Sosthenes is a later name of Crispus, who is mentioned in Acts 18:8 and 1 Corinthians 1:14.[3] is traditionally listed among the Seventy Disciples of Luke 10:1.[4] Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy, Commemorated on March 30; Holy Apostles Sosthenes was head of the Corinthian synagogue before his conversion. The Apostle Paul converted him to Christianity and made him his helper in his work. In addressing the Corinthian church, Saint Paul sent greetings from both of them: “Paul, by the will of God called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and brother Sosthenes...” (1 Cor.1:1). Afterwards, Saint Sosthenes was made bishop at Colophon (Asia Minor). Sosthenes is also commemorated on December 8 and the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles on January 4. Corinth;

Ephesus, 70, Apostle Philip, Hieropolis, Lydia, Pagan Temples, enormous snake, Amphipatos' wife, Crucified, earthquake
Ephesus, 1st Century, Lydia, Apostle Philip; Holy, All-Praised Apostle Philip, Commemorated on November the Apostle Philip arrived in the city of Phrygian Hieropolis, where there were many pagan temples. There was also a pagan temple where people worshiped an enormous serpent as a god. The Apostle Philip by the power of prayer killed the serpent and healed many bitten by snakes. those healed was the wife of the city prefect, Amphipatos. Having learned that his wife had accepted Christianity, the prefect Amphipatos gave orders to arrest Saint Philip, his sister, and the Apostle Bartholomew traveling with them. At the urging of the pagan priests of the temple of the serpent, Amphipatos ordered the holy Apostles Philip and Bartholomew to be crucified. an earthquake struck, and it knocked down all those present at the place of judgment. Hanging upon the cross by the pagan temple of the serpent, the Apostle Philip prayed for those who had crucified him, asking God to save them from the ravages of the earthquake. Seeing this happen, the people believed in Christ and began to demand that the apostles be taken down from the crosses. The Apostle Bartholomew was still alive when he was taken down, and he baptized all those believing and established a bishop for them. the Apostle Philip, through whose prayers everyone remained alive, except for Amphipatos and the pagan priests, died on the cross. his sister buried his body, and went with the Apostle Bartholomew to preach in Armenia, where the Apostle Bartholomew was crucified (June 11); Mariamne herself then preached until her own death at Lykaonia. Holy and All-praised Apostle Philip was a native of the city of Bethsaida in Galilee. had a profound depth of knowledge of the Holy Scripture, and rightly discerning the meaning of the Old Testament prophecies, he awaited the coming of the Messiah. Through the call of the Savior (John 1:43), Philip followed Him. Apostle Philip is spoken about several times in the Holy Gospel: he brought to Christ the Apostle Nathaniel (i.e. Bartholomew, April 22, June 30, and August 25. See John. 1:46). The Lord asks him where to buy bread for five thousand men (John. 6: 5-7). He brought certain of the Hellenized Jews wanting to see Jesus (John. 12:21-22); and finally, at the Last Supper he asked Christ to show them the Father (John. 14:8). the Ascension of the Lord, the Apostle Philip preached the Word of God in Galilee, accompanying his preaching with miracles. Thus, he restored to life a dead infant in the arms of its mother. From Galilee he went to Greece, and preached among the Jews that had settled there. Some of them reported the preaching of the Apostle to Jerusalem. In response, some scribes arrived in Greece from Jerusalem, with one of the Jewish chief priests at their head, to interrogate the Apostle Philip. Apostle Philip exposed the lie of the chief priest, who said that the disciples of Christ had stolen away and hidden the body of Christ. Philip told instead how the Pharisees had bribed the soldiers on watch, to deliberately spread this rumor. When the Jewish chief priest and his companions began to insult the Lord and lunged at the Apostle Philip, they suddenly were struck blind. By his prayer the Apostle restored everyone’s sight. Seeing this miracle, many believed in Christ. The Apostle Philip provided a bishop for them, by the name of Narcissus (one of the Seventy Apostles, January 4). Greece the Apostle Philip went to Parthia, and then to the city of Azotus, where he healed an eye affliction of the daughter of a local resident named Nikoklides, who had received him into his home, and then baptized his whole family. Azotus the Apostle Philip set out to Syrian Hieropolis (there were several cities of this name) where, stirred up by the Pharisees, the Jews burned the house of Heros, who had taken in the Apostle Philip, and they wanted to kill the apostle. The apostle performed several miracles: the healing of the hand of the city official Aristarchus, withered when he attempted to strike the apostle; and restoring a dead child to life. When they saw these marvels, they repented and many accepted holy Baptism. After making Heros the bishop at Hieropolis, the Apostle Philip went on to Syria, Asia Minor, Lydia, Emessa, and everywhere preaching the Gospel and undergoing sufferings. Both he and his sister Mariamne (February 17) were pelted with stones, locked up in prison, and thrown out of villages. the Apostle Philip arrived in the city of Phrygian Hieropolis, where there were many pagan temples. There was also a pagan temple where people worshiped an enormous serpent as a god. The Apostle Philip by the power of prayer killed the serpent and healed many bitten by snakes. those healed was the wife of the city prefect, Amphipatos. Having learned that his wife had accepted Christianity, the prefect Amphipatos gave orders to arrest Saint Philip, his sister, and the Apostle Bartholomew traveling with them. At the urging of the pagan priests of the temple of the serpent, Amphipatos ordered the holy Apostles Philip and Bartholomew to be crucified. an earthquake struck, and it knocked down all those present at the place of judgment. Hanging upon the cross by the pagan temple of the serpent, the Apostle Philip prayed for those who had crucified him, asking God to save them from the ravages of the earthquake. Seeing this happen, the people believed in Christ and began to demand that the apostles be taken down from the crosses. The Apostle Bartholomew was still alive when he was taken down, and he baptized all those believing and established a bishop for them. the Apostle Philip, through whose prayers everyone remained alive, except for Amphipatos and the pagan priests, died on the cross. his sister buried his body, and went with the Apostle Bartholomew to preach in Armenia, where the Apostle Bartholomew was crucified (June 11); Mariamne herself then preached until her own death at Lykaonia. holy Apostle Philip is not to be confused with Saint Philip the Deacon (October 11), one of the Seventy.

Ephesus, 89-155, Polycarp, Smyrna Bishop, assisted Theologian, ange widow raised him, flames not touch, stabbed creamated
Ephesus, 89-155, Polycarp, Smyrna (Izmir, Hemus River Mouth, Ephesus vicinity), fruitful in every good work, Jesus time, orphaned, angel had him raised by widow, gave possessions, Chaste life, caring sick, friend of Bishop Bucolus who ordained him and made him bishop, accompanied still alive John Theologian, as bishop Lord Jesus appeared to him, Ignatius wrote to Polycarp the father of all christians, to be burned alive, flames not touch him, stabbed and creamated; Smyrna; 2. Smyrna in Revelation 2: 8-11, Message to Smyrna ; Hieromartyr Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna, Commemorated February 23 ; Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who was “fruitful in every good work” (Col. 1:10), born in the first century, and lived in Smyrna in Asia Minor. He was orphaned at an early age, but at the direction of an angel, he was raised by the pious widow Kallista. the death of his adoptive mother, Polycarp gave away his possessions and began to lead a chaste life, caring for the sick and the infirm. was very fond of and close to Saint Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna (February 6). He ordained Polycarp as deacon, entrusting to him to preach the Word of God in church. He also ordained him to the holy priesthood. holy Apostle John the Theologian was still alive at this time. Saint Polycarp was especially close to Saint John, and sometimes accompanied him on his apostolic journeys. before his death, Saint Bucolus expressed his wish that Polycarp be made Bishop of Smyrna. Saint Polycarp was consecrated as a bishop, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him. Polycarp guided his flock with apostolic zeal, and he was also greatly loved by the clergy. Ignatius the God-Bearer of Antioch (December 20) also had a high regard for him. Setting out for Rome where execution awaited him, he wrote to Saint Polycarp, “This age is in need of you if it is to reach God, just as pilots need winds, and as a storm-tossed sailor needs a port.” emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) came to the Roman throne and started up a most fierce persecution against Christians. The pagans demanded that the judge search for Saint Polycarp, “the father of all the Christians” and “the seducer of all Asia.” this time Saint Polycarp, at the persistent urging of his flock, stayed in a small village not far from Smyrna. the soldiers came for him, he went out to them and invited them in to eat. He asked for time to pray, in order to prepare himself for martyrdom. suffering and death are recorded in the “Epistle of the Christians of the Church of Smyrna to the Other Churches,” one of the most ancient memorials of Christian literature. been brought to trial, Saint Polycarp firmly confessed his faith in Christ, and was condemned to be burned alive. The executioners wanted to nail him to a post, but he declared that God would give him the strength to endure the flames, so they could merely tie him with ropes. flames encircled the saint but did not touch him, coming together over his head in the shape of a vault. Seeing that the fire did him no harm, the pagans stabbed him with a dagger. So much blood flowed from this wound that it extinguished the flames. body of the hieromartyr Polycarp was then cremated. The Christians of Smyrna reverently gathered up what remained of his holy relics, and each year they celebrated the day of his martyrdom. story has been preserved about Saint Polycarp by his disciple, Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, which Eusebius cites in his ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY (V, 20): “I was still very young when I saw you in Asia Minor at Polycarp’s,” writes Saint Irenaeus to his friend Florinus, “but I would still be able to point out the place where Blessed Polycarp sat and conversed, and be able to depict his walk, his mannerisms in life, his outward appearance, his speaking to people, his companionable wandering with John, and how he himself related, together with other eyewitnesses of the Lord, those things that he remembered from the words of others. He also told what he heard from them about the Lord, His teachings and miracles.... “Through the mercy of God to me, I then already listened attentively to Polycarp and wrote down his words, not on tablets, but in the depths of my heart. I am able to bear witness before God, that if this blessed and apostolic Elder heard something similar to your fallacy, he would immediately stop up his ears and express his indignation with his usual phrase: ‘Good God! That Thou hast permitted me to be alive at such a time!’” his life the holy bishop wrote several Epistles to the flock and letters to various individuals. The only one that has survived to the present day is his Epistle to the Philippians which, Saint Jerome testifies, was read in the churches of Asia Minor at divine services. It was written by the saint in response to the request of the Philippians to send them some letters of the hieromartyr Ignatius (December 20) which Saint Polycarp had in his possession. composer H.I.F. Bibier (1644-1704) has written a Sonata “Scti Polycarpi” for eight trumpets in honor of the holy martyr.

Ephesus, 89-156, Roman Saint in Smyrna, Polycarp
Ephesus, 89-156, Roman Saint in Smyrna, Polycarp; Hieromartyr Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna, Commemorated on February 23; Hieromartyr Pionius of Smyrna and those with him, Commemorated on March 11; IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS, THEOLOGIAN (28 JUN 202) ;

Ephesus, 100, Basilica (grave) of St. John, in Ephesus, 100 yr old J commanded dig grave, cover him w earth, later not there
Basilica (grave) of St. John, in Ephesus, 100 yr old J commanded dig grave, cover him w earth, later not there; Grave of Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on May 8; Church commemorates Saint John on this day because of the annual pilgrimage to his grave. Saint John was more than one hundred years old, he took seven of his disciples and went to a spot outside the city of Ephesus. There he told them to dig a grave in the form of a cross. Then he climbed into the grave and told his disciples to cover him with earth. Later, the grave was opened and the saint’s body was not there. year on May 8 a red dust would arise from the grave which the faithful collected in order to be healed of their illnesses. John’s main Feast is on September 26. Basilica (grave) of St. John, in Ephesus; Basilica of St. John (Greek: Βασιλική του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Θεολόγου) was a basilica in Ephesus. It was constructed by Justinian I in the 6th century. It stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle. It was modeled after the now lost Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.[1] The basilica is on the slopes of Ayasuluk Hill just below the fortress near the center of Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey and about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) from Ephesus.[2] Church[edit] is known about the Basilica of St. John, with its only source being from a small description[3] provided by Procopius in one of his works, Buildings, whereupon he writes: chanced to be a certain place before the city of Ephesus, lying on a steep slope hilly and bare of soil and incapable of producing crops, even should one attempt to cultivate them, but altogether hard and rough. On that site the natives had set up a church in early times to the Apostle John; this Apostle has been named “the Theologian,” because the nature of God was described by him in a manner beyond the unaided power of man. church, which was small and in a ruined condition because of its great age, the Emperor Justinian tore down to the ground and replaced by a church so large and beautiful, that, to speak briefly, it resembles very closely in all respects, and is a rival to, the shrine which is dedicated to all the Apostles in the imperial city...[4] of the church began by 548 and was completed by 565.[3] The building of this church was presided over by the bishop, Hypatius of Ephesus. As the leading ecclesiastical theoretician and writer of his day, it was possible that he gained the influence of Justinian and had the tomb of St. John reconstructed, as major construction in the Asia Minor was rare.[5] After its completion, it was regarded as one of the holiest churches of its time and was held in great honor as Procopius makes mention of this in his Secret History: ...to the sanctuary of the Apostle John, which was the most holy one there and held in very high honour...[6] its popularity after the 9th century it was no longer mentioned, possibly due to a new church built in honor of St. John, Church of John the Theologian.[7]

Ephesus, 100-167, Saint Abercius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Hieropolis, Equal of the Apostles, Angels command to destroy idols
Ephesus, 150, Saint Abercius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Hieropolis, Equal of the Apostles, Angels command to destroy idols Herapolis (Hot Springs) ; St Abercius the Bishop and Wonderworker of Hieropolis, Equal of the Apostles, Commemorated on October 22 ; Abercius, Bishop and Wonderworker of Hieropolis lived in the second century in Phrygia. The city of Hieropolis was inhabited by many pagans and very few Christians. The saint prayed to the Lord for the salvation of their souls and that they might be numbered among God’s chosen flock. An angel appeared and bade Saint Abercius to destroy the idols in the pagan temple. He fulfilled the command of God with zeal. Hearing that the idol-worshippers wanted to kill him, the saint went to the place where the people had gathered and openly denounced the failings of the pagans. The pagans tried to seize the saint. this moment three demon-possessed youths in the crowd cried out. The people were dumbfounded, as the saint expelled the devils from them by his prayers. Seeing the youths restored to normal, the people of Hieropolis asked Saint Abercius to instruct them in the Christian Faith, and then they accepted Holy Baptism. this the saint went to the surrounding cities and villages, healing the sick and preaching the Kingdom of God. With his preaching he made the rounds of Syria, Cilicia, Mesopotamia, he visited Rome and everywhere he converted multitudes of people to Christ. For many years he guarded the Church against heretics, he confirmed Christians in the Faith, he set the prodigal upon the righteous path, he healed the sick and proclaimed the glory of Christ. Because of his great works, Saint Abercius is termed “Equal of the Apostles.” Abercius returned home to Hieropolis, where he soon rested from his labors. After his death, many miracles took place at his tomb. He wrote his own epitaph, and it was carved on his tombstone, which is now in the Lateran Museum.

Ephesus, 145-202, Smyrna Saint in Iranaeus, Bishop of Lyons, with Polycarp
Ephesus, 145-202, Smyrna Saint in Iranaeus, with Polycarp; Ephesus, 89-156, Roman Saint in Smyrna, Polycarp; Hieromartyr Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna, Commemorated on February 23; Hieromartyr Pionius of Smyrna and those with him, Commemorated on March 11; IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS, THEOLOGIAN (28 JUN 202) ;

Ephesus, 145-202, Iraneus, Bishop of Lugdunum, Gaul, Lyons, France, from Smyrna and Polycarp, anti Gnostic writer
Gaul, 150-202, Iraneus, Bishop of Lugdunum, Gaul, Lyons, France ; Lugdunum (Lyons in France); Hieromartyr Irenaeus the Bishop of Lyons, Commemorated on August 23; Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, was born in the year 130 in the city of Smyrna (Asia Minor). He received there the finest education, studying poetics, philosophy, rhetoric, and the rest of the classical sciences considered necessary for a young man of the world. guide in the truths of the Christian Faith was a disciple of the Apostle John the Theologian, Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (February 23). Saint Polycarp baptized the youth, and afterwards ordained him presbyter and sent him to a city in Gaul then named Lugdunum [the present day Lyons in France] to the dying bishop Pothinus. commission was soon entrusted to Saint Irenaeus. He was to deliver a letter from the confessors of Lugdunum to the holy Bishop Eleutherius of Rome (177-190). While he was away, all the known Christians were thrown into prison. After the martyric death of Bishop Pothinus, Saint Irenaeus was chosen a year later (in 178) as Bishop of Lugdunum. “During this time,” Saint Gregory of Tours (November 17) writes concerning him, “by his preaching he transformed all Lugdunum into a Christian city!” the persecution against Christians quieted down, the saint expounded upon the Orthodox teachings of faith in one of his fundamental works under the title: Detection and Refutation of the Pretended but False Gnosis. It is usually called Five Books against Heresy (Adversus Haereses). that time there appeared a series of religious-philosophical gnostic teachings. The Gnostics [from the Greek word “gnosis” meaning “knowledge”] taught that God cannot be incarnate [i.e. born in human flesh], since matter is imperfect and manifests itself as the bearer of evil. They taught also that the Son of God is only an outflowing (“emanation”) of Divinity. Together with Him from the Divinity issues forth a hierarchical series of powers (“aeons”), the unity of which comprise the “Pleroma”, i.e. “Fullness.” The world is not made by God Himself, but by the aeons or the “Demiourgos,” which is below the “Pleroma.” refuting this heresy, championed by Valentinus, Saint Irenaeus presents the Orthodox teaching of salvation. “The Word of God, Jesus Christ, through His inexplicable blessedness caused it to be, that we also, should be made that which He is ... ,” taught Saint Irenaeus. “Jesus Christ the Son of God, through exceedingly great love for His creation, condescended to be born of a Virgin, having united mankind with God in His own Self.” Through the Incarnation of God, creation becomes co-imaged and co-bodied to the Son of God. Salvation consists in the “Sonship” and “Theosis” (“Divinization”) of mankind. the refutation of another heretic, Marcian, who denied the divine origin of the Old Testament, the saint affirms the same divine inspiration of the Old and the New Testaments: “It is one and the same Spirit of God Who proclaimed through the prophets the precise manner of the Lord’s coming,” wrote the saint. “Through the apostles, He preached that the fulness of time of the filiation had arrived, and that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand.” successors of the Apostles have received from God the certain gift of truth, which Saint Irenaeus links to the succession of the episcopate (Adv. Haer. 4, 26, 2). “Anyone who desires to know the truth ought to turn to the Church, since through Her alone did the apostles expound the Divine Truth. She is the door to life.” Irenaeus also exerted a beneficial influence in a dispute about the celebration of Pascha. In the Church of Asia Minor, there was an old tradition of celebrating Holy Pascha on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan, regardless of what day of the week it happened to be. The Roman bishop Victor (190-202) forcefully demanded uniformity, and his harsh demands fomented a schism. In the name of the Christians of Gaul, Saint Irenaeus wrote to Bishop Victor and others, urging them to make peace. this incident, Saint Irenaeus drops out of sight, and we do not even know the exact year of his death. Saint Gregory of Tours, in his Historia Francorum, suggests that Saint Irenaeus was beheaded by the sword for his confession of faith in the year 202, during the reign of Severus. Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, and Saint Irenaeus of Lyons are three links in an unbroken chain of the grace of succession, which goes back to the Original Pastor, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. his old age, Saint Irenaeus wrote to his old friend the priest Florinus: “When I was still a boy, I knew you... in Polycarp’s house.... I remember what happened in those days more clearly than what happens now.... I can describe for you the place where blessed Polycarp usually sat and conversed, the character of his life, the appearance of his body, and the discourses which he spoke to the people, how he spoke of the conversations which he had with John and others who had seen the Lord, how he remembered their words, and what he heard from them about the Lord ... I listened eagerly to these things, by the mercy of God, and wrote them, not on paper, but in my heart.” Hieromartyr Hippolytus the Pope of Rome, Commemorated January 30 ; IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS, THEOLOGIAN (28 JUN 202) ;

Ephesus, 150, Chonae plunging Aangel Michael, healing deaf d, Church, spring drink, plan, M prayer, rock fissure
Colossae or Chonae means plunging. ; Commemoration of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae, Commemorated September 6 ; Phrygia, not far from the city of Hieropolis, in a place called Cheretopos, there was a church named for the Archangel Michael, built over a miraculous spring. church was built by a certain inhabitant of the city of Laodicia in gratitude to God for healing his mute daughter. The holy Chief Commander Michael appeared to this man in a dream and revealed to him that his daughter would receive the gift of speech after drinking from the water of the spring. The girl actually did receive healing and began to speak. After this miracle, the father and his daughter and all their family were baptized. In fervent gratitude, the father built the church in honor of the holy Chief Commander Michael. Not only did Christians begin to come to the spring for healing, but also pagans. In so doing, many of the pagans turned from their idols and were converted to the faith in Christ. this church of the holy Chief Commander Michael, a certain pious man by the name of Archippus served for sixty years as church custodian. By his preaching and by the example of his saintly life he brought many pagans to faith in Christ. With the general malice of that time towards Christians, and especially against Archippus, the pagans thought to destroy the church in order to prevent people from coming to that holy place of healing, and at the same time kill Archippus. this end they made a confluence of the Lykokaperos and Kufos Rivers and directed its combined flow against the church. Saint Archippus prayed fervently to the Chief Commander Michael to ward off the danger. Through his prayer the Archangel Michael appeared at the temple, and with a blow of his staff, opened a wide fissure in a rock and commanded the rushing torrents of water to flow into it. The temple remained unharmed. Seeing such an awesome miracle, the pagans fled in terror. Archippus and the Christians gathered in church glorified God and gave thanks to the holy Archangel Michael for the help. The place where the rivers plunged into the fissure received the name “Chonae”, which means “plunging.” Chudov (“of the Miracle”) monastery in Moscow is named for this Feast. St Archippus of Herapolis, Commemorated September 6 ; Apostle Philemon of the Seventy, Commemorated on November 22 ; Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy, Commemorated November 22 ; Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy, Commemorated on December 8 ; Apostle Philemon of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Archippus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy, Commemorated on February 15; Martyr Archippus of the Seventy Apostles, Commemorated February 19; Apostle Philemon the Martyr of the Seventy, Commemorated February 19 ;

Ephesus, 150, Saint Abercius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Hieropolis, Equal of the Apostles, Angels command to destroy idols
Ephesus, 150, Saint Abercius the Wonderworker, Bishop of Hieropolis, Equal of the Apostles, Angels command to destroy idols Herapolis (Hot Springs) ; St Abercius the Bishop and Wonderworker of Hieropolis, Equal of the Apostles, Commemorated on October 22 ; Abercius, Bishop and Wonderworker of Hieropolis lived in the second century in Phrygia. The city of Hieropolis was inhabited by many pagans and very few Christians. The saint prayed to the Lord for the salvation of their souls and that they might be numbered among God’s chosen flock. An angel appeared and bade Saint Abercius to destroy the idols in the pagan temple. He fulfilled the command of God with zeal. Hearing that the idol-worshippers wanted to kill him, the saint went to the place where the people had gathered and openly denounced the failings of the pagans. The pagans tried to seize the saint. this moment three demon-possessed youths in the crowd cried out. The people were dumbfounded, as the saint expelled the devils from them by his prayers. Seeing the youths restored to normal, the people of Hieropolis asked Saint Abercius to instruct them in the Christian Faith, and then they accepted Holy Baptism. this the saint went to the surrounding cities and villages, healing the sick and preaching the Kingdom of God. With his preaching he made the rounds of Syria, Cilicia, Mesopotamia, he visited Rome and everywhere he converted multitudes of people to Christ. For many years he guarded the Church against heretics, he confirmed Christians in the Faith, he set the prodigal upon the righteous path, he healed the sick and proclaimed the glory of Christ. Because of his great works, Saint Abercius is termed “Equal of the Apostles.” Abercius returned home to Hieropolis, where he soon rested from his labors. After his death, many miracles took place at his tomb. He wrote his own epitaph, and it was carved on his tombstone, which is now in the Lateran Museum.

Ephesus, 157, Debate with Rabbi Trypho, Justin the Philosopher
Ephesus Debate with Rabbi Trypho, about 157AD, Justin the Philosopher; Martyr Justin the Philosopher and those with him at Rome, Commemorated on June 1; JUSTIN MARTYR, PHILOSOPHER, APOLOGIST, AND MARTYR (1 JUNE 167) ;

Ephesus, 202, Haralambos of Magnesia near Ephesus, 113 years old, monstrous tortures, miraculous conversions, great story
Ephesus, 202, Haralambos, Bishop of Magnesia (Meander River 5), near Ephesus, successful preacher, 113 years old, monstrous tortures, iron hooks, removed skin, I thank you for restoring my spirit, to pass over, Lucius forearms cut off, spat in face, head twisted around, L asked for mercy, healed, baptized, Emperor Severus ordered more tortures, saint protected, E daughter believed, S blasphemed & boasted, earthquake, imps suspended in air, H let them down, E sentenced H to beheadidng, savior and angels, H asked no famine disease, but peace, prosperity, fruit, grain, wine, and souls saved in that place, Lord promised to fulfill and ascended w H; Magnesia (Meander River); Hieromartyr Haralambos, Bishop of Magnesia in Thessaly, the Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus, and three women Martyrs, Commemorated on February 10; Hieromartyr Haralampus, Bishop of Magnesia, the martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus and three women martyrs suffered in the year 202. Haralampus, Bishop of Magnesia (Asia Minor), successfully spread faith in Christ the Savior, guiding people on the way to salvation. News of his preaching reached Lucian, the governor of the district, and the military commander Lucius. The saint was arrested and brought to trial, where he confessed his faith in Christ and refused to offer sacrifice to idols. the bishop’s advanced age (he was 113 years old), he was subjected to monstrous tortures. They lacerated his body with iron hooks, and scraped all the skin from his body. During this the saint turned to his tormentors, “I thank you, brethren, that you have restored my spirit, which longs to pass over to a new and everlasting life!” the Elder’s endurance and his complete lack of malice, two soldiers (Porphyrius and Baptus) openly confessed Christ, for which they were immediately beheaded with a sword. Three women who were watching the sufferings of Saint Haralampus also began to glorify Christ, and were quickly martyred. enraged Lucius seized the instruments of torture and began to torture the holy martyr, but suddenly his forearms were cut off as if by a sword. The governor then spat in the face of the saint, and immediately his head was turned around so that he faced backwards. Lucius entreated the saint to show mercy on him, and both torturers were healed through the prayers of Saint Haralampus. During this a multitude of witnesses came to believe in Christ. Among them also was Lucius, who fell at the feet of the holy bishop, asking to be baptized. reported these events to the emperor Septimus Severus (193-211), who was then at Pisidian Antioch (western Asia Minor). The emperor ordered Saint Haralampus to be brought to him in Antioch. Soldiers twisted the saint’s beard into a rope, wound it around his neck, and used it to drag him along. They also drove an iron nail into his body. The emperor then ordered them to torture the bishop more intensely, and they began to burn him with fire, a little at a time. But God protected the saint, and he remained unharmed. miracles were worked through his prayer: he raised a dead youth, and healed a man tormented by devils for thirty-five years, so that many people began to believe in Christ the Savior. Even Galina, the daughter of the emperor, began to believe in Christ, and twice smashed the idols in a pagan temple. On the orders of the emperor they beat the saint about the mouth with stones. They also wanted to set his beard on fire, but the flames burned the torturer. of wickedness, Septimus Severus and an official named Crispus hurled blasphemy at the Lord, mockingly summoning Him to come down to the earth, and boasting of their own power and might. The Lord sent an earthquake, and great fear fell upon all, the impious ones were both suspended in mid-air held by invisible bonds, and only by the prayer of the saint were they put down. The dazed emperor was shaken in his former impiety, but again quickly fell into error and gave orders to torture the saint. finally, the emperor sentenced Saint Haralampus to beheading with a sword. During Saint Haralampus' final prayer, the heavens opened and the saint saw the Savior and a multitude of angels. The holy martyr asked Him to grant that the place where his relics would repose would never suffer famine or disease. He also begged that there would be peace, prosperity, and an abundance of fruit, grain, and wine in that place, and that the souls of these people would be saved. The Lord promised to fulfill his request and ascended to heaven, and the soul of the hieromartyr Haralampus followed after Him. By the mercy of God, the saint died before he could be executed. Galina buried the martyr’s body with great honor. Greek hagiography and iconography Saint Haralampus is regarded as a priest, while Russian sources seem to regard him as a bishop.

Ephesus, 224-290, Saint Irene or Penelope from Shiraz, Persia
Great Martyr Irene, Commemorated on May 5; was deposed by his son Sapor, who persecuted Christians with an even greater zeal than his father had done. Saint Irene went to her home town of Magedon in Persia to meet Sapor and his army, and ask him to end the persecution. When he refused, Saint Irene prayed and his entire army was blinded. She prayed again and they received their sight once more. In spite of this, Sapor refused to recognize the power of God. Because of his insolence, he was struck and killed by a bolt of lightning. this, Saint Irene walked into the city and performed many miracles. She returned to the tower built by her father, accompanied by the priest Timothy. Through her teaching, she converted five thousand people to Christ. Next, the saint went to the city of Callinicus, or Callinicum (possibly on the Euphrates River in Syria). The ruler of that place was King Numerian, the son of Sebastian. When she began to teach about Christ, she was arrested and tortured by the pagan authorities. They enclosed her inside three bronze oxen, one after another, which were heated until they were red-hot. When the Great Martyr was placed within the third ox, it began to walk about, and then it split asunder. Saint Irene emerged from it as if from the fires of hell. This resulted in thousands of souls converting to the faith of Christ. the approach of death, Numerian instructed his eparch Babdonus to continue torturing the saint in order to force her to sacrifice to idols. Once again, the tortures were ineffective, and many people turned to Christ. ’s holy martyr then traveled to the city of Constantina, forty miles northeast of Edessa. By 330, the Persian king Sapor II (309-379) had heard of Saint Irene’s great miracles. To prevent her from winning more people to Christ, she was arrested, beheaded, and then buried. However, God sent an angel to raise her up again, and she went into the city of Mesembria. After seeing her alive and hearing her preach, the local king was baptized with many of his subjects. Wishing to convert even more pagans to Christianity, Saint Irene went to Ephesus, where she taught the people and performed many miracles. The Lord revealed to her that the end of her life was approaching. Then Saint Irene left the city accompanied by six people, including her former teacher Apellian. On the outskirts of the town, she found a new tomb in which no one had ever been buried. After making the Sign of the Cross, she went inside, directing her companions to seal the entrance to the cave with a large stone, which they did. She also told them that that no one should move the stone until four days had passed. returned after only two days, and found that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. There are conflicting accounts about her holy relics being taken to Constantinople and other places, including Patras, Samos, and Patmos. According to the Western Martyrologies, Saint Irene was martyred in Thessaloniki after being thrown into the fire, while according to the Menologion of Emperor Basil II, Saint Irene completed her martyric contest by being beheaded. Irene led thousands of people to Christ through her preaching, and by her example. The Church continues to honor her memory and to seek her heavenly intercession. She is invoked by those wishing to effect a swift and happy marriage. In Greece, she is also the patron saint of policemen. Saint Irene is also one of the twelve Virgin Martyrs who appeared to Saint Seraphim of Sarov (January 2) and the Diveyevo nun Eupraxia on the Feast of the Annunciation in 1831. By her holy prayers, may the Lord have mercy upon us and save us. Amen.

Ephesus, 249-251, Myrope of Chios, Myrrhr f Hermione's grave in Ephesus, r Isidore's body, midnight prayer, d light, I w angels
Ephesus, 249-251, Myrope of Chios, Myrrhr f Hermione's grave in Ephesus, r Isidore's body, guards sentenced, her confession, fierce beating, midnight prayer, d light, I w angels, M d, sweet fragrance, guard's report to priest confession and martyrdom; City of Chios; Martyr Myrope of Chios, Commemorated on December 2 ; Holy Martyr Myrope was born in the city of Ephesus at the beginning of the third century. She lost her father at an early age, and her mother raised her in the Christian Faith. Myrope frequently visited the grave of the Martyr Hermione (September 4), daughter of the holy Apostle Philip, took myrrh from her relics, and healed the sick with it. the persecution by Decius (249-251), Myrope went with her mother to the island of Chios, where they spent their time in fasting and prayer. by order of the cruel governor of the island, the soldier Isidore (May 14), a man of deep faith and great piety, was martyred. Saint Myrope secretly removed the body of the martyr and buried it. soldiers, who had been ordered not to allow the Christians to take Isidore’s body, were sentenced to death. Myrope took pity on the condemned, and she told the soldiers and then the governor what she had done. the trial she confessed herself a Christian. For this they gave her a fierce beating and then threw her in prison. midnight, while she was praying, a light shone in the prison. Saint Isidore appeared surrounded by angels, and Saint Myrope surrendered her soul to God. The prison was immediately filled with a sweet fragrance. pagan guard, trembling at the vision, told this to a priest. Later, he accepted Baptism and a martyric death for his confession of Christ.

Ephesus, 249&449, Seven Sleepers, wealthy, m belts, hid in cave, entrance sealed, sleep, owner resurection
Ephesus, 250, Seven Sleepers; 7 Holy Youths œSeven Sleepers of Ephesus, Commemorated on August 4; Seven Youths of Ephesus: Maximilian, Iamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus (Constantine) and Antoninus, lived in the third century. Saint Maximilian was the son of the Ephesus city administrator, and the other six youths were sons of illustrious citizens of Ephesus. The youths were friends from childhood, and all were in military service together. the emperor Decius (249-251) arrived in Ephesus, he commanded all the citizens to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Torture and death awaited anyone who disobeyed. The seven youths were denounced by informants, and were summoned to reply to the charges. Appearing before the emperor, the young men confessed their faith in Christ. military belts and insignia were quickly taken from them. Decius permitted them to go free, however, hoping that they would change their minds while he was off on a military campaign. The youths fled from the city and hid in a cave on Mount Ochlon, where they passed their time in prayer, preparing for martyrdom. youngest of them, Saint Iamblicus, dressed as a beggar and went into the city to buy bread. On one of his excursions into the city, he heard that the emperor had returned and was looking for them. Saint Maximilian urged his companions to come out of the cave and present themselves for trial. where the young men were hidden, the emperor ordered that the entrance of the cave be sealed with stones so that the saints would perish from hunger and thirst. Two of the dignitaries at the blocked entrance to the cave were secret Christians. Desiring to preserve the memory of the saints, they placed in the cave a sealed container containing two metal plaques. On them were inscribed the names of the seven youths and the details of their suffering and death. Lord placed the youths into a miraculous sleep lasting almost two centuries. In the meantime, the persecutions against Christians had ceased. During the reign of the holy emperor Theodosius the Younger (408-450) there were heretics who denied that there would be a general resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of them said, “How can there be a resurrection of the dead when there will be neither soul nor body, since they are disintegrated?” Others affirmed, “The souls alone will have a restoration, since it would be impossible for bodies to arise and live after a thousand years, when even their dust would not remain.” Therefore, the Lord revealed the mystery of the Resurrection of the Dead and of the future life through His seven saints. owner of the land on which Mount Ochlon was situated, discovered the stone construction, and his workers opened up the entrance to the cave. The Lord had kept the youths alive, and they awoke from their sleep, unaware that almost two hundred years had passed. Their bodies and clothing were completely undecayed. to accept torture, the youths once again asked Saint Iamblicus to buy bread for them in the city. Going toward the city, the youth was astonished to see a cross on the gates. Hearing the name of Jesus Christ freely spoken, he began to doubt that he was approaching his own city. he paid for the bread, Iamblicus gave the merchant coins with the image of the emperor Decius on it. He was detained, as someone who might be concealing a horde of old money. They took Saint Iamblicus to the city administrator, who also happened to be the Bishop of Ephesus. Hearing the bewildering answers of the young man, the bishop perceived that God was revealing some sort of mystery through him, and went with other people to the cave. the entrance to the cave the bishop found the sealed container and opened it. He read upon the metal plaques the names of the seven youths and the details of the sealing of the cave on the orders of the emperor Decius. Going into the cave and seeing the saints alive, everyone rejoiced and perceived that the Lord, by waking them from their long sleep, was demonstrating to the Church the mystery of the Resurrection of the Dead. the emperor himself arrived in Ephesus and spoke with the young men in the cave. Then the holy youths, in sight of everyone, lay their heads upon the ground and fell asleep again, this time until the General Resurrection. emperor wanted to place each of the youths into a jeweled coffin, but they appeared to him in a dream and said that their bodies were to be left upon the ground in the cave. In the twelfth century the Russian pilgrim Igumen Daniel saw the holy relics of the seven youths in the cave. is a second commemoration of the seven youths on October 22. According to one tradition, which entered into the Russian Prologue (of Saints’ Lives), the youths fell asleep for the second time on this day. The Greek Menaion of 1870 says that they first fell asleep on August 4, and woke up on October 22. is a prayer of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in the Great Book of Needs (Trebnik) for those who are ill and cannot sleep. The Seven Sleepers are also mentioned in the service for the Church New Year, September 1.

Ephesus, 249 & 449, Seven Sleepers of Ephesus , Lord revealed resurection of dead through 7 Sleepers 200 yr in cave, no decay
Ephesus, 249 & 449, Seven Sleepers of Ephesus (Ephesus River Mouth and Great Road Ephesus to the Euphrates), Lord revealed resurection of dead through 7 Sleepers 200 yr in cave, no decay; Ephesus; Revelation 2: 1-7, The Message to Ephesus; 7 Holy Youths "Seven Sleepers" of Ephesus, Commemorated August 4; Seven Youths of Ephesus: Maximilian, Iamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus (Constantine) and Antoninus, in the third century. Maximilian was the son of the Ephesus city administrator, and the other six youths were sons of illustrious citizens of Ephesus. youths were friends from childhood, and all were in military service together. the emperor Decius (249-251) arrived in Ephesus, he commanded all the citizens to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Torture and death awaited anyone who disobeyed. seven youths were denounced by informants, and were summoned to reply to the charges. Appearing before the emperor, the young men confessed their faith in Christ. military belts and insignia were quickly taken from them. permitted them to go free, however, hoping that they would change their minds while he was off on a military campaign. The youths fled from the city and hid in a cave on Mount Ochlon, where they passed their time in prayer, preparing for martyrdom. youngest of them, Saint Iamblicus, dressed as a beggar and went into the city to buy bread. On one of his excursions into the city, he heard that the emperor had returned and was looking for them. Saint Maximilian urged his companions to come out of the cave and present themselves for trial. where the young men were hidden, the emperor ordered that the entrance of the cave be sealed with stones so that the saints would perish from hunger and thirst. of the dignitaries at the blocked entrance to the cave were secret Christians. to preserve the memory of the saints, they placed in the cave a sealed container containing two metal plaques. On them were inscribed the names of the seven youths and the details of their suffering and death. Lord placed the youths into a miraculous sleep lasting almost two centuries. In the meantime, the persecutions against Christians had ceased. the reign of the holy emperor Theodosius the Younger (408-450) there were heretics who denied that there would be a general resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. of them said, “How can there be a resurrection of the dead when there will be neither soul nor body, since they are disintegrated?” affirmed, “The souls alone will have a restoration, since it would be impossible for bodies to arise and live after a thousand years, when even their dust would not remain.” the Lord revealed the mystery of the Resurrection of the Dead and of the future life through His seven saints. owner of the land on which Mount Ochlon was situated, discovered the stone construction, and his workers opened up the entrance to the cave. Lord had kept the youths alive, and they awoke from their sleep, unaware that almost two hundred years had passed. Their bodies and clothing were completely undecayed. to accept torture, the youths once again asked Saint Iamblicus to buy bread for them in the city. Going toward the city, the youth was astonished to see a cross on the gates. Hearing the name of Jesus Christ freely spoken, he began to doubt that he was approaching his own city. he paid for the bread, Iamblicus gave the merchant coins with the image of the emperor Decius on it. He was detained, as someone who might be concealing a horde of old money. took Saint Iamblicus to the city administrator, who also happened to be the Bishop of Ephesus. Hearing the bewildering answers of the young man, the bishop perceived that God was revealing some sort of mystery through him, and went with other people to the cave. the entrance to the cave the bishop found the sealed container and opened it. He read upon the metal plaques the names of the seven youths and the details of the sealing of the cave on the orders of the emperor Decius. into the cave and seeing the saints alive, everyone rejoiced and perceived that the Lord, by waking them from their long sleep, was demonstrating to the Church the mystery of the Resurrection of the Dead. the emperor himself arrived in Ephesus and spoke with the young men in the cave. Then the holy youths, in sight of everyone, lay their heads upon the ground and fell asleep again, this time until the General Resurrection. emperor wanted to place each of the youths into a jeweled coffin, but they appeared to him in a dream and said that their bodies were to be left upon the ground in the cave. In the twelfth century the Russian pilgrim Igumen Daniel saw the holy relics of the seven youths in the cave. is a second commemoration of the seven youths on October 22. According to one tradition, which entered into the Russian Prologue (of Saints’ Lives), the youths fell asleep for the second time on this day. The Greek Menaion of 1870 says that they first fell asleep on August 4, and woke up on October 22. is a prayer of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in the Great Book of Needs (Trebnik) for those who are ill and cannot sleep. The Seven Sleepers are also mentioned in the service for the Church New Year, September 1.

Ephesus, 284-305, Onesiphorus and Porphyrius, Martyrs during Diocletian Persecution, beat, burned, dragged over stones
Ephesus; Martyr Onesiphorus of Ephesus, Commemorated on November 9 ; Holy Martyrs Onesiphorus and Porphyrius of Ephesus suffered during the persecution against Christians by the emperor Diocletian (284-305). They beat them and burned them. After this, they tied the saints to wild horses, which dragged them over the stones, after which the Martyrs Onesiphorus and Porphyrius died. Believers gathered the remains of the saints and reverently buried them.

Ephesus, 304, Hieromartyr Albian the Bishop of Anaea, Ephesus, diocletian p, tortured red-hot irons, died red-hot oven
Ephesus, 304, Hieromartyr Albian the Bishop of Anaea, Ephesus, diocletian p, tortured red-hot irons, died red-hot oven; Anaea, Ephesus (Ephesus River Mouth); Hieromartyr Albian the Bishop of Anaea in Asia Minor, Commemorated on May 4; Albian was bishop of the city of Aneium in the Aseian district, suffered for Christ about the year 304 in a persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian and his co-ruler Maximian. Albian was ordered to offer sacrifice to idols under the threat of death, but he confessed his faith in Christ and refused to serve idols. They tortured him with red-hot irons and beat him mercilessly, but he remained unyielding. tortured his disciple with him, and he also remained faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ. Both holy martyrs were sentenced to death and thrown into a red-hot oven, in which they died, receiving the crowns of martyrdom.

Ephesus, 361, Martyr Porphyrius the Actor, saved while mocking baptism, then martyred
Ephesus, 361, Martyr Porphyrius the Actor, saved while mocking baptism, then martyred; Holy Martyr Porphyrius suffered during the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363). Porphyrius was an actor and on the emperor’s birthday he was performing a role at the theater, where he was supposed to mock the mystery of holy Baptism. the play Porphyrius was immersed in water and said: “The servant of God, Porphyrius, is baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Through divine grace, he emerged from the water and confessed himself a Christian. Julian ordered him to be tortured, and after the torments, to be beheaded. This took place in the city of Ephesus in the year 361. Ephesus; Revelation 2: 1-7, The Message to Ephesus; Martyr Porphyrius the Actor, Commemorated on September 15 ;

Ephesus, 363-365, Council of Laodicea 363-364, regulating the conduct of church members, Biblical Cannon
Council of Laodicea 363-364; Council of Laodicea was a regional synod of approximately thirty clerics from Asia Minor which assembled about 363–364 AD in Laodicea, Phrygia Pacatiana. context[edit] council took place soon after the conclusion of the war between the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire, waged by Emperor Julian. Julian, the last Constantinian emperor, attempted a revival of paganism and resumed discrimination against Christians. After his death in battle on 26 June 363, officers of the army elected the Christian Jovian as his successor. Jovian, in a precarious position, far from supplies, ended the war with Persia unfavorably for Rome. He was soon succeeded by Valentinian I, who named his brother Valens Emperor of the East. concerns[edit] major concerns of the Council involved regulating the conduct of church members. The Council expressed its decrees in the form of written rules or canons. Among the sixty canons decreed, several aimed at: Maintaining order among bishops, clerics and laypeople (canons 3–5, 11–13, 21–27, 40–44, 56–57) Enforcing modest behaviour of clerics and laypeople (4, 27, 30, 36, 53–55) Regulating approach to heretics (canons 6–10, 31–34, 37), Jews (canons 16, 37–38) and pagans (canon 39) Outlawing the keeping of the Sabbath (Saturday), and encouraging rest on Sunday (canon 29) Outlining liturgical practices (canons 14–20, 21–23, 25, 28, 58–59) Restrictions during Lent (canons 45, 49–52) Admission and instruction of catechumens and neophytes (canons 45–48) Specifying a Biblical canon (canons 59–60) canon[edit] 59th canon forbade the readings in church of uncanonical books. The 60th canon listed Canonical books, with the New Testament containing 26 books, omitting the Book of Revelation, and the Old Testament including the 22 books of the Hebrew Bible plus the Book of Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremiah; but excluding all the deuterocanonical books proper. It is also believed that they may have demonized the "Second Book of Enoch", which led to its degeneration.[1] authenticity of the 60th canon is doubtful,[2] as it is missing from various Greek manuscripts and may have been added later[1] to specify the extent of the preceding 59th canon. The Latin version of the canons of Laodicea consistently omit the canon list. Around 350 AD, Cyril of Jerusalem produced a list matching that from the Council of Laodicea.[3] council marks the first occasion in Christianity of the explicit condemnation of astrology, a matter on which theologians and legislators had not yet reached consensus.[4][5] Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers, Commemorated on November 8 ;

Ephesus, 431, Third Ecumenical Council, Ephesus (431)
Third Ecumenical Council ; Venerable Isaac the Ascetic of the Dalmatian Monastery at Constantinople, Commemorated on August 3 ; Right-Believing Pulcheria, Byzantine Empress, Commemorated on September 10; Hieromartyr Peter the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated November 25 ; St Cyril the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated on January 18 ; Venerable Euthymius the Great, Commemorated on January 20 ; Venerable Isidore of Pelusium, Commemorated February 4 ; St Acacius the Bishop of Melitene, Commemorated on April 17; St Cyril the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated on June 9 ; St Juvenal the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Commemorated on July 2; St Anatolius the Patriarch of Constantinople, Commemorated on July 3;

Ephesus, 431, 449, 475, Councils of Ephesus
Councils of Ephesus; Hieromartyr Peter the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated November 25 ; THE CONVERSION OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, (JANUARY 25) ;

Ephesus, 449, Robber Council
Robber Council; Hieromartyr Peter the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated November 25 ; St Flavian the Confessor the Patriarch of Constantinople, Commemorated on February 18 ; St Anatolius the Patriarch of Constantinople, Commemorated on July 3 ;

Ephesus, 450, Seven Sleepers, 250-450
Ephesus, 250, Seven Sleepers; 7 Holy Youths œSeven SleepersÂ of Ephesus, Commemorated on August 4;

Ephesus, 741-792, Michael Lachanodrakon, the dragon, Arab Frontier, capable general, famous for iconoclast fervor
Ephesus, 741-792, Byzantine General Michael Lachanodrakon, the dragon, capable general against arabs, iconoclast fervor, Pelekete monastery, Thrace Theme Gov, forced monks to marry, disolved all monasteries, ; Lachanodrakon (died 20 July 792) was a distinguished Byzantine general and fanatical supporter of Byzantine Iconoclasm under Emperor Constantine V (r. 741–775). a result of his iconoclast zeal, in 766 he rose to high office as governor of the Thracesian Theme, and instigated a series of repressive measures against iconophile practices, particularly targeting the monasteries. talented general, he also led a series of campaigns against the Arabs of the Abbasid Caliphate before being dismissed from office in about 782. to imperial favour in 790, he fell at the Battle of Marcellae against the Bulgars in 792. of the iconophiles[edit] Gold coin of Emperor Leo III the Isaurian (r. 717–741), depicted with his son and successor, Constantine V. Leo first promoted iconoclasm, which became official policy under Constantine. Nothing is known of Lachanodrakon's origins and early life. receives a very negative treatment in the historical sources, which were written after the final defeat of Byzantine Iconoclasm; some refer to him solely as the Dragon, alluding to his surname and the Biblical Beast). profoundly iconophile perspective means that reports of his actions, especially those relating to the suppression of icon worship, are potentially untrustworthy.[1][2] the Council of Hieria in 754, Constantine V had declared the adoration of icons to be a heresy, and had thereby elevated iconoclasm to official imperial policy. persecution of iconophiles was launched at first, but iconophile resistance grew, until from 765 on, Constantine began persecuting iconophiles, and especially monks. discovery of a wide-ranging iconophile plot against him involving some of the highest civil and military officials of the state in 766 provoked an extreme reaction. Constantine II and other officials were deposed, jailed, publicly humiliated, and finally executed, replaced by new, uncompromisingly iconoclast officials. In addition, the veneration of sacred relics and prayers to the saints and the Virgin Mary were condemned.[3] Map of the themes and major settlements of Byzantine Asia Minor and the Arab–Byzantine frontier zone in the late 8th century 763 or 764, according to the iconophile Life of St Stephen the Younger hagiography, Lachanodrakon had already distinguished himself by his iconoclast fervour. the emperor's orders, he led a group of soldiers on an invasion of the Pelekete monastery on the Propontis, where he arrested 38 monks and subjected the remainder to various tortures and mutilations. After burning down the monastery, he took the 38 captives to Ephesus, where they were executed.[4][5] 766/767, as part of the emperor's reshuffle of the senior echelons of the Byzantine Empire, Lachanodrakon was rewarded with the important post of strategos (military governor) of the Thracesian Theme, and given the rank of patrikios and imperial protospatharios according to his seal.[6][2] soon began a harsh repression of the monasteries and iconophiles. to Theophanes the Confessor, in 769/770 he summoned the monks and nuns of his theme to Ephesus, gathered them in the city's tzykanisterion and forced them to marry, threatening them with blinding and exile to Cyprus if they refused. Although many resisted and "became martyrs" in Theophanes's words, many complied. Later reports of exiled monks in Cyprus becoming Arab captives seem to partly corroborate this story.[2][7][8] reports further that in 771/772, Lachanodrakon dissolved all monasteries in the theme, confiscated and expropriated their property, and sent the proceeds to the emperor, who replied with a letter thanking him for his zeal. allegedly had relics, holy scriptures, and monks' beards set on fire, killed or tortured those who venerated relics, and finally prohibited the tonsure. Although highly embellished, these reports probably reflect actual events.[4][8][9] At any rate, by 772, according to historian Warren Treadgold, Lachanodrakon seems to have succeeded in "eradicating monasticism within his theme".[4][10] activities[edit] Gold coin of Emperor Leo IV the Khazar (r. 775–780), also depicting his son and co-emperor Constantine VI, as well as the Isaurian dynasty's founders Leo III and Constantine V. was also a capable general, winning fame for his campaigns against the Abbasids on the Byzantine Empire's eastern frontier. During the reign of Constantine V's son Leo IV (r. 775–780) he seems to have been the most prominent military commander, repeatedly leading expeditions comprising troops from several themes against the Arabs.[2][8][11] first such expedition occurred in 778 when, preempting an anticipated Arab raid, Lachanodrakon led a large army against Germanikeia. Although the city did not fall (Theophanes claims that the Arab commander bribed Lachanodrakon), the Byzantine army defeated a relief force, plundered the region, and took many captives, mostly Jacobites, who were then resettled in Thrace.[2][11][12] In 780, Lachanodrakon ambushed and defeated an Arab invasion in the Armeniac Theme, killing the brother of the Arab commander Thumama ibn al-Walid. The Arab historian al-Tabari records that in 781 Lachanodrakon forced another Arab invasion, under 'Abd al-Kabir, to withdraw without battle, although Theophanes ascribes the success to the sakellarios John.[2][8][11] In 782, however, he was defeated by the Arab general al-Barmaqi during a large-scale invasion led by the future caliph Harun al-Rashid (r. 786–809), losing some 15,000 men according to Theophanes. In the aftermath of this defeat, and likely because of his iconoclast past, he was apparently removed from his command by the iconophile empress-regent Irene of Athens.[2][8][11] reappears in 790, when the young emperor Constantine VI (r. 780–797) conspired to overturn the tutelage of Irene. The general was sent by Constantine to the Armeniac Theme to secure the allegiance of its soldiers. succeeded in toppling his mother in December 790; it was probably then that Lachanodrakon was rewarded with the supreme non-imperial title, that of magistros.[2][8][11] According to the account of Theophanes, he participated in the imperial campaign against the Bulgars in 792 that led to the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Marcellae on 20 July, where he was killed. The history of John Skylitzes records his death in the Battle of Versinikia, again against the Bulgars, in 813, but this is clearly an error.[2][8][11] Venerable Hilarion the New the Abbot of Pelekete, Commemorated on March 28;

Ephesus, 780-842, Euthymius, Hieromartyr, Sardis, virtuous, 7th E Council, banished by 3 Emperors, tortured by 4th E
Ephesus, 780-842, Euthymius, Hieromartyr, Sardis, virtuous, 7th E Council, banished by 3 Emperors, tortured by 4th E; Sardis, On highway to Agean Sea; Lydia (Hermes River Valley); Hieromartyr Euthymius the Bishop of Sardis, Commemorated on December 26 ; Hieromartyr Euthymius, Bishop of Sardis, during the period of the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos (780-797) and the empress Irene (797-802), was chosen Bishop of Sardis because of his virtuous life. was also present at the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787), at which he denounced the Iconoclast heresy. the Iconoclast emperor Nikephoros I (802-811) came to rule, Saint Euthymius and other Orthodox hierarchs were banished to the island of Patalareia, where they languished for a long time. from exile by the emperor Leo V (813-820), the bishop boldly denounced the Iconoclast heresy, and they sent him into exile to the city of Assia. next emperor, Michael II the Stammerer (820-829), attempted to make him renounce icon-veneration, but without success. the holy martyr was flogged and banished to the island of Crete. was succeeded on the throne by the Iconoclast emperor Theophilus (829-842), on whose order Saint Euthymius was subjected to cruel tortures: they stretched him on four poles and beat him with ox thongs. Saint Euthymius fell asleep in the Lord several days after the torture. Saint Euthymius is also commemorated on March 8.

Ephesus, 956, Miracle of John the Baptist against Hagarines at Chios
Ephesus, 956, Miracle of John the Baptist against Hagarines at Chios; Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, Commemorated on January 7 ;

Ephesus, 1038, Venerable Lazarus, Pillar-dweller of Mount Galesius
Venerable Lazarus, Pillar-dweller of Mount Galesius, 1038; Lazarus the Wonderworker of Mt Galesius near Ephesus was born in Lydia, in the city of Magnesium. An educated young man who loved God, Lazarus became a monk at the monastery of Saint Savva, the founder of great ascetic piety in Palestine. He spent ten years within the walls of the monastery, winning the love and respect of the brethren for his intense monastic struggles. to the holy priesthood by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Saint Lazarus returned to his native country and settled near Ephesus, on desolate Mount Galesius. Here he saw a wondrous vision: a fiery pillar, rising up to the heavens, was encircled by angels singing, “Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered.â€ the place where the saint beheld this vision, he built a church in honor of the Resurrection of Christ and took upon himself the feat of pillar-dwelling. Monks soon began to flock to the great ascetic, thirsting for spiritual nourishment by the divinely-inspired words and blessed example of the saint, and a monastery was established there. received a revelation about the day of his death, the saint told the brethren. Through the tearful prayers of all the monks, the Lord prolonged the earthly life of Saint Lazarus for another fifteen years. Lazarus died at 72 years of age, in the year 1053. The brethren buried the body of the saint at the pillar upon which he had struggled in asceticism. He was glorified by many miracles after his death. Lazarus is also commemorated on July 17.

Ephesus, 1375, Saint Markella, Chios Monastery of Agia Markella, spring of holy water
Ephesus, 1375, Saint Markella, Chios Monastery of Agia Markella; Markella (also Marcella) was an inhabitant of fourteenth-century Chios who was canonized by the Greek Orthodox Church. Her feast day is celebrated on July 22. Markella rocks today, Chios. Markella was born and lived in Volissos, Chios, Greece. She was raised as a devout Christian by her mother. However, her father (in some accounts) was a pagan. lived during the fourteenth century - during most of which Chios was under Genoese rule. At a young age, her mother died and Markella continued to study her Bible, pray to God and live a life according to what she was taught. the time of her eighteenth birthday, the virtuous Markella had to flee the fury of her violent father. There are variant accounts given about the reasons for that. In one version, while Markella's late mother had been a Christian, her father was an idolater and he tried very hard to force his daughter to become an idolater, too; this seems anachronistic, since by the 14th Century paganism was long since extinct in Greece. By another version, the problem was that Markella's father was consumed with incestuous lust for her, and she fled in horror when he declared his intentions.[1] her reason for being afraid of her father, Saint Markella fled to nearby mountains and hid in a bush. Her father found her with the help of a local herdsmen, and they set fire to the bush to force her to show. ran to the sea to escape but her father aimed an arrow at her and wounded her. As believed by the local people, the blood of the saint dyed the rocks and to this very day, during the festivities for her feast day, at a specific time, her blood becomes visible on these rocks for all the faithful who bear witness to this miracle. is further believed that as she was injured, she prayed to Jesus - her final moments spent in prayer requesting that the rocks would open for her to hide from her father and this happened. However, the opened rock enabled her to hide all of her body inside, but not her head. Her father decapitated her and threw the head into the sea. Her head floated to the nearby beach of Komi. many years, the locals could not locate the head until one day an Italian (presumably Genoese) warship was in the area. In the evening, the Italians could see a bright light coming from the distance and when they got closer they witnessed a head, floating in the water, lit by upright floating candles. Immediately, they realized that this was a sacred miracle they were witness to and they took the head of the Saint back to their homeland. tradition also has it that holy water springs from the rocks that mark her martyrdom. Many pilgrims visit this location and every year on 22 July, during the commemoration services for the Saint, the holy sea water in the rock pool boils during the entire Paraklisis Service; this phenomenon only occurs in the presence of a priest. If a pilgrim's faith is strong, a local tradition is that the water in the rock-pool will feel extremely warm to touch. significance[edit] Today there is a church on the cave of Saint Markella. The rock in which she was killed is said to spring holy water. Her nameday is on July 22 [2] and on that day the sea is said to boil. The icon of Saint Markella is one of the most revered and is said to be miraculous. Chios Monastery of Agia Markella; Martyr Marcella of Chios, Commemorated on July 22; ’s father changed in his behavior toward her. He became moody and depressed, forbidding her to go into the garden or to speak with the neighbors. Unable to understand the reason for this change, the saint went to her room and wept. She prayed before an icon of the Mother of God, asking Her to help her father. Soon she fell asleep, only to be awakened by her father’s shouting. unfortunate man had spent a long time struggling against his lust, but finally he gave in to it. At times he would speak to his daughter roughly, then later he would appear to be gentle. He wanted to be near her, and to stroke her hair. Unaware of her father’s intentions, Saint Markella was happy to see him emerge from his melancholy state, thinking that her prayer had been answered. day, her father openly declared the nature of his feelings for her. Horrified, the saint tried to avoid him as much as she could. Even the neighbors realized that there was something wrong with the man, so they stopped speaking to him. shepherd was tending his sheep near the beach one morning, and was leading them into the shade of a plane tree to avoid the hot July sun. Just as he was about to lie down, he heard a noise and looked up. He saw a young woman with a torn dress running down the hill. She hid in a nearby bush, ignoring its thorns. shepherd wondered who was chasing her, and how she had come to this spot. Then he heard the sound of a horse approaching, and recognized the mayor of the village. He asked the shepherd if he had seen his daughter. He said that he had not seen her, but pointed to her hiding place with his finger. mayor ordered Markella to come out of the bush, but she refused. Therefore, he set fire to the bush in order to force her out. She emerged on the side opposite her father, and ran toward the rocky shore, calling out to the Mother of God for help. continued to run, even though blood was flowing from her face and hands. Feeling a sharp pain in her leg, she saw that she had been shot with an arrow. She paused to pull it out, then took to flight once more. She scrambled over the rocks, staining them with her blood. Hearing her father getting closer, she prayed that the earth would open up and swallow her. saint sank to her knees, her strength all gone, and then a miracle took place. The rock split open and received her body up to the waist. Her father drew near with wild-eyed joy shouting, “I have caught you. Now where will you go? his sword, he began to butcher his helpless daughter, cutting off pieces of her body. Finally, he seized her by the hair and cut off her head, throwing it into the sea. At once the calm sea became stormy, and large waves crashed to the shore near the murderer’s feet. Thinking that the sea was going to drown him because of his crime, he turned and fled. His ultimate fate has not been recorded. later years, pious Christians built a church on the spot where Saint Markella hid in the bush. The spot where she was killed became known as “The Martyrdom of Saint Markella,” and the rock that opened to receive her is still there. The rock appears to be a large stone that broke off from a mountain and rolled into the sea. Soil from the mountain covers the spot on the side facing the land. On the side facing the ocean is a small hole, about the size of a finger. A healing water flows from the opening, which cures every illness. flow of water is not due to the movements of the tide, because when the tide is out, there would be no water. This, however, is not the case. The water is clear, but some of the nearby rocks have been stained with a reddish-yellow color. According to tradition, the lower extremities of Saint Markella’s body are concealed in the rock. most astonishing thing about the rock is not the warmth of the water, nor the discoloration of the other rocks, but what happens when a priest performs the Blessing of Water. A sort of steam rises up from the water near the rock, and the entire area is covered with a mist. The sea returns to normal as soon as the service is over. Many miracles have occurred at the spot, and pilgrims flock there from all over the world.

Ephesus, 1375, Marcella of Chios, M virtue, devil incited father, MOG open earth, did to waist, he chopped, hole curing water
Ephesus, 1375, Marcella of City of Chios, Chios Island, M increased virtue, devil tried M then incited her mayor father, w unnatural lust, shepherd saw her hiding, she prayed Theotokos earth open up swallow her, did to the waist, chopped up head to sea, later years church and hole w curing water; City of Chios; Martyr Marcella of Chios, Commemorated on July 22; Markella lived in the village of Volissos, Chios sometime after the middle of the fourteenth century. parents were Christians, and among the wealthiest citizens of Volissos. saint’s mother died when she was young, and so her father, the mayor of the village, saw to her education. had been trained by her mother to be respectful and devout, and to guard her purity. avoided associations with other girls who were more outgoing than she was so that she would not come to spiritual harm through such company. goal was to attain the Kingdom of Heaven, and to become a bride of Christ. Markella increased in virtue as she grew older, fasting, praying, and attending church services. tried to keep the commandments and to lead others to God. loved and respected her father, and comforted him in his sorrow. She told him she would take care of him in his old age, and would not abandon him. an adult, Saint Markella was loved by everyone for her beauty and for her spiritual gifts. Enemy of our salvation tried to lure her into sin by placing evil thoughts in her mind. She resisted these temptations, so the devil turned away from a direct confrontation with the young woman. Instead, he incited her father with an unnatural desire for his daughter. ’s father changed in his behavior toward her. He became moody and depressed, forbidding her to go into the garden or to speak with the neighbors. to understand the reason for this change, the saint went to her room and wept. She prayed before an icon of the Mother of God, asking Her to help her father. Soon she fell asleep, only to be awakened by her father’s shouting. unfortunate man had spent a long time struggling against his lust, but finally he gave in to it. At times he would speak to his daughter roughly, then later he would appear to be gentle. He wanted to be near her, and to stroke her hair. Unaware of her father’s intentions, Saint Markella was happy to see him emerge from his melancholy state, thinking that her prayer had been answered. day, her father openly declared the nature of his feelings for her. Horrified, the saint tried to avoid him as much as she could. Even the neighbors realized that there was something wrong with the man, so they stopped speaking to him. shepherd was tending his sheep near the beach one morning, and was leading them into the shade of a plane tree to avoid the hot July sun. as he was about to lie down, he heard a noise and looked up. He saw a young woman with a torn dress running down the hill. She hid in a nearby bush, ignoring its thorns. shepherd wondered who was chasing her, and how she had come to this spot. Then he heard the sound of a horse approaching, and recognized the mayor of the village. He asked the shepherd if he had seen his daughter. He said that he had not seen her, but pointed to her hiding place with his finger. mayor ordered Markella to come out of the bush, but she refused. Therefore, he set fire to the bush in order to force her out. She emerged on the side opposite her father, and ran toward the rocky shore, calling out to the Mother of God for help. continued to run, even though blood was flowing from her face and hands. Feeling a sharp pain in her leg, she saw that she had been shot with an arrow. She paused to pull it out, then took to flight once more. She scrambled over the rocks, staining them with her blood. Hearing her father getting closer, she prayed that the earth would open up and swallow her. saint sank to her knees, her strength all gone, and then a miracle took place. The rock split open and received her body up to the waist. Her father drew near with wild-eyed joy shouting, “I have caught you. Now where will you go? his sword, he began to butcher his helpless daughter, cutting off pieces of her body. Finally, he seized her by the hair and cut off her head, throwing it into the sea. At once the calm sea became stormy, and large waves crashed to the shore near the murderer’s feet. Thinking that the sea was going to drown him because of his crime, he turned and fled. His ultimate fate has not been recorded. later years, pious Christians built a church on the spot where Saint Markella hid in the bush. The spot where she was killed became known as “The Martyrdom of Saint Markella,” and the rock that opened to receive her is still there. The rock appears to be a large stone that broke off from a mountain and rolled into the sea. Soil from the mountain covers the spot on the side facing the land. On the side facing the ocean is a small hole, about the size of a finger. A healing water flows from the opening, which cures every illness. flow of water is not due to the movements of the tide, because when the tide is out, there would be no water. This, however, is not the case. The water is clear, but some of the nearby rocks have been stained with a reddish-yellow color. According to tradition, the lower extremities of Saint Markella’s body are concealed in the rock. most astonishing thing about the rock is not the warmth of the water, nor the discoloration of the other rocks, but what happens when a priest performs the Blessing of Water. A sort of steam rises up from the water near the rock, and the entire area is covered with a mist. The sea returns to normal as soon as the service is over. Many miracles have occurred at the spot, and pilgrims flock there from all over the world.

Ephesus, 1403, Smyrna (Timur defeats Knights Hospitaller at Smyrna 1403)
Smyrna; Hieromartyr Theodore of Atchara, Commemorated on February 17;; Smyrna (Timur defeats Knights Hospitaler at Smyrna); Further conquests: 1200-“1800 ; Knights Hospitaller; Timur or Tamerlane ;

Ephesus, 1490-1510, Discovery of Phanourius' Icon, Rhodes, looked painted that day
Ephesus, 1490-1510, Discovery of Phanourius' Icon, Rhodes, looked painted that day working on the fortress, the Moslems uncovered the ruins of a beautiful church. Several icons, most of them badly damaged, were found on the floor. One icon, of Saint Phanourius, looked as if it had been painted that very day. The local bishop, whose name was Nilus, was called to see the icon. It said, “Saint Phanourius.” saint is depicted as a young soldier holding a cross in his right hand. On the upper part of the cross is a lighted taper. Twelve scenes from his life are shown around the border of the icon. These scenes show him being questioned by an official, being beaten with stones by soldiers, stretched out on the ground while soldiers whip him, then having his sides raked with iron hooks. He is also shown locked up in prison, standing before the official again, being burned with candles, tied to a rack, thrown to the wild animals, and being crushed by a large rock. The remaining scenes depict him standing before idols holding burning coals in his hands, while a demon stands by lamenting his defeat by the saint, and finally, the saint stands in the midst of a fire with his arms raised in prayer. Rhodes; knights of Rhodes; St Phanourius, Commemorated on August 27 ; know nothing for certain about the background of Saint Phanourius, nor exactly when he lived. Tradition says that when the island of Rhodes had been conquered by Moslems, the new ruler of the island wished to rebuild the walls of the city, which had been damaged in previous wars. Several ruined buildings were near the fortress, and stone from these buildings was used to repair the walls at the end of the fifteenth century, or the beginning of the sixteenth. working on the fortress, the Moslems uncovered the ruins of a beautiful church. Several icons, most of them badly damaged, were found on the floor. One icon, of Saint Phanourius, looked as if it had been painted that very day. The local bishop, whose name was Nilus, was called to see the icon. It said, “Saint Phanourius.” saint is depicted as a young soldier holding a cross in his right hand. On the upper part of the cross is a lighted taper. Twelve scenes from his life are shown around the border of the icon. These scenes show him being questioned by an official, being beaten with stones by soldiers, stretched out on the ground while soldiers whip him, then having his sides raked with iron hooks. He is also shown locked up in prison, standing before the official again, being burned with candles, tied to a rack, thrown to the wild animals, and being crushed by a large rock. The remaining scenes depict him standing before idols holding burning coals in his hands, while a demon stands by lamenting his defeat by the saint, and finally, the saint stands in the midst of a fire with his arms raised in prayer. scenes clearly revealed that the saint was a martyr. Bishop Nilus sent representatives to the Moslem ruler, asking that he be permitted to restore the church. Permission was denied, so the bishop went to Constantinople and there he obtained a decree allowing him to rebuild the church. that time, there was no Orthodox bishop on the island of Crete. Since Crete was under the control of Venice, there was a Latin bishop. The Venetians refused to allow a successor to be consecrated when an Orthodox bishop died, or for new priests to be ordained, hoping that in time they would be able to convert the Orthodox population to Catholicism. Those seeking ordination were obliged to go to the island of Kythera. so happened that three young deacons had traveled from Crete to Kythera to be ordained to the holy priesthood. On their way back, they were captured at sea by Moslems who brought them to Rhodes to be sold as slaves. Lamenting their fate, the three new priests wept day and night. in Rhodes the priests heard of the miracles performed by the holy Great Martyr Phanourius. They began to pray to him with tears, asking to be freed from their captivity. Each of the three had been sold to a different master, and so remained unaware of what the others were doing. the mercy of God, each of the priests was allowed by his master to pray at the restored church of Saint Phanourius. All three arrived at the same time and prostrated themselves before the icon of the saint, asking to be delivered from the hands of the Hagarenes (Moslems, descendents of Hagar). Somewhat consoled, the priests left the church and returned to their masters. night Saint Phanourius appeared to the three masters and ordered them to set the priests free so that they could serve the Church, or he would punish them. The Moslems ignored the saint’s warning, believing the vision to be the result of sorcery. The cruel masters bound the priests with chains and treated them even worse than before. Saint Phanourius went to the priests and freed them from their shackles, promising that they would be freed the next day. Appearing once more to the Moslems, the holy martyr told them severely, “If you do not release your slaves by tomorrow, you shall witness the power of God!” next morning, all the inhabitants of the homes where the priests were held awoke to find themselves blind, paralyzed, and in great pain. They considered what they were to do, and so decided to send for the priests. When the three priests arrived, they asked them whether they could heal them. The priests replied, “We will pray to God. May His will be done!” more Saint Phanourius appeared to the Hagarenes, ordering them to send to the church a document granting the priests their freedom. He told them that if they refused to do this, they would never recover their sight or health. All three masters wrote letters releasing the priests, and sent the documents to the church, where they were placed before the icon of Saint Phanourius. the messengers returned from the church, all those who had been blind and paralyzed were healed. The priests joyfully returned to Crete, carrying with them a copy of the icon of Saint Phanourius. Every year they celebrated the Feast of Saint Phanourius with deep gratitude for their miraculous deliverance. saint’s name sounds similar to the Greek verb “phanerono,” which means “to reveal” or “to disclose.” For this reason, people pray to Saint Phanourius to help them find lost objects. When the object is recovered, they bake a sweet bread and share it with the poor, offering prayers for the salvation of saint’s mother. Her name is not known, but according to tradition, she was a sinful woman during her life. Saint Phanourius has promised to help those who pray for his mother in this way.

Ephesus, 1490-1510, Appearances of St Phanourius to free the priests,
Ephesus, 1490-1510, Appearances of St Phanourius to free the priests so happened that three young deacons had traveled from Crete to Kythera to be ordained to the holy priesthood. On their way back, they were captured at sea by Moslems who brought them to Rhodes to be sold as slaves. Lamenting their fate, the three new priests wept day and night. in Rhodes the priests heard of the miracles performed by the holy Great Martyr Phanourius. They began to pray to him with tears, asking to be freed from their captivity. Each of the three had been sold to a different master, and so remained unaware of what the others were doing. the mercy of God, each of the priests was allowed by his master to pray at the restored church of Saint Phanourius. All three arrived at the same time and prostrated themselves before the icon of the saint, asking to be delivered from the hands of the Hagarenes (Moslems, descendents of Hagar). Somewhat consoled, the priests left the church and returned to their masters. night Saint Phanourius appeared to the three masters and ordered them to set the priests free so that they could serve the Church, or he would punish them. The Moslems ignored the saint’s warning, believing the vision to be the result of sorcery. The cruel masters bound the priests with chains and treated them even worse than before. Saint Phanourius went to the priests and freed them from their shackles, promising that they would be freed the next day. Appearing once more to the Moslems, the holy martyr told them severely, “If you do not release your slaves by tomorrow, you shall witness the power of God!” next morning, all the inhabitants of the homes where the priests were held awoke to find themselves blind, paralyzed, and in great pain. They considered what they were to do, and so decided to send for the priests. When the three priests arrived, they asked them whether they could heal them. The priests replied, “We will pray to God. May His will be done!” more Saint Phanourius appeared to the Hagarenes, ordering them to send to the church a document granting the priests their freedom. He told them that if they refused to do this, they would never recover their sight or health. All three masters wrote letters releasing the priests, and sent the documents to the church, where they were placed before the icon of Saint Phanourius. the messengers returned from the church, all those who had been blind and paralyzed were healed. The priests joyfully returned to Crete, carrying with them a copy of the icon of Saint Phanourius. Every year they celebrated the Feast of Saint Phanourius with deep gratitude for their miraculous deliverance. Rhodes; knights of Rhodes; St Phanourius, Commemorated on August 27 ; know nothing for certain about the background of Saint Phanourius, nor exactly when he lived. Tradition says that when the island of Rhodes had been conquered by Moslems, the new ruler of the island wished to rebuild the walls of the city, which had been damaged in previous wars. Several ruined buildings were near the fortress, and stone from these buildings was used to repair the walls at the end of the fifteenth century, or the beginning of the sixteenth. working on the fortress, the Moslems uncovered the ruins of a beautiful church. Several icons, most of them badly damaged, were found on the floor. One icon, of Saint Phanourius, looked as if it had been painted that very day. The local bishop, whose name was Nilus, was called to see the icon. It said, “Saint Phanourius.” saint is depicted as a young soldier holding a cross in his right hand. On the upper part of the cross is a lighted taper. Twelve scenes from his life are shown around the border of the icon. These scenes show him being questioned by an official, being beaten with stones by soldiers, stretched out on the ground while soldiers whip him, then having his sides raked with iron hooks. He is also shown locked up in prison, standing before the official again, being burned with candles, tied to a rack, thrown to the wild animals, and being crushed by a large rock. The remaining scenes depict him standing before idols holding burning coals in his hands, while a demon stands by lamenting his defeat by the saint, and finally, the saint stands in the midst of a fire with his arms raised in prayer. scenes clearly revealed that the saint was a martyr. Bishop Nilus sent representatives to the Moslem ruler, asking that he be permitted to restore the church. Permission was denied, so the bishop went to Constantinople and there he obtained a decree allowing him to rebuild the church. that time, there was no Orthodox bishop on the island of Crete. Since Crete was under the control of Venice, there was a Latin bishop. The Venetians refused to allow a successor to be consecrated when an Orthodox bishop died, or for new priests to be ordained, hoping that in time they would be able to convert the Orthodox population to Catholicism. Those seeking ordination were obliged to go to the island of Kythera. so happened that three young deacons had traveled from Crete to Kythera to be ordained to the holy priesthood. On their way back, they were captured at sea by Moslems who brought them to Rhodes to be sold as slaves. Lamenting their fate, the three new priests wept day and night. in Rhodes the priests heard of the miracles performed by the holy Great Martyr Phanourius. They began to pray to him with tears, asking to be freed from their captivity. Each of the three had been sold to a different master, and so remained unaware of what the others were doing. the mercy of God, each of the priests was allowed by his master to pray at the restored church of Saint Phanourius. All three arrived at the same time and prostrated themselves before the icon of the saint, asking to be delivered from the hands of the Hagarenes (Moslems, descendents of Hagar). Somewhat consoled, the priests left the church and returned to their masters. night Saint Phanourius appeared to the three masters and ordered them to set the priests free so that they could serve the Church, or he would punish them. The Moslems ignored the saint’s warning, believing the vision to be the result of sorcery. The cruel masters bound the priests with chains and treated them even worse than before. Saint Phanourius went to the priests and freed them from their shackles, promising that they would be freed the next day. Appearing once more to the Moslems, the holy martyr told them severely, “If you do not release your slaves by tomorrow, you shall witness the power of God!” next morning, all the inhabitants of the homes where the priests were held awoke to find themselves blind, paralyzed, and in great pain. They considered what they were to do, and so decided to send for the priests. When the three priests arrived, they asked them whether they could heal them. The priests replied, “We will pray to God. May His will be done!” more Saint Phanourius appeared to the Hagarenes, ordering them to send to the church a document granting the priests their freedom. He told them that if they refused to do this, they would never recover their sight or health. All three masters wrote letters releasing the priests, and sent the documents to the church, where they were placed before the icon of Saint Phanourius. the messengers returned from the church, all those who had been blind and paralyzed were healed. The priests joyfully returned to Crete, carrying with them a copy of the icon of Saint Phanourius. Every year they celebrated the Feast of Saint Phanourius with deep gratitude for their miraculous deliverance. saint’s name sounds similar to the Greek verb “phanerono,” which means “to reveal” or “to disclose.” For this reason, people pray to Saint Phanourius to help them find lost objects. When the object is recovered, they bake a sweet bread and share it with the poor, offering prayers for the salvation of saint’s mother. Her name is not known, but according to tradition, she was a sinful woman during her life. Saint Phanourius has promised to help those who pray for his mother in this way. St Sebastiana the Martyr and Disciple of St Paul the Apostle at Heraclea, Commemorated September 16 ; Translation of the Filersk Icon of the Mother of God; Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, Commemorated January 7 ; Translation of the relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari, Commemorated on May 9

Ephesus, 1740, Miracle of John the Forerunner, City of Chios, Chios Island
Ephesus, 1740, Miracle of John the Forerunner, City of Chios, Chios Island City of Chios; Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, Commemorated January 7 ;

Ephesus, 1959, Isle of Lesbos, Forgotten Martyrs
Ephesus, Isle of Lesbos, 1959, Forgotten Martyrs; St Eleni (who was also called Susanna), New martyr of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9; New Martyr Raphael of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9;

Ephesus, Dalyan Cayi R Folder, Caria, Southern EPH, Laodicea on the Lycus, Rhodes

Caria Region, near Ephesus
Caria Region; Venerable Gregory of Sinai, Mt. Athos, Commemorated on August 8; St Constantine Brancoveanu, Commemorated on August 16 ; Martyr Diodorus of Laodicea, Commemorated September 11 ; Venerable Arsenius of Latros, Commemorated on December 13 ; Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, Commemorated January 7 ; Venerable Xenia of Rome, and her two female servants, Commemorated on January 24 ; St Mariamne the sister of the Apostle Philip, Commemorated February 17 ; Hieromartyr Trophimus of Laodicea, Commemorated on March 16 ; Martyr Diodorus the Deacon at Aphrodisias in Anatolia, Commemorated on April 29; Philip of PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES (1 MAY NT); Translation of the relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari, Commemorated on May 9; Apostle Bartholomew of the Twelve, Commemorated on June 11 ;

Rhodes and Caria History

Caria, Rhodes occupied by Islamic Umayyad forces, 654, of Caliph Muawiyah I
Caria, Rhodes occupied by Islamic Umayyad forces, 654, of Caliph Muawiyah I ; Rhodes; St Phanourius, Commemorated on August 27 ;

Caria, 720-1150, Cibyrrhaeot Theme, Southern Asia Minor - Caria and Pamphylia
Cibyrrhaeot Theme; Venerable Arsenius of Latros, Commemorated on December 13 ;

Caria, 1490-1510, Discovery of Phanourius' Icon, Rhodes, looked painted that day
Rhodes; knights of Rhodes; St Constantine Brancoveanu, Commemorated on August 16 ; St Phanourius, Commemorated on August 27 ; know nothing for certain about the background of Saint Phanourius, nor exactly when he lived. Tradition says that when the island of Rhodes had been conquered by Moslems, the new ruler of the island wished to rebuild the walls of the city, which had been damaged in previous wars. Several ruined buildings were near the fortress, and stone from these buildings was used to repair the walls at the end of the fifteenth century, or the beginning of the sixteenth. working on the fortress, the Moslems uncovered the ruins of a beautiful church. Several icons, most of them badly damaged, were found on the floor. One icon, of Saint Phanourius, looked as if it had been painted that very day. The local bishop, whose name was Nilus, was called to see the icon. It said, “Saint Phanourius.” saint is depicted as a young soldier holding a cross in his right hand. On the upper part of the cross is a lighted taper. Twelve scenes from his life are shown around the border of the icon. These scenes show him being questioned by an official, being beaten with stones by soldiers, stretched out on the ground while soldiers whip him, then having his sides raked with iron hooks. He is also shown locked up in prison, standing before the official again, being burned with candles, tied to a rack, thrown to the wild animals, and being crushed by a large rock. The remaining scenes depict him standing before idols holding burning coals in his hands, while a demon stands by lamenting his defeat by the saint, and finally, the saint stands in the midst of a fire with his arms raised in prayer. scenes clearly revealed that the saint was a martyr. Bishop Nilus sent representatives to the Moslem ruler, asking that he be permitted to restore the church. Permission was denied, so the bishop went to Constantinople and there he obtained a decree allowing him to rebuild the church. that time, there was no Orthodox bishop on the island of Crete. Since Crete was under the control of Venice, there was a Latin bishop. The Venetians refused to allow a successor to be consecrated when an Orthodox bishop died, or for new priests to be ordained, hoping that in time they would be able to convert the Orthodox population to Catholicism. Those seeking ordination were obliged to go to the island of Kythera. so happened that three young deacons had traveled from Crete to Kythera to be ordained to the holy priesthood. On their way back, they were captured at sea by Moslems who brought them to Rhodes to be sold as slaves. Lamenting their fate, the three new priests wept day and night. in Rhodes the priests heard of the miracles performed by the holy Great Martyr Phanourius. They began to pray to him with tears, asking to be freed from their captivity. Each of the three had been sold to a different master, and so remained unaware of what the others were doing. the mercy of God, each of the priests was allowed by his master to pray at the restored church of Saint Phanourius. All three arrived at the same time and prostrated themselves before the icon of the saint, asking to be delivered from the hands of the Hagarenes (Moslems, descendents of Hagar). Somewhat consoled, the priests left the church and returned to their masters. night Saint Phanourius appeared to the three masters and ordered them to set the priests free so that they could serve the Church, or he would punish them. The Moslems ignored the saint’s warning, believing the vision to be the result of sorcery. The cruel masters bound the priests with chains and treated them even worse than before. Saint Phanourius went to the priests and freed them from their shackles, promising that they would be freed the next day. Appearing once more to the Moslems, the holy martyr told them severely, “If you do not release your slaves by tomorrow, you shall witness the power of God!” next morning, all the inhabitants of the homes where the priests were held awoke to find themselves blind, paralyzed, and in great pain. They considered what they were to do, and so decided to send for the priests. When the three priests arrived, they asked them whether they could heal them. The priests replied, “We will pray to God. May His will be done!” more Saint Phanourius appeared to the Hagarenes, ordering them to send to the church a document granting the priests their freedom. He told them that if they refused to do this, they would never recover their sight or health. All three masters wrote letters releasing the priests, and sent the documents to the church, where they were placed before the icon of Saint Phanourius. the messengers returned from the church, all those who had been blind and paralyzed were healed. The priests joyfully returned to Crete, carrying with them a copy of the icon of Saint Phanourius. Every year they celebrated the Feast of Saint Phanourius with deep gratitude for their miraculous deliverance. saint’s name sounds similar to the Greek verb “phanerono,” which means “to reveal” or “to disclose.” For this reason, people pray to Saint Phanourius to help them find lost objects. When the object is recovered, they bake a sweet bread and share it with the poor, offering prayers for the salvation of saint’s mother. Her name is not known, but according to tradition, she was a sinful woman during her life. Saint Phanourius has promised to help those who pray for his mother in this way. St Sebastiana the Martyr and Disciple of St Paul the Apostle at Heraclea, Commemorated September 16 ; Translation of the Filersk Icon of the Mother of God; Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, Commemorated January 7 ; Translation of the relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari, Commemorated on May 9

Dalyan Cayi River

Dalyan Cayi River Source

Dalyan Cayi River Mouth (Dalyan, Keugesi Bay, Rhodes Bay)

Laodicea on the Lycus (Carian Laodicea, Lycus River 2, Caria near Ephesus)
Carian Laodicea (Lycus Rivier 2, Phrygia); Venerable Gregory of Sinai, Mt. Athos, Commemorated on August 8; Commemoration of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae, Commemorated September 6 ; Apostle Lucius of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10 ; Martyr Diodorus of Laodicea, Commemorated September 11 ; Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers, Commemorated on November 8 ; Apostle Lucius of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Hieromartyr Trophimus of Laodicea, Commemorated on March 16 ;

Aphrodisias, Caria (a marble quarry near Ephesus)
Aphrodisias, Caria; Martyr Diodorus the Deacon at Aphrodisias in Anatolia, Commemorated on April 29;

Tauropolis, Caria (near a marble quarry near Ephesus)
Tauropolis (near a marble quarry); Hieromartyr Cyprian of Nicomedia, Commemorated on October 2, From age seven until thirty, Cyprian studied at the most outstanding centers of paganism: on Mount Olympus, in the cities of Argos and Tauropolis, in the Egyptian city of Memphis, and at Babylon; Martyr Diodorus the Deacon at Aphrodisias in Anatolia, Commemorated on April 29;

Gulf of Cos
Gulf of Cos;

Halicarnassus
Halicarnassus, 1 Maccabees Ch 15;

Myndos
Myndos, 1 Maccabees Ch 15;

Strobilos, fortress Strobil (on coast south of Ephesus, Gulf of Cos entrance)
Strobilos, fortress Strobil (on coast south of Ephesus); Saint Theophylactus, Bishop of Nicomedia, Commemorated on March 8; Theophylactus lived at Constantinople in the eighth century during the time of the Iconoclast heresy. After the death of the iconoclast emperor Leo IV the Khazar (775-780), Emperor Constantine VI (780-797) ascended the throne. At the same time, the holy Patriarch Paul (August 30), not having the strength to continue guiding the flock in the face of iconoclasm, voluntarily resigned his office (784). Saint Tarasius (February 25) was chosen in his place. At that time, he was an eminent imperial counselor. Under the supervision of the new Patriarch the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787) was convened to condemn the Iconoclast heresy. A relatively peaceful time began for the Church, and monasteries again began to fill with monks. Theophylactus, a gifted disciple of Saint Tarasius, with the blessing of the Patriarch, went to a monastery on the coast of the Black Sea with Saint Michael (May 23). The zealous ascetics by their God-pleasing labors and intense prayer were granted the gift of wonderworking by God. During a drought, when the workers in the field were weakened by thirst, the saints prayed and an empty vessel became filled with enough water to last the entire day. several years in the monastery, they were both consecrated as bishops by Patriarch Tarasius. Saint Michael was made Bishop of Synada, and Saint Theophylactus was made Bishop of Nicomedia. the Church of Nicomedia, Saint Theophylactus cared for the flock entrusted to him. He built churches, hospices, homes for wanderers, he generously distributed alms, was the guardian of orphans, widows and the sick, and personally attended those afflicted with leprosy, not hesitating to wash their wounds. the iconoclast Leo the Armenian (813-820) came to the imperial throne, the terrible heresy burst forth with renewed strength. the iconoclast emperor was not able to influence Saint Nicephorus (June 2), the successor of Patriarch Tarasius, who with the other bishops vainly urged Leo not to destroy the peace of the Church. Saint Theophylactus was present at the negotiations of the emperor with the Patriarch. Denouncing the heretics, Saint Theophylactus predicted a speedy death for Leo the Armenian. For his bold prophecy the saint was sent into exile to the fortress Strobil (in Asia Minor). He languished for thirty years until his death, which took place around the year 845. the restoration of icon-veneration in the year 847 under the empress Saint Theodora (February 11) and her son Michael, the holy relics of Saint Theophylactus were returned to Nicomedia.

Cos
Cos, in the Gulf of Cos, 1 Maccabees Ch 15;

Cnidus
Cnidus, 1 Maccabees Ch 15;

Lycus River

Hierapolis, Hot Springs, Caria, near Ephesus (Lycus River 2)
Hierapolis; Commemoration of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae, Commemorated September 6 ; St Archippus of Herapolis, Commemorated September 6 ; PHILIP, DEACON AND EVANGELIST (11 OCT NT); PHILIP ; St Abercius the Bishop and Wonderworker of Hieropolis, Equal of the Apostles, Commemorated on October 22 ; Holy, All-Praised Apostle Philip, Commemorated on November 14; Martyr Peter of Anium, at Hieropolis, Commemorated January 13 ; St Mariamne the sister of the Apostle Philip, Commemorated February 17 ; Philip of PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES (1 MAY NT); Apostle Bartholomew of the Twelve, Commemorated on June 11 ;

Chalki Island, Caria
Chalki Island, Monastery of the Theotokos on the island of Chalki St Constantine Brancoveanu, Commemorated on August 16 ; Monk Martyr Damascene of the Lavra, Commemorated November 13 ;

knights of Rhodes (Caria), Right Hand of John
knights of Rhodes; Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, Commemorated January 7; The right hand continued to be kept in Constantinople. And at the end of the fourteenth to the beginning of the fifteenth centuries, the holy relic was seen at Constantinople in the Peribleptos monastery by the Russian pilgrims Stephen of Novgorod, the deacon Ignatius, the cantor Alexander and the deacon Zosimus. When Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, sacred objects were gathered up at the the conquerorÃƒÂ¢Ã‚Â€Ã‚Â™s orders and kept under lock in the imperial treasury. In the Lives of the Saints is clear testimony that in the year 1484 the right hand of the holy Forerunner was given away by the son of the Moslem sultan Bayazet to the knights of Rhodes to gain their good will, since a dangerous rival for Bayazet, his own brother, had allied himself with them. A contemporary participant, the vice-chancellor of Rhodes, Wilhelm Gaorsan Gallo, also speaks of this event. The knights of Rhodes, having established their base on the island of Malta (in the Mediterranean Sea), then transferred the sacred relic they had received to Malta. ;

Mount Philermos, Island of Rhodes, Philermos Icon, Portion of the Cross
Mount Philermos, Island of Rhodes, the only mountain on the island. Translation of the Filersk Icon of the Mother of God;

Filersk (Mount Philermos), Island of Rhodes
Mount Philermos, Island of Rhodes, the only mountain on the island. Translation of the Filersk Icon of the Mother of God;

Rhodes, Island of Rhodes, Caria
Rhodes; knights of Rhodes; St Constantine Brancoveanu, Commemorated on August 16 ; St Phanourius, Commemorated on August 27 ; know nothing for certain about the background of Saint Phanourius, nor exactly when he lived. Tradition says that when the island of Rhodes had been conquered by Moslems, the new ruler of the island wished to rebuild the walls of the city, which had been damaged in previous wars. Several ruined buildings were near the fortress, and stone from these buildings was used to repair the walls at the end of the fifteenth century, or the beginning of the sixteenth. working on the fortress, the Moslems uncovered the ruins of a beautiful church. Several icons, most of them badly damaged, were found on the floor. One icon, of Saint Phanourius, looked as if it had been painted that very day. The local bishop, whose name was Nilus, was called to see the icon. It said, “Saint Phanourius.” saint is depicted as a young soldier holding a cross in his right hand. On the upper part of the cross is a lighted taper. Twelve scenes from his life are shown around the border of the icon. These scenes show him being questioned by an official, being beaten with stones by soldiers, stretched out on the ground while soldiers whip him, then having his sides raked with iron hooks. He is also shown locked up in prison, standing before the official again, being burned with candles, tied to a rack, thrown to the wild animals, and being crushed by a large rock. The remaining scenes depict him standing before idols holding burning coals in his hands, while a demon stands by lamenting his defeat by the saint, and finally, the saint stands in the midst of a fire with his arms raised in prayer. scenes clearly revealed that the saint was a martyr. Bishop Nilus sent representatives to the Moslem ruler, asking that he be permitted to restore the church. Permission was denied, so the bishop went to Constantinople and there he obtained a decree allowing him to rebuild the church. that time, there was no Orthodox bishop on the island of Crete. Since Crete was under the control of Venice, there was a Latin bishop. The Venetians refused to allow a successor to be consecrated when an Orthodox bishop died, or for new priests to be ordained, hoping that in time they would be able to convert the Orthodox population to Catholicism. Those seeking ordination were obliged to go to the island of Kythera. so happened that three young deacons had traveled from Crete to Kythera to be ordained to the holy priesthood. On their way back, they were captured at sea by Moslems who brought them to Rhodes to be sold as slaves. Lamenting their fate, the three new priests wept day and night. in Rhodes the priests heard of the miracles performed by the holy Great Martyr Phanourius. They began to pray to him with tears, asking to be freed from their captivity. Each of the three had been sold to a different master, and so remained unaware of what the others were doing. the mercy of God, each of the priests was allowed by his master to pray at the restored church of Saint Phanourius. All three arrived at the same time and prostrated themselves before the icon of the saint, asking to be delivered from the hands of the Hagarenes (Moslems, descendents of Hagar). Somewhat consoled, the priests left the church and returned to their masters. night Saint Phanourius appeared to the three masters and ordered them to set the priests free so that they could serve the Church, or he would punish them. The Moslems ignored the saint’s warning, believing the vision to be the result of sorcery. The cruel masters bound the priests with chains and treated them even worse than before. Saint Phanourius went to the priests and freed them from their shackles, promising that they would be freed the next day. Appearing once more to the Moslems, the holy martyr told them severely, “If you do not release your slaves by tomorrow, you shall witness the power of God!” next morning, all the inhabitants of the homes where the priests were held awoke to find themselves blind, paralyzed, and in great pain. They considered what they were to do, and so decided to send for the priests. When the three priests arrived, they asked them whether they could heal them. The priests replied, “We will pray to God. May His will be done!” more Saint Phanourius appeared to the Hagarenes, ordering them to send to the church a document granting the priests their freedom. He told them that if they refused to do this, they would never recover their sight or health. All three masters wrote letters releasing the priests, and sent the documents to the church, where they were placed before the icon of Saint Phanourius. the messengers returned from the church, all those who had been blind and paralyzed were healed. The priests joyfully returned to Crete, carrying with them a copy of the icon of Saint Phanourius. Every year they celebrated the Feast of Saint Phanourius with deep gratitude for their miraculous deliverance. saint’s name sounds similar to the Greek verb “phanerono,” which means “to reveal” or “to disclose.” For this reason, people pray to Saint Phanourius to help them find lost objects. When the object is recovered, they bake a sweet bread and share it with the poor, offering prayers for the salvation of saint’s mother. Her name is not known, but according to tradition, she was a sinful woman during her life. Saint Phanourius has promised to help those who pray for his mother in this way. St Sebastiana the Martyr and Disciple of St Paul the Apostle at Heraclea, Commemorated September 16 ; Translation of the Filersk Icon of the Mother of God; Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, Commemorated January 7 ; Translation of the relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari, Commemorated on May 9

Connecting Rivers Route (Akarcay and Sakarya Rivers)

Ephesus, Ephesus River Folder, Central EPH

Ephesus (Ephesus River Mouth)
Ephesus; Revelation 2: 1-7, The Message to Ephesus; Martyr Apollonius of Sardis, Commemorated on July 10; Translation of the relics of the Venerable Lazarus of Mt. Galerius Near Ephesus, Commemorated on July 17 ; Martyr Marcella of Chios, Commemorated on July 22; Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Commemorated on July 22; Martyr Acacius of Apamea, Commemorated on July 28; St Irene Chrysovolantou, Commemorated on July 28; Venerable Isaac the Ascetic of the Dalmatian Monastery at Constantinople, Commemorated on August 3 ; 7 Holy Youths "Seven Sleepers" of Ephesus, Commemorated August 4; Venerable Gregory of Sinai, Mt. Athos, Commemorated on August 8; Apostle Matthias of the Seventy, Commemorated on August 9; First Council of Ephesus ; The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15, Dormition = A peaceful and painless death, as well as the act of sleeping or falling asleep.; Venerable Christodoulos the Philosopher, Commemorated on August 18; Hieromartyr Cyprian the Bishop of Carthage, Commemorated on August 31; Commemoration of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae, Commemorated September 6 ; Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 7; Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the Third Ecumenical Council, Commemorated September 9 ; Apostle Apelles of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10; Apostle Clement of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10 ; Apostle Lucius of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10; Martyr Diodorus of Laodicea, Commemorated September 11 ; Hieromartyr Cornelius the Centurion, Commemorated September 13 ; Martyr Porphyrius the Actor, Commemorated on September 15 ; Hieromartyr Hypatius the Bishop of Ephesus, Commemorated on September 21 ; Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on September 26; Martyr Adauctus and His Daughter of Ephesus, Commemorated October 4 ; Martyr Callisthene and her father Audactus of Ephesus, Commemorated October 4 ; Icon of the Mother of God of Korsun, Commemorated on October 9 ; PHILIP, DEACON AND EVANGELIST (11 OCT NT); IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR (17 OCT 107) ; 7 Holy Youths œSeven Sleepers of Ephesus, Commemorated on October 22 ; Apostle Gaius of the Seventy, Commemorated on November 5 ; Venerable Lazarus the Wonderworker of Mt. Galesius Near Ephesus, Commemorated on November 7 ; Martyr Onesiphorus of Ephesus, Commemorated on November 9 ; St Justinian the Emperor, Commemorated on November 14 ; Martyr Menignus at Parium, Commemorated on November 22 ; Martyr Myrope of Chios, Commemorated on December 2 ; Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy, Commemorated on December 8 ; Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy, Commemorated on December 8 ; Venerable Arsenius of Latros, Commemorated on December 13 ; Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer the Bishop of Antioch, Commemorated on December 20 ; JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (27 DEC NT) ; Venerable Marcellus the Abbot of the Monastery of the "Unsleeping Ones", Commemorated December 29 ; Hieromartyr Theogenes the Bishop of Parium on the Hellespont, Commemorated on January 2 ; Apostle Mark the Evangelist of the Seventy, Commemorated January 4 ; Apostle Timothy of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Gaius of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; St Cyril the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated on January 18 ; St Mark the Archbishop of Ephesus, Commemorated on January 19 ; Venerable Euthymius the Great, Commemorated on January 20 ; Apostle Timothy of the Seventy, Commemorated January 22 ; THE CONVERSION OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, (JANUARY 25) ; New Martyr Theodore, Commemorated on January 30 ; Venerable Vendemianus the Hermit of Bithynia, Commemorated February 1 ; Venerable Isidore of Pelusium, Commemorated February 4 ; St Bucolus the Bishop of Smyrna, Commemorated on February 6; TIMOTHY AND TITUS; Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy, Commemorated February 15; Hieromartyr Theodore of Atchara, Commemorated February 17; St Auxibius Bishop of Soli, Cyprus, Commemorated on February 17 ; St Flavian the Confessor the Patriarch of Constantinople, Commemorated on February 18 ; Hieromartyr Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna, Commemorated February 23 ; Venerable Agapius of Vatopedi, Commemorated on March 1; Hieromartyr Pionius of Smyrna and those with him, Commemorated on March 11; St Euschemon the Confessor and Bishop of Lampsacus, Commemorated on March 14; Hieromartyr Trophimus of Laodicea, Commemorated on March 16 ; Martyr Nikon in Sicily, Commemorated on March 23; Apostle Apollos of the Seventy, Commemorated on March 30; Prophet Joad, Commemorated on March 30; St George the Confessor the Bishop of Mitylene, Commemorated on April 7; New Martyr Raphael of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9; St Eleni (who was also called Susanna), New martyr of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9; Hieromartyr Antipas the Bishop of Pergamum and Disciple of St John the Theologian, Commemorated on April 11 ; St Basil the Confessor the Bishop of Parium, Commemorated on April 12; St Acacius the Bishop of Melitene, Commemorated on April 17; Monkmartyr Agathangelus of Esphigmenou of Mt Athos, Commemorated on April 19; Apostle and Evangelist Mark, Commemorated on April 25; Martyr Diodorus the Deacon at Aphrodisias in Anatolia, Commemorated on April 29; Martyr Maximus of Ephesus, Commemorated on April 30; Philip of PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES (1 MAY NT); Venerable Nicephorus of Chios, Commemorated on May 1; Hieromartyr Albian the Bishop of Anaea in Asia Minor, Commemorated on May 4; Greatmartyr Irene of Thessalonica, Commemorated on May 5 ; Monkmartyr Pachomius of Mt Athos, Commemorated on May 7; Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on May 8; Translation of the relics of St Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari, Commemorated on May 9; St George the Bishop of Mitylene, Commemorated on May 16; Martyr Justin the Philosopher and those with him at Rome, Commemorated on June 1; JUSTIN MARTYR, PHILOSOPHER, APOLOGIST, AND MARTYR (1 JUNE 167); St Cyril the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated on June 9 ; IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS, THEOLOGIAN (28 JUN 202) ; Jacob Riis of WALTER RAUSCHENBUSCH, WASHINGTON GLADDEN, and JACOB RIIS, PROPHETIC WITNESSES, 1918, 1918, 1914, Commemorated July 2 ; St Anatolius the Patriarch of Constantinople, Commemorated on July 3;

Basilica (grave) of St. John, in Ephesus, 100 yr old J commanded dig grave, cover him w earth, later not there
Basilica (grave) of St. John, in Ephesus, 100 yr old J commanded dig grave, cover him w earth, later not there; Grave of Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on May 8; Church commemorates Saint John on this day because of the annual pilgrimage to his grave. Saint John was more than one hundred years old, he took seven of his disciples and went to a spot outside the city of Ephesus. There he told them to dig a grave in the form of a cross. Then he climbed into the grave and told his disciples to cover him with earth. Later, the grave was opened and the saint’s body was not there. year on May 8 a red dust would arise from the grave which the faithful collected in order to be healed of their illnesses. John’s main Feast is on September 26. Basilica (grave) of St. John, in Ephesus; Basilica of St. John (Greek: Βασιλική του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Θεολόγου) was a basilica in Ephesus. It was constructed by Justinian I in the 6th century. It stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle. It was modeled after the now lost Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.[1] The basilica is on the slopes of Ayasuluk Hill just below the fortress near the center of Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey and about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) from Ephesus.[2] Church[edit] is known about the Basilica of St. John, with its only source being from a small description[3] provided by Procopius in one of his works, Buildings, whereupon he writes: chanced to be a certain place before the city of Ephesus, lying on a steep slope hilly and bare of soil and incapable of producing crops, even should one attempt to cultivate them, but altogether hard and rough. On that site the natives had set up a church in early times to the Apostle John; this Apostle has been named “the Theologian,” because the nature of God was described by him in a manner beyond the unaided power of man. church, which was small and in a ruined condition because of its great age, the Emperor Justinian tore down to the ground and replaced by a church so large and beautiful, that, to speak briefly, it resembles very closely in all respects, and is a rival to, the shrine which is dedicated to all the Apostles in the imperial city...[4] of the church began by 548 and was completed by 565.[3] The building of this church was presided over by the bishop, Hypatius of Ephesus. As the leading ecclesiastical theoretician and writer of his day, it was possible that he gained the influence of Justinian and had the tomb of St. John reconstructed, as major construction in the Asia Minor was rare.[5] After its completion, it was regarded as one of the holiest churches of its time and was held in great honor as Procopius makes mention of this in his Secret History: ...to the sanctuary of the Apostle John, which was the most holy one there and held in very high honour...[6] its popularity after the 9th century it was no longer mentioned, possibly due to a new church built in honor of St. John, Church of John the Theologian.[7]

Ephesus River

Colophon, Ionia (near Ephesus)
Colophon is 70 Stadia times 157 meters = 10,990 Meters North of Ephesus; Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy, Commemorated on December 8 ; Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy, Commemorated on January 4; Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy, Commemorated on March 30 ; Prophet Joad, Commemorated on March 30;

Mount Ochlon near Ephesus
Mount Ochlon is somewhere near Ephesus; 7 Holy Youths œSeven Sleepersof Ephesus, Commemorated on August 4 ; 7 Holy Youths œSeven Sleepersof Ephesus, Commemorated on October 22 ;

Mount Galerius Near Ephesus
Mt. Galerius is somewhere Near Ephesus; Translation of the relics of the Venerable Lazarus of Mt. Galerius Near Ephesus, Commemorated July 17 ; Venerable Lazarus the Wonderworker of Mt. Galesius Near Ephesus, Commemorated on November 7 ;

Venerable Lazarus, Pillar-dweller of Mount Galesius, 1038
Venerable Lazarus, Pillar-dweller of Mount Galesius, 1038; Lazarus the Wonderworker of Mt Galesius near Ephesus was born in Lydia, in the city of Magnesium. An educated young man who loved God, Lazarus became a monk at the monastery of Saint Savva, the founder of great ascetic piety in Palestine. He spent ten years within the walls of the monastery, winning the love and respect of the brethren for his intense monastic struggles. to the holy priesthood by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Saint Lazarus returned to his native country and settled near Ephesus, on desolate Mount Galesius. Here he saw a wondrous vision: a fiery pillar, rising up to the heavens, was encircled by angels singing, “Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered.â€ the place where the saint beheld this vision, he built a church in honor of the Resurrection of Christ and took upon himself the feat of pillar-dwelling. Monks soon began to flock to the great ascetic, thirsting for spiritual nourishment by the divinely-inspired words and blessed example of the saint, and a monastery was established there. received a revelation about the day of his death, the saint told the brethren. Through the tearful prayers of all the monks, the Lord prolonged the earthly life of Saint Lazarus for another fifteen years. Lazarus died at 72 years of age, in the year 1053. The brethren buried the body of the saint at the pillar upon which he had struggled in asceticism. He was glorified by many miracles after his death. Lazarus is also commemorated on July 17.

Anaea, Ephesus (Ephesus River Mouth)
Anaea, Ephesus (Ephesus River Mouth); Hieromartyr Albian the Bishop of Anaea in Asia Minor, Commemorated on May 4;

Ephesus, Caicus River Folder (near Ephesus) Northern EPH, Pergamun, Thyatira

Caicus River

Caicus River Source

Stratonicea, Caria (Lydia, near Ephesus)
Stratonicea (Lydia); Hieromartyr Trophimus of Laodicea, Commemorated on March 16;

Mysia Region (Caicus River area, near Ephesus)
Mysia or Myzia; Hieromartyr Theogenes the Bishop of Parium on the Hellespont, Commemorated on January 2 ; Venerable Vendemianus the Hermit of Bithynia, Commemorated February 1 ;

Caicus River 1 (Pergamun, Mysia, Lydia)

Pergamun, Mysia, Lydia (near Ephesus, Caicus River 1)
Pergamun; Martyr Carpus at Pergamus, Commemorated on October 13; Venerable Paul of Latros, Commemorated on December 15 ; Hieromartyr Theogenes the Bishop of Parium on the Hellespont, Commemorated on January 2 ; New Martyr George of Iberia, Commemorated January 2; Apostle Barnabas of the Seventy, Commemorated January 4 ; Hieromartyr Antipas the Bishop of Pergamum and Disciple of St John the Theologian, Commemorated on April 11 ; Apostle Barnabas of the Seventy, Commemorated on June 11 ;

Thyatira, Lydia (near Ephesus)
Thyatira; Acts 16:6-15 PaulÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â™s Vision of the Man of Macedonia 6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; 8so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â˜Come over to Macedonia and help us.ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â™ 10When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. The Conversion of Lydia 11 We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district* of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. 13On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â˜If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â™ And she prevailed upon us. Saint Lydia of Philippi, Commemorated on May 20;

Caicus River Mouth (Elaitic Gulf, Aegean Sea)

Ephesus, Hermus River Folder (near Ephesus) North Central EPH, Philidelphia, Sardis, Lydia, Smyrna

Hemus River

Hermus River Source (Gediz, Murat Mountain)
Murat Mountain

Hermus River 1

Hermus River 2 (Philadelphia)

Hermus River 3 (fertile plain of Hemus River)

Philadelphia (Hermus River 3, near Ephesus)
Philadelphia; IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR (17 OCT 107) ; Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer the Bishop of Antioch, Commemorated December 20 ; Hieromartyr Euthymius the Bishop of Sardis, Commemorated on December 26 ; Monkmartyr Pachomius of Mt Athos, Commemorated on May 7;

Usaki, near Philadelphia (Hermus River 3, near Ephesus)
Philadelphia; IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR (17 OCT 107) ; Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer the Bishop of Antioch, Commemorated December 20 ; Hieromartyr Euthymius the Bishop of Sardis, Commemorated on December 26 ; Monkmartyr Pachomius of Mt Athos, Commemorated on May 7;

Hermus River 4 (Sardis)

Sardis, Lydia (Hermus River 4, near Ephesus)
Sardis, On highway to Agean Sea; Lydia (Hermes River Valley); Martyr Apollonius of Sardis, Commemorated on July 10; The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15; Dedication of the Church of the Greatmartyr George in Lydia, Commemorated on November 3 ; Martyr Apollonius of Sardis; Apostle Clement of the Seventy, Commemorated September 10 ; Saint Clement Paul refers to Clement in his Epistle to the Phillipians (4:3). After mentioning the women Euodia and Syntykhe, who assisted him in proclaiming the Gospel, he speaks of Clement as one of his coworkers, "whose names are in the Book of Life." Clement later became a bishop at Sardika in Asia Minor. Eusebius mistakenly identified him with Clement of Rome (History of the Church 3. 15, 1). Today's Saint reposed after enduring many trials in order to strengthen his flock, and to hand down to them the truth of the Gospel. Martyr Carpus at Pergamus, Commemorated on October 13; Hieromartyr Euthymius the Bishop of Sardis, Commemorated on December 26 ; Hieromartyr Therapon the Bishop of Sardis, Commemorated on May 27;

Lydia (Hermes River Valley near Ephesus)
Lydia (Hermes River Valley); Martyr Apollonius of Sardis, Commemorated on July 10; Translation of the relics of the Venerable Lazarus of Mt. Galerius Near Ephesus, Commemorated on July 17; The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, Commemorated on August 15; Apostle Clement of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10 ; Dedication of the Church of the Greatmartyr George in Lydia, Commemorated on November 3 ; Venerable Lazarus the Wonderworker of Mt. Galesius Near Ephesus, Commemorated on November 7 ; Hieromartyr Theogenes the Bishop of Parium on the Hellespont, Commemorated on January 2 ; St Euschemon the Confessor and Bishop of Lampsacus, Commemorated on March 14; Hieromartyr Trophimus of Laodicea, Commemorated on March 16 ; Martyr Justin the Philosopher and those with him at Rome, Commemorated on June 1;

Hermus River 5

Hermus River 6 (Magnesium)

Magnesium, Lydia (Hermus River 6)
Magnesium; Translation of the relics of the Venerable Lazarus of Mt. Galerius Near Ephesus, Commemorated on July 17 ; Venerable Lazarus the Wonderworker of Mt. Galesius Near Ephesus, Commemorated on November 7 ; Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer the Bishop of Antioch, Commemorated December 20 ;

Hermus River Mouth (Smyrna, Agean Sea)

Gulf of Ismir (Gulf of Smyrna)
Gulf of Ismir (Gulf of Smyrna);

Smyrna (Izmir, Hemus River Mouth, Ephesus vicinity)
Smyrna; 2. Smyrna in Revelation 2: 8-11, Message to Smyrna ; Venerable Gregory of Sinai, Mt. Athos, Commemorated on August 8; Hieromartyr Irenaeus the Bishop of Lyons, Commemorated on August 23; Apostle Apelles of the Seventy, Commemorated on September 10; IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR (17 OCT 107) ; Venerable Theodore the Confessor the Abbot of the Studion, Commemorated on November 11 ; Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer the Bishop of Antioch, Commemorated December 20 ; St Bucolus the Bishop of Smyrna, Commemorated on February 6; Hieromartyr Theodore of Atchara, Commemorated February 17; POLYCARP; Hieromartyr Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna, Commemorated February 23 ; Hieromartyr Pionius of Smyrna and those with him, Commemorated on March 11; Apostle Apollos of the Seventy, Commemorated on March 30; Monkmartyr Agathangelus of Esphigmenou of Mt Athos, Commemorated on April 19; Venerable Simeon of Philotheou, Commemorated on April 19; Monkmartyr Pachomius of Mt Athos, Commemorated on May 7; IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS, THEOLOGIAN (28 JUN 202);

Aeolis Region, between Ephesus and Hemus River
Aeolis; Hieromartyr Albian the Bishop of Anaea in Asia Minor, Commemorated on May 4;

Ephesus, Meander River Folder (near Ephesus) South Central EPH, Great Road, Colosse, Laodicea

Meander River

Meander River Source (Phrygia)

Meander River 1 (Sebaste, Usak, Phrygia)

Meander River 2 (Lycus River Mouth, Phrygia)

Meander River 3 (Tauropolis, Meanderin Plain)

Meander River 4 (Meanderian Plain)

Meander River 5 (Tralles)

Tralles, Ephesus vicinity (Great Road, Meander River 5)
Tralles (Meander River 5); Trallians (Illyrian Tribe); Apostle Philip of the Seventy, One of the Seven Deacons, Commemorated on October 11 ; IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR (17 OCT 107) ; Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer the Bishop of Antioch, Commemorated December 20 ;

Magnesia (Meander River 5), near Ephesus
Magnesia (Meander River); IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR (17 OCT 107) ; Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer the Bishop of Antioch, Commemorated December 20 ; Venerable Agapius of Vatopedi, Commemorated on March 1;

Meander River 6 (Miletus)

Miletus (Meander River 6)
Miletus (Meander River 6) ; Martyr Acacius of Apamea, Commemorated July 28 ; Holy Martyr Acacius was brought to trial for his belief in Christ. Three governors attempted to compel the holy martyr to offer sacrifice to idols, having subjected him to fierce tortures. Governor Licinius gave orders to rend the body of Saint Acacius with instruments of torture. He then sent him to Governor Terence, who gave orders to throw Acacius into a cauldron filled with boiling tar and tallow, but the martyr remained unharmed. Terence went to the cities of Apamea and Apollonia and gave orders to bring the martyr after him. In one of these cities Saint Acacius was led into a pagan temple, but by his prayer all the idols there fell down. beat the saint viciously and gave him over to be eaten by wild beasts. When they saw that he remained unharmed, they threw him into a red-hot furnace. The martyr also remained unharmed there. The governor, wanting to check whether the furnace was sufficiently hot, went near it and was burned himself. They then took the holy Martyr Acacius for torture to a certain Posidonius, who put heavy fetters on the holy martyr and gave orders to take him to the city of Miletus. There also the saint, by his prayer, destroyed idols. Finally, the exhausted torturers beheaded Saint Acacius. A priest by the name of Leontius buried his body in the city of Synados (Asia Minor). Venerable Paul of Latros, Commemorated December 15 ;

Latros, Mt Latros Monestary (near Ephesus, Meander River 6) Mid 7th Century
Mt Latros Monestary; Venerable Arsenius of Latros, Commemorated December 13 ;

Heracleia by Latmus and Ephesus (Meander River 6)
Heracleia or Latmus; Greatmartyr Theodore Stratelates "the General", Commemorated February 8 ;

Meander River Mouth (Miletus, Agean Sea)

Ephesus, Islands near Ephesus Folder, Western and Northwestern EPH, Patmos, Lesbos, Chios, Samos

Ephesus Islands Area

Lesbos, Isle of Lesbos (Between Troy and Ephesus)
Isle of Lesbos; Venerable Theoctiste of the Isle of Lesbos, Commemorated on November 9; New Martyr George of Iberia, Commemorated January 2; New Martyr Theologia, Commemorated on January 2; St George the Confessor the Bishop of Mitylene, Commemorated on April 7; St Eleni (who was also called Susanna), New martyr of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9; New Martyr Raphael of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9; Hieromartyr Antipas the Bishop of Pergamum and Disciple of St John the Theologian, Commemorated on April 11 ; St Basil the Confessor the Bishop of Parium, Commemorated on April 12;

Mytilene, Lesbos Island (Between Troy and Ephesus)
Mytilene; New Martyr Theologia; New Martyr George of Iberia, Commemorated January 2; New Martyr Theologia, Commemorated on January 2; New Martyr Theodore, Commemorated on January 30 ; St Auxibius Bishop of Soli, Cyprus, Commemorated on February 17 ; St George the Confessor the Bishop of Mitylene, Commemorated on April 7; New Martyr Raphael of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9; St Eleni (who was also called Susanna), New martyr of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9; St George the Bishop of Mitylene, Commemorated on May 16; St Andrew the Archbishop of Crete, Commemorated on July 4;

Methymna, Lesbos
Methymna; Venerable Theoctiste of the Isle of Lesbos, Commemorated on November 9; New Martyr George of Iberia, Commemorated January 2; New Martyr Theologia, Commemorated on January 2;

Thermi and Karyes Church, Lesbos (Thermal (hot) Springs)
Thermi and Karyes Church (Loutropoli Thermis) ; St Eleni (who was also called Susanna), New martyr of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9 ; New Martyr Raphael of Lesbos, Commemorated on April 9 ;

Chios, Island of Chios (near Ehphesus)
Chios; Martyr Marcella of Chios, Commemorated on July 22; ’s father changed in his behavior toward her. He became moody and depressed, forbidding her to go into the garden or to speak with the neighbors. Unable to understand the reason for this change, the saint went to her room and wept. She prayed before an icon of the Mother of God, asking Her to help her father. Soon she fell asleep, only to be awakened by her father’s shouting. unfortunate man had spent a long time struggling against his lust, but finally he gave in to it. At times he would speak to his daughter roughly, then later he would appear to be gentle. He wanted to be near her, and to stroke her hair. Unaware of her father’s intentions, Saint Markella was happy to see him emerge from his melancholy state, thinking that her prayer had been answered. day, her father openly declared the nature of his feelings for her. Horrified, the saint tried to avoid him as much as she could. Even the neighbors realized that there was something wrong with the man, so they stopped speaking to him. shepherd was tending his sheep near the beach one morning, and was leading them into the shade of a plane tree to avoid the hot July sun. Just as he was about to lie down, he heard a noise and looked up. He saw a young woman with a torn dress running down the hill. She hid in a nearby bush, ignoring its thorns. shepherd wondered who was chasing her, and how she had come to this spot. Then he heard the sound of a horse approaching, and recognized the mayor of the village. He asked the shepherd if he had seen his daughter. He said that he had not seen her, but pointed to her hiding place with his finger. mayor ordered Markella to come out of the bush, but she refused. Therefore, he set fire to the bush in order to force her out. She emerged on the side opposite her father, and ran toward the rocky shore, calling out to the Mother of God for help. continued to run, even though blood was flowing from her face and hands. Feeling a sharp pain in her leg, she saw that she had been shot with an arrow. She paused to pull it out, then took to flight once more. She scrambled over the rocks, staining them with her blood. Hearing her father getting closer, she prayed that the earth would open up and swallow her. saint sank to her knees, her strength all gone, and then a miracle took place. The rock split open and received her body up to the waist. Her father drew near with wild-eyed joy shouting, “I have caught you. Now where will you go? his sword, he began to butcher his helpless daughter, cutting off pieces of her body. Finally, he seized her by the hair and cut off her head, throwing it into the sea. At once the calm sea became stormy, and large waves crashed to the shore near the murderer’s feet. Thinking that the sea was going to drown him because of his crime, he turned and fled. His ultimate fate has not been recorded. later years, pious Christians built a church on the spot where Saint Markella hid in the bush. The spot where she was killed became known as “The Martyrdom of Saint Markella,” and the rock that opened to receive her is still there. The rock appears to be a large stone that broke off from a mountain and rolled into the sea. Soil from the mountain covers the spot on the side facing the land. On the side facing the ocean is a small hole, about the size of a finger. A healing water flows from the opening, which cures every illness. flow of water is not due to the movements of the tide, because when the tide is out, there would be no water. This, however, is not the case. The water is clear, but some of the nearby rocks have been stained with a reddish-yellow color. According to tradition, the lower extremities of Saint Markella’s body are concealed in the rock. most astonishing thing about the rock is not the warmth of the water, nor the discoloration of the other rocks, but what happens when a priest performs the Blessing of Water. A sort of steam rises up from the water near the rock, and the entire area is covered with a mist. The sea returns to normal as soon as the service is over. Many miracles have occurred at the spot, and pilgrims flock there from all over the world. Venerable Matrona of Chios, Commemorated on October 20 ; St Nectarius Kephalas the Metropolitan of Pentapolis, Commemorated on November 9 ; Martyr Myrope of Chios, Commemorated on December 2 ; Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, Commemorated January 7 ; St Auxibius Bishop of Soli, Cyprus, Commemorated on February 17 ; New Martyr Theodore; Martyr Nikon in Sicily, Commemorated on March 23; Hieromartyr Antipas the Bishop of Pergamum and Disciple of St John the Theologian, Commemorated on April 11 ; St Basil the Confessor the Bishop of Parium, Commemorated on April 12; Venerable Nicephorus of Chios, Commemorated on May 1; Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on May 8; St Methodius the Patriarch of Constantinople, Commemorated on June 14; St Athanasius Parios, Commemorated on June 24;

Volissos, Chios
Chios Volissos; Martyr Marcella of Chios, Commemorated on July 22; ’s father changed in his behavior toward her. He became moody and depressed, forbidding her to go into the garden or to speak with the neighbors. Unable to understand the reason for this change, the saint went to her room and wept. She prayed before an icon of the Mother of God, asking Her to help her father. Soon she fell asleep, only to be awakened by her father’s shouting. unfortunate man had spent a long time struggling against his lust, but finally he gave in to it. At times he would speak to his daughter roughly, then later he would appear to be gentle. He wanted to be near her, and to stroke her hair. Unaware of her father’s intentions, Saint Markella was happy to see him emerge from his melancholy state, thinking that her prayer had been answered. day, her father openly declared the nature of his feelings for her. Horrified, the saint tried to avoid him as much as she could. Even the neighbors realized that there was something wrong with the man, so they stopped speaking to him. shepherd was tending his sheep near the beach one morning, and was leading them into the shade of a plane tree to avoid the hot July sun. Just as he was about to lie down, he heard a noise and looked up. He saw a young woman with a torn dress running down the hill. She hid in a nearby bush, ignoring its thorns. shepherd wondered who was chasing her, and how she had come to this spot. Then he heard the sound of a horse approaching, and recognized the mayor of the village. He asked the shepherd if he had seen his daughter. He said that he had not seen her, but pointed to her hiding place with his finger. mayor ordered Markella to come out of the bush, but she refused. Therefore, he set fire to the bush in order to force her out. She emerged on the side opposite her father, and ran toward the rocky shore, calling out to the Mother of God for help. continued to run, even though blood was flowing from her face and hands. Feeling a sharp pain in her leg, she saw that she had been shot with an arrow. She paused to pull it out, then took to flight once more. She scrambled over the rocks, staining them with her blood. Hearing her father getting closer, she prayed that the earth would open up and swallow her. saint sank to her knees, her strength all gone, and then a miracle took place. The rock split open and received her body up to the waist. Her father drew near with wild-eyed joy shouting, “I have caught you. Now where will you go? his sword, he began to butcher his helpless daughter, cutting off pieces of her body. Finally, he seized her by the hair and cut off her head, throwing it into the sea. At once the calm sea became stormy, and large waves crashed to the shore near the murderer’s feet. Thinking that the sea was going to drown him because of his crime, he turned and fled. His ultimate fate has not been recorded. later years, pious Christians built a church on the spot where Saint Markella hid in the bush. The spot where she was killed became known as “The Martyrdom of Saint Markella,” and the rock that opened to receive her is still there. The rock appears to be a large stone that broke off from a mountain and rolled into the sea. Soil from the mountain covers the spot on the side facing the land. On the side facing the ocean is a small hole, about the size of a finger. A healing water flows from the opening, which cures every illness. flow of water is not due to the movements of the tide, because when the tide is out, there would be no water. This, however, is not the case. The water is clear, but some of the nearby rocks have been stained with a reddish-yellow color. According to tradition, the lower extremities of Saint Markella’s body are concealed in the rock. most astonishing thing about the rock is not the warmth of the water, nor the discoloration of the other rocks, but what happens when a priest performs the Blessing of Water. A sort of steam rises up from the water near the rock, and the entire area is covered with a mist. The sea returns to normal as soon as the service is over. Many miracles have occurred at the spot, and pilgrims flock there from all over the world.

Chios Volissos
Chios Volissos; Martyr Marcella of Chios, Commemorated on July 22; ’s father changed in his behavior toward her. He became moody and depressed, forbidding her to go into the garden or to speak with the neighbors. Unable to understand the reason for this change, the saint went to her room and wept. She prayed before an icon of the Mother of God, asking Her to help her father. Soon she fell asleep, only to be awakened by her father’s shouting. unfortunate man had spent a long time struggling against his lust, but finally he gave in to it. At times he would speak to his daughter roughly, then later he would appear to be gentle. He wanted to be near her, and to stroke her hair. Unaware of her father’s intentions, Saint Markella was happy to see him emerge from his melancholy state, thinking that her prayer had been answered. day, her father openly declared the nature of his feelings for her. Horrified, the saint tried to avoid him as much as she could. Even the neighbors realized that there was something wrong with the man, so they stopped speaking to him. shepherd was tending his sheep near the beach one morning, and was leading them into the shade of a plane tree to avoid the hot July sun. Just as he was about to lie down, he heard a noise and looked up. He saw a young woman with a torn dress running down the hill. She hid in a nearby bush, ignoring its thorns. shepherd wondered who was chasing her, and how she had come to this spot. Then he heard the sound of a horse approaching, and recognized the mayor of the village. He asked the shepherd if he had seen his daughter. He said that he had not seen her, but pointed to her hiding place with his finger. mayor ordered Markella to come out of the bush, but she refused. Therefore, he set fire to the bush in order to force her out. She emerged on the side opposite her father, and ran toward the rocky shore, calling out to the Mother of God for help. continued to run, even though blood was flowing from her face and hands. Feeling a sharp pain in her leg, she saw that she had been shot with an arrow. She paused to pull it out, then took to flight once more. She scrambled over the rocks, staining them with her blood. Hearing her father getting closer, she prayed that the earth would open up and swallow her. saint sank to her knees, her strength all gone, and then a miracle took place. The rock split open and received her body up to the waist. Her father drew near with wild-eyed joy shouting, “I have caught you. Now where will you go? his sword, he began to butcher his helpless daughter, cutting off pieces of her body. Finally, he seized her by the hair and cut off her head, throwing it into the sea. At once the calm sea became stormy, and large waves crashed to the shore near the murderer’s feet. Thinking that the sea was going to drown him because of his crime, he turned and fled. His ultimate fate has not been recorded. later years, pious Christians built a church on the spot where Saint Markella hid in the bush. The spot where she was killed became known as “The Martyrdom of Saint Markella,” and the rock that opened to receive her is still there. The rock appears to be a large stone that broke off from a mountain and rolled into the sea. Soil from the mountain covers the spot on the side facing the land. On the side facing the ocean is a small hole, about the size of a finger. A healing water flows from the opening, which cures every illness. flow of water is not due to the movements of the tide, because when the tide is out, there would be no water. This, however, is not the case. The water is clear, but some of the nearby rocks have been stained with a reddish-yellow color. According to tradition, the lower extremities of Saint Markella’s body are concealed in the rock. most astonishing thing about the rock is not the warmth of the water, nor the discoloration of the other rocks, but what happens when a priest performs the Blessing of Water. A sort of steam rises up from the water near the rock, and the entire area is covered with a mist. The sea returns to normal as soon as the service is over. Many miracles have occurred at the spot, and pilgrims flock there from all over the world.

Chios Monastery of Agia Markella
Chios Monastery of Agia Markella; Martyr Marcella of Chios, Commemorated on July 22; ’s father changed in his behavior toward her. He became moody and depressed, forbidding her to go into the garden or to speak with the neighbors. Unable to understand the reason for this change, the saint went to her room and wept. She prayed before an icon of the Mother of God, asking Her to help her father. Soon she fell asleep, only to be awakened by her father’s shouting. unfortunate man had spent a long time struggling against his lust, but finally he gave in to it. At times he would speak to his daughter roughly, then later he would appear to be gentle. He wanted to be near her, and to stroke her hair. Unaware of her father’s intentions, Saint Markella was happy to see him emerge from his melancholy state, thinking that her prayer had been answered. day, her father openly declared the nature of his feelings for her. Horrified, the saint tried to avoid him as much as she could. Even the neighbors realized that there was something wrong with the man, so they stopped speaking to him. shepherd was tending his sheep near the beach one morning, and was leading them into the shade of a plane tree to avoid the hot July sun. Just as he was about to lie down, he heard a noise and looked up. He saw a young woman with a torn dress running down the hill. She hid in a nearby bush, ignoring its thorns. shepherd wondered who was chasing her, and how she had come to this spot. Then he heard the sound of a horse approaching, and recognized the mayor of the village. He asked the shepherd if he had seen his daughter. He said that he had not seen her, but pointed to her hiding place with his finger. mayor ordered Markella to come out of the bush, but she refused. Therefore, he set fire to the bush in order to force her out. She emerged on the side opposite her father, and ran toward the rocky shore, calling out to the Mother of God for help. continued to run, even though blood was flowing from her face and hands. Feeling a sharp pain in her leg, she saw that she had been shot with an arrow. She paused to pull it out, then took to flight once more. She scrambled over the rocks, staining them with her blood. Hearing her father getting closer, she prayed that the earth would open up and swallow her. saint sank to her knees, her strength all gone, and then a miracle took place. The rock split open and received her body up to the waist. Her father drew near with wild-eyed joy shouting, “I have caught you. Now where will you go? his sword, he began to butcher his helpless daughter, cutting off pieces of her body. Finally, he seized her by the hair and cut off her head, throwing it into the sea. At once the calm sea became stormy, and large waves crashed to the shore near the murderer’s feet. Thinking that the sea was going to drown him because of his crime, he turned and fled. His ultimate fate has not been recorded. later years, pious Christians built a church on the spot where Saint Markella hid in the bush. The spot where she was killed became known as “The Martyrdom of Saint Markella,” and the rock that opened to receive her is still there. The rock appears to be a large stone that broke off from a mountain and rolled into the sea. Soil from the mountain covers the spot on the side facing the land. On the side facing the ocean is a small hole, about the size of a finger. A healing water flows from the opening, which cures every illness. flow of water is not due to the movements of the tide, because when the tide is out, there would be no water. This, however, is not the case. The water is clear, but some of the nearby rocks have been stained with a reddish-yellow color. According to tradition, the lower extremities of Saint Markella’s body are concealed in the rock. most astonishing thing about the rock is not the warmth of the water, nor the discoloration of the other rocks, but what happens when a priest performs the Blessing of Water. A sort of steam rises up from the water near the rock, and the entire area is covered with a mist. The sea returns to normal as soon as the service is over. Many miracles have occurred at the spot, and pilgrims flock there from all over the world.

Chios, City of Chios, Chios Island
City of Chios; Martyr Marcella of Chios, Commemorated on July 22; Venerable Matrona of Chios, Commemorated on October 20; Martyr Myrope of Chios, Commemorated on December 2 ; Martyr Nikon in Sicily, Commemorated on March 23; Venerable Nicephorus of Chios, Commemorated on May 1; Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on May 8; St Methodius the Patriarch of Constantinople, Commemorated on June 14;

Nea Moni Monastery of Chios, 1042
Nea Moni ; St Nectarius Kephalas the Metropolitan of Pentapolis, Commemorated on November 9; Martyr Nikon in Sicily, Commemorated on March 23; Venerable Nicephorus of Chios, Commemorated on May 1;

Kardamyla, Chios
Kardamyla, Chios; Venerable Nicephorus of Chios, Commemorated on May 1 ;

Samos, Island of Samos (near Ephesus)
Island of Samos (near Ephesus) ; Venerable Paul of Latros, Commemorated December 15 ; Hieromartyr Antipas the Bishop of Pergamum and Disciple of St John the Theologian, Commemorated on April 11 ; St Basil the Confessor the Bishop of Parium, Commemorated on April 12; Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on May 8; Martyr Justin the Philosopher and those with him at Rome, Commemorated on June 1; St Cyril the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated on June 9 ;

monastery of Chrysopetro, Kampos, Samos Island near Ephesus
KAMPOS, Codigo Postal: 83102, SAMOS, Hotel Chrysopetro; Venerable Nikon œMetanoeite,Â the Preacher of Repentance, Commemorated on November 26;

Kalamion, Samos Island, near Ephesus, 37° 46' 4" N 26° 58' 1" E
Kalamion, 37° 46' 4" N 26° 58' 1" E: Venerable Luke of Hellas, Commemorated on February 7;

Patmos, Island of Patmos, near Ephesus
Patmos Island; St Irene Chrysovolantou, Commemorated on July 28 ; Venerable Christodoulos the Philosopher, Commemorated on August 18; Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on September 26; JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (27 DEC NT) ; Venerable Xenia of Rome, and her two female servants, Commemorated on January 24 ; Hieromartyr Antipas the Bishop of Pergamum and Disciple of St John the Theologian, Commemorated on April 11 ; Monkmartyr Pachomius of Mt Athos, Commemorated on May 7; Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Commemorated on May 8; Martyr Justin the Philosopher and those with him at Rome, Commemorated on June 1; St Cyril the Archbishop of Alexandria, Commemorated on June 9 ;

Monastery of St John on Patmos, 1088
Monastery of St John on Patmos; St Irene Chrysovolantou, Commemorated on July 28 ; JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST (27 DEC NT) ; Monkmartyr Pachomius of Mt Athos, Commemorated on May 7;

Ephesus, Roman Roads Folder

Great Road from Ephesus thru Colossae to the Euphrates at Melitine