Celebration of March 9/22
Saint Valery is one of the forty martyrs who suffered during the persecution of Christians in 320 in the city of Sebastia.
originally from Cappadocia. Having become a warrior of the Roman army, he was distinguished in battles by his courage and fortitude. He zealously professed the Christian faith. The military leader of the Roman army in the city of Sebastia was at that time an ardent champion of paganism, Agricolaus. Having learned that forty Christian soldiers were serving in his regiment, he demanded that they make sacrifices to pagan idols before military action. But the soldiers resolutely refused. Then they were thrown into prison. Seven days later, having failed to get the holy warriors to renounce their faith in Christ, unable to sway them either with the offered honors and rewards or with the intimidation of torment, Agricolaus ordered them to be taken to a lake near the city of Sebastia. There the soldiers were stripped and placed on ice in the middle of the lake. As a temptation, a bathhouse was heated on the shore for those ready to renounce their faith. It was very cold, a strong wind was blowing, but the saints bravely endured the torment, sang sacred psalms and prayed to the Lord to strengthen them. Only one of them could not stand the test and ran to the shore, to the bathhouse, but, as soon as he stepped on the threshold, he fell dead. In the middle of the night, a light shone over the holy martyrs and melted the ice. The prison guard Aglaius, who was guarding the martyrs, saw crowns falling from Heaven on their heads. Shocked by what he saw, he threw off his clothes and ran towards them shouting: “I am a Christian,” thus increasing the number of martyrs to forty.
The next day, the guards, surprised that the holy warriors did not freeze overnight, attributed this to magic and subjected them to new tortures: their legs were broken with an iron hammer. Then the bodies of the Sebaste martyrs were burned and the remains were thrown into the river. After some time, the holy martyrs appeared to Bishop Peter of Sebaste in a dream with a request to find their remains at the bottom of the river and bury them. Arriving at the river at night, the bishop saw a miracle: the bones of the martyrs shone in the water like stars! They collected them and buried them with honor. Subsequently, particles of the found relics of the holy forty martyrs were taken to many places and became the subject of veneration by Christians.
Life
Brief Lives of the 40 Martyrs of Sebastia: Kirion, Candida, Domna, Hesychia, Heraclius, Smaragda, Eunoikos, Valens, Viviana, Claudius, Prisca, Theodula, Eutychius, Joanna, Xanthia, Iliana, Sisinia, Angia, Aetia, Flavia, Acacia, Ekdicia ( Ecdytus), Lysimachus, Alexandra, Elijah, Gorgonia, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Hudion, Melito and Aglaia
In 313, Emperor Constantine the Great signed a law on freedom of religion. His co-ruler, Emperor Licinius, also signed this law, but in the areas under his control, the persecution of Christians continued. Around 320, a Roman army was stationed in the city of Sebastia, in Armenia. The army included 40 Christian soldiers originally from Cappadocia (now in Turkey). The military leader Agricolaus forced them to sacrifice to idols, but the soldiers refused.
Then the soldiers were arrested and tied up and taken to a lake near the city of Sebastia. It was winter, it was getting dark. The soldiers were placed naked in an ice-covered lake. A terrible cold shackled the members of the holy martyrs, and they began to freeze. This torment was especially difficult for them, because a warm bath was placed on the shore of the lake for temptation. Anyone who wanted to save his life had to tell the prison guard that he had renounced Christ, and then he could enter a warm bath and warm up. All night the warriors bravely endured the bitter cold, encouraging each other and singing sacred hymns to God.
Early in the morning one of the warriors could not stand the suffering. He left the lake and hurried to the bathhouse. But as soon as the warm air touched his body, he fell dead. Soon after this, the prison guard Aglaius saw an unearthly light shine over the martyrs who remained in the lake. Aglaius was so shocked by this miracle that, declaring himself a Christian, he threw off his clothes and joined the 39 martyrs. The torturers, who arrived a little later, saw that the Christian soldiers not only did not freeze, but, apparently, even warmed up. Then the torturers broke their legs with hammers and threw them into the fire, and then threw the charred bones of the martyrs into the river.
Three days later, the martyrs appeared to Bishop Peter of Sebastia and told about their feat. Ep. Peter collected their bones and buried them with honor. The names of the martyrs have been preserved: Kirion, Candide, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdus, Eunoicus, Valens, Vivian, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutyches, John, Xanthius, Ilian, Sisinius, Haggai, Aetius, Flavius, Acacius, Ecdecius, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elijah, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Domitian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sakerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Filictimon, Severian, Hudion, Melito and Aglaius. The memory of the 40 martyrs is one of the most revered holidays. On the day of their memory, March 9, the severity of Great Lent is eased and the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated.
Complete Lives of the 40 Martyrs of Sebastia: Kirion, Candida, Domna, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdas, Eunoices, Valens, Viviana, Claudius, Prisca, Theodula, Eutyches, Joanna, Xanthia, Iliana, Sisinia, Angia, Aetia, Flavia, Acacia, Ecdycia ( Ecdytus), Lysimachus, Alexandra, Elijah, Gorgonia, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Hudion, Melito and Aglaia
In 313, Saint Constantine the Great issued a decree according to which Christians were allowed freedom of religion and were given equal rights with pagans. But his co-ruler Licinius was a convinced pagan and in his part of the empire he decided to eradicate Christianity, which had spread significantly there. Licinius was preparing for war against Constantine and, fearing treason, decided to clear his army of Christians.
At that time, in the Armenian city of Sebastia, one of the military leaders was Agricolaus, a zealous supporter of paganism. Under his command was a squad of forty Cappadocians, brave warriors who emerged victorious from many battles. They were all Christians. When the warriors refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, Agricolaus imprisoned them. The soldiers indulged in fervent prayer and one night they heard a voice: “He who endures to the end will be saved.”
The next morning the soldiers were again brought to Agricolaus. This time the pagan used flattery. He began to praise their courage, youth and strength and again invited them to renounce Christ and thereby gain the honor and favor of the emperor himself. Hearing a refusal again, Agricolaus ordered the soldiers to be chained. However, the eldest of them, Kirion, said: “The Emperor did not give you the right to impose fetters on us.” Agricolaus was embarrassed and ordered the soldiers to be taken to prison without shackles.
Seven days later, the noble dignitary Lysias arrived in Sebastia and held a trial of the soldiers. The saints firmly answered: “Take not only our military rank, but also our lives, for us there is nothing more precious than Christ God.” Then Lysias ordered the holy martyrs to be stoned. But the stones flew past their target; a stone thrown by Lysias hit Agricolaus in the face. The torturers realized that the saints were protected by some invisible force. In prison, the soldiers spent the night in prayer and again heard the voice of the Lord comforting them: “He who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Be bold and do not be afraid, for you will receive imperishable crowns.”
Patrons of the name
There are not many saints in Orthodoxy with the name Valery, but like all saints, they faithfully believed in the Lord.
Valery Sevastiysky
This was one of the forty Sebastian martyrs. They are soldiers of the Roman army who stood near the city of Sebastia. Their commander demanded that they renounce their faith in Christ and become pagans. To do this, he sent everyone to an icy lake and forced them to expose themselves. For those who agreed to renounce their faith, he prepared a bathhouse next to the lake. Only one person could not stand the torment, but while he was running to a warm bath, he fell dead. One of the guards, who observed all this, believed in Christ and joined the martyrs. Soon they were all beaten and burned.
Valery Melitinsky
He suffered for his faith in the Lord during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, the most cruel persecutor of Christians. He ordered that all his subjects worship pagan cults, and those who disagreed were tortured and executed. One day, Diocletian ordered the killing of believers living in Cappadocia and Armenia, where the Christian faith was rapidly spreading. Among the soldiers who received the order to exterminate the infidels was the martyr Valery, who refused to carry out the order of the emperor. Like other Christians, he was thrown into prison, and after interrogation and torture, his head was cut off.
Since the Valeris have name days 4 times a year, the person named by this name honors his patron on the day that is closer to his birthday.
Prayer for Valeria
I ask for your prayers for help to the servant of God Valeria
Lera is my friend, she is not baptized. And like all people far from God, he suffers and is tormented by questions.
But she is looking for an answer, looking for the truth. As it is said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you; For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Mf. 7:7
And yesterday there was great joy - she prayed for the first time in the morning. And in the evening she called me and poured out a whole stream of thoughts))) And about the fact that she has long felt that the soul is immortal; and about the fact that she cannot cope with adversity on her own; and about much much much more)))
So I was happy for her all evening yesterday)))
Pray, brothers and sisters, that God will grant her the strength to come to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayers to Fr. Valeria
Oh my God! We know that I am poor and damned, and worthy of eternal condemnation for the multitude of my sins,
but again we believe that you will not cast me, the repentant one, away from your most pure face,
grant me the joy of sharing the incorruptible wealth of Your gifts,
and do not deprive me of the immeasurable happiness of an inseparable stay with You
in this temporary life and in eternity. Amen
PRAYER FOR FAITH, HUMILITY AND LOVE
Lord, strengthen my faith, and I always say: “Glory to God for everything!” and “Thy will be done!”
Lord, humble my pride and let me understand that without You I am nothing.
Lord, grant me Your Love, so that I will not be offended, not irritated, forgive and not cause harm to anyone.
Lord, abide in me all the days of my life, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, strengthen my faith,
Lord, humble my pride,
Lord, give me Your love,
and abide in me always.
PRAYER FOR IMAGE AND SIMILARITY
Lord, I thank You for Your image, which You have given to me.
Help me keep it
and may I never tire of striving for Your likeness. Amen.
PRAYER FOR REPENTANCE
Lord, grant me repentance with hope, and hope with repentance.
May I not tire of bearing the cross of my sinful memory.
May my heart tremble with each new sin of mine.
May I direct all my thoughts to the mountain,
and with gratitude I will accept Your holy will in everything.
PRAYER FOR GRATITUDE
Lord, teach me to thank You always and for everything.
May I be like the leper who returned to thank You for healing.
Vouchsafe, Lord, to never forget You.
PRAYER FOR THE SPIRITUAL FATHER
O All-Merciful Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ!
You are immeasurably holy, immeasurably righteous, immeasurably merciful.
Keep my spiritual father (name) and all his spiritual children and relatives in spiritual and physical health.
Holy God, reward him with Your mercy for his kindness and love for me, with his humble prayers help me, who have fallen, to cleanse himself of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
Holy Mighty One, do not allow him temptation, or sorrow, or illness beyond his strength, but deliver him from them or grant him the strength to endure everything with thanksgiving. And with my indescribable love for him, preserve him for many good years.
Holy Immortal One, You united us on earth and do not separate us in Your Heavenly Kingdom. And do not let us, Lord, fear the fear of the devil more than the fear of God and retreat from You and Your Holy Church.
But grant us, O Master Lord, gospel strength and great joy, memory of death and tearful repentance for our sins, and have mercy on us, O Lord, on the day of Your Last Judgment.
Holy Martyr Hieron and thirty-three with him who suffered at Melitene
Memory 7/20 November
Saint Hieron lived around 290, under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, who cruelly persecuted Christians. He was from the city of Tiana in Cappadocia, where he lived quietly and peacefully, cultivating his own field. At this time, both despots, in an irrepressible thirst for conquest, forcibly took into military service all the strong and strong-bodied men to replenish the army. Hieron was famous throughout Cappadocia for his strength and courage, so the ruler Lysias decided to take him into the army and sent soldiers after him. Hieron was working in the field, and when he saw the soldiers, he immediately understood why they had come. He understood well that he was threatened not so much by the dangers of military service as by being forced to renounce the faith of Christ for the sake of worshiping the emperor, whom the Romans deified. Grabbing a pickaxe, he rushed at the soldiers and put them to flight, inflicting severe wounds. But soon they returned with reinforcements and found the saint, who had hidden in a cave with eighteen relatives and friends. In order to avoid bloodshed and at the request of his brother Cyriacus, Hieron surrendered himself into the hands of the soldiers, and they brought him to the ruler of Melitina.
In the evening, an angel appeared to Saint Jerome and announced that the Lord was sending him to fight not for the kingdom of earth, but in the last and glorious battle, which would open the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven for him. The next morning, the saint with unspeakable joy announced to his family that Divine Providence had been revealed to him and from now on the road of captivity became for him the path to the Kingdom of Heaven. Upon arrival in Melitina, Hieron and thirty-three Christians were imprisoned. From that moment on, he tirelessly strengthened his companions in the faith and supported their determination to sacrifice their lives for the glory of God.
The holy martyr appeared before the ruler, who accused him of pride because he disobeys the orders of the emperor and despises idols. When the ruler was informed that it was Hieron who put the soldiers to flight and beat them with a stick, the tyrant, instead of paying tribute to his bravery, ordered the Christian to be tortured and his hand to be cut off. Hieron endured all the torment with joy, after which he was again imprisoned awaiting the next trial.
One of his friends and relatives, Victor, fearing torture and torment, secretly called the jailer and offered to give up his land in exchange for escaping from prison. When the warrior of Christ Hieron learned of Victor’s flight, he wept bitterly, grieving over the sad fate of his friend, who, in order to save his mortal life, deprived himself of eternal life and endless bliss prepared for the chosen ones, and doomed himself to eternal torment in hell. Sensing that execution was inevitable, Hieron called to himself those relatives who had been released by that time, and expressed his last will. He asked his sister Theotimia to perform an annual commemoration on the day of his death and made her promise to give the severed hand to their poor blind mother as a consolation in grief.
On the fourth day, he, along with other Christian prisoners, again appeared before Lysias. The ruler ordered them to be tortured with whips, but they only strengthened in their ardent faith. Then he ordered the saints to be beheaded. On the way to the place of execution, the martyrs sang the words of the faithful servants of the Lord from the psalm: “Blessed are the blameless ones who walk in the law of the Lord” (Ps. 119: 1). After the execution, the saint's relatives offered a ransom for his holy relics. The greedy ruler took advantage of this and offered to buy them back by weight for gold. He also allowed the construction of a temple in honor of St. Jerome on the site of his martyrdom
Martyr Valeriy of Sebastia
Day of Remembrance
Life
Brief Lives of the 40 Martyrs of Sebastia: Kirion, Candida, Domna, Hesychia, Heraclius, Smaragda, Eunoikos, Valens, Viviana, Claudius, Prisca, Theodula, Eutychius, Joanna, Xanthia, Iliana, Sisinia, Angia, Aetia, Flavia, Acacia, Ekdicia ( Ecdytus), Lysimachus, Alexandra, Elijah, Gorgonia, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Hudion, Melito and Aglaia
In 313, Emperor Constantine the Great signed a law on freedom of religion. His co-ruler, Emperor Licinius, also signed this law, but in the areas under his control, the persecution of Christians continued. Around 320, a Roman army was stationed in the city of Sebastia, in Armenia. The army included 40 Christian soldiers originally from Cappadocia (now in Turkey). The military leader Agricolaus forced them to sacrifice to idols, but the soldiers refused.
