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The
Monk Isaac lived during the IV Century, accepted monastic
vows and pursued asceticism in the wilderness. During the
years of the reign of the emperor Valentus (364-378) --
a zealous adherent of the Arian heresy, they began to persecute
the Orthodox, closing and destroying churches. Having learned
of the persecution, the Monk Isaac quit the wilderness and
arrived in Constantinople, so as to console and encourage
the Orthodox. At this time barbarian Goths, dwelling along
the River Danube/Dunaj, were making war against the empire.
They seized Thrace and advanced towards Constantinople.
When the emperor Valentus was leaving the capital with his
soldiers, the Monk Isaac -- turning himself towards the
emperor, loudly cried out: "Emperor, unlock the churches
of the Orthodox, and then the Lord wilt aid thee!".
But the emperor, disdaining the words of the monk, confidently
continued on his way. Three times did the monk repeat his
request and prophecy. The angry emperor gave orders to hurl
the Monk Isaac into a deep ravine, grown over with prickly
thorns. By day the ravine was a swamp, and to emerge from
it was impossible. But the monk with the help of God remained
alive, and he emerged, overtook the emperor and said: "Thou
wanted to destroy me, but the holy Angels did save me from
peril. Hear me, open up the churches to the Orthodox and
thou shalt defeat the enemy. If however thou dost not heed
me, then thou shalt not return alive, but shalt perish in
fire". The emperor was astonished at the boldness of
the monk and ordered his attendants Saturninus and Victor
to take the monk and hold him in prison until his return.
The
prophecy of the saint soon happened. The Goths defeated
and began to chase down the Greek army. The emperor together
with his Arian generals took refuge in a barn with straw,
and the attackers set it afire. After receiving news about
the perishing of the emperor, they set free the Monk Isaac
and began to honour him as a prophet of God. Onto the throne
was then chosen the holy Emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395),
who on the advice of Saturninus and Victor summoned the
elder to himself, meeting him with great respect, beseeching
prayers to the saints and fulfilling all his instructions:
he banished the Arians from Constantinople and restored
the churches to the Orthodox. The Monk Isaac wanted to return
into the wilderness, but Saturninus and Victor besought
him not to leave the city, but rather to protect it with
his prayers. In the outskirts of Constantinople they built
for the saint an hut, where monks gathered to him. Thus
arose a monastery, the hegumen and spiritual guide of which
was the Monk Isaac. He nourished also the laypeople, and
helped many of the poor and suffering. Having reached extreme
old age, the Monk Isaac made co-hegumen together with him
the Monk Dalmatos (the account about him is located under
3
August), by whose name the monastery was called. The
Monk Isaac died in the year 383, and his memory is celebrated
also on 22 March.
The
Holy Martyrs Natalia and Salonus were beheaded by the
sword for confessing faith in Christ, not later than the
IV Century.
Saint
Euplos died a martyr's death sewn up in an ox skin beneathe
the harsh rays of the sun.
The
Monk James of Galich pursued asceticism in the XV Century
and was buried in the Galich Starotorzhsk monastery, beneathe
the altar of the church in honour of the holy Passion-Bearers
Boris and Gleb. The holy saint of God was glorified by miracles
after his death.
The
Monks Isaiah and Nikanor of Arkhangel'sk were glorified
in the exploit of wilderness-dwelling on the banks of the
River Rucha in the Arkhangel'sk frontier region.
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