The Monk Kosma, Bishop of Maium, Author of Kanons, was a native of Jerusalem. He was raised by the parents of the Monk John of Damascus (commemorated 4 December) together with their son, and he received a fine education. When Saint Kosma came of age, he set out to one of the monasteries of Palestine, where he attained reknown for monastic exploits. During a time of persecution against holy icons the Monk Kosma, together with the Monk John, came forth for the defence of Orthodoxy. In the year 743 Kosma was made bishop of Maium. He died in old age (+c.787), leaving behind many canons for feastdays and a triode for four days of Holy Week.
The Monk Amphilocius, Hegumen of Glushetsk, already a monk of priestly dignity, came from Ustiug to the monk Dionysius of Glushetsk (commemorated 1 July) in the year 1417. Saint Dionysius, learning of the wish of Amphilocius to become an ascetic, told him about the severity and harshness of life in his monastery, but this did not deter the newcomer. Then Saint Dionysius said: "If thou wishest to dwell here, then we shalt make a testament -- not to be distinct one from another, while we dwell upon the earth." Amphilocius joyfully agreed and vowed to fulfill the ustav (rule) of the monastery. The Monk Amphilocius spent twenty years in deeds of fasting, prayer and obedience under the guidance of the Monk Dionysius, striving in all things to imitate him and assisting in the work of building up the monastery. After the death of Saint Dionysius, the Monk Amphilocius was for 15 years the head of the Glushetsk monastery. The monk died peacefully in the year 1452 and was buried alongside his preceptor.
The Monk Tarasios of Glushetsk was hegumen of a monastery, built by Saint Stephen of Perm (commemorated 26 April), and he zealously spread and affirmed the Orthodox faith among the Zyryani people. In 1427 under the successor of Saint Stephen, Bishop Gerasim (commemorated 29 January), the Monk Tarasios voluntarily gave up leading the monastery and went to the Glushetsk monastery under the guidance of the Monk Dionysius. Saint Dionysius, seeing the deep humility of Tarasios, accepted him. The former hegumen Tarasios toiled equally alongside the novices at the monastery and he led a strict ascetic life. The monk was buried at the Dionysiev monastery (+1440).
The Monk Macarios, Glushetsk Hegumen (in the world Matthew), was born in Rostov. As a twelve year old boy he was given over to the Monk Dionysius for raising. Growing up under the guidance of the great starets [elder], the saint was distinguished by a rare purity of soul. The Monk Macarios, already in the dignity of priestmonk, was chosen by the brethren as head of the monastery after the death of the Monk Amphilocius. Saint Macarios expired to the Lord on 13 May (not earlier than 1462).
The Holy Martyress Domnica suffered for confessing Christianity in the year 286. Domnica lived in the region of Cilicia. By order of the governor Licius they beat her for a long time, and burnt her with fire. All tormented, Saint Domnica was thrown into prison, where she died.
Saint Martin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours, lived in France. He is called the merciful for his generosity and care for the poor. Before accepting monasticism, Martin was a military commander under the emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363) and was distinguished for his bravery. When barbarians invaded the empire, by order of the emperor Saint Martin went out from the city with his troops to do battle with them. Having encountered a beggar by the wayside, he gave to him his own cloak. By night the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the saint and promised victory over the enemy, which soon occurred. The emperor solemnly met the victor and suggested to him to offer sacrifice in thanksgiving for the gaining of victory. But Saint Martin said, that he wanted to offer sacrifice to Christ, with Whose help he vanquished the enemy, by the act of becoming a monk. The emperor banished the saint. After seven years of ascetic life, Saint Martin was elevated to be bishop of Tours. Saint Martin possessed gifts of perspicacity and wonderworking. He died at the end of the IV Century. The Transfer from Malta to Gatchina of a Part of the Wood of the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, together with the Philermia Icon of the Mother of God and the Right Hand of Saint John the Baptist was done in the year 1799. These holy things were preserved on the island of Malta by the Knights of the Catholic Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. In 1798, when the French seized the island, the Maltese knights turned for defence and protection to Russia. On 12 October 1799 they offered these ancient holy things to the emperor Paul I, who at this time was situated at Gatchina. In the autumn of 1799 the holy items were transferred to Peterburg and placed in the Winter Palace within the church in honour of the Image of the Saviour Not-Made-by-Hand. The feast for this event was established in 1800. By ancient tradition, the Philermia Icon of the Mother of God was written by the holy Evangelist Luke. From Jerusalem it was transferred to Constantinople, where it was situated in the Blakhernae church. In the 13th Century it was taken from there by crusaders and from that time kept by the Knights of the Order of Saint John. The Jerusalem Icon of the Mother of God, by tradition, was written by the holy Evangelist Luke in the 15th year after the Ascension of the Lord at Gethsemane (48). In the year 463 the image was transferred to Constantinople. By the intercession of the Jerusalem Icon of the MostHoly Mother of god the Byzantine army repulsed an invasion of the Skyths. In 988 the icon was transferred to Korsun and given to the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles prince Vladimir. When the people of Novgorod accepted Christianity, Saint Vladimir then sent them this image. Ivan the Terrible in 1571 transferred the icon to the Moscow Uspenie [Dormition] cathedral. During the time of the Napoleonic invasion of 1812 the original vanished and was replaced by an accurate copy.
The Yaroslav-Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was the cell icon of the archimandrite of the Trinity-Sergiev Lavra, Antonii. On 12 October 1642 during the time of prayer he heard from the icon -- the Smolensk Hodegetria -- a voice: "Go, go to the limits of the city of Yaroslavl', to a newly-made monastery in My name." Archimandrite Antonii sent this icon with the Monk Gersaim to the indicated monastery, being built in the forest, not far from Yaroslavl'. The wonderworking icon was set in the monastery church in the altar area.
The Rudensk Icon of the Mother of God appeared in the year 1687 in the Rudno locale of Mogilevsk diocese. In 1712 the icon was transferred to the Florovsk Ascension monastery in Kiev, where now it is situated. The Kaluzh Icon of the Mother of God appeared in the year 1748 (an account is located under 2 September). In 1812 many Russian and French soldiers beheld the image of the Kaluzh Mother of God, standing in the air. Thus also it was around Kaluga and Maloyaroslavl'. During the time of such appearances the Russian armies were always victorious. This vision was also granted the peasant Paraskeva Alekseeva.
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