Memory of Saint Mnason, Bishop of Tamasos (October 19)

The Church commemorates Prophet Joel, whose name means “God’s love,” and St. Ivan the Miracle Worker who founded the Rila Monastery in Bulgaria.

The Church also commemorates Saint Mnason, Bishop of Tamasos, who was a disciple of the Apostles and successor of Saint Heraclidius.

Hailing from a pagan family, Saint Mnason embraced Christianity after meeting with some of the Seventy disciples in Rome. Out of his divine inspires zeal, he traveled to Jerusalem where he met the Apostles Peter and John and received their blessing.

The early Christian Church had such was esteem for him that Saint Luke the Evangelist, in the Acts of the Apostles, calls him an “early disciple,” noting that the saint had hosted Saint Paul the Apostle and other Apostles in his house.

In the area of Tamasos, Saint Mnason became an ascetic in a cave with his teacher Heraclidius and, as a faithful disciple, later helped him spread the Gospel. When by the grace of God Heraclidios foretold his death, he ordained Saint Mnason as Bishop of Tamasos, where he became the shepherd by teaching and performing miracles, until the end of his life. Shortly before his death, he appointed Rodonas as his successor.…