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Saint Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople Proclus, one of St.'s favorite disciples. John Chrysostom, from a young age he zealously tried to educate his mind and heart, and these holy efforts of his were crowned with rich fruits! Having gone through various degrees of priestly service, in 426 he was ordained Bishop of Cyzicus by Patriarch Sisinius, but since the citizens of Cyzicus elected another bishop, Proclus remained in Constantinople and gained great fame, preaching the word of God, with the permission of the patriarch, in churches. Thus, from the pulpit he solemnly, convincingly and eloquently denounced the false teaching of Nestorius (who was then the Archbishop of Constantinople), who preached against the Divinity of Jesus Christ, assuring that he who was born of St. The Virgin Mary is not God incarnate, but a simple person... After the deposition and expulsion of Nestorius in 431, although many wanted Proclus to be erected in his place, Elder Maximian was ordained, and only after his death, in 434, Proclus was named Archbishop of Constantinople. He zealously tried to reconcile the churches, which were agitated at that time by various heresies, and governed his flock in a spirit of meekness and with great love. In 438, with his assistance, the relics of his great teacher, John Chrysostom, were solemnly transferred to Constantinople. - Under him, in 439, after a terrible earthquake that destroyed many churches and other buildings in Constantinople, a sacred song of wonderful origin was introduced into daily worship: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!” Blessed Proclus died in the fall of 446. He left behind works that were respected. Of these, there were especially many Words, among which are remarkable 2 words in praise of the Mother of God and 4 words on the Nativity of Christ, in which he teaches about the Face of Jesus Christ - as a shame to heretics, as an instruction to those who could be carried away by heretical teachings, which, among other things, rejected the incarnation of God the Word. In the 2nd word on the Nativity of Christ, St. Proclus says about Christian holidays: “frequent and varied celebrations of festivals serve as a consolation for human life: they turn the sad heaviness of life into joy. Just as those who have endured the disasters of a stormy sea voyage rejoice at the pier as a reliable protection for life, so everyone, when a holiday comes after the worries of every day’s activities, rejoices at it as a day of rest from worries, as freedom from labor.” Comparing these days with the holidays of both Jews and pagans, which are not high in subject, Proclus continues: “but the holidays of Christians are sacred and wonderful, sources of salvation. Our first holiday preaches about the descent of God to people. The next one depicts the blessing of the waters and the beginning of baptism. The third preaches the destruction of death, the triumph of the cross, the gift of resurrection, and the freedom of the fathers. The fourth proclaims the ascension. Our firstborn in heaven and seated at the right hand of God the Father. The fifth trumpets the descent of the Holy Spirit, the abundant dew of grace. These are the holidays that the Lord has created for us—let us rejoice and be glad in them” 297! Venerable Gregory Decapolite Gregory, a native of Decapolis in Isauria, fell in love with learning from childhood and achieved an extensive education, but at the same time, under the influence of a pious home upbringing, he studied even more zealously the love of the priesthood. Scripture and holyly observed the life that it prescribed. Having reached adulthood and avoiding married life, he left his home and accepted monasticism. Without choosing a permanent refuge for himself, Gregory traveled to different countries and, since heretical teachings were very widespread at that time, he actively admonished those who were mistaken everywhere, confirmed the people in Orthodoxy and consoled those languishing in prison with his visits. He died peacefully in Constantinople around 820 - “The biography of St. is known from manuscripts. Gregory Decapolitus, compiled by Ignatius, Metropolitan of Nicea, creator of the canons in the 9th century" 298. St. The Church glorifies him this way: “The Church recognizes you as the bright sun, illuminating the virtues with beauty and healing rays, O servant of Christ; We also celebrate your honorable memory and honor your deeds, all-blessed father, all-wise Gregory!” Saint Isaac, Archbishop of Armenia Isaac, the son of the great Nerses, was born in Constantinople while his father was here as an envoy from his king. In 390, Isaac was elevated to the chair of archbishop and ruled the Armenian Church for 50 years, marking his reign with such merits, the main one of which: the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the native language, which earned him the title of “the second enlightener of Georgia.” He died in 440. Memory of St. martyrs Nars the bishop, Joseph and others The martyrdom of Bishop Narsa and his disciple Joseph from Shagargard, a city in the region of the Garmeans (south of Ispagan), dates back to the fourth year of the first (343–350) persecution in Persia under King Sapor. The king was in this city when the eighty-year-old Narsa and his disciple were presented to him; and since they did not obey, did not bow to the sun, they were executed on November 20. In the same year, bishops Sapor (from Beth-Niktor) and Isaac (from Karhi), and three laymen: Maganes, Abraham and Simeon, suffered and were condemned by the king himself. When they appeared, the king addressed them with the words: “Don’t you know that I come from the gods, I pray to the sun and revere fire? And who are you, that you rebel against my decrees, destroy the sun and make fire into nothing?” When they unanimously confessed their faith in one God, the king cried out: “Which god is more glorious than Ormuzd, or who is more terrible than Ahriman? And who can be called a wise man if he does not worship the sun? Sapor said: “We know no other God except the One who created the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, everything visible and invisible; and we believe in His Son, who is called Jesus of Nazareth.” Then the king ordered to beat him on the mouth, and this was done with such cruelty that his teeth fell out, and he mockingly added: “Call Jesus to put your teeth in.” And when Sapor called the king an atheist for this, he was scourged half to death and then carried to prison. Then the king called Isaac and said to him: “Do you have the same thoughts as Sapor, so that I should shed your blood too?” The answer: “What you call unanimity is the highest wisdom, which you do not comprehend,” irritated the king, and he threatened to cut off his tongue for continuing such speeches. He now moved on to the second part of the magicians' accusation against Isaac and demanded an account of why he was building churches? Isaac replied: “When did I stop doing this?” Then the king turned to the noble townspeople, who had only previously renounced Christianity, strongly condemned them and threatened them with death if they returned to Christ. faith; he swore that as long as he reigned, he would not spare a single Christian. Then he ordered the apostates, trembling with fear, to stone Isaac. Two days after this, Sapor also died in prison due to serious injuries. The king doubted the accuracy of the news of this and ordered the head of the deceased to be cut off and presented to him. Three laymen who also refused to honor the sun were sentenced to painful deaths. Maganes was skinned from head to navel, at which point the martyr gave up his ghost; Abraham's eyes were torn out with hot nails, as a result of which he died two days later; They buried Simeon in the ground up to his chest and pierced the remaining exposed body with arrows. Extract by decree Philareta, Archbishop. Chernig. in "Uch. about the Holy Church" § 211. “Monthly. East." archim. Serg. vol. II, part 2, p. 366.