Память преподобного отца нашего Михаила Исповедника

The now remembered Saint Michael, Bishop of Sinad 3403, bore the same name (identical) to the name of the Archangel of heavenly powers, and led an angelic life, adorned with virgin purity and all sorts of virtues. Even in infancy, he was dedicated to God, and in his youth he accepted monasticism and appeared as a worthy servant of God, asceticizing together with Saint Theophylact, Bishop of Nicomedia 3404 in the patriarchate of His Holiness Tarasius, by whom both were sent to a monastery located on the shores of the Black Sea. Asceticizing here in monastic labors, both saints greatly succeeded in virtues, and their prayers had great power with God. Once during the harvest, when there was unbearable heat in the air, so that from the lack of water in that place many were exhausted from thirst, the saints prayed to God and, through their prayers, it happened that an empty copper vessel exuded water in sufficient quantity. Thus the Lord fulfills the petitions and prayers of those who worship Him and inclines His ear to their prayers. This miracle was reminiscent of the miracle that had previously happened in the desert, when for Israel, who was exhausted from thirst, God brought water out of a stone (Ex. 17:6) and another - when, for the sake of Samson (the judge of Israel), who was dying of thirst, God brought out a spring of living water from the dried bone of a donkey’s jaw (Judges 15:19). After this, His Holiness Patriarch Tarasius, seeing such a virtuous life of these reverend fathers, shining like stars in the sky, recognized them as worthy of the high rank of bishop. He consecrated Blessed Theophylact to the rank of Metropolitan of Nicomedia, and consecrated St. Michael bishop of the city of Sinad, and both of them shepherded the flock of Christ, setting a good example for their flock with their lives. When His Holiness Patriarch Tarasius departed from this life to the Lord, and after him Saint Nikephoros took the throne of the Church of Constantinople, a storm of iconoclastic heresy arose again, which had already been condemned at the Seventh Ecumenical Council of Saints in 3405. The wicked emperor Leo the Armenian 3406, having become infected with that heresy, launched a persecution against the Church of Christ, denying the veneration of holy icons and calling them idols, and subjected those who worshiped them to torture and death. First of all, he expelled the most holy Patriarch Nicephorus, as well as other Orthodox bishops from their thrones, and instead appointed his like-minded heretics - and the abomination of desolation was established in the holy places (Dan. 9:27). At this time, Saint Michael revealed himself as a zealous defender of Orthodoxy and an exposer of heretical wickedness. Strengthened and made wise by the grace of the Holy Spirit, he opposed the heretics and stopped their mouths, who condemned the holy icons. The wicked King Leo, unable to bear the reproofs of the saint who boldly condemned his heretical error, handed over the saint of Christ to torture. The saint, unafraid of torment, courageously defended his convictions and said to the emperor: – I honor and worship the holy icons of my Savior Jesus Christ and the Most Pure Virgin, His Mother, and other saints; I don’t think it’s possible to carry out your order. The shamed Leo, filled with anger, condemned the confessor of Christ to exile 3407. Persecuted from one place to another, the saint endured many bitter sorrows and troubles until he reached the heavenly abode and received eternal peace. Thus he ended his righteous life, adorned with a double crown, numbered among the bishops, as a bishop, and among the martyrs, as a martyr, for the glory of Christ our God 3408. As an all-honorable bishop, and a sufferer of piety, you were not afraid of the rebuke of the evil-doer, you conquered that heretical opposition, crying out in a free voice: I worship the icon of Christ, and His Most Pure Mother. For this reason we honor you, Mikhail. Sinad is one of the ancient Black Sea cities. Nicomedia is a city in the northeastern corner of the bay formed by the Sea of ​​Marmara. It was built in 264 BC and received its name from the Bithynian king Nicomedes I. The city of Isnid is now located on the site of ancient Nicomedia. The Seventh Ecumenical Council took place in 787 in the city of Nicaea. Emperor Leo (V) the Armenian reigned from 813 to 820. Initially, Saint Michael was exiled to the Thracian city of Eudokiada. The death of the holy martyr followed approx. 818 You might be interested in: