Saint Hierotheus was born in 1686 in Greece. Wanting to comprehend divine wisdom both in the sciences and in monastic life, the pious young man, possessing great abilities and diligence, studied Latin and Greek philosophy. After the death of his parents, intending to continue his education, Saint Hierotheos first of all visited Holy Mount Athos, which was famous for many learned men. At first he was a student of a hermit at the cell of St. Artemy, and then he joined the brotherhood of the Iveron Monastery, where he took monastic vows.
Soon, on monastic affairs, Saint Hierotheus ended up in Constantinople, and from there to Wallachia, where he continued his interrupted education. Studying with a certain Cypriot Mark, Saint Hierotheus, with his good character, earned the favor of Metropolitan Auxentius of Sofia and was ordained a deacon. Having completed his education in Venice, Saint Hierotheus returned to the Holy Mountain.
He settled near the Iversky Monastery in the Khagi desert. According to contemporaries, he led the most severe hermit life; Through the constant Jesus Prayer, the monk acquired high love for his neighbors and joyful crying.
At the request of the abbot of the Iveron Monastery, Saint Hierotheos was awarded holy rank by Metropolitan Jacob of Neocaesarea, who lived there in retirement.
At the request of the Bishop of Arta, Neophytos, who established a theological school in Skopele, taught there together with Athonite students, Hieromonk Meletios and the monks Joasaph and Simeon for eight years, being at the same time a preacher of the word of God and a confessor.
Foreseeing his imminent death, the Monk Hierotheus with three disciples retired to the island of Jura, where criminals usually sentenced to life imprisonment (there was an ancient center of eldership). There, after a short illness, he died on December 13, 1745. His disciples buried him on that island, and three years later his venerable head was transferred to the Iversky Monastery. Through the prayers of the saint, many sick people and those struggling with carnal passion were healed.
15 – Macarius of Thessalonica († ca. 1523/1527), martyr
Macarius was a disciple of St. Niphon II, Patriarch of Constantinople, and with him retired to the beginning. XVI century on Mount Athos to the Vatopedi Monastery. The saint, knowing that Macarius was eager to confess Christ by martyrdom and that such was the will of God, blessed him for this feat.
Macarius went to Thessalonica, where he openly spoke to a crowd of Turks preaching Christianity. The enraged Turks beat the martyr and threw him into prison, where they tried to force Macarius to renounce Christ through flattery, threats and torture. Having not succeeded at all, the torturers beheaded the saint. Saint Niphon knew the hour of his martyrdom, saying to his disciple Joasaph: “Know, my son, today your brother Macarius died a martyr’s death and joyfully ascends to heaven.”
Various sources attribute the martyrdom of St. Macarius to 1522, 1523, 1527.
16 St. Cyprian, Met. Moscow and All Rus' († 1406, commemorated September 27, September 16)