February 1st (II - 14)

Icon of Martyr Tryphon

PreFeast of the Meeting of the Lord. Martyr Tryphon (+ 250). Martyress Perpetua, Martyrs Satyrus, Revocatus, Satornilus, Secundus and the Martyress Felicita (+ c. 202-203). Monk Peter of Galatia (+ 429). Monk Vendimian, Hermit of Bithynia (+ c. 512). Sainted Basil the Confessor, Archbishop of Soluneia (Thessalonika) (+ c. 870). Monk Timothy the Confessor. Martyrs Theion with 2 Lads at Kariona. Martyr Anastasias Naupliotes (+ 1655). Saints David and Simeon, Mytilene Confessors and Wonderworkers (IX). Sainted Tryphon, Bishop of Rostov (+ 1468).

The Martyr Tryphon was born in one of the districts of Asia Minor -- Phrygia, not far from the city of Apameia in the village of Kampsada. From his early years the Lord granted him the power to cast out devils and to heal various maladies. The inhabitants of his native city were once saved by him from starvation: Saint Tryphon by the power of his prayer forced back a plague of locusts that were devouring the bread grain and devastating the fields. Saint Tryphon gained particular fame by casting out a devil from the daughter of the Roman emperor Gordian (238-244). Helping everyone in distress, he asked but one fee -- faith in Jesus Christ, by Whose grace he healed them.

When the emperor Decius (249-251) entered upon the imperial throne, there was a fierce persecution of Christians. A denunciation was made to the commander Akelinos that Saint Tryphon was bolding preaching faith in Christ and that he led many to Baptism. The saint was arrested and subjected to interrogation, at the time of which he fearlessly confessed his faith. They subjected him to harsh tortures: they beat at him with clubs, lacerated his body with iron hooks, they seared the wounds with fire, and led him through the city, having hammered iron nails into his feet. Saint Tryphon bravely endured all the torments, not giving out a single whimper. Finally, he was condemned to beheading with a sword. The holy martyr prayed before the execution, thanking God for strengthening him in his sufferings, and he besought of the Lord in particular to bless those who should call upon his name for help. Just as the soldiers suspended the sword over the head of the holy martyr, he placed his soul into the hands of God. This event occurred in the city of Nicea in the year 250. Christians wound the holy body of the martyr in a clean shroud and wanted to bury him in the city of Nicea, in which he suffered, but Saint Tryphon in a vision commanded them to take his body to his native land to the village of Kampsada. This was done.

Later on the relics of Saint Tryphon were transferred to Constantinople, and then to Rome. The holy martyr is accorded great veneration in the Russian Orthodox Church.

There exists a legend, that during the reign of tsar Ivan the Terrible at the time of an imperial hunt, a gerfalcon beloved by the tsar flew off. The tsar ordered the falconer Tryphon Patrikeev to find the flown off bird. The falconer Tryphon journeyed about through the surrounding forest, but without luck. On the third day, exhausted by long searching, he returned to Moscow to the place now called Mar'ina Grove, and in weariness he lay down to rest, fervently praying to his patron saint -- the Martyr Tryphon, beseeching him for help. In a dream he saw a youth on a white horse, holding on his hand the imperial gerfalcon, and this youth said: "Take back the lost bird, go with God to the tsar and be not aggrieved about it". Having awakened, the falconer actually spotted the gerfalcon not far off on a pine tree. He then took it to the tsar and told about the miraculous help, received by him from the holy Martyr Tryphon. After a certain while the falconer Tryphon Patrikeev built a chapel on the spot where the saint appeared, and later on also there was a church in the name of the holy Martyr Tryphon.

The Holy Martyress Perpetua was descended from patrician lineage and lived in Carthagena. In secret from her father, a convinced pagan, she accepted holy Baptism through believing in the Saviour. She was vouchsafed a martyr's end together with her own brother Satyrus, the maid-servant Felicita and the youths Revocatus, Satornilus and Secundus, who also were preparing to become Christians. Despite the exhorting of her father who persistently appealed to her maternal feelings, the early on widowed 22 year old Saint Perpetua subdued earthly attachment for the beloved infant at her bosom on account of the Heavenly Life. Before execution the saint had a vision from God, fortifying her strength of soul. Saint Secundus died in prison, but the remaining martyrs were given over for devouring by wild beasts. But the beasts would not touch the condemned, and then they were all killed by the sword. This occurred in about the year 203.

About the Monk Peter of Galatia is known, that at nine years of age and yearning for the spiritual life, he left his parental abode, and set off first to Jerusalem, and then to Antioch. There he enclosed himself in a cave, devoted himself to deeds of prayer and strict abstinence, taking bread and water only after the daytime. In these exploits he was granted from God the gift of wonderworking, healing infirmities and expelling devils. The monk died in about the year 429 at the age of ninety-nine, of which he served God incessantly for ninety years.

The Monk Vendimian was born in Myzia. In his youth he was a disciple of Saint Auxentios, one of the fathers of the Fourth OEcumenical Council. Having settled in the monastery, founded by the Monk Auxentios (Comm. 14 February) on Mount Oxea -- not far from Chalcedon (Asia Minor), he pursued asceticism for 42 years in fasting and prayer at the cell of his teacher -- in the crevice of a cliff, undergoing temptation from demons. For his deeds the monk was granted a gift of healing. He died in about the year 512.

Sainted Tryphon, Bishop of Rostov, before ordination to bishop was head of the Moscow Novospassky monastery and was confessor to GreatPrince Vasilii Vasil'evich the Dark. On 23 May 1462 he was ordained to the Rostov cathedra-chair by the Metropolitan of Moscow Theodosii. In 1466 he retired to the Saviour monastery in Yaroslavl', where he died on 30 December 1468 (certain local documents point to the year 1466). His memory was transferred to 1 February, it seems, because of his name in common with the Martyr Tryphon. At this monastery also was buried Saint Prokhor -- as schemamonk Tryphon, also a bishop of Rostov, having died in the year 1328 (Comm. 7 September).