October 19th (XI - 1)

Icon of the Prophet Joel, Blessed Cleopatra and her son John

Transfer of the Relics of the Monk John of Ryla (1238). Prophet Joel (800 B.C.). Martyr Uaros and together with him 7 Teachers of Christians (+ c. 307). Blessed Cleopatra and her son John (+ 327). PriestMartyr Sadok, Bishop of Persia, and with him 128 Martyrs (+ 342). Saint Leontios the Philosopher (VII). Martyrs Felix (Philikos) the Presbyter and Eusebios the Deacon. Martyr Florus (+ c. 250).

The Transfer of the Relics of the Monk John of Ryla from the city of Sredets (Sofia) to the then capital of the Bulgarian realm -- the city Tirnovo, took place in the year 1238. The account about the monk is located under 18 August.

The Holy Prophet Joel lived 800 years before the Birth of Christ. He made prediction about the desolation of Jerusalem. He likewise prophesied, that upon all flesh would be poured out the Holy Spirit through the Saviour of the world (Joel 2: 28-32).

The Holy Martyr Uaros and Seven Teachers of Christians, lived in Egypt during the period of several persecutions against Christians (late III to early IV Century). Uaros was a military commander and secretly a Christian. He gave assistance to many of the persecuted and imprisoned Christians, visiting the prison by night he brought food to the prisoners, he dressed up wounds, and gave encouragement.

One time he conversed the whole night through with seven Christian teachers condemned to death, who before had been beaten and held in starvation. In the morning, when they led the condemned to execution, Uaros marched together with them. The judge, seeing the particularly strong faith of Uaros, gave orders to subject him to fierce beatings, during the time of which the holy martyr died. The Christian teachers were then beheaded. This occurred in the year 307.

Blessed Cleopatra came from the village of Edra near Mount Tabor in Palestine. She was a contemporary of the holy Martyr Uaros and beheld his voluntary suffering. After the execution, blessed Cleopatra transferred the body of the holy martyr to her own country and buried him with reverence. Cleopatra had but a single and beloved son, John, who had attained the honourable rank of officer. To the great sorrow of his mother, John suddenly died. Cleopatra with tears of grief turned to the relics of the holy Martyr Uaros, beseeching him for the resuscitation of her son.

When Uaros and her son appeared to Cleopatra in a dream, radiant in bright attire with crowns upon their heads, -- she perceived, that the Lord had received her son into the heavenly host, and was comforted. After this blessed Cleopatra started to live by a church, built by her over the relics of the holy Martyr Uaros and her son John, and she strove to acquire the grace of God by good deeds. She distributed her property to the poor and spent her time in prayer and fasting. After seven years of righteous life the blessed saint reposed (c. 327).

The PriestMartyr Sadok (+ first half IV Century) was bishop of a Persian district. When the Persian emperor Sapor learned that Sadok was preaching faith in Christ, he gave orders to arrest and imprison him together with 128 Christian believers. For several months they attempted to persuade the righteous to repudiate the holy faith, but not accomplishing this, they executed them.

© 1997 by translator Fr. S. Janos.