Clement, Bishop of Ankyra Departure of the Prophet Obadiah, one of the 12 Minor Prophets St. Paulinas the Merciful

Clement, Bishop of Ankyra

When his mother died, she left him an orphan at age twelve, but she prophesied that he would die as a martyr. He was raised as a Christian and was appointed as a bishop at the age of only 21. He ate only bread and vegetables, and so he mastered his own body with great restraint. Over 28 years, he was tormented by eleven different torturers, being taken from city to city as an example. He was brought to Rome, where Diocletian offered him freedom and money or more tortures. He chose the latter, and his skin was torn from his body. Finally, he was beheaded.

Departure of the Prophet Obadiah, one of the 12 Minor Prophets

On this day, the Church commemorates the departure of the Prophet Obadiah, one of the 12 Minor Prophets of Israel.

He was the son of the Prophet Hananya, from the tribe of Judah. Obadiah prophesied in the days of King Jehoshaphat, King of Judah.

It was said that he was the head of the fifty men who were sent by King Ahaziah to the Prophet Elijah, the third time. He came to Elijah in humility and pleaded with him not to destroy him and his men as he did to the two preceeding missions, for fire came down from heaven and burned them. He asked Elijah to have compassion upon him and to accompany him to King Ahaziah. Elijah went with him as was told by the angel of the Lord (2 Kings 1:15).

Obadiah realised then that to be in the service of the Prophet Elijah was far more noble than to serve earthly kings. Obadiah left the service of the King and followed Elijah. He was filled with the grace of God and he prophesied for more than 20 years.

He prophesied about the destruction of the land of Edom, for their hatred of Israel (Obadiah 1:16). He also prophesied about the salvation of Jerusalem, its victory over the family of Esau, and its victory over all her enemies. (Obadiah 1:17-21).

He was more than seven hundred years before Christ. He departed in peace and was buried in the tomb of his fathers.

St. Paulinas the Merciful

He was a Roman senator in the fifth century. When he was baptized, he lived the life of a monk in the solitude of the Spanish Pyrenees. However, Christians found Paulinas and made him their bishop in Nola. His relics are in the Church of St. Bartholomew in Rome.

Glory be to God forever. Amen.