• Sarvelos and Vevaea
  • Varsimaeos
  • Departure of St. Prochorus, One of the 70 Disciples
  • St Behna and St. Kloag
  • Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of St. John, owner of the Golden Gospel

Sarvelos and Vevaea

Sarvelos and Vevaea, his sister, lived during the reign of king Trajan in 110. They came from the city of Edessa. Sarbelos was a priest of the idols and servant of the abominable sacrifices of the demons. He was very handsome and glorious and he used to wear extravagant and grand clothes. He also had a golden mitre on his head and many of the Greeks who lived there considered him to be a kind of a lesser king and was honoured as if he were a God, because he was the one who ordered them to venerate and sacrifice to the idols. Sarvelos was many times reproached and catechised by Varsimaeos the Bishop of Edessa but he did not change. Once, on the day of a demonic festival, Sarvelos was leading the people in the demonic sacrifices. When Bishop Varsimaeos saw him, he reproached him again and accused him that he was the cause of many people's perdition. Sarvelos heard him, was moved by the grace of Christ, was convinced by the Bishop's words and he believed in Christ together with his sister Vevaea. So, they were both baptised by that same Bishop who catechised Sarvelos for a second time. Then Sarvelos sold all his possessions and distributed the money to the poor. Then, having become himself poor, he stayed with Bishop Varsimaeos.

When Lysias, the local governor, heard about Sarvelos' conversion, he ordered Sarvelos to be brought in front of him. He questioned him and, when he found that he was confessing Christ, he ordered his men to torture him.

When the Sarvelos' sister Vevaea saw these things, she went to the governor on her own and spoke out calling herself a Christian.
Both were executed.


Varsimaeos

Varsimaeos was the bishop of Edessa and the cause of the spiritual salvation of Sarvelos and his sister Vevaea, whom he guided to the faith of Christ and baptised. Because of this he was accused to Lysias the governor of Edessa. Varsimaeos confessed Christ and was beaten and imprisoned. Then royal letters arrived which ordered the persecution of Christians to stop. So, Bishop Varsimaeos was delivered from prison and returned to his diocese.


Departure of St. Prochorus, One of the 70 Disciples

On this day, the Church commemorates the departure of St. Prochorus, one of the 70 Disciples who were called by the Lord and were sent to preach in His Name, and whom He granted the gift of healing and of casting out evil spirits.

Prochorus was with the Disciples in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

The Apostles elected him as one of the Seven Deacons, who were known to be filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:5). He accompanied St. John the Theologian in his travels. St. John ordained him Bishop for Nicomidia in Bithinia. He preached in the Name of Christ and restored many Greeks to the faith, baptising them and teaching them to keep the Commandments. After he built a church, he ordained priests and deacons for them. Then he went to the surrounding cities, preached and baptised many of their people and also preached and baptised many Jews.

He endured many hardships because of preaching in the Name of Christ. When he completed his course, he departed at an advanced age.


St Behna and St. Kloag

On this day, we also commemorate the martyrdom of St Behna and the priest St. Kloag.


Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of St. John, owner of the Golden Gospel

On this day also, we commemorate the consecration of the church of St. John "El-Kokhy," known as the owner of the Golden Bible. The church was in the City of Rome.

Glory be to God forever. Amen.