Thursday, October 30, 2008

Sts. Zenobios and Zenobia the Martyrs

Icon of Sts. Zenobios and Zenobia, Eutropia, and Kleopas the Apostle of the 70 - Celebrated on October 30th (taken from http://www.christopherklitou.com/saints_30th_october.htm)

"They were from the town of Aegea in Cilicia. They inherited the true Faith and great material wealth from their parents. Working zealously for the Faith and with great love, they distributed all their wealth to the poor. Because their hands were so generous, the hand of God shielded them from every evil intent of men and demons. The generous hands of Zenobius, which gave to the poor, were endowed by God with the gift of miracle-working, and Zenobius healed the sick of every kind of infirmity merely by touching them. Zenobius was appointed Bishop of Aegea. During a persecution, the Prefect Lysias arrested him and said: ``I offer you two choices: life or death; life if you worship the gods, or death if you do not.'' St. Zenobius replied: ``Life without Christ is not life but death, whereas death for the sake of Christ is not death but life.'' When Zenobius was subjected to cruel tortures, Zenobia came to the judge and said: ``I also want to drink from this cup of suffering, and be crowned with that wreath.'' After being tortured in fire and in boiling pitch, both were beheaded with the sword in about the year 285. Thus this brother and sister took up their habitation in the Kingdom of the Immortal Christ the King."
(taken from: http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/prolog.htm)

 
Icon of the Martyrdom of Sts. Zenobios and Zenobia from Decani Monastery (taken from http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Menologion/October/CX4K3515_l.html)

Απολυτίκιο. Ήχος δ’. Ταχύ προκατάλαβε.
Ως θείοι αυτάδελφοι, ομονοούντες καλώς, Ζηνόβιε ένδοξε, και Ζηνοβία σεμνή, συμφώνως ηθλήσατε, όθεν και των στεφάνων, των αφθάρτων τυχόντες, δόξης ακατάλυτου, ηξιώθητε άμα, εκλάμποντες τοις εν κόσμω, χάριν ιάσεων.

Apolytikion for Sts. Zenobios and Zenobia - 4th Mode (amateur translation of the above Greek)
As divine siblings, of rightly the same mind, Zenobios most glorious, and Zenobia most pure, together you suffered, and the unfading crowns you were granted, and glory unending, and you were made worthy therefore, to shine in the world, the grace of healing.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
With songs inspired by God, let us now render honour, as is due unto Zenobius and wise Zenobia, the pair of siblings in the flesh, who proclaimed true religion; those two martyrs of truth, who, passing their lives as one, also received together through martyrdom crowns that shall not fade.
(taken from: http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=263)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

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