Today, during the joy of the Ascension, the Church honors the memory of the martyrs Isaurus, Basil, Innocent, Felix, Hermias and Peregrinus, martyred around the end of the 3rd century at Apollonia, and St. Philonides, Bishop of Kurion. Cyprus.
In the life of St. Philonides, written by Bishop Ariston, it is mentioned that he lived during the reign of Diocletian. Having refused to worship idols and having publicly confessed his faith in Christ, Philonides was imprisoned together with St. Aristocles, St. Demetrianus and St. Athanasius, who eventually died a martyr's death.
Having learned about the royal decree, on the basis of which the soldiers were ordered to corporal punishment at the expense of Christian captives, the saint climbed to a high place and after diligent prayer threw himself on a rock, so that the image of God would not want to dry up on His face.
He thus demonstrated in practice that when the highest spiritual goods such as virtue, honor, dignity, freedom and faith in God are at stake, human life, which is undoubtedly a gift of God, becomes of secondary value.
The holy martyr Philonides delivered his spirit into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ before he fell to the ground.
The life of the Church is full of examples of holy bishops-martyrs who sealed their devotion to the will of God with their blood, his love and pastoral care for a reasonable flock. God shows such shining examples in every era, both during the years of Turkish rule and today, more than 200 years after 1821.
We, then, invoke their grace to the Great High Priest Christ, as the wish of our Saints, grant us courage in our lives and establish the security of our homeland.
Bishop Grigoriou of Mesaori
In the life of St. Philonides, written by Bishop Ariston, it is mentioned that he lived during the reign of Diocletian. Having refused to worship idols and having publicly confessed his faith in Christ, Philonides was imprisoned together with St. Aristocles, St. Demetrianus and St. Athanasius, who eventually died a martyr's death.
Having learned about the royal decree, on the basis of which the soldiers were ordered to corporal punishment at the expense of Christian captives, the saint climbed to a high place and after diligent prayer threw himself on a rock, so that the image of God would not want to dry up on His face.
He thus demonstrated in practice that when the highest spiritual goods such as virtue, honor, dignity, freedom and faith in God are at stake, human life, which is undoubtedly a gift of God, becomes of secondary value.
The holy martyr Philonides delivered his spirit into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ before he fell to the ground.
The life of the Church is full of examples of holy bishops-martyrs who sealed their devotion to the will of God with their blood, his love and pastoral care for a reasonable flock. God shows such shining examples in every era, both during the years of Turkish rule and today, more than 200 years after 1821.
We, then, invoke their grace to the Great High Priest Christ, as the wish of our Saints, grant us courage in our lives and establish the security of our homeland.
Bishop Grigoriou of Mesaori
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