Today, January 13, our Church remembers the holy martyrs Ermilus and Stratonikus, who lived during the time of Emperor Licinius (308-323 A.D.) who, to please the pagans who disliked the Great Constantine, ordered the persecution of Christians around 320 A.D.
.
St. Ermilo was a deacon in the liturgical work of the Church. When he stood before the emperor and confessed his faith in Christ, he was subjected to terrible tortures.
Among those present at his martyrdom was his friend Stratonikus, who suffered greatly for his friend's suffering. Before the sight of his martyrdom, Stratonikus prayed to the Most Holy Triune God, and at the same time could not restrain his sighs and tears.
Then the executioners realized that Stratonik was also a Christian. He was arrested by order of a superior and urged to deny Christ. He resisted vigorously and went the way of good confession.
Thus the martyrdom for the love of Christ was extended to him. They beat him, and then together with Ermil they threw him into the river Istro (Danube) where both soldiers of Christ met their happy end and received crowns of martyrdom.
Some Christians, aware of the events, made every effort to find the holy remains of the two saints. And when after three days they saw them somewhere on the bank of the river, they took them and buried them together.
Martyrs Ermil and Stratonikos, honored today, left the worldly vanity and passed into the world with their death. Thus they acted as martyrs and faithful, with their abstinence, faith, patience and martyrdom.
Especially for the Christian, the human body is sacred. And this is because the Creator God breathed into the human being the breath of life. Moreover, because in the Church the whole man as a psychosomatic entity is baptized and perfumed with the name of the Holy Trinity.
Therefore, respect for the remains of every deceased person enables us to realize how great is the value and honor that the Church bestows on the incorruptible holy remains of Holy men.
.
St. Ermilo was a deacon in the liturgical work of the Church. When he stood before the emperor and confessed his faith in Christ, he was subjected to terrible tortures.
Among those present at his martyrdom was his friend Stratonikus, who suffered greatly for his friend's suffering. Before the sight of his martyrdom, Stratonikus prayed to the Most Holy Triune God, and at the same time could not restrain his sighs and tears.
Then the executioners realized that Stratonik was also a Christian. He was arrested by order of a superior and urged to deny Christ. He resisted vigorously and went the way of good confession.
Thus the martyrdom for the love of Christ was extended to him. They beat him, and then together with Ermil they threw him into the river Istro (Danube) where both soldiers of Christ met their happy end and received crowns of martyrdom.
Some Christians, aware of the events, made every effort to find the holy remains of the two saints. And when after three days they saw them somewhere on the bank of the river, they took them and buried them together.
Martyrs Ermil and Stratonikos, honored today, left the worldly vanity and passed into the world with their death. Thus they acted as martyrs and faithful, with their abstinence, faith, patience and martyrdom.
Especially for the Christian, the human body is sacred. And this is because the Creator God breathed into the human being the breath of life. Moreover, because in the Church the whole man as a psychosomatic entity is baptized and perfumed with the name of the Holy Trinity.
Therefore, respect for the remains of every deceased person enables us to realize how great is the value and honor that the Church bestows on the incorruptible holy remains of Holy men.
Share:
