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Martyr Varus and Seven Monastic Martyrs, and Other Saints of October 19 · Saints and Scripture

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  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Saints and Scripture Podcast.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today is Monday, october nineteenth, twenty twenty six.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today we remember several saints who showed great faith and courage in the face of persecution and hardship.
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  SPEAKER_00: First we recall Martyr Varus, who lived in Egypt during a time when Christians were being persecuted.
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  SPEAKER_00: Varys was a military commander, but he was secretly a Christian.
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  SPEAKER_00: He helped many imprisoned Christians by visiting them at night, bringing them food, dressing their wounds, and encouraging them.
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  SPEAKER_00: One night Varus spent time talking with seven monks who were imprisoned.
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  SPEAKER_00: These monks were Christian teachers who had been beaten and starved for their faith.
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  SPEAKER_00: When they were led to their execution, Varus walked with them.
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  SPEAKER_00: The judge saw Varus' strong faith and ordered that he be beaten severely.
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  SPEAKER_00: Varus died from the beating and the seven monks were beheaded after his death.
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  SPEAKER_00: We also commemorate the translation of the relics of Venerable John, abbot of Rila in Bulgaria.
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  SPEAKER_00: In twelve thirty eight his relics were moved from the city of Stradets, now Sofia, to Chernovo, the capital of the Bulgarian realm.
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  SPEAKER_00: Another group we remember today includes Hero Martyr Sadok, Bishop of Persia and one hundred and twenty eight martyrs with him.
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  SPEAKER_00: Sadok was a church leader in Persia.
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  SPEAKER_00: When the Persian Emperor Sapor found out that Sadok was preaching about Christ, he ordered Sadok and one hundred and twenty-eight Christian believers to be arrested and imprisoned.
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  SPEAKER_00: They were pressured for months to renounce their faith, but they remained faithful and were eventually executed.
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  SPEAKER_00: We also honor the prophet Joel, who lived around 800 BC.
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  SPEAKER_00: Joel predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and spoke about the coming of the Holy Spirit, which would be poured out on all people through the Savior.
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  SPEAKER_00: A hymnographer named Anatolius connected Joel's prophecy to the birth of Christ, interpreting the images in Joel's words as symbols of the incarnation, divinity, and the Holy Spirit.
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  SPEAKER_00: Finally, we remember Venerable Prochorus of Psinja, though there is no additional information about him at this time.
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  SPEAKER_00: These saints remind us of the strength found in faith and the hope given by God's promises.
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  SPEAKER_00: Let us pray.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lord help us to be faithful like Martyr Varus and the monks who stood strong in their trials.
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  SPEAKER_00: May we receive the Holy Spirit as Joel foretold and live with courage and love.
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  SPEAKER_00: Guide us in your truth every day.
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  SPEAKER_00: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lord help us to be faithful like Martyr Varus and the monks who stood strong in their trials.
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  SPEAKER_00: May we receive the Holy Spirit as Joel foretold and live with courage and love.
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  SPEAKER_00: Guide us in your truth every day, in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Amen.