Orthodox calendar April 28, 2024. Red cross holiday on Palm Sunday. What saints are celebrated

In this month, on the twenty-eighth day, the commemoration of the holy apostles Jason and Sosipatru of the seventy.

Of these Jason was a Tarsian, and was first hunted from there to the right faith. And Sosipatru, being from Greece, later received faith in Christ from him. After that, both of them becoming disciples of Paul the apostle, Jason was made teacher of the city; and Sosipatru received the helm of the Church of Iconia. Shepherding their Churches well, they went to the parts of the west; and arriving at the island of Cherchira, they beautified the church of the first martyr Stefan, where, serving God, they attracted many to faith in Christ. Then being defendants to the governor of Cherchira, they were imprisoned in a dungeon where seven gangs of robbers were imprisoned, namely: Satornin, Iachishol, Faustian, Ianuarie, Marsalie, Efrasie and Mamin, whom by their words and deeds they attracted to faith in Christ, because they turned them from wolves into sheep, which afterwards received from Christ the crowns of martyrdom. The same thing happened to the jailer who believed in Christ. The governor taking Jason and Sosipatru out of prison, entrusted Carpian with the bishop to torture them; and seeing their torments, Cherchira, the daughter of the governor, also declared herself a Christian, and gave to the poor the ornament she was wearing; of which his father, finding out, and not being able to turn her from her thoughts, shut her up in prison. After that he gave her to an Arab harlot, to dishonor her; but when he arrived at the prison door, he was torn apart by a beast. And Saint Cherchira, finding this out, healed him and saved him from the beast, and with her teaching made him a Christian; and he cried: “Great is the God of the Christians.” For this he was tortured and died, and Saint Cherchira was thrown into the fire, but the Saint remained unburnt. For this he drew many to the faith of Christ. That’s why she was hanged from a tree and they gave her smoke underneath to drown her. After that they shot her with arrows, and they hurt her so much that she gave her soul to the hand of God due to the multitude of pains. After that, the governor started chasing the Christians, and the Christians fled to a small island that was close by, he started to go there to torment them, and entering the middle of the sea he sank like Pharaoh of old. The Lord’s people gave grateful praises to God. And Jason and Sosipatru, having been released from prison, continued to learn the word of God. But another governor standing up and learning about the saints, ordered an iron cask to be brought, and to fill it with resin and pitch and wax, and heating it very hot, they put the saints in it and the saints remained unburnt and many believed in Christ, including the governor himself who was crying, saying: “God of Jason and Sosipatru, help me and have mercy on me.” Blessed Jason, being the governors present, advising and teaching all the people, baptized them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, naming the governor Sebastian. So after a few days, the governor’s son fell ill and died, and the apostle praying for him was resurrected. Since then he has done many miracles, and by making churches beautified and filling all things well and adding to the flock of Christ, in good old age he passed to his desired Christ.

Also on this day, the commemoration of the holy martyrs Dada, Maxim and Quintilian.

These saints were in the time of Diocletian and Maximian emperors, and governors Tavrinius and Gavinius. Being a great persecution of the Christians, and these saints refusing to worship the idols, they were sued to the governor of Tavrinie. As soon as they caught them in their village, which was called Ozovia, where they were always spending time in prayers to God, they bound them with iron chains and quickly brought them to the city of Dorostorulu, where both the governors were there, who said to the saints : “Tell us your name first,” and each saying his name, a Mangailian notary wrote down their words. Tavrinius said to the saints: “Behold, your life is in my hands; if you want to live, go and make a sacrifice to the mother of the gods, and you will also be her priests, because her priest died and went to the great Dia, the heavenly king , to serve him there”. And Saint Maximus answered the pagan Tavrinius: “How dare you, shamefaced one, to say that the most impure one is the king? You know, you foolish people, that Christ is the King of heaven, Who takes care of everything, and holds all things in the palm of his hand they are, and we will not worship idols made by men”. And Gavinius the governor summoned Dada and Quintilian to him, speaking many gossipy words, thinking that he would deceive them into his losing heathenism; who, disliking them, put them in prison, where through an angelic appearance their confession was strengthened, praising God. So taking them out of the dungeon, he laid them on the ground and beat them very terribly; and putting them in again he took them out and gave them to their village called Ozovia and there he cut off their heads and they met their end.

Also on this day, the commemoration of the holy martyrs among the robbers, who through the apostle Jason, believing in Christ, were executed in the caldron with pitch.

Also on this day, the commemoration of Saint Cherchira, the daughter of the governor of Cherchira, who, being shot with arrows, took place.

Also on this day, the commemoration of the holy martyrs Zinon and Vitalie, who died in the fire.

Also on this day, the commemoration of the holy martyr Eusebio, who died by fire.

Also on this day, the commemoration of the holy apostles Onesiphorus and Evod.

These saints were from the seventy, whom the apostle Paul also mentions. Onesiphorus was bishop of Colophon, and Evod was placed in the see of Antioch by Peter. And both suffering many torments and needs, and turning many to faith in Christ, they also went up to the desired Lord. Their commemoration is also done on September 7.

Also on this day, the commemoration of the holy martyr Neon, who died by fire.

With their holy prayers, Lord, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

illustrative photo: Celic Dere Monastery

Text source: calendat-ortodox.ro