Eastern Rite - Hieromartyrs Hermolaus and Hermippus and Hermocrates & Venerable-Martyr Paraskevḗ

Today is the Feasts of the Holy Hieromartyr Hermolaus and Those with Him and the Holy Venerable-Martyr Parasceve.

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Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates of Nicomedia, were among the small number of those remaining alive after 20,000 Christians were burned alive in a church at Nicomedia in the year 303 (December 28), on the orders of the emperor Maximian (284-305). They lived in remote places and did not cease to preach Christianity to the pagans.

The young pagan named Pantoleon (Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, July 27) often passed by the house in which Saint Hermolaus had concealed himself. Once Saint Hermolaus chanced to meet the youth and asked him to stop by his house. In their conversation Saint Hermolaus began to explain to his guest the falseness, impiety and vanity of worshipping the pagan gods. From that day on, Pantoleon began to visit Saint Hermolaus daily and received holy Baptism from him.

When the trial of the holy Great Martyr Panteleimon was being held, Saints Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates, were also arrested. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Saint Hermolaus one evening and revealed to him that on the following day he would suffer for Him and receive a martyr’s crown.

Saints Hermippus and Hermocrates were arrested and brought to trial after Saint Hermolaus. All three were given the chance to deny Christ and offer sacrifice to idols. But they resolutely refused, confessed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and were prepared gladly to die for Him.

The pagans began to threaten the holy priests with torture and death. Suddenly, a strong earthquake occurred, and the idols and pagan temple collapsed and shattered. This was reported to the emperor. The enraged Maximian gave the holy martyrs over to torture and pronounced upon them a sentence of death. Bravely enduring all the torments, the holy Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates were beheaded in about the year 305.

Troparion — Tone 4

O God of our Fathers, / always act with kindness towards us; / take not Your mercy from us, / but guide our lives in peace / through the prayers of the hierarchs Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates.

Kontakion — Tone 8

(Podoben: “As the first fruits...”)
The Church glorifies you as teachers of virtue and adornments of hierarchs, / singing: “By your intercessions for those who lovingly honor you, / grant progress in virtue, and deliverance from temptations.”

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Holy Virgin Martyr Paraskevḗ of Rome was the only daughter of Christian parents, Agathon and Politia, and from her early years she dedicated herself to God. She spent much of her time in prayer and the study of the Holy Scriptures. After the death of her parents, Saint Paraskevḗ distributed all of her inheritance to the poor and consecrated her virginity to Christ. Emulating the holy Apostles, she began to preach to the pagans about Christ, converting many to Christianity.

She was arrested during the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161) because she refused to worship the idols. She was brought to trial and fearlessly confessed herself a Christian. Neither enticements of honours and material possessions, nor threats of torture and death shook the firmness of the saint nor turned her from Christ. She was given over to beastly tortures. They put a red-hot helmet on her head and threw her in a cauldron filled with boiling oil and pitch. By the power of God the holy martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor peered into the cauldron, Saint Paraskevḗ threw a drop of the hot liquid in his face, and he was burned. The emperor began to ask her for help, and the holy martyr healed him. After this the emperor set her free.

Travelling from one place to another to preach the Gospel, Saint Paraskevḗ arrived in a city where the governor was named Asclepius. Here again they tried the saint and sentenced her to death. They took her to an immense serpent living in a cave so that it would devour her. But Saint Paraskevḗ made the Sign of the Cross over the snake and it died. Asclepius and the citizens witnessed this miracle and believed in Christ. She was set free, and continued her preaching. In a city where the governor was a certain Tarasius, Saint Paraskevḗ endured fierce tortures and was beheaded in the year 140.

Many miracles took place at the saint’s tomb: the blind received sight, the lame walked, and barren women gave birth to children. It is not only in the past that the saint performed her miracles, but even today she helps those who call on her in faith.

Troparion — Tone 1

Showing a diligence befitting your calling, O namesake of preparedness,1 / you have inherited as your dwelling, a faith worthy of your name, O prize-winner Paraskevḗ. / Therefore, you pour forth healings, / and you intercede for our souls.1 Paraskevḗ means Friday, in Greek. In the Scriptures, Friday is called the day of preparation (Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:31).


Troparion — Tone 5

O wise and praiseworthy Martyr of Christ Paraskevḗ, / by taking courage and rejecting feminine weakness / you conquered the devil! / You put your torturer to shame by crying out: / "Come, rend my body with your sword, and burn it with fire; / for I go rejoicing to Christ my bridegroom!" / By her prayers, O Christ God, save our souls!

Kontakion — Tone 8

(Podoben: “O Victorious Leader...”)
Come, O faithful, with one accord let us sing a hymn of praise to the prizewinner, the victorious Paraskevḗ, / for she shines forth upon the world with miracles; / driving away the dark moonless night of error, she pours forth grace upon the faithful / who cry out to her: "Rejoice, O much-suffering Martyr!"

Kontakion — Tone 1

Your temple, revered by all, is found to be a hospital for souls, / in it all believers honour you with loud voices, / O glorious Monastic Martyr Paraskevḗ.