Eastern Rite ~ Feasts of 19 November AM 7533

Today is the Feasts of the Holy Prophet Abdias and of the Holy Martyr Barlaam.

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The holy Prophet Abdias is the fourth of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and he lived during the ninth century B.C. He was from the village of Betharam, near Sichem, and he served as steward of the impious Israelite King Ahab. In those days the whole of Israel had turned away from the true God and had begun to offer sacrifice to Baal, but Abdias faithfully served the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in secret.

When Ahab’s wife, the impious and dissolute Jezebel, hunted down all the prophets of the Lord (because of her quarrel with the Prophet Elias), Abdias gave them shelter and food (3/1 Kgs 18:3 ff). Ahab’s successor King Ahaziah sent three detachments of soldiers to arrest the holy Prophet Elias (July 20). One of these detachments was headed by the holy Prophet Abdias. Through the prayer of the Prophet Elias, two of the detachments were consumed by heavenly fire, but Abdias and his detachment were spared by the Lord (4/2 Kgs 1).

From that moment Abdias resigned from military service and became a follower of the Prophet Elias. Afterwards, he himself received the gift of prophecy. The God-inspired work of the Prophet Abdias is the fourth of the Books of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Bible, and contains predictions about the future salvation of the Gentiles (Vs. 15) and that the Saviour would come forth from Sion (Vs. 17). The holy Prophet Abdias, whose name means servant (or worshipper) of the Lord, was buried in Samaria.

In iconography, the Prophet Abdias is depicted as a grey-haired old man with a rounded beard. His scroll reads: “In that day, saith the Lord, I shall destroy the wise men out of Idumea.”(Abdias 8).

Troparion — Tone 2

We celebrate the memory / of Your prophet Abdias, O Lord; / through him, we entreat You, / save our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 1

The great Abdias, acquiring a mind luminous with divine splendor, / speaks through the Holy Spirit, proclaiming things to come. / Today we honor him with faithful minds, / celebrating his holy memory which enlightens the hearts of men.

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The Holy Martyr Barlaam lived in Antioch of Syria. During Diocletian’s persecution against Christians, the aged Saint Barlaam was arrested and brought to trial, where he confessed himself a Christian.

The judge, wanting to compel the saint to renounce Christ, ordered that Saint Barlaam be brought to the pagan altar. His right hand was placed over it, and a red-hot censer burning with incense was put into his hand. The torturer thought that a physically weak old man could not endure the pain and would drop it on the altar. In this way he would involuntarily be offering sacrifice to the idol. However, the saint held on to the censer until his hand fell off. After this, the holy Martyr Barlaam surrendered his soul to the Lord.

Troparion — Tone 4

Armed with youthful fervour, / you endured martyrdom in old age and glorified Christ. / You offered Him your right hand as a whole burnt offering / and your holy soul as a blameless sacrifice. / Intercede that all may be granted forgiveness, Great-Martyr Barlaam.

Kontakion — Tone 3

Though weak with old age you vanquished the evil one, / in your mighty contest, O Barlaam. / You endured the rack like one without a body, / and steadfastly endured the burning of your hand. / Therefore, God the Word has crowned you with a crown of glory.