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🔸 October 27 - Saint Procla the Wife of Pontius Pilate 🔸 Today, we also commemorate Saint Procla. She was the wife of Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea who presided over the trial of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, the only reference to Pilate’s wife is a single sentence in the Gospel of Matthew in which she sent a message to her husband, asking him not to condemn Jesus Christ to death: “While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.’” (Matthew 27:19). But Pilate, fearing unrest and seeking to satisfy the demands of the crowd and the chief priests, did not heed the warning of his wife, and “delivered Him to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:26). According to later Christian tradition as expressed by Origen, she was baptized a Christian. She is known as Procla or Claudia, or Claudia Procla. It is assumed that her name prior to becoming a Christian was Claudia, while after baptism it was changed to Procla. The name ‘Claudia’ appears only once in the New Testament, in the Second Epistle to Timothy 4:21: “Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia send their greetings, and so do all the other Christians.” Sources differ on her death, some saying she died in peace while others saying she died as a martyr.

🔸 October 27 - Saint Nestor of Thessaloniki 🏟️🗡️ 🔸 Today, we commemorate the Holy and Victorious Martyr Saint Nestor of Thessaloniki, the friend and companion of Saint Demetrios the Great-Martyr. Both suffered for Christ in 306 AD during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Galerius Maximian. St Nestor was a young and handsome citizen of Thessaloniki, and was instructed in the True Faith by Saint Demetrios who used his position of influence as a military commander to preach Christianity. When the emperor Maximian arrived in Thessaloniki to celebrate a decisive military victory, he imprisoned his commander Demetrios after learning that he had been using his entrusted position to bring pagans to Christ. As part of the festivities in the city, Maximian arranged for gladiatorial battles to take place in the city’s amphitheater. Citizens watched as the gigantic gladiator Lyaios crushed his opponents - many of whom were Christians whom had been sentenced to death for confessing their faith. When Nestor saw how the emperor Maximian rejoiced in the suffering and killing of Christians at the hands of Lyaios, he decided to voluntarily battle the undefeated gladiator to prove that true strength is with those who believe in Christ. Before the battle, Nestor went to the prison cell where his companion Demetrios was being held, and fell to his feet saying; “Pray for me, O Servant of God, Demetrios, that by your prayers, God may help me to beat Lyaios, and put an end to him who brings reproach upon the Christians.” Saint Demetrios made the sign of the Cross over the young Nestor and sent him off to his David vs Goliath battle. Saint Nestor bravely mounted the battle platform and prayed; “God of Demetrios, help me.” After dodging the charging Lyaios, Nestor managed to fatally stab the barbarian. Watching on, the emperor was enraged to have been shown up by this young Christian, and ordered for Saint Nestor to be beheaded. The emperor also sent soldiers to the cell of Saint Demetrius, ordering them to drive their lances through his chest. And thus, both these valiant and youthful warriors of Christ delivered their souls to the Lord.

🔸 October 26 - Saint Demetrios the Myrrh-Gusher 𓐬 🔸 Today, we commemorate the Great-Martyr and Myrrh-Gusher Saint Demetrios, the patron Saint of Thessaloniki. Along with Saint George, he is one of the most revered military saints of the Church. St Demetrios was born in 270 to devout parents who were Christians in secret, and his father was a military commander in Thessaloniki. When his father died, the pagan Emperor Galerius Maximian appointed Demetrios to take his place. As commander, Demetrios was tasked with defending the city from barbarians, and eradicating Christianity. But instead of persecuting Christians as ordered, Demetrios used his position of authority to instruct the inhabitants of the city in the Christian Faith, and he converted many pagans by his eloquence and wisdom. After a military victory against the Sarmatians, Maximian stopped in Thessaloniki to celebrate with the locals and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Envious pagans denounced Demetrios, and after he confessed his faith before the emperor, he was thrown into prison. As part of the festivities, Maximian had arranged for gladiatorial combat to take place in the city’s amphitheater. The emperor’s most fierce fighter was a man of gigantic stature and strength named Lyaios, who was undefeated in combat. A young Christian named Nestor decided to confront the giant Lyaios, to prove that true strength is with those who believe in Christ. Before this David vs Goliath battle, Nestor went to the cell of Demetrios asking for his prayers. In the battle, the giant Lyaios charged Nestor, but the young boy slipped to the side, and fatally stabbed him in the heart. The emperor was enraged at having been shown up by the young Christian, and ordered his beheading. Hearing St Nestor call upon the God of Demetrios before his martyrdom, Maximian ordered his soldiers go to the cell of St Demetrios and thrust their lances into his chest. Thus, St Demetrios delivered his soul in 306. At the church of St Demetrios in Thessaloniki, the site of his martyrdom, fragrant myrrh has been known to miraculously flow forth from his reliquary, and thus he is called “the Myrrh-Gusher.”

It is truly right to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God.

🔸 October 23 - Saint James the Brother of God 🔸 Today, we commemorate the Holy Apostle James, the Brother of God and author of the Epistle of James in the New Testament. Tradition holds that St Joseph the Betrothed had children from a previous marriage before he became a widower and was betrothed to the Theotokos. St James was among these children, who were stepbrothers of Christ: “Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?” (Matthew 13:55). Another tradition holds that James accompanied his father Joseph, the Theotokos and the infant Christ during their flight into Egypt. James consecrated himself to God by taking the Nazarite vows of asceticism. For his strict adherence to the Old Law, he was know as “James the Just”, a title distinguishing him from the many others named James. The virtues which earned him this title are described by St Jerome of Stridon who quotes the 2nd century scholar St Hegesippus the Nazarene: “This one was holy from his mother’s womb. He drank neither wine nor strong drink, ate no flesh, never shaved or anointed himself with ointment or bathed. He alone had the privilege of entering the Holy of Holies, since indeed he did not use woolen vestments but linen and went alone into the temple and prayed in behalf of the people, insomuch that his knees were reputed to have acquired the hardness of camels’ knees.” When the Savior preached the Kingdom of God, James believed in Christ and became His Apostle, and was ordained by Him as the first Bishop of Jerusalem. Instructed by Christ Himself, St James was also the first to write the Divine Liturgy. This was later shortened by St Basil the Great, and again by St John Chrysostom. St James presided over the Council of Jerusalem, and his judgment was adopted in the Apostolic Decree (Acts 15). In his 30 years as bishop, he shepherded the church of Jerusalem and converted many Jews and pagan Greeks to Christ. Enraged Jewish leaders led St James to the pinnacle of the Jerusalem Temple and had him thrown off the roof. He did not die at once, but gathering strength, he prayed for his enemies while they beat him to death around 63 AD.