Synaxarion of the Holy Martyr Myrope

On the 2nd of December,  we commemorate the Holy Martyr Myrope.

 

Verses

Truly Myrope was revealed as myrrh for Christ,
Giving up her body to torments for His sake.

This Saint Myrope was born in the city of Ephesus. Because her father died, she was brought up by her mother alone. After she was reborn through Holy Baptism, she remained at the tomb of Saint Hermione (Sept. 4), who was one of the four daughters of Philip the Apostle, the virgins and prophetesses mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 21:8). And while staying there, she received the myrrh which flowed wondrously from that tomb and distributed it abundantly to all who came. Hence, because of this circumstance, she was called Myrope.

The Relics of Saint Isidore of Chios

According to the Orthodox tradition, the body of Saint Isidore remained in Chios until the 12th century, when it (a portion) was transferred to Constantinople and placed in the Church of Hagia Irene. Roman Catholic tradition says that Saint Isidore's body (a portion) was stolen by the Latin priest Cebrano Cebrani from Chios (his discovery of the relics took place on December 7, 1124), when Doge Domenico Michiel was wintering in Chios, and taken to Venice in 1125, where it was hidden in the palace of Doge Domenico Michiel.

It was re-discovered in the early fourteenth century and exposed to public veneration in Saint Mark's Basilica, where also a chapel was built dedicated to the Saint. In 1356, the relics of Saints Isidore and Myrope were moved by the Latins to their chapel in the Church of Saint Mark in Venice, thus connecting this martyr from Alexandria with the Apostle Mark who preached the gospel in Alexandria. His relic is kept in a niche above the altar of the Chapel of Saint Isidore in Saint Mark's Basilica.

Saint Parthenios of Chios Resource Page

Venerable Parthenios of Chios (Feast Day - December 8)

Verses

Living in asceticism, Parthenios, in these latter years,
You manifested the grace of the ancient Venerables.
On the eighth the spirit of Parthenios was lifted from the earth. 

 

Synaxarion of our Venerable Father Parthenios of Chios
 

Saint Parthenios of Chios (+ 1883)

 

Life of Saint Parthenios of Chios: Based on Local Testimonies from the Clergy and Laity of Chios

 

"I Expect the Resurrection of the Dead" Were the Last Words of Saint Parthenios of Chios

Saint Parthenios of Chios, the Turkish Officer and the Bishop

 

A Miracle of Saint Parthenios When He Appeared and Took Over a Sinking Ship

 

The Right Hand of Saint Matrona of Chios and Her Personal Psalter

Saint Matrona of Chios (read here) was an abbess in the 14th century who became widely known for her miracles.

During her lifetime she had a personal prayer rule to read through the entire Psalter on a daily basis, beginning at sunrise and ending by sunset.
 

According to Archimandrite Joachim Strongylos, today a portion of the relics of Saint Matrona, which include her right hand and her personal Psalter, are at Dionysiou Monastery of Mount Athos. These together with other sacred treasures, vessels and manuscripts of the Monastery of Saint Matrona were brought to Dionysiou Monastery for safekeeping when it was destroyed by the Turks during the massacre of Chios in 1822.

Holy Martyr Markella of Chios (St. Justin Popovich)

Commemoration of the Holy Martyr Markella

July 22

By St. Justin Popovich

It is not even known where Saint Markella is from or where she suffered, because no historical data has been preserved. But in ancient times, the inhabitants of the island of Chios built her a church, and this Saint enjoys immense respect on the island of Chios. Miracles happen every day in her church. According to legend, Markella was an unusually pious girl who lost her mother at an early age. Her heathen and beastly father wanted to live with his daughter as a wife. Markella ran away from her father. But he, enraged like a true beast, caught up with her and cut her into pieces.

Synaxarion of Saint Euprepia

 

 By Metropolitan Kyrillos (Kogerakis) of Rhodes

On Thursday of Renewal Week, we commemorate Saint Euprepia.

Verses

Seemly living the law of God,
You attained glory, Holy One.

Synaxarion

We have no information about Saint Euprepia. In a place known as "Argala" on the island of Lesvos, a cruciform martyrium (a church built over the site of where a martyrdom took place or a martyr was buried) with two graves containing crushed bones was found during excavations in 1931. This archaeological site is located before the airport, next to the Elysion hotel. Also in the same area were found the ruins of a large basilica with a baptistery, which are considered to be buildings of the 6th century AD. On top of these ruins was the old Chapel of Saint Euprepia, which still exists today. Since there is no Saint with this name in the list of Saints of the Church, the question remains whether some unknown Saint with this name was martyred in Lesvos, which would explain the existence of this ancient chapel in her name.