Science of the Saints, 14 October, Holy Martyrs Nazarius, Celsus, Gervase, and Protase Of Milan

 The Holy Martyrs Nazarius, Celsus, Gervase, and Protase suffered during the reign of the emperor Nero (54-68). 

Saint Nazarius (son of the Christian Perpetua and the Jew Africanus) was born at Rome and was baptised by Bishop Linus. From his youthful years Nazarius decided to devote his life to preaching the teachings of Christ and to aid wandering Christians. With this intent he left Rome and arrived in Mediolanum (Milan). 

While visiting Christians at the Mediolanum prison, Nazarius made the acquaintance of the twins Protase and Gervase. The twin brothers had been born in the city of Mediolanum into a family of rich Roman citizens - Vitalius and Valeria. But having been left orphans (their parents had been martyred for the Christian faith), the brothers distributed their substance to the poor, emancipated their slaves, and occupied themselves with fasting and prayer. The pagans locked them up in prison for their confession of faith in Christ. 

Saint Nazarius esteemed the twins, and as much as he was able he relieved their sufferings. But for this the pagans gave him a beating and banished him from Mediolanum. 

Saint Nazarius proceeded on to Gaul (modern France), and there he successfully preached Christianity and converted many pagans. In the city of Kimel he baptised the son of a certain Christian by name Celsus, and in teaching him, acquired a faithful student and co-worker in their missionary labours. For their confession of faith in Christ, the pagans gave them over for devouring by wild beasts, but the beasts would not touch the saints. Afterwards they tried to drown the martyrs in the sea, but they went through the water, as though on dry land. The soldiers carrying out the orders were so amazed that they themselves accepted Christianity and released the holy martyrs.

Set free, Nazarius and Celsus went to Mediolanum and visited Gervase and Protase in prison. For this, they were delivered over to Nero, who ordered that Saints Nazarius and Celsus be beheaded. Soon after this they executed also the holy brothers Gervase and Protase.

Many years later, during the reign of the holy Emperor Theodosius (408-450), Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, through a revelation from above discovered the relics of the holy martyrs. The holy relics, glorified by many an healing, were solemnly transferred to the Mediolanum cathedral.

Science of the Saints, 13 October, Holy Martyrs Carpus, Papylus, Agathodorus, and Agathonica

 The Holy Martyrs Carpus, Bishop of Phiatirea, Deacon Papylus, Agathodorus, and Agathonica the sister of Papylus, suffered during a time of persecution against Christians under the emperor Decius in the third century. 

The governor of the district where the saints lived became aware that Carpus and Papylus did not celebrate the pagan feasts. He gave orders to arrest the transgressors and first to try to persuade them in the veracity of the Roman pagan religion. 

The saints answered that it would be improper to worship false gods. The judge then ordered them to be bound and led through the city in iron chains, and then to be tied to horses and dragged to the nearby city of Sardis. 

Agathodorus and Agathonica voluntarily followed after Carpus and Papylus. 

In Sardis they choked Agathonica to death with ox sinews, and beheaded Carpus, Papylus and Agathodorus. 

Saint Papylus during life was known for his gift of treating the sick. After his martyr's death he invariably gives healing to all who have recourse to him with faith.

Science of the Saints, 12 October, Holy Martyrs Probus, Tarachus, And Andronicus Of Tarsus In Cilicia

 The Holy Martyrs Probus, Tarachus, and Andronicus suffered for Christ in the year 304 in the city of Cilician Tarsus. 

To the proposal of the pagans to offer sacrifice to the idols, the old soldier Tarachus replied that he offered sacrifice to the One, True God in a pure heart. Seeing the firmness of the saints in confessing the true faith, the proconsul gave them over to torture. 

"When my body doth suffer," said Saint Probus to the idol-worshippers, "then my soul is healed and invigorated." 

The tormentors refined their tortures, such as their rage could invent, and then they tore the bodies of the saints apart. Christians secretly took up the remains of the saints and buried them.

Science of the Saints, 11 October, Holy Apostle Philip Of The Seventy, One Of The Seven Deacons

The Holy Disciple Philip from amongst the Seventy (not to be confused with Saint Philip the Apostle from amongst the Twelve), was born in Palestine. He was married and had children.

After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Twelve Apostles made him a deacon in the Jerusalem Church, and with the other six deacons they entrusted him to deal with the offerings of the faithful and attend to the concerns of the widowed, the orphaned and the needy. 

The eldest among the Seven First-Deacons was the holy Archdeacon Stephen. When a persecution began, and the Jews had stoned the First-Martyr Stephen, the Disciple Philip departed from Jerusalem. He settled in Samaria, and there he successfully preached Christianity. Among the converts of the disciple was the noted magician Simon who, "having been baptised, did not leave from Philip." (Acts 8:9-13)

At the command of an Angel of the Lord the disciple set out upon the road connecting Jerusalem with Gaza, and there he met a dignitary of the empress of Ethiopia, whom also he converted to Christianity (Acts 8:26-39). 

The holy disciple Philip tirelessly preached the Word of God in many of the lands of the Near East adjoining Palestine. At Jerusalem the Apostles ordained him to the dignity of bishop and sent him to Lydia, where he baptised many. Saint Philip died in old age.

Science of the Saints, 10 October, Holy Martyrs Eulampius And His Sister Eulampia

The Holy Martyrs Eulampius and Eulampia, a brother and sister by birth, lived at the beginning of the fourth century in the city of Nicomedia. 

Having read the decree of the emperor Maximian (284-305) putting every Christian under a sentence of death by execution, Eulampius became upset that the emperor, rather than going off to fight the enemies of his fatherland, instead was taking up arms against his own subjects. 

They brought the youth to trial and demanded that he renounce the Christian faith. For his refusal they first tore at him with iron hooks, and then they placed him upon a red-hot bed. 

Of a sudden the sufferer expressed a wish to visit the pagan temple. The judges were delighted, supposing that they had swayed the youth from Christianity. In the pagan temple of Mars the saint cried out: "In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I command thee, idol dumb and without soul, fall down upon the ground and be turned to dust!" The idol with a crash smashed down upon the ground. People exclaimed: "The Supreme God is the Christian God, great and mighty!" The saint again was taken off for torture. 

This time the sister of the sufferer, Eulampia, appeared before the judges and declared that she also was a Christian. Eulampius encouraged his sister: "Sister, fear not those killing the body, but unable to kill the soul" (Mt. 10:28). After tortures they threw the martyrs into a red-hot furnace, but the Lord protected them from the fire. Finally, they beheaded the brother, and the sister died from the tortures.

Science of the Saints, 9 October, Holy Apostle James, Son Of Alphaeus

Saint James Alphaeus - one of the Twelve Apostles - was brother of the holy Evangelist Matthew. 

After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle James Alphaeus, together with the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, made missionary journeys preaching in Judea, Edessa, Gaza, Eleutheropolis, converting many on the path of salvation. 

In the Egyptian city of Ostrazin Saint James finished his apostolic work with a martyr's death on a cross.

Science of the Saints, 8 October, Saint Pelagia The Penitent

The Nun Pelagia was converted to Christianity by Saint Nonnos, Bishop of Edessa. 

Before her acceptance of saving Baptism, Pelagia was head of a dance troupe in Palestinian Antioch, living life in frivolity and profligacy. 

But one time Pelagia, elegantly dressed, was making her way past a church, at the doors of which Saint Nonnos was preaching a sermon. Believers turned their faces away from the sinner, but the bishop long glanced after her. Struck by the outer beauty of Pelagia and having foreseen the spiritual greatness in her, the saint in his cell prayed long to the Lord for the sinner, grieving that the poverty attiring his soul could not compare with the splendid garb and beauty of the profligate.

On the following day, when Saint Nonnos was teaching in the church about the Dread Last Judgement and its consequences, Pelagia came. The teaching made such an impression upon her, that betaken with the fear of God and bursting out in tears of repentance, she besought the saint for Baptism. Seeing the sincere and full repentance of Pelagia, Bishop Nonnos baptised her.

By night the devil appeared to Pelagia, urging her to return to her former life. In answer to this the saint made prayer, signed herself with the Sign of the Cross, and the devil vanished. Having gathered up her valuables, Saint Pelagia took them to Bishop Nonnos. The bishop gave orders to distribute it amidst the poor with the words: "Let be wisely dispersed what is miraculously gathered." 

After this Saint Pelagia in hair-shirt journeyed to Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives. There, until her end (457), she asceticised in seclusion under the masculine name Pelagios, and attained to great spiritual gifts.