THE HOLY ARCHANGEL GABRIEL
The archangel Gabriel (meaning ‘Man of God’) is mentioned in the Old Testament as the angel who helped Daniel understand his visions (Dan 8:15 and 9:21). In the New Testament, it was Gabriel who told Zachariah the hierarch, contrary to all hope and by God’s favour, that he and his wife Elizabeth will have a son who would be the prophet of Jesus (Luke 1:11-20). Gabriel also revealed to the Virgin Mary how in her would be born Jesus, the Son of God (Luke 1:26-38). Mary’s faithful response, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word”, makes her the highest model of obedience to God, because she chose to believe and obey Him firmly.
SAINT JULIAN, THE BISHOP OF CENOMAINS [LEMANS, FRANCE]
Some think that this saint is none other than Simon the Leper, who was cured by the Lord. The Apostle Peter consecrated him a bishop and sent him to pagan Gaul, where St. Julian endured great miseries but succeeded to convert many people to the Faith of Christ. When he baptized Prince Defenson, many subjects of this prince turned to the True Faith. By the grace of God, he worked great miracles: he healed the sick, cast out demons and resurrected the dead. He ended his life peacefully and, at the time of his death, appeared to Prince Defenson in the middle of the day while he was at lunch.
THE VENERABLE STEPHEN OF SABAS
Stephen was a first cousin to St. John Damascene. He lived a life of asceticism in the Monastery of St. Sabas the Sanctified for which he was surnamed Sabas. He was a great imitator of the life of St. Sabas and a shining star among the monks in Palestine. He reposed in the Lord in the year 794 A.D., in his sixty-ninth year.
THE VENERABLE FEMALE SARAH
As a young maiden, Sarah withdrew to live a life of austere mortification and for sixty years lived a life of asceticism on the shores of the Nile river not far from Alexandria. By her example she attracted many women to the monastic life. She found rest in the Lord in the year 370 A.D.