- SAINT METROPHANES ,THE FIRST PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE
His father Dometius, the brother of the Roman Emperor Probus, fled from Rome as a Christian during the persecution of Christians and arrived at Byzantium. Titus, the Byzantine bishop, ordained him a presbyter. Following the death of Titus, Dometius became the bishop of Byzantium. After the death of Dometius, his eldest son Probus occupied the episcopal throne and after the death of Probus, Metrophanes assumed the episcopal throne. When Emperor Constantine first saw Metrophanes, he liked him as his own father. At the time of the First Ecumenical Council [325 A.D.], Metrophanes was already a man of one-hundred seventeen years and unable to participate in the work of the Council, so he appointed Alexander his Choriepiscopus as his representative. The emperor, by his intervention at the Council, conferred upon him the title of patriarch. Thus, he was the first patriarch of Constantinople. Further, the emperor invited the entire Council to visit the ailing and aged arch-pastor. When the emperor asked him whom he wished to name as successor to the patriarchal throne, Metrophanes named Alexander. Following that he said to Alexander of Alexandria: “O brother, you will remain my most worthy successor.” He then took the hand of Archdeacon Athanasius (later Athanasius the Great and Patriarch of Alexandria) and praised him before all. After this prophecy of his successor Metrophanes sought forgiveness from all and within ten days gave up his soul to God in the year 325 A.D.
- THE HOLY MARTYR CONCORDIUS
During his life on earth Concordius was an ascetic and a miracle-worker. During the reign of Emperor Antoninus he was arrested because of his faith in Christ. Following imprisonment and tortures, he was led to the stone idol of Zeus in order to worship it. Concordius spat on the idol and because of that was immediately beheaded.
- THE HOLY MARTYRS FRONTASIUS, SEVERINUS, SEVERIAN AND SILANUS
They were martyred in France during the reign of Emperor Claudius. After they were beheaded, they rose to their feet, took their heads into their hands, crossed over the river Ile, and arrived at the church of the Holy Birth-giver of God where Bishop Frontanius was praying. Entering the Church, they laid their heads before the feet of the bishop and lay down crossing their hands over their chests. They were honorably buried there. During their burial, an invisible host of angels was heard singing.
- THE VENERABLE ZOSIMUS, BISHOP OF NEW BABYLON [A TOWN IN EGYPT]
Zosimus lived a life of asceticism on Mt. Sinai. He came to Alexandria on business and was consecrated as bishop of New Babylon by the Blessed Patriarch Apollinarius. He was a worthy shepherd of the flock of Christ but when he was overcome by old age and fatigue he, again, withdrew to Mt. Sinai where he rendered his soul to God and received the wreath of glory among the great hierarchs. He lived and died in the sixth century.
- THE PRIESTLY-MARTYR ASTIUS, BISHOP OF DYRRACHIUM
Astius suffered during the reign of Trajan. At first he was beaten with lead rods and after that stripped naked and crucified on a tree. His naked body was rubbed with honey so that wasps and hornets may sting him. In his greatest torment, St. Astius glorified God, died and received two wreaths both as a martyr and as a hierarch.
- SAINT MARTHA AND SAINT MARY, THE SISTERS OF LAZARUS
Following the Ascension of the Lord, Lazarus set out to preach the Gospel. His two sisters assisted him in this. It is not known where they died.