Today we celebrate the Hieromartyr Clement, Pope of Rome. Saint Clement was born into a rich and illustrious family, but under unforseen circumstances, was separated from his parents and raised by strangers. He lived in Rome and received a fine education, living in the luxury of the imperial court. These indulgences brought him not joy, however, and began to ponder the meaning of life. When the Gospel reached the area, he travelled to Alexandria where he lived under the guidance of the Apostle Barnabas. Arriving in Palestine, Clement became a disciple of the Apostle Peter and was baptised by him and eventually being consecrated as Pope of Rome (note that at this time, the Roman Popes were still in communion with the Orthodox Church). Fulfilling his role as Pope of Rome, Bishop Clement guided his flock in prayer and virtue, even baptising 424 people on the day of Pascha. The jealous pagans who loathed apostolic work, denounced the saint to the Roman Emperor Trajan, accusing him of insulting the pagan gods. Bishop Clement was exiled to the Crimea where many of his fervent disciples followed him. He laboured greatly there in a stone quarry, even building a church where he served as a priest for the people he baptised which numbered over to over 500 daily. The Emperor Trajan heard of this and sentenced the saint to drowning with an anchor tied to his neck. Thus, the Holy Bishop gave up his soul to the Lord. For many years after, on the anniversary of the saint’s martyrdom, the sea would retreat for seven days and reveal a God-made marble church which enshrined the relics of the saint. Saint Clement is also considered one of the great Apostolic Church Fathers, having written a spiritual legacy in the form of two epistles to the Corinthians. May he intercede for us always + #saint #clement #klimis #pope #rome #roman #romanemperor #emperor #trajan #emperortrajan #baptise #baptize #gospel #preach #bishop #archbishop #martyr #martyrdom #hieromartyr #apostolic #apostle #father #churchfather #crimea #ukraine #church #orthodox (at Rome, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClULLZgLSt9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
