Today we celebrate the martyrdom of the Hieromartyr Lucian of Antioch. Saint Lucian was orphaned at the age of 12 and so he distributed all his possessions to the poor and sought guidance from the confessor Macarius in Edessa. Here he learnt the scriptures and the ascetic life. Having excelled in virtue and preached the gospel to the Jews and pagans, he was ordained a presbyter (priest). He opened a school in Antioch which taught the Holy Scriptures and how to live a virtuous life. He even corrected mistranslations and heretical additions to the Greek Septuagint. During the persecution of Diocletian, Saint Lucian was taken prisoner for 9 years where he encouraged his fellow prisoners not to give up the good fight. Just before his death, the holy presbyter wished to receive communion for the last time, and so, bound to a spiked bed in chains and shackles, he performed the Divine Liturgy in the prison, using his own chest as the Holy Altar. The day after when the soldiers went to see if the Saint was alive, he confessed three times, "I am a Christian" and then his soul departed to the Lord. The soldiers threw his body into the sea, however two dolphins miraculously brought it ashore where a pious Christian took the body and buried it. The Honourable Saint Helen built a church over where his relics were buried. May he intercede for us all + #saint #lucian #presbyter #antioch #antiochian #lebanon #martyr #hieromartyr #confessor #ascetic #asceticism #virtue #spirituallife #spiritual #septuagint #prayer #holy #venerable #helen #sainthelen #sthelen #dolphin #dolphins #miracle #miraculous #communion #holycommunion #martyr #martyrdom #orthodox #saintoftheday (at İzmit-Kocaeli) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjtO0XUL6wd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=












