Orthodox icon | Three Saints | 24748

Orthodox icon | Three Saints | 24748.

Saint Elizabeth

April 24 marks the commemoration of Saint Elizabeth, the Wonderworker of Constantinople. She was born in Heraclea, Thrace, in the 5th century. Her devout Christian parents sought the intercession of the holy martyr Glykeria. From a young age, she studied the lives of saints and drew inspiration from their exemplary conduct.

At 12, she became an orphan. She selflessly distributed her inheritance, freed her slaves, and joined the monastery of St. George of the Little Hill in Constantinople, under a relative’s care. With great zeal, she embraced the rigorous ascetic life.

Saint Apostle Matthias

August 9 is the day dedicated to Saint Apostle Matthias, who hailed from Bethlehem. During the life-giving Passion of the Lord, he faithfully followed Him as one of the 70 disciples. Following Christ’s ascension, the disciples gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem, devoting themselves to prayer and hymns of praise.

In that holy place, Peter suggested choosing a new disciple to replace the traitor Judas, thus reinstating the twelve apostles to symbolize perfection. Two candidates, Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias, were considered, and by Divine Providence, Matthias was chosen to complete the apostolic group.

Saint Eupraxia of Constantinople

On July 25, we honor the memory of Saint Eupraxia of Constantinople. At the tender age of 6, she experienced the sudden loss of her father, Senator Antigonus. Seeking refuge, her mother approached Emperor Theodosius the Great of Byzantium (379-395) and arranged a betrothal for Eupraxia with the son of a wealthy nobleman. However, both mother and daughter harbored a profound desire to devote their lives to the Savior.

Escaping Constantinople, they embarked on a journey to Egypt, where they distributed generous alms and sought the company of ascetics. Eventually, they settled in Thebais, where Eupraxia entered a monastery.

At the age of 12, after her mother’s passing, she renounced her inheritance and dissolved the arranged engagement. By the time she turned 20, she had been bestowed with the gift of performing miracles. Through her devout prayers, she brought about the healing of illnesses among the local populace, who flocked to the monastery, and she also demonstrated the power to cast out demons.

Source: Orthodox icon | Three Saints | 24748 © Ikonen Mautner. Typing errors, other errors or changes reserved. For more information: “Das Synaxarion. Die Leben der Heiligen der Orthodoxen Kirche.” (http://www.prodromos-verlag.de/buecher.html) and Joachim Schäfer: Das Ökumenische Heiligenlexikon – https://www.heiligenlexikon.de