By St. Nikolai Velimirovich
Apiece Galaktion and Episteme were born in the inner-city of Edessa, in Phoenicia. Galaktion's mother was dejected until she was baptized. After her designation, she converted her consort [Cleitophon] to the true Prospect, baptized her son Galaktion, and raised him in the Christian Prospect. At the same time as Galaktion was old lots to fix together, his good mother, Leukippa, entered voguish rest, and his establish betrothed him to a pagan-born maiden named Episteme. By no vent did Galaktion privation to main voguish marriage, and convinced Episteme to be baptized, along with to be tonsured a nun at the same time that he became a priest. Apiece of them withdrew to Begin Publion (next Begin Sinai) - Galaktion to a monastery and Episteme to a convent. They proved to be glittery lights in their monasteries. They were chief in piece, chief in prayer, chief in humility and meekness, and chief in love. They neither moved out their monasteries nor did they see one additional until just past their death. A deep annoyance began and all of them were brought past the hearing (in Alexandria). At the same time as the pagans unfeelingly whipped Galaktion, Episteme wept. Then they whipped her. After that, they cut off their hands, their feet and along with their heads. Their friend Eutolmios took their bodies and justifiably concealed them. Eutolmios had been a slave of Episteme's parents, and along with a priest with Galaktion. He along with wrote the life of these huge martyrs of Christ who suffered and established their wreaths in heaven in the appointment 253.
THE Friendly Gorgeous OF THE SAINTS
Physical love, in analogous to spiritual love, is less than a shadow is to commanding significance. Brotherhood and sisterhood of the blood and structure is burn compared to the brotherhood and sisterhood of the spirit. Galaktion's establish betrothed him to the maiden Episteme. Galaktion baptized Episteme and, some time ago that, all established the monastic tonsure. Their physical love was replaced by spiritual love, a love as strong as death. So anticyclone was Galaktion's spiritual love for Episteme that he never darling to see her with his physical eyes. Neither physical contact nor crowdedness are compulsory for spiritual love. So anticyclone was Episteme's spiritual love for Galaktion that in the same way as she heard that he had been smitten for torment she ran some time ago him, imploring him not to disown her, but to arrange her as a man prey, as he was her spiritual establish and brother. At the same time as the cruel torturers flogged holy Galaktion's discovered structure, holy Episteme wept. Thus far, in the same way as the torturers cut off their hands and feet for Christ, all rejoiced and overvalued God. So anticyclone was the power of their love for our Lady Jesus Christ, and so anticyclone was the spiritual love with which they esteemed each other. Precisely, physical love is sort a shocking butterfly that speedily passes, but spiritual love is changeless.
Chant OF PRAISE: THE Laudable MARTYRS GALAKTION AND EPISTEME
Galaktion, and Episteme with him,
Irrepressible the world of concise gas,
Crucified the passions of the structure,
And ascended to heaven in spirit.
Their hearts remembered Christ with every hit,
And were crucified with love for Him.
Then the tormentors in the field of.
Galaktion went to his torment,
And Episteme tasteless after:
"Slower, Brother," she alleged, "do not hurry!
I was baptized by your hand,
Now compel me with you to torture!
Equivalent nevertheless I am worthless, Brother,
I am contest to die for my Christ."
Galaktion, and Episteme with him,
Proclaimed Christ to the unbelievers,
And in bitter tortures they breathed their dying.
They gave their souls to Christ:
Now they live with angels in Heaven -
Galaktion and Episteme.
APOLYTIKION IN THE FOURTH Standardize
Thy Martyrs, O Lady, in their courageous battle for Thee established as the sack the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our everlasting God. For such as they possessed Thy break down, they cast down the tyrants and outright wrecked the demons' strengthless supposition. O Christ God, by their prayers, line our souls, such as Thou art sociable.
KONTAKION IN THE Tiny Standardize
The Martyrs of Christ, established you in their companies, who by means of baking trials contested utmost resplendently; O acknowledged Galaktion and thy sacred group and co-sufferer, Episteme, ye all demand the one God and Lady in behalf of us all.