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Welcome to Day 1 of #nnn 2024.

Last year, in order to help do something positive and stop coalpoasting, I spent November posting entries from the audiobook Synaxarion (lives of the Saints) hosted by Patristic Nectar Publication. This year, they have locked it all behind their app and registration wall. It is what it is toobz.

So I'm going to take other entries from the Orthodox calendar maintained by Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church. (Using the legacy HTML version, since I can link to a specific day). This means there will be no audio, unless you want me to attempt to read them myself or something.

Today is October 19 on the Julian calendar.

It is the feast day of Hieromartyr Sadoc (Sadoth), Bishop of Persia, and 128 Martyrs with him (342).

The Hieromartyr Sadoc, and the 128 Martyrs suffered in Persia under Sapor II. Saint Sadoc was successor of the hieromartyr Simeon (April 17). He once had a dream, in which Saint Simeon told him of his own impending martyric death. Standing in great glory atop a ladder reaching up to Heaven, Saint Simeon said, “Ascend to me, Sadoc, and be not afraid. Yesterday I ascended, and today you will ascend.”

Soon the emperor Sapor, renewing the persecution against Christians, ordered that Saint Sadoc be arrested with his clergy and flock. In all, 128 people were arrested, including nine virgins. They were thrown into prison, where they were cruelly tortured for five months. They were told to renounce the Christian Faith and instead to worship the sun and fire. The holy martyrs bravely answered, “We are Christians and worship the One God.” They were sentenced to beheading by the sword.