AUGUST 24
AUG 24
KOSMAS AITOLOS, EQUAL-TO-THE-APOSTLES. As an aftermath of four centuries of Turkish oppression in Greece, Kosmas received the patriarchal blessing to travel wherever needed, for however long, with complete independence, to breath life back into Christianity in Greece. Born early in the 18th century in Aitolia, to a father who was a weaver and a devout mother, he attended public schools, but was tutored by an archdeacon. He taught and then attended a school on Mt. Athos. He became a monk and later a priest at Philotheou Monastery there. After a time, he felt a calling to do missionary work in Greece, especially in the remote areas where there was a lack of churches and priests for the many unbaptized adults. Kosmas was known to have prophesied of the telephone, airplanes, and aerial bombings. Kosmas sojourned to Greece, its islands, and Albania for 25 years, founding over 200 schools, as well as
charities and rural churches. He planted crosses wherever he went. The Muslims tried him on charges of conspiracy and sentenced him to hang. However, one account reports that he prayed and gave up his spirit before this could occur. Patriarch Athenagoras canonized him in 1961.
EUTECHES THE HIEROMARTYR. He was a disciple of the Apostles Paul and John and as such was called an apostle, even though he was not included in the twelve or the seventy. As a missionary bishop, he had as his traveling companion an angel of God. In his times of travail, God was also with him. In prison, he was fed by an angel of God. When he was thrown into the fire and to the wild animals, he was not harmed. Finally, he was beheaded.
OTHER SAINTS COMMEMORATED AUGUST 24. St. Dionysios, Archbishop of Aegina; St. George Limniotes the Confessor of Mt. Olympus; Virgin-martyr Cyra of Persia; St. Arsenius, abbot of Vologda; Martyr Tatio at Claudiopolis; St. Peter, Metropolitan of Kiev.
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