Announcements

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

WATCH ONLINE

Watch our services online. You can go directly to www.youtube.com/TransGOC or www.facebook.com/transchurch to participate. A full list of services can be found on our website www.transchurch.org.

OUR LIFE ONLINE

Though some of us have felt comfortable shopping and paying bills online, there are many who are finding this a new experience. The parish has worked on providing you the opportunity to continue with some of the most basic acts of worship online.

1) Lighting a vigil candle. Please contact the Pat Mahoney (pmahoney7@comcast.net or 978 436 0998) or the church office (info@transchurch.org or 978-458-4321). Pat will make sure that your vigil candle is lit. Donation: $10. As with all donations, you can still mail in a check or you can make a donation online at www.transchurch.churchgiving.com . This site keeps your information safe and secure.

2) Making your donations. We welcome all of your donations online. You are able to make your stewardship, offering basket, candle, memorial, or general donations by using the website above. Your donations help support the ministries of the parish. Although we may not be in the church building, the essential ministries of the parish continue.

3) For now, even our worship is found online. We all know it is not the same, but it is the best we can do for now. Hopefully soon we will be able to gather, but until then we welcome you to our live steaming of services.

4) Many have found comfort in being able to participate in the worship during this extraordinary time. In fact, there is more and more support being expressed to continue this ministry even when we are able to gather for worship. We would need to invest in some new technology. If you are interested in supporting this ministry financially or participating in the production aspect, please speak with Fr. Tom.

5) Bible Study. Join in Bible Study Thursdays at 10 am. Contact Fr. Tom if you are not on the parish email contact list for the zoom link.

PARISH OFFICE IS REMOTE

Our parish office is open remotely from 9 am to 2 pm. Though you won’t be able to come in to the office, with a phone call you can get your questions answered. It may take a little longer to provide you with some of the information, but we will strive to do so in a timely fashion.

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATE

Please let us know if you are a high school, college, or advanced degree graduate. Parents, its okay for you to let us know too! You should take great pride in your son's or daughter's accomplishment. This has been a very strange way to end the year, but we want to recognize and congratulate all who have achieved such great honors. Email info@transchurch.org or call 978-458-4321 to let us know the details.

BECOME A ‘TRANSFIGURATION ANGEL’ AND TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE LIVES

The concept is really quite simple. For 10 weeks, on Sunday evening, the band of Transfiguration Angels will join together and, throughout that week, make a donation to a different local organization or charity together. Fr. Tom will send out an email with a target charity and each one of us will make a donation to that particular charity. Sometimes we will have to send in checks and other times we may be able to donate online directly to the charity or organization. The amount of the donation is not the target, but increasing the number of individuals and families who participate each week and our consistency in giving. Working together we will be able to make an impact on others lives and at the same time open our hearts to the love of our Resurrected Lord. Join the 45 Households that have participated in the Transfiguration Angel Initiative.

With each donation, you are encouraged to include a simple note.

“I(We) am(are) from the Transfiguration Church in Lowell. Please accept this donation and (my)our prayers for good health and continued good works.”

Just imagine getting this same note from 10, 20, 30 or 50 different donations! How much brighter will their day or week become.

Additionally, we ask that you send Fr. Tom an email (frtom@transchurch.org) telling him that you sent a donation, not the amount, only that you participated.

Remember, we will be making donations each week, so plan your giving accordingly. A donation of $5, $10, $25 or more, together with the donations of all the other Transfiguration Angels, will certainly have a positive impact on the lives of so many, many more.

Join us in helping others. Join us in sharing a grateful heart for all of our Lord’s blessings we have as individuals, as families, and as the Transfiguration Family.

Two Important Suggestions:

1) Please share this exciting opportunity to become a Transfiguration Angel with your family and friends who are not on the Transfiguration Email Contact List. I am certain many will want to participate.

2) This is a great time to share the joy of giving and helping others with your family. Each week, make it a part of family time. Talk about the blessings of giving. Talk about the particular ministry, organization, or charity of the week. Remind them that by participating in this ministry, they are helping God, just as the angels help God. Have them help with the note, address the envelope and mail the donation. Importantly, offer a simple prayer as a family asking for God’s blessings upon those in need, invite your children to participate in the prayer.

We are striving to increase the number of people who participate. What you give is totally up to you and dependent on your current financial situation.

This first week we donated to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. The second was the Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities. Watch for the Sunday email from Fr. Tom to see what week 3 will be.

HELLENIC WOMEN’S CLUB, INC. SCHOLARSHIP

The Hellenic Women's Club, Inc., EOK, is offering scholarships to young women of Greek descent pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Each scholarship, in the amount of $5,000, will be awarded based on academic achievement, leadership and community service.
The application deadline is June 30, 2020.

For more details and application materials, visit The Hellenic Women’s Club’s website: www.hellenicwomensclub.org

To access EOK Scholarship Application materials on the website: click on the What We Do tab at the top of the Homepage and then click on the EOK Scholarships tab section.

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

During this time of crisis, we need to take care of one another, friends, family, and stranger. If you, or anyone you know, is having difficulties because of the COVID-19 crisis, please let us know. We know that there are those who would never think of asking facing financial difficulties. We will help as we are able.

To enable us to offer help, if you are able, we welcome your donations. You can send a donation to the church or go online and donate. Go to www.transchurch.churchgiving.com, sign in and click on the Outreach Donation button and make your one-time or recurring donation. Large or small, your donation can make a difference. Thank you in advance.

STEWARDSHIP PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, accept our offerings as You accepted the gifts of Your people throughout the ages. We offer these gifts to Your glory, for the support of the ministries of Your holy Church, for the alleviation of suffering and hunger, and for the proclamation of Your Gospel to the whole world.

Grant us Your blessing, Lord our Savior, that we may always be faithful stewards, continuing to share the gifts you have given us, by the power of Your grace, mercy and love. May Your name be glorified forever. Amen.

Trinity votive candles (To Sponsor a Candle please call the Church Office.)

†Vigil Light at the Side Altar (Icon of the Theotokos): Available

†Vigil Light at the Icon of Christ: In Loving Memory of Deborah Victoria Skrekas and George Skrekas

†Vigil Light at the Theotokos: In Loving Memory of Ioannis "John" Zaralidis from his family

†Vigil Light at the Icon of the Forerunner: Available

†Vigil Light at the Foot of the Holy Cross: For the safety and wellbeing of Chris Paul Tsioulis and all of the nurses, doctors and health care professionals during this unprecedented pandemic.

Our Thanks for Your Lenten and Pascha Donations

Lily Donations:

Stephen and Kathleen Nicholaides In Loving Memory of Milton & Georgia Nicholaides
George and Jill Laganas In Loving Memory of Crystal, William, Scott, Debora, John and Evangeline Laganas
Dean Kimball In Loving Memory of Virginia Kimball
Georgia McColugh In Loving Memory of Rose Koravos
Elaine, Bob and Teddy Masse In Loving Memory of Ted and Tina Sarantos
Tanya Zouzas, Kevin Malone & Family For the Health of Samantha, Sophia and Brendan Malone
Pam Kalavetinos In Loving Memory of Mary Kalavetinos
Sophia Thomas In Loving Memory of Mary & Daniel Favas
Sandra Musgrave In Loving Memory of Dyanne Mitropoulis
George & Kathy Pappas In Loving Memory of Mr and Mrs Gus Pappas, Mary Nicholaides, Mr and Mrs Andre Gagnon
Mr and Mrs Leonard Nugent In Loving Memory of Antonios & Olga Semekis
Mr and Mrs William Limberopoulos In Loving Memory of Nicholas, Hermine, Nicholas W. Limberopoulos and for the health of Mary Koravos
Jennie Coumas For the Health of Family
Renee Schindler For the Health of Craig Carey & Family
Artemis Gianes In Loving Memory of Theodora, Katherine, Charles Monoxelos
Sandy & Craig Carey In Loving Memory of the Anastos Family (Denise, George & Leo) and For the Health of The Carey, Schindler & Mullins Family
George Garas In Loving Memory of Catherine Garas , Persephoni Garas & Seraphim Garas
Costas and Elizabeth Tsioulis In Loving Memory of Tsioulis Family
Arthur Kostoulakos In Loving Memory of Nancy Katin
Andrew and Yiota Simoglou In Loving Memory of Thomas and Julia Gianacakes
Catherine Mastacouris In Loving Memory of John Mastacouris Family and Dumas Family
Dottie Costa and Ann Stamas In Loving Memory of Christos & Stella Anganes
Robert & Karen Walton - Stella Kostarellas - Steve and Pam Sintros - Arthur & Christine Faneros - Andrea Barrett - George Eliopoulos - Marina Balkas

Pascha Donations:

George and Jill Laganas	Marina Balkas	Ernie and Ellen Dobi
Mary Nugent	Valerie Letsou	Nancy Tournas
Marc and Sandra Gulezian	Faye Lyons	Evan Coravos
Arthur and Christine Faneros	Patricia Mahoney	Dina Eliopoulos
Peter and Mary Ginieres	Deborah Roufos	Antionette Eliopoulos
Stephen and Catherine Economou	Mary Ploof	Constantine and Elizabeth Tsioulis
Robert and Karen Walton	Effie Tyros	Spiros and Olivia Sintros
Frank and Fausta Asimakopoulos	Sandra Musgrave	Harry and Christine Stamas
Henry and Gail Golec	Evanthea Anderson	Marian Metropolis
Edward and Dottie Costa	Sophia Thomas	Fr. Gregory and Presb. Cassandra Floor
John Thibault and Elaine Thibault	Pamela Kalavetinos	Mike and Thea Tully
Steven and Pamela Sintros	Ann Maher	Evangeline Manolopoulos
Gregory and Eleni Stavrou	George Eliopoulos	Deanne Finn
Konstantinos and Eleni Spandagos	Pamela Kopsiaftis	Effie Mavraides

Lent and Holy Week Donations:

Palm Strips – George and Jill Laganas In Loving Memory of Crystal and William Laganas
Palm Trees - Arthur Kostoulakos In Loving memory of departed family
Flowers to Adorn Nymphios Icon - James and Elaine Piazas In Loving Memory of Johnny Piazas
Wreath for Holy Cross - The Coravos Family In Loving Memory of Thelma Coravos
Flowers at base of Holy Cross - Dr. Tanya Zouzas, Dr. Kevin Malone and Family
Candles on Holy Cross - William and Joyce Limberopoulos
Resurrection Candle - Jill & George Laganas In Loving Memory of Crystal and William Laganas
Flowers to Adorn Icon of Resurrection - Iris Mitropoulis In Loving Memory of Dyanne Mitropoulis
Arrangement for Anastasi - Arthur Kostoulakos In Loving memory of departed family
Floral Arrangement behind Altar - Avra Skrekas In Loving Memory of Deborah Victoria Skrekas and George Skrekas

DEATHS & FUNERALS:

April 1: Spencer Kostoulakos
April 14: Mary Trearchis
April 20: Rene Maib
April 23: David Thomas
May 2: Ernest Deveres
May 7: Mel Yankopoulos

May their memory be eternal

Weekly Calendar

We will be live streaming services through our YouTube channel whenever possible - www.youtube.com/TransGOC Please see the online calendar for the full schedule.

SUNDAY, MAY 17 SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
Orthros (online), 8:30 am
Liturgy (online), 9:30 am

THURSDAY, MAY 21
Saints Constantine and Helen
Divine Liturgy (online), 9:30 am
No Bible Study

FRIDAY, MAY 22
GOYA Meeting (online), 3:00 pm

SUNDAY, MAY 24 SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN
Orthros (online), 8:30 am
Liturgy (online), 9:30 am

THURSDAY, MAY 28
Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord
Divine Liturgy (online), 9:30 am
No Bible Study

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 11:19-30.

In those days, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
The Reading is from John 4:5-42

At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."

Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."

Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the city and were coming to him.

Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony. "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the Savior of the world."

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

The joyful news of your resurrection was proclaimed by the angel to the women disciples. Having thrown off the curse that fell on Adam, they ran elatedly to tell the apostles: Death has been vanquished; Christ our God is risen from the dead, blessing all the world with his great mercy.

Apolytikion for Mid-Pentecost in the Plagal Fourth Mode

In the midst of this Paschal season, Savior, let my thirsty soul partake of the waters of true worship; for you call out inviting all: Let those who thirst come to me and drink. O Fountain of Life, Christ our God, glory to you.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Into the grave you descended, Immortal One, yet you destroyed the power of Hades, and as victor you arose, O Christ our God; you proclaimed to the myrrhbearing women a greeting of joy, you brought peace to your holy apostles, and to the fallen you granted resurrection.

Wisdom of the Fathers

The example of the good Samaritan shows that we must not abandon those in whom even the faintest amount of faith is still alive.

St. Ambrose of Milan

Two Books of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Concerning Repentance, Chapter 11

He shows that she is worthy to hear and not to be overlooked, and then He reveals Himself. For she, as soon as she had learnt who He was, would straightway hearken and attend to Him; ...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 31 on John 3, 4th Century

Saints and Feasts

May 17

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

One of the most ancient cities of the Promised Land was Shechem, also called Sikima, located at the foot of Mount Gerazim. There the Israelites had heard the blessings in the days of Moses and Jesus of Navi. Near to this town, Jacob, who had come from Mesopotamia in the nineteenth century before Christ, bought a piece of land where there was a well. This well, preserved even until the time of Christ, was known as Jacob's Well. Later, before he died in Egypt, he left that piece of land as a special inheritance to his son Joseph (Gen. 49:22). This town, before it was taken into possession by Samaria, was also the leading city of the kingdom of the ten tribes. In the time of the Romans it was called Neapolis, and at present Nablus. It was the first city in Canaan visited by the Patriarch Abraham. Here also, Jesus of Navi (Joshua) addressed the tribes of Israel for the last time. Almost three hundred years later, all Israel assembled there to make Roboam (Rehoboam) king.

When our Lord Jesus Christ, then, came at midday to this city, which is also called Sychar (John 4:5), He was wearied from the journey and the heat, and He sat down at this well. After a little while the Samaritan woman mentioned in today's Gospel passage came to draw water. As she conversed at some length with the Lord and heard from Him secret things concerning herself, she believed in Him; through her many other Samaritans also believed.

Concerning the Samaritans we know the following: In the year 721 before Christ, Salmanasar (Shalmaneser), King of the Assyrians, took the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel into captivity, and relocated all these people to Babylon and the land of the Medes. From there he gathered various nations and sent them to Samaria. These nations had been idolaters from before. Although they were later instructed in the Jewish faith and believed in the one God, they worshipped the idols also. Furthermore, they accepted only the Pentateuch of Moses, and rejected the other books of Holy Scripture. Nonetheless, they thought themselves to be descendants of Abraham and Jacob. Therefore, the pious Jews named these Judaizing and idolatrous peoples Samaritans, since they lived in Samaria, the former leading city of the Israelites, as well as in the other towns thereabout. The Jews rejected them as heathen and foreigners, and had no communion with them at all, as the Samaritan woman observed, "the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9). Therefore, the name Samaritan is used derisively many times in the Gospel narrations. After the Ascension of the Lord, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the woman of Samaria was baptized by the holy Apostles and became a great preacher and Martyr of Christ; she was called Photine, and her feast is kept on February 26.

May 18

Holy Martyrs: Peter, Dionysius, Andrew, Paul, Christina, Heraclius, Paulinus and Benedimus

These Saints all contested in martyrdom during the reign of Decius (249-251)- Peter was from Lampsacus in the Hellespont. For refusing to offer sacrifice to the idol of Aphrodite, his whole body was crushed and broken with chains and pieces of wood on a torture-wheel; having endured this torment courageously, he gave up his soul.

Paul and Andrew were soldiers from Mesopotamia brought to Athens with their governor, there they were put in charge of two captive Christians, Dionysios and Christina. The soldiers, seeing the beauty of the virgin Christina, attempted to move her to commit sin with them, but she refused and, by her admonitions, brought them to faith in Christ. They and Dionysios were stoned to death, and Christina was beheaded.

Heraclius, Paulinus, and Benedimus were Athenians, and preachers of the Gospel who turned many of the heathen from their error to the light of Christ. Brought before the governor, they confessed their Faith, and after many torments were beheaded.

May 19

Patrick the Hieromartyr and Bishop of Prusa and His Fellow Martyrs Acacius, Menander, and Polyaenus

Saint Patrick was Bishop of Prusa, a city in Bithynia (the present-day Brusa or Bursa). Because of his Christian Faith, he was brought before Julius (or Julian) the Consul, who in his attempts to persuade Patrick to worship as he himself did, declared that thanks was owed to the gods for providing the hot springs welling up from the earth for the benefit of men. Saint Patrick answered that thanks for this was owed to our Lord Jesus Christ, and explained that when He, Who is God, created the earth, He made it with both fire and water, and the fire under the earth heats the water which wells up, producing hot springs; he then explained that there is another fire, which awaits the ungodly. Because of this, he was cast into the hot springs, but it was the soldiers who cast him in, and not he, who were harmed by the hot water. After this Saint Patrick was beheaded with the presbyters Acacius, Menander, and Polyaenus. Most likely, this was during the reign of Diocletian (284-305).

May 20

The Holy Martyr Thalleleus

Saint Thalleleus was from the region of Lebanon in Phoenicia, the son of Berucius, a Christian bishop; his mother's name was Romula. Raised in piety, he was trained as a physician. Because of the persecution of Numerian, the Saint departed to Cilicia, and in Anazarbus he hid himself in an olive grove; but he was seized and taken to Aegae of Cilicia to Theodore, the ruler. After many torments he was beheaded in 284. Saint Thalleleus is one of the Holy Unmercenaries.

May 21

Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the Apostles

This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom).

As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336.

May 22

Basiliscus the Martyr, Bishop of Comana

This Martyr was from the city of Amasia on the Black Sea, and a nephew of Saint Theodore the Tyro (Feb. 17). When his fellow Martyrs Eutropius and Cleonicus had been crucified (see Mar.8), Basiliscus was shut up in prison. As he was praying the Lord to count him also worthy to finish his course as a martyr, the Lord appeared to him, telling him first to go to his kinsmen and bid them farewell, which he did. When it was learned that he had left the prison, soldiers came after him, and brought him to Comana of Cappadocia, compelling him to walk in iron shoes set with nails. He was beheaded at Comana, and his body was cast into the river, during the reign of Diocletian (284-305).

May 23

Michael the Confessor, Bishop of Synnada

This Saint was from Synnada in Phrygia of Asia Minor. In Constantinople he met Saint Theophylact (see Mar. 8); the holy Patriarch Tarasius, learning that Michael and Theophylact desired to become monks, sent them to a monastery on the Black Sea. Because of their great virtue, Saint Tarasius afterwards compelled them to accept consecration, Theophylact as Bishop of Nicomedia, and Michael as Bishop of his native Synnada. Because Saint Michael fearlessly confessed the veneration of the holy icons, he was banished by the Iconoclast Emperor Leo V the Armenian, who reigned from 813 to 820. After being driven from one place to another, in many hardships and bitter pains, Saint Michael died in exile.

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