2 January 2025 (MIA)

Macedonian Orthodox Church Calendar

St. Ignatius, Martyr

He was among the auditors of the Apostle St. John. During the reign of Trajan, St. Ignatius was bishop in Antioch, becoming very popular for his holy life and turning many atheists into Christians. But he was arrested and led before Trajan, who was then sojourning in Antioch. Accused by the emperor himself of violating the imperial edict, and of inciting others to like transgressions, Ignatius valiantly bore witness to the faith of Christ. The emperor ordered him to be put in chains and taken to Rome. During his journey to Rome he encouraged Christians, and many of his words are being preserved until today in a form of epistles. In Rome, he became the food of wild beasts and a spectacle for the people.

Catholic Calendar

St. Gregory Nazianzen & St. Basil the Great (329-379), Bishops and Doctors of the Church

St Basil was born in 329 at Caesarea, the capital of Cappadocia. St Basil lived for five years as a monk in his monastery. In 370 he became archbishop of Caesarea. He was taking great care for the poor. “When someone steals another’s clothes, we call them a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet, belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet, belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up, belongs to the poor.”