3 December 2025 (MIA)

Macedonian Orthodox Church Calendar

Saint Gregory the Dekapolite

He was born in the city of Isaurian Dekapolis (ten cities) in the eighth century. From his childhood he loved the temple of God and church services. He read the Holy Scripture constantly and with reverence. In order to avoid the marriage, which his parents had intended for him, he secretly left home. He spent all his life wandering: he was in Constantinople, Rome, Corinth, and he pursued asceticism for a certain while on Olympos. St. Gregory preached the Word of God everywhere, denouncing the Iconoclast heresy, strengthening the faith and fortitude of the Orthodox, whom the heretics in those times oppressed, tortured and imprisoned. Through his ascetic effort and prayer, St. Gregory acquired the gifts of prophecy and wonderworking. Having attained purity of heart, he was granted to hear angelic singing in praise of the Holy Trinity. To better contend against the Iconoclast heresy, St. Gregory left the monastery of St. Menas where he had labored for a long while, and he went again to Constantinople. At the capital, a grievous illness undermined his strength, and he departed to the Lord in the year 816.

Catholic calendar

Saint Francis Xavier

Nobleman from the Basque region. Studied and taught philosophy at the University of Paris, and planned a career as a professor. Friend of Saint Ignatius of Loyola who convinced him to use his talents to spread the Gospel. One of the founding Jesuits, and the first Jesuit missionary. Priest. In Goa, while waiting to take ship, India, he preached in the street, worked with the sick, and taught children their catechism. He would walk through the streets ringing a bell to call the children to their studies. Said to have converted the entire city. Tremendously successful missionary for ten years in India, the East Indies, and Japan, baptizing more than 40,000.

His epic finds him dining with headhunters, washing sores of lepers in Venice, teaching catechism to Indian children and baptizing 10,000 in a single month. He tolerated the most appalling conditions on long sea voyages, enduring extremes of heat and cold. Wherever he went he would seek out and help the poor and forgotten. He traveled thousands of miles, most on his bare feet, and he saw the greater part of the Far East. Had the gift of tongues. Miracle worker. Raised people from the dead. Calmed storms. Prophet. Healer. He was born 1506 at Javier, Spanish Navarre. He died on Dec. 2, 1552 at Sancian, China, of a fever contracted on a mission journey. He was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV.