Today the Church commemorates the Apostle James, son of Alphaeus and brother of Matthew the Evangelist. We also celebrate the memory of St. Andronicus and his wife Athanasia as well as Righteous Forefather Abraham and his nephew righteous Lot.
Saint Andronicus from Antioch, then the capital of Syria, was rich and pious. His wife, Athanasia, was a humble and devout woman. They decided to divide their earnings into three portions; they gave one part to the poor, the second as a loan to those in need, and they used it for their family since they had two children.
Once the Lord took their two children at the same time, Andronicus and Athanasia were devastated. Once she heard Saint Julian in her prayer saying that her children were deprived of earthly life, but they would receive the heavenly gifts of the Kingdom of God.
Eventually, Andronicus entered a skete monastery and Athanasia entered the women’s monastery, always remaining entirely devoted to the will of God.
Source: Church of Cyprus
