Our Church calls us today to celebrate the memory of Saint Martyr Basiliscus and the Holy Martyrs Marcellus—who sacrificed his life for Christ, enduring molten lead forced upon him by the pagans—and Codrus, who gave up his soul while being dragged by a frenzied horse to which he had been bound.
Today also marks the leave-taking (Apodosis) of the Feast of the Myrrh-bearing Women.
It is noteworthy how the hymnographer edifies the faithful through the description of the work of the Myrrh-bearing Women:
“The women ran to the tomb, bringing myrrh with tears, and as the soldiers were guarding You—the King of all—they said to one another: ‘Who will roll away the stone for us?’ The Angel of Great Counsel arose, having trampled down death. Almighty Lord, glory to You.”
(Matins, Kathismata, after the second stichologia, Mode Plagal of the Second)
“The women bearing myrrh came to Your tomb with haste and lamentation, but not finding Your spotless Body, and having learned from the Angel of the new and wondrous miracle, they said to the Apostles: ‘The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world.’”
(Vespers hymns, Mode First)
Saint Basiliscus the Martyr, whom we commemorate today, May 22, came from the region of Amasia in Pontus and lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. He was the nephew of the great martyr Theodore the Recruit (Theodoros Tyron), and like him, endured imprisonment and horrific tortures for the sake of Christ.
He was deemed worthy by God to perform many miracles, one of which was the destruction—through his prayer—of the idol of the god Apollo, before which he had been forced to offer sacrifice. This great miracle did not lead the impious governor Agrippa to repentance; instead, he ordered Basiliscus’s execution.
The saint ended his short earthly life by beheading in Komana of Pontus, remaining faithful to the true God until death. A magnificent church was built at the site of his martyrdom, where Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, died in exile, and where his holy relic remained in exile for a long period.
Source: Church of Cyprus
