Our Holy Church commemorates today Saint Celestine, Pope of Rome.
Saint Celestine was born in Rome. From a young age, when he was a deacon, he was distinguished for his piety, orthodox belief, education, and diligence in performing his duties always with love and discernment. Thanks to these virtues, after the death of Pope Boniface in 422, he was chosen to be the Bishop of Rome, Father of Fathers.
His first concern was the implementation of the Holy Canons in the election of bishops. His polemic against heresies was proverbial. He fought against the heterodoxy of Pelagius in Great Britain while his missionary work in Ireland was a success. He also sent a delegation to the Council of Ephesus, in which Nestorius’ heterodoxy on the Church’s theology of the face of the Mother of God was condemned.
The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is held this morning and the Great Compline is held in the afternoon, a solemn service of the Holy and Great Lent.
Source: Church of Cyprus
