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The 42 Martyrs of Ammoria

These Martyrs, men of high rank in the Byzantine army, were taken captive when the city of Amorion in Phrygia fell to the Moslem Arabs in 838. Among them were Aetius and Melissenus, the generals; Theodore, chief of the imperial ceremonial bodyguard; Craterus, the eunuch; Callitus, Constantine, Bassoes, and Theophilus, who were military officials; and certain others who held important positions. Because of their experience in war and their virtue, the Moslems did not slay them, but tried by all means to convert them to Islam and have them to fight in their own campaigns. They kept the holy Martyrs shut up in a dark dungeon in the city of Samarra in Syria, threatening and abusing them, making promises of glorious rank and magnificent riches, keeping them in hunger, oppression, and darkness for seven years. Finally, unable to break the courage and faith of their captives, they beheaded them in the year 845.

Troparion in tone 4
Your forty-two holy martyrs, O Lord,
through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God.
For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through their intercessions, save our souls!

The Sunday of the Last Judgment

We are reminded today that it is not enough for us to come home to God as His prodigal sons. We must also be His sons by following Christ, His only-begotten divine Son, and by seeing Christ in every man and by serving Christ through them. Our salvation and final judgment will depend upon our deeds, not merely on our intentions or even on the mercies of God devoid of our own personal cooperation and obedience. We are saved not by prayer and fasting and “religious exercises” alone. We are saved by serving Christ through His people, the goal toward which all piety and prayer is ultimately directed.

Today is also called Meatfare Sunday since it is officially the last day before Easter for eating meat.

…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and in prison and you visited me. For truly I say to you, if you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (Matthew 25)