The Hieromartyr Kuksha and Pimen the Faster.

Commemorated August 27 in the Orthodox Christian Menaion

From the Prologue

They were both monks of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev. Kuksha was successful in preaching the Gospel to the Wallachians and in baptising them. One day, pagans fell on him and killed him, together with his disciple. At that moment, Pimen the Faster was standing in the church in the Monastery of the Caves and, seeing in his spirit the death of his disciple and friend Kuksha, cried out: 'Our brother Kuksha has today been killed for the Gospel!' Thus saying, he also breathed his last. This was in 1113.

In the Greek Great Synaxarion, the Holy Martyr Phanurius is also commemorated. Who he was and when he lived is not known, but he is much venerated in Rhodes and Crete. In 1500, he appeared to some people on the island of Rhodes, where he also showed wonders of healing. There is found there an old icon of him, in which he is depicted as a young soldier holding a cross in his right hand and a burning candle in his left. St Phanurius is also much venerated in Egypt. There is a tradition that his mother was a great sinner, whom not even he could convert. But his filial love for his mother was great beyond measure, and he prayed more for his mother's salvation than his own. When the pagans stoned him to death for Christ, St Phanurius prayed to God: 'For the sake of these my sufferings, Lord, help all those who will pray to Thee for the salvation of Phanurius's sinful mother.' In Egypt, many Christians pray thus: "O Lord, save Ohanurius's mother and help me, a sinner" - and many receive help through this prayer.

From The Prologue From Ochrid by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich
©1985 Lazarica Press, Birmingham UK