THE HOLY VENERABLE MARTYR ROMAN

February 16

From the Prologue

Roman was a simple and illiterate peasant from Carpenesion. Learning of the heroism and glory of the martyrs of Christ, the young Roman desired martyrdom for himself. He went to Thessalonica were he began to praise the Faith of Christ on the streets and referred Islam as a fable. The Turks tortured him horribly and then sold him to a galley captain. Christians ransomed him from the captain and sent him to the Holy Mountain [Athos] where he was tonsured a monk by the illustrious Elder Acacius. But Roman further desired martyrdom for Christ. With the blessing of the Elder Acacius, Roman traveled to Constantinople pretending insanity and began to lead a dog along the Turkish streets. To the question: "What are you doing?" Roman responded that he is feeding the dog as Christians feed the Turks. The Turks threw him into a dry well, where he remained without bread for forty days. They then removed him from the well and beheaded him. A light emanated from his body for three days. An Englishman removed his body and took it to England. A certain monk dipped a towel in the blood of the martyr. This towel is preserved, even today, in the Dochiariu Monastery [Mt. Athos]. This glorious soldier of Christ suffered in the year 1694 A.D.

HYMN OF PRAISE

TO THE HOLY MARTYRS

Martyrs of Christ, flowers bountiful,

Which will never and forever not fade away.

Martyrs of Christ, an evergreen living in the winter,

You who stretched toward heaven stained with blood,

Martyrs of Christ, aromas of incense,

And the votive light of oil, illumined by God.

You ran the race for the beauty of Christ

In Paradise, met with Christ forever.

The world will be and then cease to be and you will always be

With the Lord in Paradise, to rejoice eternally.