Synaxarium

On this day in the year 538 AD, the father Saint Severus, Patriarch of Antioch, who was from Asia Minor, departed. His grandfather was named Severus, and he saw in a vision someone telling him: The son of your son will uphold Orthodoxy and will be named after you. When his son was born, this saint named him Severus. He learned Greek wisdom and then ecclesiastical sciences. While he was walking outside the city, a holy hermit came out of his cave and called to him, saying: Welcome, Severus, teacher of Orthodoxy and Patriarch of Antioch. Severus was amazed how he called him by name though he did not know him, and how he knew what would become of him. Severus grew in virtue and became a monk in the monastery of Saint Romanos, practicing asceticism and devotion. When the Patriarch of Antioch passed away, the bishops agreed to appoint him as Patriarch of the city in the year 512 AD. The church was enlightened by his teachings, which spread throughout the world. He was among the fathers who attended the Council of Ephesus. Shortly after, King Anastasius died and Justinian succeeded him, who adhered to the Chalcedonian Creed. This father was summoned and greatly honored, hoping he would submit to his opinion, but he did not accept. The king became very angry with him, but he did not fear the king's wrath, so the king ordered his killing. Theodore, the king's wife, who was Orthodox in faith, learned of this and advised the saint to flee from him. He secretly left and came to the land of Egypt, traveling through the cities and monasteries in the guise of a monk, strengthening the believers in the true faith. He stayed in the city of Sakha with a holy archon named Dorotheus, through whom God performed many signs. He departed in the city of Sakha, and his body was transferred to the Monastery of Al-Zujaj. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

On this day in the year 821 AD, the great saint Anba Jacob, the fiftieth Pope of Alexandria, departed. This father was a monk in the Monastery of Saint Macarius, and due to his holiness and piety, all agreed to elect him Patriarch after the departure of Pope Mark the Forty-Ninth. He sat on the throne in the month of Bashans in the year 810 AD. He renewed the churches and restored the monasteries, and God granted him the working of miracles. Among these, a deacon in Alexandria boldly demanded from him to pay what he owed to the churches or go to his monastery. The Pope answered him, saying: You will no longer see me from now on. The deacon went to his house, became ill for a time, and died shortly after. Also, an archon named Macarius from Nibro was advanced in age and had no children. After some time, God granted him a son. He held a feast to which this saint was invited. During the feast, the child died, but his father was not disturbed; rather, he carried him in faith and placed him before the Pope, confident that God hears His chosen and would restore the child's life. The Pope took the child and marked him with the sign of the cross on his forehead, chest, and heart, praying: O Lord Jesus Christ, the Giver of life, raise this child to life for his father. Then he breathed on his face, and the child's soul returned to him, and he gave him back to his father. When he completed his good struggle, he departed in peace after having sat on the Markian throne for ten years, nine months, and twenty-eight days. May his prayers be with us. And to our Lord be glory forever and ever. Amen.