1 yekatit 2013
The Ethiopian Synaxarium
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD. AMEN.
On this day took place and General Council of One Hundred and Fifty holy fathers and bishops, who assembled in the city of Constantinople, in the day of the Emperor Theodosius the Great. The assembling of them took place because of Macedonius, Archbishop of the city of Constantinople, and his denial [of the existence] of the Holy Spirit, for he said in the wickedness of his heart, “The Holy Spirit is a created thing, like all other created things.” And another reason for the assembling of the Council was Basilius, Bishop of the city of Benya, who said, “The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One Person, and One Being”; and another reason was Apollinarius, the infidel, who said, “The only flesh which the Son took was the flesh which appertaineth absolutely to the animal, and which is without a rational and understanding soul, and His Godhead was to Him instead of soul and heart (understanding).” And these three having made this shameful denial, the fathers gathered together to the emperor, and asked him to convene a Council to consider the denial of these three infidels, and he assented to their words. And straightway he sent a letter to Damalis, Archbishop of the city of Rome, and Meliton, Archbishop of the city of Antioch, and to Cyril, Bishop of the city of Jerusalem, and he commanded them to bring with them the bishops who were associated with them in their countries. And these fathers, namely One Hundred and Fifty bishops, came and their assembly took place in the city of Constantinople. Now the Archbishop of the city of Rome did not come, but certain learned men came in his stead, and they brought with them a letter written with his own hand. The head and chief of this Council was Timothy, Archbishop of the city of Alexandria, and he called Macedonius, and commanded him to expound his unclean Faith. And that infidel said, “The Holy Spirit is a created thing, like all other created things.” And Timothy answered him and said, “With us the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, and is uncreated, and we do not consider the life of God to be a created thing; he who saith this hath no life in him. And thou sayest that He is created. Now, it is better for thee to turn from this shameful denial, before thou art punished in Gahannum and everlasting fire.” But Macedonius would neither hearken nor repent, and Timothy anathematized him and excommunicated him, and he cut him off from his office, and drove him forth. Then Timothy said unto Basilius, “Declare thy opinion, O evil and unclean man!” And he said, “The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One Person, and One Being.” And Abba Timothy answered and said unto him, “If it be that the Three Holy Ones are One Being, as thou sayest in thy madness, behold the mention of the Three is destroyed, and thy Christian baptism is destroyed, for thou wast baptized in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and thou hast denied the Holy Three, as thou sayest in thy madness. Did the Holy Three become incarnate, and suffer and die? Are the words which are in the Holy Gospel to have no effect which say, The Son stood in the Jordan, and the Spirit descended upon Him overshadowing Him, and the Father cried out from heaven, saying, This is My Son, Whom I love, hear ye Him? It is best for thee to repent of thy evil denial. Arius denieth the Son, and Macedonius denieth the Holy Spirit, and thou art a partner with them, for thou deniest both the Son and the Holy Spirit.” But
Sables would not repent, neither would he hearken unto him, and Timothy anathematized him and excommunicated him, and cut him off [from his office], and drove him forth. Then Timothy said unto Apollinarius, “Expound thy evil and shameful opinion.” And he said in his madness, “The only flesh which the Son took was the flesh which appertaineth absolutely to the animal, and which is without a rational and understanding soul, and [His Godhead] was to Him in the place of a heart and soul [understanding].” And Timothy answered and said unto him, “God the Word took flesh of our nature, and He became one with us, so that He might deliver us; and if it be that the only flesh He took was that which appertaineth absolutely to the animal, and is without a rational and understanding soul, then it followeth that He cannot save the children of men, but only animals, according to what thou sayest in thy madness. For the children of men shall not rise up in the day of the resurrection, except as rational and understanding souls, and with them shall rise their bodies, according to their deeds, whether it be for punishment, or whether it be for joy. And, according to thy madness, shall the operation of His wisdom, and His Incarnation, be destroyed? And how did He say concerning Himself, that He was not one with a rational and understanding soul? It is better for thee to repent of this evil counsel, and this polluted infidelity.” But Apollinarius would not turn, and he would not hearken, and Timothy anathematized him and excommunicated him, and cut him off [from his office], with these three (sic) others. And he excommunicated these three infidels by the mouths of all the One Hundred and Fifty holy bishops of the Council, and he excommunicated those who followed them, and those who believed their words. And then they added to the prayer of the Faith the words, “We believe in the Holy Spirit,” on to the end. Now the Three Hundred and Eighteen fathers had drawn up [the prayer of the Faith] without [these words], as far as the place where it saith, “And there is no end of His kingdom.” And at the place where they made the prayer of the Faith to end, these One Hundred and Fifty fathers added the words “And there is no end of His kingdom.” Then they drew up at this General Council a Canon, and subscribed it with their hands, and to this day all Christian peoples observe their Law. Now the assembling of these One Hundred and Fifty fathers and bishops took place in the five thousand eight hundred and eighty-second year since the creation of the world. Salutation to the General Council of Constantinople.
And on this day also is celebrated the festival of the consecration of the church which was built in the name of Saint Peter, the archbishop, who excommunicated Arius. Now he became a martyr in the city of Alexandria, at the end of the reign of Diocletian, the infidel. When Constantine began to reign he destroyed the houses of idols, and built churches, and the believers built a church to the west of the city of Alexandria in the name of Saint Peter; and it was consecrated as it were this day; and many signs and miracles took place therein. And the church existed until the Muslims ruled in the land of Egypt. After they had ruled for many days, the church of the west [of the city] became well known, and then it was pulled down and laid in ruins; but the church of the blessed Peter, which is in the heavens, is strong, and no injury shall ever come upon it. Salutation to the consecration of thy church, O Peter.
And on this day also are commemorated the deaths of ‘Askenafer and his wife. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
Ledata Mariam
La nativité de Notre Sainte Mère Vierge Mariam
ልደታ ማርያም
Archangel Raguel
ቅዱስ ራጉኤል
Bartholomew the Apostle
ሐዋርያው በርተሎሜዎስ
Prophet Elijah
ነብዩ ኤልያስ