From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   May 3rd - Sts. Alexander & Antonina, Holy Martyrs   
      
   Saint Antonina hailed from the city of Krodamna (Asia Minor). For being a   
   Christian they brought her before the governor named Festus, who urged her   
   to   
   worship the pagan gods, promising to bestow upon her the esteemed title of   
   priestess of the goddess Artemis. But the saint bravely confessed Christ and   
   she   
   urged the governor to renounce the worship of demons in the form of idols.   
   Festus gave orders to strike the saint on the face and lock her up in   
   prison.   
   The martyress spent all her time at prayer, she ate and drank nothing, but   
   then   
   she heard the voice of God: "Antonina, fortify thineself with food and be   
   brave.   
   For I am with thee". When they again led her before the governor, the   
   martyress   
   continued firmly to stand up for the Christian faith and to denounce the   
   pagans.   
   The governor decided to give the holy virgin over for defilement by   
   soldiers,   
   but the Lord inspired one of them, Saint Alexander by name, to save the   
   martyress. He sought permission to go in to the virgin, on the pretense that   
   he   
   might sway her to fulfill the will of the governor. Saint Alexander then   
   suggested that the martyress don his military attire and flee. Saint   
   Antonina   
   was afraid, but the Lord ordered her to agree. Having put on the garb of a   
   soldier, and recognised by no one, she emerged from her imprisonment. The   
   soldiers sent by Festus found Saint Alexander alone. To the questions of the   
   governor he answered not a word, and he was given over for torture and   
   mercilessly beaten.   
      
   Through the inspiration of the Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Antonina also came   
   to   
   stand before Festus. For the both of them they cut off their hands, they   
   then   
   smeared them with pitch and threw them into a pit, where a fire was burning.   
   When the fire went out, they threw snakes into the pit, so that Christians   
   should not be able to gather up the bones of the martyrs. Returning   
   homewards,   
   Festus became numb, and was able neither to eat nor to drink, and after   
   seven   
   days of terrible torments he died.   
      
   The holy Martyrs Alexander and Antonina died on 3 May 313. But in the   
   Prologue   
   their memory is placed under 10 June. The relics of the saints were   
   transferred   
   to Constantinople and placed in the Maximov monastery.   
      
      
   Kontakion Tone 2   
      
   Let us bless godly Alexander and Antonina,   
   / spiritual kinsmen in Christ and of one mind in holiness;   
   / receiving their struggles and wounds as fragrant myrrh   
   / He has glorified them.   
      
      
   Another Version   
      
   May 3rd - SS. Alexander and Antonina, Holy Martyrs   
      
   Antonina was a virgin and Alexander an imperial soldier, both from   
   Alexandria   
   and both Christians. Antonina was first taken before the judge and tortured.   
   When they threw her into prison, Alexander went to it at the command of an   
   angel   
   of God (being up to that time a stranger to Antonina), draped her in his   
   military cloak and told her to keep her head lowered and go out through the   
   guardhouse in front of the gates. In this way, she escaped and he remained   
   in   
   the prison. They brought Alexander before the judge, and began to   
   interrogate   
   him for the name of Christ. When Antonina heard of this, she came before the   
   judge herself, and he put them both to various tortures. He cut off their   
   hands   
   and then flayed their naked bodies, scorching their wounds with torches, and   
   finally cast them into a fire set in a hole in the ground, covering them   
   with   
   earth. They suffered with honor for the name of Christ and entered into the   
   courts of the heavenly King on May 3rd, 313. The wicked judge, Festus,   
   became   
   dumb at the time of the martyrs' deaths, and an evil spirit fell on him,   
   torturing him for seven days before killing him.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Troparion Tone 1   
      
   Let us praise the two holy Martyrs,/   
    renowned Alexander and noble Antonina;/   
   in their holy contests they shone with love,   
   faith and healing/ for those who cry together:/   
   Glory to Him Who has strengthened you;   
   glory to Him Who has crowned you; /   
   glory to Him Who through you works healings for all.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. -Matt. 5:4   
      
   "Meekness is a virtue which implies loftiness of soul. For this reason   
   worldlings usually are wanting in meekness, for this loftiness is found in   
   them   
   but rarely and imperfectly. If they are not the first to use harsh and   
   discourteous expressions, yet when they are addressed to them by others,   
   they   
   resent and return them promptly, showing by their revenge that they have a   
   rude   
   and ignoble heart. And so the servants of God, remaining always quiet and   
   peaceable, though provoked by words or acts, manifest a perfect loftiness of   
   soul superior to all rudeness"   
   -St. Thomas Aquinas   
      
       This holy Doctor confirmed this noble sentiment by his actions, for in   
   whatever trying position he was placed, he never gave the least sign of   
   resentment, but at all times and on all occasions showed a calm and   
   spiritual   
   insensibility to everything.   
      
   (Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints".  May - Meekness)   
      
   Bible Quote   
   But the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a   
   meek   
   spirit, which is rich in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:4)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   TO MY ANGEL GUARDIAN.   
      
   O glorious guardian of my frame!   
   In heaven's high courts thou shinest bright,   
      
   As some most pure and holy flame,   
   Before the Lord of endless light.   
      
   Yet for my sake thou com'st to earth,   
   To be my brother, Angel dear:   
      
   My friend and keeper from my birth,   
   By day and night to me most near.   
      
   Knowing how weak a child am I,   
   By thy strong hand thou guidest me;   
      
   The stones that in my pathway lie,   
   I see thee move them carefully.   
      
   Ever thy heavenly tones invite   
   My soul to look to God alone;   
      
   And ever grows thy face more bright,   
   When I more meek and kind have grown.   
      
   O thou who speedest through all space   
   More swiftly than the lightnings fly!   
      
   Go very often, in my place,   
   To those I love most tenderly.   
      
   With thy soft touch, oh! dry their tears;   
   Tell them the cross is sweet to bear;   
      
   Speak my name softly in their ears,   
   And Jesu's name, supremely fair.   
      
   Through all my life, though brief it be,   
   I fain would succor souls from sin.   
      
   Dear Angel, sent from heaven to me,   
   Kindle thy zeal my heart within!   
      
   Naught but my holy poverty,   
   And daily cross to give have I;   
      
   0 join them to thine ecstasy,   
   And offer them to God on high.   
      
   Thine are heaven's glory and delight,   
   The riches of the King of kings;   
      
   The Host in our ciboriums bright   
   Is mine, and all the wealth pain brings.   
      
   So with the Cross, and with the Host,   
   And with thine aid, dear Angel Friend,   
      
   I wait in peace, on time's dark coast,   
   Heaven's happiness that knows no end.   
   -St. Teresa-February, 1897.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)