FROM THE SYNAXARION
On November 23 in the Holy Orthodox Church we continue to celebrate the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Holy of Holies, and we commemorate our father among the saints Amphilokios, bishop of Iconium.
Verses
Sent forth in dead man’s dress, O Amphilokios,
Though dead, thou dost scatter spiritual ambushes.
On the twenty-third, death took Amphilokios.
Amphilokios was a friend of St. Basil the Great and other great saints of the fourth century. He lived in a cave in asceticism for forty years. After that, he was consecrated Bishop of Iconium. He took part in the Second Ecumenical Council in 381. He zealously fought the impious Macedonius and the Arians. He personally begged Emperor Theodosius the Great to expel all the Arians from every city in the empire, but the emperor did not heed him. Days later, Amphilokios came before the emperor again, but ignored his son, Arcadius, sitting next to him. The saint said to the enraged emperor: “Do you see, O Emperor, how you do not tolerate disrespect to your son? So too, God the Father does not tolerate disrespect to His Son, and is disgusted with the corruptness of those who blaspheme Him.” Amphilokios died in great old age in 395.
On this day, we also commemorate our father among the saints Gregory, bishop of Agrigentum; Ischyrion, bishop in Egypt and hermit of Sketis; and Venerable Sisinios the Confessor of Kyzikos. By their intercessions, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.
