Our Father Among the Saints Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa. Our Father Among the Sts Dometian
Commemorated January 10
St Gregory, the younger brother of St Basil the Great, illustrious in speech and a zealot for the Orthodox Faith, was born in 331 AD. His brother St Basil was encouraged by their elder sister St Macrina to prefer the service of God to a secular career. St Gregory was moved in a similar way by his godly mother St Emily, who, when Gregory was still a young man, implored him to attend a service in honour of the holy Forty Martyrs at her retreat at Annesi on the River Iris. St Gregory came at his mother's bidding, but being wearied with the journey, and feeling little zeal, he fell asleep during the service. The Forty Martyrs then appeared to him in a dream, threatening him and reproaching him for his slothfulness. After this, he repented and became very diligent in the service of God. He became Bishop in 372 AD, and because of his Orthodoxy he was exiled in 374 AD by Valens, who was of one mind with the Arians. After Valens' death in 378 AD, St Gregory was recalled to his throne by the Emperor Gratian. He attended the Local Synod of Antioch, which sent him to visit the churches of Arabia and Palestine, which had been defiled and ravaged by Arianism. He attended the Second Ecumenical Synod, which was assembled in Constantinople in 381 AD. Having lived some 60 years and left behind many remarkable writings, he reposed about the year 395 AD. The acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Synod call him "Father of Fathers".
St Dometian lived in the years of the Emperor Justin II, who reigned from 565 to 578 AD, and the Emperor Maurice, who reigned from 582, to 602 AD. Born of pious parents named Theodore and Eudocia, he received a thorough education in both secular and sacred knowledge. After he had lived in lawful wedlock a short time, his wife died, and he, for his virtue, was made Bishop of Melitene in Armenia at the age of 30. As a relative and trusted friend of the Emperor Maurice, he received from him great largesse, which he spent on the building of churches and the help of the poor; he was also entrusted with the dealings of Byzantium with Persia. While in Constantinople, he reposed in peace in the year 602 AD.
Dismissal Hymn of the Feast (First Tone)
When You was baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father bare witness to You, calling You His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ our God, Who has appeared and has enlightened the world, glory be to You.
Dismissal Hymn of the Saints (Fourth Tone)
O God of our Fathers, ever dealing with us according to Your gentleness; take not You mercy from us, but by their entreaties guide our life in peace.
Kontakion of the Feast (Fourth Tone)
On this day, You have appeared to the whole world, and Your light, O Sovereign Lord, is signed on us who sing You praise and chant with knowledge, "You have come, You have appeared, O You Light unapproachable".
Kontakion of St Gregory (Second Tone)
Rejoicing with the Angels and taking delight in the Divine Light, Gregory of Nyssa, the vigilant mind, the God-inspired Hierarch of the Church, and wisdom's revered hymnographer, intercede unceasingly for us all.
Kontakion of St Dometian (Third Tone)
On this day the VirginWhen divine love made of you the Holy Spirit's pure vessel, you shined forth from on high in the august Church of Christ God; eminent in the great grace of the sacred priesthood, you was shown to all as venerable for your virtue, O Dometian, thrice-blessed, you fair adornment of worthy high-priests of God.