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| St. Sabinos the Martyr of Egypt (Feast Day - March 13 and 16) |
Verses
For March 13
Abibos was cast into the river together with a stone,
Sailing out of the vulgar river of life.
For March 16
The Nile River, as a trial by water,
Sabinos put to shame with his manliness.
On the sixteenth Sabinos was hence carried away.
Saint Sabinos was from the city of Hermopolis in Egypt and came from a wealthy aristocratic family. He was distinguished for his blameless life and deep faith.
When Emperor Diocletian (284-305) initiated a persecution against the Christians, the governor Arrianos sought to arrest Sabinos. This was because Sabinos was held in high esteem and honor by the Christians of the area, and he was known for exceeding the other Christians in his zeal for the Christian faith. He therefore fled with other Christians outside the city and stayed in a small house.
His hiding place was revealed by a certain ungrateful beggar who had brought him food. Sabinos used to feed him and help him with money, but the man betrayed him for two pieces of gold. The Saint was seized with six other Christians by soldiers and brought before the governor in Antinopolis. There he confessed his faith in Christ, and was ordered to be tortured. First he was hung in the air and skinned entirely of his flesh. Then his tormentors burned his fleshless body with lit torches. Remaining firm in his faith, he was then ordered to have a rock tied around his neck and thrown into the Nile River. This took place in the year 287, when the Holy Sabinos received the crown of martyrdom by drowning.
Apolytikion in the First Tone
Before the ungodly thou didst preach with godliness, that the Creator of all took flesh without suffering change: O blessed Sabinos, thou didst excel in holy contest, for by meeting death in the river thou didst attain to the Source of incorruption. Therefore we praise thee.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
The sail of the Spirit guided thee into the Water of Life and Goodness, when thou wast cast into the river, O praiseworthy Sabinos. By thy prayers thou art raining down upon us the forgiveness of our sins.