By Bishop Gregory of Mesaoria
Today the Church commemorates the memory of Saint Luke and Peter the Worshipful and the Martyrs Eupsychios of Caesaria and Sozon, as well as the child martyr Sozon of Asprogia in Paphos.
We also celebrate the Forefeast of the nativity of our Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary.
The Saint Martyr Sozon came from the Lycaonia region of Asia Minor and lived in the 3rd century AD. He was a pagan and shepherd in the profession, but was soon baptized a Christian and took the name Sozon. He was a man of virtue and godliness.
One day he entered a pagan temple where he saw a pagan idol made of gold and silver. Then, he cut off one hand of the statue and, after selling it, distributed the money to the poor. Sozon, without regretting his act, presented himself to the ruler and confessed his faith in Christ the Savior. After much torture, he surrendered his spirit to God.
Today, the Church is preparing us spiritually for tomorrow’s Great Feast of the Virgin. The birth of Maryam by the righteous Joachim and Anna brought joy to all mankind, for the Virgin gave birth to the bodiless and timeless Son and Word of God and Savior of the world. She solved the curse of disobedience of the first Eve and brought blessing to the human race.
Source: Church of Cyprus