Feast Day of the Maccabees

from the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, Troparion, Tone I

By the pangs of the saints,/ which they suffered for Thee, O Lord,/ be Thou entreated, and heal Thou all our infirmities,// we pray Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

In this icon, some of the martyrs are holding crosses, as this day also celebrates the Holy Cross in the Orthodox Church. In the Tridentine Liturgy, the EF, this feast of the martyrs is still celebrated today as well.

I love the Books of the Maccabees and read these every so many months. If you have not read or studied these inspired texts, do so, as the messages within are timely. Here is one of the readings from the Orthodox Divine Liturgy today.

Hebrews 11:33-12:2 (Epistle, Martyrs)

33	who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34	quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35	Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36	Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37	They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-
38	of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39	And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
40	God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
1	Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2	looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.