Unmercenaries (Anargiroi) and Wonderworkers (Miracle workers), they were brothers in the flesh and in the spirit, born somewhere in Asia of a pagan father and a Christian mother. After their father's death, their mother Theodota devoted all her time and energy to the bringing-up of her sons as true Christians. God helped her, and her sons grew as two choice fruits and as two holy lamps.

Before us is a great goal--to be a new creation and to imitate and partake of Christ. To achieve it, one must correct oneself and break one's self-will, moving from pride to meekness; from passion to abstinence; from hot-temperedness to gentleness and hospitality; from self-centeredness and greed to compassion; from suspiciousness and jealousy to being supportive and well-wishing; from light-mindedness to wisdom in God; from cowardice and faint-heartedness to bravery and courage; all things changing for the good.

The holy Apostle Peter summarizes the content of the Christian life this way, "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time n the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:1). Here the conquest of sin is placed directly together with the voluntary crucifixion of the body with all of its passion and self-will (Galatians 5:24).

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself followed the difficult path of man's misfortune, leading a hard life and going to His death for our sakes. This path is an example to virtuous seekers struggling to live righteously in an egotistical, sinful and even theomachist society. Yet, He did this to show us the road to salvation and spiritual regeneration. Through His Grace, He helps us on our every step; He encourages us and gives us strength. He takes away our sins, since we cannot escape from sin by ourselves. The obstacle to spiritual regeneration is within us - we are the main obstacle to our own salvation.

The Protection of the Mother of God is one of the most beloved feast days on the Orthodox Christian calendar among the Slavic Orthodox peoples, commemorated on October 1st. The holy feast is celebrated additionally on October 28th in the Greek Orthodox tradition. It is also known as the feast of the Virgin Mary's Cerement.

At 3:00 a.m. on the morning of October 28th, 1940, Emanuel Grazzi, the Italian ambassador to Greece, delivered an ultimatum from Benito Mussolini to Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas. He demanded that Metaxas allow the Italian army free passage to enter and occupy sites in Greece unopposed.