The Holy Martyrs Borys and Hlib, Named Roman and David at Holy Baptism (1015); Holy Great-Martyr Christine
Romans 8:28-39; John 15:17-16:2
Polyeleos Feast. Abstinence from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read Romans 8:28-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Paul’s answer in so many words is nothing. Today we celebrate the feasts of the great martyrs Borys and Hlib. They are considered “polyeleos” saints because at matins for their feast, we include the polyeleos psalms, 134-135. These psalms recount God’s loving-kindness and acts in the world, exclaiming with the refrain “his mercy endures forever.” Borys and Hlib endured horrible deaths, yet the sword of martyrdom that afflicted them did not separate them from the eternal love of Christ. We have martyrs to put skin on Paul’s words. We are predestined as Paul says, to bear Christ’s image in us. That image is perfected only through sacrifice.