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Holy Hieromartyr Cornilius the Centurion 9/26/2013
A Roman and a Roman officer in Caesarea, Palestine. He was baptized by the Apostle Peter, following a heavenly vision (Deeds 10, 1). He was the first from among the pagans to join the Church of God. Until then people had thought that the Church of Christ was intended for the Jews only and for those who received the Jewish circumcision. After he had been baptized, Cornelius left everything and followed Apostle Peter. The same Apostle was later to consecrate him as a Bishop and sent him to the pagan town of Skepsis, where Saint Cornelius endured great disgrace and torments for Christ, still by the power of God he destroyed the temple of Apollo and baptized the Prince of the town, Demetrius, together with two hundred seventy seven pagans. When God had enlightened him about the day of his death, he summoned all the Christians, gave them counsels, prayed to God for them and fell asleep in the Lord at a good old age. With time his tomb became forgotten and ruined. Yet, the Saint appeared to Silouan, the Bishop of Troada and told him about his tomb, with a request to build a church there. The Bishop carried out this deed with support of the wealthy citizen Eugenius. The holy relics of Saint Cornelius have worked many miracles.
