The Hieromartyr Hierotheos, the first Bishop of Athens, was a member of the Athenian Areopagos and was converted to Christ by the Apostle Paul together with Saint Dionysius the Areopagite (October 3). The saint was consecrated by the Apostle Paul to the rank of Bishop. According to Tradition, Bishop Hierotheus was present with Saint Dionysius at the funeral of the Most Holy Theotokos. Saint Hierotheus died a martyr’s death in the first century.

Hierotheos, like Saint Dionysius, whom we celebrated last Sunday, was a member of the court of Mars Hill. Having first been instructed in the faith of Christ by Apostle Paul, he became Bishop of Athens. He, in turn, initiated the divine Dionysios more perfectly into the mysteries of Christ; the latter, on his part, elaborated more clearly and distinctly Hierotheos’ concise and summary teachings concerning the Christian faith.

He too was brought miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit to be present at the Dormition of the Theotokos, when, together with the sacred Apostles, he became a leader of the divine hymnody. “He was wholly transported, wholly outside himself and was so deeply absorbed in communion with the sacred things he celebrated in hymnology, that to all who heard him and saw him and knew him, and yet knew him not, he seemed to be inspired of God, a divine hymnographer”, as Dionysios records in his book, “On the Divine Names. Having lived in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord”. St Hierotheos died a martyr’s death in the first century.

Let us remember on his name day, His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and St. Vlassios (Metropolis of Athens), a contemporary Elder, Father of the Church and renown theological scholar.  Under the fervent influence of +Fr. John Romanides, of blessed memory, Metropolitan Hierotheos has been a seminal part of re-introducing the prayerful study of the early Church Fathers in the hopes of capturing the fire, power, and Apostolic zeal of the early Church for application to our own confusing the troubled times.   Eis polla eti, Despota!

APOLYTIKION
Since you have been instructed in uprightness thoroughly and was vigilant in all things, you were clothed with a good conscience as befitting one holy. You draw from the Chosen Vessel ineffable mysteries; and having kept the Faith, you finished a like course, O Hieromartyr Hierotheos. Intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

KONTAKION
As Athens’ Hierarch, we acclaim you, since through you we have received instruction in things awesome and ineffable; for you were a God-inspired writer of divine hymns. O Hierotheos all-blessed, pray to God so that we may be redeemed from all calamities, that thus we may cry, “Rejoice, O Father wise in things divine”.