Years ago, I was invited to attend an 8th grade class reunion. I had lost touch with my classmates over the past thirty years so I decided to go. When I arrived at the reunion I was startled to discover that I failed to recognize most of my classmates. Many once familiar faces had changed and aged. I felt rather guilty that many recognized me instantly while I did not have that same reaction. To be truthful, it was as if I was roaming through a hall filled with strangers. Time can do that; it can slowly blur images of memories which were once very vivid and fresh.

For people who are forgotten, it can be both embarrassing and painful. It is as if they were not important or had failed to make a good impression. Sadly, there are saints who suffered the same fate. While renowned in their lives as a model of holiness, sacrifice or charity, many ancient and venerable saints have been forgotten by Christians today. It is as if they have slipped into the shadows. Some saints are only remembered by name or the date of their feastday. Details of their life are entirely forgotten. Remembrance of other saints has been completely obliterated. Such was the fate of three saints from the island of Lesbos.

In 1959, while clearing the ancient rubble of a ruined monastery near the village of Thermi, workers uncovered human bones. Among the bones was a round metallic engolpion which had an icon of Christ on it. It was a holy item only a monk or clergyman would wear. A few years later, charred remains of a young girl were discovered.

Shortly after that people on Lesbos began having visions. The inhabitants there saw images of three people, two men and a young 12 year old girl. These apparitions revealed that their names were Raphael, Nicholas and Irene. Raphael and Nicholas had been monks who had been cruelly murdered by invading Turks on April 9, 1463. Raphael had been slain by beheading, Nicholas had died of heart failure while being tortured and Irene had been tortured and burned alive in a clay cast. These martyred saints urged people to repent of their sins and turn closer to Christ. Miracles and cures began to be reported. The Faithful were edified by the intercession of these newly rediscovered saints.

These saints, which had been forgotten for five hundred years, were honored by the Orthodox Church. Photios Kontoglou painted an icon of the three saints based on descriptions of witnesses while Fr. Gerasimos of the Little St. Anne Skete on Mt. Athos composed church hymns to commemorate these saints. Today, Orthodox Christians venerate these saints, who despite being forgotten, continue to intercede on our behalf to this day. The feastday of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene is celebrated on the day of their martyrdom, April 9^th.

Kontakion

Let us honor as our protectors and miracle-workers the holy Martyrs who manifestly contended for Christ. Whose relics were hidden under the earth for many years, and who have manifested themselves to us in wondrous ways, Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, as well as those who contended with them in a godly-minded manner.