Holy Prophet Amos

Life

Born in the village of Tekoa near Bethlehem. Simple in origin and in life, Amos was a swineherd for the wealthy men of Jerusalem. But God, Who does not look at outward appearances but at the purity of the heart, and Who took both Moses and David from tending sheep and set them as leaders of the people, chose this Amos for His prophet. He denounced King Uzziah and his priests for idolatry and turned the people away from bowing to the golden calves at Bethel, teaching them to bow before the one and living God. When the chief priest Amaziah persecuted him, he prophesied that the Assyrians would conquer Israel, that they would slay the king and the sons of Amaziah, and that the soldiers of Assyria would defile Amaziah's wife before his eyes with fornication, because Amaziah had led the people into fornication with idols. All this afterward came to pass. The son of the priest struck the prophet on the forehead with a staff so mightily that he fell. Barely alive he was carried to his village of Tekoa, where he gave up his holy soul. He lived in the eighth century before Christ.

From the Hymn of Praise

Most beautiful Vitus, full of heavenly honey,Before the unbelievers he confessed ChristAnd mocked the dead idolsAnd their dark idol-priests.