Venerable
Venerable John Koukouzelis
October 1 Old CalendarOctober 14 New Calendar
Life
A Slav from Durres (Dyrrachium). As a youth he was taken to a music school in Constantinople, where he became the favorite singer at the imperial court. Fearing human flattery and praise, he fled to the Holy Mountain and presented himself at the Great Lavra as a shepherd. As a shepherd and monk he practiced extraordinary asceticism. The Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him on two occasions. He reposed in the Lord in the twelfth century.
From the Prologue from Ochrid by St. Nikolai Velimirovich, October 1. Translated by Marcian Sakarya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Also commemorated on October 1
The full reading for October 1 includes the hymn of praise, a reflection, a contemplation and a homily.
Open October 1 in the reader