Synaxarion of the Holy Prophet Jeremiah

Holy Prophet Jeremiah (Feast Day - May 1)

Verses

Souls of stone strangers to divine fear,
With stones they slew the divine Jeremiah.
On the first of May Jeremiah was killed by stones.

This wondrous Prophet of the Lord was sanctified from his mother's womb, as God says of Him: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" (Jer. 1:5). He was from Anathoth, and lived 620 years before Christ. When Jerusalem became enslaved by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, he went to Tahpanhes in Egypt, called Daphnae in Greek, where he prophesied, and was stoned by the people of Israel, who had fled to Egypt. Having died, he was buried in the area of the Pharaoh's palace. The Egyptians glorified and honored him, since he was a benefactor to them by his words. For by his prayers he put asps to death, which were utterly destroying the Egyptians. He also put to death the beasts that are found in the waters of Egypt, which the Egyptians call "nephoth", and the Greeks "crocodiles".

Holy and Righteous Prophet Baruch

Prophet Baruch (Feast Day - September 28)

Verses

Prophet Baruch friend of Jeremiah,

You dance with the prophets of Christ in the heavens.

The Prophet Baruch was the disciple of the Prophet Jeremiah, and he was so beloved by Jeremiah that he called him his "breath" and "repose". Though divided in body, they were united as one soul in mutual love, for the one and only Holy Spirit united them and guided them. When Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar (587 BC), Baruch fled with Jeremiah to Egypt, but later went to Babylon.

Holy Prophet Jeremiah as a Model for our Lives

Holy Prophet Jeremiah (Feast Day - May 1)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

The Prophet Jeremiah was born around 650 B.C. in the village of Anathoth, about ten kilometers northeast of Jerusalem. His father's name was Hilkiah and came from a wealthy priestly family. He was called by God to the prophetic office at around the age of twenty-four, and so his first reaction to this calling was telling God that he did not know how to speak, being young in age. Obviously, he had no intention of disobeying God's will, but like the Prophet Moses who objected to God's call due to his inability to speak, being weak-voiced and slow of tongue, he was humble. Eventually he accepted God's call after he was assured that God would always be with him to guide him, and that he would go to those that He sends him to, in order to tell them that which God commands for them.