St. Alexandra rushes. St. Mchk Lazar Bulgarian
On April 23, the church honors the memory of the holy martyr Alexandra and the holy martyr Lazar Bulgarian.
Saint Alexandra was the wife of Emperor Diocletian and professed pagan rituals. She witnessed how Saint George was tortured, and he remained with unbroken faith. She saw the Lord heal his wounds and he was once again unharmed.
Saint George did not feel any fear and openly told his tormentors that he was a Christian and believed in Christ. Saint Alexandra also saw how the sword killed the young brave warrior Saint George. She became a Christian.
It wasn’t long before Emperor Diocletian discovered that his wife was also a Christian. That’s why he sent her to prison. Although she was of royal birth, Diocletian did not hesitate to subject her to torture and finally to sentence her to death. And Saint Alexandra was executed by sword in 303.
Saint Alexandra was once again talked about after a few centuries later her life was discovered in a Greek monastery, along with a canon in her honor.
Saint Lazar was a Bulgarian from the village of Debel Dyal near Gabrovo. Even as a boy he left his native place and went to Asia Minor, where he was employed as a shepherd in the village of Somi. As a Christian, however, he was thrown into prison and subjected to cruel torture.
Lazarus bore them stoically because of his faith in Christ. Therefore, he was killed on April 23, 1802 at the age of 28. Many miracles happened over the relics of St. Lazarus.
On April 23, name day is celebrated by all those who bear the name Alexander, Alexandra, Alexandrina, Alexandria, Alexi, Aleko, Sasho.
