Saint Amphilochius was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia, the home to some of the greatest Church Fathers. He was a first cousin of Saint Gregory the Theologian and a good friend of Saint Basil the Great, becoming their fervent disciple. For about forty years, the saint dwelt in the wilderness in strict asceticism until the Lord summoned him to become bishop. When the bishop of Iconium reposed, Angels visited Amphilochius three times, summoning him to serve as bishop in Iconium. The angels led the saint to a church where a whole assembly of angles consecrated him as Bishop of Iconium. On the way back to his cell, seven bishops were waiting for him in order to ask him to be the Bishop of Iconium. He explained to them that he had already been consecrated by angels, amazing all seven bishops. For many years, Saint Amphilochius led his flock in wisdom and prayer, while also keeping his strict asceticism. He participated in the Second Ecumenical Council and was a strong head against the heresy of Macedonus. Many letters and treatises of Saint Amphilochius survive which are profound in dogmatics and apologetics. The holy bishop served his flock and reposed preacefully in the Lord.

Ἀπολυτίκιον
Ἦχος δ’. Ταχύ προκατάλαβε.
Σοφίας τὴν ἔλλαψιν ὡς καθαρὸς μυηθείς, δογμάτων ὀρθότητος φωτοειδεὶς ἀστραπὰς ἐκλάμπεις τοῖς πέρασι· σὺ γὰρ τὴν ἐν Τριάδι ὁμοούσιον φύσιν ἐκήρυξας, ἀσυγχύτως καθελῶν τὰς αἱρέσεις. Διό σε, ἱεράρχα Ἀμφιλόχιε, Χριστὸς ἐδόξασε.

Κοντάκιον
Ἦχος β’. Τὰ ἄνω ζητῶν.
Ἡ θεία βροντή, ἡ σάλπιγξ ἡ τοῦ Πνεύματος, πιστῶν φυτουργέ, καὶ πέλεκυς τῶν αἱρέσεων, Ἱεράρχα, Ἀμφιλόχιε, τῆς Τριάδος θεράπον μέγιστε, σὺν Ἀγγέλοις πέλων ἀεί, πρεσβεύων μὴ παύσῃ ὑπὲρ πάντων ἡμῶν.

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