Above: Roman Imperial Constantinople
Image in the Public Domain
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SAINT ZOTICUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE (DIED CIRCA 350)
Priest and Martyr, Circa 350
St. Zoticus of Constantinople comes to this, my Ecumenical Calendar of Saints’ Days and Holy Days, via the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church in America.
St. Zoticus cared for the poor and the sick, and became a martyr. He was a wealthy man in the service of Emperor Constantine I “the Great” (reigned 306-337). In 330, when Constantine I moved the imperial capital to Constantinople (the former Byzantium), St. Zoticus also moved to Constantinople. He became a priest and began to take care of poor people and orphans in his home. Thus began a homeless shelter, built and maintained at least partially with imperial funds. St. Zoticus objected to the customary practice by which the military drowned lepers. He rescued the lepers and cared for them at the shelter.
Emperor Constantius II (reigned 337-361), an Arian, crossed theological paths with the orthodox St. Zoticus. The immediate cause of the martyrdom of St. Zoticus, however, was much like that of the martyrdom of St. Laurence of Rome about a century earlier. When Constantius II, assuming that St. Zoticus had used imperial funds to purchase luxury items, tried to claw back the funds. St. Zoticus presented sick and homeless people. Constantius II ordered the execution of our saint, dragged over stones, behind wild mules.
St. Zoticus agreed with St. Laurence, who asserted that the poor are the treasures of the Church.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JULY 6, 2019 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF JOHN WYCLIFFE AND JAN HUS, REFORMERS OF THE CHURCH
THE FEAST OF GEORGE DUFFIELD, JR.; AND HIS SON, SAMUEL DUFFIELD, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS AND HYMN WRITERS
THE FEAST OF HENRY THOMAS SMART, ENGLISH ORGANIST
THE FEAST OF OLUF HANSON SMEBY, LUTHERAN MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
O God, your Son came among us to serve and not to be served,
and to give his life for the life of the world.
Lead us by his love to serve all those to whom the world offers no comfort and little help.
Through us give hope to the hopeless,
love to the unloved,
peace to the troubled,
and rest to the weary,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
Hosea 2:18-23
Psalm 94:1-15
Romans 12:9-21
Luke 6:20-36
—Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 60
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUNDRY THOUGHTS 
What a man for his time…right where he was supposed to be at the right time! Too bad he wasn’t appreciated for what he did! He is in good company, though. Sometimes the best of humanity is by far, the least appreciated!