Holy Prophet Amos

Commemorated on June 15

The Holy Prophet Amos was born in the village of Thecua near Bethlehem. Being of simple origin and life, Amos was a swineherd for a wealthy man of Jerusalem. But God, Who does not regard a person by his outward appearance but rather by the purity of his heart, and Who took both Moses and David from their sheep and appointed them leaders of the people, chose this Amos as one of His prophets.

Amos rebuked King Uzziah and his pagan priests for idolatry and dissuaded the people from worshipping the golden calves in Bethel, teaching them to worship the One Living God. When the chief pagan priest, Amaziah, persecuted Amos, he prophesied that the Assyrians would conquer Isreal, that they would slay the king and the sons of Amaziah, and that the Assyrian soldiers would defile Amaziah’s wife before his eye because he had led the people into adultery with idols. All of this later came to pass.

The son of the pagan priest struck the prophet on the forehead with his staff so forceful that he fell down. Barely alive, Amos was brought to his village of Thecua, where he surrendered his holy soul to God. Amos lived in the eighth century before Christ.

Troparion & Kontakion

Troparion — Tone 2

We celebrate the memory / of Your prophet Amos, O Lord; / through him we entreat You, / “Save our souls.”

Kontakion — Tone 4

Having purified your heart spiritually, O glorious Prophet Amos, / you received the gift of prophecy from on high / and proclaimed to all: / “This is our God and beside Him there is no other.”