On this day, we commemorate the 10,000 Fathers of the Deserts and Caves of the Skete in the Nitrian desert in Egypt who were martyred by the Impious Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria at the end of the fourth century. It is quite normal in an eschatological sense that every Christian generation has believed that their time is the last time of human history. Look what we have now. The largest Orthodox Church in the world withdrew from communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and there are no signs of overcoming this rupture soon. Nevertheless, I believe that our time does not match what Christians in the fourth century experienced. Arguably, the status of imperial religion granted to Christianity by St. Constantine amplified doctrinal and disciplinary disagreement within the Church. Today's commemoration is connected with the life of St. Isidore Xenodochos (guest master). He has no special memory in the church calendar (menologion). In 341, during the second flight of St. Athanasios the Great from Alexandria, St. Isidore followed him. At that time, St. Athanasios ordained him a presbyter. In 362, St. Athanasios refused to recognize St. Meletios as Archbishop of Antioch (who was indecisive regarding Arianism), and instead of him, St. Athanasios recognized Paulinos II. In 373 St. Athanasios passed away. In 384, Theophilos became Archbishop of Alexandria and dispatched St. Isidore to Rome to reconcile St. Pope Damasus I with St. Flavianos I of Antioch. Thus, the Meletian schism was overcome. In 394, Theophilos directed St. Isidore to Palestine to reconcile the Blessed Hieronymus of Stridon with St. John II, Archbishop of Jerusalem. Through their meetings, Blessed Hieronymus concluded that St. Isidore was not fully Orthodox (accusing him later of Origenism). Theophilos became infamous due to his struggle against another Antiochian, St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople. Theophilos attempted to promote St. Isidore as his candidate for the see of the imperial capital but failed. During his war against Origennism in Egypt, Theophilos tried St. Isidore on the testimony of false witnesses. Having been accused of stealing and sodomy, defrocked, and excommunicated, St. Isidore had to flee into the Nitrian desert. Chasing him, the people of Theophilos killed the martyrs commemorated today along with their leader Agathonikos. St. Isidore was not apprehended and made his way to St. John Chrysostom in Constantinople, where he soon died. Despite his many negative acts, the Church, in her wisdom, found Archbishop Theophilos' canons edifying, and they have become a part of Orthodox canonical tradition.
Sources: F.M.Pamfilov, D.V.Zaitsev, “Isidor Strannopriimets,” Pravoslavnaia Entsiklopedia. “10,000 Martyred Fathers of the Deserts and Caves of Scete by the Impious Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria” oca.org. | 
