And of course, we should make a concerted effort throughout the fast to practice the virtues more diligently than we have hitherto. Foremost among these the Fathers emphasise almsgiving - this fact alone underlines that our fasting is not some geekish pursuit, or simply a faddish course in self-improvement, but an exercise in love, reaching out to and embracing others. The Christian is only on safe, firm ground, when he is operating as a member of, and within, the Church - which is why the Church has instituted times, seasons and degrees of fasting, that we might all work together in concert.

Among the saints we celebrate in November, we have:

The Holy Hieromartyr Peter of Alexandria (24th November / 7th December - among the Russians it is celebrated on the previous day) succeeded St Theonas as Archbishop of Alexandria in the year 300. Three years later another wave of persecution enveloped the Christian community, and like St Cyprian, considering it was better that he remained to encourage and instruct his flock, St Peter left the city and went into hiding. Another bishop, Meletius of Lycopolis, in St Peter’s seeming absence, seized his see claiming that the saint had abandoned his flock out of fear. Meletius set about ordaining his supporters and generally putting his own stamp on church affairs. He also accused St Peter of being to indulgent in receiving back into the Church those who had lapsed in periods of persecution. He digged a hole and fell into it himself though, because when he was arrested and put to the test, he apostatised and sacrificed to the idols. However, supporters of Meletius continued to trouble the Church even when St Peter was able to come out of hiding and openly take the reigns of the Church’s governance in his hands again. So the harm this wretched schismatic had caused lived on after him. Another trial afflicted the Church of Alexandria at that time, because it was then that Arius began teaching his soul-destroying heresy. St Peter was granted a vision at this time, in which he saw the Christ-Child in radiant beauty but wearing a torn linen tunic barely covering His nakedness. The saint asked Him who had torn his garment, and the Saviour answered that it was Arius, thus the blessed one was able to confirm his clergy and people in the Orthodox Faith against the enticing theories of the heresiarch. St Peter himself was arrested during the persecution raised by Maximinus in A.D. 311. While he was imprisoned he feared lest his faithful flock rise up and try to free him from prison, and he lose the crown prepared for him. Thus he arranged that the prison wall should be broken through so that he could be taken out secretly and led to execution. He was executed on the same spot as his predecessor, the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, whose prayers he asked that he might have strength to endure. He also prayed that his martyrdom might be the last so that his flock might be delivered from torment, and his prayer was answered by a voice from heaven, declaring; “Peter was the first of the Apostles, and Peter is the last of the martyrs.” Thus his death for Christ marked the end of the persecution. His body was taken up by the Christians and placed on his episcopal throne in the cathedral. During his pontificate, the saint had never sat upon this throne but only on the step on which it stood. Many of the congregation thought this was irreverent and ill befitted the dignity of his high office, but the saint explained that he was unable to sit upon it because, as he approached fear and trembling would come upon him, for he saw the radiance of the Divine power of Christ, the only High Priest, seated there.