|
Prologue from
Ochrid
by
Saint Nikolai Velimirovic
February
6th - February 13th
(New Style) • January 24th - January 31st (Old Style)
New Style
February
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Old Style
January
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
February
6th (New Style) • January 24th (Old Style)
The
Venerable Female Xenia (Ksenia)
Xenia
was born in Rome, the only daughter of a prominent senator. Drawn by
love for Christ, she refused to enter into marriage as her parents
wished, but rather, to avoid this, she secretly fled from her home
with two of her slaves and arrived at the Island of Cos to a place
called Mylassa. There she founded a convent for virgins where she
lived an ascetical life until her death. Even though she was a frail
woman, she possessed a steadfast endurance in fasting, prayer and
all-night vigils. She often stood all night in prayer; she was
dressed more poorly than all the other sisters; and the bread which
she ate, she often sprinkled with ashes from the censer (thurible).
At the time of her death (450 A.D.), a wonderful sign appeared over
the virgin's convent: a wreath of stars with a cross in the center,
brighter than the sun. Many, who were sick, received healing from
her relics. Her female slaves (tonsured nuns) continued in the
example of their abbess and when they died, and according to their
wishes, were buried at the feet of Blessed Xenia (Ksenia).
The
Holy-Priest Martyr Babylas
Babylas
was a priest in Sicily. He suffered for Christ with two of his
disciples in the third century.
The
Venerable Macedonius
Macedonius
was a Syrian hermit. Only in his old age did he feed on baked bread,
but before that he ate only grains of barley softened with water. He
ended his earthy life in the year 418 A.D.
Venerable
Philon, Bishop of Cyprus
When
St. Epiphanius was summoned to Rome to assist the sister of the
Emperor Honorius by his prayer, he consecrated Philon a bishop.
Philon exegeted the Pentateuch and the Song of Songs. He died
peacefully in the fifth century.
The
Venerable Dionysius of Olympus
Dionysius
was a miracle-worker. He lived an ascetical life on Mt. Olympus. He
was tonsured a monk on Mt. Athos (The Holy Mountain) where he was
the abbot of the Monastery Philotheou. Toward the end of his life,
he withdrew into solitude on Mt. Olympus where he died in the
sixteenth century.
Reflection
In our
day, you usually hear these words from parents: "We want to
secure the life of our child." That is why they work very hard
to amass wealth, often unjustly, to educate their child in the
calling (vocation) which brings the greatest physical security and
material benefit. This is done by so-called Christians! They do this
because their concept of a real life and the real security of life
is erroneous. See, how a true Christian mother prepares her son for
a real life. At the time of her death, Blessed Euphrosyne spoke to
her son Clement of Ancyra: "Do me the honor, O my son, and
bravely stand up for Christ and confess Him strongly and without
hesitation! I hope, in my heart, that the crown of martyrdom will
blossom on you in my honor and for the salvation of many. Do not be
afraid of threats, nor swords, nor pains, nor wounds, nor fire. Let
nothing separate you from Christ, but look up to heaven and from
there await your great, eternal and rich reward from God. Fear God's
majesty; be afraid of
His
awesome judgment, tremble at His all-seeing Eye, for all those who
deny Him will receive the punishment of unquenchable fire and
eternally vigilant worm. Let this be my reward from you, my sweet
son, for my pain in child-bearing and effort surrounding your
education that I may be called a mother of a martyr. The blood that
you received from me, do not spare but shed it that, from that, I
can also receive honor. Submit your body to torture that I, too, may
rejoice at that before our Lord as though I myself had suffered for
Him."
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus as Teacher:
1. As
a Teacher Who teaches how man should think in order to be saved;
2. As
a Teacher Who teaches how man should talk in order to be saved;
3. As
a Teacher Who teaches how a man should act in order to be saved.
Homily
About
the most all-discerning Prophet (Jesus)
"Why
do you harbor evil thoughts in your hearts" (St. Matthew 9:4).
When
our Lord deigned to direct a rebuke to the Pharisees and Scribes, at
that time, they had not killed anyone, nor had they deceived anyone,
nor had they looted anyone and, not only that, at that time, they
had not even offended anyone by their words. Why then, did our Lord
admonish them when they had not committed any sin neither in works
nor in words? Why? Because, at that time, their thoughts were evil.
An
evil thought is sin! That is the great news which Christ brought
into the world. In truth, an evil thought is the sinful source of
all sin because, before a man says something or does something
sinful, he thinks sinfully. Thought is the causative sin. All other
sins are only subsequent sins. Whoever wishes to annihilate those
evil actions must uproot those evil thoughts first. Whoever desires
to stem the flow of water must first dry up the source. Therefore,
let no one justify himself: I am not a sinner, for I have not killed
anyone nor looted from anyone nor profaned anyone nor lied to
anyone! Behold, we are full of deadly looting, profaning and
deceiving thoughts! If we have not committed sin by our own deeds,
that is simply a matter of the mercy of God and external
circumstances. But, if God had yielded and if the circumstances were
favorable, we would have committed all those sins that we had
thought. The serpent is not only venomous when it bites but also
when it does not bite, because it carries the venom in itself.
Therefore,
not only is thought a sin, but also it is the source of sin: the
beginning of sin and the seed and root of sin. That is why the
All-seeing and All-knowing Lord rebuked those who had evil thoughts.
"Why do you harbor evil thoughts in your hearts."
O
Lord, All-seeing and All-knowing, help us to cleanse our hearts and
minds from evil thoughts so that our words and deeds may be pure.
To
the Top
February
7th (New Style) • January 25th (Old Style)
St.
Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople
Gregory
was born in Nazianzus of a Greek father and a Christian mother.
Before his baptism, he studied in Athens along with Basil the Great
and Julian the Apostate. Gregory often prophesied that Julian would
become an apostate and a persecutor of the Church which actually
happened. Gregory was especially influenced greatly by his good
mother Nonna. When he completed his studies, Gregory was baptized.
St. Basil consecrated him as bishop of Sasima, and Emperor
Theodosius the Great summoned him to fill the vacant archepiscopal
throne of Constantinople. He wrote numerous works of which his most
famous are those concerning theology for which he is called The
Theologian. Especially known because of its depth is his work:
Homilies on The Holy Trinity. Gregory wrote against the heretic
Macedonius who erroneously taught that the Holy Spirit is a creation
of God and, Gregory also wrote against Appolinarius who erroneously
taught that Christ did not have a human soul but that His divinity
was in lieu of His soul. Additionally Gregory wrote against Emperor
Julian the Apostate, his one-time colleague in school. In 381 A.D.,
when a debate began regarding his election as archbishop, he
withdrew on his own and issued a statement: "Those, who deprive
us of our archepiscopal throne cannot deprive us of God." After
that, he left Constantinople and went to Nazianzus and there lived a
life of solitude and prayer, writing worthwhile books. Even though
he was in poor health throughout his entire life, nevertheless,
Gregory lived to be eighty years old. His relics were later
transferred to Rome. A reliquary containing his head reposes in the
Cathedral Church of the Assumption in Moscow. He was, and remains, a
great and wonderful light of the Orthodox Church as much by his
meekness and purity of character as well as for the unsurpassable
depth of his mind. He died in the Lord in the year 390 A.D.
The
Venerable Publius
At
first, Publius was a senator. Recognizing the light of Christ, he
left his worldly honors, distributed his possessions to the poor and
devoted himself to a life of asceticism in the proximity of his town
Zeguma on the Euphrates river. He established two monastic
communities and died in the year 380 A.D.
The
Venerable Mares
Mares
was distinguished by external beauty and a sweet-sounding voice. He
withdrew from the world and lived in a hut for thirty-seven years,
in fasting and cleansing the heart of impure thoughts. As a
ninety-year old man, Mares died in the Lord in the year 430 A.D.
The
Most Holy Female Martyr Felicitas and her Seven Sons
As a
Christian, Felicitas was condemned to death along with her seven
sons during the reign of Emperor Antoninus in the year 164 A.D. She
implored God only that she not to be killed before her sons, so that
she might be able to encourage them during their torture and death
in order that they would not deny Christ. According to God's
Providence, it so happened. With joy, this superb mother accompanied
her sons one by one until she had witnessed the death of all seven
sons. Then, she herself, with gratitude to God, received a martyr's
death. She and her sons suffered in Rome where their relics repose.
Reflection
They
deceive themselves who speak self-confidently that they know men
well enough and that they do not allow themselves to be deceived.
Who can know what kind of spirit is in man except only God, Who
knows the secrets of the heart? Even the great saints were mistaken
about people. For example: for a long time St. Basil considered a
certain hypocritical heretic as a holy man and defended him from
many attackers until finally, convinced of the heretic's falseness,
Basil was bitterly disappointed. St. Gregory the Theologian had
baptized a certain philosopher, Maximus by name, and liked him so
much that he kept the philosopher in his home, sharing his table
with him. However, this Maximus, was as dangerous and cunning as a
serpent. After a period of time, through intrigue and bribes, he
obtained recognition of some Constantinopolians as patriarch, in
place of St. Gregory. When this temptation, after great confusion,
was removed, some rebuked Gregory for keeping his greatest enemy
with him. The saint replied: "We are not to blame if we do not
discern someone's evil. God alone knows the inner secrets of man.
And to us is commanded by law, that with fatherly love, to open our
hearts to all who come to us." A non-malevolent man cannot
easily understand the malice of a malevolent man.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus as King:
1. As
the Lord over nature which He tames and places it (nature) in
service to Himself;
2. As
the Lord over demons, over disease and over death;
3. As
the Lord over the immortal kingdom of angels and saints.
Homily
About
Who is Christ?
"Who
do people say that I am?" (St. Mark 8:27).
Brethren,
it is almost two-thousand years from that day when our Lord Jesus
posed this question to His disciples. From then until today, this
question is put to every generation of man, every bright day and
every dark night: And every generation of man and every bright day
and every dark night had to give an answer to this question. This
question is the question of life or death and the answer to it is
life-bearing or death-bearing. "You are the Christ, the Son of
the Living God"
(St.
Matthew 16:16), the Apostle Peter responded. And that reply was
approved and praised by the Lord Jesus.
"Who
is Christ?" men say today. Some say, along with the Jews, that
He is the destroyer of the Law and the self-styled Messiah. Others
say, along with Pilate, that they in general cannot arrive at the
truth about this man. The third say, along with the apostles, that
He is Christ, the Son of the Living God, Savior, Redeemer of the
human race from sin and death, the Resurrected and the Resurrector,
the Living-One and the Life-giver. And all of us who are baptized in
the Name of the Holy Trinity agree with the apostles and the Holy,
Apostolic Church which, with her universal voice, thus confesses
Christ the Lord.
O
Lord, Only-begotten Son of God, help us, that we may, all the days
of our life, believe in You in our hearts and confess You with our
lips as our God and our Savior "as the power of God and the
wisdom of God" (I Corinthians 1:24).
To You
be glory and thanks always. Amen.
To
the Top
February
8th (New Style) • January 26th (Old Style)
The
Venerable Xenophont and Maria and their sons John and Arcadius
They
were prominent and wealthy citizens of Constantinople. Xenophont and
his wife Maria lived a God-pleasing life and dedicated all their
attention to the Christian upbringing of their sons. When their sons
reached majority, they were sent to study in Beirut; but it so
happened that a storm capsized their boat. By the Providence of God,
John and Arcadius were somehow saved. They were tossed ashore by the
waves but in two different places so that each thought the other was
drowned. Out of grief for each other, they both became monks in two
different monasteries. After two years, their grieving parents came
to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage to pay homage before the holy shrines.
There, with the help of the "discernment" of a spiritual
father, first the brothers met and, after that, the parents with
their children. Out of gratitude to God, Xenophont and Maria
distributed their entire estate to the poor and both of them were
tonsured. The history of these four souls is touching and it shows
how the Lord wonderfully guides the fate of those who believe in
Him; how He permits pain and sorrow upon them that they may, later
on, be strengthened in faith, in order to lead them into still
greater joy. They lived and died in the Lord in the fifth century.
Venerable
Simeon the Old One (Vetni)
Simeon
was a companion and friend of St. Paladius. From his early youth
until his death, Simeon lived a life of asceticism in a cave. He
established two monasteries and died in the Lord in the year 390
A.D. He is called the Old One or Vetni to distinguish him from
Simeon the Stylite who, lived an ascetical life much later.
St.
David, Emperor of the Georgians (1089-1130 A.D.)
David
renewed and strengthened the State of Georgia. As a great zealot for
the Christian Faith, he built many new churches and restored the old
ones throughout Georgia. David is considered as the regenerator of
the Orthodox Faith in Georgia.
Reflection
The
greatest treasure of any realm is the saintly and good men who live
in it. Compared to this wealth, all other wealth is as nothing.
Devout Christian emperors considered holy men in their realms as the
greatest of God's blessing. The holy Emperor Constantine the Great
spoke: "I give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ that in my days
there exist three divine lights: Blessed Abba Anthony, Abba Elenius
and Abba Euchius." Before the battle of Kulikovo, crucial for
the Russians, the devout Prince Dimitri of Don, with his chief
assistants and dukes, went to the forest of Radonez to seek out the
Venerable Sergius and implored his intercession before God. Even
though the prince prepared his army for a liberating war against the
Tartars, somehow, he placed greater hope in the prayers of one holy
man than in a vast army and many weapons.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus as Prophet:
1. As
a Prophet Who clearly prophesied to individuals (as to: Peter, John
and Judas and the other apostles) that which will happen to them in
the future;
2. As
a Prophet Who clearly prophesied the future of Jerusalem and other
cities, the Jewish people and the Church of God;
3. As
a Prophet Who clearly prophesied the end of the world and His Second
Coming.
Homily
About
the confusion of those darkened by sin
"Who
is this Who even forgives sins?" (St. Luke 7:49).
Thus
asked the unrepentant sinners: "Who is this (Jesus Christ)?" This is He Who mostly feels the sting of human sin;
upon Whom all the sins of mankind fall as blows. This is He Who, at
one time in Paradise, looked upon man as sinless. This is He Who
created man without sin, and This is He Who Himself is without sin
from always and forever.
Only
He can forgive who can also seek revenge. The strong man seeks
revenge by reprisal. The weak man seeks revenge by hatred. If you
are able to return the delivered blow and you do not do it, does not
mean that you forgave until you uproot the root of anger from your
heart. Great is the One Lord Who can also seek revenge and forgive.
Great is He in His justice for He will seek revenge on the
unrepentant sinner. Great is He in His mercy for He will forgive the
penitent sinner.
Oh, if
only men would know the power of the forgiveness of sins! Behold,
when the sins of the blind man were forgiven, he saw. When the sins
of the deaf man were forgiven, he heard. When the sins of the
hunchbacked woman were forgiven, she stood erect. When the sins of
the woman with the issue of blood were forgiven, she also was
healed. When the sins of the man afflicted by insanity were
forgiven, he became sane. When the sins of the man possessed with
demons were forgiven, he was freed. When the sins of the prostitute
were forgiven, she too was cleansed. When the sins of the dead man
were forgiven, he also became alive!
Oh,
how terrible is the chain of sins! How heavy are the chains of many
sins! These chains are not loosened by sinful hands. But when the
hands of the All-Pure Lord touches them, they, of their own accord,
become loosened and fall apart. When the voice of the Pure One
reaches them, they fall apart. And, from the glance of the Pure One,
they fall apart. Yes, even from the thoughts of the Pure One, they
fall apart - these terrible chains of sins.
"Who
is this Who even forgives sins?" O sinners, this is the
All-Pure Lord and because of purity, Almighty.
O,
Lord, All-Pure and Almighty free us from the chains of sins.
To
the Top
February
9th (New Style) • January 27th (Old Style)
St.
John Chrysostom, the Golden Trumpet of Orthodoxy
The
memory of this illuminary of the Church is celebrated on November 13
and January 30 but, on this date, the Church celebrates the
translation of his honorable relics from the Armenian village of
Comana, where he died in exile, to Constantinople, where earlier he
had governed the Church. Thirty years after his death, Patriarch
Proculus delivered a homily in memory of his spiritual father and
teacher. He so enflamed the love of the people and Emperor
Theodosius the Younger toward this great saint that all of them
desired that Chrysostom's relics be translated to Constantinople. It
was said that the sarcophagus, containing the relics of St. John
Chrysostom, did not allow itself to be moved from its resting place
until the emperor wrote a letter to Chrysostom begging him for
forgiveness (for Theodosius' mother, Eudoxia, was the culprit
responsible for the banishment of this saint) and appealing to him
to come to Constantinople, his former residence. When this letter of
repentance was placed on the sarcophagus, its weight became
extremely light. At the time of the translation of his relics, many
who were ill and who touched the sarcophagus were healed. When the
relics arrived in the capital, then the emperor in the name of his
mother as though she herself was speaking over the relics, again,
prayed to the saint for forgiveness. "While I lived in this
transient life, I did you malice and, now, when you live the
immortal life, be beneficial to my soul. My glory passed away and it
helped nothing. Help me, father; in your glory, help me before I am
condemned at the Judgment of Christ!" When the saint was
brought into the Church of the Twelve Apostles and placed on the
patriarchal throne, the masses of people heard the words from St.
Chrysostom's mouth saying: "Peace be to you all." The
translation of the relics of St. John Chrysostom was accomplished in
the year 438 A.D.
Venerable
Titus of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev
At
first, Titus was a soldier. When in battle he sustained a head
injury, Titus withdrew from the world to the Monastery of the Caves
in Kiev where he was healed and then was tonsured a monk. Titus
spent his time in unceasing mourning for his earlier sins. Before
his death Titus was informed through a heavenly apparition that all
of his sins were forgiven. His relics repose in the Caves of
Theodosius.
Reflection
Fasting
is a great thing but love is even greater. If by fasting demons are
cast out, passions tamed, the body pacified, the spirit composed
then, by love, God takes up abode in man. The Lord Himself
emphasized fasting as necessary but stressed love as the main
commandment. In the first half of the last century, Jeladin Bey
ruled in Ohrid, a renegade from the Sultan and an independent ruler.
At that time, the Church was governed by Metropolitan Kalinikos.
Even though of different faiths, Jeladin Bey and Kalinikos were very
good friends and often visited one another. It happened that Jeladin
Bey condemned twenty-five Christians to be hanged. They were
scheduled to be hanged on Great and Holy Friday (Good Friday). The
Metropolitan, totally disturbed because of this incident, went to
Jeladin Bey and began to implore him to be more lenient with the
punishment. While they were conversing, the time for lunch arrived
and the Bey invited the Metropolitan to dine. Lamb was prepared for
lunch. The Metropolitan excused himself, saying that because of
fasting he could not remain for lunch, and he prepared to leave. The
Bey was sorry and said to the Metropolitan: "Choose; either you
will dine with me and free twenty-five men from the gallows, or you
will not dine and allow them to be hanged." The Metropolitan
crossed himself and sat down to eat and Jeladin freed the condemned
from the punishment of death.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus as High Priest:
1. Who
offers to God as a sacrifice the entire time of His life on earth;
2. Who
offers to God as a sacrifice His every word, His every feeling, His
every thought, His every labor and His every tear;
3. Who
finally offers Himself completely as a man to God for man.
Homily
About
the confusion of those of little faith
"What
sort of man is this Whom even the winds and the sea obey?" (St.
Matthew 8:27).
In
these words the apostles, not yet knowing the Lord Jesus and seeing
how He calmed the turbulent sea and winds questioned: "What
sort of man is this Whom even the winds and the sea obey?" This
is He Who created the winds and the sea. Therefore, what kind of
miracle is it that His own created things obey Him? Is not the axe
an obedient tool in the hands of him who made it? The Lord created
everything by His word, that is why all things submit to His word.
Brethren,
"What sort of man is this?" Who is He? This is the same
One Who, before that, raised the winds and quieted them and Who
agitated the sea and subdued it. This is the same One Who also does
that today . As a man, He stood before men and rebuked the animated
wind and unbridled sea in order to dispel the confusion of men as
though the winds and the sea are moved and calmed either by blind
chance or by some evil power; to reveal the truth for ever that the
wise and beneficial power of the Creator directs and commands all
the elements according to His Providence.
The
apostles questioned: "Who is He?" O, Holy Apostles, He is
the sinless Son of God Whose Name you will spread throughout the
whole world and for Whose Name you will be tortured and slain as
lambs by wolves. Who are the wolves? The wolves are those who think
that the wind moves on its own and that the sea agitates and calms
itself on its own, either only of itself or of the devil. O, Holy
Apostles, you who asked and who received a true reply and the whole
truth you proclaimed to the whole world, pray for us so that we too
may be enlightened by that truth.
O
Lord, All-Wise and All-Powerful, calm the winds of sin and subdue
the storm of our filthy and unworthy passions.
To
the Top
February
10th (New Style) • January 28th (Old Style)
Venerable
Ephrem the Syrian
Ephrem
was born in Syria of poor parents during the reign of Emperor
Constantine the Great. He spent his young life rather tempestuously;
but all at once a change took place in his soul and he began to burn
with love for the Lord Jesus. Ephrem was a disciple of St. James
Nisibis (January 13). From the enormous Grace of God, wisdom flowed
from his tongue as a brook of honey and ceaseless tears flowed from
his eyes. Industrious as a bee, Ephrem continually either wrote
books or orally taught the monks in the monastery and the people in
the town of Edessa or he dedicated himself to prayer and
contemplation. Numerous are his books and beautiful are his prayers.
The most famous is his prayer recited during the Honorable Fast
Season which reads:
Lord
and Master of my life, give me not
a spirit of sloth, vain
curiosity,
lust for power and idle talk.
But
give to me, your servant, a spirit of
soberness, humility, patience and love.
O Lord
and King, grant me to see my own
faults and not to condemn
my
brother: for blessed are you to the
ages of ages. Amen.
When
they wanted to appoint him a bishop by force, he pretended to be
insane and began to race through the city of Edessa dragging his
garment behind him. Seeing this, the people left him in peace.
Ephrem was a contemporary and friend of St. Basil the Great. Saint
Ephrem is considered mainly to be the Apostle of Repentance. Even
today his works soften many hearts hardened by sin and return them
to Christ. He died in extreme old age in the year 378 A.D.
Venerable
Isaac the Syrian
Isaac
was born in Nineveh and in his youth lived an ascetical life in the
Monastery of Mar (Saint) Matthew in the proximity of Nineveh. When
Isaac became known because of the sanctity of his life and of his
many miracles, he was elected bishop of Nineveh and was forced to
accept that rank. But, after only five months, he left the bishopric
and secretly withdrew into the wilderness to the Monastery of Rabban
Shabur. He complied many works of which about a hundred homilies on
the spiritual life and asceticism, written primarily from his
personal experience, have come down to us today. He was unequaled as
a psychologist and as a director in the spiritual life. Even such
saints as was St. Simeon (the New Stylite) of the Wonderful Mountain
near Antioch sought counsel from him. Isaac died in extreme old age
toward the end of the seventh century.
Venerable
Palladius, Syrian Hermit
Palladius
was a great ascetic and miracle-worker. In front of his cell there
appeared a corpse of a certain wealthy man whom robbers had killed
and looted. When Palladius was brought to court and, in order to be
spared from misery, he prayed to God and through prayer resurrected
the dead man. He died in the fourth century.
Venerable
Ephrem of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev
Ephrem
died in 1096 A.D. He instituted the Feast of the Translation of the
Relics of St. Nicholas to Bari, Italy. This feast is celebrated on
May 9.
Reflection
The
absence of envy among the saints is a startling and wonderful
phenomenon. Not only did the saints not allow envy to seize their
hearts but, with all their might, labored to uplift their companions
and to diminish themselves. On one occasion when St. Hilarion of
Palestine visited St. Anthony in Egypt, St. Anthony exclaimed:
"Welcome Venus, the morning star!" To that St. Hilarion
replied: "Greetings and health be to you, the shining pillar
who sustains the universe!" When they praised St. Macarius as a
monk, the saint replied: "Brethren, forgive me, I am not a monk
but, I have seen monks!" When some people told St. Sisoes that
he attained the same level of perfection as St. Anthony, Sisoes
replied: "If only I had but a single thought as does Anthony, I
would be all aflame."
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus as a Servant:
1. How
He voluntarily descended among men to be a servant to all;
2. How
He never refused anyone a good service which was requested of Him;
3.
How, even today, as always, He invisibly and silently serves the
whole world.
Homily
About
the Man Whom no one knows
"`Who are you?' Jesus
said to them: `The beginning'" (St. John
8:25).
The
Lord Jesus is the beginning of creation, the beginning of
restoration, the beginning of salvation, the beginning of
resurrection, and the beginning of immortal glory.
Wherever
there is any evil in the world that needs to be uprooted, He is the
beginning. Without Him, it is impossible. Wherever there is any good
that is desired to be done in the world, He is the beginning.
Without Him, it is impossible. If anyone desires to uproot dissent
and malice in the family, in the village, in the town, in the entire
world, without Him, it is impossible. One must begin with Him. If
anyone desires to instill good-will, peace, love and unity in the
family, in the village, in the town, among the peoples in the entire
world, without Him it is impossible. He is the beginning.
Why is
it that without Christ, one cannot uproot evil nor sow good? Because
all evil is from sin and only He can forgive sins. When He and only
He forgives sin, then sin is plucked out by the root. No type of
good is possible to be sown without Him because in Him is the
treasury of all good; all the seeds of good. He is the only Sower of
Good in the field of the world.
The
Apostle Paul, who understood all of this better than we, says:
" I can do all things through (Jesus) Christ Who strengthens
me" (Philippians 4:13). Without Jesus Christ, who can begin to
heal oneself of evil, to heal others from evil and to sow good in
oneself and to sow good in others? No one, truly no one.
Therefore,
brethren, if we are determined to uproot evil in ourselves and in
others and in place of evil to sow good in ourselves and in others,
let us begin with the Beginning (Christ); i.e., let us begin with
the Conqueror over evil and the Sower of good; with the Lord Jesus
Christ.
O Lord
Jesus Christ, You be to us the beginning in every struggle against
sin and in every good work.
To You
be glory and thanks always. Amen.
To
the Top
February
11th (New Style) • January 29th (Old Style)
The
Holy Priestly-Martyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, (Theophorus)
The
principal feast of St. Ignatius is celebrated in winter on December
20. On this date is commemorated the translation of his relics from
Rome, where he suffered martyrdom, to Antioch where earlier he was a
bishop. When St. Ignatius was summoned to Rome before Emperor Trajan
to account for his faith, he was accompanied on this long journey by
several citizens from Antioch who were motivated in this by a great
love toward their wonderful Arch-shepherd. Since he would never deny
his faith in Christ, this saint of God who abhorred all adulation
and promises of Emperor Trajan, was condemned to death and was
thrown into the Circus Maximus before wild beasts. The wild beasts
tore him apart, and he gave up his soul to God. His companions then
gathered his exposed bones and took them to Antioch and honorably
buried them. But when the Persians captured Antioch in the sixth
century, the relics of St. Ignatius were again translated from
Antioch to Rome.
The
Holy Martyrs Romanus, James, Philotheus, Hyperechius, Abibus, Julian
and Paragorius
They
all suffered martyrdom for the Lord Jesus Christ in Samosata during
the reign of Emperor Maximilian in the year 297 A.D. Philotheus and
Hyperechius were aristocrats and the others were young men of noble
birth. The pagans inflicted a terrible death upon them, hammering
nails into the heads of each of them,. They suffered martyrdom
honorably and entered into eternal joy.
Venerable
Lawrence of the Caves in Kiev
Lawrence
voluntarily chose the life of a recluse following the examples of
earlier recluses Isaac and Nicetas. However, he guarded against
diabolical temptations which, in the beginning, befell the other
two. With great restraint, prayer and godly-thoughts, Lawrence
attained a high state of perfection. He learned from a terrified
demon that of one-hundred eighteen monks in the Monastery of the
Caves, thirty of them were given by God the authority over evil
spirits. Lawrence presented himself to the Lord in the year 1194
A.D.
Reflection
The
more a man advances in spiritual knowledge and in purification of
the heart, the more it appears to him that the depth in which he
finds himself is even lower and that the height to which he strives
is even higher. When one spiritual giant on his death bed heard that
his companions were praising him because of his great asceticism, he
began to weep and said, "My children, I have not even begun my
spiritual life." When St. Ignatius, that God-bearer, lay
chained in the dungeon, he wrote to the Ephesians: "I do not
command you as though I stand for something. Even though I am in
chains for the Name of Jesus Christ; nevertheless, I still have not
perfected myself in Him. Now I am beginning to be His disciple, and
I speak to you as a collegium of my teachers."
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus on the simplicity of His behavior:
1. How
He behaved simply with fishermen as well as with the scribes and
princes;
2. How
He responds to everyone and enters into the home of everyone who
invites Him;
3. How
His royal dignity clearly radiates through all the simplicity of His
behavior.
Homily
About
perfection through the fulfilling of the will of God
"Jesus
said to them, `My food is to do the will of the One Who sent Me and
to
finish His work'" (St. John 4:34).
Here
is a saving example given to us by our Savior! He Who had such
power, authority and wisdom says that He came into the world, not to
do His will but the will of the Father and not to do His work but
the work of His Father; but we, even though we are as weak as a
cobweb, continuously emphasize our will and some, our work! Although
the Son is equal to the Father as He says in another place:
"The Father and I are one" (St. John 10:30); nevertheless,
the Lord Jesus says that He came into the world to do His Father's
will and to accomplish His Father's will. He is saying this not in
order show the smallness of His being before the Father's being, for
their being is one, but rather to show the greatness of His love
toward the Father, and in order to motivate us, out of love toward
God, to totally adopt His will.
All of
our misery in this life comes from the fact that we do not implement
the will of Him Who sent us into this world. And we do not implement
His will because we do not have love toward Him. For, whoever loves
someone, he does so according to his will. The Lord Himself said,
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments"
(St.
John 14:15). By what could the Lord be able to proclaim His love
toward the Father, if not by fulfilling the will of the Father? And,
by what means can we proclaim our love toward the Lord Jesus
crucified for us on the Cross, if not by fulfilling His will?
Our
will, O my brethren, is as deceitful as a shadow. Let us not follow
it so that we do not perish. But let us follow the will of the Lover
of Mankind, the Lord, Who alone knows what is best for us.
O
Humble and Man-loving Lord, teach us to do Your will.
To You
be glory and thanks always, Amen.
To
the Top
February
12th (New Style) • January 30th (Old Style)
The
Three Hierarchs: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian and
St. John Chrysostom
Each
of these saints have their own feast day. St. Basil the Great,
January 1; St. Gregory the Theologian, January 25; and St. John
Chrysostom, January 27. This combined feast day, January 30, was
instituted in the eleventh century during the reign of Emperor
Alexius Comnenus. At one time a debate arose among the people
concerning who of the three is the greatest? Some extolled Basil
because of his purity and courage; others extolled Gregory for his
unequaled depth and lofty mind in theology; still others extolled
Chrysostom because of his eloquence and clarity in expounding the
Faith. Thus some were called Basilians, others Gregorgians, and the
third were called Johannites. This debate was settled by Divine
Providence to the benefit of the Church and to an even greater glory
of the three saints. Bishop John of Euchaita (June 14) had a vision
in a dream: At first, all three of these saints appeared to him
separately in great glory and indescribable beauty, and after that
all three appeared together. They said to him, "As you see, we
are one in God and there is nothing contradictory in us; neither is
there a first or a second among us." The saints also advised
Bishop John that he write a common service for them and to order a
common feast day of celebration. Following this wonderful vision,
the debate was settled in this manner: January 30 would be
designated as the common feast of these three hierarchs. The Greeks
consider this feast not only an ecclesiastical feast but their
greatest national school holiday.
The
Priestly-Martyr Hippolytus, Bishop of Rome
Hippolytus
suffered for the Faith during the reign of Claudius. When the virgin
Chrysa was unmercifully tortured for Christ in Rome, St. Hippolytus
interceded on her behalf before the torturers and denounced them.
Because of that protest, Hippolytus also was brought to court, was
condemned and, after prolonged tortures, was sentenced to death.
They bound his hands and feet and drowned him in the sea. Along with
Hippolytus and Chrysa, twenty other martyrs also suffered. St.
Hippolytus suffered in the year 269 A.D.
The
holy Martyr Theophilus the New
As a
commander of the Emperor Constantine and Empress Irene, Theophilus
was enslaved by the Hagarites and was kept in prison for four years.
When he refused all pressures of the Muslims to abandon the
Christian Faith, Theophilus was beheaded in the year 784 A.D. and
took up habitation with the Lord.
St.
Peter, Tsar of Bulgaria
Peter
was the son of Simeon who was a great admirer of St. John of Rila.
He gained independence for the Bulgarian Church from Constantinople
and preserved Orthodoxy in Bulgaria from the Bogomils. After an
unsuccessful war with the Hungarians and Russians, Peter died in 967
A.D. in the fifty-sixth year of his life.
Reflection
Here
is an example of how emperors seek counsel from the saints and how
the saints avoid vanity and riches and how they counsel emperors.
The Orthodox Bulgarian Tsar Peter set off with his retinue toward
the Rila mountain driven by the insatiable desire to see St. John of
Rila and to benefit from his instruction. The tsar sent men ahead to
inform the saint of his arrival, but the saint did not agree to meet
with the tsar. The saddened tsar again sent some men with foodstuffs
and an ample amount of gold as well as a petition requesting the
saint to write some counsel for him. John, accepted the edible
things but returned the gold, not even wanting to touch it, replied
to the tsar: "If you desire the heavenly kingdom, be merciful
as the heavenly Father. Do not trust in injustice and do not be
covetous; be meek, quiet and be accessible to everyone. Do not
accept praises from your noblemen. Let your purple robe radiate with
virtues. May the remembrance of death never depart from your soul.
Humble yourself before the feet of Mother Church; bow your head
before her prime-hierarchs so that the King of kings, seeing your
sincerity, reward you with goodness such as never entered into the
heart of man." Receiving that letter, the tsar kissed it, and
after that read it frequently.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus as a Friend of children:
1. As
a Friend of the angels in heaven who, like children, are innocent,
obedient and without passions;
2. As
a Friend of little children on earth, who easily and simply believe
in God;
3. As
a Friend to the saints, who by labor and grace are purified from sin
and become innocent as children.
Homily
About
how men must become like children in order to be sons of God
"Amen,
I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not
enter the Kingdom of Heaven" (St. Matthew 18:3).
Thus
speaks the Lord and His word is holy and true. What kind of
advantage do children have over adults? They have three advantages:
in faith, in obedience and in forgiveness. The child asks the parent
about everything and whatever the parent replies, the child believes
its parent. The child is obedient to its parent and easily
subordinates its will to the will of the parent. The child is
forgiving even though he provokes easily, but the child forgives
quickly. Our Lord requires these three from all men i.e., Faith,
Obedience and Forgiveness. He seeks that men believe in Him
unconditionally, as a child believes in its parent. To be
unconditionally obedient to Him as a child is to its parent and to
be forgiving in relation to one anther, not to remember evil and not
to render evil for evil.
Faith,
Obedience and Forgiveness are the three main characteristics of a
child's soul. In addition to that, comes purity and joy. A child is
not greedy; a child is not lustful; and a child is not vain
glorious. The child has an eye unspoiled by vices and a joy
unspoiled by worries.
O
brethren, who can make us over again into children? No one, except
the one Christ. He can make us over into children and help us to be
born again and, that by His example, by His teaching and by the
power of His Holy Spirit.
O Lord
Jesus, perfect in obedience and meekness, Eternal Child of the
Heavenly Father help us to become as infants by faith in You, by
obedience toward You and by forgiveness one toward the other.
To
the Top
February
13th (New Style) • January 31st (Old Style)
Cyrus
and John, the Unmercenary Saints and Miracle-Workers
These
charitable and glorious saints were not blood brothers but were
brothers in the spirit. At first, Cyrus lived in Alexandria, and as
a physician he healed people by the power of Christ and by his
knowledge of medicine. Learning that sickness mostly befalls man
because of sin, Cyrus always directed the sick to purify their souls
from sin through repentance and prayer and, thereby restore health
to the body. When Diocletion's persecution against Christians began,
Cyrus withdrew to Arabia where he received the monastic tonsure. He
became as famous in Arabia as he was in Alexandria, so that people
there also resorted to him for assistance. Hearing about Cyrus,
John, then a Roman officer in Edessa, came to Arabia to see him.
Upon meeting, they loved one another as a brother loves a brother
and remained together to live a life of asceticism. At that time, a
certain Christian woman named Anastasia, together with her three
daughters, was tortured by the persecutors in the town of Canopus.
Hearing of this, Cyrus and John came to Canopus to encourage the
mother and her daughters not to abandon the Faith. And truly, thanks
to the counsel of these saints, Anastasia endured all tortures and,
with her daughters, was martyred for Christ. The daughters of
Anastasia were named: St. Theoctista, age 15; St. Theodota, age 13;
and St. Eudocia, age 11. The tormentors then captured Cyrus and
John, who, after imprisonment and torture were beheaded in the year
311 A.D. Numerous miracles were wrought by these martyrs, both
during their lives and after their deaths. Their relics were
translated to Rome during the reign of Emperor Arcadius. These
saints are invoked for assistance during the Blessing of Water, in
the Sacrament of Holy Unction and especially by those suffering from
insomnia.
The
Female Martyr Tryphaena
Tryphaena
willingly and courageously endured many tortures for Christ. Because
she did not want to deny her Faith, a wild ox was released which
gored her to death. This occurred in the first century. St.
Tryphaena is invoked by mothers who are unable to breast-feed their
children.
The
Venerable Nicetas of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev
As a
monk Nicetas was disobedient to his superior, left the monastery and
closed himself in a cell. Because of his disobedience, God permitted
great temptations to befall him. Once, when Nicetas was at prayer,
the devil appeared to him under the guise of a radiant angel and
said to him: "Do not pray anymore; rather read books and I will
pray for you!" Nicetas obeyed and ceased to pray and began to
read books. He only read the Old Testament. He was unable even to
open the Book of the New Testament, for the power of the devil
prevented him from doing so. With the help of the devil, Nicetas
prophesied only crimes, thefts, arson and other evil deeds which are
known to the devil and in which he (the devil) participates.
Finally, the holy fathers of the Caves realized that Nicetas had
succumbed to the temptation of the devil, and they began to pray to
God for him. Nicetas returned to the monastery, realized the
destruction which plagued him, and directed himself on the right
path. After prolonged repentance and many tears, God forgave him and
bestowed upon him the gift of miracle-working. He died in the year
1108 A.D.
Reflection
Although
the Holy Fathers praised monasticism as the angelic state, and
although many of the greatest saints lived their lives and attained
perfection in the deaf and lifeless desert, nevertheless, the
Orthodox Church does not recommend tonsuring to all the faithful.
"Neither all those in the desert were saved nor all those in
the world were lost," said one saint. To a city dweller who,
with no inclination for monasticism, desired to enter the monastery,
St. Niphon said: "My child, a place neither saves nor destroys
a man, but deeds save or destroy. For him who does not fulfill all
the commandments of the Lord, there is no benefit from a sacred
place or from a sacred rank. King Saul lived in the midst of royal
luxury and he perished. King David lived in the same kind of luxury
and he received a wreath. Lot lived among the lawless Sodomites and
he was saved. Judas was numbered among the apostles and he went to
Hades. Whoever says that it is impossible to be saved with a wife
and children deceives himself. Abraham had a wife and children,
three-hundred-eighteen servants and handmaidens, much gold and
silver but, nevertheless, he was called the Friend of God. Oh, how
many servants of the Church and lovers of the desert have been
saved! How many aristocrats and soldiers! How many artesians and
field-workers! Be pious and be a lover of men and you will be
saved!"
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus as Host in His house:
1. How
He walks about this world as One Who has authority: commanding
nature and expelling demons;
2. How
He diligently laborers over each man with whom He encounters as a
Host over the members of His household;
3. How
He acts in the Temple as a Host in His house cleansing the Temple of
the money-changers.
Homily
Against
mediocrity and about fulfilling all the laws of God
"These
you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone" (St.
Luke 11:42).
The
law and mercy are referred to in this text. In the souls of the
Pharisees and sectarians, the law and mercy do not stand together,
i.e., they are unable to fulfill the regulations of the law and to
show mercy, but they argue about which is more important of these
two; one, they omit and the other they adhere to. The Pharisees
literally observed the letter of the Law, but they completely
abandoned mercy and love for men. Sectarians flatter themselves that
they adhere to God's justice but totally reject the prescriptions of
Church Laws.
Orthodoxy
represents the fullness of the Faith. The Church commands that we do
this and not omit that. The Church is careful toward external
prescriptions of the Faith, like a man when he walks among clay
vessels and is careful not to break them. The Church is even more
careful about the justice and mercy of God as a man who, walking
among the clay vessels, values them and protects them, not because
of the earth from which the vessels are made, but because of their
priceless contents which are contained in them. Empty vessels that
are never filled with any drink, are as worthless as is the empty
legal formalisms of the Pharisees. A drink, however, when it is
poured into the wind is spilled and wasted because it is not poured
into the vessels designated for it.
And,
so, in Orthodoxy, there is no one-sidedness as there was not in the
Lord Jesus. The Lord speaks to John the Baptist, who breathes with
the justice and mercy of God, that it is necessary to fulfill the
Law; but to the Pharisees, empty paragraphists without the justice
and mercy of God, He says, "For it is mercy that I desire, not
sacrifice!" (Hosea 6:6). It is evident that it is more
important to do that which is necessary to do than that which must
not be left undone. But it does not mean that, that which is less
important is unnecessary. In the human organism, there are many
important organs and many lesser important organs, but together they
constitute the body of man.
O
Lord, all encompassing, do not allow us to become one-sided, but
assist us to fulfill Your entire will.
To You
be glory and thanks always. Amen.
To
the Top
|
