July
14th (New Style) • July 1st (Old Style)
The
Holy Martyrs Cosmas and Damian
Cosmas
and Damian were unmercenary physicians and miracle-workers. These two
saints were brothers, were born in Rome and as children were baptized
and brought up in the Christian spirit. They possessed abundant grace
from God to heal men and livestock from every disease and suffering,
usually by the laying on of hands. They sought no reward for their
efforts. They only required of the infirm to believe in Christ the
Lord. Inheriting a large estate, they charitably distributed it to the
needy and to those in want. At that time, Emperor Galerius reigned in
Rome. As a persecutor of Christianity, he summoned these two holy
brothers before him shackled in chains. After a prolonged
interrogation the emperor ordered them to deny Christ and to offer
sacrifices to the idols. Cosmas and Damian not only did not heed the
emperor but also counseled him to abandon the dead idols and to
recognize the One True God. "Our God is not created but He is the
Creator of all, but your gods are the imaginations of man and the work
of the hands of artists. If you did not have artists to make your
gods, you would have no one to worship." After working a miracle
upon the emperor himself-for they miraculously cured him from a grave
infirmity - the emperor proclaimed his faith in Christ and released
the holy brothers in peace. Cosmas and Damian continued to glorify God
and to heal the sick and were themselves, glorified by the people on
all sides. Envious of their glory, a certain doctor who, at one time
was their teacher, and with the pretext to gather healing herbs, led
them into the mountain and stoned them to death. They suffered
honorably for the Faith of Christ in the year 284 A.D. Their memory
remains eternal in the Church on earth and their souls took up
habitation in the Kingdom of the Lord to live eternally in glory and
in joy.
Venerable
Peter, the Patrician
This
saint was a nobleman from Constantinople and a commander during the
reign of Emperor Nicephorus. In a war with the Bulgarians, Emperor
Nicephorus was slain and Peter, with fifty Greek commanders and
princes, was captured and cast into prison. St. John the Theologian
miraculously freed Peter from prison. Peter then despised all earthly
glory, left his wife and son, and withdrew to Mount Olympia where, as
a monk and as a disciple of St. Joannicius the Great, lived a life of
mortification for thirty-four years. Following the death of his wife
and son, he settled in Constantinople where he spent eight more years
in fasting and prayer and fell asleep in the Lord in the year 865 A.D.
in the seventy-seventh year of his life.
The
Holy Martyr Potitus
Potitus
was a thirteen-year-old child who was born in Sardinia. He endured
much suffering for Christ both from his father and from the civil
persecutors of Christianity. Potitus was beheaded during the reign of
Emperor Antoninus (138-161 A.D.) but, before this, Potitus cured and
baptized Agnes, the daughter of the emperor.
Reflection
Through
their prayers and alms for the deceased, Christians display the
relationship between this world and the world to come. The Church in
this world and the Church in the other world are one and the same -
one body, one in being - as does the root of a tree beneath the earth
comprise one organism with the trunk and the branches of the tree
above the earth. It is clear from this how we who comprise the Church
on earth can receive help from the saints and the righteous ones from
the Heavenly Church as well as the deceased sinners in the other world
can receive help from us on earth. St. Athanasius says: "As it
happens with wine inside a barrel which, when the vineyard blooms in
the field, senses it and the wine itself blossoms together with it, so
it is with the souls of sinners. They receive some relief from the
Bloodless Sacrifice offered for them and from charity" performed
for their repose. St. Ephren the Syrian cites that same example with
wine and the vineyard and concludes: "And so, when there exists
such mutual sensitivity even among plants, is not the prayer and
sacrifice felt even more for the departed ones?"
Contemplation
To
contemplate the miraculous change of water into wine (St. John 2):
1. How
the Lord, at the marriage at Cana, changed the water into wine;
2. How,
even my soul, if it is wedded to the Living God, transforms its
wateriness into divine beverage.
Homily
About
how we should rejoice in Christ
"In
this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while, if need be,
you have been grieved by various trials" (1 Peter 1:6).
Thus
speaks St. Peter the Apostle whose life was filled with many
temptations and frequent sorrows. Thus speaks the man who left his
home and family members and followed after Christ and who, for the
sake of Christ, endured many difficulties: from hunger, from thirst,
from the Jews, from the Romans, from false prophets, from cruel
heathens and who, in the end was crucified on the cross, all for the
sake of the Lord Christ. He, who in this life was unmercifully
scourged with great sorrows and great temptations, counsels us to
rejoice in Christ so that this joy may swallow up all our
proportionally lessor sorrows and temptations.
But why
brethren should we rejoice in Christ?
Because
He revealed and showed us the reality of the greatest and most
beautiful hopes and dreams of mankind;
He
revealed to us the One God, Living, Omnipotent, All-wise All-merciful
and He gave us the privilege to call ourselves His sons;
He
revealed and showed us the immortal and eternal life; life
incomparably better than this life on earth;
He
revealed to us the spiritual kingdom; the kingdom of angels and the
righteous; the kingdom of all good and the light of truth and justice;
He
revealed and showed us the goal of our existence here on earth and the
purpose for all our efforts and sufferings in this transient life;
He
revealed to us the ocean of heavenly joy compared to all of our
sorrows and temptations as a drop of muddy water, which cannot disturb
or muddy that ocean.
O
brethren, what joy awaits us! O brethren, how small a price does our
Lord ask of us to purchase this joy in which the angels bathe and in
which the righteous swim! Only to fulfill a few of His short
commandments that is the entire price!
O Lord
Jesus, the all-miraculous source of our joy, our boast and our
pleasure, our glory and our thanks, place Your finger on our mouths
and do not allow a drop of muddy sorrow and temptations to poison us.
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July
15th (New Style) • July 2nd (Old Style)
The
Placing of the Robe of the Most Holy Mother of God in
Constantinople
During
the reign of Emperor Leo the Great (458-471 A.D.), Empress Verina and
Patriarch Gennadius, two noblemen from Constantinople, Galibus and
Candidus, traveled throughout the Holy Land to venerate and to worship
before the holy shrines. In Nazareth, they stopped for a while at the
home of a Jewish maiden who kept the girdle of the All-Holy Mother of
God in a secret room. Many who were ill and in need received healing
from their sufferings through prayer and by touching the vesture.
Galibus and Candidus took this sacred article and brought it to
Constantinople and reported it to the emperor and patriarch. This
brought about great joy in the imperial city. The vesture was solemnly
translated and placed in the Church of Blachernae. This church was
built by Emperor Marcian and Empress Pulcheria on the shore of an
inlet and was called Blachernae after the name of a Scetis commander
who was slain there. And in remembrance of the placing of this vesture
of the All-Holy Birth giver of God in this Blacheran church, this
feast day was instituted.
St.
Juvenal, Patriarch of Jerusalem
Juvenal
was a contemporary of the great illuminators of the Orthodox Church:
Euthymius, Theodosius, Gerasimus, Simeon the Stylite and others. He
participated in two Ecumenical Councils: the Third Council in Ephesus (431
A.D.) and the Fourth Council in Chalcedon (451 A.D.). With great power
and zeal, he fought against the blasphemous heresies: in Ephesus
against Nestorius who called the Birth-giver of God the Birth-giver of
Christ and in Chalcedon against Eutyches and Dioscorus who taught that
there was only one nature in Christ, i.e., only a divine nature
without a human nature. Following the victory of Orthodoxy at both
councils, Juvenal returned to his throne in Jerusalem. Even though the
heresies were condemned, the heretics were not eliminated. Through the
intrigue and violence of Theodosius, a friend of Dioscorus, Juvenal
was banished from the patriarchal throne and Theodosius, on his own,
elevated himself in Juvenal's place. In the beginning, this heretic
Theodosius was supported by Empress Eudocia, the widow of Theodosius
the Younger who, at that time, took up residence in Jerusalem.
Hesitant and indiscreet, Eudocia finally went to see St. Simeon the
Stylite in order to ask him wherein lies the truth. The saint of God
unmasked all the heretical teachings and instructed the empress to
adhere to the teachings of Orthodoxy as confirmed at the councils. The
empress heeded, repented and she herself became embittered against the
false Patriarch Theodosius. During that time Marcian and Pulcheria
reigned in Constantinople. A letter from the emperor was sent to
Commander Athanasius ordering him to banish Theodosius and to return
and reinstate Juvenal to his throne which the commander quickly did.
Juvenal governed the Church in Jerusalem for thirty-eight years as its
hierarch and at a ripe old age presented himself to the Lord in the
year 458 A.D. to receive from Him the reward for great suffering and
misery which he had endured for the truth. During the reign of St.
Juvenal, the celebration of Christmas was established on December 25.
St.
Photius, Metropolitan of Moscow
Photius
was of Greek descent. He prudently governed the Russian Church for
twenty years. Photius died in the year 1430 A.D. A week before his
death an angel of God appeared to him and informed him of the exact
time of his departure from this world.
Reflection
Every
device of which man boasts as an invention of his mind is revealed by
Divine Providence and every invented device has its two-fold
significance one physical, the other spiritual. Even the clock is a
wonderful device but it was not invented merely to tell us the time of
day and night but also to remind us of death. This is its spiritual
significance. When the small hand completes its rounds of seconds and
minutes then the large hand arrives at the ordered hour and the clock
strikes. So will the clock of our life strike when the days, months
and years of our life are numbered. That is why St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
counsels every Christian to reflect:
1. How
the time of our life continually passes;
2. How
it is impossible to bring back time that is past;
3. How
the past and future times are not in our control but only that time in
which we are now living;
4. How
the end of our life is unknown;
5. How
we must be prepared for death every day, every hour and every minute;
6. How
because of that we must always be in the state of continual
repentance;
7. How
we must be repentant in every hour and spiritually disposed as we
would wish to be at the hour of our death.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the burning bush on Horeb (Exodus 3):
1. How,
the bush was completely engulfed by flame and was not consumed;
2. How
also, the All-pure Virgin bearing within herself the Divine Fire, the
Lord God-Man, and was not consumed by Him;
3. How,
the Grace of the Divine Fire, also rejuvenates, heals and illuminates
even my sinful soul.
Homily
About
the trial of our faith
"That
the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honor and glory at the appearance of Jesus Christ" (1
Peter 1:7).
Brethren,
our faith is tried more often than is the reed rocked by the winds.
Trials are like the winds: a weak faith they will uproot and a strong
faith will be strengthened even more. Trials are also like the flame
in which straw is burned and gold is purified.
Man's
intellectual pursuits and suppositions also try our faith. These are
very strong and bitter winds. But we can overcome them if we are
willing to adhere to the words of God and if, in opposition to those
intellectual pursuits, we are able to emphasize the teachings of the
Faith of Christ.
Our
faith is further tried by fear and shame: fear of men who persecute
the Faith and shame of men who arrogantly despise the Faith. These
also are strong winds which we must resist if we wish to remain alive.
How will we resist them? By the fear of God which should always be
greater in our soul than the fear of men and of shame before the
apostles, saints and martyrs who were not ashamed of their faith
before emperors, princes and sages of this world.
Our
faith is further tried by suffering and misery. This is the fire in
which our faith either has to be burned like straw or to be tempered
as pure gold. We will resist these trials if we would but remember
Christ crucified on the Cross for us and so many thousands of martyrs
for the Faith who, in their patience, conquered all and emerged from
the flames as gold and who for centuries glow among the angels and
among men.
Our
faith is also tried by death, the death of our relatives and friends
and the death of mankind in general. This is the bitter fire in which
the faith of many have been burned. Is death the end of everything? It
is not, but rather believe that it is the beginning of everything; it
is the beginning of a new and just life. Believe in the Resurrection
of Christ, believe in life beyond the grave and believe in the general
resurrection and the Dreadful Judgment.
O Good
Lord, strengthen the faith in us and have mercy on us.
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July
16th (New Style) • July 3rd (Old Style)
The
Holy Martyr Hyacinthus
Hyacinthus
was a young man and a courtier at the court of Emperor Trajan.
Secretly, he was a Christian. At one time when Emperor Trajan and his
entire court solemnly offered sacrifices to the idols, Hyacinthus
refrained from this abominable solemnity. For that he was accused and
brought before the emperor to be judged. The emperor counseled him to
deny Christ and to offer sacrifices to the idols. Hyacinthus remained
as firm as a diamond and said to the emperor: "I am a Christian
and I honor Christ. Him I worship and to Him alone do I offer myself
as a living sacrifice." Beaten, spat upon and scraped, this holy
martyr was thrown into prison. By order of the emperor, he was given
nothing to eat except the sacrifices offered before the idols.
Hyacinthus refused to partake of them and after eight days died in
prison. The prison guards saw two radiant angels in the prison: one
angel covering the body of the martyred Hyacinthus with his radiant
vesture and the other angel placing a glorious wreath on his head. The
entire prison was illuminated and aromatic. The youthful Hyacinthus
honorably suffered and was crowned with eternal glory in the year 108
A.D.
St.
Anatolius, Patriarch of Constantinople
At
first, Anatolius was a presbyter in the Church at Alexandria and
following the death of Patriarch Flavian, he was elevated to the
patriarchal throne of Constantinople in the year 449 A.D. During his
reign, the throne of Constantinople was recognized as equal to the
throne of Rome by the Ecumenical Council held at Chalcedon in 451 A.D.
He struggled greatly for the purity of the Orthodox Faith, suffered
much at the hands of the heretics and finally was slain by them in the
year 458 A.D. during the reign of Pope Leo the Great. Anatolius
governed the church for nearly nine years and took up his habitation
among the holy hierarchs in the Kingdom of God.
The
Venerable Alexander (Akimetes)
Alexander
was born in Asia, educated in Constantinople and after the completion
of his schooling he devoted himself to military service and attained
the rank of an officer. Reading Holy Scripture, he came across the
words of the Savior: "If you seek perfection, go, sell your
possessions and give to the poor. You will then have treasure in
heaven. Afterward come back and follow me" (St. Matthew 19:21).
These words had such an effect on Alexander that he immediately sold
and distributed all that he had and withdrew into the wilderness.
After many mortifications and labors in purifying himself, he
established a monastery of the Sleepless Ones with a special
constitution according to this rule: the divine services (offices)
were carried on night and day without interruption in his community.
The brotherhood was divided into twenty-four relays (cursus). Each
relay knew their hour of the day and night and went to church to
continue the reading and singing of the preceding relay. Carrying
nothing with him, Alexander traveled much throughout the eastern
regions enlightening men with the Faith of Christ. Alexander disputed
with heretics, worked miracles by the Grace of God, grew old serving
the Lord and finally ended his earthly life in Constantinople in the
year 430 A.D. where his relics manifested miraculous power and glory
through which God glorifies His holy servants.
Venerable
Isaiah, the Recluse (Ahchorite)
Isaiah
lived a life of asceticism in the Egyptian Scete during the fifth and
sixth centuries. He is mentioned in the book of Saints Barsanuphius
and John (Reply 249 and others) as a man possessing exceptional
sanctity. He wrote many instructions for monks and anchorites. Of his
works, very little remains and much was destroyed by the Muslims. St.
Isaiah said: "The mind, before it awakens from the sleep of
slothfulness, resides with the demons." "The crown of all
good works consists in this: that a man place all his hope in God;
that he finds recourse in Him once and for all with his heart and
strength; that he be filled with compassion for all and weep before
God, imploring His help and mercy." What is the sign to man that
a certain sin is forgiven? "The sign that a sin is forgiven is
that the sin does not generate any activity in your heart and that you
have forgotten it to such a degree that in conversation about a
similar sin you do not feel any inclination toward that sin but rather
consider it something totally foreign to you. That is the sign that
you are completely pardoned." In vain are prayer and
mortification to a man who conceals within himself malice toward his
neighbor and the desire for revenge. "Watch with all your
strength that you do not speak one thing with your mouth and have
something else in your heart." "The crown of good works is
love; the crown of passions is the justification of one's sins."
Reflection
Love is
all-powerful. It can, among other things, ease the judgment of the
souls of deceased sinners. The Orthodox Church confirms this
resolutely and continues to offer prayers and performs corporal works
of mercy for the deceased. Abundantly rich in every spiritual
experience, the Church knows that prayers and works of mercy for the
deceased helps those in the other world. Before her death, St.
Athanasia the Abbess (April 12) made the sisterhood promise that for
forty days after her death they would prepare a table for the poor and
needy. The sisterhood carried out her command for only ten days and
then ceased. The saint then appeared in the company of two angels and
said to the sisters: "Why have you transgressed my commandment?
Know, that through works of mercy and the prayers of the priest for
the souls of the deceased in the course of forty days, invokes God's
mercy. If the souls of the departed are sinful they, through this,
receive forgiveness of sins from God and if they are not sinful then
the corporal works of mercy performed for them serve to the salvation
of the benefactor himself." Naturally, works of mercy and prayer
are thought of here in connection with great love toward the departed
souls. Such works of mercy and prayer, in truth, do help.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the miraculous transformation of the rod into a serpent
and, again, the serpent into the rod (Exodus 4):
1. How
the Lord Who created the serpent and the rod from dust, by His own
power and for the sake of higher goals, can transform the dead into
the living and the living into the dead;
2. How
the Lord can, according to my faith and prayer, return my soul,
withered and deadened by sin, to life.
Homily
About
the joy of faith in Christ
"Although
you have never seen Him, you love Him, and without seeing you now
believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible joy touched with
glory" (1 Peter 1:8).
These
are the words of the Holy Apostle Peter. He saw the Lord and loved
Him. He looked at the Lord and believed in Him. Precisely because of
that, he praises the love of those who have not seen the Lord and the
faith of those who have not seen Him with their eyes. Our Lord Himself
said: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have
believed" (St. John 20:29). Blessed are they who have not
seen the Lord as the apostle saw Him, but, nevertheless, they love Him
with apostolic love. Blessed are they who have not seen the Lord as
the apostle saw Him but, nevertheless, they believe in Him with
apostolic faith!
O my
brethren, even if we do not see the Lord, we see His works which have
enlightened the entire history of mankind from one end to the other
and have illumined every created thing under the heavens with a
spiritual significance. Even if we do not see the Lord, we see His
Holy Church built upon His All-holy and Pure Blood, from countless
saints, righteous ones and numerous souls baptized in His Name
throughout the ages of ages. Even if we do not see the Lord face to
face as the apostles saw Him, we believe that He is among us in the
Body and Blood by which we, according to His commandment, communicate
and, in communicating, we rejoice with unspeakable joy.
Brethren,
the Lord is alive and the Lord is near! That is our unwavering faith
and that is the spark of fire which stirs our hearts in a flame of
love for the Lord, living and near.
To know
that our Lord the Creator, out of love, descended into the earth and
appeared as a man for our sake and further know that He was dead and
that He appeared alive what stronger foundation does our faith need
and what stronger justification for our love?
Brethren,
the Lord is alive and near. And even in our day, He is appearing to
many righteous souls who serve Him with patience.
O Living
Lord, You were dead and are alive enliven in us faith and love until
our last breath on earth, that with faith and love, we may be worthy
to see You face to face as did Your holy apostles.
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July
17th (New Style) • July 4th (Old Style)
St.
Andreiw, Archbishop of Crete
Andrew
was born in Damascus of Christian parents. He was a mute from birth
until the age of seven. When his parents brought him to church and he
received Holy Communion, he began to speak. So great is the power of
the Divine and Holy Communion. At age fourteen, Andrew went to
Jerusalem and was tonsured in the Lavra of St. Sabas the Sanctified.
By virtue of his understanding and asceticism, he surpassed many of
the older monks and was an example to them. After a while, the
patriarch took him as his personal secretary. When the Monothelite
heresy began to rage the heresy which taught that the Lord Jesus did
not possess a human will but only a divine will the Sixth Ecumenical
Council convened in Constantinople in the year 681 A.D. during the
reign of Constantine IV (Bearded One). Theodore, the Patriarch of
Jerusalem, was unable to attend the council but sent Andrew as his
representative who, at that time, was an Archdeacon. At the council,
Andrew displayed his wonderful gift of oratory, his zeal for the Faith
and rare prudence. Having assisted in strengthening the Orthodox
Faith, Andrew returned to his duties in Jerusalem. Later, he was
elected and installed as the Archbishop of the Island of Crete. As an
archbishop, he was greatly loved by the people. Andrew was very
zealous for Orthodoxy and vehemently eradicated all heresies. Through
his prayers he worked miracles. By his prayers, he drove the Saracens
from the Island of Crete. Andrew wrote many books of instruction,
hymns and canons of which the most renown is the Great Canon to the
Birth-giver of God read on Thursday of the Fifth Sunday of the Great
Lenten Season. His outward appearance was such that "seeing his
face and hearing his words flowing like honey, everyone found pleasure
and amended their ways." On one occasion, returning from
Constantinople, Andrew foretold his death before he arrived in Crete.
And so it happened. When the boat in which he traveled sailed near the
island of Mitylene, this beacon of the Church ended his earthly life
and with his soul, took up habitation in the Kingdom of Christ in the
year 721 A.D.
St.
Martha
Martha
was the mother of St. Simeon of the Wonderful Mountain (May 24).
Dedicated with all her soul to the Faith, she did not think of
marriage. When her parents betrothed her to a young man, Martha
thought of leaving the home of her parents and to withdrew from the
world. But, St. John the Baptist appeared to Martha and counseled her
to fulfill the will of her parents and to enter into marriage, which
she did. From this marital union, the glorious saint, Simeon of the
Wonderful Mountain was born. She had the regular habit of rising at
midnight for prayer. With great charity, she helped the needy and
misfortunate, visited the poor, the orphaned and attended the sick. A
year before her death she saw many angels with candles in their hands
and, from them, learned the time of her death. Learning of this,
Martha with even greater zeal dedicated herself to prayer and good
works. She died peacefully in the year 551 A.D. and was buried in the
proximity of her son, Simeon the Stylite. After her death, she
appeared many times for the purpose of instructing mankind and for the
sake of healing the sick. Recorded as her most significant appearance
was the one to the abbot of Simeon's monastery. Following the burial
of St. Martha, the abbot placed a votive candle on her grave with the
understanding that it should never be extinguished. Then the abbot
became ill and the saintly Martha appeared to him and said: "Why
do you not burn a votive candle on my grave? Know that I am not in
need of the light from your candle since I have been made worthy
before God, the Eternal Heavenly Light, but it is needed for you. So
when you burn a light on my grave, you entreat me to pray to the Lord
for you." It is obvious from this that the goal of our veneration
for the saints is to entreat them as those worthier than us to pray to
God for us and for our salvation.
Reflection
If your
entire life passed smoothly and without worry, then weep for yourself.
For the Gospel and the experience of the people, with one accord
assert that no one has, without great suffering and pain, left behind
any great and beneficial work on earth or was glorified in the
heavens. If, however, your earthly sojourn is completely adorned with
sweat and tears to attain justice and truth, rejoice and be
exceedingly glad for truly great is your reward in the heavens. Do not
ever succumb to the insane thought that God has abandoned you. God
knows exactly how much one can endure and, according to that, measures
the sufferings and pains of everyone. St. Nil Sorsky says: "When
even men know how much weight a horse, or a donkey or a camel can
carry and, according to that they are loading them according to their
strength; when a potter knows how long to leave the clay in the kiln
for it to be neither shattered nor over-baked, how could God not know
how much temptation a soul can bear to make it ready and fitted for
the Kingdom of Heaven?"
Contemplation
To
contemplate all the miracles which the Lord performed at the hands of
Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: "And Aaron and Moses went
in unto Pharaoh and they did as the Lord had commanded" (Exodus
7:10):
1. How
great and awesome were those miracles;
2. How
the heart of pharaoh remained obstinate before all the miracles of
God;
3. How
even my heart is hard before the countless miracles of God in my
heart, in my life and around me and how I need to repent before the
end befalls me and eternal punishment reaches me.
Homily
About
the salvation of a soul as the end of faith
"Receiving
the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" (1
Peter 1:9).
Brethren,
what is the end of faith? The salvation of a soul. What is the goal of
faith? The salvation of a soul. What is the fruit of faith? The
salvation of a soul. We do not adhere to faith, therefore, for the
sake of faith but rather for the salvation of our souls. No one
travels for the sake of the road but because of someone or something
that awaits him at the end of the road. No one throws a rope into the
water in which someone is drowning for the sake of the rope but for
the sake of the one drowning. God gave faith to us as a road, the end
of which the travelers will receive salvation of their souls. And, as
a rope, God extended faith to us who are drowning in the dark waters
of sin, ignorance and vice that we, through the help of faith, save
our lives.
That is
the purpose of faith. Whoever knows the price of a human soul must
admit that there is nothing in this world more necessary or more
beneficial than faith. A merchant who carries precious stones in an
earthen vessel carefully and cautiously protects the vessel, hides it
and keeps vigil over it. Is it because of the vessel that the merchant
exerts such effort and concern? Not because of the vessel, but because
of the precious stones which are in the vessel. Our entire earthly
life is like an earthen vessel in which a priceless treasure is
hidden. That priceless treasure is our soul. A vessel is cheap but a
treasure is valuable. First, one must have faith in the value of a
human soul and second, in the future glow and life of the soul in the
Kingdom of God; third, in the Living God Who waits for the return of a
soul which He Himself gave us and fourth, in the possibility that a
soul could be lost in this world. Whosoever has faith in these four
things will know how to protect his soul and will further know that
the salvation of a soul is the end of his road, the goal of his faith,
the fruit of his life, the purpose of his existence on earth and the
justification of his sufferings.
We
believe for the sake of the salvation of our soul. Whoever has a true
faith, must also know that faith is for the sake of the salvation of
souls. He who thinks that his faith serves another purpose other than
salvation does not have a true faith nor does he know the value of his
soul.
O
All-good Lord Jesus, You have given us a shining and victorious faith,
strengthen and maintain that faith in us that we may stand unashamed
before Your judgment with our pure and shining souls.
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July
18th (New Style) • July 5th (Old Style)
Venerable
Athanasius of Mount Athos
Athanasius
was born in Trebizond of God-fearing parents. He became orphaned at an
early age but, by the Providence of God, a commander took him under
his care and brought him to Constantinople to be educated. Because of
his meekness and humbleness, he was the favorite of his peers. During
the children's games, the children chose one to be an emperor, one a
commander and Athanasius as abbot as though it was some kind of
foretelling! Having completed his education, Athanasius (who before
tonsuring was called Abraham) withdrew into the desert of Maleinos
near Athos, the Holy Mountain, where he lived the life of an ascetic
as a disciple of the then renowned Michael Maleinos. Desiring a more
difficult life of mortification, Athanasius settled on Holy Mt. Athos
to live in silence (the life of a silentary). But many who were
desirous of a life of asceticism began to gather around him and,
therefore, he was compelled to build his famous Lavra (monastery). In
that, he was assisted by the Byzantine emperors: at first, Nicephorus
Phocas, who himself thought to withdraw and to become a monk and,
after him, John Tzimiskes. Countless temptations befell Athanasius
both from demons and from men but he, as a brave soldier of Christ,
resisted and conquered all by his immeasurable meekness and continual
prayer to the Living God. Filled with the Grace of God, Athanasius was
made worthy to see the All-holy Birth-giver of God who miraculously
brought forth water from a rock and promised that she would also be
the abbess (Ikonomisa, the one in charge of the provisions of the
monastery). In work and in prayer, Athanasius surpassed his brethren
and loved all with the love a spiritual father and shepherd. Death
came to Athanasius unexpectedly. At one time, he with six other monks,
climbed upon a newly built vestibule of the church to inspect the wall
which was being constructed and the wall caved in on them and buried
them. Thus, this great beacon of monasticism died in the year 980 A.D.
Many times following his death Athanasius appeared to his brethren
either to comfort them or to reprimand them.
The
Venerable Martyr Cyprian the New
Cyprian
was born in the village of Klitzos in Epirus. Following the death of
his good parents, Cyprian went to the Holy Mt. Athos, was tonsured a
monk and devoted himself completely to a life of asceticism in a cell
near the monastery of Kutloumousiou. He imposed upon himself labor
upon labor and mortification upon mortification until he became renown
and respected throughout the entire Holy Mountain. Cyprian was still
not satisfied with himself. He was tormented by the thought that he
could not be saved except through martyrdom for Christ. Therefore, he
left the Holy Mountain and arrived in Thessalonica and came before the
Pasha of Thessalonica and called upon him to reject the false faith of
Muhammad and to accept the true faith of Christ. The Pasha ordered him
scourged and driven out. Unsatisfied with such a small suffering for
Christ, Cyprian traveled to Constantinople and wrote a letter to the
Grand Vezir in which he outlined the falseness of Muhammad and the
truthfulness of the Lord Christ. Enraged, the Vezir sent him to Skeik
Ul Islamu and he, after having heard all that Cyprian had to say,
ordered him beheaded. Cyprian was joyful beyond measure and went to
the scaffold as to a wedding feast. Thus, this godly man suffered for
Christ on July 5, 1679, and realized his burning desire.
The
Venerable Lampadus
Loving
Christ with a fervent love from his early youth, Lampadus withdrew
into the wilderness of Irenopolis where he gave himself up to a life
of asceticism. Since he overcame all passions and desires of the
flesh, his soul was radiant with a heavenly light and an unspeakable
peace not of this world. Lampadus was a miracle-worker, both during
life and after death. He lived a life of mortification probably in the
tenth century.
Reflection
By
striking the rod, how did Moses bring forth water from the rock? How
did God send down manna from heaven and feed the people of Israel in
the wilderness? Thus, ask all those who have a very weak conception of
the might of the Omnipotent God. And still they are perplexed why such
miracles do not take place again in order that all peoples may believe
in God. But the Israelites, with their own eyes, witnessed countless
miracles of God and still they did not believe. Meanwhile, God repeats
the old great miracles wherever and whenever it is needed. One time,
when a famine ensued in the Lavra of Athanasius, all of the brethren
dispersed whereever. Dejected, Athanasius began to move about and to
seek out another place. A lady on the road asked him: "Where are
you going?" "Who are you?" Athanasius asked bewildered
because he sees a woman on the Holy Mountain, where access to women is
not permitted. "I am she to whom you have dedicated your
community. I am the Mother of your Lord." Athanasius said:
"I am afraid to trust you, for even demons can manifest
themselves into angels of light. With what shall you prove to me the
truthfulness of your words?" Then the Holy Birth-giver of God
said to him: "Strike your rod upon this rock and you will know
who I am that speaks to you. Know that I am always remaining the
Abbess - Ikonomisa of your Lavra." Athanasius then struck the
rock with his rod. At that moment the rock shook and cracked as
thunder and water gushed forth from the shattered rock. Frightened,
Athanasius turned so as to prostrate before the Holy All-pure One but
She had already vanished. He returned to his Lavra and even to his
greater amazement, found all the barns (storehouses) overflowing with
wheat. Here, then, is a repetition of the great miracles by which the
miracles of old are confirmed and by which the faithful are
strengthened in the Faith.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the miraculous crossing of the Israelites across the Red
Sea (Exodus 14):
1. How
Moses waved the rod according to the command of God and the sea was
divided and the people of God passed over on the dry bottom of the
sea;
2. How
the Egyptians pursued the Israelites along the same path but Moses
waved the rod and the sea came together;
3. How
this teaches me that whatever He wills, all is possible with God and
that He saves His faithful servant from the greatest danger and
punishes the unfaithful.
Homily
About
the sobriety of the mind
"Wherefore
gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end for the
grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).
Brethren,
the mind is the guide of the soul and the advisor to the soul. God
gave only a soul to the animals (an irrational soul) that is why He
did not give them freedom but guides them with His mind. God gave man
a soul (a rational soul) and mind and with the mind, freedom. The mind
and freedom are inseparable. From this, are all the empty tales of
certain philosophers concerning how man truly has a mind but does not
possess freedom. For it is clear from daily experience that freedom is
an inseparable companion of the mind. But, as man does not possess a
perfect mind, so he does not possess perfect freedom but,
nevertheless, stands under the direction and guidance of God. God
alone has a perfect mind and perfect freedom. We, therefore, are only
the "image and likeness" of the mind and the freedom of God.
We possess a sufficient enough mind that we may know the will of God
and enough freedom that we can decide to fulfill the will of God. When
the mind loses the absolute guiding power over the soul then, what
follows in the soul is many guiding principles which result in the
confusion, chaos and destruction.
What do
the words of the apostle mean: "gird up the loins of your mind
and be sober" They mean: do not allow your mind to fantasize but
concentrate the mind on the contemplation on the law of God. They also
mean: do not allow your mind to abuse the God-given freedom of
plunging the soul into the slavery of the flesh, the world and the
devil but nail the mind to Christ as to a cross so that your soul may
resurrect in Christ. Further they mean: close your mind off from all
self-willed imaginations from which it becomes intoxicated and falls
into the booty of the devil and keep the mind girded in the narrowness
of your heart where it will become sober through prayer and become
pure through tears. Briefly, it means: exercise your mind not to abuse
your freedom by ridiculing the Living and Merciful God and deadening
the soul by passions.
O Lord
Jesus, the Mind of God and the Wisdom of God, help us to gird our mind
so that it would think only of what is from You and that what is
Yours, so that the mind would lead our soul soberly to salvation.
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July
19th (New Style) • July 6th (Old Style)
Venerable
Sisoes the Great
Sisoes
was an Egyptian by birth and a disciple of St. Anthony. Following the
death of his great teacher, St. Sisoes settled on a mountain in the
wilderness called St. Anthony's Mount where Anthony lived a life of
asceticism earlier. Imposing difficult labors on himself, he humbled
himself so much that he became meek and guileless as a lamb. For this
God endowed Sisoes with abundant grace so that he was able to heal the
sick, drive out unclean spirits and resurrect the dead. Sisoes lived a
life of austere mortification in the wilderness for sixty years and
was a source of living wisdom for all monks and laymen who came to him
for counsel and advice. Before death, his face shone as the sun. The
monks stood around him and were astonished at this manifestation. When
this saint gave up his soul, the entire room was filled with a
sweet-smelling savor. Sisoes died in extreme old age in the year 429
A.D. St. Sisoes taught the monks: "Regardless in what way
temptation comes to man, a man should give himself to the will of God
and to recognize that temptation occurred because of his sins. If
something good happens, it should be said that it happened according
to God's Providence." One monk asked Sisoes: "How can I
please God and be saved?" The saint answered: "If you wish
to please God, withdraw from the world, separate yourself from the
earth, put aside creation, draw near to the Creator, unite yourself to
God with prayers and tears and then you will find rest in this time
and in the future." The monk asked Sisoes: "How can I attain
humility?" The saint replied: "When a person learns to
recognize every man as being better than himself, with that he attains
humility." Ammon complained to Sisoes that he could not memorize
the wise sayings that he read in order to repeat them in conversation
with men. The saint replied to him: "That is not necessary. It is
necessary to attain purity of mind and speak from that purity placing
your hope in God."
The
Holy Martyrs Marinus (Marius) and Martha with their Sons Audifax and
Abachum (Habakuk), Valentine the Presbyter, Cyrinus, Astyrius (Asterius)
and many others
They all
suffered during the reign of Emperor Claudius Flavius in Rome in the
year 269 A.D. Marinus and Martha were wealthy people from Persia. They
sold all their property in Persia and, with their sons, came to Rome
in order to venerate the sacred relics of the holy apostles and other
martyrs. When the emperor asked them why they came from such a
distance, leaving their (household) domestic gods to seek dead men in
Rome, they responded: "We are servants of Christ and we came to
venerate the holy apostles whose immortal souls live with God, that
they may be our intercessors before Christ our God." Cyrinus was
thrown into the Tiber river from which his body was removed by Marinus
and Martha who honorably buried it. Valentine the priest was handed
over to Commander Astyrius so that he would counsel him to deny
Christ. But, Valentine, through prayer healed the daughter of Astyrius
who, had been blind for two years. Following that, Valentine baptized
Astyrius and his entire family. All of them, in various ways underwent
suffering and death for Christ the Lord Who received them into His
Immortal Kingdom to rejoice eternally.
The
Finding of the Relics of Saint Juliana the Virgin
Juliana
was the daughter of the Prince of Olshansk. She died about the year
1540 A.D. as a virgin of about sixteen years of age. Two hundred years
after her death, some men who were digging a new grave alongside the
great church in the monastery of the Caves in Kiev found the relics of
this holy virgin completely intact and uncorrupt as though she had
just fallen asleep. Many miracles occurred from these relics and
Juliana herself appeared many times to certain individuals. The
renowned Peter Mogila had one such vision.
The
Holy Female Martyr Lucy
Lucy was
taken captive by the barbarian Emperor Austius in Campania. The
emperor wanted Lucy to live with him (as his concubine) but she
protested. The emperor left her in peace so that she could live a life
of asceticism. She even converted the emperor to the Faith because,
through her prayer, he gained a victory in battle. In the end she,
together with the emperor, were martyred for Christ in Rome about the
year 300 A.D.
Reflection
From
where do we know that there is life after death? We know from Christ
the Lord: on the basis of His words, His resurrection and by His many
appearances after death. Philosophers, who recognize life after death,
recognize it on the basis of their thinking but we recognize it on the
basis of experience, especially the experience of holy men who were
not capable of falsehoods nor could they proclaim falsehoods. When
Sisoes lay on his deathbed, his face was very radiant. The monks, his
disciples, stood around him. Then St. Sisoes gazed around and said:
"Behold, here came Abba Anthony!" he remained silent for a
while and then, again said: "Behold, here came the
prophets!" In that moment, his face glowed even more and he said:
"Behold, here came the apostles!" Following that he said:
"Behold, here came the angels to take away my soul!"
Finally, his face shown as the sun and all were overcome by great fear
and the elder said: "Behold, here comes the Lord, look at Him all
of you." Behold, He speaks: "Bring to me the chosen vessel
from the wilderness." After that, the saint gave up his soul. How
many more similar visions were there and that from the most reliable
witnesses!
Contemplation
To
contemplate the miraculous falling of manna from heaven for the
feeding of the people in the wilderness (Exodus 16):
1. How
throughout forty years, the Lord gave the Israelites in the wilderness
manna from heaven; a heavenly food, sweet as honey;
2. How
that manna from heaven was a prototype of the Lord Jesus Christ, the
Bread of Life descending from heaven, Himself to feed the spiritually
hungry men in the wilderness of paganism;
3. How
nothing can satisfy my hungry soul except the Living Christ the Lord,
sweeter than honey.
Homily
About
the terrible prince of redemption
"For
as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things
as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition
from your fathers. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1: 18-19).
Brethren,
could anyone have purchased a cure against sin with silver and gold?
Never and by no one.
Brethren,
could anyone forge arms against the devil with silver and gold? Never
and by no one.
Brethren,
could anyone have been redeemed from death with the help of silver and
gold? Never and by no one.
Something
far more precious than silver and gold was needed to be a cure, a
weapon and ransom. The Precious Blood of the Son of God was needed to
be applied on the sinful wounds in order to be healed. The Precious
Blood of the Son of God was needed in order to be directed against
evil spirits and by its power to burn them and to drive them away from
man. The Precious Blood of the Son of God was needed to sprinkle the
earthly graves in order to subdue death and to raise the dead.
"As
a Lamb without blemish and without spot," the Lamb of God was
slain for us to pull us out from the three-fold jawbone of the beast.
A pitiful but life-giving banquet. God arranged this costly banquet to
manifest freedom to man. Sin, the devil and death charged with all
their might against the innocent and All-pure "Lamb of God
without blemish and without spot." They killed Him but they were
poisoned by His blood. This blood was shed in order to be poison for
them but for mankind, life and salvation.
O my
brethren, if you do not know how consuming sin is and how wicked the
devil is and how bitter death is, judge this by the greatness of
redemption by which we are redeemed from their bondage. The Precious
Blood of Christ, that is our deliverance from bondage! Remember,
brethren, that if we are again willing, by recklessness and evil to
offer ourselves up to that terrible three-fold bondage, there is not
anyone on earth or in heaven who could give a ransom for us. For the
precious ransom is one and it was given once and for ever.
O
merciful Lord, strengthen us so that we may be sustained in freedom
which You have gifted to us.
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The
Holy Great Female Martyr Dominica (Nedelja-Kiriaki)
During
the reign of the adversaries of Christ, Emperor Diocletian and his
son-in-law Maximian, there lived in Anatolia two pious and elderly
souls, Dorotheus and Eusebia. They were devout Christians, wealthy but
childless. Unceasing in prayer they obtained a child from God, this
holy Dominica. From her childhood, Dominica consecrated herself to God
restraining from everything that unruly children do. When she matured,
beautiful in body and soul, many suitors came to ask for her hand in
marriage but she refused them all saying that she betrothed herself to
Christ the Lord and that she desires nothing more than to die as a
virgin. One of the rejected suitors denounced Dominica and her parents
to Emperor Diocletian as being Christians. The emperor ordered that
Dominica's parents be tortured and after torturing them banished them
to the town of Melitene where they died enduring much suffering for
Christ. Diocletian, however, sent Dominica to Maximian to stand trial.
As Dominica confirmed her faith in Christ before Maximian, he ordered
that she be placed on the ground and flogged with oxen whips. After
that, the emperor handed her over to the commanders, at first Hilarion
and then, after his death, to Apollonius. Both of them tortured
Dominica in a beastly manner in all possible ways but all was in vain.
When St. Dominica lay in the prison cell, completely covered with
wounds, Christ the Lord appeared to her, healed her and said:
"Dominica, do not be afraid of torture, My grace is with
you." And truly, the Grace of Christ saved this martyr both from
fire and from wild beasts from which the godless judges thought that
she would certainly meet death. Seeing the miraculous salvation of
Dominica from so many deaths, many pagans believed in Christ. However,
they were all beheaded. Dominica said to Apollonius: "In no
manner can you turn me away from my Faith. If you throw me into the
fire, I have an example in the Three Youths (Shadrach, Meshach and
Abed-Nego); if you throw me before wild beasts, I have an example in
Daniel the Prophet; if you toss me into the sea, I have an example in
Jonah the Prophet; if you give me over to the sword, I will remember
the honorable Forerunner (John the Baptist); life for me is to die for
Christ." Then Apollonius ordered that Dominica be beheaded.
Dominica knelt on her knees, raised her hands to heaven and prayed to
God that He would have mercy and save all those who would celebrate
her memory and to give rest to her soul together with the souls of her
parents. Upon completing her prayer, she rendered her soul to God
before the sword was lowered on her head. Dominica suffered honorably
and was received into eternal joy in the year 289 A.D. in Nicomedia.
The
Venerable Thomas of Malea
At
first, Thomas was a commander distinguished by his bravery and wealth.
He was a very massive individual and instilled fear in his enemies.
But when Thomas fell in love with Christ more than the world and
everything in the world, he left all and withdrew into the wilderness
where he was tonsured a monk and gave himself up to a life of strict
asceticism. St. Elijah the Prophet appeared to him and led him to a
mountain called Malea next to Athos, the Holy Mountain. There he lived
alone and isolated only with God, in prayer day and night. Even though
he concealed himself from the world, he could not remain hidden. Upon
learning about the sanctity of his life, men began to come to him and
to bring their sick. St. Thomas cured men from every infirmity and
affliction. When he presented himself to the Lord in the tenth
century, his relics continued to help all those who approached them
with faith.
The
Venerable Martyrs Epitectus and Astius
Astius,
the only son of his parents, was persuaded to love the Faith of Christ
by Epitectus the priest who baptized him and tonsured him a monk.
After that they moved from somewhere in the eastern regions of Scythia
and settled in the Scythian town of Almirida (now Ramzina) on the
mouth of the Danube on the Black Sea. They were tortured and beheaded
for the Faith of Christ about 290 A.D. After their deaths, they both
appeared in great radiance to the parents of St. Astius, Alexander and
Marcellina, who were converted to Christ and who were baptized by
Bishop Evangelus who himself, then was beheaded for Christ: "Evangelus,
another angel" as is sung about him.
Reflection
The
example of St. Dominica, the beautiful virgin, and the example of St.
Astius the rich young man, both of whom submitted themselves to
torture and death for Christ the Lord, leads us to contemplate that
there is nothing comparable in history to the power of Christ by whose
help young men conquer themselves and through that, everything else.
To obtain victory over one's self is the greatest victory. Such
victors, the Church numbers by the thousands and many thousands. In
writing about virginity, St. Cyprian says: "To conquer pleasure
is the greatest pleasure, neither is there a greater victory than the
victory over one's desires. He who conquered one opponent, proved
himself stronger than somebody else but he who conquered passion
proved himself stronger than himself. Every evil is easier to conquer
than a pleasure. For all other evils are repulsive while the pleasure
of evil is attractive. He who frees himself from desires, frees
himself from fear for, because of desires, fear proceeds."
Contemplation
To
contemplate the miraculous bringing forth of water from the rock in
Horeb (Exodus 17):
1.
How the thirsty Israelites doubted that God is among them and murmured
against Moses;
2.
How, by God's command Moses struck the rock with his rod and water
flowed from the rock;
3.
How even my heart has become as hard as stone because of doubt and how
brooks of tears begin to flow when the grace of faith touches it.
Homily
About
the (sincere and pure) milk of the word
"As
newborn babes, desire the sincere (pure) milk of the word, that you
may grow thereby: If so be, you have tasted that the Lord is
gracious" (1 Peter 2: 2-3).
"As
newborn babes," this is how the great apostle regards Christians.
Baptism is a new birth and man counts a new life from baptism. The
spiritually new born must be fed with mild food the same as the
physically new born. What kind of food does the apostle recommend for
Christians? "The sincere and pure milk of the word." The
physical child is fed with the milk of insincerity, which is only the
image of the "pure (sincere) milk of the word" by which a
spiritual child needs to be fed. What then is this sincere and pure
milk with which Christians should be fed? The apostle himself answers
this when he says: "for you have tasted that the Lord is
gracious." Therefore, that is the Lord Jesus Himself, Living and
Life-giving. Christ's words are the sincere and pure milk. Brethren,
blessed are you if you nourish your souls with the words of Christ, as
sweet milk, for your souls will expand and be blessed and you will be
prepared for the Kingdom of God.
Christ's
miracles are the sincere and pure milk. Brethren, blessed are you if
you nourish your souls with this sweet milk, for you will be similar
to the angels who sing the praises of the miracles of God day and
night.
The
Body and Blood of Christ are the sincere and pure milk. Brethren,
blessed are you if you nourish your souls with this sweet milk, for
you will become members of the Living and Immortal Body of Christ in
the heavens.
Christ's
resurrected victory over death is the sincere and pure milk. Brethren,
blessed are you if you nourish your souls with this sweet milk, for
you will, while yet in this life, walk as victors and in the life to
come stand at the right side of Christ the Victor.
Brethren,
the whole of Christ is the sincere and pure milk. Let us be eager for
this milk above all else that we may grow to salvation. This is the
only nourishment for salvation. All else is for decay and the grave.
O
Lord Jesus, Lamb of God, You Who are the sincere and pure milk,
nourish us with Yourself as You did nourish Your holy apostles so that
we may also grow sufficiently to salvation.
To
You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
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July
21st (New Style) • July 8th (Old Style)
The
Holy Great Martyr St. Procopius
Procopius
was born in Jerusalem of a father who was a Christian and a mother who
was a pagan. At first, his name was Neanias. Following the death of
his father, the mother raised her son completely in the spirit of
Roman idolatry. When Neanias matured, Emperor Diocletian saw him and,
at once, took a liking to him and brought him to his palace for
military service. When this nefarious emperor began to persecute
Christians, he ordered Neanias to go to Alexandria with a garrison of
soldiers and there to exterminate the Christians. But, on the road,
something happened to Neanias similar to that which happened to Saul (Paul).
In the third hour of the night there was a strong earthquake and, at
that moment, the Lord appeared to him and a voice was heard: "Neanias,
where are you going and against whom are you rising up?" In great
fear, Neanias asked: "Who are You Lord? I am unable to recognize
You." At that moment, a glowing cross as if of crystal appeared
in the air and from the cross there came a voice saying: "I am
Jesus, the crucified Son of God." And further, the Lord said to
him: "By this sign that you saw, conquer your enemies and My
peace will be with you." That experience completely turned him
around and changed the life of Commander Neanias. He issued an order
to make the same kind of cross which he saw and instead of going
against the Christians he, with his soldiers, turned against the
Agarians who were attacking Jerusalem. He entered Jerusalem as a
victor and declared to his mother that he is a Christian. Being
brought before the court, Neanias removed his commander's belt and
sword and tossed them before the judge thereby showing that he is only
a soldier of Christ the King. After great tortures he was cast into
prison where the Lord Christ, again, appeared to him, baptized him and
gave him the name Procopius. One day twelve women appeared before his
prison window and said to him: "We too are the servants of
Christ." Accused of this they were thrown into the same prison
where St. Procopius taught them the Faith of Christ and particularly
about how they will receive the martyr's wreath. For that reason in
the marriage ritual of the betrothed, St. Procopius is mentioned along
with the God-crowned Emperor Constantine and Empress Helena. After
this, those twelve women were brutally tortured. Witnessing their
suffering and bravery, the mother of Procopius also believed in Christ
and all thirteen were slain. When St. Procopius was led to the
scaffold, he raised his hands toward the east and prayed to God for
all the poor and misfortunate, orphans and widows and especially for
the Holy Church that it may grow and spread and that Orthodoxy shine
to the end of time. And to Procopius there was a reply from heaven
that his prayers were heard after which he joyfully laid his head
under the sword and went to his Lord in eternal joy. St. Procopius
honorably suffered in Caesarea in Palestine and was crowned with the
glorious wreath of immortality on July 8, 303 A.D.
St.
Procopius, Fool for Christ
Procopius
was a miracle-worker of Ustiug who died in the year 1303 A.D.
Procopius was of Varangian (Norse) descent and a merchant by
profession. Coming to Novgorod on business, he was awed by the beauty
of Orthodoxy and embraced the Orthodox Faith. Desiring to be a perfect
Christian he distributed his estate to the poor and began to practice
all the other virtues. He pretended insanity so that men would not
praise him and discerned the hearts and destinies of men as well as
natural events which, afterwards, indeed occurred. By his tearful
prayer before the icon of the Birth-giver of God, Procopius averted a
terrible hailstorm over the town of Ustiug and thus brought the sinful
town to repentance. His body was found dead on the street completely
covered with snow. A church was built over his miracle-working relics.
Venerable
Theophilus the Myrrh-Emitting (Mirotochiviy)
Theophilus
was born in Macedonia in the village of Ziki. He was a very educated
man and a great ascetic. By order of Patriarch Niphon of
Constantinople, he traveled to Alexandria to inquire whether it is
true or not that Patriarch Joachim moved a mountain and that he drank
poison without harmful effects being forced to do this by the Jews and
Muslims. Convinced of the truthfulness of these miracles, Theophilus
returned to Holy Mt. Athos where he lived a life of asceticism, at
first in Vatopedi, then in Iveron and finally in the cell of St. Basil
near Karyes. They offered the Archbishopric of Thessalonica to this
holy man, but he refused. Through profound silence and meditation he
succeeded to purify his mind of all passionate thoughts and became a
pure vessel of the Holy Spirit in which Christ dwelled. Before his
death, he ordered Isaac his disciple not to bury him when he dies but
to tie a rope around his legs, drag him and then toss him into the
river. With great fear, the disciple carried this out. However, the
Divine Providence of God revealed the remains of St. Theophilus and
when they translated his body to his cell, it began to emit miraculous
myrrh. He entered into rest on July 8, 1548.
Reflection
St.
Anthony teaches: "Be fearful that you do not become famous
because of some work that you do. If they begin to praise you because
of your work, do not rejoice in that and do not find satisfaction in
that but keep your works in secret as much as you can and do not allow
anyone to speak about them." How much more peace and joy would
there be among men on earth if a part of mankind would take these holy
words to heart! Even though St. Theophilus lived as a simple monk
secluded on Holy Mt. Athos, he was famous in all the patriarchates of
the east, as much for his learning as for his good works and ascetical
life of mortification. It happened at one time that Theoleptus, the
Patriarch of Constantinople, visited Thessalonica. At that time, the
arch-episcopal throne of Thessalonica was vacant. The Christians of
Thessalonica unanimously implored the patriarch to appoint Theophilus
as their archbishop. The patriarch, a compatriot and friend of
Theophilus, wrote a personal letter to him in which he invited him to
accept the arch-episcopal throne. Fearing the glory of men and not
being able to refuse the patriarch, Theophilus immediately received
the "great angelic habit" (The Great Schema) and informed
the patriarch of this adding: "If God be willing, we will see
each other in the Kingdom of Heaven." Such were the spiritual
giants, whom the Church calls saints, afraid of vanity and the glory
of mankind.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the miraculous changing of bitter water into sweet water
(Exodus 15):
1.
How the thirsty Israelites in Marah came upon bitter water and were
unable to drink it and the people began to murmur against Moses;
2.
How God commanded Moses to place wood in the water and the water
became sweet;
3.
How this wood foreshadowed the Cross of Christ by which the bitterness
of our life is transformed into sweetness;
4.
How my entire being is but bitter water until I bring Christ Crucified
into myself.
Homily
About
the Living Stone
"To
whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men but
chosen of God and precious, You also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2: 4-5).
Brethren,
what does this stone signify if not stability? Brethren, what does the
stone teach us, if not stability? The living stone signifies
immortality. The apostle calls Christ the Lord the Living Stone
because He is immortal and the giver of immortality. The apostle even
calls Christians living stones as partakers of the immortality of
Christ.
Brethren,
what do unbelievers think concerning what happens to man at the end of
time? They think that, in the end, the same thing happens to man as to
a stone: man dies, becomes senseless and is transformed into dust. But
a stone is already dead, senseless and, under certain conditions, is
transformed into dust. So, both the unbelievers and the believers
compare man with a stone; the unbelievers because of the deadness and
the senselessness of the stone and the believers because of the
durability and the stability of the stone. For the first (unbelievers),
the stone is the symbol of death and for the other (unbelievers), the
stone is the symbol of immortality.
In
truth, without Christ, mankind has been and is always as a dead stone.
But Christ is like a living stone. Adhere to Him only and you will
become as living stones. In building a home, the builder chooses only
those stones, which are chiseled out and prepared to easily lay along
side the other stones in the wall. The builder rejects the unchiseled,
the unprepared, the unpolished and the fragile stones. Building a
home, or a temple of His Immortal Kingdom, Christ chooses men as the
builder chooses stones, with one characteristic, namely alive,
spiritually alive. The Lord rejects spiritually dead men as a rotten
building and accepts only those who are alive, who resemble Him and
who fall in place along side other living stones and they (the other
living stones) are angels, prophets, apostles and saints in general.
Brethren, let us endeavor to be a holy material for a holy house of
the Kingdom of Christ which He builds day and night that He, by the
end of time, finishes it completely.
O
Lord Jesus, the builder of the Kingdom of Heaven, enliven us with Your
Holy Spirit and build us also as living stones in the home of Your
eternal glory.
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