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Prologue from
Ochrid
by
Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
March
22nd - March 29th (New Style) • March 9th - March 16th (Old Style)
New Style
March 22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Old Style
March 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
March
22nd (New Style) • March 9th (Old Style)
The
Holy Forty Martyrs of Sabastea
All of
them were soldiers in the Roman army and steadfastly believed in the
Lord Jesus. When the persecution of Christians began during the
reign of Licinius, they were brought to trial before the commander.
When he threatened to strip them of their honor as soldiers, one of
them, St. Candidus, responded, "Not only the honor of being a
soldier, but take away our bodies, for nothing is more dear or
honorable, to us than Christ our God." After that, the
commander ordered his servants to stone the holy martyrs. While the
servants were hurling stones at the Christians, the stones turned
and fell back on the servants, severely striking them. One of the
stones struck the commander's face and knocked out his teeth. The
torturers, angry as wild beasts, bound all of the holy martyrs and
tossed them into the lake and stationed a guard around it so as to
prevent any of them from escaping. There was a terrible frost and
the lake froze around the bodies of the martyrs. So that their pain
and suffering would be worsened, and in order to persuade one of
them to deny Christ and acknowledge the idols of Rome, the torturers
heated a bath by the side of the lake in sight of the frozen
martyrs. Indeed, one of them was persuaded. He came out of the water
and entered the bath. And behold, an extraordinary light appeared
from heaven which warmed the water in the lake and the bodies of the
martyrs. With that light, thirty-nine wreaths descended from heaven
over their heads. Upon seeing this, a guard on the shore removed all
his clothes, confessed the Name of the Lord Jesus and entered the
lake so that he could become worthy of the fortieth wreath in place
of the betrayer. Indeed, the last wreath descended upon him. The
next day the entire town was astonished when they saw that the
martyrs were still alive. Then, the wicked judges ordered that the
lower part of their legs be broken and their bodies thrown into the
water so Christians could not recover them. On the third day the
martyrs appeared to Peter, the local bishop, and summoned him to
gather their relics and remove them from the water The bishop with
his clergy went out into the dark of night and beheld the relics of
the martyrs shining brightly in the water. Every bone which was
separated from their bodies floated to the top and glowed like a
candle. Bishop Peter gathered and honorably buried them. The souls
of these martyrs, who suffered for all of us, went to the Lord
Jesus, resurrected with glory. They suffered honorably and were
crowned with unfading glory in the year 320 A.D.
The
Venerable Filomorus
He
lived and mortified himself in Galatia in the fourth century. It is
said about him that he was so perfected in all virtues that he
resembled an angel rather than a man. He was especially glorified
because of his patience. He was persecuted by the Emperor Julian the
Apostate and suffered much for Christ. After the death of
Julian,this wicked persecutor of Christ, St. Filomorus lived
peacefully, benefiting many. He died in his eightieth year.
St.
Caesarius
St.
Caesarius, the brother of Gregory the Theologian who died in the
year 369 A.D., was also a theological writer. Among other things he
attempted to answer the question: How long a time did Adam and Eve
spend in Paradise before their expulsion? Some have determined the
time to be six hours; others, twenty-four hours; and still others,
three days. St. Caesarius was of the mind that the length of time
was forty days. "Because," he says, "Our Lord fasted
forty days in the wilderness and during that time He was tempted by
the devil. Since the old Adam could not resist the temptation of the
devil in the abundance of Paradise, the new Adam resisted the devil
gallantly in the hungry and thirsty wilderness."
Reflection
Conceal
your spiritual treasures and do not reveal them unnecessarily.
Behold, how men conceal and hide their material wealth and how, when
forced to reveal how much they have, they always conceal the greater
amount and only reveal the lesser amount. Very few are the number of
men who want to reveal all that they possess, and fewer still are
those who would reveal more than they, in reality, possess. This,
the world considers frivolous and mindless. This clearly shows you
how you need to conceal your spiritual wealth, that is, your
virtues, your good works, your fastings, your vigils, and your
prayers. Why do not the wise children of this world reveal their
material wealth? For two reasons: So that thieves would not hear of
it and not to provoke the envy of evil men. There also exist envious
and jealous thieves after spiritual treasure. They are the spirits
of envy. As soon as you reveal your spiritual treasure, they will
endeavor to belittle it and to squander it. Just as soon as you
reveal it without need (let us say, out of vanity, so as to be
praised), they have seized it and disparaged it; and you, O rich man
of spiritual treasure, will imperceptibly and suddenly become a poor
man. Many who were spiritually rich, the saints, made themselves out
to be fools before the world so that by appearing foolish, they
would conceal their great wisdom and strength within themselves. The
Abba Isaiah writes,
"Those
good works which are performed in secret are more pleasing to
God." St. Nilus of Sinai says, "The covered skin of the
body is white, but the uncovered skin in parched and black." So
it is with our concealed and revealed good works.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus in the hands of the enemies of God
gathered together in the home of Caiaphas:
1. How
all of them hurriedly sought false witnesses, for they wanted, by
whatever means, to kill Christ;
2. How
they spit in His face and struck Him on the face;
3. How
our Lord endures all with unspeakable dignity and without anger.
Homily
About
enduring to the end
"But
the one who perseveres to the end will be saved " (St. Matthew
24:13).
O Lord
most wonderful, You have endured all, all to the end. That is why
You became not only blessed but the source of blessings for all men
who desire good forthemselves throughout the ages of ages.
The
apostles endured all to the end and entered into blessed eternity.
The saints willingly endured the difficulties and sufferings to the
end and were glorified, both in heaven and on earth.
The
martyrs willingly endured all pains to the end and became the
adopted co-inheritors of the Kingdom of Christ.
Every
founder of a new organization recruits followers for himself with
the promise of good fruits and many pleasures but deliberately
remains silent about the hardships and labors which lead to those
fruits and pleasures. Our Lord Jesus is the only one Who spoke the
whole truth to His followers, both the bitter and the sweet side of
the truth. He did not promise fruits without service, nor glory
without suffering, nor ultimate rest without the thorny path, nor
victory without struggle, nor pleasure without bitterness, nor the
kingdom without tears and self-denial.
Although
our Lord counted the many difficulties which would befall His
followers, in the end He does not abandon them without comfort. He
gives meaning to their sufferings and does not leave them in
darkness. He says, "The one who perseveres to the end will be
saved." What is that blessing which awaits those who endure to
the end that He Jesus fully revealed and that has been witnessed
even until today and is being witnessed by many saints, who, have
either appeared in glory to the faithful from the other world or
who, while yet in the flesh, were uplifted in the spirit to a vision
of that glory and blessedness which await the faithful, the chosen
and persevering?
O
Lord, You are our strength. Help us to endure to the end with faith
that You are beside us.
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the Top
March
23rd (New Style) • March 10th (Old Style)
The
Holy Martyr Codratus of Corinth and Other with Him
During
the time of the persecution of Christians, many of the faithful fled
to the mountains and into the caves. So did the mother of Codratus.
She was pregnant at the time and gave birth to Codratus in the
forest and died shortly thereafter. Codratus was cared for by, fed
by and guided by Divine Providence and by his Guardian Angel.
Codratus grew up in nature and in solitude. He, who gave manna from
heaven to the Israelites in the wilderness, dropped from the clouds
a sweet dew on the mouth of the child Codratus. When he was twelve
years old, he entered into town and there some benevolent men took a
liking to him and provided him with an education. He studied
medicine and healed the sick, as much with natural cures and even
more by the power of the spirit and prayer, which he was accustomed
to since his childhood. When a new persecution arose again under
Decius, Codratus was brought to trial and cast into prison. Five
companions joined him and confessed the name of Christ. They were
Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul and Crescens. They were all
dragged through the streets by the pagans, especially by their
children. They were beaten with rods and stoned until they were
eventually dragged to the scaffold. There, the martyrs prayed to God
and were beheaded. On this spot a source of water gushed out of the
ground which is still called Codratus even today and is a reminder
of the heroic deaths of these six holy innocents for Christ. They
honorably suffered for the truth in the year 250 A.D. in Corinth
during the reign of Emperor Decius and his governor, Jason.
The
Holy Martyr Codratus of Nicomedia
He was
a wealthy nobleman and at the same time a staunch baptized
Christian. During time of persecution when Valerian imprisoned many
Christians, Codratus bribed the jailers and entered the prison
bringing with him various foodstuffs for those in captivity and
strengthened them in their faith. When they were brought before the
judge who questioned them about their names, their homeland, and
their rank, they remained silent. Then Codratus suddenly appeared
behind them and cried out with a loud voice, "By name, we are
Christians; servants of Jesus Christ the Lord, by title and by
birth; and our city and homeland is heaven." After this
declaration, he was also arrested and after prolonged and cruel
torture was beheaded with the others.
The
Venerable Mother Anastasia
Anastasia
was a patrician and lady of the imperial palace of Emperor Justinian.
After she was widowed and when she perceived that Empress Theodora
could not tolerate her, she immediately slipped out of
Constantinople and turned up in the wilderness of Egypt. The renown
spiritual father Abba Daniel tonsured her a nun and presented her as
the monk Anastasius the eunuch according to her wishes so that, as a
woman under the guise of a man, she could easily be protected and
hidden from the pursuit of the emperor. Anastasia then closed
herself off in a narrow cell where she spent twenty-eight years and
died there in the year 563 A.D. Before her death, the Elder Daniel
saw her face glow like the sun.
Reflection
When
the forty-two Greek commanders from Ammoria were in Agaha's prison
(refer to March 6), certain Muslim sages came to counsel them to
embrace the faith of Mohammed and thereby receive their freedom.
These sages stressed to theseChristian commanders the two advantages
of Islam over Christianity: First: Mohammed is a more recent prophet
than Christ and, Second: the Muslims were victorious on all sides
over Christianity by which God clearly points out the truth of their
religion. To the first point, the commanders replied, "If two
men are debating over a field, and one has many witnesses that the
field is his and the other does not have any witnesses except his
own personal statement, what do you think? Whose field is it?"
To this the Agha's men replied, "By all means, the field is his
who had many witnesses." To that, the commanders replied,
"By yourselves you have judged in favor of Christ and against
Mohammed for Christ had with Him the witnesses of all the Prophets
and Apostles, but Mohammed alone witnesses to himself." To the
second point, the commanders replied, "If you would gauge the
truth of a faith by victories in wars, then this would mean that all
the idolatrous nations, who from time to time have conquered the
world, such as the Persians, Greeks, Romans and others, possessed
the true faith. This, even you Muslims would never acknowledge. And
because you have been victorious over the Christians now, this does
not mean that your faith is better; rather, that our sins are
greater and because of this, God punishes us, through you."
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus at judgment before Caiaphas:
1. How
the elders of the Jews searched everywhere for false witnesses;
2. How
the witnesses testified to the contrary;
3. How
our Lord listened to all the slanders and remained silent and
without anger.
Homily
About
revealed secrets
"Nothing
is concealed that will not be revealed nor secret that will not be
made known" (St. Matthew 10:26).
There
is one eye, brethren, which never sleeps. That is the eye of God.
There are more eyes in the heavens, brethren, than there are stars
in the firmament of heaven. They are the eyes of the angels. No veil
nor any wall nor darkness can conceal any kind of secret on earth
from these eyes. Everything is revealed and open before the
All-Seeing God and His Holy Angels. The man who believes that all
the works of man can be hidden becomes a criminal. Thus thought the
elders of the Jews who arranged and plotted in secrecy their evil
plot against Christ the Lord. Secretly they persecuted Him; secretly
they judged Him in the darkness of night; and secretly they bribed
and paid false witnesses. And, as did Judas, they secretly condemned
Him. Where are their secrets today? All have become revealed and
open before the entire world. It is easier for man to hide from the
air than from the sight of God. All the secrets of mankind, both,
the good and evil, are revealed before God. A countless number of
those secrets God reveals to the entire world according to His
Providence. Those who can understand this truth, that God sees all
and knows all, carefully guard themselves from evil thoughts in the
secret of their hearts and especially from evil deeds. Whenever your
heart entices you to do evil, O man, call to mind these words which
are not of man but of God, "Nothing is concealed that will not
be revealed nor secret that will not be made known." And you,
whatever good you do in secret, do not become faint-hearted. All of
your good is written in the heavens and will be revealed in its
time.
O,
All-Seeing Lord, help us and save us.
To
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March
24th (New Style) • March 11th (Old Style)
St.
Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem
Sophronius
was born in Damascus of distinguished parents. Having acquired
worldly wisdom, he was, nevertheless, not satisfied but went to seek
and acquire spiritual wisdom. In the monastery (Lavra) of St.
Theodosius, he found himself in the company of a monk, John Moschus,
whom he choose for his teacher, and together with him traveled about
and visited monasteries and those ascetics in Egypt who were
practicing the life of asceticism. His watch word was "Each day
learn more about spiritual wisdom." All that they had learned
they wrote down and later published two books under the title,
"Spiritual Meadow." Later on, they traveled to Rome, where
Moschus died leaving a testament to Sophronius to have his body
taken, either to Sinai or to the Monastery of St. Theodosius.
Sophronius fulfilled the desires and wishes of his teacher and
translated his body to the Monastery of St. Theodosius and
thereafter remained in Jerusalem which, at that time, was liberated
from the Persians. He was present at the Translation of the
Honorable Cross from Persia which the Emperor Heraclius carried on
his shoulders into the Holy City. The aged Patriarch Zacharias, who
had also returned from bondage, did not live long thereafter when he
took up habitation in the other world. Patriarch Zacharias was
replaced by Modestus who died in 634 A.D. Modestus was replaced by
Blessed Sophronius. He governed the Church for ten years with
exceptional wisdom and zeal. He rose up in defense of Orthodoxy
against the heresy of Monotheletism which he condemned at his
Council in Jerusalem before it was condemned at the Sixth Ecumenical
Council (Constantinople, 680 A.D.). He wrote The Life of St. Mary
the Egyptian, complied The Order of the Greater Blessing of Water,
and introduced several new hymns and songs in the various liturgical
services. When the Arab Caliph captured Jerusalem, Sophronius begged
him to spare the lives of the Christians which Omar insincerely
promised. When Omar immediately began to plunder and maltreat the
Christians in Jerusalem, Sophronius, with lamentation, prayed to God
to take him from among the living on earth, so that he would not
witness the desecration of the Holy Shrines. God heard his prayer
and took Sophronius to Himself into His heavenly mansion in the year
644 A.D.
The
Holy Martyr Pionius and Others with Him
Pionius
was priest from Syria. He suffered in Smyrna during the time of
persecution under Decius. He was condemned to be crucified, for
which he was exceedingly glad. As soon as the soldiers formed a
cross and laid it upon the ground, Pionius freely lay on the cross,
stretched out his arms and ordered the soldiers to nail him in the
hands with spikes. The cross was inserted in the ground upside down
and a fire was ignited under the head of the martyr. Many people
gathered around. Pionius closed his eyes and prayed to God within
himself. The flames of the fire did not even catch the hairs of his
head on fire. When, at last, the fire was extinguished and when
everyone thought that Pionius was dead, he opened his eyes and cried
out rejoicing, "O God, receive my soul," and expired. This
saint wrote " The Life of St. Polycarp of Smyrna," with
whom he rejoices in the Kingdom of Christ. He suffered and was
glorified in the year 250 A.D.
The
Venerable Gregory Sinaites
Gregory
was the abbot of Mount Sinai, a great ascetic and a just man. On the
vigil of Pascha (the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ), an angel of the Lord conveyed him to Jerusalem
for the Divine Services and returned him again to Sinai the same
day. He died peacefully in the sixth century.
Reflection
"No
good works are accomplished by our efforts alone but by the power
and will of God. Nevertheless, God demands effort on our part in
conforming to His will." These are the words of Saints
Barsanuphius and John. Few words but much said. We are obliged to
labor, to cultivate and to prepare every good thing, and if some
good will take root, grow and bring forth fruit, that is up to the
power and will of God. We plow the furrows and God sows, if He wills
it. We cleanse the vessels of the Spirit and God pours the Spirit
into these vessels, if He wills it. He can do anything if He wills
it. And He will do everything that responds to the highest wisdom
and suitability, that is, to His plan of man's salvation. In
interpreting the words of our Lord, "So be shrewd as serpents
and simple as doves" (St. Matthew 10:16), St. John Chrysostom
writes that our Lord gave this commandment to His disciples that
"they themselves should cooperate in some way, so that it will
not to appear that all effort is of Grace alone and for them not to
think that they received the wreaths of glory for nothing." And
so, both of them are indispensable for our salvation: our effort and
the power of God's Grace.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord at judgment before Caiaphas:
1. How
the High Priest of the Jews detains our Lord in his home surrounded
by men almost as wretched as he himself;
2. How
Peter, sitting outside in the courtyard by the fire and how before
the servants, denies our Lord Jesus three times;
3. How
even today, it happens that some Christians, out of fear of the
world, deny the Lord in this manner: How they also purport not to be
Christians; that they are not familiar with the commandments of the
Lord and are not concerned about the Lord.
Homily
About
the second coming of Christ
"When
the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the angels with Him, He
will sit upon His glorious throne" (St. Matthew 25:31).
This
is how our Lord spoke just before His most horrible humiliations,
before being bound, before being spat upon, before being slapped,
and before being ridiculed prior to His crucifixion. In His most
darkest hour, He speaks about His most vivid and most glorious hour.
Before His most terrible and miserable departure from this world, He
speaks about His second coming in His glory. At first, He came from
the cave in Bethlehem, humble and unseen, and the second time, He
will come on the clouds of His angels. The first time as though He
sprouted out of the earth, and the second time He will appear from
the heavens. The first time He stood and knelt on the ground, and
the second time He will be sitting on His throne of Glory.
When
He comes again on His throne of Glory, He will not be unseen by
anyone. No one will ask, as did the wise men (the Magi) before his
first coming,
"Where
is the King?" (St. Matthew 2:2). At this time, everyone will
see the King and recognize Him as the King. But this vision and
recognition will be for some, their joy and for some, their fear and
terror. Just think of the joy of those who have fulfilled His
commandments, those who have prayed in His Name, those who have
performed good works and especially those who have suffered for His
Name! Just think of the fear and terror of all those who have spat
on Him, struck Him and crucified Him in Jerusalem.
O,
Merciful Lord, forgive all of us who call upon Your Name and who
because of our weaknesses, sin against You; forgive us before that
great marvelous hour when You begin to appear in Your glory with all
Your holy angels.
To
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March
25th (New Style) • March 12th (Old Style)
Venerable
Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes
is called the Sygrian (Sigrian) because of Sygriana (Sigriana), the
place of his birth. He was a kinsman of the Emperor Leo Isaurian and
his son Copronymos. He possessed great wealth and splendor. But all
of this lost its worth for Theophanes when the Lord Christ began to
reign in his soul. He resisted his own marriage and, when he was
compelled to marry, succeeded in counseling his bride to live
together in chastity, as brother and sister. As soon as his parents
died, his wife entered a convent and he, a monastery. His monastery
was located in the Sygrian Mountains in the Province of Cyzicus. The
one-time glorious and wealthy Theophanes lived in this monastery as
the least of the poor. All were amazed at the change in him. Having
become renown because of his strong faith, abstinence, and wisdom,
he was summoned to the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, 783
A.D.)where the veneration of icons was confirmed. Because of his
purity and chastity, God bestowed upon him the gift of performing
miracles, by which he cured all diseases, especially maniacal
disorders and insanity. He prayed to God for all the sick and the
unfortunate and, through his prayers, helped them. Only when he
became ill and his illness lingered for a while, did he refuse to
pray to God for the restoration of his own health but endured his
illness with gratitude. When the Iconoclastic persecution resumed
again under the wicked Leo the Armenian, Theophanes was brought to
Constantinople and cast into prison, where he languished for two
years in hardships, pain and humiliation. Then the emperor banished
him into exile to the island of Samothrace, which he had earlier
foreseen in his spirit and had mentioned it to his jailers. After he
arrived at Samothrace, he lived for twenty-three days and appeared
before His Lord and Creator to receive his merited wreath of glory.
Venerable
Simeon the New Theologian
This
God-bearing and great Father of the Church was born in Galatia,
Paphlagonia. Simeon was educated in Constantinople and was assigned
as a courtier in attendance to the Emperors Basil and Constantine
Porphyrogenitus. Simeon left all for the sake of Christ and
retreated to a monastery. He lived a life of asceticism under the
direction of the Elder Simeon, after which he became the abbot of
the Monastery of St. Mamas and in the end became a recluse. He is
the greatest theologian after St. Gregory the Theologian. Simeon
felt God's Grace in his heart. His words are true spiritual and
theological revelations. He died in 1032 A.D. His relics are
miracle-performing.
St.
Gregory Dialogues, the Pope of Rome
The
son of Senator Gordianus and afterwards, himself, a senator and
mayor of the city of Rome. As soon as his father died, Gregory
surrendered himself to the spiritual life. From his wealth he built
six monasteries in Sicily and the seventh in the city of Rome, in
honor of St. Andrew the Apostle, in which he was tonsured a monk.
Sylvia, his mother, entered a convent and was tonsured a nun. After
the death of Pope Pelagius II, Gregory was chosen Pope. He fled from
this honor and authority hiding himself in the mountains and
ravines, but the Lord revealed him to those who were seeking him in
the following manner: a fiery column appeared from the ground to
heaven over the place where Gregory hid himself. He was
exceptionally charitable. All of his income was used for building
shelters and hospices for the needy. Often he invited less fortunate
men and served them around the table. He spent his time writing
beneficial (inspirational) books. He is also called Dialogues
because he wrote a book under that name in which he extolled the
miracles of the Italian saints. He also composed the "Liturgy
of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts," which is celebrated on Wednesdays
and Fridays of the Great Lenten Season. His Arch-deacon Peter saw a
dove flying above Gregory's head as he was seated and writing. He
presented himself before the Lord in the year 604 A.D.
Reflection
No
one, not even the Lord Himself, can easily instruct the proud. No
one wants to give instructions to him who cries out that he knows
everything. "For great is the power of God; by the humble, He
is glorified" says the wise Sirach. (The Book of Ecclesiasticus
- Sirach 3:19), David also speaks about God saying, "He guides
the humble to justice, He teaches the humble His way" (Psalm
25:9). The proud person is he who wants to teach everyone and
himself does not want to be taught anything by anyone. The humble is
he who does not wish to teach anyone but continually desires to be
taught regardless by whom. An empty spike (ear) of grain raises its
head above the entire field and the full spike (ear) of grain hangs
down with bowed head. O proud man, if only your Guardian Angel would
somehow remove the veil from your eyes and show you the endless open
sea of all that you do not know, you would kneel before every man
before whom you have exhibited pride and kneel before every man whom
you have belittled. You would cry out lamenting, "Forgive me,
forgive me! I do not know anything!" Often times, to the humble
and pius the time when they are about to die is revealed, but the
death of the proud comes unexpectedly and without warning. St.
Gregory Dialogues speaks of a bishop, Carpus, who daily celebrated
the Divine Liturgy and how suddenly someone appeared from the other
world and said, "Continue to do what you are doing in serving
me and may your legs never grow tired or your hands weakened. On the
feast day of the Dormition of the Mother of God (The Assumption),
you will come to Me and I will give you your reward in My Heavenly
Kingdom, together with all of those for whom you have prayed at the
Divine Services." After a year, on the feast of the Dormition,
Bishop Carpus celebrated the Divine Liturgy of God, sought
forgiveness from his priests, and gave up his soul to God. His face
glowed like the sun.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus before Pilate:
1. How
the Jews accused Him before Pilate and how He does not say anything;
2. How
He does not reply, even to Pilate's questions;
3. How
our Lord speaks when it is necessary to defend men from the devil,
from sin, from disease and death but is silent when it is asked that
He, the Defender of Men, protect Himself from man.
Homily
Again,
about the second coming of Christ
"And
all the nations will be assembled before Him" (St. Matthew
25:32).
All
the nations will be assembled before the Lord Jesus when He appears
in His glory surrounded by Holy Angels sitting on a throne as the
judge of all the living and the dead. "All nations will be
assembled," all, without exception. Not only the Jews who
tormented Him, not only the Christians who glorified Him but also
the heathen who knew Him not, nor acknowledged Him. For if He did
not appear to all nations, He sent to all nations someone or He gave
something for the sake of knowing God's will and for the sake of
salvation. That is why all nations must appear before Him for
judgment. O what an awesome and majestic spectacle when all the
nations and all the tribes on earth are assembled before the Lord,
Who is brighter than many suns. What joy for the holy martyrs and
confessors when they see how, in this countless mass of nations,
there is not one tongue left at all to deny the divinity of the Lord
Jesus! But, it will not be of any value to anyone in that hour and
in that place to recognize and to confess the divinity of our great
Lord, if they denied Him on earth. There and then accounts will
settled, not gain nor loss. He who appears before the Lord with
whatsoever, with that he will be either condemned or justified.
Now is
the time to acknowledge the divinity of the Lord Jesus, now, when
many deny Him and when His divinity is doubted by many. They who
love the Lord and who have trust in all of His words will easily
acknowledge this. For when He says this, about what do they who love
Him have to worry, to doubt, or to hesitate.
O
Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us!
To
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March
26th (New Style) • March 13th (Old Style)
St.
Nicephorus, Patriarch of Constantinople
Nicephorus
governed the Holy Church wisely and zealously as one of the greatest
Arch-pastors of Constantinople. When Leo the Armenian rose up
against icons, Nicephorus alone defied the emperor. He first
counseled the emperor and then later unmasked him. That is why the
depraved emperor banished him to the island of Prokenesis. On this
island there was a monastery which Nicephorous had built in honor of
Saint Theodore. This confessor of the Orthodox Faith remained in
this monastery for thirteen years and afterwards presented himself
to the Lord in the year 827 A.D. Since all the iconoclastic emperors
had perished, and Michael, with his mother Theodora, sat on the
Imperial Throne, Patriarch Methodius then was restored to the
Patriarchal Throne. The relics of St. Nicephorous were translated
from Prokenesis to Constantinople in 846 A.D. and were reposed,
first in the Church of the Divine Wisdom of God (St. Sophia), from
which he was banished during his life, and later reposed in the
Church of the Twelve Apostles. The principal feast of this great
hierarch is commemorated on June 2 and again on March 13 when the
discovery and translation of his incorruptible relics is
commemorated. On March 13, St. Nicephorous was banished from
Constantinople and then, again, on March 13, nineteen years later,
his relics were returned to the Capitol.
St.
Christina the Persian
For
her unwavering confession of faith in Christ, she was cruelly
tortured in Persia in the fourth century. So much did they torture
her, flogging her with a whip, that she became weak and died. Her
soul then departed from her tortured body and entered into the joy
of Christ, the King and Lord.
The
Priestly-Martyr, Publius
This
priestly-martyr was successor to the episcopal throne of the
glorious Dionysius the Areopagite in Athens. As a bishop, he was
tortured by the pagans and beheaded in the second century. After a
brief period of torture, he inherited life eternal.
Reflection
Great
are those Christians who have a great love for Christ. O, in truth,
how great were those Christians; those God-bearing fathers and
martyrs! For so many in our time, this is impossible even to
imagine. This is what one of them, St. Simeon, the New Theologian,
confessed before all the monks in his monastery: Speaking from his
own personal experience about how the words of the Lord, "For
my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (St. Matthew 11:29),
were realized in him. Simeon said, "Believe me, when I fled to
God, my Savior, I did not encounter anything sorrowful, difficult or
unbearable. The only great and unbearable sorrow I had was that I
could not find enough satisfactory reasons to die for the sake of
the love for Christ." Are not such souls as a burning flame
enclosed in eathern vessels? Burning flames are always upright,
directed toward heaven. Only remove the covering and the flame will
shoot upward.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus at the judgment before Herod:
1. How
Herod at first was very kind because he saw Jesus not out of any
spiritual need, but out of curiosity;
2. How
Herod had hoped to see a miracle from Jesus, but he was fooled for
the Lord remained silent to all of his questions;
3. How
Herod ridiculed the Lord and how he clothed Him in a white garment.
Homily
About
the reconciliation of the wicked for the sake of evil
"Herod
and Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been
enemies formerly" (St. Luke 23:13).
In His
shame and humiliation, the Just Man does good to His enemies. He
reconciles them. It is true, in this case, that their reconciliation
did not imply mutual cooperation for some good deed but mutual
persecution of the Just One. At least the flame of hatred between
them was extinguished and died out. That was the reward of the Just
One. Pilate and Herod were enemies. On that day, when the Savior was
brought for judgment, before the one and the other, they (Pilate and
Herod) were reconciled. The Prince of Peace brought peace between
the quarreling parties; peace which helped to hew out a cross for
Him. But He also comes to be a willing sacrifice for the sins of
many.
Even
today common enemies make peace among themselves when they find it
necessary to attack and condemn the Lord. There are many who kill
one another until you mention the Name of the Lord to them. As soon
as they hear that Name, they gradually make peace among themselves
for the sake of attacking that Holy Name. It is easier for the
unjust to tolerate the unjust than it is for them to tolerate the
just. It is easier for the unjust to come to an understanding and
reconciliation with the unjust than with the just.
Even
in some countries, the most quarrelsome parties seek reconciliation
among themselves when it is deemed necessary to decide what place
should be given to the Lord Jesus Christ in the State, either to
render Him the first place, which is befitting to Him, or the last
place? To these questions sworn enemies reconcile among themselves
in order that our Lord will be given the last place only. So, also,
it was with the quarreling parties of Pharisees and Saducees who
were reconciled and entered into a partnership against Christ.
Why is
it that the Most Pure and the Most Needed had to be awarded the last
place? Because, according to their thinking, the first place would
then be reserved for them. The same incentive was there between
sworn enemies, the Pharisees and Saducees, when it was deemed
necessary to seek to put Christ to death. The same incentive was the
occasion that caused the reconciliation between Pilate and Herod
when it was deemed necessary to judge that Christ had to be put to
death.
O my
brethren, let us not ever seek peace with injustice against justice.
Rather, let us always seek peace with God, and that with a clear
conscience.
O God,
help us so that we may always possess such a peace.
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March
27th (New Style) • March 14th (Old Style)
The
Venerable Benedict
Benedict
was born in Nursia (Norcia) a province in Italy, in the year 480
A.D., of wealthy and distinguished parents. He did not remain long
in school for he alone saw that because of lack of knowledge one can
lose "the great understanding of his soul." He left school
"an unlearned wise man and an understanding fool." He
retreated to a monastery where he was tonsured by the monk Romanus
after which he withdrew to a steep mountain where he remained in a
cave for more than three years in a great struggle over his soul.
Romanus brought him bread and lowered it down the steep mountain on
a rope to the opening of the cave. When Benedict became known in the
vicinity and in order to retreat from the glory of man, he withdrew
from this cave. He was merciless toward himself. Once, when an
unclean and raging passion of the flesh seized him, he removed all
his clothes and rolled around naked in the thorns until he repelled
every thought of a woman. God endowed him with many spiritual gifts:
he discerned thoughts; he healed; he expelled evil spirits; he
raised the dead; he appeared to some openly; and to others who were
distant, he appeared in dreams. At one time, Benedict perceived that
the glass of wine served to him was poisoned. When he made the sign
of the cross over it, the glass burst. In the beginning he
established twelve monasteries and in all of them, he placed twelve
monks each. Later on, he founded the special order of the
Benedictines which exists even today in the Roman Church. On the
sixth day before his death, he ordered that his grave which had been
prepared earlier be opened for the saint foresaw that his end was
near. He assembled all the monks, counseled them and then gave up
his soul to the Lord whom he had faithfully served in poverty and in
purity. Scholastica, his sister by birth, lived in a convent and
looking up to her brother, she greatly mortified herself and reached
a high state of spiritual perfection. When St. Benedict gave up his
soul, two monks, one traveling on the road and one at prayer in a
far away cell, simultaneously saw the same vision. They saw a path
extending from earth to heaven, covered with a precious woven fiber
and illuminated on both sides by rows of men. At the head of the
path, there stood a man of indescribable beauty and light who said
to them that this path was prepared for Benedict, favored by God. As
a result of this vision, these two brothers learned that their good
abbot departed from this world. He died peacefully in the year 543
A.D. and entered into the eternal Kingdom of Christ the King.
St.
Euschemon, Bishop of Lampsacus
At the
time of the Iconoclastic controversy Euschemon endured persecution
and imprisonment. He died during the reign of Emperor Theophilus,
the Iconoclast (829-842 A.D.).
St.
Theognostus
Theognostus
was Metropolitan of Kiev. He was a Greek by origin and a successor
to St. Peter of Kiev. He suffered much from the Mongol hordes,
especially at the hands of Janibeg Khan. Theognostus was slandered
by his own Russian people before the Mongolian emperor because he
did not render the emperor any tribute for his episcopal rank. When
the emperor summoned and questioned him concerning this, Theognostus
replied: "Christ our God has redeemed this Church from paganism
by His Precious Blood. For what and on what should I pay tribute to
the pagans?" In the end he was released and returned home. He
governed the Church for twenty-five years. He died to the Lord in
the year 1353 A.D.
Reflection
We can
hardly find a better example as to how we should not become lazy and
how we should not procrastinate in prayer and in work for tomorrow's
day than by this example which is given to us by St. Ephrem the
Syrian. "Once a brother was inspired by the devil to think:
Give yourself rest today and tomorrow rise for vigil." But he
answered the thought, "Who knows, perhaps, I will not even get
up tomorrow, that is why I need to rise today." Before work, he
was also inspired with this thought, "Give yourself rest today
and complete your work tomorrow." And again he responded,
"No, I will complete my work today and about tomorrow's day,
the Lord will take care of it." St. Anthony teaches, "
Before the closing of each day, arrange your life as though this is
your last day on earth and you will protect yourself from
sins."
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus before Pilate:
1. How
the Lord is silent before Pilate;
2. How
Judas, at that time, threw the pieces of silver into the Temple and
hanged himself;
3. And
again, how Pilate questions and the Lord is silent.
Homily
About
Christ's prophecy concerning His Glory
"From
now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the
Power and coming on the clouds of heaven"(St. Matthew 26:24).
He who
does not see God as the merciful Samaritan on earth will see Him as
the Dreadful Judge in Heaven. So blinded were the leaders of the
Jews that they were unable to see in Christ the Lord neither God,
nor the Messiah, nor a Prophet, nor even a simple good man. They
placed Him beneath ordinary good people. Not only that, they placed
Him even lower than the thieves. They released Barabas and they
condemned Christ! In general, they did not even consider Christ a
man. They spit upon Him; they mocked Him; they made a masquerade of
Him, as some cheap and unneeded thing. Exactly at that moment when
the Jews maliciously played with Christ as some cheap and unneeded
thing, the Lord suddenly opened His mouth and spoke, "From now
on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power
and coming on the clouds of Heaven." What a distance there is
between what Christ is in truth and that which the Jews held Him to
be!
The
Son of Man, Who sits on the right hand of Power, is the Son of God,
our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was seen as such soon after that by the
Holy Arch-Deacon Stephen and many many others. The Son of Man Who
comes on the clouds with angels and countless numbers of powers and
heavenly hosts is again that same Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ,
as He was seen in His Revelation, written by St. John, the
Theologian and Evangelist.
O my
brethren, do not be misled by deluding and illusionary tales of
those men who speak, "When we see Christ in the Heavens as God,
then we will believe in Him." That faith will be a little too
late, and in vain will that vision be. With our faith we must see
Christ as God in that humiliated, spat upon, beaten, bloodied, and
ridiculed man; in that silent and condemned One in the court of
Caiaphas Whom the Jews considered as something cheap and unneeded
and Whom they turned into a masquerade. This is the Faith that is
valued in the heavens. This is the Faith that is rewarded by
resurrection and immortality. This is the Faith which, until now,
nurtured and transplanted to heaven numerous armies of the holiest
souls, of the strongest characters, the most forbearing heroes and
the most illustrious minds. O humiliated Lord, raise us up to this
Faith.
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March
28th (New Style) • March 15th (Old Style)
The
Holy Martyr Agapius and the Seven with Him: Publius, Timolaus,
Romulus, Alexander, Dionysius and Dionysius
They
all suffered in Caesarea in Palestine at the hand of Prince Urban
during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. All seven were extremely
young men, none of whom were Christians, except Agapius. Neither
were they baptized with water, but theirs was a "baptism by
blood." One day these seven young men were observing how
Christians were being tortured; one in the fire, another on the
gallows and a third before wild beasts. Seeing with what great
forbearance these Christians endured all pain and sufferings, these
seven became inflamed with a zeal for Christ. They tied their hands
behind their backs and came before Urban saying, "We also are
Christians." The flattery and threats of Urban remained, but in
vain. These young men were joined by a distinguished citizen of this
town, Agapius, who, until then, had suffered much for Christ. They
became all the more enflamed in their faith and love for the Lord.
All were beheaded in the year 303 A.D. and took up their abode in
the mansions of the Heavenly King.
The
Holy Martyr Alexander
Alexander
was from the city of Side in Pamphylia. A deputy of the Emperor
Aurelius asked Alexander, "Who are you and what are you?"
To that, Alexander replied that, he is a shepherd of the flock of
Christ." "And where is this flock of Christ?,"
further inquired the wicked and suspicious governor. Alexander
replied, "Throughout the entire world where men live whom
Christ the God created, and among those who believe in Him, they are
His sheep. But all who are fallen away from their Creator and are
slaves to creation, to man-made things and to dead idols, such as
you, are estranged from His flock. At the dreadful judgment of God,
they will be placed on the left with the goats." The wicked
judge then ordered that Alexander, first of all, be beaten with oxen
straps and then thrown into a fiery furnace. But the fire did not
harm him in any way. After that, he was skinned and was thrown to
the wild beasts, but the beasts would not touch him. Finally, the
deputy ordered that Alexander be beheaded. Just as soon as the judge
pronounced the sentence, he became possessed by an evil spirit and
went insane. Howling, the judge was led before his god-idol and on
the way, his evil soul was wrenched from him. St. Alexander suffered
between the years 270 - 275 A.D.
The
Holy Martyr Nicander, the Egyptian
Nicander
was skinned and then beheaded for his faith in Christ. As a
physician, his crime was that he ministered to Christian martyrs and
honorably buried their martyred bodies. He suffered honorable in the
year 302 A.D.
Reflection
Love
for whomever or for whatever, even love for oneself can, in time,
grow cold in man, can be lost altogether and can even be twisted
into hatred. But the love of man for God, once gained and
established, is more difficult to cool off, except if one loses his
mind. In the first instance man diminishes or erases his love either
out of change in himself or because of a change in the objects of
his love. In the second instance man can diminish his love toward
God only because of a change in him and never because of a change in
God. All of this is neatly and clearly explained by St. Isaac the
Syrian saying, "There is a kind of love that is similar to a
brook following a rainfall which quickly ceases after the rain
stops. But there is a love similar to a spring which erupts through
the earth, which never ceases. The first love is humanlove, and the
second love is Divine Love." St. Simeon the New Theologian,
speaks about Divine Love, "O Holy Love! You are the end of the
Law. You overcome me; You warm me; You inflame my heart to
immeasurable love for God and my brothers. Out of love, God became
man. Out of love, He endured all His life-giving suffering in order
to deliver man from the throes of Hades and bring him to heaven. Out
of love, the apostles completed their difficult course. Out of love,
the martyrs shed their blood in order not to lose Christ."
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus when Pilate brought Him out before the
Jews:
1. How
the Lord was flogged by the Roman soldiers;
2. How
after flagellation, He was mocked by them; they placed a thorny
crown upon His head and dressed Him in a purple robe;
3. How
Pilate presents Him to the Jews saying, "Behold the man!"
(St. John 19:5).
Homily
About
the prophecy concerning the desolate house
"Behold,
your house will be abandoned, desolate"(St. Matthew 23:38).
Why
did our Lord remain silent at the judgment before the Jews and
before Pilate? Because, prior to that, He had said everything that
needed to be said. He said and foretold how the Jewish elders would
hand him over to the unbelievers and how they would kill Him. Many
times He had foretold what would personally befall Him. This, His
apostles heard and carefully remembered. He also foretold His
terrible punishment which the Jews will assume upon themselves by
their evil abomination against the Son of God. Even the Jews heard
this and forgot it. "Behold, your housewill be abandoned,
desolate." The Lord foretold this about the Jews. And this, the
Jews heard and forgot. But much later, many remembered these
prophetic words, many of whom had participated in the Great Evil
when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, plundered it, set it on fire,
dispersed its inhabitants and displaced them throughout the world.
Many were killed either by suffocation, by starvation or by
crucifixion on a cross. The Jews, out of fear and annoyance, forced
Pilate to raise his hand against the Lord Jesus. Afterwards, the
Roman Empire raised its hand against the Jews. On that day when the
prophecy of the Lord was fulfilled, the Roman Empire, represented in
Jerusalem at one time by Pilate, raised its hand against Jerusalem
and their children with a very sharp sword. When Emperor Hadrian
restored Jerusalem, he renamed it (Aelia Capitolina)(*) and forbade
the Jews from settling in Jerusalem under penalty of death.
"Behold, your house will be abandoned, desolate." From
that time on, until today, Jerusalem was left deserted by the Jews
as a people (nation). The children of the wicked ancestors who
killed Christ were dispersed everywhere, even to this day, but in
their own home.(**) Lord, Almighty and All-Seeing, forgive us our
sins.
(*)
Hadrian renamed Jerusalem Aelia after his name, for his was called
Aelius.
(**)Nota
Bene: The State of Israel was established May 14, 1948.
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March
29th (New Style) • March 16th (Old Style)
The
Holy Apostle Aristobulus, One of the Seventy Apostles
Born
in Cyprus, Aristobulus was the brother of the Apostle Barnabas. He
followed the Apostle Paul, who mentions him in his Epistle to the
Romans saying, "Greet those who belong to the family of
Aristobulus" (Romans 16:10). When the great apostle appointed
many bishops throughout the various parts of the world, he appointed
Aristobulus as bishop for the British, that is, England. In Britain
the people were savages, heathen and wicked. Aristobulus endured
many indescribable tortures, misfortunes and evil among them. They
struck and beat him mercilessly, dragged him about the streets,
ridiculed and mocked him. Finally this holy man succeeded by the
power of the Grace of God. He enlightened the people, baptized them
in the name of Christ the Lord, built churches, ordained priests and
deacons and, in the end, died there peacefully and entered into the
Kingdom of the Lord, Whom he faithfully served.(*)
(*) In
the Greek Synaxarion the Venerable Christodulos is also mentioned on
this day. He lived a life of asceticism on the island of Patmos,
where he build a monastery dedicated to St. John the Theologian. He
died in the year 1111 A.D. Many miracles occured over his relics.
The
Holy Martyr Sabinus
Sabinus
was a Syrian from the city of Hermopolis and an official of that
city. At the time of a persecution against the Christians, he
withdrew to a mountain with a large number of other Christians and
closed himself off in a hut, where he spent his time in fasting and
prayer. A certain beggar, who brought him food and for whom Sabinus
performed a good deed, reported him. As did Judas to Christ, so
also, this unfortunate one betrayed his benefactor for two pieces of
gold. Sabinus, with six others, were apprehended, bound by the
soldiers and brought to stand trial. After great and enormous pains
he was cast into the Nile river where he gave up his soul to God in
the year 287.A.D.
The
Priest-Martyrs Trophimus and Thallus
They
were born in Syria and were brothers by birth. They openly and
freely preached Christ and denounced the folly of the Hellenes
(Greeks) and Romans. The enraged pagans decided to have them stoned
to death, but when they began hurling stones upon these two holy
brothers, the stones reverted and struck the assailants and the
brothers remained unharmed. Afterward they were both crucified. From
their crosses the brothers taught and encouraged those Christians
who stood sorrowfully around. After much agony they presented their
souls to the Lord to Whom they remained faithful to the end. They
suffered honorably in the year 300 A.D., in the city of Bofor.
Reflection
If we
fulfill the law of God in our thoughts, how much easier would it be
then for us to fulfill it in our deeds? That is, if we do not
transgress the law of God in our thoughts, how much easier would it
be not to transgress it in our deeds? Or still, if our hearts,
tongues, hands and feet are with God, then our entire body cannot be
against God. Heart, heart, prepare your heart for God. Consecrate it
to God; worship God; fulfill the law of God in it; unite it with
God; and all the rest will follow and will be governed by the heart.
It is not he who holds the spoke of the wheel that steers the wheel,
but he who holds its axis. The heart is the axis of our being.
Speaking about the commandments of God, the Venerable Hesychius
says, "If you compel yourself to fulfill them in your thought,
then you will rarely have the need to strain yourself to fulfill
them in deed." That is, if you set your hearts on God, as on an
axis, then the wheels will easily and comfortably follow the axis.
In other words all of man will follow after his own heart.
"Your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:9), says the
all-wise David.
Contemplation
To
contemplate the Lord Jesus how He walks under the cross to Golgotha:
1. How
He quietly and patiently carries His cross;
2. How
they took the cross from Him and gave it to Simon of Cyrene; how he
carried the cross walking after Christ;
3. How
He glanced at the women of Jerusalem, who were weeping, and said to
them: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me: weep instead
for yourselves and for your children" (St. Luke 23:28),
declaring by this His victory and defeat over His murderers.
Homily
About
the reproach of Christ as wealth
"By
faith Moses considered the reproach than the treasures of Egypt, for
he was of the Anointed One greater wealth looking to the
recompense" (Hebrews 11: 24-26).
Moses
did not want to remain in the palace of the pharaoh nor to be called
the adopted son of pharaoh. Desiring more, "He chose to be
ill-treated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the
fleeting pleasure of sin" (Hebrews 11:25). How different was
Moses from his descendants (The Jews), who out of pharonic reasons,
condemned the King of Glory to death! All of them would have liked
to live one more year in the decaying court of the pharaoh rather
than to travel with God for forty years in the wilderness. Moses
left all honors, all riches and all vanities, which only the wealth
of Egypt could provide. At the command of God, Moses started out
through the hungry and thirsty wilderness with faith that beyond
there lay the Promised Land. All of this also means to hold the
"reproach of the Anointed One (Christ)" above all the
wealth of Egypt.
The
"reproach of the Anointed One (Christ)" is that which the
men of this world with a powerful stench of the earth, are ashamed
in Christ. That is Christ's poverty on earth, His fasting, His
vigil, His prayer, His wandering without a roof over His head, His
condemnation, His humiliation, and His shameful death. This
"reproach of the Anointed One (Christ)" was valued by the
apostles, and after them, by countless saints, who thought this to
be of greater wealth than all the riches in the entire world.
Following these indignities, the Lord resurrected and opened the
gates of heaven and revealed the Promised Land of Paradise, into
which He led mankind along the path of His reproach or the
wilderness of His suffering.
O
Lord, glorified and resurrected, help us that we may hold
unwaveringly every drop of Your sweat and Your blood as a treasure
greater than all worldly riches.
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