October
7th
(New Style) • September 24th (Old Style)
The
Holy Protomartyr Thecla, Equal to the Apostles
Thecla
was born in Iconium of eminent but pagan parents. As a girl of
eighteen, she was betrothed to a young man at the same time that the
Apostle Paul arrived in Iconium with Barnabas to preach the Gospel.
Hearing Paul's testimony for three days and nights, Thecla converted
to the Christian Faith, and vowed to live in virginity. Her mother,
seeing that she was now ignoring her betrothed and no longer thought
of marriage, tried to dissuade her, and then beat her and tortured her
by starvation. Finally, this wicked mother turned Thecla over to the
judge and demanded that Thecla be burned. The judge threw her into the
fire, but God preserved her unharmed. Then, Thecla followed the
Apostle Paul, and went to Antioch with him. Attracted by Thecla's
external beauty, a certain elder of the city wanted to take her for
himself by force, but Thecla escaped his grasp. The pagan elder
accused her to the eparch as a Christian who disdained marriage. The
eparch condemned her to death, and had her thrown to wild beasts, but
the wild beasts did not touch the body of this holy virgin. Amazed by
this, the eparch asked her: "Who are you and what kind of power
is in you, that nothing can harm you?" Thecla replied: "I am
a servant of the Living God." The eparch then released her, and
she departed to preach the Gospel. She succeeded in converting many to
the true Faith, among whom was Tryphena, a prominent and honorable
widow. Then, having received the blessing of the Apostle Paul to do
so, Thecla withdrew to a secluded place near Seleucia. There she lived
a life of asceticism for a long time and, by healing the sick with
wonderworking power, she converted many to Christianity. The doctors
and soothsayers in Seleucia were envious of her, and sent some young
men to defile her, hoping that the loss of her virginity would also
mean the loss of her miraculous power. Thecla fled from these arrogant
young men, but as they were about to catch her, she prayed to God for
help. A large rock opened up and hid this holy virgin and bride of
Christ. This rock was her refuge and her tomb. St. John Chrysostom
says of this wonderful Christian heroine and saint: "It seems to
me that as I see this blessed virgin, in one hand she offers Christ
virginity, and in the other hand, martyrdom."
Saint
Stefan, the First-crowned King of Serbia
Stefan
was crowned at his royal foundation ièa by St. Sava, his brother and
spiritual father. He was a devout Christian and a wise and
peace-loving ruler. Stefan, with St. Sava, elevated Orthodoxy to great
glory among his people. According to his wish, St. Sava tonsured him a
monk before his death, and gave him the name Simon. He entered into
rest in the Lord on September 24, 1224, and his miracle-working relics
repose in Studenica Monastery.
St. David, (formerly Prince Dimitrije) the son of Stefan's brother
Vukan, built the Monastery of Lim where he himself was tonsured a
monk.
The holy King Vladislav, son of King Stefan, built the Monastery of
Mile eva, to which he translated the relics of St. Sava from Trnovo.
He distinguished himself by a special compassion for the poor. On the
coinage of his time, he had inscribed: "Vladislav, the servant of
Christ."
Reflection
Every
saint is close to the place where he is invoked for help, or where his
sanctity is commemorated and glorified. Those who are clairvoyant see
the saints. If those who are not clairvoyant truly believe, they will
see them in due time. Even as a young monk, St. Cosmas of Zographou
had this gift. Once, on the Feast of the Annunciation, he went with
several other monks to the Monastery of Vatopedi for this, their main
feast. During the church service, and during the meal in the
refectory, Cosmas saw a woman of royal beauty and majesty, who
authoritatively organized, directed, and even served. This was not a
momentary vision, but continued for a long time, both in the church
and in the refectory. Cosmas was perplexed and startled by this
vision. It was not at all proper for a woman to be in a monastery of
the Holy Mountain. When he related this vision to his brother monks at
Zographou, all the while protesting the presence of women on the Holy
Mountain, the astonished monks explained to him that she was the Queen
of the Holy Mountain, the Most-holy Theotokos. Then the perplexed
heart of Cosmas was filled with great joy. St. Cosmas was so gifted
with spiritual sight that, later, as an old hermit in his cave, he saw
the soul of the abbot of Hilandar ascending to heaven, struggling to
pass through the tollhouses, tormented by demons. Cosmas immediately
sent someone to ask the brethren at Hilandar to pray to God for the
soul of their reposed abbot. Matins had just been dismissed, and the
monks and the abbot had just left the church. Hearing Cosmas's
message, the monks laughed, saying that their abbot had just gone to
his cell to prepare for Divine Liturgy. But when they entered the cell
they found their abbot dead.
Contemplation
Contemplate
the sin of King Ahaziah and God's punishment of him (II Chronicles
22):
1. How Ahaziah did that which is evil in the sight of the Lord, and
associated with the sinful house of Ahab;
2. How Ahaziah was slain with many of his kinsmen.
Homily
On God
the Holy Spirit, the Glorifier
He
(the Holy Spirit) shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and
shall show it unto you (John 16:14).
The Holy
Spirit is equal in might with the Father and the Son. All that the
Father can do, the Son can do, and so can the Holy Spirit. All that
the Father knows, the Son knows, and so does the Holy Spirit. But,
according to Their infinite love for one another, and according to
Their infinite wisdom with regard to the dispensation of man's
salvation, They appear in turn to men from the point of view of time.
As the Father glorifies the Son, so the Son glorifies the Father, and
the Holy Spirit glorifies the Son. He shall glorify Me. Did not
the Son glorify Himself? Yes, He did, but not to the extent that He
could have; rather only to the extent that men of that time could
receive and endure it. In time, the Holy Spirit will reveal an even
greater glory of the Son of God, when He, the All-gracious One, will
fill the faithful with His gifts of grace. He shall glorify Me.
Brethren, the Lord also speaks these words as a lesson to us, so that
if we perform some good work, we shall leave it to others to glorify
us, and not seek to glorify ourselves. For He shall receive of
Mine, and shall show it unto you.
With these words, the Lord revealed the unity of the Spirit of God
with Him, and not the subordination of the Spirit. Before this, He
said: He will guide you into all truth (John 16:13). So that
the disciples would not think that the Spirit knows more of the truth
than the Son, or that the Spirit is greater than the Son, He revealed
that the Spirit shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.
Christ was able to guide the disciples into all truth, but at the
time, the disciples were not prepared to receive all truth. Therefore,
the Holy Spirit will guide them into all truth, at the proper time.
Yet, in revealing all truth to them, the Spirit will reveal nothing
that is not known to the Son, let alone anything that is contrary to
the knowledge and will of the Son. That is why the Lord said: For
He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.
O
wondrous unity of the Holy Trinity, O power of the Triune Flame, light
and love from one and the same fire! O Holy and Most-holy Trinity,
kindle divine love in our hearts.
To
the Top
October
8th
(New Style) • September 25th (Old Style)
The
Venerable Euphrosyne
Euphrosyne
was the daughter of Paphnutius, a wealthy and distinguished man of
Alexandria. Her childless parents had besought God with prayer for the
birth of a child, and they were given her. Her devout parents raised
their daughter in the Christian Faith. Not wanting to enter into
marriage, the young Euphrosyne hid from her father, changed into men's
clothing, and presented herself to the abbot of a monastery as a
eunuch of Emperor Theodosius, giving the name Smaragdus. The abbot
received her, and turned her over to the spiritual father Agapitus for
guidance. By her fasting and prayerful asceticism, Smaragdus quickly
surpassed all the monks in that monastery. When she had completed
thirty-eight years of strict asceticism, her father Paphnutius visited
that monastery, and the abbot directed him to Smaragdus for prayer and
counsel. Smaragdus recognized Paphnutius, but Paphnutius did not
recognize Smaragdus. When the father confessed his grief for his lost
daughter, Smaragdus told him not to lose hope, for he would see his
daughter again in this life, and besought him to come again within
three days. When Paphnutius came again, Smaragdus was on her deathbed.
The dying one said to Paphnutius: "I am Euphrosyne, your
daughter; you are my father!" For a long time, the father was
unable to come to himself due to his severe shock. Then, the Blessed
Euphrosyne breathed her last, and her father wept over her. After
burying her, Paphnutius himself entered the monastery, and settled in
the cell of his holy, reposed daughter. After ten years of asceticism,
Paphnutius also entered into rest in the Lord.
The
Venerable Sergius of Radonezh
Sergius
was a great ascetic and light of the Russian Church. He was born in
1313, in Rostov, of devout parents, Cyril and Maria. After his
parents' deaths, Bartholomew-for that was his baptismal name-became a
monk, and founded the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in the forests of
Radonezh. As a quiet and gentle servant of God, he knew only labor and
prayer. Because of the purity of his heart he was made worthy of the
gift of miracle-working, even resurrecting the dead in the name of
Christ. The Holy Theotokos appeared to him many times. Princes and
bishops came to him for advice. He blessed Prince Dimitri Donskoy, and
foretold his victory in the battle for the liberation of Russia from
the Tartars. He saw into the hearts of men as well as future events.
His monastery was full of monks, even during his lifetime and, century
after century, has been one of the most important centers of spiritual
life and God's miracles. St. Sergius entered into rest in the year
1392. Following his repose, he appeared many times to various people.
The
Venerable Euphrosyne of Suzdal
Euphrosyne's
baptismal name was Theodula. She was the daughter of Michael
Vsevolodovich, and the betrothed of Menas, the Prince of Suzdal. She
did not at all desire to marry, and prayed to God to preserve her as a
virgin until death. When they took her to Suzdal to be married, her
betrothed, Menas, suddenly died. Euphrosyne did not return to the home
of her parents but entered a convent, where she labored in asceticism
until her repose. God endowed her with the gift of working miracles.
She entered into rest in the year 1250.
Reflection
A saint
does not shine outwardly. All of his riches are within, in his soul. A
peasant came from afar to the monastery to see St. Sergius. When he
asked the monks for the abbot, they told him he was working in the
garden. The peasant went to the garden, and there saw a man in poor,
ragged clothes, digging like any other peasant on a farm. The peasant
returned to the monastery dissatisfied, thinking that the monks had
made fun of him. So, to make things clear, he asked again for the
glorious holy father, Sergius. Just then, Sergius returned to the
monastery, and welcomed the peasant, serving him at the table. The
saint saw into the heart of his guest, and knew the low opinion he had
of his appearance. He consoled him by promising that he would see
Sergius in a little while. A prince and his boyars then arrived at the
monastery, and they all bowed low to St. Sergius, and asked his
blessing. The monks then removed the peasant from the room in order to
make room for the new guests. In amazement the peasant looked on from
a distance, to see that the one he had sought had been nearby all the
time. The peasant rebuked himself for his ignorance, and was greatly
ashamed. When the prince departed, the peasant quickly approached the
saint, fell at his feet and began to beg his forgiveness. The great
saint embraced him and said to him: "Do not grieve, my son, for
you are the only one who knew the truth about me, considering me to be
nothing-while others were deluded, taking me for something
great."
Contemplation
Contemplate
the righteousness and sin of King Joash, and God's reward and
punishment (II Chronicles 24):
1. How, at first, Joash hearkened to the high priest Jehoiada, and did
that which is right in the sight of the Lord;
2. How God blessed Joash with a long and peaceful reign;
3. How Joash changed, and slew the righteous son of Jehoiada, and
committed other evils;
4. How a small Syrian army defeated Joash, and plundered the land;
and, how Joash, gravely ill, was slain in bed by his servants.
Homily
On the
shared riches of the Father and the Son
All
things that the Father hath are Mine (John 16:15).
These
are some of the last words of Christ the Lord before His passion. They
are the weightiest words-for they reveal the divinity of Christ the
Savior to the world, and in connection with the words, He shall
receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you (John 16:14), also
reveal the equality of the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son.
That which the Spirit will receive of Mine cannot be different or
contrary to that which is the Father's, for All things that the
Father hath are Mine. Why did our Lord not say, "He will take
Mine," but rather, He shall receive of Mine? Because the
Holy Spirit will not reveal everything to men, but only a part of
everything-as much as men can bear, and as much as is necessary for
them. One part of God's gifts are given to the faithful on earth, and
another part will be given to them in the Heavenly Kingdom. This
heavenly part is that which the visionary Apostle describes: Eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of
man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him (I
Corinthians 2:9). All this, and incomparably more, is part of Christ's
possession. His possession encompasses not only this world, but also
the other world, and it is incomparably greater and more precious than
both worlds. Eternity is His, immortality is His, perfect might is
His, perfect wisdom is His, perfect love is His, and perfect goodness
is His, as are mercy and justice and truth. What else can we think of
or express that is good? All perfection is His, and it transcends
everything that earthly man can ever conceive of. The Father has all
this, the Son has all this, and the Holy Spirit has all this. All
things that the Father hath are Mine. By these words, the
indescribably wealthy One, the unequaled Son of the King, Jesus
Christ, revealed His boundless and inconceivable riches to His
disciples on the dark night when He was about to stand barefoot before
the Jewish elders to be scourged and spat upon.
O our
God, Most-holy and Most-abundant Trinity, have mercy on us sinners,
and save us.
To
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October
9th
(New Style) • September 26th (Old Style)
Saint
John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist
John was
the son of Zebedee the fisherman and Salome the daughter of Joseph,
the betrothed of the Holy Theotokos. Called by the Lord Jesus, John
immediately left his father and his fishermen's nets and, with his
brother James, followed Christ. From then on, he was not separated
from his Lord until the end. With Peter and James, he was present at
the raising of Jairus's daughter and the Transfiguration of the Lord.
At the Last Supper, he inclined his head on Jesus' breast. When all
the other apostles had abandoned the crucified Lord, John and the Holy
Mother of God remained beneath the Cross. In obedience to the Lord, he
was as a son to the Holy Virgin Mary, and carefully served and watched
over her until her Dormition. After her Dormition, John took his
disciple Prochorus to preach the Gospel in Asia Minor. He lived and
labored mostly in Ephesus. By his inspired preaching and miracles he
converted many to Christianity and shook paganism to its foundation.
The embittered pagans bound him and sent him to Rome, to face Emperor
Dometian. Dometian had him tortured and flogged, but neither the
bitterest poison he was given to drink, nor the boiling oil into which
he was thrown, did him any harm. This terrified the emperor and,
thinking him immortal, Dometian sent him into exile to the island of
Patmos. There St. John converted many to Christianity by words and
miracles, and confirmed well the Church of God. He also wrote his
Gospel and Revelation on Patmos. In the time of Emperor Nero, who
granted freedom to all prisoners, John returned to Ephesus, where he
lived for some time, confirming the work he had begun earlier. He was
over one hundred years old when he went to the Lord. When his
disciples later opened his grave, they did not find his body. On May 8
of every year, a fine dust, fragrant and healing, rose from his grave.
After a long, laborious and fruitful life on earth, this beloved
disciple of Christ, a true pillar of the Church, took up his
habitation in the joy of His Lord.
The
Venerable Nilus of Calabria
Nilus
was a great ascetic among the Greeks of Calabria. The founder of
several monasteries, he was a miracle-worker and a defender of the
purity of the Orthodox Faith. He undertook a long journey to save a
man from grave punishment. He had an ardent love for his neighbor, and
entered into rest in the year 1005. Nilus left many worthy disciples,
among whom was the distinguished St. Bartholomew, the writer of
several canons, who reposed in 1044.
Reflection
Thus
writes the Apostle James: Let him know, that he which converteth
the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and
shall hide a multitude of sins (James 5:20). The apostles of
Christ did not simply speak thus, but confirmed it by their work. St.
Clement of Alexandria relates that, somewhere in Asia Minor, St. John
the Apostle had baptized a pagan youth and entrusted him to the care
of the local bishop, while he went on further to preach the Gospel. In
John's absence, this young man became corrupt, and began to drink and
steal, and finally joined a band of thieves in the forest, who
attacked men and robbed them. After a while John returned, and heard
from the bishop what had happened to this young man. Then Apostle
John, not wasting a moment, found a horse and a guide and rushed to
the forest where the robbers were to be found. Searching through the
forest the saint found them, and confronted their leader. When the
young man recognized John, he began to flee. Though aged, John chased
him and, despite his old age, caught him. The young man fell at the
feet of the apostle and, in shame, could not look him in the eye. John
embraced and kissed him, as a shepherd does upon finding his lost
sheep. The saint brought him back to town and confirmed him anew in
the Faith and in virtuous life. Thereafter pleasing God, this young
man entered into rest in due time.
Contemplation
Contemplate
the divided heart of King Amaziah toward God, and God's punishment (II
Chronicles 25):
1. How Amaziah at first did that which was right in the sight of the
Lord, and God granted him victory over the Edomites;
2. How Amaziah brought the Edomite idols (which had not helped the
Edomites) to Jerusalem, and worshiped them;
3. How God permitted the Israelites to defeat him, and a rebellion was
raised against him and killed him.
Homily
On
prayer inspired by love
Sanctify
them by Thy truth. Thy word is truth (John 17:17).
When a
mother is led to death, she worries more about the children whom she
leaves behind than about herself. Such is the bond of great love. The
Lord Jesus Christ had an even greater love for His disciples than that
of a mother for her children. Going to His death, the Lord prayed to
His heavenly Father for His disciples. He prayed, not because He
lacked power to help them, but prayed to the Father to show the unity
of His being with, and love for, His Father. But why did He then
ascribe Truth to the Father, when before that He referred to the
Spirit of Truth (John 14:17), saying to the disciples: The
Spirit of Truth … will guide you into all truth (John 16:13)? To
demonstrate the equality of the Father and the Holy Spirit. Did He not
first say of Himself: I am the Truth (John 14:6)? And,
afterward, did He not call the Holy Spirit the Comforter, the
Spirit of Truth? And He now ascribes truth to the Father as well: Sanctify
them by Thy truth! He who would see any contradiction in this does
not comprehend God as Unity and Trinity-Unity of Essence and Trinity
of Persons. In that He ascribes truth as something essential to each
Person of the Divine Trinity, the Lord demonstrates the equality of
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For if one Person of the
Divine Trinity would possess less truth, He would be lesser, in
Essence, than the other two Persons. With a lessening of truth, there
is also a lessening of power, love and wisdom. Therefore, the Lord
referred to Himself, the Father, and the Holy Spirit as Truth, so that
men would know and believe in Their complete, essential unity.
Therefore let none of the faithful be deluded by any lie asserting an
inequality of the Persons of the Holy Trinity. Everyone should
endeavor to wipe his heart clean of sin, as one cleans a mirror: only
then can we truly perceive the great truth of the equality of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
O Triune
and Divine Truth, enlighten us with Thyself, and save us.
To
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October
10th
(New Style) • September 27th (Old Style)
The
Holy Martyr Callistratus
Callistratus
was born in Carthage. He was a Christian from birth, for his father
and grandfather were Christians. One of Callistratus's ancestors,
Neochorus by name, was a soldier in Jerusalem under Pontius Pilate, at
the time of the Crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Witnessing the many miracles at the time of Christ's death, Neochorus
believed in Him, and was instructed in the Faith and baptized by an
apostle. Returning home to Carthage, Neochorus brought his Christian
Faith with him as a precious pearl. So it was that in time
Callistratus was born, baptized and raised a Christian. While he was
in the army there were no other Christians in his regiment besides
him. One of his companions, seeing how St. Callistratus arose at night
and prayed to God, reported him as a Christian to the commander,
Persentinian. Persentinian was a cruel torturer of Christians. In
order to confirm that Callistratus was indeed a Christian, the
commander ordered him to offer sacrifice to the idols, which
Callistratus straightway refused to do. He was then severely beaten
and thrown into the sea. However, the power of God saved him, and he
emerged from the sea in sound health. Seeing Callistratus's endurance
and miracles, forty-nine other soldiers came to believe in Christ.
They were beaten and thrown into prison with Callistratus. In prison
Callistratus taught his companions the Faith, and strengthened them.
They displayed great bravery in suffering, and the Lord manifested
great power through them. Then the evil torturer sent soldiers to the
prison by night, and they slew St. Callistratus and his forty-nine
companions. They suffered for the truth in the year 304. A church was
later built over their relics.
The
Holy Apostles Mark, Aristarchus and Zenas
Mark,
Aristarchus and Zenas were apostles of the Seventy. St. Mark was also
known as John. The holy apostles gathered for prayer at the house of
his mother Mary in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). He preached the Gospel with
the Apostles Paul and Barnabas (Acts 12:25). After that, Mark was
bishop in the town of Byblos. St. Aristarchus, a fellow traveler of
the Apostle Paul, was bishop in Syrian Apamea (Acts 19:29). St. Zenas
(or Zena) was described as a lawyer by the Apostle Paul (Titus 3:13).
He was bishop in Palestinian Lydda. They shone as stars in the
darkness of paganism, and brought many to the Christian Faith. Now
they shine as stars in the Kingdom of Christ, their Beloved.
The
Holy New Martyr Aquilina
Aquilina
was from the village of Zaklivera, in the Diocese of Jedrene. She was
a girl of eighteen. Her father embraced Islam, and even pressured her
to become a Moslem, but her mother supported her in the Christian
Faith. After many torments, totally wounded and bloodied, she breathed
her last on her mother's lap, and received the victor's wreath of
martyrdom on September 27, 1764.
The
Venerable Sabbatius of Solovki
Sabbatius
is commemorated together with St. Zosimas on April 17. Today is
commemorated the fact that he reposed in the Lord on September 27,
1435.
Reflection
All our
riches, glory and honor are as a brief repast that ends at death. No
one takes a single crumb of this meal into the other world. Blessed is
the one who understands that the soul is his only possession that is
not diminished by anything, not even by death. Such a one thinks only
of three realities: death, the soul, and God the Judge. Abba Evagrius
teaches: "Hold your approaching death and the Judgment constantly
in your mind, and you will preserve your soul from sin." All our
bodily cares in this life are like cares about a meal which must soon
be cut short. St. Isaiah the Solitary says: "Have death before
your eyes every day: think constantly about how you will separate from
the body, how you will pass through the region of the powers of
darkness who will meet you in the air, and how you will present
yourself before God. Prepare yourself for the Dread Day of answering
to the Judgment of God, as though you already behold it now." One
day, John, a rich merchant, came to St. Sabbatius of Solovki and
brought him many alms. Sabbatius did not accept any of it, but rather
told the donor to distribute all of it to the needy. John became very
sad at this, and the saint, in order to comfort him and make
everything clear to him said: "John, my son, stay here and rest
until tomorrow, and then you will see the grace of God." John
obeyed. The next day, John entered the cell of Sabbatius and saw the
elder in final repose, and sensed a wonderful fragrance in the cell.
He who foresees the end of his life does not think of worldly goods.
Contemplation
Contemplate
the righteousness of King Uzziah, and God's reward (II Chronicles 26):
1. How the king did that which is right in the sight of the Lord;
2. How, as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.
Homily
On
Christ's last prayer for the faithful
That
they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me and I in Thee (John
17:21).
Brethren,
God's mercy is great. When a righteous man feels it, he weeps; but
when a sinner feels it, he is ashamed. By the mercy of God, we are
cleansed, illumined, saved, adopted and united with God Himself.
However, no one should construe that, by this unity with God, we
become of the same Essence with God and equal to God. We will never be
of one Essence with God, nor equal to God, in the way in which the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are of one Essence and equal in being. That
they all may be one the Savior says to His Father on behalf of His
disciples, as Thou, Father, art in Me and I in Thee, and here
He is thinking of the unity of love and not of the unity of nature.
From love flows mutual obedience, mutual help, mutual mercy, meekness,
humility, goodness, good will and sacrifice. And when the Lord says, Be
ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect (Matthew 5:48), He does not mean that men can be equal to
God, but means to show them the supreme example of perfection in every
good thing. For many teachers of men have pointed to examples of
perfection in some thing or some person, but not in God. Often enough,
they have taught men evil, and pointed to it as an example of
perfection. That is why the Lord teaches men to take the Heavenly
Father as an example of every perfection, and to labor and strive for
that true perfection, and not some other. By the grace of God, we are
all adopted of God and become one in Christ Jesus (Galatians
3:28). However, we do not become gods; we do not become equal
with the Persons of the Holy Trinity. Do not forget that it is said in
the Scriptures: The heavens are not clean in His sight (Job
15:15). The majestic powers of the heavens are not even equal to Him,
so what then of man? However, by the grace of God, and because of the
sufferings of the Lord Jesus, the faithful are raised up into unity
with God, in love and spirit. Therefore, let us make an effort to do
the will of God, that we in truth may be raised up to such majestic
heights.
O Lord
Jesus Christ our God, Who art the God of every mercy and goodness;
uphold us in Thy mercy to the end, and be not angry with us, but
rather forgive us.
To
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October
11th
(New Style) • September 28th (Old Style)
The
Venerable Chariton the Confessor
Chariton
was a distinguished and devout citizen of the city of Iconium. Imbued
with the spirit of his compatriot, St. Thecla, Chariton openly
confessed the name of Christ. When a bitter persecution of Christians
began during the reign of Emperor Aurelian, Chariton was immediately
brought to trial before the eparch. The judge ordered him to worship
the gods, but Chariton replied: "All your gods are demons, and
were cast from the heavens into the nethermost hell." Chariton
clearly proclaimed his faith in the One Living God, the Creator of
all, and the Lord Jesus, the Savior of mankind. The eparch ordered
that he be tortured and beaten, until his whole body was like one
great wound. When Aurelian's evil deeds caught up with him and he died
an evil death, Chariton was freed from torture and prison. He then set
out for Jerusalem. On the way he was seized by robbers, but escaped
from them by God's providence. Chariton, not wanting to return to
Iconium again, withdrew to the wilderness of Pharan, where he founded
a monastery and gathered monks. He established a rule for the
monastery and then, to avoid the praise of men, withdrew to another
wilderness near Jericho. There he founded another monastery called the
Monastery of Chariton. Finally, he founded a third monastery, Souka,
which the Greeks called the Old Lavra. Chariton died at a great old
age, and took up his abode in the glory of his Lord on September 28,
350. His relics repose in his first monastery. The composition of the
rite of monastic tonsure is attributed to St. Chariton.
The
Holy Prophet Baruch
He was a
disciple and faithful friend of the great prophet Jeremiah. He
prophesied the return of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity, the
destruction of Babylon, and the coming of the Son of God to earth. It
is held that he was slain by the Jews in Egypt, as was the Prophet
Jeremiah, in the seventh century before Christ.
The
Holy Martyr Mark the Shepherd
At the
time of Diocletian, Magnus, the magistrate of Antioch, went hunting
with his soldiers. Pursuing a wild beast, the soldiers saw that it
fled to the shepherd Mark, who was tending his flock there. The beast
fawned around Mark, a man of God. Seeing this, thirty soldiers
listened to Mark's explanation of the Faith, and believed in Christ.
They were soon beheaded. The magistrate then bound Mark, took him to
town and summoned three brothers, Alexander, Alphaeus and Zosimas, who
were blacksmiths. He ordered them to make instruments of torture with
which to torment Mark. All three of them, after conversing with St.
Mark, confessed the Christian Faith, and ignored the magistrate's
order. The magistrate sentenced them to death, and ordered that molten
lead be poured into their mouths. After this, the saintly Mark was
beheaded, and his head was mockingly placed in the temple of Artemis.
Because of this, that temple was destroyed by the power of God.
The
Holy Martyr Vatslav (Wenceslaus), King of the Czechs
Vatslav
was the grandson of St. Ludmilla. As king, he labored in the Faith
like the great ascetics, and strengthened the Orthodox Faith among his
people. He was strict in ensuring that no innocent person suffer in
the courts. In his zeal for the Christian Faith and in his love for
his fellow man, St. Vatslav purchased pagan children who were being
sold as slaves, and immediately baptized them and raised them as
Christians. He translated the Gospel of St. John into the Czech
language, and transported the relics of St. Vitus and St. Ludmilla to
Prague. His brother Boleslav invited him to be his guest, and then
killed him in his court. Immediately after this, Boleslav brought in
German priests and had the services celebrated in Latin. St. Vatslav
suffered in the year 935 and his relics repose in Prague.
Reflection
In
guiding the dispensation of this world, and especially of His Holy
Church, God often makes unexpected moves, and changes the evil destiny
of His servants to the good. This occurred many times in the life of
St. Chariton. Following cruel tortures, Chariton was thrown into
prison and was promised certain death. Then, Emperor Aurelian died
unexpectedly, and the new emperor freed the Christian captives. Thus,
Chariton escaped death. Then, when he was traveling to Jerusalem,
robbers seized him and took him to their cave. They left him there,
and went off to rob and plunder, with the intention of killing him
when they came back. In this cave there was a wine cask into which a
poisonous snake had crawled, drunk of the wine, and vomited its venom
into the cask. When the robbers returned, tired and thirsty from the
heat, they drank the venomous wine and, one by one, fell dead. And
thus, St. Chariton was saved from death by yet another unexpected
event. The Lord heaped misfortunes upon His servant, in order that by
these misfortunes He would temper and purify him as gold is tempered
and purified by fire, and that He might bind him even more securely to
Himself. He delivered him from death, because Chariton had yet to
establish several monasteries where, by his ascetic example, he would
direct many human souls on the path of salvation.
Contemplation
Contemplate
King Uzziah's turning to evil (II Chronicles 26):
1. How Uzziah became proud and corrupt when, with God's help, he
became strong;
2. How he violated the Law, took the censer, and strove to serve in
the Temple against the protests of the priests.
Homily
On
Christ's last prayer for the faithful
Father,
I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I
am (John 17:24).
Behold
the recompense of God's laborers! Behold the glorious reward of the
followers of Christ! That which the Son of God desires, the Father
desires and the Holy Spirit also desires. And that which the Holy
Trinity desires, comes to pass. What does the Lord, the Son of God,
desire? He desires that His disciples be together with Him in the
Heavenly Kingdom-and not only His twelve disciples, but also all those
which shall believe on Me through their word (John 17:20). My
brethren, we who are baptized and who have received the Faith of the
apostles and have kept it, are also numbered among these-but only
under the condition that we ourselves do not disown that great
treasure by our misdeeds, by apostasy from the Faith, by the impurity
of sin, or by blasphemous words and thoughts. The Lord further says: Father
I will … that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me (John
17:24). No one should conclude from these words that the Son is less
than the Father. For the Lord Himself said to His Father: I have
glorified Thee (John 17:4). Do you see the equality of the Father
and the Son, and the boundlessness of Their mutual love? I have
glorified Thee … and now, O Father, glorify Thou Me (John 17:4,
5). But the fact that Christ's glory did not begin on earth or in time
is shown by these words of the Lord Christ: the glory which I had
with Thee before the world was (John 17:5). Therefore, this is not
an earthly or temporal glory: it is not worldly and human glory, but
rather a heavenly, eternal, lasting and inexpressible glory. How does
the Son of God want the Father to glorify Him? In such a way that He
will show the heavenly and eternal glory to all those who have obeyed
His Son, and who have followed after Him, and who have fulfilled His
commandments. The man-loving Lord wills that, not only the apostles,
but all of us who are called by His name, participate in this glory.
Oh what mercy! Oh what love for mankind! Brethren, the dogma of our
immortality, eternal life and eternal glory is not of men, but of our
Lord and Savior Himself. May bodily cares, slothfulness at prayer, and
mutual strife not separate us from this glory of Christ, from eternal
life!
O
gracious and merciful Lord, forgive us our sins, and grant us Thine
Eternal Kingdom.
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October
12th
(New Style) • September 29th (Old Style)
The
Venerable Cyriacus the Recluse
Cyriacus
was born in Corinth, to John and Eudoxia. His father John was a
presbyter and Peter, Bishop of Corinth, was his kinsman. In his early
youth, the bishop ordained Cyriacus a reader in the cathedral church.
Reading the Holy Scripture, the young Cyriacus marveled at God's
providence: how God glorified all His true servants and how He
arranged the salvation of the human race. At age eighteen, Cyriacus's
desire for the spiritual life led him to Jerusalem. There, he entered
the monastery of a godly man Eustorgius, who gave him his first
instruction in the monastic life. After that, he went to St. Euthymius,
who foresaw that he would be a great spiritual father. He clothed him
in the schema and sent him to St. Gerasimus at the Jordan, where
Cyriacus spent nine years. Following the death of Gerasimus, he
returned to the Monastery of St. Euthymius, where he remained in
stillness for ten years. Then, fleeing the praise of men, he moved
from place to place. He finally lived a life of asceticism in the
community of St. Chariton, where he ended his earthly sojourn of 109
years. A celebrated ascetic and miracle-worker, St. Cyriacus was
massive and strong in body, and remained such in deep old age, despite
strict fasts and vigils. In the wilderness, he sometimes ate only raw
greens for years. He was very zealous for the Orthodox Faith,
denouncing all heresies, especially that of Origen. He said of himself
that, since he became a monk, the sun had neither seen him eat nor
become angry with anyone. According to the Rule of St. Chariton, the
monks ate only once a day, after the setting of the sun. Cyriacus was
a great light, a pillar of Orthodoxy, the adornment of monks, a mighty
healer of the sick, and a gentle comforter of the sorrowful. Having
lived long for the benefit of many, he took up his habitation in the
eternal joy of his Lord in the year 557.
The
Holy Martyrs Dada and Gabdelas
Dada was
a great Persian nobleman and a kinsman of King Sapor, and Gabdelas was
Sapor's son. When St. Dada openly confessed his faith in Christ, King
Sapor ordered that he be cruelly tortured. During these tortures, Dada
worked great miracles in the name of Christ, and these so strongly
influenced Gabdelas that he also believed in Christ. The pagan King
did not even spare his own son, but subjected him also to harsh
tortures. Both Dada and Gabdelas glorified God with their patient
endurance and many miracles, and gave up their souls to God under
torture. They suffered in the fourth century. Gabdelas's sister Casdoa,
and Gargal the chief pagan priest, suffered with them-for they, too,
had come to believe in Christ.
Saint
Theophanes the Merciful
Theophanes
was a wealthy citizen from Gaza. He was so merciful that, in
distributing his possessions to the poor, he impoverished himself.
Toward the end of his life, he was afflicted with dropsy and died from
that illness. Thereafter a healing myrrh flowed from his body, by
which the sick were healed.
Saint
Mary of Palestine
At
first, Mary was a reader of the Psalter in the Church of the
Resurrection in Jerusalem. Because she was of beautiful countenance,
many who gazaed upon her were tempted by lustful thoughts. So that she
would no longer be a cause of temptation for men, Mary withdrew into
the wilderness of Souka with a basket of beans and an earthenware jug
of water. St. Mary lived in the wilderness for eighteen years. By
God's power, neither the beans nor the water ran out. The disciples of
St. Cyriacus found her during her lifetime, and later buried her.
Reflection
In
ignorance, many people labor more to avoid suffering in old age and
terminal illness than to avoid the torments of hell in the life after
old age and death. Such was the case of an unmarried and avaricious
man who, from year to year, and with ever greater passion, amassed for
himself unnecessary wealth. When asked why he strove so much to pile
up excess wealth he replied: "I am gathering it for my old age.
This wealth will heal and feed me in old age and sickness." And
indeed, his foreboding came true. In old age, a grave and long-lasting
illness befell him. He distributed his accumulated wealth to
physicians so they would heal him, and to servants so they would care
for him and feed him. His wealth was soon spent, and the illness
continued. The physicians and servants abandoned him, and he fell into
despair. His neighbors brought him bread until his death, and he was
buried at the expense of the community. He had used his wealth for
that which he had intended it. God had even done for him according to
the man's will. God had sent him the illness that he had, in a sense,
desired, and for which he had prepared great wealth. Nevertheless, all
his wealth was unable to alleviate his sufferings in this world-so
with what would he be able to alleviate his sufferings in the other
world? Nothing, if he took with him neither faith, nor hope, nor
charitable deeds, nor prayers, nor repentance! Someone saw a departed
man in the great glory of Paradise, and asked him how he had become
worthy of that glory. The man replied: "In my earthly life I was
the hireling of an evil-doer who never paid me. But I endured all and
served him to the end, with hope in God." Then the onlooker saw
another man in even greater glory, and when he asked him, that one
replied: "I was a leper, and to the very end I offered gratitude
to God for that." But no one saw in the glory of Paradise the man
who had amassed money for illness in old age.
Contemplation
Contemplate
the punishment with which God punished King Uzziah (II Chronicles 26):
1. How, in his conceit, Uzziah unlawfully approached the sanctuary of
God;
2. How leprosy suddenly appeared on his forehead.
Homily
On
knowing the Father through the Son
O
righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee
(John 17:25).
An equal
knows his equal best. The lower does not know the higher, or the
mortal the immortal. The Old Testament prophets and some of the wise
men of ancient times knew God as the Creator and the Provider, but no
one knew Him as the Father of the Son. Those who knew Him in ancient
times knew Him through creation, and not through birth. Through
creation they knew something of the righteousness, wisdom and power of
God; but they did not know His love, for love is known through birth.
A father knows the mystery of the one born, and the one born knows the
love of the parent. It could be put this way: "The world hath
not known Thee, for the world looked at Thee as Lord and itself as
a slave; But I have known Thee, for I see Thee as Father and
feel Thine inexpressible love. The world looks at Thee through the
veil of Thy works; but I look at Thee face to face, in the eternal
beauty of Thy love." The Lord brought this illuminating flame of
eternal filial and paternal love among men, so that men could see God
in this flame, in this new and hitherto unknown light. The Lord passed
this new knowledge of God's love to His apostles, and through them to
us.
Oh, may
this flame of divine eternal love burn in us! May we thus know God as
our Father, and ourselves as His children, adopted through the
sacrifice of the Only-begotten Son of God.
O God of
Triune Flame, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: illumine us also, darkened
as we are by sin, with the eternal glory of Thy love.
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October
13th
(New Style) • September 30th (Old Style)
Saint
Gregory the Enlightener, Bishop of Armenia
Gregory
was born of a prominent family which was related to the royal houses
of Persia (King Arteban) and Armenia (King Khosrov). When these two
houses made war against each other, Gregory withdrew to Caesarea in
Cappadocia. It was there that he first learned of the Christian Faith,
was baptized and married. He had two sons of this marriage, Bardanes
and Aristakes, and dedicated them both to the service of the Church.
After the death of his wife, Gregory returned to Armenia and placed
himself in the service of King Tiridates. He faithfully served him,
and Tiridates loved Gregory. But when the king learned that Gregory
was a Christian, he became greatly enraged and pressured him to deny
Christ and worship idols. Not succeeding in this, Tiridates subjected
Gregory to many harsh tortures, then threw him into a deep pit full of
poisonous reptiles to kill him. However, the All-seeing God preserved
St. Gregory's life in that pit for fourteen full years. After that,
Tiridates set out to persecute all Christians in his kingdom, and
attacked a convent where there were thirty-seven nuns, including the
abbess, Gaiana. When he had killed all of them by terrible tortures,
Tiridates went insane and was like a wild boar. His sister had a dream
in which a man, dazzlingly bright, told her that Tiridates would only
become well when Gregory was removed from the pit. Taken from the pit,
Gregory healed and baptized Tiridates. Then, at the wish of Tiridates,
Gregory became Bishop of Armenia. Through God's providence, Tiridates
also helped him in enlightening all of Armenia and its surrounding
regions with the Christian Faith. St. Gregory ended his earthly life
of great labor in old age, in about the year 335. Meanwhile, his son
Aristakes had been consecrated a bishop, and he continued the work of
his father, both physically and spiritually. Aristakes was one of the
318 Holy Fathers at the First Ecumenical Council.
The
Holy Martyrs Gaiana, Rhipsimia, and thirty-five other nuns
They
were all slain by King Tiridates because of their faith in Christ.
Rhipsimia was of unusual beauty, which tempted Emperor Diocletian to
take her for his wife. This was the cause of their martyrdom.
Rhipsimia refused to go with the emperor, as she had betrothed herself
to Christ, her Bridegroom. Then Tiridates too was tempted and wanted
to claim her for himself, for he was intoxicated by her beauty. St.
Rhipsimia resisted the pagan king with all her strength, "And he
who defeated the Princes of the Goths and destroyed the Persians was
unable to overcome one virgin of Christ." The enraged king gave
her over to cruel tortures-her tongue was cut out, her stomach cut
open, and her entrails pulled out-and Rhipsimia gave up her soul to
God. After this, the other nuns were seized and beheaded. The famous
Monastery of Echmiadzin was built over the relics of these holy
martyrs. Situated near Yerevan, it was the main spiritual center of
Armenia for many centuries.
Saint
Michael, First Metropolitan of Kiev
St.
Michael was sent to Russia by the Patriarch of Constantinople at the
request of the great Prince Vladimir, to baptize the pagan people and
establish and organize the Church. St. Michael baptized the people in
Kiev, Novgorod, Rostov and many other towns and villages. He organized
the Church, appointed bishops and priests, laid the foundation for the
Monastery of St. Michael in Kiev, and sent missionaries among the
Bulgarians and Tartars, winning many of them for Christ. This saint
accomplished all this, and much more of great benefit, in only four
years. He went to his reward peacefully, in the year 992. His relics
repose in the Monastery of the Kiev Caves.
Reflection
Marvelous
changes occur daily in the destiny of men-in the present, as in times
past. Those humiliated for the sake of God's righteousness are raised
to great heights, and the blasphemers of the Faith are converted to
servants of the Faith. King Tiridates threw St. Gregory into a deep
pit. The saint spent fourteen years in that pit, forgotten by the
entire world, but not by God. Who among men could have thought that
the greatest light of the Armenian people was to be found in the
darkness of a pit? And who would have ever thought that the powerful
and tyrannical King Tiridates would one day save the life of that same
Gregory, whom he had condemned to death, and would help him more than
the rest of the whole world could help him? After fourteen years, God
revealed Gregory as still alive. Gregory then miraculously healed the
insane king. King Tiridates, the unrestrained persecutor of Christ,
was baptized and became the greatest zealot for the Christian Faith!
It could be said that, with God's help, Gregory and Tiridates were
both drawn out of the pit of darkness-Gregory a physical one, and
Tiridates a spiritual one. Oh, the infinite wisdom of God in governing
the destinies of men! The formerly wild and passionate Tiridates was
softened and ennobled so much by repentance and the Christian Faith,
that he came to resemble St. Gregory more than his old, unrepentant
self.
Contemplation
Contemplate
the righteousness of King Jotham and God's reward for him (II
Chronicles 27):
1. How Jotham did that which is right in the sight of the Lord, and
cared for the Temple of the Lord;
2. How God helped him, so that he was successful in war and in peace:
in war he conquered, and in peace he enriched and strengthened his
people.
Homily
On the
Kingdom not of this world
My
Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).
He who
has great wealth also has little wealth. Therefore, let no one think
that Christ the Lord does not have royal authority over this world,
even though He told Pilate: My Kingdom is not of this world. He
who possesses the eternal also rules over the temporal. Here, the Lord
speaks of His Eternal Kingdom, independent of time, decay, injustice,
illusion and death. It is as if someone were to say: "My wealth
is not in paper but rather in gold." If he has gold, can he not
afford paper? Is not gold worth more than paper? Therefore, the Lord
does not tell Pilate that He is a king, but on the contrary says that
He is a higher King than all earthly kings, and that His Kingdom is
greater, more powerful and more enduring than all earthly kingdoms. He
is indicating His principal Kingdom, upon which all earthly kingdoms
depend, in time and in space. My Kingdom is not of this world.
This does not mean that He has no power over this world, but on the
contrary confirms His awesome power over this world. All His works on
earth manifest His unparalleled, lordly power over the world. Tell me,
in what other king's presence is the wind quieted and the sea calmed?
And have you forgotten His words in Gethsemane? Thinkest thou that
I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give Me more
than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53). And just one angel
has greater power than all the universe! The Lord of the soul is also
the Lord of the body. The Lord of eternity is also the Lord of time.
The Lord of the greatest good is also the Lord of the lesser good.
Brethren, nothing can escape the power of the Almighty Jesus Christ
our Lord, Who by His own will suffered for us, and by His own power
rose from the grave.
O Lord
Jesus Christ, our Almighty Savior, help us to seek Thy Heavenly
Kingdom, and to be eternally with Thee where there is neither sin nor
death, but life and joy and peace.
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