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St. Nina (Nino) the Equal-to-the-Apostles, and Enlightener of Georgia

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St. Nina (Nino) the Equal-to-the-Apostles, and Enlightener of Georgia - Commemorated on January 14 (source)
 
The virgin Nino of Cappadocia was a relative of Great-martyr George and the only daughter of a widely respected and honorable couple. Her father was a Roman army chief by the name of Zabulon, and her mother, Sosana, was the sister of Patriarch Juvenal of Jerusalem. When Nino reached the age of twelve, her parents sold all their possessions and moved to Jerusalem. Soon after, Nino’s father was tonsured a monk. He bid farewell to his family and went to labor in the wilderness of the Jordan. 



Two Saints and Kinsmen: St. George the Trophy-bearer, and St. Nino the Equal-to-the-Apostles (source)
 
After Sosana had been separated from her husband, Patriarch Juvenal ordained her a deaconess. She left her daughter Nino in the care of an old woman, Sara Niaphor, who raised her in the Christian Faith and related to her the stories of Christ’s life and His suffering on earth. It was from Sara that Nino learned how Christ’s Robe had arrived in Georgia, a country of pagans. 



St. Nina of Georgia and her holy parents(source)
 
Soon Nino began to pray fervently to the Theotokos, asking for her blessing to travel to Georgia and be made worthy to venerate the Sacred Robe that she had woven for her beloved Son. The Most Holy Virgin heard her prayers and appeared to Nino in a dream, saying, “Go to the country that was assigned to me by lot and preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will send down His grace upon you and I will be your protector.” 



St. Nino of Georgia(source)
 
But the blessed Nino was overwhelmed at the thought of such a great responsibility and answered, “How can I, a fragile woman, perform such a momentous task, and how can I believe that this vision is real?” In response, the Most Holy Theotokos presented her with a cross of grapevines and proclaimed, “Receive this cross as a shield against visible and invisible enemies!” 



The Theotokos appearing to St. Nina and giving her the Holy Cross(source)
 
When she awoke, Nino was holding the cross in her hands. She dampened it with tears of rejoicing and tied it securely with strands of her own hair. (According to another source, the Theotokos bound the grapevine cross with strands of her own hair.) 



The Holy Cross of St. Nina of Georgia(source)
 
Nino related the vision to her uncle, Patriarch Juvenal, and revealed to him her desire to preach the Gospel in Georgia. Juvenal led her in front of the Royal Doors, laid his hands on her, and prayed, “O Lord, God of Eternity, I beseech Thee on behalf of my orphaned niece: Grant that, according to Thy will, she may go to preach and proclaim Thy Holy Resurrection. O Christ God, be Thou to her a guide, a refuge, and a spiritual father. And as Thou didst enlighten the Apostles and all those who feared Thy name, do Thou also enlighten her with the wisdom to proclaim Thy glad tidings.”

When Nino arrived in Rome, she met and baptized the princess Rhipsimia and her nurse, Gaiana. At that time the Roman emperor was Diocletian, a ruler infamous for persecuting Christians. Diocletian (284–305) fell in love with Rhipsimia and resolved to marry her, but St. Nino, Rhipsimia, Gaiana, and fifty other virgins escaped to Armenia. The furious Diocletian ordered his soldiers to follow them and sent a messenger to Tiridates, the Armenian king (286–344), to put him on guard.

King Tiridates located the women and, following Diocletian’s example, was charmed by Rhipsimia’s beauty and resolved to marry her. But St. Rhipsimia would not consent to wed him, and in his rage the king had her tortured to death with Gaiana and the fifty other virgins. St. Nino, however, was being prepared for a different, greater task, and she succeeded in escaping King Tiridates’ persecutions by hiding among some rose bushes. 



St. Nina of Georgia(source)
 
When she finally arrived in Georgia, St. Nino was greeted by a group of Mtskhetan shepherds near Lake Paravani, and she received a blessing from God to preach to the pagans of this region.

With the help of her acquaintances St. Nino soon reached the city of Urbnisi. She remained there a month, then traveled to Mtskheta with a group of Georgians who were making a pilgrimage to venerate the pagan idol Armazi. There she watched with great sadness as the Georgian people trembled before the idols. She was exceedingly sorrowful and prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, send down Thy mercy upon this nation …that all nations may glorify Thee alone, the One True God, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ.” 



St. Nina of Georgia(source)
 
Suddenly a violent wind began to blow and hail fell from the sky, shattering the pagan statues. The terrified worshipers fled, scattering across the city.

St. Nino made her home beneath a bramble bush in the garden of the king, with the family of the royal gardener. The gardener and his wife were childless, but through St. Nino’s prayers God granted them a child. The couple rejoiced exceedingly, declared Christ to be the True God, and became disciples of St. Nino. Wherever St. Nino went, those who heard her preach converted to the Christian Faith in great numbers. St. Nino even healed the terminally ill Queen Nana after she declared Christ to be the True God. 




Sts. Mirian and Nana(source)
 
King Mirian, a pagan, was not at all pleased with the great impression St. Nino’s preaching had made on the Georgian nation. One day while he was out hunting, he resolved to kill all those who followed Christ.

According to his wicked scheme, even his wife, Queen Nana, would face death for failing to renounce the Christian Faith. But in the midst of the hunt, it suddenly became very dark. All alone, King Mirian became greatly afraid and prayed in vain for the help of the pagan gods. When his prayers went unanswered, he finally lost hope and, miraculously, he turned to Christ: “God of Nino, illumine this night for me and guide my footsteps, and I will declare Thy Holy Name. I will erect a cross and venerate it and I will construct for Thee a temple. I vow to be obedient to Nino and to the Faith of the Roman people!” 



The well in which were baptized Sts. Mirian and Nana(source)
 
Suddenly the night was transfigured, the sun shone radiantly, and King Mirian gave great thanks to the Creator. When he returned to the city, he immediately informed St. Nino of his decision. As a result of the unceasing labors of Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino, Georgia was established as a nation solidly rooted in the Christian Faith. 

   
The tomb of St. Nina of Georgia(source)
 
St. Nino reposed in the village of Bodbe in eastern Georgia and, according to her will, she was buried in the place where she took her last breath. King Mirian later erected a church in honor of St. George over her grave.



(http://oca.org/FSlives.asp?SID=4)
 
St. Nino of Georgia(source)
 

Troparion (Tone 4)
O handmaid of the Word of God, who in preaching hast equaled the first-called Apostle Andrew, and hast emulated the other Apostles; O enlightener of Iberia and reed-pipe of the Holy Spirit, Holy Nino, equal to the Apostles: Pray to Christ God to save our souls

 
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"I am Raphael...Remember it, for sometime you will need me"

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St. Raphael of Lesvos, the Newly-revealed Hieromartyr and Wonderworker (source)
   
"I am Raphael..." (amateur translation)
I share, with great moving feelings and longing, after a whole 18 years, to my Christian brethren, the great miracle which St. Raphael worked for my family.

After our marriage, we had three sons. Our third son was born premature, in October 1994, at 30 weeks of pregnancy. He remained for a period of time in the incubator, during which he was able to withstand, and grow like a normal child.We rejoiced, and there was nothing to cast a shadow on our happiness.

Like every summer, the summer of 1994 (18 years ago), we spent our vacation at our home on the island. One day at noon, having paged through a weekly periodical and solved crossword puzzles, I fell asleep. Then I saw a strange dream: A monk with a dark gray robe, with a sharp and well-defined beard, of medium height, stood straight amid sparse vegetation and short trees.

“I am Raphael,” he told me, and he pointed with his hand at a rocky cave near him, as he continued: “Here is my home. Remember it, for sometime you will need me. Remember my name!”

I awoke.

“Raphael,” I thought, “I don't know any Saint named Raphael.” Not wishing to forget my name, I wrote it down on the periodical which I was reading before I went to sleep. Later, I continued my mid-day sleep, not knowing what a great role this dream would play a few days later.

When I awoke, I asked my mother if she knew of some Saint with that name. “No” was her response.

The days passed and our vacation came to an end. We returned to our home in Nea Makri. Everything returned to its daily pace. One day, straightaway my small son (who was 9 months at the time) was playing in his play pen, when he fell on the side, between his toys. He looked as if he were dying. He was dark, and covered with sweat, and his stomach was moving in and out like a baby bird on its last breath. Immediately, we took him to the hospital, where the doctors diagnosed unconsciousness. Most likely, they said, some small toy was in his mouth, and for awhile, it blocked his breathing. Nothing significant. Thus we returned home. However, the same day, he experienced the same event for a second and third and fourth times. At that point, we took him to the children's hospital. The doctors, after many tests, diagnosed him with some problem in his brain. A problem that would follow him for the rest of his life.

Above medical diagnosis, however, and beyond medical therapy, stands our religion with her Saints. Thus, amidst our worry and distress, when I though that my life turned black, and that the joy from my family would be lost forever, the door to the department opened, and an old woman entered, selling icons of Saints for her living. In her large back, my eyes happened to fall on one icon. It was of St. Raphael.

“Take the icon, my child.”

Then I remembered the dream that I had seen. That same day, I called a pediatrician relative of ours, who told me: “Where we physicians stop, the Saints continue. Tomorrow, my mother-in-law will complete a vow of hers to St. Raphael in Mytilene, and will light a candle for the child.”

Then I understood that I was not alone and helpless as I had thought. And the miracle did not wait, for St. Raphael led me to him through these two events, bringing to mind my dream. Therefore, day and night I entreated St. Raphael to heal my child: “O my Saint Raphael, pray for us, help us, do not leave us without help in bearing this Cross.”

Later, I was thinking that temptations are for all men... “You know, O Saint Raphael, you will lead us. If you think that this is the will of our God, help us to think that our Cross is lighter.”

Days passed. The doctors came to their conclusions. These events in my child seemed epileptic. The medical treatment that they came my child was treatment for epilepsy. However, Saint Raphael had worked his miracle, for amidst epilepsy, the new tests did not show anything wrong with my child's brain, that he was not in any danger.

Several days later, we visited Panagia of Tinos, in order to light a candle for the health of the child, and to thank her for the great gift that she gave us through her intercessions. On the road to this pilgrimage, a small boy came up to us.

“Do you know what my name is?” he asked.

“What's your name, my boy?”

“Raphael, ma'am.” And he disappeared into the crowd. He disappeared like an angel. I could not understand this. However, to me, at that instant, he appeared like an angel of the Lord, saying: “Saint Raphael is the one who saved your child. You should thank him.” And in reality, St. Raphael worked a great miracle for us. The months passed, and all of the medical tests all diverged, and even more than before, my child continued to grow without any problem with his health at all.

We thank St. Raphael, who made us strong like iron. And all these years, we would visit every church that treasured Holy Relics of the Saint to venerate. 18 whole years have passed. One day, we saw a sign on the street, calling the faithful to the feast of St. Raphael in Ano Souli of Marathon. Who would have thought that the Saint who had brought joy again to our home, was so near our home for all these years. My greater astonishment was when I visited the Monastery of St. Raphael in Ano Souli, I saw the place that St. Raphael was indicating in my dream 18 years before, when he told me: “This is my home.”

May his name be glorified, who made me worthy, after so many years, to be found at “his home”, and to venerate his grace! May the whole world have his protection!

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Selected hymns to St. Anthony the Great

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St. Anthony the Great (source)
 
Selected hymns to St. Anthony the Great
   

Stichera in Tone 4. Called from on high.
You were enlightened by the rays of the Spirit when love inspired by God set you aflame and gave wings to your soul to long for the true highest point of love. Then you despised both flesh and blood and, united to this love by great ascetic toil and stillness, you lived far from the world. Therefore, Antony, you were filled, as you had sought, with good things from there, and, like a shining Star, gave light to our souls.

By the grace of God’s Spirit you smashed the arrows and darts of the demons, and you unmasked their wickedness and ambush for all by godlike teachings, as you blazed with godlike radiance and became the brightest beacon of monastics, and the first ornament of the desert, most experienced and revered physician of the sick and archetypal model of virtuous living, Father Antony.

          

Filled with God’s gifts of grace, Christ, having found you as an unsullied mirror of the manifestations of God, made the bright lightning flashes of his own light blaze for you. From this you appeared as an unstinted source of healings, nourishment for the starving and quenching through abundant rains the desire of the thirsty, while seeing the dispositions of souls, by your word you wisely made them better for God. Implore him to save and enlighten our souls.

   
Pure in soul and heart, an Angel on earth, a heavenly mortal, teacher of virginity, accurate measure of self-mastery, blessed Antony, united to your Master and bringing to him with the Angels, all the holy Ascetics and Martyrs the never silent hymn of glory, free from dread dangers and faults all those who ever celebrate your sacred memory.
   
GloryTone 6. By Sykeotes.

Having preserved unblemished that which is according to God’s image, by ascetic endeavour determining the mind as leader against destructive passions, you ascended as far as possible to that which is according to God’s likeness. For bravely overmastering nature, you hastened to submit the worse to the better, and to make the flesh the slave of the spirit. Therefore you were named ‘summit of monastics’, ‘founder of the desert’, ‘trainer of those who run well’, ‘most accurate rule of virtue’, and now in heaven, Antony, where mirrors are abolished, you look directly at the holy Trinity, appealing with no intermediary on behalf of those who honour you with faith and love.
   
St. Anthony the Great (source)
   
Apolytikion in the First Tone
Imitating the manners of Elijah the Zealot, and following the straight paths of John the Baptist, O Father Anthony, you colonized the desert, and you supported the Empire by your prayers. Therefore intercede with Christ our God to save our souls.
   
Kontakion
You retreated from the tumult of daily life and led your life in stillness, imitating John the Baptist in every way. We honor you and him together, most holy Father of Fathers, Saint Anthony.
   
Oikos
Heeding the voice of the Lord, you followed after His commandments. You stripped off the worldly life, and rid your- self of all concern for money, property, and servants, and even the love of your sister, O God-bearer Anthony. Then you most clearly conversed with God alone, and you received the grace of spiritual knowledge. Send me this knowledge, as I am about to sing your praise, most holy Father of Fathers, Saint Anthony.
   
Doxastikon of the Praises
You boarded a chariot that rode the heavens, and by ascetic endeavor you reached the pinnacle of the virtues, O God-inspired Saint. And coming from the desert, you reached the transcendent destination of the Jerusalem on high. You worthily received the honors for your laborious efforts, and you rejoice together with the celestial hierarchies, O all-blessed one, as an heir to eternal blessings and a resident of the Kingdom. We pray you, O God-bearing Father Anthony, to intercede with the Savior of all, that He grant peace to the world and that He save our souls.
   
St. Anthony the Great(source)
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Elder Paisios: "Abortions are a terrible sin"

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An instructive image: Christ, the Most-holy Theotokos and St. Stylianos blessing and protecting those who carry the blessed Cross of family life in Christ. A repentant woman wails of her sin of abortion. To the right, the New Herod of Abortion is depicted personified, with the physician helping her, and women bringing them their babes out of love of pleasure, hardness of heart, indifference, etc. (source)
 
Note: Here Elder Paisios, with the divine illumination that he has, shares what a terrible sin and blight upon the entire world the sin of abortion is. He (and I) are not using this as a ruse to support any specific political candidate or party. And the Elder would never support those who would use violence to make a statement against abortion providers or patients. But may his words grant us all the contrition to realize how great a sin abortion is, and how we might all return to Christ in repentance, acknowledging the sacred image of God that is every human being, even from our mother's womb.
 
Elder Paisios: "Abortions are a terrible sin" (amateur translation)
-Elder, one forty year-old woman, who has grown children, is three months pregnant. Her husband threatened that, if she does not have an abortion, he would leave her.

If she has an abortion, her other children would pay with sicknesses and accidents. Today, parents kill their children with abortions and do not have the blessing from God. In olden times, if a small child was born sick, they would baptize him, and he would die like an angel, and was more secured.

Parents had other older children, but they also had the blessing of God. Today, they kill their older children through abortions, as they strive to keep them alive while they are sick. Parents run to England, to America to heal them. And they continue to bear children even more sick, because they, if they sought to make a family, they could again give birth to sick children, at which point, what would happen? If they bore a few children, they would not run so much for the one who is sick. He would die and go forth as a little angel.

-Elder, I read once that every year, in total there are 50 million abortions and 200,000 women die from complications.

They kill the children because they say that, if the population would increase, there would not be enough to eat, in order for humanity to be preserved. There are so many uncultivated areas, so many woods, so that, with today's tools, for example, they could plant olive groves to give to the poor. It's not that they would cut the trees and there would be no Oxygen, because there would be trees to replace them.

In America, the wheat burns, and here in Greece, the fruit falls into the rubbish heap, etc. while in Africa, the people are dying from hunger. When people were dying from hunger in Abyssinia, because they had a great drought, I told a well-known ship-owner friend to help in these circumstances, to go to the rubbish dump and to load up a boat to take [the surplus foodstuffs] there for free. They didn't allow him to do this under any circumstance.

-How many thousands of embryos are killed every day!

Abortion is a terrible sin. It is murder, and of course a very great murder, to kill unbaptized children. Parents must understand that life begins from the instant of conception.

One night, God allowed me to see a terrible vision, to inform me regarding this matter! It was the evening of the Tuesday of Bright Week 1984. I had lit two candles in two tin cans, as I always do even while asleep, for all those who suffer spiritually or bodily. To those I include the living and the reposed. At midnight, as I was saying the [Jesus] Prayer, I saw a great field surrounded by a fence, studded by wheat that had just begun to grow. I stood outside the field, and I lit candles for the reposed and placed them on the wall of the fence.

To the left there was a dry place, full of rocks and cliffs, which was shaking continuously from a very strong cry from thousands of voices that break your heart and make you shudder. And even the toughest man, if he would hear it, would be unable to remain unmoved. As I was experiencing these heartbreaking cries, I asked within where these voiced were coming from, and what was happening with all that I saw, and I heard a voice tell me: “The field studded with wheat that has just sprouted, is the Cemetery with the souls of the dead that would be raised. At the place which was shaking from the heartbreaking cries are found the souls of children who were killed through abortions!”

Following this vision, I was unable to rest from the great pain that I experienced for the souls of the children. I could neither lie down to rest, though I had been busy that whole day.

-Elder, can something be done to remove the law regarding abortions?

Yes, but the Nation, the Church, etc. must be moved to inform the people about the consequences of declining birth rates. The Priest should explain to the world that the law regarding abortions is against the commandments of the Gospel. Doctors, from their own positions, should speak of the risks that follow the woman who has an abortion. See, the Europeans had royalty, and left this as an inheritance for their children. We had the fear of God, but we lost it and did not leave an inheritance for the next generation, and for this we legalize abortions, political marriage, [etc.]...When a man disobeys one commandment of the Gospel, he alone is responsible. When, however, something that clashes with the commandments of the Gospel becomes the law of the land, then the wrath of God falls upon the whole nation, that it may be chastened.
   
Christ blessing the children: "Let the children come to me, and do not forbid them, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven..." (source)
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Makarios the Great on Christians and the World

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St. Makarios the Great(source)
 
St. Makarios the Great on Christians and the World (from HOMILY 4)
 1. THE world of Christians, and their way of life, and their mind, and discourse, and practice, is one thing; and that of the men of this world, another. And the difference between them is very wide. For the children of this world are tossed to and fro by unsettled seasonings, by earthly desires, and a variety of gross imaginations, whereby SATAN is continually sifting the whole sinful race of men.
2. For the word that was spoken to Cain by his Maker, “You shall go mourning and trembling, and be tossed about upon' the earth," is a type and image of all sinners, as to their inward state. For thus is the race of Adam tossed about with the incessant suggestions of fear and dread, and every kind of disturbance, the prince of this world tossing to and fro the soul that is not born of God; and variously disturbing the thoughts of mankind, as corn that is continually shifted about in a sieve; and shaking and ensnaring them all in worldly deceits, and the lusts of the flesh, with fears and troubles.
3. As from one Adam the whole race of mankind was spread over the earth,-so one taint in the affections was derived down into the sinful stock of men; and the prince of malice is sufficiently able to shift them all in restless, and gross, and vain, and troublesome reflections. For as one and the same wind is enough to stir, and shake all plants and seeds whatever,-so the prince of wickedness, as an hidden and blustering wind, tosseth to and fro all the race of men upon earth, and, carries them about with unsettled thoughts, and enticing them with the lusts of the world, fills every soul with ignorance, blindness, and oblivion, if it is not born from above.
4. For in this do true Christians differ from the whole race of mankind besides. They have their heart and mind constantly taken up with the thoughts of heaven; and, through the presence and participation of the Holy Spirit, do behold, as in a glass, the good things which are eternal, being born of GOD from above, and thought worthy to become the children of GOD in truth and power; and being arrived, through many conflicts and labors, to a settled and fixed state, to an exemption from trouble, to perfect rest, are never sifted more by unsettled and vain thoughts.Herein are they greater and better than the world; their mind and the desire of their soul are in the peace of CHRIST, and the love of the Spirit; a they have passed from death to life." Wherefore the alteration peculiar to Christians does not consist in any outward fashions, but in the renovation of the mind, and the peace of the thoughts, and the love of the Lord, even the heavenly love. Herein Christians differ from all men besides. The Lord has given them truly to believe on him, and to be worthy of those spiritual good things. For the glory, and the beauty, and the heavenly riches of Christians are inexpressible, and purchased only with labor, and pains, and trials, and many conflicts. But the whole is owing to the grace of God.

 5. Now if the sight of. even an earthly king is desired by all men, (except those persons that are spiritual, who look upon all his glory as nothing, through their having experimentally known another heavenly glory;) if, I say, the men of this world are so desirous to behold an earthly king, with his splendor and glory-how much more are those upon whom that dew of the Spirit of life has dropped, and wounded their hearts with love for CHRIST; bound fast to that beauty, and the unspeakable glory, and the inconceivable riches of the true and eternal King; with desire and long- suffering after whom they are captivated, turning wholly to him, to obtain those unspeakable good things, which through the Spirit they actually behold already; and for whose sake they esteem all the glories, and honors, and riches of earthly kings as nothing? 
6. For they arc wounded with the Divine beauty; their desire is towards the heavenly King; and placing him only before their eyes in the abundance of their affection, they, for his sake, disengage themselves from all love of the world, and draw back from every earthly clog, that so they may be able ever to retain in their hearts that only desire. And they that are Christians in truth and power, rejoice at their departure out of the flesh, because they have " that house which is not made with hands." And therefore, if the house of the body be destroyed, they are in no fear; for they have the heavenly "house of the Spirit," and that "glory which is incorruptible." 
7. Let us therefore strive by faith to be possessed of that clothing, that when we resume the body, there be nothing wanting which may glorify our flesh in that day. For every one, so far as he has been thought worthy by faith to be made partaker of the Holy Spirit, in the same proportion shall his body also be glorified in that day. For that which the soul has treasured up within, in this present life, shall then be made manifest outwardly in the body.
8. For as the trees that have got over the winter do, by an invisible power, put forth from within, and shoot out leaves., and flowers, and fruits, as their clothing.and in like manner, as the flowers of the grass come out of the bosom of the earth, and the earth is covered and clothed-so, in the, day of the resurrection, and through the power of the a Sun of Righteousness," there shooteth out from within the glory of the Holy Spirit, covering the bodies of the saints, which glory they had before, within hidden in their souls. For whatever (the soul) has at present, the same comes forth at that time outwardly in the body.
9. Therefore ought every -one of us to strive, and be diligent in all virtue, and to believe and to seek it of the Lord; that the inward man may be made partaker of that glory in this present life, and have that holiness of the Spirit, that we may have at the resurrection wherewith to cover our naked bodies, and refresh us to all eternity in the kingdom of heaven. For CHRIST will come down from heaven, and raise to life all the kindred of Adam that have slept from the beginning of the world and he shall separate them all into two divisions; and them that have his own mark, that is, the seal of the Spirit, he shall place on his right hand. And then shall the bodies of these -be surrounded with a Divine glory from their good works, and themselves shall be full of the glory of the Spirit, which they had in their souls in this present life. So that, being thus glorified in the Divine light, and snatched away to " meet the Lord in the air, we," as it is- written, "shall ever be with the Lord," reigning with him world without end. Amen.
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Silouan the Athonite: "The best church of God..."

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Icon of Christ: "Angel of Silence"(source)
 
St. Silouan the Athonite: "The best church of God..."
In churches are served the holy services, and the spirit of God dwell within them. The soul, however, is the best church of God, and whoever prayers internally, for him the whole world has become a church of God.

This, however, is not for everyone. Many pray externally, or prefer to pray with books. This is also good, and the Lord accepts their prayer.

If someone, however, prays, but thinks about other things, the Lord does not hearken to his prayer.
(source)
 
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Isaac the Syrian, Bishop of Ninevah and Great Hesychast

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St. Isaac the Syrian, Bishop of Ninevah and Great Hesychast - Commemorated on January 28 and September 28 (source)
   
Saint Isaac the Syrian, Bishop of Ninevah, lived during the sixth century. He and his brother entered the monastery of Mar Matthew near Ninevah and received the monastic tonsure. His learning, virtue, and ascetic manner of life attracted the notice of the brethren, and they proposed that he head the monastery. St Issac did not want this burden, preferring a life of silence, so he left the monastery to live alone in the desert. 

His brother urged him more than once to return to the monastery, but he would not agree. However, when the fame of St Isaac's holy life had spread, he was made Bishop of Ninevah. Seeing the crude manners and disobedience of the inhabitants of the city, the saint felt that it was beyond his ability to guide them, and moreover, he yearned for solitude. 

Once, two Christians came to him, asking him to settle a dispute. One man acknowledged that he owed money to the other, but asked for a short extension. The lender threatened to bring his debtor to court to force him to pay. St Isaac, citing the Gospel, asked him to be merciful and give the debtor more time to pay. The man said, "Leave your Gospel out of this!" St Isaac replied, "If you will not submit to Lord's commandments in the Gospel, then what remains for me to do here?" After only five months as bishop, St Isaac resigned his office and went into the mountains to live with the hermits. Later, he went to the monastery of Rabban Shabur, where he lived until his death, attaining a high degree of spiritual perfection. 

From the early eighth century until the beginning of the eighteenth century, nothing was known about St Isaac of Syria in Europe except for his name and works. Only in 1719 was a biography of the saint published at Rome, compiled by an anonymous Arab author. In 1896, more information on St Isaac came to light. The learned French soteriologist Abbot Chabot published some eighth century works on Syrian history by Iezudena, bishop of Barsa, where the account of St Isaac the Syrian was found.
(source)
    
Sts. Ephraim and Isaac the Syrians(source)
   
Elder Paisios and St. Isaac
In the Greek Orthodox calendar there is no official feast day of St. Isaac the Syrian. Traditionally, however, he has been celebrated on January 28th together with the other great Syriac father of the Church, St. Ephraim the Syrian. The Slavic Churches celebrate St. Isaac officially on January 28th.

Not too many years ago Elder Paisios (+1993) sought to change this fact due to his great veneration for St. Isaac. He commissioned a Service to be written in his honor and chose to celebrate his feast on September 28th. The Service was written by the eminent hymnographer Fr. Gerasimos Mikragiannanites (+ 2002). Today the feast of St. Isaac is celebrated on Mount Athos on September 28th.

Furthermore, the first church dedicated to St. Isaac was built on Mount Athos, in the cell of a monk of the brotherhood of Elder Paisios in Kapsala.

Elder Paisios, who would read the Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac beneath the icon of the Saint, would say of St. Isaac: "If anyone went to a psychiatric hospital and read to the patients Abba Isaac, all those who believed in God would get well, because they would recognize the deeper meaning of life."

He also said:

"First you must read the GerontikonPhilotheos History, and Evergetinos. All these books are practical not theoretical. Their simple patristic spirit and holiness will help you remove secular logic from your mind. Next, you should read Abba Isaac, and this way you will not see him as a philosopher, but as a man illumined by God."

It should also be noted that before the establishment of September 28th as the feast of St. Isaac by Elder Paisios, when he heard rumors that scholars accused St. Isaac of being a Nestorian, he prayed about this situation. Through divine revelation it was revealed to him that in fact St. Isaac was Orthodox and he wrote in his Menaion for January 28th the following words after the description of the feast of St. Ephraim the Syrian: "...and Isaac the Great Hesychast and much unjustly accused."

Below is the text of the Service in honor of St. Isaac commissioned by Elder Paisios. It is distributed by the Kalyva of the Resurrection of Christ in Kapsala on Mount Athos, where lived Fr. Isaac of Lebanon, a spiritual child of Elder Paisios. His ascetical tradition is maintained by Fr. Euthymios and his brotherhood.

(source)
   
St. Isaac the Syrian(source)
   
Selected quotes of St. Isaac the Syrian

  • What salt is for any food, humility is for every virtue. To acquire it, a man must always think of himself with contrition, self-belittlement and painful salf-judgment. But if we acquire it, it will make us sons of God.
  • Let us love silence till the world is made to die in our hearts. Let us always remember death, and in this thought draw near to God in our heart--and the pleasures of this world will have our scorn.
  •  Walk before God in simplicity, and not in subtleties of the mind. Simplicity brings faith; but subtle and intricate speculations bring conceit; and conceit brings withdrawal from God.
  • As a man whose head is under water cannot inhale pure air, so a man whose thoughts are plunged into the cares of this world cannot absorb the sensations of that new world.
  • It is a spiritual gift from God for a man to perceive his sins.
  • Ease and idleness are the destruction of the soul and they can injure her more than the demons.
  • The purpose of the advent of the Saviour, when He gave us His life-giving commandments as purifying remedies in our passionate state, was to cleanse the soul from the damage done by the first transgression and bring it back to its original state. What medicines are for a sick body, that the commandments are for the passionate soul.
  • A life of spiritual endeavor is the mother of sanctity; from it is born the first experience of perception of the mysteries of Christ--which is called the first stage of spiritual knowledge.
  • To bear a grudge and pray, means to sow seed on the sea and expect a harvest.
  • A small but persistent discipline is a great force; for a soft drop tailing persistently, hollows out hard rock.
  • The key to Divine gifts is given to the heart by love of neighbor, and, in proportion to the heart's freedom from the bonds of the flesh, the door of knowledge begins to open before it.
  • Dispassion does not mean that a man feels no passions, but that he does not accept any of them.
  • This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits.

   
Note: the full Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian has recently been republished in English by the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline, MA.
   
St. Isaac the Syrian(source)
   


Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone
He that thundered on Sinai with saving laws for man hath also given thy writings as guides in prayer unto monks, O revealer of unfathomable mysteries; for having gone up in the mount of the vision of the Lord, thou wast shown the many mansions. Wherefore, O God-bearing Isaac, entreat the Saviour for all praising thee.
   
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
As an ascetic and God-bearer great in righteousness and an instructor of monastics do we honour thee, thou revealer of things sacred, and our protector. But, O Isaac, since thou hast great boldness with the Lord, intercede with Him for all of us who sing thy praise and who cry to thee: Rejoice, O Father most wise in God.
 © Holy Transfiguration Monastery (source)
   
Oikos (amateur translation below)
An Angel in asceticism, in the flesh, you were shown to be, O all-blessed God-bearer Isaac, and through your angelic voice, you imparted to us words of salvation, and we who are led towards the life to come, cry out to you:
Hail, the star from Syria,
Hail, the lamp of hesychia.
Hail, you who overcame daily cares,
Hail, partaker of heavenly illumination.
Hail, God-inscribed pillar of holy Hesychasts,
Hail, sweet-flowing mouth of spiritual teachings.
Hail, for you were filled with God-given wisdom,
Hail, for you deliver from evil passions.
Hail, most-fervent healer of Christ,
Hail, our godly teacher.
Hail, O wise God-bearer Isaac,
Hail, our godly guide.
Hail, O Father most wise in God.

Synaxarion
On the 28th of this month (September), we keep the memory of our Righteous and God-bearing Father Isaac the Syrian, who was the Bishop of the city of Ninevah.
   
Verses
There is need to praise Isaac the Venerable,
For through him, we bring to mind the things to come.
On the 28th, I behold the imperishable boast that is Isaac.
   
Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Second Tone
The equal to the angels in asceticism, and divine-appearing in virtues, Isaac the godly-minded one, let us praise with hymns and odes, for rising as a phoenix, being watered through streams of tears, he brought forth fruit through the activity of the Spirit for the Church of Christ. And he intercedes ceaselessly to Christ, the Giver-of-Light, that we be granted mercy, and the remission of offenses.
   
Doxastikon of the Praises in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
The fear of things to come ordered your life, and you abandoned corrupting notions from your soul, O Venerable one, through much hesychia and continence and nepsis, you inscribed upon your nous the ascetical way of life, and from the treasure of your heart, you bestow upon all saving teachings. And therefore, our Father Isaac, as you stand before the Three-sun light [of the Holy Trinity], deliver us from the darkness of passions.
   
Megalynarion
Hail, O divine canon of hesychia, hail, O wise teacher of monastics, hail, you who offer the grace of your word to everyone, O venerable Isaac.
(source)

   
St. Isaac the Syrian, his scroll reading: "Above all, love silence..."(source)
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Romanos on Christ as the True Physician

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The following is an excerpt from the famed Kontakion of St. Romanos the Melodist "On the Passion and the Mourning of the Theotokos", the first two strophes of which form the Kontakion and Oikos of the Orthros of Holy Friday. The full Greek text is available here, and the full English translation is available from Fr. Ephraim Lash here. Below is my amateur translation.

In the 13th strophe, St. Romanos, in an absolutely beautiful and fascinating metaphor, compares Christ and the instruments of His Passion to a physician with his medical tools. This is a vivid image of  how Christ's passion truly is healing for our broken souls and bodies. May He have mercy on us all and save us!
   
Jesus Christ "Extreme Humility", with the Most-holy Theotokos(Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)
   
ιγ´
Μικρὸν οὖν, ὦ μῆτερ, ἀνασχοῦ καὶ βλέπεις, 
πῶς καθάπερ ἰατρὸς ἀποδύομαι καὶ φθάνω 
ὅπου κεῖνται, 
καὶ ἐκείνων τὰς πληγὰς περιοδεύω, 
τέμνων ἐν τῇ λόγχῃ τὰ πωρώματα αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν σκληρίαν, 
λαμβάνω καὶ ὄξος, καὶ ἐπιστύφω τὴν πληγήν, 
τῇ σμίλῃ τῶν ἥλων ἀνευρύνας τὴν τομὴν χλαίνη μοτώσω, 
καὶ δὴ τὸν σταυρόν μου ὡς νάρθηκα ἔχων 
τούτῳ χρῶμαι, μῆτερ, ἵνα ψάλλῃς συνετῶς, 
«πάσχων πάθος ἔλυσεν 
ὁ υἱὸς καὶ θεός μου».

   

XIII.
A short time, O Mother, wait and you will see
How as a physician I strip myself and go
Where [the sick man] is laid,
And examine his wounds,
Lancing with the Spear his wounds and callouses,
And taking vinegar, I disinfect the wound,
Exploring the incision with the probe of the Nails,
Applying the [Purple] Robe as a dressing,
And having my Cross as a splint.
These I make use of, O Mother, that you might chant with understanding,
“By suffering the passion, You dissolved the passions,
My Son and my God.”
   
Christ as the Good Samaritan, 6th Century Codex Rossanensis(source)
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Anthimos of Chios on the Spiritual Father

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St. Anthimos of Chios (+1960)(source)


St. Anthimos of Chios on the Spiritual Father
   
1 January 1946

“Behold, I and the children God has given me”. I didn’t want to have children in the world by the flesh and God gave me you to have as my spiritual children. That saying comforts me and I imagine it brings you joy, too. I’ve got you as my children and you think of me as your spiritual father. 
The spiritual father is superior to the father after the flesh. Because if I see you dashing your foot against a rock, I’ll be worried; I’ll run and help. If I see you being dragged to court over some debt that you owe, I hurry along and pay it on your behalf. If I see people condemning you, swearing at you or slandering you, I’ll hasten to take your side and defend you.
If I see you’re sad and you’ve got no consolation anywhere, I’ll try my best to let a drop of my blood drip on you, if possible, to comfort you. If I see that you’re ill, I can’t help but provide you with some sort of assistance towards your treatment. Because my soul’s in pain; I can’t see you in need and be indifferent. Because I was given you by the Holy Spirit and I feel for you.
If you’re under the  sway of some demon, if you’re in danger from the passions, if you’re troubled by one thing or another, I can’t rest. I try with all means possible to relieve you of that. I even give you remission of sins, so that you can go to heaven shriven. But everything depends on you.
Everything we’ve spoken about now, I’m willing to give you. You’ve known that for many years and you see it every day. But it depends on your own faith and reverence. It rests on the devotion and fervour you have towards me. You have to have the proportionate feelings towards me, to apply what is appropriate to your position, if I’m to supervise you and to act as your shepherd. Because it appears I’m an unworthy shepherd. I’m not worthy, I know, but I’m the one who’s here.
But a shepherd’s always wary. When he sees a wolf coming, he not only attempts to guard his sheep with all available means, but he also calls on others to help. The shepherd shouts, whistles, throws stones at the animals, which are incapable of reasoning. I do the same, sisters: at time times I shout, at others I berate you, and then again I get angry. Because I’m the shepherd of sheep who have the power to reason. But there shouldn’t be any need to be like that. Because the unreasoning animals have no reason. They don’t understand. But for those who have reason, one word from the shepherd and they should listen. But since, maybe because of interference from the demons, from bad habit, or disregard for the shepherd, they don’t listen with just one word, then everything that we’ve talked about has to be applied.
Merely the written word, the word of the Gospel is enough to teach a human flock and for me to protect it from that surreptitious wolf, the devil. But since we don’t listen to the word, I am unfortunate enough to have to fight, sometimes with shouting, sometimes with penances, at other times with comfort, all the time watching over you to see you don’t overstep your bounds.
Don’t be troubled, sisters, over what I’m telling you, but rather engrave it deeply in your hearts, because one day I’ll leave and you’ll need it. It’s my love that moves me to say these things to you. There’s this spiritual affection which I can’t express to you other than through what I’m telling you.
You have to listen to me. These paltry words of mine are my testament and you must guard them.
I didn’t come here to lie down on soft mattresses and rest to my heart’s content; I came to fall into humility. I didn’t come here for glory and honour and for you to call me “Sir”; I came to be cursed, to be hungry, thirsty, to labour, to toil to be mocked, to be trampled upon for the love of Christ. I’m no “Sir”. The Mother of God and her Son are the Lady and Lord. I’m your servant. I’ve served you so many years. I’m a slave of yours; I don’t even want to be called “Elder”. I don’t like and I don’t want it but it’s to your own credit that you honour me so.
Source: Αγίου Ανθίμου της Χίου, Διδαχές Πνευματικές – Άρτος Ζωής, Edited by Antonios N. Kharokopos, vol. II, Holy Monastery of Our Lady of Help, Chios, Athens 2001. (source)
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Peter of Damascus on Love

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Panagia Kardiotissa ("Lady of the Heart") - 15th Century icon written by Angelos Akotantos(source)
 
St. Peter of Damascus on Love

To speak of love is to dare to speak of God, for, according to St John the Theologian, ‘God is love, and he who dwells in love dwells in God’ [1 Jn 4.16]. And the astonishing thing is that this chief of all the virtues is a natural virtue. Thus, in the Law, it is given pride of place: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might’ [Deut 6.5]. When I heard the words ‘with all your soul’ I was astounded, and no longer needed to hear the rest. For ‘with all your soul’ means with the intelligent, incensive and desiring powers of the soul, because it is of those three powers that the soul is composed. Thus the intellect should think at all times about divine matters, while desire should long constantly and entirely, as the Law says, for God alone and never for anything else; and the incensive power should actively oppose only what obstructs this longing, and nothing else. St John, consequently, was right in saying that God is love. If God sees that, as He commanded, these three powers of the soul aspire to Him alone, then, since He is good, He will necessarily not only love that soul, but through the inspiration of the Spirit will dwell and move within it [cf 2Cor 6.16; Lev 26.12]; and the body, though reluctant and unwilling–for it lacks intelligence–will end by submitting to the intelligence, while the flesh will no longer rise in protest against the Spirit, as St Paul puts it [cf Gal 5.17].
Just as the sun and moon, at the command of God, travel through the heavens in order to light the world, even though they are soul-less, so the body, at the behest of the soul, will perform works of light. As the sun journeys each day from east to west, thus making one day, while when it disappears night comes, so each virture that a man practices illumines the soul, and when it disappears passion and darkness come until he again acquires that virtue, and light in this way returns to him. As the sun rises in the furthest east and slowly shifts its rays until it reaches the other extreme, thus forming time, so a man slowly grows from the moment he first begins to practice the virtues until he attains the state of dispassion. And just as the moon waxes and wanes every month, so with respect to each particular virtue a man waxes and wanes daily, until this virtue becomes established in him. At times, in accordance with God’s will, he is afflicted, at times he rejoices and gives thanks to God, unworthy as he is to acquire the virtues; and sometimes he is illumined, sometimes filled with darkness, until his course is finished.
All this happens to him by God’s providence: some things are sent to keep him from self-elation, and others to keep him from despair. Just as in this present age the sun creates the solstices and the moon waxes and wanes, whereas in the age to come there will always be light for the righteous and darkness for those who, like me, alas, are sinners, so, before the attainment of perfect love and of vision in God, the soul in the present world has its solstices, and the intellect experiences darkness as well as virtue and spiritual knowledge, and this continues until, through the acquisition of that perfect love to which all our effort is directed, we are found worthy of performing the works that pertain to the world to be. For it is for love’s sake that he who is in a state of obedience obeys what is commanded; and it is for love’s sake that he who is rich and free sheds his possessions and becomes a servant, surrendering both what he has and himself to whoever wishes to possess them. He who fasts likewise does so for love’s sake, so that others may eat what he would otherwise have eaten. In short, every work rightly done is done out of love for God or for one’s neighbor. The things we have spoken of, and others like them, are done out of love for one’s neighbor, while vigils, psalmody and the like are done out of love for God. To Him be glory, honour and dominion through all the ages. Amen.
St Peter of Damaskos (eleventh or twelfth century), Discourse XV, Philokalia, Volume III. (Source)
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

The widow's offering

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Christ blessing the Widow's Mite(source)
   
The widow's offering

Emperor Nicephorus (Botaniates) of Constantinople reigned from 1078 until 1081. He had decided to build a cathedral that would be almost as grand as St. Sophia. When it was ready, the patriarch of Jerusalem, the patriarch of Alexandria as well as the patriarch of Constantinople were all invited to consecrate the beautiful new church built by the emperor. Announcements had been made about the consecration for several months in advance so that everyone would have time to travel to the great city of Constantinople; remember that during that time there were no cars, planes or trains. Everyone had to travel either in carts pulled by oxen, horses or donkeys, and those from great distances had to cross the sea in boats.
When Nicephorus’ cathedral was ready to be consecrated there were three patriarchs, forty metropolitans, and thousands of priests present, since this was an imperial cathedral. Thousands of carts and wagons converged on the city as the faithful came from all around. Everyone brought something for the new cathedral: rugs, barrels of wine, oil, flour, candles, etc. Each person wanted to offer something!
At that time there was a widow named Anastasia who lived in Constantinople. For fifty years she had lived faithfully, going to church regularly and praying to God. She lived on the edge of the city, right along the road on which all the carts and wagons of people had to travel to reach the new church. But Anastasia was very poor. Her house was a dilapidated shack, she had no money, no oil, no flour, nothing that she could offer to the new church. As she saw so many oxen pulling wagons of people toward the new church, she decided to give an armful of grass to the poor animals, since she did possess a small sickle and a pitchfork.
The widow was poor in material things, but very rich in faith! During the winter months she would spin flax and wool for the people of the town, and in the summer she would take her sickle and glean in the fields after the harvesters had left, then she would wrap the wheat in a rug and beat it to make a little flour for herself. Thus, little by little, she was able to provide herself with some flour for her own meager needs. That is how poor this widow, Anastasia, was!
Poor though she was, she had a very merciful heart! What went through her mind as she saw the oxen pulling such heavy loads of goods for the celebration of the new church?
-I don’t have any money, or rugs, or oil, nothing. But I can give the animals a little grass.
Still, she was afraid because she did not own land, so where would she get the grass without doing something wrong?
She took a big sack and went into a field where there was a kind of wild grass growing, called “couch-grass” (a perennial grass that many consider a weed, Ed). She cut a lot of this grass, being careful not to damage the other crops that were growing, and put it into her sack, saying to herself,
- I will give the oxen some grass, even if it is not from my own land.
She took a walking stick and set off with the sack of grass toward the area near the church where many people had gathered. She found a pair of oxen who had finished eating the little bit of feed that had been set out for them; they were looking about for more food, still hungry, but there was none that they could reach.
Anastasia opened her sack of grass and put it in front of the oxen, saying,
- Lord, accept this bit of grass, and forgive me, for I have nothing to bring to the church consecration, and even this is not from my own land!
She wept as she said these words; then when the oxen had finished eating, she also went to the church for the consecration.
She was astounded at what she saw in the church: so many people and such rich adornments for the new temple! The church was prepared like a bride for a wedding with all the embellishments ready for the consecration that was to take place the following day. Anastasia went to an icon in the rear of the church, where women generally would stand; there the poor old woman, her face wrinkled with age, an old scarf on her head, the poorest of sandals on her feet and wearing a raggedy dress, knelt and prayed to the Lord, saying,
- Lord, forgive me, for I have not brought any kind of offering for the church! I have nothing. The emperor is a king on earth and will be great in heaven, but I am so poor and have no money, nothing to offer.
And as she prayed, her tears dropped to the ground.
Then Emperor Nicephorus, with all his entourage and servants, came into the church. His chief minister, Peter was his name, pointed to the dedication plaque—since in churches and monasteries that are historical monuments there are dedication plaques over the doors—and drew the emperor’s attention to it. The plaque was made of marble and the golden inscription read “To the glory of the all holy Trinity of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, this holy church was built and provided for by me, the Emperor Nicephorus.” The emperor fully approved of the way the inscription had been executed, since he was the one who had ordered it.
Thus, the emperor, empress and a crowd of generals and other officials went into the church to see how it was prepared for the big event of consecration the following day. Everything was in order: beautiful frescoes on the walls, icons with golden risas, fine covers for the icon stands and curtains at the royal doors, gold-embroidered vestments, chandeliers, holy vessels for the altar, Gospel book, everything was in perfect order.
While the dignitaries were inspecting everything in the church, the elderly widow Anastasia, who had given an armful of grass to the oxen, was weeping before the icons in the rear of the church. As she prayed, the angel of the Lord changed the inscription on the dedication plaque. The inscription, even more beautifully executed now read, “To the glory of the all holy Trinity of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, this holy church was built and provided for by me, the widow Anastasia.”
The people in the rear of the church saw the inscription and froze with fear. Before they had clearly read the emperor’s name on the inscription. There were people all around, no scaffolding was in the church for someone to reach the plaque and change the writing; thus, no one could explain how this change had happened. The men read the inscription and began to talk among themselves.
- What! What does that say?
- What’s there?
- Look, it says that a widow built this church!
- But just a moment ago when the emperor came in, it had his name on it.
- What will the emperor say when he sees this?
Those present were afraid to tell the emperor, so they called the head minister, Peter, and showed the inscription to him. Peter read the inscription and said,
- But this is a miracle! It’s all right. I will tell the emperor!
The emperor listened to Peter. What a sight it was: the emperor and empress both had shining gold crowns on their heads and were dressed in all their royal garments, surrounded by soldiers.
- Your Majesty, come into the vestibule a moment.
The emperor came and looked at the plaque in amazement.
- But, when we came into the church, it was my inscription.
- I know that it was yours, Your Majesty. Everyone knows it was yours. But look at what is written there now!
- Oh! What a sinner I am! This is a great miracle! No one could have done this except God Himself! This is a wonderful miracle. I lost the church because I made it in my own pride. Now it has been given to a widow!
The emperor then called all his chief servants and told them,—This church is not to be consecrated until we find this widow! Once she is found, we will do the consecration in her name because she is greater before God than I am.
Then he gave the order to search throughout his entire empire for the widow Anastasia.
Now, it was God’s will to reveal this mystery quickly, and He did so through another widow who was about the same age as the blessed Anastasia. This woman was in the crowd, but was not aware that Anastasia was also there. In all the commotion that was going on in the rear of the church, she asked
- What is the matter?
When someone told her that they were looking for a widow by the name of Anastasia, she said,
- I know Anastasia. She lives at the edge of town.
- What! You know her! Come here to the emperor!
The old woman told the emperor where the widow Anastasia lived, and he then immediately sent servants to find her and bring her to the church.
Servants, riders and horses quickly headed off to the edge of Constantinople to find Anastasia and bring her to the emperor. When they reached the place that the old woman had told them, they found some children playing.
- Do you children know where an old woman by the name of Anastasia lives?
One of the older children pointed and said,
- Anastasia lives over there, near the garden.
The men went to the house in the untilled garden. What did they find at the widow Anastasia’s door? No lock. No bolts. No latch. When someone has nothing, they are not afraid of thieves. The door was held shut by a string tied onto a nail. It was obvious that the old woman was not home. The few belongings that she had were in plain sight, but there was nothing worth stealing. She had gone to the church for the consecration. The servants said to the children,
- The old woman, Anastasia, is not home.
- No. Anastasia left with an armful of grass to the farm market, the children answered, not knowing that she had gone to the church.
The generals and other men all returned to give their report to the emperor.
- Your Majesty, we went and found the small house on the edge of town. There were some children playing and they said that Anastasia is here, in this crowd, somewhere.
Someone who knew Anastasia heard this and said that she was in the church,
- She is praying to the Savior!
- If she is in church, tell her not to be afraid, since she has never met me, said the emperor. Send some elderly women to her to tell her that at the consecration of the church the emperor is going to make a gift of a cow to all the old women.
Following the emperor’s order, they found the elderly Anastasia and brought her before the emperor who said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Anastasia. You have been found worthy of a great blessing from God! What offering did you bring this morning for the consecration of the church?’
- I did not bring anything, Your Majesty, because I am so poor! She did not consider the armful of grass that she’d given the oxen as any kind of offering.
- ‘Please, think, dear Anastasia. You must have brought a great gift because my church has been given to you!’
- I didn’t bring any gift because I have no money. I have nothing! All I have is a sickle and a pitchfork. During the winter I spin wool for people, and in the summer I use the sickle to glean after the harvesters. I manage to get a little wheat from what I glean. Aside from that, I have nothing.
- This is an imperial church and I spent a fortune from my own gold and silver to build it; but look at the inscription that says it was made by Anastasia! What did you give to this church?
- I didn’t give anything except for an armful of grass to a yoke of oxen.
- Don’t be afraid, Anastasia. The inscription was done by God, not you. God Himself wrote that this church is yours!
And there it was on the inscription, To the glory of the all holy Trinity of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, this holy church was built and provided for by me, the widow Anastasia. The men had to read it to her, since she was illiterate.
- You see, dear woman, you say that you did not bring any thing, but remember that you did bring an armful of grass!
- I did bring that, but it was not a real offering from me since I cut it from someone else’s field.
- Look, Anastasia, your armful of grass was more precious than all the treasures that I gave. See, the angel of the Lord has put the church in your name and it will remain yours forever. We will consecrate the church with all these patriarchs, with all the pomp and celebration as we planned, but the church will be Anastasia’s forever. The church will be consecrated with your name since the angel has written that both in heaven and here.
The poor widow was astounded and exclaimed,
- What a miracle!
When the blessed Anastasia from Constantinople died, the emperor buried her in the holy altar, with an inscription above her tomb, Here, in the church that God miraculously gave her, is buried the widow Anastasia.
An armful of grass, given in the name of the Lord with humility and a sorrowful heart far surpasses all the wealth of the Emperor Nicephorus. That is what God desires!
St. Ephraim the Syrian says, God does not look upon the quantity of offerings that you make, but the heart with which you bring these offerings. However small your offering may be, give it with humility and a sorrowful heart that you cannot offer more. That is true almsgiving.
 Source: “Elder Cleopa of Sihastria: In the tradition of St. Paisius Velichkovsky,” by Ioanichie Balan.
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Vlasios (Blaise) the Hieromartyr of Sebaste

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St. Vlasios (Blaise) the Hieromartyr of Sebaste - Commemorated on February 11 (source)
 
The Hieromartyr Blaise (Blasius), Bishop of Sebaste, was known for his righteous and devout life. Unanimously chosen by the people, he was consecrated Bishop of Sebaste. This occurred during the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Licinius (307-324), fierce persecutors of Christians. St Blaise encouraged his flock, visited the imprisoned, and gave support to the martyrs.

Many hid themselves from the persecutors by going off to desolate and solitary places. St Blaise also hid himself away on Mount Argeos, where he lived in a cave. Wild beasts came up to him and meekly waited until the saint finished his prayer and blessed them. The saint also healed sick animals by laying his hands upon them.
   
St. Vlasios the Hieromartyr(source)
   
The refuge of the saint was discovered by servants of the governor Agrilaus, who had come to capture wild beasts to loose on the Christian martyrs. The servants reported to their master that Christians were hiding on the mountain, and he gave orders to arrest them. But those sent out found there only the Bishop of Sebaste. Glorifying God Who had summoned him to this exploit, St Blaise followed the soldiers.

Along the way the saint healed the sick and worked other miracles. Thus, a destitute widow complained to him of her misfortune. A wolf had carried off a small pig, her only possession. The bishop smiled and said to her, "Do not weep, your pig will be returned to you..." To the astonishment of everyone, the wolf came running back and returned his prey unharmed. 
   
St. Vlasios depicted as a protector of domestic animals (source)
 
Agrilaus, greeting the bishop with words of deceit, called him a companion of the gods. The saint answered the greeting, but he called the gods devils. Then they beat him and led him off to prison.

On the next day, they subjected the saint to tortures again. When they led him back to the prison, seven women followed behind and gathered up the drops of blood. They arrested them and tried to compel them to worship the idols. The women pretended to consent to this and said that first they needed to wash the idols in the waters of a lake. They took the idols and threw them in a very deep part of the lake, and after this the Christians were fiercely tortured. The saints stoically endured the torments, strengthened by the grace of God, their bodies were transformed and became white as snow. One of the women had two young sons, who implored their mother to help them attain the Kingdom of Heaven, and she entrusted them to the care of St Blaise. The seven holy women were beheaded.

St Blaise was again brought before Agrilaus, and again he unflinchingly confessed his faith in Christ. The governor ordered that the martyr be thrown into a lake. The saint, going down to the water, signed himself with the Sign of the Cross, and he walked on it as though on dry land.

Addressing the pagans standing about on shore, he challenged them to come to him while calling on the help of their gods. Sixty-eight men of the governor's retinue entered the water, and immediately drowned. The saint, however, heeding the angel who had appeared to him, returned to shore.

Agrilaus was in a rage over losing his finest servants, and he gave orders to behead St Blaise, and the two boys entrusted to him, the sons of the martyr. Before his death, the martyr prayed for the whole world, and especially for those honoring his memory. This occurred in about the year 316.
   

The Martyrdom of St. Vlasios(source)
 
The relics of the Hieromartyr Blaise were brought to the West during the time of the Crusades, and portions of the relics are preserved in many of the lands of Europe [and his memory traditionally honored there on February 3].

We pray to St Blaise for the health of domestic animals, and for protection from wild beasts. [St. Vlasios also is a wondrous healer of many diseases, especially illnesses of the throat.]

(source)
   
St. Vlasios the Hieromartyr(source)
 

Troparion - Tone 4

By sharing in the ways of the Apostles,you became you became a successor to their throne. Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God; by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, even to the shedding of your blood. Hieromartyr Blaise, entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion - Tone 2

Godly shoot, unfading flower, most fruitful branch of Christ the Vine, God-bearing Blaise, fill with joy those who in faith honor your memory as you unceasingly intercede for us all.
 
Wonderworking icon of St. Vlasios, treasured by the Monastery of the same name, Ano Trikala, Korinthias, Greece(source)
 
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Martinianos (Martinian) the Venerable of Caesarea

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St. Martinianos (Martinian) the Venerable of Caesarea - Commemorated on February 13 (source)
 
Saint Martinian went to live in the wilderness at the age of eighteen, not far from the city of Caesarea in Palestine. For twenty-five years, he devoted himself to ascetic deeds and silence, and he was granted the gift of healing illnesses and casting out demons. However, the Enemy of the race of man would not stop bothering the hermit with various temptations.

Once a profligate woman made a wager with some dissolute people that she could seduce St Martinian, the fame of whose virtuous life had spread throughout all the city. She came to him one night pretending that she had lost her way in the storm, and asking for shelter. The saint let her enter, unable to turn her away in such a storm. He went into his room and locked the door. The wicked guest changed into beautiful clothes and began to tempt the ascetic.

When morning came, St Martinian came out to send the woman away. Though he was tempted by the woman's beauty, he was determined not to fall into sin. Lighting a fire, he stepped into it, saying, "You want me to burn with temptation, and want to lead me into the fires of Hell. I will not let you. Instead, I will burn for my virginity and save my soul."

The woman came to see how evil she was. She repented and asked the saint to guide her onto the way of salvation. He told her to go to Bethlehem, to St Paula (January 26). There she lived as a nun for twelve years in strict asceticism until her blessed end. The woman's name was Zoe.

St Martinian went to an uninhabited rocky island, and lived on it under the open sky for several years, nourished by the provisions brought by a certain sailor from time to time. In return the monk wove baskets for him.

Once a powerful storm wrecked a ship, and a woman named Photina floated on pieces of the wreckage to the island of St Martinian. St Martinian helped her to survive the island. "Remain here," he told her, "for here is bread and water, and in two months a boat will come."

Then he jumped into the sea and swam off. Two dolphins carried him to dry land. Thereafter, St Martinian led the life of a wanderer. Later, he came to Athens and fell ill. Sensing the approach of death, he went into church and lay upon the floor. God revealed to the Bishop of Athens who St Martinian was, and the bishop buried his body with honor. This occurred around the year 422.

(source)
   
St. Martinianos(source)
 

Troparion - Tone 8

You quenched the flames of passion, blessed Martinian, with abundant tears; you calmed the waves of the sea and checked the assaults of wild beasts, saying:"Almighty God, You are most glorious, for You have saved me from the fire and storm!"

Kontakion - Tone 2

Let us worthily praise with hymns the ever-venerable Martinian, the tried ascetic who struggled for piety, an honorable athlete by deliberate choice, and a resolute citizen and inhabitant of the desert; for he has trampled down the serpent.

(source)
   
St. Martinianos(source)
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Anthimos of Chios (+1960)

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St. Anthimos of Chios (+1960) - Commemorated on February 15th (source)
   
Brief life of St. Anthimos
St. Anthimos, who in the world was known as Argyrios K. Vagianos, was born on July 1, 1869 to devout peasants, Konstantinos and Argyra, in Chios in the region of St. Luke Leivadion. He left elementary school early to become a shoe mender. At the age of nineteen he visited the Skete of the Holy Fathers founded by the monk Pachomios, who had been the spiritual counselor of St Nektarios. With the blessing of the elder, Anthimos returned home and built himself a small hut and dwelt in it. His only help in his spiritual contests was an icon of the Mother of God given to him by his mother later known as Panagia Voithia (the Helper), which soon began to work miracles, drawing many to his hermitage. He had returned home to relieve the suffering of his parents and help the poor of his village as well. After a time he retired to the Skete, and it was here that he became a monk and took the name Anthimos given by Elder Pachomios. He fell ill there and his abbot sent him home to his parents for the sake of his health. At home, despite the fact that he was caring for his aged parents and practicing his shoe mender's trade, he continued to live as a monk, spending nights on end in prayer and sometimes living only on bread and water for extended periods. He took his inspirtion reading about the lives of the great ascetics, and in this way he was able to conquer every assault of the devil.
Photograph of St. Anthimos of Chios(source)
   
Increasing numbers of visitors came to his hermitage and wonder-working icon of the Theotokos, and in 1909, at the age of forty, he received the Great Schema by the successor of Pachomios, Hieromonk Andronikos. The people of Chios wanted him to be ordained to the priesthood, but his bishop refused due to the Saint's lack of education. At the prompting of Anthimos' godfather, the Bishop of Smyrna ordained him instead in 1910. After a pilgrimage to Mt Athos in 1911, he returned to Chios, where he became chaplain to a leper hospital. Soon the hospital, which had fallen into corruption, became a spiritual center, as much like a monastery as a hospital. Saint Anthimos tended many of the sickest with his own hands, working many miracles of healing; some of his recovered patients became monks or nuns (such as Righteous Nikephoros the Blind).
Photograph of St. Anthimos of Chios(source)
   
With the notorious 'Exchange of Populations' of 1922-1924, refugees poured into Chios, many of them destitute nuns and girls. In response to a vision of the Mother of God, St Anthimos built a monastery in 1930, which opened with thirty nuns and grew rapidly, despite the opposition of many who said that setting up such a community was out of date. The Monastery of Panagia Voithia, as it came to be known, soon housed eighty nuns and was known througout Greece as a model of monastic life. Father Anthimos served as priest to the nuns, and continued to receive the many faithful — often sixty or seventy per day — who came to him for prayer or counsel. He carried on this ministry for more than thirty years, working many miracles of healing. When he was too old to work with his hands, he retired to his cell and prayed that he be enabled to serve his neighbor until his last breath.
   
The wondrous icon of Panagia Voithia "Help"(source)
   
On January 27, 1960 St. Anthimos celebrated his final Divine Liturgy. He reposed in peace at the age of ninety-one on February 15th, mourned and revered by the whole island of Chios. The remains of St. Anthimos are in the church inside of the monastery he founded and still work miracles along with the holy icon of Panagia Voithia. He was canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on August 13, 1992.
   
The church of the Monastery of Panagia Voithia, with the Holy Relics of her founder, St. Anthimos of Chios(source)
   
The following account is taken from an interview with Protopresbyter Andrea Dafnou who knew St. Anthimos:
"I have been found worthy to receive the blessing of two sacred personalities, while still alive, that were canonized. One of these is St. Anthimos of Chios. When I was a child, I injured my eye. I was afraid that, if my father found out, that he would beat me. I remember it had become bruised as well. What would I do? I thought that I should go to the holy man up at Panagia Voithia Monastery. I told him my problem. He read a prayer over me, crossed me, and healed me! Receiving his blessing, I left.

"The other holy personality that I had the blessing to meet was another Saint of Chios, Saint Symeon, the abbot of Psaron. From the age of 8 I would go to the Monastery and learn letters studying the Psalms of David! I remember he was a strogly built man and upkept the monastery buildings with much love. At night they would hear him go to a gorge next to the Monastery and break stones, in order to, as he would say, tame himself through work and for the devil to not battle against him. In the morning he would be prompt for Services. I was blessed, from the age of five, to be near him" (ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΗ, num. 55, Winter 2003-04).

A Miracle of St. Anthimos is related here.
   
Panagia Voithia and St. Anthimos of Chios (source)
   
Sayings
- “Humble-mindedness will bring all the virtues.”
- “What do people do when their hands and faces are dirty? They turn on a tap and allow the water to clean away the stains. We should imitate them. Only, we should open two taps – our eyes, so that an abundance of tears of repentance pour out, which will wash out all the poisons of this futile world which have infected and dirtied our wretched souls”.
- "The Panagia is the only mother of all Christians. And who does not call upon her. Because the sufferings of mankind are many in this vain world, nowhere else can we all find relief, except in the Panagia. When you are sitting there quietly, a thought suddenly comes to you and brings darkness. Where will you go to be loosed from this darkness? To the Panagia. All the Saints are our helpers, but above all is the Panagia.
"She has the riches of great compassion. She has great love for mankind, especially for sinners. For this reason she never ceases to mediate to her Son, and the Son takes great joy when His mother intercededs on behalf of mankind. For this reason she brought us His mother and granted her to us that we may have her as a source of salvation."
   
St. Anthimos of Chios (source)
   
Apolytikion of St. Anthimos of Chios in the Third Tone (amateur translation)
O new boast of Orthodoxy, and newly-adorned flower of purity, you shared the name of Anthimos of Nikomedia, and shared his virtues and way of life, O new seal and adornment of the venerable, O Father Anthimos, the boast of all Chios, entreat Christ God to grant us the great mercy.
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Selected poetic hymns to Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain

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Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain (+1994)(source)
 
Selected poetic hymns to Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain
At the request of a faithful reader of this site, I include several amateur translations of hymns from a service newly-written in honor of Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain. It is worth noting that, though thousands can attest to the wondrous grace of the Elder, both during his life and after his death, he has yet to be officially acknowledged to be a Saint. This service was written by Fr. Stylianos Makri, a priest under the Ecumenical Patriarchal Throne, for personal devotion alone (especially based on the fact that it is written in modern, as opposed to liturgical Greek). They are truly beautiful poetry, and worthily praise a great ascetic, spiritual guide and wonderworker of our days. As he has not yet been officially canonized by the Church, I ask that these hymns be not used in any public worship. I also recommend that you seek the blessing of your Spiritual Father before calling on the intercessions of the Elder. May we all emulate his immense love and sacrifice for Christ and for each other, and may we all have his blessing!
 
Doxastikon of the Stichera in the Second Tone
The zealous one for true deeds, who, having yoked together theoria and praxis, with the energy of the All-holy Spirit, plowed the field of monastic asceticism, on the remote and rough slopes of Athonite philotimo, let the ranks of the faithful honor him today, and from the rich harvest of his virtues and graces, which he reaped a hundred-fold, let us partake of the succulent fruit, through his wondrous intercessions, for the salvation of the world.
   
Idiomela of the Litin
First Tone
Rejoice and dance, O Mountain of the Virgin, the Holy Athos, for today the divine grace of Christ clothes your child, who despised every earthly adornment. Today the humble ascetic is exalted. Today ceases the power of the [evil] eye, to him who fought the rest of his eyelids. Today he stands upright, who day and night knelt before the Master Christ. Today death "in strengthening itself is defeated", and trembles at the conqueror of cancer, and the honored intercessor, who entreats for the world to the Lord with boldness.

Second Tone
O man, equal to the angels, and victory-bearing champion, you followed the path of the venerable Fathers, ascending the Mountain with your steadfast steps of the love of the Lord, with unwilting struggle, O God-bearer Paisios, O holy one seated on high, and you approached the peak of the light of theoria, O Father, beholding the bodiless strugglers. From the great height of deification, the faithful seek your intercessions, for divine mercy from Christ.
 
Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
O Pool of Bethesda, how will I compare you to the unadorned grave of the venerable Paisios? You have the marble floor, his has the marbles of his Holy Relics. To you had gathered "a multitude of the sick", to his a great wealth of healings. To you the expectations of a wonder, to his the awaiting of grace. To you the descent of the angel, to his the ascent of the imitator of the angels. You [worked a wonder] "at a certain time", his works "at every instant". You [healed] "through the troubling of the water", at his is the troubling of the demons. By you the paralytic laid for 38 years, at his is immediate healing. Let us therefore singularly celebrate and chant together with the faithful these words: O wonderworker Paisios, the latter-day boast of the Church, entreat Christ the Master to grant to everyone healing and His mercy and salvation.
 
Apolytikion in the Third Tone
Divine treasury of the Comforter, and fragrant flower of Paradise, you were shown to be, O Paisios, and you truly shared the path of the venerable Athonite Fathers in asceticism, O Venerable Father, entreat Christ God to grant divine mercy to the world.
 
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
In the Holy Garden of the Virgin, with the prayer rope, with the Cross and the light of your candle, you fought the darkness of sin, and shown forth like a super-bright star, and we fervently cry to you, that we be made worthy of your intercessions: Hail, O father Paisios.
 
Oikos
A man of sacrifice and love towards everyone, you were clearly and unfeigned, O Father, for throughout the whole of your chaste life, you radiantly were shown to be founded in virtue and perfection, and for this, you hear from us:
Hail, wondrous sign of Christ,
Hail, treasury of many virtues.
Hail, the super-radiant star of compassion,
Hail, the unassailable tower of dispassion.
Hail, for your talent of clairvoyance, you did not hide within the earth,
Hail, for your gift of foreseeing was envied of by many.
Hail, multigrain bread of intercession,
Hail, very-precious map of tradition.
Hail, sacred inheritor of Sinai,
Hail, divine son of Athos.
Hail, the victory of the love of the Lord,
Hail, the conquering of the folly of the demons.
Hail, O Father Paisios.
   
Exapostilarion in the Second Tone
O wonderworker Paisios, the boast of the Holy Mountain towards the Lord, accept the hymns of we who entreat you from our poor tongue, for through your asceticism, struggling with toiling and patience, your were granted wondrous feats, defeating the foe, your old self.
   
To your unadorned Holy Relic, at the Holy Monastery of the Theologian in Souroti, let us hasten to venerate your grave, O Elder Paisios, where you wondrously reveal the grace of healing, flowing as from an unending spring, quenching the thirst for health of those who suffer.
   
Prosomoia of the Praises in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
O wondrous Father Paisios, you revealed holiness in the latter days, you are the token of the venerable, and sign of the grace of the All-holy Trinity, and glorious boast of the Church, O thrice-blessed one, and foundation of the faithful, and adornment and reverence of monastics of Athos in the latter days.
    
O wondrous Father Paisios, like the holy Tome of the Faith [i.e. at the Fourth Ecumenical Council] held in the arms by the greatly-glorified and great martyr Euphemia, she received your soul in her arms, and offered it to Christ, its Creator and Redeemer, as a very-precious gift honored by God.
   
Doxastikon of the Praises in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
O venerable Father of the last days, answer this question of the faithful: Which book, which sacred writing, could truly recount of your wondrous life? Perhaps the Ladder of John? For you reached the final step of love, without fear of falling, climbing the steps of the virtues, fulfilling the goal of asceticism. Perhaps the God-inspired words of Isaac the Syrian? For you are a holy mystic of great nepsis. Perhaps the book of the Psalms of the leader-of-the-prophets David? For ceaselessly praying, you made your mouth a chanter's stand, hymning and glorifying Christ, Who is greatly to be praised. Perhaps the the works on love by Maximos the Confessor, or the poems and philokalic writings of Symeon the New Theologian regarding the grace of God? For as a true lover of philokalias, you were known as a treasury of grace. Perhaps, ultimately, the Holy Gospel? For you truly were a divine copy of it, having followed all of the commandments of the Savior. But truly, O blessed Father, to answer this question, you show us the Book of Life, in which you were clearly inscribed, together with the Saints, with whom you entreat on behalf of the whole world.
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

A miracle of St. Theodore Tyron

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St. Theodore Tyron the Great Martyr (source)
 
A miracle of St. Theodore Tyron (amateur translation)
"You teach soldiers to abandon pillaging..."

These words are included in the service of the Saint, and relate to the following miracle:

One soldier, who had great reverence to the Saint, was compelled to go to war. Before he left, however, he went and venerated the Saint, in the Church in which was the reliquary with the Precious Relic of St. Theodore.

After the war, and following a great and radiant victory, when he returned, he went and again venerated the Saint at his Church. He left his sword, which was adorned with gold and precious stones, in thanks.

Another soldier, however, went and venerated the Saint. He saw the beautiful and precious sword, and wanted to take it.

He thought within himself: "The Saint doesn't need it. It is better that I have it, who am a soldier. I would wield it in war with the blessing and help of the Saint."

He therefore took the sword from the reliquary, put it on, venerated, and left with joy. Exiting from the Church, however, the Saint blinded him, and he could not see to walk.

He therefore repented, and again returned the sword to the reliquary, and immediately received his sight.

Seeing again the beautiful sword, and thinking that his blindness did not come from the Saint but from chance, he took up the sword again and left. As soon as he left the Church, however, again he was blinded.

At that instant the priest of the church came and saw the blind soldier, asking him what happened. He related the details of what occurred. He entreated the priest to serve Paraklesis to the Saint to forgive him. He also gave him 100 gold coins as a donation.

The priest then took oil from the vigil lamp of the Saint, anointed his eyes, and immediately he saw again. He fled with joy, glorifying God and St. Theodore.
(source)
 
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

A prayer of Elder Joseph the Hesychast

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Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior(source)
 
A prayer of Elder Joseph the Hesychast (amateur translation)
O sweetest Master, our Lord Jesus Christ, send Your holy grace and dissolve from me the bonds of sin. Enlighten the darkness of my soul that I might come to understand Your incomparable mercy, and love and thank You, as is right, my sweetest Savior, Who is worthy of every love and thanksgiving.

Yes, me Good Benefactor, and greatly-compassionate Lord, do not take Your mercy from us, but have mercy on Your creation.

I know, O Lord, the weight of my offenses, but I behold Your incomparable mercy. I perceive the darkness of my senseless soul, but I believe with firm hope, awaiting Your divine illumination and the transformation of my evil and sinful and terrible passions, through the intercessions of Your sweetest Mother, our Lady Theotokos, and all the Saints. Amen.
(source)
 
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Abba Dorotheos on Pride and Humility

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The Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee(source)
 
Abba Dorotheos on Pride and Humility
There are two kinds of humility, as there are two kinds of pride. The first kind of pride is when a man reproaches his brother, condemns and reviles him as someone of no account, regarding himself as his superior. If such a man does not speedily come to his senses and try to mend his ways, he comes, little by little, to the second kind of pride, which puffs itself up in the face of God Himself and ascribes to itself its achievements and virtues, as though the man has done it all himself, with his own intelligence and knowledge, and not with the help of God. From this can be seen what constitutes the two kinds of humility. The first humility consists in considering that one’s brother has better judgment and is in all things superior to oneself — or in considering oneself below all men. The second humility consists in ascribing one’s achievements to God. This is the perfect humility of the saints.
(source)
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Homily III on Repentance, by St. John Chrysostom

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Christ carrying His Cross towards Golgotha(source)
 
Homily III on Repentance, by St. John Chrysostom (amateur translation)
We have written, O beloved, of the medicines of repentance, that we might hasten to the harbor of salvation. We have been pierced by sin, let us be healed by repentance. Through sin the devil pierces, through repentance Christ heals. He, through sin, is overpowered by the roots of sin, while the Lord, foreseeing the sin, uprooted it with the axe of repentance. “Behold” as is written, therefore, “the axe is laid at every tree. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.” The devil sowed sin as weeds, Christ, with the sickle of repentance, did cut the weeds of sin. Sin is an evil thing, but repentance is a good thing. Let us therefore flee from that to be feared, and hasten towards that to be desired. Through sin the devil leads to Gehenna, through repentance Christ leads towards the Kingdom. Have you sinned? Be silent (hesychason), for it is not as dangerous to sin, but to remain in sin is evil, for to have an apology is to be delivered from unforgivable torture.

For as Peter sinned through denial, and Paul transgressed by persecuting Christ, and David worked adultery and murder, they became worthy of death. But though as men they sinned, they repented as saints. Though they were ensnared by the nets of sin, they shook off the outrage of impiety in the blink of an eye, and hastened towards repentance, that they might granted the remission of their offenses. Come, therefore, let us also hasten towards repentance. And though the devil has burdened us with sin, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who was born of the holy Virgin Mary, through repentance lightens the burden of sin by taking it upon Himself. “Behold,” as it is written, “the lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.” For the devil placed sin within men, while the Lord took away sin from men. He gave sin, that men might be lost on behalf of sin. The Lord took on sin, that He might free human nature from impropriety. Before the coming of Christ, the devil was terrible. Before the Cross, sin was unbearable. But the Cross has ever removed the thorns of sin. The Lord Jesus appears on earth, and the devil is cast down like lightning from the earth. Behold, as it is written, “Satan falls from heaven like lightning.”

The death of Christ overpowered the kingdom of death. For death reigned from Adam until Moses, and upon those who had not sinned had come the likeness of Adam's transgression, as a type of things to come. However, after the death of the Lord, death has become a plaything and a child. Therefore, after the resurrection of Christ, we who withstood the typhoon of death say: “O death, where is your sting? O hades, where is your victory?” Before the Cross, the counsel of the evil one breathed forth death. After the Cross, after the passion of Christ, behold priests and women, young people and adolescents, as if trampling upon grapes, trample upon snakes and scorpions, and upon every power of the enemy. This I mention, that I might show the fall of sin, and the power of repentance. Do not become bitter at the thorns of sin within, nor that your sloth has given birth to sin. Do not condemn yourself that you have sinned, but punish yourself that you have not repented. Because of the infirmity of the body that the Lord knows, He permitted the medical science among men, and made herbs upon the earth for healing. In like manner, beholding the unsteadiness of the soul and the wounds of sin, as a defense for souls, granted repentance, and granted the divine and spiritual books of the ways of repentance as healing herbs, that each of us might straightaway have the bandage of healing, fleeing from passion, coming to one's self through faith. But let our repentance not remain as words alone in us, for it is improper that repentance appear through words, that the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ not be formed in reality. Confess your offenses, O man, redeem yourself from sin, that you might receive the remission of sin. Be redeemed, accept the free gift of remission of offenses...
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

The Splendor of the Divine Liturgy

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Christ and the Holy Angels serving the Divine Liturgy(source)

   

The Splendor of the Divine Liturgy, by Elder Ephraim of Arizona

The Divine Liturgy, what a splendor indeed! Man has been honored by God in such a way that He Himself comes down to earth with His Angelic Orders every time there is a Liturgy, in order to nurture man with His Most Holy Body and His Most Precious Blood! For He has given us everything. Is there anything physical or spiritual, perishable or everlasting, that has not been offered to us? None! Is there anything superior to His Most Holy Body and Blood, which is given to us on a daily basis? There is certainly not. God has enabled man, who is full of soil and dirt, to serve the Divine Liturgy. So priceless is the Divine Love that just a tiny drop exceeds any earthly, physical and secular love.

Adam and Eve's sin was the starting point of all the distressing events that have occurred to this day and of those that will occur until the end of time. Disobedience, like a sperm inside Eve's womb, gave birth to and transmitted physical and spiritual death to all of humanity. Poor Eve, could there have been a way for her to see that "the split second" taste of the fruit would cause such turmoil, thus compelling the Holy Trinity to have a "co-entreaty" so that the one Person of the Life-Giving Trinity would be sent to the world and endure, by the works of His hands, the blows, insults, whipping, spitting as well as all kinds of obscenity and ultimately be hung on the Cross as a curse! "Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree" (Gal. 3:13).

The sweet redemption of our Jesus, the light of our troubled souls, His Passion and Life-Giving Resurrection, are re-enacted in every Divine Liturgy through which every sinful soul is delivered. Great indeed is Jesus' love for us! For He took on our human nature and was hung on the Cross, giving us freedom and thus wiping clean all our debts towards our Heavenly Father. And as our beloved Brother He makes us worthy of His co-inheritance which consists of the infinite riches of His Heavenly Father. And if during the time when the Law, which existed before Christ, had overshadowed things, and the blood of oxen and goats as well as a calf's embers purified those who had partaken of them, how much more will Christ's Most Holy Blood, which is partaken from the Holy Altar of the Holy Churches of God, cleanse us from sin and warm up our souls in order to receive the divine love of our most sweet Jesus. The Lamb which was slaughtered for our personal salvation will rinse us with His Most Precious Blood from the filth of our sins and give us eternal rest.

In any case, we owe it to ourselves to become partakers of this heavenly banquet which offers us this most wonderful Mystery of the Holy Altar. Once inside the church, we should stand in fear and devoutness, since our Lord Jesus Christ and His holy angels are present. Those who are attentive and devout are filled with grace and blessings; however, those who are inattentive are condemned, being unworthy.

On the one hand, the Angels serve the Divine Liturgy, and on the other, the faithful come to church in order to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ - "Receive the Body of Christ and taste the Fountain of Immortality" - so that they will live in Christ and not perish in sin. Thus, "let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup, for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself" (1 Cor. 11:28-29). For instance, when someone wants to appear before a king, it takes him days to get ready, in terms of general preparation, cleanliness, speech, manner, ethos, etc., so that he would succeed in drawing the king's compassion and, in this way, have his desirable request granted. Even though there is no comparison as far as the two different kings are concerned, each believer should prior to Holy Communion prepare oneself in order to obtain divine mercy and forgiveness. Those who appear before a secular king are, most of the time, adorned by iniquity, flattery, pretence as well as deceit, in order to obtain that which is desired; nevertheless, the Christian believer who appears before the King of kings who in turn keeps an eye on the inner person must be adorned by holiness, humility and the sheer ethos of the soul that is more precious than lost gold.

The Lord created His Church on earth as a Bride, so that She would intercede for His children. He left us the Great Mystery of the Holy Eucharist, in order to be cleansed, become holy and thus become one with God. He has invited us all; some in their childhood, others in their middle as well as old age. As He is Good, He took hold of us like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, in order to make us partakers of His divine Kingdom. Nothing repelled Him - no ulcer, no wound, no illness, not even the deformity of spiritual phenomena which may characterize our soul. As a father He accepted us, as a mother He breast-fed us, and as an unmercenery doctor He took care of us and clothed us in the garment of adoption, with grace ignoring the heavy debt of our trespasses. We thus owe Him infinite love and worship. Love should remain in the heart like a life-giving source, gushing forth springs of communion wine and streams of divine eros.

We should be partakers of the Sacrifice of the Slaughtered Lamb as often as we can, and as long as we are free to do so, since Holy Communion is a great aid for the believer which in turn helps him to fight sin. Also, we should approach this divine Mystery in a spirit of compunction, crushed hearts, and a good sense of our sins. Great is the mercy of God Who condescends to enter into us; not abhorring the multitude of our sins. Nonetheless, due to His infinite love and affection, we are sanctified, and in this way we are made worthy to become His children and co-heirs of His Kingdom. Hence, let us prepare with a pure conscience aiming at the fortification of our senses, and in chastity let us enter along with the Holy Apostles to the Mystical Supper and partake of our sweet Jesus so that He should dwell with us unto the infinite ages of ages.

Unworthy as I am, I serve my Lord. A ministry rendered that is holy and mighty. Everyday I offer God a well-pleasing sacrifice, the Lamb of God, Immaculate to His Immaculate Father and God, in order that He might be merciful for the things with which we sadden the most good God. He whom we cause grief and Who sacrificed His only begotten Son. My God, Your most beloved Son for our sake! And who are we to deserve this ultimate sacrifice! "For being enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Rom. 5:10).

It is a fact that numerous interpretations of the Divine Liturgy which were mainly based on the illumination and grace of the Holy Spirit were handed down to us by the Church Fathers. What makes this current analysis of the Divine Liturgy of my spiritual child Father Stephanos Anagnastopoulos noteworthy and beneficial, is the fact that it is offered through the experiences and revelations of worthy Liturgists of the Most High, older and more recent ones.

I, as well as its author, wish that this book will lead us all to the genuine liturgical conscience and life in order to urge us in a spirited way, as grateful servants, to try to rest the heart of His feelings so that He will be comforted, according to the Psalter: "...and because of His servants shall He be comforted" (Psalm 134:14). May we sense that which God offered us and thus rejoice in the beauty of His eros. Amen.

The most unworthy of all
+ Father Ephraim
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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