Saints and Prophets

[ORTHODOXIA]

Saint Andrew the First-called Apostle (November 30)



Andrew, the son of Jonah and brother of Peter, was born in Bethsaida and was a fisherman by trade. At first he was a disciple of St. John the Baptist, but when St. John pointed to the Lord Jesus, saying, Behold the Lamb of God! (John 1:36), Andrew left his first teacher and followed Christ. Then, Andrew brought his brother Peter to the Lord.

Following the descent of the Holy Spirit, it fell by lot to the first apostle of Christ, St. Andrew, to preach the Gospel in Byzantium and Thrace, then in the lands along the Danube and in Russia around the Black Sea, and finally in Epirus, Greece and the Peloponnese, where he suffered. In Byzantium, he appointed St. Stachys as its first bishop; in Kiev, he planted a Cross on a high place and prophesied a bright Christian future for the Russian people; throughout Thrace, Epirus, Greece and the Peloponnese, he converted multitudes of people to the Faith and ordained bishops and priests for them. In the city of Patras, he performed many miracles in the name of Christ, and won many over to the Lord. Among the new faithful were the brother and wife of the Proconsul Aegeates.

Angered at this, Aegeates subjected St. Andrew to torture and then crucified him. While the apostle of Christ was still alive on the cross, he gave beneficial instructions to the Christians who had gathered around. The people wanted to take him down from the cross but he refused to let them. Then the apostle prayed to God and an extraordinary light encompassed him. This brilliant illumination lasted for half an hour, and when it disappeared, the apostle gave up his holy soul to God. Thus, the First-called Apostle, the first of the Twelve Great Apostles to know the Lord and follow Him, finished his earthly course. St. Andrew suffered for his Lord in the year 62. His relics were taken to Constantinople; his head was later taken to Rome, and one hand was taken to Moscow.

Source: full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com

[ORTHODOXIA]

The Holy Great Martyr Barbara (December 4)
4 Δεκεμβρίου, 2010 — VatopaidiFriend



The Holy Great Martyr Barbara lived and suffered during the reign of the emperor Maximian (305-311). Her father, the pagan Dioscorus, was a rich and illustrious man in the Syrian city of Heliopolis. After the death of his wife, he devoted himself to his only daughter.

Seeing Barbara’s extraordinary beauty, Dioscorus decided to hide her from the eyes of strangers. Therefore, he built a tower for Barbara, where only her pagan teachers were allowed to see her. From the tower there was a view of hills stretching into the distance. By day, she was able to gaze upon the wooded hills, the swiftly flowing rivers, and the meadows covered with a mottled blanket of flowers; by night the harmonious and majestic vault of the heavens twinkled and provided a spectacle of inexpressible beauty. Soon the virgin began to ask herself questions about the First Cause and Creator of so harmonious and splendid a world.

Gradually, she became convinced that the soulless idols were merely the work of human hands. Although her father and teachers offered them worship, she realized that the idols could not have made the surrounding world. The desire to know the true God so consumed her soul that Barbara decided to devote all her life to this goal, and to spend her life in virginity.

The fame of her beauty spread throughout the city, and many sought her hand in marriage. But despite the entreaties of her father, she refused all of them. Barbara warned her father that his persistence might end tragically and separate them forever. Dioscorus decided that the temperament of his daughter had been affected by her life of seclusion. He therefore permitted her to leave the tower and gave her full freedom in her choice of friends and acquaintances. Thus Barbara met young Christian maidens in the city, and they taught her about the Creator of the world, about the Trinity, and about the Divine Logos. Through the Providence of God, a priest arrived in Heliopolis from Alexandria disguised as a merchant. After instructing her in the mysteries of the Christian Faith, he baptized Barbara, then returned to his own country.

During this time, a luxurious bathhouse was being built at the house of Dioscorus. By his orders, the workers prepared to put two windows on the south side. But Barbara, taking advantage of her father’s absence, asked them to make a third window, thereby forming a Trinity of light. On one of the walls of the bath-house Barbara traced a cross with her finger. The cross was deeply etched into the marble, as if by an iron instrument. Later, her footprints were imprinted on the stone steps of the bathhouse. The water of the bathhouse had great healing power. St. Simeon Metaphrastes (November 9) compared the bathhouse to the stream of Jordan and the Pool of Siloam, because by God’s power, many miracles took place there.

When Dioscorus returned and expressed dissatisfaction about the change in his building plans, his daughter told him about how she had come to know the Triune God, about the saving power of the Son of God, and about the futility of worshipping idols. Dioscorus went into a rage, grabbed a sword and was on the point of striking her with it. The holy virgin fled from her father, and he rushed after her in pursuit. His way became blocked by a hill, which opened up and concealed the saint in a crevice. On the other side of the crevice was an entrance leading upwards. St Barbara managed then to conceal herself in a cave on the opposite slope of the hill.

After a long and fruitless search for his daughter, Dioscorus saw two shepherds on the hill. One of them showed him the cave where the saint had hidden. Dioscorus beat his daughter terribly, and then placed her under guard and tried to wear her down with hunger. Finally he handed her over to the prefect of the city, named Martianus. They beat St. Barbara fiercely: they struck her with rawhide, and rubbed her wounds with a hair cloth to increase her pain. By night, St. Barbara prayed fervently to her Heavenly Bridegroom, and the Savior Himself appeared and healed her wounds. Then they subjected the saint to new, and even more frightful torments.

In the crowd where the martyr was tortured was the virtuous Christian woman Juliana, an inhabitant of Heliopolis. Her heart was filled with sympathy for the voluntary martyrdom of the beautiful and illustrious maiden. Juliana also wanted to suffer for Christ. She began to denounce the torturers in a loud voice, and they seized her.

Both martyrs were tortured for a long time. Their bodies were raked and wounded with hooks, and then they were led naked through the city amidst derision and jeers. Through the prayers of St. Barbara, the Lord sent an angel who covered the nakedness of the holy martyrs with a splendid robe. Then the steadfast confessors of Christ, Ss. Barbara and Juliana, were beheaded. Dioscorus himself executed St. Barbara. The wrath of God was not slow to punish both torturers, Martianus and Dioscorus. They were killed after being struck by lightning.

In the sixth century the relics of the holy Great Martyr Barbara were transferred to Constantinople. Six hundred years later, they were transferred to Kiev (July 11) by Barbara, the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenos, who married the Russian prince Michael Izyaslavich. They rest even now at Kiev’s St Vladimir cathedral, where an Akathist to the saint is served each Tuesday.

Many pious Orthodox Christians are in the habit of chanting the troparion of St. Barbara each day, recalling the Savior’s promise to her that those who remembered her and her sufferings would be preserved from a sudden, unexpected death, and would not depart this life without benefit of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. St. Barbara is commemorated on December 4.

Source: vatopaidi.wordpress.com

[ORTHODOXIA]

Saint Savvas the Blessed (December 5)



This saint lived during the period of the great Justinian in (527-565), and was from Cappadocia, from the village by the name Mutalaski and was the son of pious parents, John and Sophia. Immediately therefore, at the beginning of his life, he run to the community of monks and entered a monastery by the name Flavianes. There he became so αbstemious and glorious from an early age, that once seeing an apple in the garden and while he wished to eat it, he took it in his hands and said: "It was very beautiful, both to see it and to eat it, this fruit that killed me". Then he dropped the apple and trampled it with his feet. From then on he placed a rule and a decision on himself never again in his life to eat apples. Once the saint entered an operating oven and came out without being touched by the fire, both himself and his clothes. In his 16th year the saint went to the Great Euthymius who then sent him to the cenobic monastery of Saint Theoktistu, because he had yet to grow a beard.

There he lived the godly Savvas and was benefitting from all the brothers, because he imitated the virtuous and God pleasing way of life of each one. For this the Great Euthymius used to call him "Child elder".

As the years went by, Euthymius would take him with him when he withdrew in silence during the period of the Great Tesseracost (40 days after Pascha). As he was growing, so also was his virtue. The Lord thus gave him the grace to do miracles, and he performed many wondrous things, for in dry areas with his prayer, water will spring out of the ground. He also became a teacher and Abbot of many monks and twice he was sent as ambassador to Constantinople, to the then kings, namely to Anastasius who reigned during (491-518) and to Justinian, after being prompted for this by the Patriarch of Jerusalem at various times to attend to important matters. Reaching therefore very old age, he departed to the Lord at 94 years of age.

What we wrote up to here, suffices to show his great grace and frankness of the saint towards the Lord. However, let us say a few things on his path to Byzantium. During the reign of king Anastasius (491-518), there was a heated argument between the Clergy, and some who belonged to the Monophysite heresy of Dioscorus and Severus as well as the king who raised to the hierarchal thrones those who anathematized the Synod of Chalcedon and exiled the Orthodox as he unjustly exiled the blessed Elijah, the Archbishop of Palestine, who begged the great Savvas and some other virtuous Fathers to go to the king and beg him to peacefully stop the scandals. Even the Patriarch wrote a letter which said: "Longliving king, I send you ambassadors and mediators to your country, the inhabitants of the desert and especially the Great Savvas, the Head of the ascetics. Have respect therefore for their effort and their godly sweat and cease your war on the Churches. Do not allow the evil to continue, friend of Christ, if you wish to please the Lord who granted you the kingdom and the crown".

When therefore the saints arrived at the Capital, the Most Good God who glorifies those that glorify Him, let the king have a vision about the Saint, for which he honoured him greatly. When the Fathers entered the palace, the guard let everybody in except Savvas, seeing him poorly dressed with worn out clothes, kept him standing outside. He was then 73. The king having read the letter, asked who was Savvas and when he learned he was kept outside, he sent the guards to find him. When the saint entered the palace, the king saw a bright angel with a brilliant uniform walking ahead of the saint and clearing the way so that he could proceed unobstructed. These visions the king saw not because he was virtuous - for as heretic he was not worthy to see such wonders - but to learn that Savvas was a holy man, so he immediately got up from his throne and honoured him greatly. When all the saints sat down, the king asked them what each one wished from him, and they having neglected the common matter of the Church, asked for worldly gifts and presents. The king satisfied all their requests but wondered about Savvas who hadn't said anything: "You, honourable Father, why have you toiled so much to come to us and yet you do not ask for anything?" He then answered : "I, almighty king, I came first to venerate your piety, before I die, and then to beg you not to have any displeasure against the Holy City of Jerusalem and its Archbishop and to pacify the Churches. When you do these things you'll become dear to God and He will forgive your sins, granting you also victories against the enemies.

The king marveled at the frank speech of Savvas and for not asking temporary and inconsequential things but only the pacification of the Church and having sent away the others, he gave him one thousand florins to spent on his monasteries and he gave him authority to enter unobstructed the palace whenever he wished. The patriarch Elijah however, the king accused and was very angry with him but the blessed Savvas with great knowledge and frankness managed to cool his anger and convinced him to reconsider his unjust decision to exile him (the patriarch) for life and thus permitted him to remain on his throne for the love of Savvas. As the Saint successfully completed his mission, he did not depart immediately from Constantinople because it was winter but remained at a suburb outside the City called Rufino. Many went there from the City to visit him and many of them became his pure disciples and especially the grand daughter of king Valentine Juliani and wife of Pompius, son of the king, called Anastasia who later became a monastic at mount of Olives and struggled greatly and accomplished amazing feats for the glory of God.

During that period there was a great famine and disease in the areas around Jerusalem and with the passing days this terrible evil continued to grow and spread to many areas of the Byzantium. Due to this condition many houses were deserted and remained uninhabited. So that the services of the kingdom and the king himself may not suffer, and the country's treasury not become depleted, the king passed a law that required the surviving neighbours to pay the taxes owed by those who had died. When Savvas heard of this illegitimate and ruthless law, he went again to the king and explained that this law was illogical and proved to him that it would completely destroy the poor and would not be beneficial to the kingdom but to the contrary it would cause great damage and destruction. For it was indescribable injustice for those who survived the two calamities of famine and deadly epidemic to be made by the Country to further suffer, by having to pay such an unjust tax. And while they pressed the people by force they may end up revolting, which would further damage the Country. Thus speaking Savvas begged the king wholeheartedly and with many supplications to repeal such illegitimate decision.

As the king respected the Saint, he intended to satisfy his wish. But the devil again opposed, because a great lord and chief adviser to the king called Marino, opposed him, the thrice cursed, by saying: "King the majority of the people in Palestine are Nestorians and therefore you should not grant them such grace". The Saint then told him angrily: "Stop inflaming the old war to the king and repent for the words you spoke, for in a few days your remembrance will be lost with clamour, and all your glory will disappear". Marino however remained firm in his evilness, without considering at all the soul benefitting admonition of the Saint. The Saint having received a further gift of one thousand drachmas, left for Palestine. The unjust law remained in effect until the death of Anastasios and the succession of Justinian 1st (527-565) who completely repealed it. And as of the wretched Marino, few days after the Saint's prophesy, there was a riot in the City and they grabbed his fortune and burnt his house and he was almost beheaded had he not then repented and cried for his sins remembering the words of the Saint. This many narrate at Byzantium and especially the son of the king Pompius and his wife Anastasia, wondering at the visionary grace of the Saint.

Afterwards those that followed the views of Severus departed and were trying to inflame by any means the anger of the king against the Holy Patriarchs of Antioch, Flavianus and of Palestine, Elijah. In the place of Flavianus the king installed as Patriarch of Antioch the same heretic Severus (513-518) who sent to Jerusalem his own synodic letters with some clerics and many soldiers, saying that if the blessed Elijah would not accept his and Dioscorus dogmas, they will remove him from the throne. When Savvas learnt of these, he gathered all the monks and sent away all the men of the king having achieved nothing, as if they were prisoners. And in their presence all the pious anathematized the faithful followers of Severus, and king Anastasius, who wishing to revenge such a terrible embarrassment and rebuke, sent a chief with royal authority, having first ordained him Duke of all Palestine, to expel Elijah from his throne by force if he would not accept the impious dogmas of Dioscorus and Severus.

The duke, having left, immediately imprisoned the Archbishop who then asked him if he could come out of jail at a certain day during which there would be a happy celebration which will be attended by all the Christians, so that he may pronounce the declaration of the king. When the Patriarch came out he gathered all the worldly, while the godly Savvas the monks. It so happened that the nephew of the king Hypatius was also present who was jailed and then came having freed himself with ransom. As everyone had gathered at a certain large church, the Archbishop shouted the following so that everybody would hear him: "Whoever believes in the dogmas of Eutychus and Nestorius, of Severus and of Soterius, anathema. And whoever does not uphold the dogmas of the four Holy and Ecumenical Synods, let him be anathematized". Then the duke became angry because he understood that he was deceived, but because he feared the large crowd, he departed quietly from Caesaria. The nephew of the king vowed to remain in Orthodoxy and in communion with the Saints till his last breath and donated a lot of money to Savvas, to appear to him pious and faithful Orthodox. The holy one thanked him and begged him to intercede with the king asking for his mercy that he not become angry because they did not follow his declarations.

The Holy one wrote with the concurrence of all the Monastics the following letter to the king: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal king and God of all, granted you the scepters of the kingdom to govern with godly piety and peace the churches and especially the Mother of the Churches, where the great mystery of faith started and from which it passed on to the ends of the earth and which we, who live in this holy place, guarded to this day, unadulterated as we have received it from the Holy Apostles and we wish to guard it till the end with the Grace of God, without ever digressing at all, from the truthfulness of the word, nor damage it with desecrated innovations of those who every time oppose us".

"In this pure Faith, king, your kingdom was brought up from your youth. So, we wonder how in these days of your pious kingdom so much disturbance and confusion happened to the Mother of the Churches and your servants drag in the middle of the market and in front of the Jews and idolaters the hierarchs and monastics, these holy men with such disregard as if they were criminals and law-breakers and force them to infect their pure Faith. We therefore beg your power to order that they do not disturb us in matters of faith, for it is out of place and illogical for someone to say that this many Jerusalemites ascetics and that many virtuous people were not brought up correctly in faith and now in our old age you wish to explain to us piety. It is thus clear that this recently appearing correction, as you call it on the traditional and correct faith, is not correction, but a perversion and adulteration. And certainly whoever accepts such correction goes to eternal damnation. Therefore we do not at all wish to accept any innovation of the faith and will remain firm on everything that was passed on to us by our God bearing Fathers, the 380 who gathered originally at Nicea and the others of the remaining Three Holy and Ecumenical Synods and we are not only ready to suffer every sorrow and hardship but also a thousand deaths instead of departing from Orthodoxy even for a short while. And the peace of God that protects every mind, may also guard His Church and terminate this disturbance that was created against her with a gesture and command of your power, to the glory of God and the boast of the glorious and God pleasing kingdom.

Source: www.impantokratoros.gr

[ORTHODOXIA]

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Bishop of Myra (December 6)



The veneration with which this saint has been honored in both East and West, the number of altars and churches erected in his memory, and the countless stories associated with his name all bear witness to something extraordinary about him. Yet the one fact concerning the life of Nicholas of which we can be absolutely certain is that he was bishop of Myra in the fourth century. According to tradition, he was born at Patara, Lycia, a province of southern Asia Minor where St. Paul had planted the faith. Myra, the capital, was the seat of a bishopric founded by St. Nicander. The accounts of Nicholas given us by the Greek Church all say that he was imprisoned in the reign of Diocletian, whose persecutions, while they lasted, were waged with great severity. Some twenty years after this he appeared at the Council of Nicaea,[1] to join in the condemnation of Arianism. We are also informed that he died at Myra and was buried in his cathedral. Such a wealth of literature has accumulated around Nicholas that we are justified in giving a brief account of some of the popular traditions, which in the main date from medieval times. St. Methodius, patriarch of Constantinople towards the middle of the ninth century, wrote a life of the saint in which he declares that "up to the present the life of the distinguished shepherd has been unknown to the majority of the faithful." Nearly five hundred years had passed since the death of the good St. Nicholas, and Methodius' account, therefore, had to be based more on legend than actual fact.

He was very well brought up, we are told, by pious and virtuous parents, who set him to studying the sacred books at the age of five. His parents died while he was still young, leaving him with a comfortable fortune, which he resolved to use for works of charity. Soon an opportunity came. A citizen of Patara had lost all his money and his three daughters could not find husbands because of their poverty. In despair their wretched father was about to commit them to a life of shame. When Nicholas heard of this, he took a bag of gold and at night tossed it through an open window of the man's house. Here was a dowry for the eldest girl, and she was quickly married. Nicholas did the same for the second and then for the third daughter. On the last occasion the father was watching by the window, and overwhelmed his young benefactor with gratitude.

It happened that Nicholas was in the city of Myra when the clergy and people were meeting together to elect a new bishop, and God directed them to choose him. This was at the time of Diocletian's persecutions at the beginning of the fourth century. The Greek writers go on to say that now, as leader, "the divine Nicholas was seized by the magistrates, tortured, then chained and thrown into prison with other Christians. But when the great and religious Constantine, chosen by God, assumed the imperial diadem of the Romans, the prisoners were released from their bonds and with them the illustrious Nicholas." St. Methodius adds that "thanks to the teaching of St. Nicholas, the metropolis of Myra alone was untouched by the filth of the Arian heresy, which it firmly rejected as a death-dealing poison." He does not speak of Nicholas' presence at the Council of Nicaea, but according to other traditions he was not only there but went so far in his indignation as to slap the arch-heretic Arius in the face! At this, they say, he was deprived of his episcopal insignia and imprisoned, but Our Lord and His Mother appeared and restored to him both his liberty and his office. Nicholas also took strong measures against paganism. He tore down many temples, among them one to the Greek goddess Artemis, which was the chief pagan shrine of the district.

Nicholas was also the guardian of his people in temporal affairs. The governor had been bribed to condemn three innocent men to death. On the day fixed for their execution Nicholas stayed the hand of the executioner and released them. Then he turned to the governor and reproved him so sternly that he repented. There happened to be present that day three imperial officers, Nepotian, Ursus, and Herpylion, on their way to duty in Phrygia. Later, after their return, they were imprisoned on false charges of treason by the prefect and an order was procured from the Emperor Constantine for their death. In their extremity they remembered the bishop of Myra's passion for justice and prayed to God for his intercession. That night Nicholas appeared to Constantine in a dream, ordering him to release the three innocent officers. The prefect had the same dream, and in the morning the two men compared their dreams, then questioned the accused officers. On learning that they had prayed for the intervention of Nicholas, Constantine freed them and sent them to the bishop with a letter asking him to pray for the peace of the world. In the West the story took on more and more fantastic forms; in one version the three officers eventually became three boys murdered by an innkeeper and put into a brine tub from which Nicholas rescued them and restored them to life.

The traditions all agree that Nicholas was buried in his episcopal city of Myra. By the time of Justinian, some two centuries later, his feast was celebrated and there was a church built over his tomb. The ruins of this domed basilica, which stood in the plain where the city was built, were excavated in the nineteenth century. The tremendous popularity of the saint is indicated by an anonymous writer of the tenth century who declares: "The West as well as the East acclaims and glorifies him. Wherever there are people, in the country and the town, in the villages, in the isles, in the farthest parts of the earth, his name is revered and churches are erected in his honor." In 1034 Myra was taken by the Saracens. Several Italian cities made plans to get possession of the relics of the famous Nicholas. The citizens of Bari finally in 1087 carried them off from the lawful Greek custodians and their Moslem masters. A new church was quickly built at Bari and Pope Urban II was present at the enshrining of the relics. Devotion to St. Nicholas now increased and many miracles were attributed to his intercession.

The image of St. Nicholas appeared often on Byzantine seals. Artists painted him usually with the three boys in a tub or else tossing a bag of gold through a window. In the West he has often been invoked by prisoners, and in the East by sailors. One legend has it that during his life-time he appeared off the coast of Lycia to some storm-tossed mariners who invoked his aid, and he brought them safely to port. Sailors in the Aegean and Ionian seas had their "star of St. Nicholas" and wished one another safe voyages with the words, "May St. Nicholas hold the tiller."

From the legend of the three boys may have come the tradition of his love for children, celebrated in both secular and religious observances. In many places there was once a year a ceremonious installation of a "boy bishop." In Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands gifts were bestowed on children at Christmas time in St. Nicholas' name. The Dutch Protestant settlers of New Amsterdam made the custom popular on this side of the Atlantic. The Eastern saint was converted into a Nordic magician (Saint Nicholas—Sint Klaes—Santa Claus). His popularity was greatest of all in Russia, where he and St. Andrew were joint national patrons. There was not a church that did not have some sort of shrine in honor of St. Nicholas and the Russian Orthodox Church observes even the feast of the translation of his relics. So many Russian pilgrims came to Bari in Czarist times that the Russian government maintained a church, a hospital, and a hospice there. St. Nicholas is also patron of Greece, Apulia, Sicily, and Lorraine, of many cities and dioceses. At Rome the basilica of St. Nicholas was founded as early as the end of the sixth or the beginning of the seventh century. In the later Middle Ages four hundred churches were dedicated to him in England alone. St. Nicholas' emblems are children, a mitre, a vessel.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion in the Third Tone

Saintly One, (St. Nicholas) in Myra you proved yourself a priest; for in fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, venerable One, you laid down your life for your people and saved the innocent from death. For this you were sanctified as One learned in divine grace.

[ORTHODOXIA]

Saint Ambrose of Milan (December 7)



Ambrose was born into the ruling class. His pagan father was the governor of Gaul and Spain. His mother was a Christian. On the death of his father, the Emperor made him governor of Liguria, the provincial capital being Milan. When the bishop of Milan died, there was a great controversy over who should replace him. The Arians were trying to elect their bishop. Ambrose entered the Church in the middle of the turmoil, since it was part of his responsibility to maintain good order. A nursing child cried out: "Ambrose for bishop!" This was taken for a sign from God and they unanimously elected Ambrose against his will. He was Baptised and ordained Deacon and Priest and consecrated Bishop in one week. He was an excellent Bishop. He restrained the heretics, evangelised the pagans, built and adorned churches and wrote many instructive texts. He worked tirelessly for the Church. He fasted everyday except Saturday and Sunday. He discovered the relics of several Saints. He healed the sick and even raised the dead. He was not afraid to oppose rulers who were heretical, yet walked humbly among the common people. This beloved Bishop was granted the grace to die peacefully at daybreak on Pascha, 397.

Troparion (Tone 1)
O Ambrose, wonderworker and champion of the Church, Godbearing Hierarch: thou didst work miracles by thy faith and love for God; therefore we the earthborn glorify thee and cry out: Glory to Him Who has glorified thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee; glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

[ORTHODOXIA]

Saint Patapius of Theves (December 8 )



Saint Patapius was born in 380 in the Egyptian city of Thebes. His father was a governor of the region and a descendant of a well known Egyptian family. He and his wife were devout Christians and instructed Patapios in Scripture. As Patapius reached a mature age, well-known tutors were brought from Alexandria to instruct him in science, mathematics, philosophy and rhetoric. Through this education, he became accutely aware of how transient this world is and was attracted to the ascetical way of life. He was particularly inspired by Clement, Origen and Athanasius. His father also took him to the renowned catechetical school in Alexandria where Patapios came under the influence of a blind teacher named Didemus [1]. Didemus inspired him even further to desire the ascetical path he had chosen. When he finished his studies, he returned to Thebes to find out that his father had passed away. Desiring to live a life like the ascetics, he decided to leave for the Egyptian desert where he became well known for his ascetic deeds.

No longer able to find peace in the desert he set off for Constantinople in 428. During his voyage, he met his disciple Sechnuti, who was an Egyptian rower. [During this voyage, their ship passed near Corinth where they stayed for seven years]

By 435, after seven years in Corinth, Patapios left his skete in the Geranian mountaints to resume his journey to Constantinople taking with him the monk Sechnuti. In Constantinople, they secretly went to the Monastery of Blachernae, where he obtained a cell in the city wall. patapios kept his identity a secret and resumed a life of strict fasting, vigil and prayer under the guise of a simple monk.

Here he performed many miracles of healing. After a life adorned with virtue and miracles, he died at a great age of eighty-three (83) in 463 and was buried by his disciples in the church of St. John the Baptist in Constaninople.

Since the saint's repose, the Church has carefully preserved the stories of his life and his sacred relics. One thousand years after the repose of the saint, when the Turks captured Constantinople, his relics where removed and taken to the little cave-skete in Corinth (as he had requested during his lifetime). The saint's body was hidden behind a western wall in the cave facing the iconostasis and chapel they built.

In the early 20th-century a local priest[2] discovered the relics of the saints hidden in the wall. He was an unnaturally tall priest who regularly served this small chapel and because of his height commissioned some changes to the chapel. The night before the works to the western wall were to commence, Fr. Constantine had a dream in which a monk warned him to "take care when you break the wall because I am on the other side. I am Saint Patapius of Egypt." He was found the next day holding a large wooden cross on his chest, a parchment scroll with his identity and large leaves covering his relics as fresh as they had been picked that very moment.

Since his relics have been discovered, many people have been visited by the saint in visions and dreams asking them to visit "his house in Loutraki". He is especially known for healing cancer and miracles occur world-wide throughout the world, including Australia and America.

Troparion in Tone 8

The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Father,
for you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing you taught us to disregard the flesh for it passes away
but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore your spirit, venerable Patápius, rejoices with the angels.

Kontakion in Tone 3

Your temple is found to be a source of healing,
and the people flock to it eagerly, O saint.
They seek the healing of their diseases and the forgiveness of their sins,
for you are a protector for all those in need, venerable Patápius.

Source: orthodoxwiki.org

[Augi]

Saint John of Kronstadt (December 20)



Saint John of Kronstadt, born as Ivan Ilyitch Sergieff, the son of poor peasant folk, was born on the 19th of October 1829 in the little village of Soura, in the province of Arkhangelsk in the far north of Russia. His parents, poor and simple though they were, took great pains with his education, both spiritual and temporal. From school, where he had gone to the top of his class, he went to the seminary. From there he was sent in 1851, at government expense, to the Theological Academy of Saint Petersburg. While he was there his father died, and it was with great thankfulness to God that he accepted the post of registrar.

Having considered becoming a monk, and going to eastern Siberia as a missionary, he came to the conclusion that there were many people around him as unenlightened as any pagan, and he decided to work for their salvation, after a dream in answer to prayer, in which he saw himself officiating in some unknown cathedral.

Soon after completing his studies he married Elisabeth, daughter of the Archpriest K. P. Nevitzki, and he was ordained priest in December 1855. Appointed as assistant priest at Saint Andrew's Cathedral, Kronstadt, when he entered it for the first time he recognized it as the church he had seen in his dream; and there, first as curate, and afterwards as rector, he served throughout the fifty-three years of his ministry. Cherishing a lofty ideal of the priestly vocation, he continued nightly to study and pray that he might perfect himself in it, while during the day he devoted himself to the many poor of his parish.

Father John, whose predecessors, apparently, had hardly even dared to penetrate the worst parts of the town, spent much of his time there, striving to heal bodies and souls alike, attracting to himself first the children, and then, through them, their parents. Often he found no time to eat until the late evening, and even then he would sometimes be summoned out again, and not return before the small hours; he gave away his own shoes, he gave away the housekeeping money: his wife gradually accustomed herself to it, and finally became something like his keeper.

In 1857 he was invited to teach the scripture in the municipal school at Kronstadt, and he accepted with joy, for he loved children, and always took great pains with them. When his fame had spread and he was constantly visiting Saint Petersburg, then to his own, his colleagues and pupils great regret, he was forced to abandon his teaching post.

Another object of Father John's concern and labor was the removal of the widespread poverty that afflicted Kronstadt. At first he gave these beggars money for food and shelter, but he soon came to see that this was not merely useless, but positively harmful. In 1868 he conceived the idea of founding a House of Industry, comprising a number of workshops, a dormitory, a refectory, a dispensary, and a primary school. He formed a committee, and appealed for funds. His appeal was answered by rich and poor from all over Russia, and the House of Industry was founded in 1873. Father John administered a total of over $25,000 a year in numerous charities, half of it in Kronstadt.

There is an attractive power in the personality of Father John of Kronstadt, in his portrait, the magnetism of his writings, and in his diary My Life in Christ. There is a peaceful and consoling quality in the notes of his diary, not to mention the very subjects of his talks, which spiritually exalt, uplift, and strengthen.

[Νίκος]

Righteous Theodosios the cenobiarch (January 11)
11 Ιανουαρίου, 2011 — VatopaidiFriend



He lived during the fifth-sixth centuries, and was the founder of cenobitic monasticism. He was born in Cappadocia of pious parents. Endowed with a splendid voice, he zealously toiled at church reading and singing. St. Theodosios prayed fervently that the Lord would guide him on the way to salvation. In his early years he visited the Holy Land and met with St. Symeon the Stylite, who blessed him and predicted future pastoral service for him.

Yearning for the solitary life, Saint Theodosios settled in Palestine into a desolate cave, in which, according to Tradition, the three Magi had spent the night, having come to worship the Savior after His Nativity. He lived there for thirty years in great abstinence and unceasing prayer. People flocked to the ascetic, wishing to live under his guidance. When the cave could no longer hold all the monks, St. Theodosios prayed that the Lord Himself would indicate a place for the monks. Taking a censer with cold charcoal and incense, the monk started walking into the desert.

At a certain spot the charcoal ignited by itself and the incense smoke began to rise. Here the monk established the first cenobitic monastery, or Lavra (meaning “broad” or populous”). Soon the Lavra of St. Theodosios became reknowned, and up to 700 monks gathered at it. According to the final testament of St. Theodosios, the Lavra rendered service to neighbor, giving aid to the poor and providing shelter for wanderers.

St. Theodosios was extremely compassionate. Once, when there was a famine in Palestine and a multitude of people gathered at the monastery, the monk gave orders to allow everyone into the monastery enclosure. His disciples were annoyed, knowing that the monastery did not have the means to feed all those who had come. But when they went into the bakery, they saw that through the prayers of the abba, it was filled with bread. This miracle was repeated every time St. Theodosios wanted to help the destitute.

At the monastery St. Theodosios built an home for taking in strangers, separate infirmaries for monks and laymen, and also a shelter for the dying. Seeing that people from various lands gathered at the Lavra, the saint arranged for services in the various languages: Greek, Georgian and Armenian. All gathered to receive the Holy Mysteries in the large church, where divine services were chanted in Greek.

During the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Anastasios (491-518) there arose the heresy of Eutychios and Severus, which recognized neither the sacraments nor the clergy. The emperor accepted the false teaching, and the Orthodox began to suffer persecution. St. Theodosios stood firmly in defense of Orthodoxy and wrote a letter to the emperor on behalf of the monks, in which they denounced him and refuted the heresy with the teachings of the Ecumenical Councils. He affirmed moreover, that the desert-dwellers and monks would firmly support the Orthodox teaching. The emperor showed restraint for a short while, but then he renewed his persecution of the Orthodox. The holy Elder then showed great zeal for the truth. Leaving the monastery, he came to Jerusalem and in the church, he stood at the high place and cried out for all to hear: “Whoever does not honor the four Ecumenical Councils, let him be anathema!” For this bold deed the monk was sent to prison, but soon returned after the death of the emperor.

St. Theodosios accomplished many healings and other miracles during his life, coming to the aid of the needy. Through his prayers he once destroyed the locusts devastating the fields in Palestine. Also by his intercession, soldiers were saved from death, and he also saved those perishing in shipwrecks and those lost in the desert.

Once, the saint gave orders to strike the semandron (a piece of wood hit with a mallet), so that the brethren would gather at prayer. He told them, “The wrath of God draws near the East.” After several days it became known that a strong earthquake had destroyed the city of Antioch at the very hour when the saint had summoned the brethren to prayer.

Before his death, St. Theodosios summoned to him three beloved bishops and revealed to them that he would soon depart to the Lord. After three days, he died at the age of 105. The saint’s body was buried with reverence in the cave in which he lived at the beginning of his ascetic deeds.”

Source: full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com

[ORTHODOXIA]

Saint Anthony the Great (January 17)



by Christina Dedoussis

Saint Anthony was born in the year 251 AD in Egypt of very pious parents. His education was limited, however he attended church with his parents and intensely observed the services, wanting to enrich his spiritual growth.

His parents died when he was 18 years old. He lived with his sister and took care of family affairs. One day when he attended the liturgy, he heard the words that Jesus had said to a wealthy young man, "If wilt be perfect, go sell all that thou hast and give it to the poor and come follow me..."

He was so impressed by these words that he decided to do as Christ had told the young man. He sold off his plots of farmland, gave the money to the poor and entrusted his sister to a Christian home for virgins for at this time there were no monasteries. Those who wanted to meditate would build cells a short distance from the city and live there. This is what Anthony did.

In the area lived an old hermit. Anthony followed his example by praying, meditating and fasting in order to overcome the many temptations which are common to young men. He drilled himself by remaining awake days at a time, eating once a day, sometimes once every two days and sleeping on the ground. The philosophy behind his actions was that young men should torture their bodies as much as possible so that their resistance to physical and spiritual sickness would be higher.

The years passed. To further his spiritual struggle, at the age of 35 he departed for the desert where he found a derelict fortress in which he barricaded himself. Completely isolated, but for a good Christian who bought him food every six months or so, he pursued with greater severity his ascetic way of life, constantly battling Satan's temptations.

As the years passed many men came to him, expressing the desire to follow his example by living the life of a hermit and undergoing spiritual struggles. He taught his brothers to prefer their love for Christ over everything else. Even though Saint Anthony lacked education, his words were full of faith and divine wisdom. His reputation and ascetic figure added a heavenly charm to his teachings.

In time this became the first monastery, established in 305 AD. It is for this reason that Saint Anthony is generally known as the Father of Monasticism. From this one brotherhood many more sprouted throughout the known world. Rules were soon established which were to be followed by all hermit monks.

During the time of the persecutions under Emperor Maximianos, Anthony and several other monks travelled to Alexandria to encourage and comfort the many suffering Christians. In 325 AD, Anthony and his monks helped defeat the Arian heretics at the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea.

Many miracles are attributed to this religious father. His fame reached even Constantinople. Constantine the Great and one of his sons would write letters to Saint Anthony asking for his blessing and advice.

Saint Anthony died in 356 AD at the age of 105. He instructed two of his monks to bury him secretly. This they did, and his resting place is still unknown.

from Voice in the Wilderness
newsletter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
Parish of St George, South Brisbane

Source: www.orthodoxchristian.info

[Νίκος]

Sts. Athanasios and Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria (January 18 )



Saints Athanasius and Cyril were Archbishops of Alexandria. These wise teachers of truth and defenders of Christ's Church share a joint Feast in recognition of their dogmatic writings which affirm the truth of the Orthodox Faith, correctly interpret the Holy Scripture, and censure the delusions of the heretics.

St Athanasius took part in the First Ecumenical Council when he was still a deacon. He surpassed everyone there in his zeal to uphold the teaching that Christ is consubstantial (homoousios) with the Father, and not merely a creature, as the Arians proclaimed. This radiant beacon of Orthodoxy spent most of his life in exile from his See, because of the plotting of his enemies. He returned to his flock as he was approaching the end of his life. Like an evening star, he illumined the Orthodox faithful with his words for a little while, then reposed in 373. He is also commemorated on May 2 (the transfer of his holy relics).

St Cyril was the nephew of Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria, who educated him from his youth. He succeeded to his uncle's position in 412, but was deposed through the intrigues of the Nestorian heretics. He later resumed his See, however. St Cyril presided at the Third Ecumenical Council in 441, which censured the Nestorian blasphemy against the Most Holy Theotokos. His wise words demonstrated the error of their false doctrine. St Cyril departed to the Lord in the year 444, and is also commemorated on June 9 (the day of his repose)."

Apolytikion of Sts. Athanasios and Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria in the Third ToneShining forth with works of Orthodoxy, ye quenched every false belief and teaching and became trophy-bearers and conquerors. And since ye made all things rich and with true piety, greatly adorning the Church with magnificence, Athanasius and wise Cyril, ye both have worthily found Christ God, Who doth grant great mercy unto all.

Kontakion in the Fourth ToneO great Hierarchs of piety and brave champions of the Church of Christ, you watch over all who sing, "Save us who in faith honor you, O Compassionate."

Source: full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com