Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
ORTHODOX TRADITION
CHAPTER
PAGE
Introduction
10
Ecumenical Patriarch
12
15
Icons In Orthodoxy
16
Incorrupt Relics
34
Glossary
44
Atlas
65
January Saints
83
February Saints
135
March Saints
177
2
CHAPTER
PAGE
April Saints
224
May Saints
282
June Saints
355
July Saints
405
August Saints
480
September Saints
523
October Saints
575
November Saints
617
December Saints
688
740
The objective of this book is for each Knight of the Order to have a
daily saints reading to give each Knight encouragement in their own
daily life. The example of these saints, many of whom gave their life
for their faith, is one which we should emulate. We do not need to
give up our wealth or move to the desert and live in a cave, but we do
need to follow these saints example of loving God and living in his
Holy Will.
We have also added a number of short chapters that will, hopefully,
answer many questions that the reader may have.
When the inspiration of an Orthodox Saint of the Day e-mail to the
Knights of the Order first materialized, there were a number of
concepts that were considered. Most were discarded, but a set of
guidelines were developed to standardize the daily post.
First, the saint must be Orthodox. Until the Great Schism in 1054, the
Roman and Orthodox branches of the Christian Church shared the
same
saints.
After
1054,
the
Orthodox
Church
began
to
The Orthodox Church does not follow any official procedure for the
"recognition" of saints. Initially the Church accepted as saints those
who had suffered martyrdom for Christ. The saints are saints thanks
to the grace of God, and they do not need official ecclesiastical
recognition. The Christian people, reading their lives and witnessing
their performance of miracles, accept and honor them as saints.
Saint John Chrysostom, persecuted and exiled by the civil and
ecclesiastical authorities, was accepted as a saint of the Church by
popular acclaim.
encyclical
letters
(tomoi)
in
which
the
Holy
Synod
19).
reconciled men by Christ's death, "so that He may present you before
Himself holy, without blemish and innocent in His sight" (Col 1: 22).
In our society, however, who can be addressed as a saint? Who are
those men and women and children who may be called saints by the
Church today?
seven categories:
1. The Apostles, who were the first ones to spread the message of
the Incarnation of the Word of God and of salvation through
Christ.
2. The Prophets, because they predicted and prophesied the
coming of the Messiah.
3. The Martyrs, for sacrificing their lives and fearlessly confessing
Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of mankind.
4. The Fathers and Hierarchs of the Church, who excelled in
explaining and in defending, by word and deed, the Christian
faith.
5. The Monastics, who lived in the desert and dedicated themselves
to spiritual exercise (askesis), reaching, as far as possible,
perfection in Christ.
6. The Just, those who lived in the world, leading exemplary lives
as clergy or laity with their families, becoming examples for
imitation in society.
slowly fading even before the Ecumenical Patriarch suggested that all
saints, regardless of who created the saint, be recognized by all in
the Orthodox faith.
10
11
speak to the position of the office, not to the person holding the
office.
The Ecumenical Patriarch has been historically known as the Greek
Patriarch of Constantinople, as distinct from the Armenian Patriarch
of Constantinople and the Crusader Latin Patriarch of Constantinople.
Historically, within the five ecumenical sees of Pentarchy, the
patriarch is regarded as the successor of Saint Andrew, the Apostle.
The Turkish government recognizes him as the spiritual leader of the
Greek minority in Turkey, and refer to him as the Greek Orthodox
Patriarch of the Phanar. The Patriarch was subject to the authority of
the Ottoman Empire after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453,
until the declaration of Turkish Republic in 1923.
The Patriarch of Constantinople has been designated the Ecumenical
Patriarch since the sixth century.
The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is first in honor among all
Eastern Orthodox bishops, presides in person - or through a delegate over any council of Orthodox primates and/or bishops in which he
takes part and serves as primary spokesman for the Orthodox
12
Patriarchs.
In addition to being the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox
Christians worldwide, he is the direct administrative superior of
dioceses and archdioceses serving millions of Greek, Ukrainian,
Rusyn and Albanian believers in North and South America, Western
Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Hong Kong, Korea, Southeast
Asia and parts of modern Greece which, for historical reasons, do not
fall under the jurisdiction of another Patriarch.
He should not be confused with the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople,
an office that is now extinct, and created after the Latin capture of
Constantinople in 1204, during the Fourth Crusade. That office
became effectively redundant after the city was recaptured by the
Byzantine Greeks, half a century later.
He is also known, outside Orthodoxy, as the Greek Patriarch of
Constantinople. His official title is "His All-Holiness the Archbishop of
Constantinople New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch."
13
Seal of Bartholomew I
Current Patriarch
Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Patriarchate of Constantinople
14
,
,
.
Christ is risen from the dead,
Trampling down death by death,
And upon those in the tombs
Bestowing life!
15
given much thought to the use of icons. Being raised a Baptist, and
being a minister in The Salvation Army, iconography had never been a
part of my life.
16
This could
explain the reason that for the first centuries of its existence, the
new Christian religion, probably affected by its Jewish roots and the
Second Commandment Thou shall not make unto thee any graven
images, objected to figurative sacred art and to any representation
of the Deity.
During the
dynamic
movement
and
energy
of
the
represented
18
and
its
symmetrical
and
natural
connections
with
the
surroundings are no longer the first priority. The figure becomes two
dimensional, frontal, flat and static.
shows the inner spiritual life of the depicted figure and immaterializes
its existence without denying the nature itself.
Christianity teaches that the Divine God became human flesh in the
form of Jesus Christ, making it possible to create depictions of the
human
form
of
the
Son
of
God
and
not
defy
the
Second
since not only the illiterate believers but also the churchmen
themselves could not understand how the Trinity of God as the One
and only God, and the divine and human nature of Christ could be
reconciled.
In the 726, a theological debate involving both the Byzantine state
and church, known as Iconoclasm, began. The Emperor Leo III and a
group of overzealous traditionalists arguing that misinterpretation and
misuse of religious images usually leads to heresy barred the
production and use of figural images and began a systematic
destruction of holy images in the Empire.
which spanned roughly a century, during the years 726-787 and 815843, centered on the appropriate use of Orthodox icons in religious
veneration
and
the
precise
relationship
between
the
sacred
personage and its image. The fear that the believer misdirected their
veneration towards the image rather than directing that veneration to
the holy person represented in the image lay at the heart of the
controversy. Old Testament prohibitions against worshipping graven
images provided one of the most powerful arguments for the
Byzantine iconoclasts.
The iconodules (the defenders of Orthodox Icons), who opposed to
iconoclasts, attempted to prove that icons were not worshipped but
venerated and that such veneration was not idolatry.
They based
reasons for and the importance of Orthodox Icon veneration. St. John
of Damascus argued that it is not divine beauty that is given form
and shape, but the human form that is rendered by the painters
brush.
and
transfigured.
The
Empress
Irene
suspended
the
21
which the icon represents, and he who reveres in it the person who is
represented.
In 815 AD, Leo the Armenian renewed attacks on the Orthodox Icons.
However, the iconoclasts were defeated for good in 843 during the
reign of the Empress Theodora; the day of their defeat is celebrated
every year on the first Sunday after Lent as the Triumph of Orthodoxy.
This iconoclastic controversy had a profound effect on the production
of Byzantine Icons after their reintroduction in 843. After the triumph
of Orthodox Icons, iconography developed at an unprecedented rate
and changes shaped by this controversy included the evolution of
distinct portrait images, the growing popularity of certain subjects
such as Christs Resurrection from the depths of hell and the Virgin
Mary.
23
In this article, we will discuss the more traditional art form, knowing
that
the
only
difference
between
the
traditionalist
and
the
converge and spiral into power points; hair curls and waves with the
saints energies; and increasingly bright layers of highlights symbolize
levels of consciousness. Light comes primarily from within the figure.
Linear perspective, which was introduced in the Thirteenth and
Fourteenth centuries, is constructed with great geometric precision.
This is illustrated in the wall painting of the Annunciation by Fra.
Angelico that is in the cloister of San Marco in Florence.
Here even the architectural details are used to create this type of
space. The space that is created lends to the figures a peaceful and
harmonious sense of "presence, yet the environment that they stand
in are closed.
which drawn the attention of the viewer into the picture. The viewer
must "enter into" the picture in order to witness the beauty of the
event.
Inverse or Byzantine perspective is frequently but not exclusively
used in the painting of icons. With this form of perspective the viewer
25
It is just
in
the
icon
are
highlighted
based
upon
their
are awkwardly drawn and the profile indicates that the character
is less significant and perhaps even spiteful.
True function and realism in architecture are also suspended in
the icon. Natural proportions are completely ignored, and doors
and
windows
are
often
represented
without
taking
into
The Eastern
high status. The spear is also a hiking stick, to show that the
angel is on a journey.
In addition, the
carving,
precious
metals
(sometimes
set
with
jewels),
28
More recently, artists have made icons and sacred art in such
mediums as oil paint on canvas, acrylic paint, batik, beads, sequins,
felt, appliqu, quilting, collage, photography, and cold wax encaustic
painting, whatever art materials and methods they are accustomed to
use.
Most of the writers approach an icon in an attitude of reverence and
prayer.
Rules
Before starting work, make the sign of the Cross; pray in silence
and pardon your enemies.
Work with care on every detail of your icon, as if you were
working in front of the Lord Himself.
During work, pray in order to strengthen yourself physically and
spiritually; avoid all useless words, and keep silence.
Pray in particular to the Saint whose face you are painting. Keep
your mind from distractions, and the Saint will be close to you.
When you choose a color, stretch out your hands interiorly to the
Lord and ask His Counsel.
Do not be jealous of your neighbors work; their success is your
success also.
When your icon is finished, thank God that His Mercy granted you
the grace to paint the Holy Images.
Have your new icon blessed by putting it on the Holy Table of
your parish church. Be the first to pray before it, before giving it
to others.
Never forget:
the joy of spreading icons throughout the world.
29
Spare him
worthily and perfectly portray Thine icon, that of Thy Mother, and all
the Saints, for the glory, joy and adornment of Thy Holy Church.
Forgive my sins and the sins of those who will venerate these icons
and who, kneeling devoutly before them, give homage to those they
represent.
Protect them from all evil and instruct them with good
counsel. This I ask through the intercession of Thy most Holy Mother,
the Apostle Luke, and all the saints. Amen.
30
Fill my soul with joy and gladness, for Thou alone art the
Lover of mankind. Let Thy grace sanctify and dwell within this icon,
that it may edify and inspire those who gaze upon it and venerate it;
that in glorifying the one depicted, they may be repentant of their sins
and
strengthened
against
every
attack
of
the
adversary.
Thus, we see that an icon must indeed depict that which we see with
our eyes, preserving the characteristics of the body's form, for in this
world the soul acts through the body. Yet at the same time it must
point towards the inner, spiritual essence.
One is a
Rev. Dr. Steven Bingham, Early Christian Attitudes Toward Images, Orthodox
Research Institute, 2004
ii
Leonid Ouspensky, Theology of the Icon", St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1978
iii
Ernst Kitzinger, The Cult of Images in the Age before Iconoclasm, Dumbarton
Oaks, 1954
Valaimir Lossky with Leonid Ouspensky, The Meaning of Icons, by, SVS Press,
iv
1999.
v
vi
Robin Cormack, Writing in Gold, Byzantine Society and its Icons, 1985, George
Philip, London
vii
33
The body of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, found to be incorrupt by the Catholic Church.
(b. January 7, 1844 d. April 16, 1879).
Over the past few months while I have been compiling the Saint of the
Day for the Knights of the Order, I have had many questions and
comments sent me.
explain how this could happen. In the ocean, particularly in oxygenstarved environments, is the build-up of adipocere around a body.
Adipocere is a waxy substance, often found in soap. It builds up in
bodies that are exposed to bacteria, but not to air. The anaerobic
bacteria process the fat tissue and create adipocere.
Adipocere, also known as corpse, grave or mortuary wax, as it is a
wax-like organic substance formed by the
anaerobic bacterial
the brain of a 13th-century infant such that sulci, gyri, and even Nissl
bodies in the motor cortex could be distinguished in the 20th century.
An exposed, infested body or a body in a warm environment is
unlikely to form deposits of adipocere.
Corpses of women, infants and overweight persons are particularly
prone to adipocere transformation because they contain more body
fat. In forensic science, the utility of adipocere formation to estimate
the postmortem interval is limited because the speed of the process
is
temperature-dependent.
It
is
accelerated
by
warmth,
but
unearthed the body of the saint, they saw what to them was a wellpreserved body.
To the Orthodox Church, incorruptibility continues to be an important
element for the process of glorification. An important distinction is
36
Ioasaph's relics from his shrine in the cathedral of the Holy Trinity
at Belgorod, and for some seventy years their whereabouts
remained unknown. In 1927 the cathedral itself was demolished. In
37
Saint Agatha
Saint Antoninus
Saint Benezet
Saint Cecilia
Saint Coloman
Saint Cuthbert
Saint Etheldreda
39
Saint Guthlac
Saint Idesbald
Saint Josaphat
41
Saint Romuald
Saint Silvan
Saint Sperandia
42
Saint Waltheof
Saint Werburgh
Saint Withburga
Saint Wunibald
Saint Zita
Remember what Saint Paul said in his book to the Hebrews. Now
faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not
see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we
understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that
what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
So I give you a deep theological concept:
43
representations
of
the
entombment
of
Christ,
the
four
the
priest
always
uses
the
antimension,
even
on
consecrated altar that has relics sealed in it. At the Divine Liturgy,
during the Litanies (Ektenias) that precede the Great Entrance the
eiliton is opened fully and the antimension is opened three-quarters of
the way, leaving the top portion folded. Then, during the Litany of the
Catechumens, when the deacon says, "That He (God) may reveal unto
them (the catechumens) the Gospel of righteousness," the priest
unfolds the last portion of the antimension, revealing the mystery of
Christ's death and resurrection. After the Entrance, the chalice and
diskos are placed on the antimension and the Gifts (bread and wine)
are consecrated. The antimension remains unfolded until after all
have received Holy Communion and the chalice and diskos are
returned to the Table of oblation (Prothesis). The deacon (or, if there
is no deacon, the priest) must very carefully inspect the antimension
to be sure there are no crumbs left on it. Then, it is folded, followed
by folding the eiliton, and after which the Gospel Book placed on top
of it.
APOSTLES - Disciples of Christ, accompanying Him in His public
service, and later spreading faith throughout the world.
45
ARCH - extreme; most fully embodying the qualities of the kind (e.g.
archconservative).
ARCHHERISIARCH - one who originates or is the chief proponent of a
heresy or heretical movement.
ARCHIMANDRITE - the title Archimandrite, primarily used in the
Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally
referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise
several ordinary abbots (each styled hegumenos) and monasteries,
or to the abbot of some especially great and important monastery.
The title is also used as one purely of honor, with no connection to
any actual monastery, and is bestowed on clergy as a mark of respect
or gratitude for service to the Church. This particular sign of respect
is only given to those priests who have taken vows of celibacy, that is
monks;
distinguished
married
clergy
may
receive
the
title
of
archpriest.
ARCHDEACON - an archdeacon is a senior clergy position in
Anglicanism, Chaldean Catholic, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, and some
other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a
bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan
position below a bishop. An archdeacon is often responsible for
administration
within
an
archdeaconry,
which
is
the
principal
46
The Roman
For
the
Church. It is laid out in the form of a cross. The door is on the south
side and the round nave at the top is where the Altar is located. The
right arm is again rounded, and that is where the clergy often sit. The
left arm of the cross is also rounded and that is where the choir sits.
48
49
same format as the Stavrophore, and he makes the same vows and is
tonsured in the same manner.
For this
The Greek
form does not have a hood, the Slavic form has a hood and lappels on
the shoulders, so that the garment forms a large cross covering the
monks shoulders, chest, and back.
hieroschemamonk,
archimandrite
becomes
schema-
In the Russian
51
HEIROMONK
In the
53
standing may be anointed with the holy oil for the healing of spiritual
and bodily ills.
In
Eastern
Christianity
an
iconostasis
(plural:
An
In the Slavic
55
bishop
or
archbishop
(then
more
precisely
called
Roman
province,
ecclesiastical
province,
or
regional
capital.
MOLIEBEN - (also called a moeben, service of intercession, or service
of supplication) is a supplication prayer service in honor of either our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, or a particular saint or martyr.
It is a Slavic service, but closely related to the Paraklesis service. A
molieben in usually served by an ordained priest, but a layman can
also do a molieben, although in a modified form.
MONASTIC HABIT - the same throughout the Eastern Church (with
certain slight regional variations), and it is the same for both monks
and nuns. Each successive grade is given a portion of the habit, the
full habit being worn only by those in the highest grade, known for
56
One
monastery and living as a guest for not less than three days, the
abbot or abbess may bless the candidate to become a novice. There
is no formal ceremony for the clothing of a novice, he or she simply
receives permission to wear the clothing of a novice. In the Eastern
monastic tradition, novices may or may not dress in the black inner
cassock and wear the soft monastic hat (Skufia), depending on the
tradition of the local community, and in accordance to the abbots
directives. In some communities, the novice also wears the leather
belt. Monks are given a prayer rope and instructed in the use of the
Jesus Prayer. If a novice chooses to leave during the period of the
novitiate, no penalty is incurred. He may also be asked to leave at
any time if his behavior does not conform to the monastic life, or if
the superior discerns that he is not called to monasticism. When the
abbot or abbess deems the novice ready, he is asked if he wishes to
join the monastery.
57
The word
occasionally
the
two
observances
coincide,
and
on
occasion they can be four weeks apart. The reason for the difference
is that, though the two calendars use the same underlying formula to
determine the festival, they compute from different starting points.
The older Julian calendar's solar calendar is 13 days behind the
Gregorian's and its lunar calendar is four to five days behind the
Gregorian's. See the Pascha dates listed elsewhere in this book.
PASSION-BEARERS - those who died at the hands of murderers and
bandits, a term used throughout the Orthodox Church
58
In the New
outer robe with wide sleeves, from which the name of Rassophore is
derived.
early monastic orders along with eremitic and coenobitic that became
popular during the early formation of the Christian Church.
Skete
The paramandyas
bearer", "Birth-Giver of God" and "the one who gives birth to God."
Less literal translations include "Mother of God. The ancient use of
this term is emphasized in Churches of the Syriac Tradition who have
been using this title in their ancient liturgies for centuries. The
Anaphora of Mari and Addai (3rd Century) and the Liturgy of St. James
the Just (60). Roman Catholics and Anglicans use the title "Mother of
God" more often than "Theotokos." The Council of Ephesus decreed in
431 that Mary is Theotokos because her son Jesus is both God and
man: one Divine Person with two natures (Divine and human).
TONSURE - Tonsure refers to the practice of cutting or shaving some
or all of the hair on the scalp, as a sign of religious devotion or
humility. The term originates from the Latin word tonsra (to clip, or
cut) and referred to a specific practice in Monistic vows. Current
usage more generally refers to cutting or shaving for monks,
devotees, or mystics of any religion as a symbol of their renunciation
of worldly fashion and esteem. Tonsure also refers to the secular
practice of shaving all or part of the scalp to show support or
sympathy, or to designate mourning..
TRAPEZA - In a monastery a trapeza is the dining hall where monks
and pilgrims gather for food and conversation (although monks dont
usually talk during meals).
TROPARIA - A troparion in Byzantine music and in the religious music
of Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a short hymn of one stanza, or one
of a series of stanzas. The word probably derives from a diminutive of
the Greek tropos (something repeated, manner, fashion). The
early troparion was also called sticheron (probably from stichos,
verse); but currently the two terms are treated separately, with
different melodies used for each.
63
64
surrounding Asia Minor are the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the
Mediterranean Sea.
ATHENS - is the capital and largest city of Greece.
ATHOS - see Mount Athos.
BITHYNIA - was an ancient region kingdom and Roman province in the
northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis the Thracian
Bosporus and the Euxine (today Black Sea). It also includes the city
of Constantinople.
BREST - is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the
city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet. It is
the capital city of the Brest oblast.
CAESAREA - is a town in Israel located mid-way between Tel Aviv and
Haifa (45 km), on the Israeli coastal plain near the city of Hadera.
GANGRA - or ankr is the capital city of ankr Province, in Turkey,
about 140 km (87 mi) northeast of Ankara.
CAPPADOCIA - is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in
Nevehir Province, in Turkey.
CARTHAGE - is a suburb of Tunis, Tunisia and was the center of the
Carthaginian Empire in antiquity.
CETINJE - is a city and old royal capital of Montenegro.
CHERNIGOV - a historic city in northern Ukraine.
66
67
was
called
Lampsacene.
The
name
has
been
71
lands today on the border between France and Germany, and what is
now western Switzerland.
LYCIA - was a geopolitical region in Anatolia in what are now the
provinces of Antalya and Mula on the southern coast of Turkey, and
Burdur Province inland.
MESOPOTAMIA - is a name for the area of the TigrisEuphrates river
system, corresponding to modern-day Iraq, the northeastern section
of Syria and to a much lesser extent southeastern Turkey, smaller
parts of southwestern Iran and Kuwait.
MESSINIA - the southwestern part of the Peloponnese, Greece.
MITYLENE - is a town and a former municipality on the island of
Lesbos, North Aegean, Greece.
MONZA - is a city and commune on the River Lambro, a tributary of
the Po in the Lombardy region of Italy, about 15 kilometres (9 miles)
north-northeast of Milan.
MONTENEGRO - is a country in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on
the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the
west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the
northeast, Kosovo to the east and Albania to the south-east.
MOUNT ATHOS - is a mountain and peninsula in northern Greece. It is
a World Heritage Site and autonomous polity in the Hellenic Republic.
Mount Athos is home to 20 Stavropegial (self-ruled) Eastern Orthodox
monasteries
under
the
direct
jurisdiction
72
of
the
Patriarch
of
an
ancient
city
in
northern
Turkey
close
to
Constantinople.
NINEVEH - was an ancient Assyrian city on the eastern bank of the
Tigris River, and capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire
73
75
76
the
thirteen
southernmost
nomes
(a
subnational
found relating to the guild of dyers in the city. More guilds are known
in Thyatira than any other contemporary city in the Roman province of
Asia (inscriptions mention the following: wool-workers, linen-workers,
makers of outer garments, dyers, leather-workers, tanners, potters,
bakers, slave-dealers, and bronze-smiths).
woman
named
Jezebel
(who
According to
called
herself
78
TOMBOLO - (from the Italian tombolo, derived from the Latin tumulus,
meaning 'mound,' and sometimes translated as ayre Old Norse eyrr,
meaning 'gravel beach'), is a deposition land form in which an island
is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit
or bar. Once attached, the island is then known as a tied island.
TREBIZOND - The Empire of Trebizond was one of three Byzantine
Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire, along with the
Empire of Nicea and the Despotate of Epirus.
Located at far
79
towers.
80
WALES - is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island
of Great Britain bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic
Ocean and Irish Sea to its west.
ZARZMA - The Zarzma monastery is nested in the forested river valley
of Kvabliani in the Adigeni municipality, 30 km west of the city of
Akhaltsikhe. It is the complex of a series of buildings dominated by a
domed church and a belfry, one of the largest in Georgia.
ZHABYN - a village located between modern day Tula and Bryansk in
the Russian Federation.
ZVENIGOROD - a town in the Moscow oblast.
81
82
83
TODAY IS JANUARY 1
Saint Basil the Great was born about the end of the year 329 in
Caesarea of Cappadocia, to a family renowned for their learning and
holiness. His parents' names were Basil and Emily. His mother Emily
(commemorated July 19) and his grandmother Macrina (Jan. 14) are
Saints of the Church, together with all his brothers and sisters:
Macrina, his elder sister (July 19), Gregory of Nyssa (Jan. to), Peter of
Sebastia (Jan. 9), and Naucratius. Basil studied in Constantinople
under the sophist Libanius, then in Athens, where also he formed a
friendship with the young Gregory, a fellow Cappadocian, later called
"the Theologian." Through the good influence of his sister Macrina
(see July 19), he chose to embrace the ascetical life, abandoning his
worldly career. He visited the monks in Egypt, in Palestine, in Syria,
and in Mesopotamia, and upon returning to Caesarea, he departed to
a hermitage on the Iris River in Pontus, not far from Annesi, where his
mother and his sister Macrina were already treading the path of the
ascetical life; here he also wrote his ascetical homilies. About the
year 370, when the bishop of his country reposed, he was elected to
succeed to his throne and was entrusted with the Church of Christ,
which he tended for eight years, living in voluntary poverty and strict
asceticism, having no other care than to defend holy Orthodoxy as a
worthy successor of the Apostles. The Emperor Valens, and
Modestus, the Eparch of the East, who were of one mind with the
Arians, tried with threats of exile and of torments to bend the saint to
84
85
TODAY IS JANUARY 2
Saint Seraphim was born in the town of Kursk in 1759. From tender
childhood he was under the protection of the most holy Mother of
God, who, when he was nine years old, appeared to him in a vision,
and through her icon of Kursk, healed him from a grave sickness
from which he had not been expected to recover. At the age of
nineteen he entered the monastery of Sarov, where he amazed all
with his obedience, his lofty asceticism, and his great humility. In
1780 the Saint was stricken with a sickness which he manfully
endured for three years, until our Lady the Theotokos healed him,
appearing to him with the Apostles Peter and John. He was
tonsured a monk in 1786, being named for the holy Hieromartyr
Seraphim, Bishop of Phanarion (Dec. 4), and was ordained deacon a
year later. In his unquenchable love for God, he continually added
labors to labors, increasing in virtue and prayer with titan strides.
Once, during the Divine Liturgy of Holy and Great Thursday, he was
counted worthy of a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who appeared
encompassed by the heavenly hosts. After this dread vision, he
gave himself over to greater labors.
fifty, weakened with his more than human struggles, Saint Seraphim
returned to the monastery for the third part of his ascetical labours,
in which he lived as a recluse until 1825. For the first five years of
his reclusion, he spoke to no one at all, and little is known of this
period. After five years, he began receiving visitors little by little,
giving counsel and consolation to ailing souls. In 1825, the most
holy Theotokos appeared to the Saint and revealed to him that it
was pleasing to God that he fully end his seclusion; from this time
the number of people who came to see him grew daily. It was also
at the command of the holy Virgin that he undertook the spiritual
direction of the Diveyevo Convent. He healed bodily ailments,
foretold things to come, brought hardened sinners to repentance,
and saw clearly the secrets of the heart of those who came to him.
Through his utter humility and childlike simplicity, his unrivalled
ascetical travails, and his angel-like love for God, he ascended to
the holiness and greatness of the ancient God-bearing Fathers and
became like Anthony for Egypt, the physician for the whole Russian
land. In all, the most holy Theotokos appeared to him twelve times
in his life. The last was on Annunciation, 1831, to announce to him
that he would soon, enter into his rest. She appeared to him
accompanied by twelve virgins-martyrs and monastic saints; with
Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Theologian. With a body
87
TODAY IS JANUARY 3
and tumult was made as his fellow Christians rejoiced, and the
enemies of the truth cried out for his death. He boldly professed his
faith before the Governor, and after torments was beheaded, in the
reign of Licinius in the year 314. Saint Basil the Great delivered a
homily on Saint Gordios, mentioning that some of those in his
audience had been present at the saint's martyrdom.
TODAY IS JANUARY 4
After choosing the Twelve, Christ the Lord selected seventy lesser
apostles and sent them out to preach, as the holy Evangelist Luke
writes: After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also; and
sent them two and two before His face. The Twelve generally
remained at Christs side, serving as witnesses to His life; but the
Seventy preceded Him in every place He visited. We do not know the
names of all the original Seventy, for, as Saint John the Evangelist
tells us, the time came when many of His disciples went back, and
walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the Twelve, Will ye
also go away? As the Lords Passion approached, the number of His
disciples decreased further: hardly any of the Seventy remained, and
one of the Twelve betrayed Him. After the Resurrection Matthias was
numbered with the Twelve, while the ranks of the Seventy were
89
TODAY IS JANUARY 5
SAINT THEOPEMPTOS
FEAST DAY
90
TODAY IS JANUARY 6
About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner,
who was some six months older than Our Savior according to the
flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a
command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching
the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Savior
also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received
baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant.
Whereupon, there came to pass those marvelous deeds, great and
beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the
form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was
heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved
Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke
3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and
the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from
this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine
manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day
the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth
also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.
91
TODAY IS JANUARY 7
St. Brannock lived in the sixth century, and tutored the children of the
Welsh ruler Brychan. He went with King Brychan on a pilgrimage to
venerate the tombs of the Apostles. On the way home, he stopped in
Brittany and remained there several years where he healed the sick
and did many more miracles. Eventually, the saint returned to Wales
and settled at Braunton, where he built a church. His holy relics are
said to rest beneath the altar of the Braunton church.
TODAY IS JANUARY 8
92
Saint Emilian was a zealous defender of the holy icons during the
reign of
TODAY IS JANUARY 9
Through
93
TODAY IS JANUARY10
before
the
courts.
He
was
distinguished
by
his
magnanimity, patience and love of peace. Having reached old age, St.
Gregory of Nyssa died soon after the Council of Constantinople.
Together with his great contemporaries, Sts. Basil the Great and
Gregory the Theologian, St. Gregory of Nyssa had a significant
influence on the Church life of his time. St. Gregory left behind many
remarkable works of dogmatic character, as well as sermons and
discourses. He has been called "the Father of Fathers."
TODAY IS JANUARY 11
Saint Theodosius the Great lived during the fifth-sixth centuries, and
was
the
founder
of
cenobitic
monasticism.
He
was
born
in
early years he visited the Holy Land and met with St. Simeon the
Stylite (September 1), who blessed him and predicted future pastoral
service for him. Yearning for the solitary life, Saint Theodosius 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. Theodosius 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. Theodosius became
renowned, and up to 700 monks gathered at it. According to the final
testament of St. Theodosius, the lavra rendered service to neighbor,
giving aid to the poor and providing shelter for wanderers. St.
Theodosius 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 abbot, it was filled with bread. This miracle was
repeated every time St. Theodosius wanted to help the destitute. At
the monastery, St. Theodosius built a 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.
96
and
the
Orthodox
began
to
suffer
persecution.
St.
97
TODAY IS JANUARY 12
Saint Eupraxia the Elder was the mother of St. Eupraxia, maiden of
Tabennisi (July 25). She was the wife of the pious senator Antigonus,
who was related to the emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395).
Following the birth of their daughter, the couple decided to live from
that time forward as brother and sister. They distributed alms to the
poor, hoping to inherit the heavenly Kingdom. After she was widowed,
St. Eupraxia devoted herself completely to the service of the Lord.
After visiting several monastic establishments and bestowing liberal
alms, she came to the Tabennisi monastery in Egypt, where the
abbess was the nun Theodula, known for her strict rule. Deeply moved
by the pure way of monastic life, St. Eupraxia came often to this
monastery and always brought her eight-year-old daughter with her.
The virtues and prayers of her parents bestowed a particular grace of
God upon the child, who desired to dedicate herself to God. To her
mother's great joy, the abbess Theodula kept the younger Eupraxia at
the convent and blessed her to receive monastic tonsure. St. Eupraxia
the elder continued her works of charity, and increased her fasting
and prayer. Abbess Theodula, possessing the gift of clairvoyance, told
her of her impending end. Learning of her imminent death, Eupraxia
gave thanks to the Lord for His great mercy towards her. She bid
farewell to the sisters of the convent and to her daughter. She left her
98
with these parting words: "Love the Lord Jesus Christ, and respect
the sisters. Never dare to think that they are below you and should
serve you. Be poor in your thoughts in order to profit by spiritual
treasures. Also remember your father and me, and pray for the
salvation of our souls." After three days the saint surrendered her soul
to the Lord (+ 393) and was buried at the monastery, where her
daughter continued her ascetic struggles.
TODAY IS JANUARY 13
several desert
Fathers of
extremely strict
life. Arriving in
felt a warmth and a flame enter his heart from the icon. It did not burn
him, but he felt a certain sweetness and contrition within. From that
time, his heart began to repeat the Jesus Prayer of itself. In this way,
the Virgin Theotokos fulfilled his request. St. Maximus fulfilled his
obedience in the Lavra of St. Athanasius on Mt. Athos. In order to
conceal his ascetic deeds of fasting and prayer, and to avoid
celebrity, he behaved like a fool. One day, he had a vision of the
Mother of God, who told him to ascend the mountain. On the summit
of the Holy Mountain, he prayed for three days and nights. Again, the
Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him surrounded by angels, and
holding Her divine Son in Her arms. Prostrating himself, the saint
heard the All-Holy Virgin speak to him, "Receive the gift against
demons... and settle at the foot of Athos, for this is the will of My
Son." She told him that he would ascend the heights of virtue, and
become a teacher and guide for many. Then, since he had not eaten
for several days, a heavenly bread was given to him. As soon as he
put it in his mouth, he was surrounded by divine light, and he saw the
Mother of God ascending into Heaven. St. Maximus told his vision to a
certain Elder living by the church of the holy Prophet Elias at Carmel.
He was skeptical, but the saint turned his disbelief to good. He
pretended to be slightly crazy in order to conceal his prodigious
ascetic deeds, privations, his hardship and solitude. St. Maximus did
not live in a permanent abode, but wandered from place to place like
a lunatic. Whenever he moved, he would burn his hut down. Therefore,
he was called "Kavsokalyvites," or "Hut Burner." Those on the Holy
Mountain, knowing of the extreme deprivations and sorrows of St.
Maximus, for a long time regarded him with contempt, even though he
had attained the height and perfection of spiritual life. When St.
Gregory of Sinai (August 8) arrived on Athos, he encountered the holy
fool. After speaking to him, he began to call him an earthly angel. St.
Gregory persuaded St. Maximus to stop behaving like a fool and to
100
live in one place so that others might benefit from his spiritual
experience. Heeding the words of St. Gregory and the advice of other
Elders, St. Maximus selected a permanent dwelling in a cave near the
renowned Elder Isaiah. Knowing of his gift of clairvoyance, the
Byzantine
Emperors
John
Paleologos
(1341-1376)
and
John
TODAY IS JANUARY 14
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, Ninos father was
tonsured a monk. He bid farewell to his family and went to labor in the
wilderness of the Jordan. After Sosana had been separated from her
husband, Patriarch Juvenal ordained her a deaconess. She left Nino in
the care of an old woman, Sara Niaphor, who raised her in the
Christian Faith and related to her the stories of Christs life and His
suffering on earth. It was from Sara that Nino learned how Christs
Robe had arrived in Georgia, a country of pagans. 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. 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!
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.) 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
102
the king, with the family of the royal gardener. The gardener and his
wife were childless, but through St. Ninos prayers, God granted them
a child. The couple rejoiced, 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. King Mirian, a pagan, was not at all pleased
with the great impression St. Ninos 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 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 afraid and prayed in vain for the help of the
pagan gods. When his prayers went unanswered, he finally lost hope
and, miraculously, 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! 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. 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.
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TODAY IS JANUARY 15
Saint John the Hut-Dweller was the son of rich and illustrious parents,
and was born in Constantinople the early fifth century. He received a
fine education, and he mastered rhetoric and philosophy by the age of
twelve. He also loved to read spiritual books. Perceiving the vanity of
worldly life, he chose the path that was narrow and extremely
difficult. Filled with longing to enter a monastery, he confided his
intention to a passing monk. John made him promise to come back for
him when he returned from his pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and take him
to his monastery. He asked his parents for a Gospel so that he might
study the words of Christ. John's parents hired a calligrapher to copy
the text, and had the volume bound in a golden cover studded with
gems. John read the Gospel constantly, delighting in the Savior's
words. The monk kept his promise to come back for John, and they
went secretly to Bithynia. At the monastery of the "Unsleeping"
(Akoimitoi), he received monastic tonsure. The young monk began his
ascetical
unceasing
labors
with
prayer,
perseverance at
zeal,
humble
work.
astonishing
obedience,
After
six
105
the
strict
years, he
brethren
with
abstinence,
began
to
his
and
undergo
TODAY IS JANUARY 16
Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great and king of the Jews,
grew wroth against the Church of Christ, and slew James, the brother
of John the Evangelist. Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he took
Peter also into custody and locked him up in prison, intending to keep
him there until after the feast of the Passover, so that he could win
the favor of the people by presenting him to them as a victim. But the
Apostle was saved when he was miraculously set free by an Angel
(Acts 12:1-19). The chains wherewith the Apostle was bound received
from his most sacred body the grace of sanctification and healing,
107
which is bestowed upon the faithful who draw nigh with faith. That
such sacred treasures work wonders and many healings is witnessed
by the divine Scripture, where it speaks concerning Paul, saying that
the Christians in Ephesus had such reverence for him, that his
handkerchiefs and aprons, taken up with much reverence, healed the
sick of their maladies: "So that from his body were brought unto the
sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them,
and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19:12). But not only the
Apostles' clothing (which certainly touched the bodies of the sick),
but even their shadow alone performed healings. On beholding this,
people put their sick on stretchers and beds and brought them out
into the streets that, when Peter passed by, his shadow "might
overshadow some of them"(Acts 5:15). From this the Orthodox
Catholic Church has learned to show reverence and piety not only to
the relics of their bodies, but also in the clothing of God's Saints.
TODAY IS JANUARY 17
in Egypt in the village of Coma, near the desert of the Thebaid, in the
year 251. His parents were pious Christians of illustrious lineage.
Anthony was a serious child and was respectful and obedient to his
parents. He loved to attend church services, and he listened to the
Holy Scripture so attentively, that he remembered what he heard all
his life. When St. Anthony was about twenty years old, he lost his
parents, but he was responsible for the care of his younger sister.
Going to church about six months later, the youth reflected on how
the faithful, in the Acts of the Apostles (4:35), sold their possessions
and gave the proceeds to the Apostles for the needy. Then he entered
the church and heard the Gospel passage where Christ speaks to the
rich young man: "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess
and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and
come follow Me" (Mt.19:21). Anthony felt that these words applied to
him. Therefore, he sold the property that he received after the death
of his parents, then distributed the money to the poor, and left his
sister in the care of pious virgins in a convent. Leaving his parental
home, St. Anthony began his ascetical life in a hut not far from his
village. By working with his hands, he was able to earn his livelihood
and also alms for the poor. Sometimes, the holy youth also visited
other ascetics living in the area, and from each he sought direction
and benefit. He turned to one particular ascetic for guidance in the
spiritual life. In this period of his life St. Anthony endured terrible
temptations from the devil. The Enemy of the race of man troubled the
young ascetic with thoughts of his former life, doubts about his
chosen path, concern for his sister, and he tempted Anthony with
lewd thoughts and carnal feelings. But the saint extinguished that fire
by meditating on Christ and by thinking of eternal punishment,
thereby
overcoming
the
devil.
Realizing
that
the
devil
would
the path of salvation. And he was granted a vision. The ascetic beheld
a man, who by turns alternately finished a prayer, and then began to
work. This was an angel, which the Lord had sent to instruct His
chosen one. St. Anthony tried to accustom himself to a stricter way of
life. He partook of food only after sunset, he spent all night praying
until dawn. Soon he slept only every third day. But the devil would not
cease his tricks, and trying to scare the monk, he appeared under the
guise of monstrous phantoms. The saint however protected himself
with the Life-Creating Cross. Finally the Enemy appeared to him in the
guise of a frightful looking black child, and hypocritically declaring
himself beaten, he thought he could tempt the saint into vanity and
pride. The saint, however, vanquished the Enemy with prayer. For
even greater solitude, St. Anthony moved farther away from the
village, into a graveyard. He asked a friend to bring him a little bread
on designated days, then shut himself in a tomb. Then the devils
pounced upon the saint intending to kill him, and inflicted terrible
wounds upon him. By the providence of the Lord, Anthony's friend
arrived the next day to bring him his food. Seeing him lying on the
ground as if dead, he took him back to the village. They thought the
saint was dead and prepared for his burial. At midnight, St. Anthony
regained consciousness and told his friend to carry him back to the
tombs. St. Anthony's staunchness was greater than the wiles of the
Enemy. Taking the form of ferocious beasts, the devils tried to force
the saint to leave that place, but he defeated them by trusting in the
Lord. Looking up, the saint saw the roof opening, as it were, and a ray
of light coming down toward him. The demons disappeared and he
cried out, "Where have You been, O Merciful Jesus? Why didn't You
appear from the very beginning to end my pain?" The Lord replied, "I
was here, Anthony, but wanted to see your struggle. Now, since you
have not yielded, I shall always help you and make your name known
throughout all the world." After this vision St. Anthony was healed of
110
his wounds and felt stronger than before. He was then thirty-five
years of age. Having gained spiritual experience in his struggle with
the devil, St. Anthony considered going into the Thebaid desert to
serve the Lord. He asked the Elder (to whom he had turned for
guidance at the beginning of his monastic journey) to go into the
desert with him. The Elder, while blessing him in the then as yet
unheard of exploit of being a hermit, decided not to accompany him
because of his age. St. Anthony went into the desert alone. The devil
tried to hinder him, by placing a large silver disc in his path, then
gold, but the saint ignored it and passed by. He found an abandoned
fort on the other side of the river and settled there, barricading the
entrance with stones. His faithful friend brought him bread twice a
year, and there was water inside the fort. St. Anthony spent twenty
years in complete isolation and constant struggle with the demons,
and he finally achieved perfect calm. The saint's friends removed the
stones from the entrance, and they went to St. Anthony and besought
him to take them under his guidance. Soon St. Anthony's cell was
surrounded by several monasteries, and the saint acted as a father
and guide to their inhabitants, giving spiritual instruction to all who
came into the desert seeking salvation. He increased the zeal of
those who were already monks, and inspired others with a love for the
ascetical life. He told them to strive to please the Lord, and not to
become faint-hearted in their labors. He also urged them not to fear
demonic assaults, but to repel the Enemy by the power of the LifeCreating Cross of the Lord. In the year 311 there was a fierce
persecution against Christians, in the reign of the emperor Maximian.
Wishing to suffer with the holy martyrs, St. Anthony left the desert
and went to Alexandria. He openly ministered to those in prison, he
was present at the trial and interrogations of the confessors, and
accompanying the martyrs to the place of execution. It pleased the
Lord to preserve him, however, for the benefit of Christians. At the
111
Serapion of Thmuis (March 21). St. Anthony died peacefully in the year
356, at age 105, and he was buried in the desert by his disciples.
TODAY IS JANUARY 18
and
defender
of
the
Georgian
Church.
His
work
translated from the original, that is, from the language in which it was
first written. 2. The translation must carry the same literal meaning
as the original, but accuracy in this regard must not violate the nature
of the language into which the text is being translated. 3. A section of
commentary that examines all relevant historical, grammatical, and
literary issues should be included with the translated text. Ephraim
translated five of the works of St. Dionysius the Areopagite, The
Ascetic Rules of St. Basil the Great, the writings of St. Ephraim the
Syrian, commentaries on the Epistles and Psalms, and many other
important patristic writings. Among Ephraim the Lessors original
works, his most significant is An Explanation of the Reasons for the
the Black Mountains. Our holy father Ephraim reposed in the Lord
around the year 1101. He is included in a list of the departed compiled
by the Council of Ruisi-Urbnisi in 1103, and the year of his death has
been approximated from the information given in this source. Saint
Ephraim was canonized by the Orthodox Church of Georgia because
of his God-pleasing life and the many commendable works he
performed on behalf of the Church and his nation.
TODAY IS JANUARY 19
The great teacher and invincible defender of the One, Holy, Orthodox,
and Apostolic Church, Saint Mark, was the offspring and scion of the
imperial city, Constantinople. Reared by most pious parents, and
instructed in secular and spiritual wisdom, he became preeminent in
both. Saint Mark lived as an ascetic on the Prince's Islands and later
in the monastery of Saint George Magana in Constantinople. He
passed through all the degrees of the priesthood, and was finally
advanced to the dignity of Archbishop and the lofty throne of the
Metropolis of Ephesus. At the insistence of Emperor John Paleologos,
the Saint was sent to the council of the Latins in Florence, to unite
the churches that had been divided for so many years. He astounded
115
the papal teachers with the divine wisdom of his words, and was the
only one who did not sign the blasphemous decree of that false
council. Because of this, the Holy Church of Christ has ever honored
this great man as a benefactor, teacher, sole defender, and invincible
champion of the Apostolic Confession. He reposed in 1443.
TODAY IS JANUARY 20
The Holy Martyrs Inna, Pinna and Rimma were Slavs from northern
Scythia (modern-day Bulgaria). They were disciples of the holy
Apostle Andrew the First-Called in the first century and preached the
Gospel of Christ and baptized many of those who sought the True
Faith. The women traveled with St. Andrew on many of his missions.
In present-day Kiev, they all stood on a hill and planted a cross,
prophesying that one day there would be a flowering of Christianity in
that city. Learning they were Christians, the local prince had them
seized and demanded that they offer sacrifice to the idols. However,
the women refused to denounce Christ. It was wintertime, and the
rivers were so frozen that not only people but horses with carts could
travel across the ice. The prince ordered that the women be tied to
logs. They were gradually lowered into the freezing water, and when
the ice reached their necks, they offered their blessed souls to the
Lord. The Cathedral of St. Andrew in Kiev, Ukraine, was built on the
same spot where the holy martyrs stood with St. Andrew.
116
TODAY IS JANUARY 21
The Holy Martyrs Eugene, Candidus, Valerian and Aquila suffered for
their faith in Christ during the reign of Diocletian (284-305) and
Maximian
(305-311),
under
the
regimental
commander
Lycius.
Valerian, Candidus and Aquila had hidden themselves in the hills near
Trebizond, preferring life among the wild beasts to living with the
pagans. They were soon found, however, and brought to Trebizond.
For their bold and steadfast confession of faith in Christ the holy
martyrs were whipped with ox thongs, scraped with iron claws, then
were burned with fire. Several days later St. Eugene was also
arrested, and subjected to the same tortures. Later, they poured
vinegar laced with salt into his wounds. After these torments, they
threw the four martyrs into a red-hot oven. When they emerged from it
unharmed, they were beheaded, receiving their incorruptible crowns
from God. Saint Eugene became the Patron Saint of Trebizond during
the Byzantine era (orderofsteugene.com).
117
TODAY IS JANUARY 22
by Polish
Lisovski.
man a drink. When both the external and internal life of the monastery
had been restored, St. Onuphrius withdrew from the general monastic
life, and having entrusted the guidance of the brethren to one of his
disciples, he took the schema with the name Macarius. For the place
of his solitude, he chose a spot along the upper tributary of the River
Zhabynka. About one verst separated the mouth of the tributary and
the banks of the River Oka. The ascetical struggles of St. Macarius
were concealed not only from the world, but also from his beloved
brethren. He died in 1623 at the age of eighty-four, at the hour when
the roosters start to crow. He was buried opposite the gates of the
monastery on January 22, the commemoration of St. Timothy, where a
church was later built and named for him. The Iconographic Originals
has preserved a description of St. Macarius in his last years: he had
gray hair with a small beard, and over his monastic riassa he wore the
schema. Veneration of St. Macarius was established at the end of the
seventeenth century, or the beginning of the eighteenth. According to
Tradition, his relics remained uncovered, but by 1721 they were
interred in a crypt. In the eighteenth century the monastery became
deserted. The memory of his deeds and miracles was so completely
forgotten, that when the incorrupt relics of the monastery's founder
were uncovered during the construction of the church of St. Nicholas
in 1816, a general panikhida was served over them. The restoration of
the liturgical commemoration of St. Macarius of Belev is credited to
Igumen Jonah, who was born on January 22 (the Feast of St.
Macarius), and who began his own monastic journey at the Optina
monastery not far from the Zhabyn monastery. In 1875 Igumen Jonah
became head of the Zhabyn monastery. His request to re-establish the
Feast of St. Macarius was strengthened by the petition of the people
of Belev, who through the centuries had preserved their faith in the
saint. On January 22, 1888, the annual commemoration of St.
Macarius of Zhabyn was resumed. In 1889, a church dedicated to St.
119
Macarius was built at his tomb. Igumen Jonah, who lived at the
monastery and actually participated in the construction, decided that
in addition to the building project, the holy relics of St. Macarius
would also be uncovered. When everything was on the point of
readiness, St. Macarius appeared to the participants and sternly
warned them that they should not proceed with their intention, or
they would be punished. The memory of this appearance was
reverently preserved among the monks of the monastery.
TODAY IS JANUARY 23
Saint Hieromartyr Clement, who was from Ancyra in Galatia, was the
son of an unbelieving father, but a believing mother whose name was
Sophia. At first he lived as a monk, later he became the bishop of his
city. He suffered so many things in confession of the Faith in Christ,
that the time of his sufferings and struggles stretched out over a
period of twenty-eight years. Finally he and Saint Agathangelus (who
was from Rome) were beheaded together during the reign of
Diocletian and Maximian, in the year 296.
120
TODAY IS JANUARY 24
Our righteous Mother Xenia of St. Petersburg was born about the year
1730. She was married to a Colonel named Andrew; when she was
twenty-six years old her husband died suddenly, having been drinking
with his friends. Left a childless widow, Xenia gave away all that she
had and vanished from St. Petersburg for eight years; it is believed
that she spent this time in a hermitage, learning the spiritual life.
When she returned to Saint Petersburg, she wore her husbands
military clothing, and would answer only to the name Andrew, that is,
the name of her late husband. She took up the life of a homeless
wanderer, and was abused by many as insane; she bore this with
great patience, crucifying the carnal mind through the mockery she
endured, and praying for her husbands soul. She was given great gifts
of prayer and prophecy, and often foretold things to come; in 1796 she
foretold the death of Empress Catherine II. Having lived forty-five
years after her husbands death, she reposed in peace at the age of
seventy one, about the year 1800. Her grave became such a source of
miracles, and so many came to take soil from it as a blessing, that it
was often necessary to replace the soil; when a stone slab was
placed over her grave, this too disappeared over time, piece by piece.
Saint Xenia is especially invoked for help in finding employment,
lodging, or a spouse.
121
name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Here rests the body of the
servant of God, Xenia Grigorievna, Wife of the imperial chorister,
Colonel Andrei Theodorovich Petrov. Widowed at the age of 26, a
pilgrim for 45 years. She lived a total of 71 years. She was known by
the name Andrei Theodorovich. May whoever knew me pray for my
soul that his own may be saved. Amen.
lived in the streets all year round for 45 years, owning only the ragged
clothes on her back. The Holy Spirit also led her to give away her
mind and her heart to God. By giving everything away, she became
rich in humility, simplicity, self-denial, kindness, and deep and
profound love for all. By pretending to be insane, she showed how
insane the world and its values are. By denying herself the comforts
of a home, a bed, decent clothes, food, and the appearance of being
"normal," she helps us to examine what really is important in life, and
what really is "normal." By her self-denial, Blessed St. Xenia daily died
to her old self and daily lived only for God. She trusted totally that
God would provide for her, as He provides for the birds. During the day
she wandered the streets, dressed in rags, enduring heat and cold,
snow and rain, mocked by people. At night she went out into the
fields and prayed all night, and at other times she spent the night at
the Smolensk Cemetery. It was at this cemetery that she helped the
workmen build the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God
(photo below), by secretly carrying bricks up the scaffold during the
night.
One night the workmen hid to find out who was helping them, and
discovered that it was "Crazy Xenia." Whenever someone gave her
alms, she immediately gave it to the poor. As the years passed, the
Holy Spirit filled Xenia with greater riches, and she became
increasingly blessed. After a while, some people started to notice that
"crazy Xenia" wasnt so crazy after all, but was an instrument of
123
divine grace, to whom had been given deep spiritual powers: she
could see into peoples hearts and into the past and future, and
appeared to people in visions. Anyone whom she touched was
blessed. Because she gave up living for herself, she was able to live
for others, helping those in need. She especially helped families,
children and marriages, as she continues to do today. After she fell
asleep in the Lord, around 1803, she continued to help those who
asked for her assistance. Throughout the 19th century, tens of
thousands of people came every year to her grave, and countless
miracles occurred. In 1902 a chapel was built over her grave in the
Smolensk Cemetery, located on the western end of Vasiliev Island in
St. Petersburg. This chapel has now been reconstructed (photo
below), again welcoming the pilgrims who come there every day, and
the miracles continue to occur.
For 200 years people have been turning to the Blessed one, and she
has been helping them. Her great spiritual power and her deep love
for people transcend the grave and are manifested daily. One of the
most popular of Gods "chosen ones," her canonization in 1988 was
official recognition of what the faithful had long witnessed and
experienced.
124
TODAY IS JANUARY 25
situation
was
very
difficult.
125
All
the
temples
of
Constantinople was in the hands of the heretics. But the Saint did not
despair. Converts a room in the house that hosted a church and gives
a symbolic name. Calls the church Agia Anastasia sample that
believed in the resurrection of the Orthodox Faith. Races are
dangerous. Heretics Uploaded over the roofs of the houses throw
stones, so the Saint Gregory tested much. In the church of St.
Anastasia utters the famous five theological reasons that gave him
the title of fair Theologian. After this match, Theodosius the Great
highlights
the
Patriarch
of
Constantinople
(381).
The
Second
TODAY IS JANUARY 26
Saint Xenophon
FEAST DAY
TODAY IS JANUARY 27
Himself." And he wrote this several times. As he was writing "not" for
the last time, his hand fell, and he died. It was January 27.
TODAY IS JANUARY 28
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,
128
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.
TODAY IS JANUARY 29
In the year 786, St. Ashot, the son of Adarnerse, ascended the throne
of Kartli. From the very beginning of his reign he fought fiercely for
129
reinvigorated Muslims began to hunt for Ashot. The king was forced to
flee after he delayed taking action against them. The enemy had
again conquered Tbilisi. Ashot was compelled to leave Kartli, and he
departed for Byzantium with his family and small army. The refugees
journeyed as far as Javakheti in southern Georgia and stopped near
Lake Paravani for a rest. But while they were sleeping, a Saracen
army assailed their camp. The kings army was doomed, but God
helped Ashot Kuropalates and his scant army. He bestowed power
upon them, and they defeated an enemy that greatly outnumbered
them. The king was deeply moved by Gods miraculous intervention
and decided that, rather than journeying on to Byzantium as he had
intended, he would remain in the region of Shavshet-Klarjeti. At that
time southern Georgia was suffering great calamities. A cholera
epidemic intensified the struggles of a people devastated by a
ruthless enemy. Very few had survived, but that powerless and
wearied remnant gladly received Ashot Kuropalates as their new
leader, and the king began to restore the region at once. Ashot
Kuropalates restored Artanuji Castle, which had originally been built
by King Vakhtang Gorgasali and later ravaged by the Arab general
Marwan the Deaf. Ashot founded a city nearby and proclaimed it the
residence
of
the
Bagrationi
royal
family
of
Klarjeti.
He
also
in
the
Klarjeti
Wilderness.
(Udabno
in
Georgian.
Ashot sent his men to assemble an army, but before the troops had
been gathered, the Saracens attacked and forced them to flee. The
king then traveled to Nigali Gorge with the intent of enlarging his
army. Some of the draftees turned out to be traitors, and when the
king discovered the betrayal, it was already too late. He hid in a
church, but the godless men found him and stabbed him to death in
the
sanctuary.
They
murdered
him
on
the
altar,
as
though
Bagrationis. Thus the first Bagrationi king, a believer, upon whom the
inheritance of the Georgian people was established, was also a
martyr. The Georgians took revenge on the murderers of their beloved
king. When the people of Doliskana heard that Ashot had been killed,
they pursued his murderers and killed them near the Chorokhi River.
Venerable Grigol and the Georgian people wept bitterly over the loss
of their king and hope. St. Ashots holy relics were buried in the
Church of Sts. Peter and Paul that he himself had built.
TODAY IS JANUARY 30
Saint Peter, King of Bulgaria, was the son of the militant Bulgarian
prince Simeon. St. Peter was distinguished for his Christian piety, and
he often turned to St John of Rila, asking his prayers, spiritual
132
TODAY IS JANUARY 31
confess Christ. They were flogged and then beheaded, receiving their
crowns of martyrdom.
134
135
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 1
The Martyr Tryphon was born in Phrygia, one of the districts of Asia
Minor, in the village of Lampsacus. From his early years the Lord
granted him the power to cast out demons and to heal various
maladies. He once saved the inhabitants of his native city from
starvation. St. Tryphon, by the power of his prayer, turned back a
plague of locusts that were devouring the grain and devastating the
fields. St. Tryphon gained particular fame by casting out an evil spirit
from the daughter of the Roman emperor Gordian (238-244). Helping
everyone in distress, he asked only one thing from them: faith in
Jesus Christ, by Whose grace he healed them. When the emperor
Decius (249-251) assumed the imperial throne, he began a fierce
persecution of Christians. Someone reported to the commander
Aquilinus that St. Tryphon was boldly preaching faith in Christ, and
that he led many to Baptism. The saint was arrested and subjected to
interrogation, during which he fearlessly confessed his faith. He was
subjected to harsh tortures: they beat him with clubs, raked his body
with iron hooks, they scorched his flesh with fire, and led him through
the city, after iron nails were hammered into his feet. St. Tryphon
bravely endured all the torments without complaint. Finally, he was
condemned to beheading with a sword. The holy martyr prayed before
his execution, thanking God for strengthening him in his sufferings.
He also asked the Lord to bless those who should call upon his name
136
for help. Just as the soldiers raised the sword over the head of the
holy martyr, he surrendered his soul into the hands of God. This event
occurred in the city of Nicea in the year 250. Christians wrapped the
holy body of the martyr in a clean shroud and wanted to bury him in
the city of Nicea, where he suffered, but St. Tryphon in a vision
commanded them to take his body to his native land to the village of
Lampsada. Later on, the relics of St. Tryphon were transferred to
Constantinople, and then to Rome. In Russia, St. Tryphon is regarded
as the patron saint of birds. There is a story that when Tsar Ivan the
Terrible was out hunting, his falconer carelessly allowed the Tsar's
favorite falcon to fly away. The Tsar ordered the falconer Tryphon
Patrikeiev to find the bird within three days, or else he would be put
to death. Tryphon searched all through the forest, but without luck.
On the third day, exhausted by long searching, he returned to Moscow
to the place called Marinaya Grove. Overcome with weariness, he lay
down to rest, fervently praying to his patron saint, the Martyr Tryphon,
for help. In a dream he saw a youth on a white horse, holding the
Tsar's falcon on his hand. The youth said, "Take the lost bird, go to
the Tsar and do not grieve." When he awakened, the falconer actually
spotted the falcon on a pine tree. He took it to the Tsar and told him
about the miraculous help he received from the holy Martyr Tryphon.
Grateful to St. Tryphon for saving his life, Tryphon Patrikeiev built a
chapel on the spot where the saint appeared. Later on, he also built a
church dedicated to the holy Martyr Tryphon in Moscow. The holy
martyr is greatly venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church as the
heavenly protector of Moscow. Many Russian icons depict the saint
holding a falcon on his arm.
137
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 2
138
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 3
139
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 4
monastic
efforts.
St.
Isidore's
spiritual
wisdom
and
strict
he
had
managed
to
see
and
hear
during
trip
to
calls Isidore a model of priestly and ascetical life, and also a master
of style. St. Isidore's love for St. John Chrysostom resulted in his
support of St. John when he was persecuted by the empress Eudoxia
and Archbishop Theophilus. After the death of St. John, St. Isidore
persuaded Theophilus' successor St. Cyril to inscribe the name of St.
John Chrysostom into the Church diptychs as a confessor. Through
the initiative of St. Isidore the Third Ecumenical Council was Isidore
the Third Ecumenical Council was convened at Ephesus (431), at
which the false teaching of Nestorius concerning the person of Jesus
Christ was condemned. St. Isidore lived into old age and died around
the year 436. The Church historian Evagrius (sixth century) writes of
St. Isidore, "his life seemed to everyone the life of an angel upon the
earth."
Another
historian,
Nicephorus
Callistus
(ninth
century),
praises St. Isidore thus, "He was a vital and inspired pillar of monastic
rules and divine vision, and as such he presented a very lofty image of
most fervent example and spiritual teaching."
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 5
Saint
Theodosius,
Archbishop
of
Chernigov,
was
born
in
the
at
Kiev's
Theophany
monastery. The
Kiev
Brotherhood
of
decisive
vote
in
the
election
of
Bishop
Gideon
was
appointed
monastery,
replacing
the
archimandrite
deceased
of
Chernigov's
Archimandrite
Eletsy
Joannicius
Pecheniksk
women's
monastery
was
established
with
his
of
the
Briansk
Svensk
monastery,
St.
John
crypt
near
the
right
cleros.
144
His
successor
St.
John
(Maximovitch),
who
was
healed
of
grievous
illness
by
St.
Theodosius, later placed a stone plaque over his grave with a poetic
inscription in gratitude for the saint's help. The special grace which
St. Theodosius attained is shown by his ascetic life and his
assistance to all who turn to him in prayer.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 6
Nicholas I, the haughty and ambitious Pope of Rome, and the great
persecutions
and
distresses
he
suffered,
are
beyond
number.
Contending against the Latin error of the filioque, that is, the doctrine
that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, he
demonstrated clearly with his Mystagogy on the Holy Spirit how the
filioque destroys the unity and equality of the Trinity. He has left us
many theological writings, panegyric homilies, and epistles, including
one to Boris, the Sovereign of Bulgaria, in which he set forth for him
the history and teachings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. Having
tended the Church of Christ in holiness and in an evangelical manner,
and with fervent zeal having rooted out all the tares of every alien
teaching, he departed to the Lord in the Monastery of the Armenians
on February 6, 891.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 7
147
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 8
The Holy Martyr Theodore was from Euchaita of Galatia and dwelt in
Heraclea of Pontus. He was a renowned Commander and General in
the military, and the report came to the Emperor Licinius that he was
a Christian and abominated the idols. Licinius therefore sent certain
men to him from Nicomedia, to honor him and ask him to appear
before him. Through them, however, Saint Theodore sent back a
message that it was necessary for various reasons, that Licinius
come to Heraclea. Licinius, seeing in this a hope of turning Saint
Theodore away from Christ did as was asked of him. When the
Emperor came to Heraclea, Saint Theodore met him with honor, and
the Emperor in turn gave Theodore his hand, believing that through
him he would be able to draw the Christians to the worship of his
idols. Seated upon his throne in the midst of the people, he publicly
bade Theodore offer sacrifice to the gods. But Theodore asked that
the emperor entrust him with the most venerable of his gods, those of
gold and silver, that he might take them home and himself attend
upon them that evening, promising that the following day he would
honor them in public. The Emperor, filled with joy at these tidings,
gave command that Theodore's request be fulfilled. When the Saint
had taken the idols home, he broke them in pieces and distributed the
gold and silver to the poor by night. The next day a centurion named
148
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 9
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 10
Tripoli,
pray
wholeheartedly
to
Saint
Charalambos
himself
saint. Also knew well that did not fit disobedience to the orders of his
superiors. He slept again, when for the third time the venerable priest
appeared and wanted to convince him, assuring him of his safety, I
told you not to be afraid for your life. I would not care and you will be
punished. It will keep you and all your soldiers, and go back to your
homes without anyone to get you anything. He had not yet bent the
German Commander of Filiatra and Saint did not stop trying to rescue
his flock. Horrible dreams shook the rest of German night. Oimoges
heard lamentations and tortured by humans. Skiachtera ghosts
reached him, like female figures, grieving and give him curses for the
slaughter of their children. And even saw black clouds coming out of
the room and go up and shaded the sun and darkened the whole camp
of the Germans. The soldiers and horrified over the fear made the sign
of the cross. And we all ran behind the olive trees to hide. Kounster
stood trembling and confused. He remembered that he had left behind
family. The feeling of humanity awakened briefly in and began to
contemplate: Why are wars, people being killed and left athaftoi, like
dogs, why burn houses and estates and in a moment destroyed the
labors and sweats a whole life? Pondered for a while and again
prevailed in the spirit of fascism, I said I would burn the town and
will burn! His head felt heavy and dizzy from the interrupted sleep
and terrible dreams. He closed his eyes to sleep again, when she
appeared for the fourth time St. Charalambos and says urgently and
insistently, Watch out! The city will not be burned and the
inhabitants will be arrested. Are innocent. Do you hear? Sprang up
confused. He believe anymore that someone saint, patron of Filiatra,
trying to thwart their plan barbaric. With hands trembling, grabbed the
phone and called the Siratigeio in Tripoli. With timid voice began to
report to the General Governor of Peloponnese nightmarish night, and
spent the odd intervention of the saint. He was going to put the
voices, that definitely needs to be executed the order, again hum and
152
haw. What had happened? The evening was presented by the saint
and the General Commander of Tripoli, exactly as described and the
Officer of Filiatra and given the same instruction. Finally relented and
forth amazing coincidence dream and ordered, Written. Inhibit the
destruction of the city. Come immediately before me tomorrow noon.
The city of Filiatra saved. The joy that filled the hearts of all, as
announced the cancellation of resolute destruction, not described.
Hugged each other and solemnly poured on the streets, market
squares. The German Commander Filiatron called morning two priests
and told them their plans and rescue operation of the Holy Priest.
Asked to learn, saints protected their city and to the accompaniment
of priests and two other soldiers, took the turn all the churches of
Filiatra. Started by Saint John, Saint Nicholas, Saint Athanasius and
eventually went to the Church of Our Lady. Kounster sought to
recognize the saint who spoke repeatedly in his sleep. When he
entered the temple and saw the Virgin Mary at a shrine, and the icon
of St. Charalambous, he was wholly overwhelmed. He recognized the
venerable nocturnal visitor and was embarrassed about his infidelity,
and his repeatedly stubborn refusals. He understood that the
Orthodox faith is alive and that the saints are not just decorative
icons. He covered his face in his hands and said some prayers in his
own language. With ecstasy and holy shiver attendees priests and
laity observed the scene, and when he finished his prayer, said with
emotion of the vision of Saint Charalambos, and its many wonders.
When it was learned throughout the city in pansostiko this miracle of
Saint Charalambos rushed everyone to worship the great protector
and singing praises of thanks. All day the bells struck festive and
proclaimed the grand Filiatra joy, and for several days multitudes of
Christians from the surrounding villages and neighboring cities
flocked to venerate the miraculous Martyr. Agios Charalambos kept
his promises to the German commandant of Filiatra. Both he and all
153
the men of the garrison, when the war ended, they returned to their
homes without harm. Kounster found again in the warm family nest
with his wife and his children. The shocking incident but impressions
of St. Charalambous, could not be forgotten. Two years later his
family decided to come to Filiatra for the feast of Saint Charalambos.
On the eve he saw him again in his dream and told him to make the
trip, because the residents of Filiatra will accept it with great joy.
Arrived a little late on February 11, that is a day after the solemn
celebration of his memory. When the Filiatrinoe saw him, welcomed
him and were excited to honor him and to celebrate the day. They
sang in church official thanksgiving and continued the celebration
with feasting and plays. And for many years after, the feast day of St.
Charalambos the former commandant of Filiatra were mostly there to
pray with them and thank Filiatrinous with the patrons, who saved
them from the hand fire, massacres and concentration camps; not
one of the evils of war and especially by the dangerous plague of
infidelity.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 11
made his name famous. He contested for the Faith under Licinius in
the year 316. Saint Blaise is invoked for the healing of throat
ailments.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 12
servant of all the brethren. In the year 895, advanced in age, St.
Anthony went peacefully to the Lord.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 13
Saint Zoe
FEAST DAY
Saint Zoe remained on an island for six years in solitude, and then she
gave up her soul to God. Her death was reported by the sailor who
brought her food..
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 14
156
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 15
157
Saint Eusebius the Hermit lived in the fourth century and lived in
asceticism on a mountain near the village of Asicha in Syria. He led a
very strict life under the open sky, patiently enduring the summer
heat and winter cold. He wore skins for clothing, and nourished
himself on the pods of peas and beans. Though he was elderly and
infirm, he ate only fifteen figs during the Great Forty day Fast. When
many people began to flock to St. Eusebius as he was able to heal the
sick, he went to a nearby monastery, built a small enclosure at the
monastery walls and lived in it until his death. St. Eusebius died at the
age of ninety, sometime after the year 400.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 16
years 403-404 St. Maruthas set off to Constantinople to plead with the
emperor Arcadius to protect Persian Christians. He was twice sent by
the emperor Theodosius the Younger to the Shah Izdegerd to secure
the peace between the Empire and Persia. In the year 414 St.
Maruthas, having done his duty as envoy to the court of Izdegerd.
When asked by what right he had to make such a request of the Shah,
the saint placed his staff on the floor where it became a snake,
persuading the Shah to a favorable disposition towards Christians.
The saint assisted greatly in the freedom of Christians in Persia. He
rebuilt Christian churches razed during the persecution by the Persian
ruler Sapor. He also located relics of saints who had suffered
martyrdom and transferred them to Martyropolis. He died there in 422.
The relics of St. Maruthas were later transferred to Egypt and placed
in a skete monastery of the Mother of God.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 17
The Greek Tyron means "conscript." This holy Martyr of Christ came
from Pontus and was a conscript into the Roman legionary during
Maximian's persecution (~303). Though he had been a Christian since
childhood, he kept his faith secret while in the army. While his cohort
was stationed near a town called Euchaita, he learned that the people
there were being terrorized by a dragon which lived in the neighboring
159
forest. He set off to face the dragon, praying to God that the outcome
of the contest would be a sign to him of whether the time had come to
offer himself for martyrdom. He found the fire-spitting monster and,
arming himself with the sign of the Cross, drove his spear through its
head and killed it. His success convinced him that, having vanquished
this fleshly dragon, he was ready to vanquish the spiritual dragon, the
Devil. When the commander of his camp next ordered a sacrifice to
the gods, Theodore boldly refused, saying "I am a Christian!" Further,
he encouraged the other Christians in his company to do the same.
That night he went to a nearby pagan temple of Rhea, mother of the
gods, and burned it down. He was seen by the caretaker of the temple
and was brought unresisting to the governor Publius. Theodore was
thrown into a solitary dungeon cell; there he refused bread and water,
saying that Christ had promised him food from heaven. He spent his
time there chanting hymns with the angels, so that the guards were
convinced that other Christians had somehow joined him in his cell.
When all argument, cajolery, bribery and threat had failed to turn the
soldier from Christ, the governor resorted to torture, subjecting the
Saint to terrible mutilations; but when Theodore endured them calmly
and resolutely, the governor began to fear that his example would
encourage other Christians, and ordered that he be burned. Taken to
the stake, the Martyr walked freely into the flames, where he gave
back his soul to God. When his body was ransomed and taken from
the ashes by a pious Christian, it was found to be untouched. A
church was built in Euchaita in honor of the Martyr; many pilgrims
came there for the healing of soul and body. In 361, the Emperor
Julian the Apostate ordered the Prefect of Constantinople to have all
foods in the marketplaces sprinkled with blood of animals sacrificed
to the pagan gods during the first week of Lent, so that Christians
would be unable to escape contact with idolatry. But St. Theodore
appeared in a vision to Patriarch Eudoxius (360-364), warned him of
160
the plan and told him to instruct his flock not to buy any food in the
marketplace, but to eat kolyva made from boiled wheat grains. So,
through the saint's intervention, the people were preserved from the
stain of idolatry. Ever since, the Church has commemorated the
miracle on the first Saturday of Great Lent. Since that time kolyva has
come to be offered also in honor of the saints and in memory of the
departed. The whole grain represents the body, sown corruptible,
which will be raised incorruptible (2 Cor. 15:37); it is usually
sweetened with honey to signify the delights of Paradise.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 18
was
endowed
with
great
physical
strength,
and
he
military
service
in
the
following
manner:
The
holy
Emperor
Constantine the Great (306-337) heard that St. Agapitus had healed
people by his prayers. The emperor sent him a sick servant, who also
received healing. The emperor wanted to reward St. Agapitus, who
instead asked only that he be permitted to resign from military
service and return to his monastery. Permission was granted, and he
joyfully returned to the monastery. Soon after this, the Bishop of
Sinaus in Bithynia summoned St. Agapitus and ordained him to the
holy priesthood. After the death of the bishop, St. Agapitus was
unanimously chosen by the clergy and all the people to the See of
Sinaus. The new hierarch wisely governed his flock, guiding it in the
Orthodox faith and virtuous life. Through his prayers, numerous
miracles occurred. The saint died in peace.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 19
"This bright star of compassion arose in the dark days of the Turkish
occupation to shed God's mercy upon the oppressed people of Athens
and to guide many endangered souls onto the path of righteousness."
(Synaxarion). She was born in 1528 to the prominent Venizelou family,
miraculously answering her mother's prayer of many years. Though
162
even in childhood she showed a love for ascesis and prayer, she was
much sought-after as a wealthy heiress, and was married at the age
of twelve to a rough, violent man. She endured his ill-treatment nobly,
and prayed daily for his conversion. After three years, the brutal
husband died, and Philothea gave herself entirely to a life of prayer
and fasting, living like a hermitess though still in her parents' house.
When her parents died ten years later, she used her entire fortune to
found a convent. Its design had been given her in a vision by the
Apostle Andrew, and it was dedicated to him. Alongside the
monastery, she founded a hospital, a hospice for the poor, and
schools where boys and girls could receive a Christian education,
something obviously not provided by the Turkish rulers. As soon as
the monastery was begun, she took monastic vows under the name of
Philothea, and she, her own maidservants, and many young women of
the city, became the first nuns there. Philothea continued in her
boundless compassion for the poor and infirm, which she visited and
tended. She was so free in her almsgiving that more than once the
monastery was left without food or other necessities of life, and the
sisters began to complain about her. But each time, large donations
appeared unexpectedly and saved the community from starvation.
Philothea offered asylum and refuge to Christian slave women who
had fled their masters to preserve their faith and chastity. This
angered the Turks, who surrounded the monastery, seized Philothea,
and brought her before the judge. She was told to deny Christ or die,
and when she refused was sentenced to death; but some influential
Athenian Greeks were able to intervene on her behalf and to obtain
her release. Immediately upon her release she redoubled her prayers,
her apostolic labors and her works of mercy, and was soon granted
the gift of working miracles and healings. So many disciples came to
join her that she established a second monastery. Her growing
influence aroused the hatred of some of the Turks, who broke into the
163
monastery one night and beat her violently, leaving her half-dead. She
bore the effects of her injuries patiently, and after a short time gave
back her soul to God in 1589. Twenty years after her repose, a
beautiful scent began to issue from her tomb. Her precious relics,
venerated at the Cathedral in Athens, remain incorrupt to this day.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 20
Saint Leo was bishop of the city of Catania, in Sicily. He was famed
for his benevolence and charity, and his Christian love for the poor
and the vagrant. The Lord granted him the gifts of healing various
illnesses, and working miracles. When St. Leo was Bishop of Catania,
there was a certain sorcerer named Heliodorus, who impressed
people with his fake miracles. This fellow was originally a Christian,
but then he rejected Christ and became a servant of the devil. St. Leo
often urged Heliodorus to repent of his wicked deeds and return to
God, but in vain. Once, Heliodorus impudently entered the church
where the bishop was serving, and tried to create a disturbance,
sowing confusion and temptation by his sorcery. Seeing the people
beset by devils under the sorcerers spell, St. Leo realized that the
time for gentle persuasion had passed. He calmly emerged from the
altar and, tying his omophorion around the magician's neck, he led
him out of the church into the city square. There he forced Heliodorus
to admit to all his wicked deeds. He commanded that a fire be lit, and
164
jumped into the fire with the sorcerer. Thus they stood in the fire until
Heliodorus got burnt. St. Leo, by the power of God, remained
unharmed. This miracle brought St.
Leo great renown during his lifetime. When he died, a woman with an
issue of blood received healing at his grave. The body of the saint
was placed in a church of the holy Martyr Lucy, which he himself had
built. Later on, his relics were transferred into the church of St.
Martin the Merciful, Bishop of Tours.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 21
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 22
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 23
He was born at Ephesus around the year 70. St. Irenaeus of Lyons, his
disciple, says that St. Polycarp was 'a disciple of the Apostles and
acquainted with those who had seen the Lord.' His parents died as
martyrs, and he was given into the care of a devout lady named
Callista.
As
child,
the
Saint
was
so
eager
to
follow
the
commandments of Christ that he repeatedly emptied his fostermother's pantry to feed the poor. Since her supplies were always
miraculously renewed, Callista changed his name from Pancratius to
Polykarpos, meaning 'Much fruit.' When grown, Polycarp became a
disciple of St. John the Theologian, and in time became Bishop of
Smyrna; it is told that the messages to the Church at Smyrna in the
Book of Revelation are addressed to St. Polycarp and his flock. He
knew
St.
Ignatius
of
Antioch
personally,
and
some
of
their
will!'
heavenward and gave thanks to God for finding him worthy to share
with the holy Martyrs of the cup of Christ. When he had said his Amen,
the executioners lit the fire. The eyewitnesses write that the fire
sprang up around him like a curtain, and that he stood in its midst
glowing like gold and sending forth a delightful scent of incense.
Seeing that the fire was not harming him, the executioners stabbed
him with a sword. His blood flowed so copiously that it put out the
fire, and he gave back his soul to God. His relics were burned by the
persecutors, but Christians rescued a few fragments of bone, which
were venerated for many generations on the anniversary of his
repose.
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TODAY IS FEBRUARY 24
Saint Simon, Bishop of Vladimir, wrote about him to his friend St.
Polycarp: "At the Caves was Erasmus the black-robed. He acquired a
legacy of fame because he used everything he possessed for the
adornment of the monastery church. He donated many icons, which
even now may be seen over the altar. The saint experienced great
temptations after he had given away his wealth. The Evil One began
to suggest to him that he should have given the money to the poor,
rather than spend it on the beautification of the church. St. Erasmus
did not understand such thoughts, so he fell into despondency and
began to live in a careless manner. Because of his former virtue the
gracious and merciful God saved him. He sent him a grievous illness,
and the monk lay near death. In this sickness Erasmus lay for seven
days, unable to see or speak, and hardly breathing. On the eighth day
the brethren came to him and, seeing the difficulty of his approaching
death, said, "Woe to the soul of this brother, for he lived in idleness
and in sin. Now his soul beholds something and tarries, not having the
strength to leave the body." Erasmus suddenly got up, as though he
had not been ill, and said to the monks, "Fathers and brethren! It is
true that I am a sinner, and have not repented, as you said. Today,
however,
our
monastic
fathers
Anthony
and
Theodosius
have
appeared to me, and said: 'We have prayed for you, and the Lord has
170
given you time for repentance.' Then I saw the All-Pure Mother of God
with Christ in Her arms, and She said to me, 'Erasmus, since you
adorned My Church with icons, I will also adorn you and exalt you in
the Kingdom of my Son! Arise, repent, take the angelic schema, and
on the third day you will be taken from this life.' Having said this,
Erasmus began to confess his sins before all without shame, then
went to church and was clothed in the schema, and on the third day
he died. St. Erasmus was buried in the Near Caves. His memory is
also celebrated on September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great
Lent.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 25
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 26
Saint Sebastian
FEAST DAY
The Holy Martyr Sebastian died by the sword under Nero (54-68). He
was the companion of the holy Martyrs Photina and Christodoulus.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 27
Saint Asclepius
FEAST DAY
Saint Asclepius was a Syrian ascetic, and lived during the fifth
century. Theodoret of Cyrrhus speaks of them. St. Asclepius led an
ascetic life of temperance in his native village and was not hindered
by constant association with many people. Up until the end of his life,
the ascetic did not leave his hermitage, but spoke to visitors through
173
a small aperture in the wall, cut at an angle so that no one was able
to see him. He never kindled a fire or lit a lamp. Many people were
healed of sickness by standing by his dwelling and praying to the
Virgin for recovery. He had many imitators and followers.
One of
them was St. James, who secluded himself in a small dwelling near
the village of Nimuza.
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 28
Saint Kyra
FEAST DAY
Saint Kyra lived during the fourth century in the city of Veria (or
Berea) in Syria. Her parents were illustrious and rich, but she left
home and departed the city when she had reached maturity. Having
cleared off a small plot of land, the holy virgin sealed up the entrance
to her refuge with rocks and clay, leaving only a narrow opening
through which food was passed to her. The little hut had no roof, and
so she was exposed to the elements. On her body she wore heavy
iron chains and patiently endured hunger. During a three year period,
she ate food only once every forty days. Her former servants came to
her, wanting to join her ascetic life. The saint put them in a separate
hut next to her own enclosure and spoke to them through a window,
exhorting them to deeds of prayer and fasting. The life of the holy
ascetic Kyra was described by Bishop Theodoret of Cyrrhus in his
174
TODAY IS FEBRUARY 29
Saint John~Barsanuphius
FEAST DAY
Our Holy Father St. Barsanuphius was born a pagan in the Holy Land.
As a young man he saw the truth of Christ, was baptized at the age of
eighteen and immediately became a monk, given the name of John.
Such was his reputation for virtue that in time he became Archbishop
of Damascus.
176
177
TODAY IS MARCH 1
from a drowning death, they cut open the sack and beheaded her on
the spot. Thus Saint Antoninas soul was lifted into heaven by the
angles of Christ.
178
TODAY IS MARCH 2
Saint Arsenius, Bishop of Tver, was born at Tver, and in his early
years received monastic tonsure in the Kievan Caves monastery.
Even among the monks of this ancient monastery, distinguished for
their piety, Arsenius was noted for his saintly life as well as for his
strictness in keeping his monastic vows, his knowledge of the Church
typikon, his study of Holy Scripture, and his love for work. Whole
serving God as a Monk, he was able to teal the sick that traveled to
the Kiev Caves. It is said that over 550 people were healed by the
prayers of St. Arsenius. Under Metropolitan Cyprian of Kiev (13801382) he served as archdeacon, and when the Metropolitan was
absent, he governed the administration of the Kiev metropolitanate.
On July 3, 1390 he went with Metropolitan Cyprian to Tver, where at
the request of Prince Micjae of Tver, a Council of Russian and Greek
hierarchs
had
been
convened
to
pass
judgment
upon
Bishop
Michael
at
Staritsa
and
Mikulina,
and
the
Savior-
180
TODAY IS MARCH 3
181
TODAY IS MARCH 4
This Saint, who was from Lycia in Asia Minor, lived there for many
years as a hermit, and then went to Palestine. There he built the
great Lavra by the Jordan River, where a lion served him with
great obedience and devotion. One day the lion came looking for
Gerasimus that he might feed him, but his disciples took the lion to
the place where they had buried the Saint shortly before. The lion
fell at the Saint's grave and, after roaring with grief, died at that
very place. Saint Gerasimus reposed in 475.
TODAY IS MARCH 5
St. Irais was an Egyptian martyr. She was put to death at Antinoe,
Egypt during the persecutions of Christians by the Emperor Diocletian
in the early fourth century.
and seek petitions from the Holy Mother at her burial site, their
prayers were answered.
answered.
TODAY IS MARCH 6
These Martyrs, men of high rank in the Byzantine Army, were taken
captive when the city of Amorion in Phrygia fell to the Moslem
Arabs in 838, during the reign of Theophilus the Iconoclast. Among
them were Aetius and Melissenus, the generals; Theodore, the
chief of the imperial ceremonial bodyguard; Craterus, the eunuch;
Callistus,
Constantine,
Bassoes,
and
Theophilius,
who
were
TODAY IS MARCH 7
Saint Paul the Simple of Egypt also lived in the fourth century and was
called the Simple for his simplicity of heart and gentleness. He had
been married, but when he discovered his wife's infidelity, he left her
and went into the desert to St. Anthony the Great (January 17). Paul
was already 60 years old, and at first St. Anthony would not accept
Paul, saying that he was unfit for the harshness of the hermit's life.
Paul stood outside the cell of the ascetic for three days, saying that
he would sooner die than go from there. Then St. Anthony took Paul
into his cell, and tested his endurance and humility by hard work,
severe fasting, with nightly vigils, constant singing of Psalms and
prostrations. Finally, St. Anthony decided to settle Paul into a
separate cell. During the many years of ascetic exploits the Lord
granted St. Paul both discernment, and the power to cast out demons.
When they brought a possessed youth to St. Anthony, he guided the
afflicted one to St. Paul saying, "I cannot help the boy, for I have not
received power over the Prince of the demons. Paul the Simple,
however, does have this gift." St. Paul expelled the demon by his
simplicity and humility. After living for many years, performing
numerous miracles, he departed to the Lord. He is mentioned by St.
John, the Abbot of Sinai (Ladder 24:30): "The thrice-blessed Paul the
184
Simple was a clear example for us, for he was the rule and type of
blessed simplicity."
TODAY IS MARCH 8
St. Lazarus perceived that this was an angel, and he gave thanks unto
the Lord. He healed the blind child after praying and sprinkling him
with holy water. Then, the "bad people" quit the island, and the father
of the healed child later became a monk, and all his sons were
baptized. From that time, people started coming to the saint from
faraway
places.
monasticism.
He
Even
baptized
his
fellow
them,
and
countrymen
tonsured
came
to
them
into
him
from
TODAY IS MARCH 9
Saint Caesarius
FEAST DAY
187
He was the brother of St. Gregory the Theologian and, like his brother,
was a theological writer. In his works he gave an answer to the
question: How long did Adam and Eve spend in Paradise before the
Fall? Various writers had given estimates ranging from six hours to
three days. Saint Caesarius wrote that our first parents' time in
Paradise was forty days; and that for this reason Christ fasted for
forty days in the wilderness, being tempted by the Devil. "For, while
the old Adam was not able to withstand the devil's temptation in the
abundance of Paradise, the New Adam withstood him as a true knight
in hunger and thirst in the wilderness."
TODAY IS MARCH 10
188
In the second half of the 10th century King Davit Kuropalates founded
Khakhuli Monastery in the historical region of Tao, at the gorge of the
Khakhuli River, where it joins the Tortumi River. Once famed for its
holiness and academic activity, today Khakhuli Monastery is a
Turkish possession and has become a tourist site. Nevertheless, the
Georgian nation continues to be illumined by its grace and the
radiance of the Georgian faithful who labored there. Some sources
claim that St. John was first consecrated bishop of Bolnisi and later
transferred to the Khakhuli diocese. It is generally agreed, however,
that he left Khakhuli around the year 1019 and traveled to Mt. Athos
with Arsen of Ninotsminda and John Grdzelisdze. While laboring on
Mt. Athos, St. John faithfully assisted St. Ekvtime of the Holy
Mountain, and these spiritual brothers became close friends. The
countless good works he performed from the bishops throne, the title
Chrysostom, and the many important writings accredited to him
attest to the piety, healing of the sick, wisdom, and patriotism of St.
John of Khakhuli. It is written in The Life of Giorgi of the Holy
TODAY IS MARCH 11
sought
the
true
philosophy
of
monasticism,
and
against
the
Monophysite
heresy.
At
Alexandria
St.
TODAY IS MARCH 12
St. Nicholas was a simple parish priest in Athens, humble, poor, and
barely literate. He was born on Naxos in 1851 to moderately
prosperous parents; but when his father died, his mother was reduced
to near-poverty, and moved the family to Athens. St Nicholas married
191
at the age of seventeen, but his wife died after a short time, leaving
him with one son. He served the Divine Liturgy daily, never missing a
day for fifty years, despite illness, storms, and war. His liturgies
unfailingly lasted for several hours, mostly due to the hundreds of
commemorations that he included. The faithful would give him sheets
of paper containing names to be commemorated; he would carry all
the sheets with him in bulging satchels. A few of his spiritual children
made it their task to go through the papers secretly and discard the
oldest and most worn, so that the commemorations would not
increase without limit. In his conversation, the Saint had a simple and
childlike (his detractors would say childish) manner, and he was
widely despised by more sophisticated laymen, priests and hierarchs,
never being appointed to any but the smallest and poorest parishes.
Many, however, discerned his holiness, and a large synodia of
spiritual children slowly gathered around him. Once, a very young
altar boy ran out from the altar while Fr. Nicholas was serving and,
trembling with fear, cried to his mother, 'Mama, Father Nicholas is
floating in the air!' His mother, trying to comfort him, said 'Don't be
afraid, all priests do that when they serve the Liturgy.' St. Nicholas
was often in difficulties with the hierarchy because he continued to
keep the feasts according to the Old Calendar after the Church in
Greece had adopted the New Calendar. Nonetheless, he never broke
communion with the national church (nor they with him): his humility
left no room for Church politics. He was later proclaimed a Saint, both
by the official 'New Calendar' Church of Greece and their 'Old
Calendar' opposition. Like St. John Maximovich, his holiness has
transcended the canonical disputes that bedevil the Church. He
reposed in peace in 1932.
192
TODAY IS MARCH 13
The Holy Martyr St. Christina of Persia was a slave girl, her mistress
being the wife of the leading wine merchant in in what is today Yazd.
She was scourged to death for confessing her faith in Christ, during
the fourth century. Her mistress was also a follower of Christ, but St.
Christina kept her secret to her death. St. Christinas body was left in
the desert to rot, but her former mistress and a small number of other
followers in Christ secretly placed her in a grave that was used by the
local believers for Christian meetings. Many people were healed from
sickness while praying at her gravesite.
TODAY IS MARCH 14
age, the saints parents sent him to Rome to study. Unsettled by the
immorality around him, he decided to devote himself to a different
sort of life. At first St. Benedict settled near the church of the holy
Apostle Peter in the village of Effedum, but news of his ascetic life
compelled him to go farther into the mountains. There he encountered
the hermit Romanus, who tonsured him into monasticism and directed
him to live in a remote cave at Subiaco. From time to time, the hermit
would bring him food. For three years the saint waged a harsh
struggle with temptations and conquered them. People soon began to
gather to him, thirsting to live under his guidance. The number of
disciples grew so much, that the saint divided them into twelve
communities. Each community was comprised of twelve monks and
was a separate skete. The saint gave each skete an igumen from
among his experienced disciples, and only the novice monks
remained with St. Benedict for instruction. The strict monastic Rule
St. Benedict established for the monks was not accepted by
everyone, and more than once he was criticized and abused by
dissenters. Finally he settled in Campagna and on Mount Cassino he
founded the Monte Cassino monastery, which for a long time was a
center
of
theological
education
for
the
Western
Church.
The
TODAY IS MARCH 15
TODAY IS MARCH 16
196
TODAY IS MARCH 17
The rare title, "Man of God," was bestowed on St. Alexios for the
manner in which he gave himself over to Jesus Christ, forsaking a
bride even at the altar in order to fulfill to the letter the admonition
read to him while he was contemplating enlistment in the service of
the Lord. He kept his true identity a secret for an entire lifetime rather
than run the risk of betraying the Master through his own emotions
and there is no telling how much mental anguish he suffered in
silence for the sake of his commitment. When he felt the call he
answered with a hesitation for which he judged himself too harshly
and which he bore in mute secrecy. Alexios was born in 380 in the
eternal city of Rome during the reign of Theodosios the Great and was
raised in a royal household by his parents, Ephemios and Aglaia, who
discerned a predilection for the Church in their son, a religious fervor
they could not share and which they sought to discourage for fear
they would lose him. They lost no time in arranging for his marriage
and in impressing upon him the debt he owed to his parents, for which
he should respect their wishes in all things. He had reluctantly
suppressed the call he felt to the Lord's service and had agreed to the
marriage when he had a vision one day of St. Paul, who said he should
answer the call to God at all costs, reading to him the passage in
Matthew which says: "He that loveth father or mother more than me
is not worthy of me." The bewildered Alexios was torn between his
197
sense of duty to his parents and that urging to serve the Lord, and
swayed between both, at long last deciding to go through with what
he had promised his family. The feeling that he should go the other
way gnawed at him even as he stood at the altar, and when the
ceremony had been completed he looked upon the Cross of Jesus and
without a word walked away from his bride, family and friends to do
what he had to do. He stepped into the anonymity of a Syrian
monastery where for the next eighteen years he assumed another
identity, and never looked back at Rome. Having made a choice they
had opposed, he suspected his parents had disinherited him and that
his bride had had the marriage annulled, but this was not the case. As
a matter of fact, the bride had gone to live with his parents in the fond
hope that Alexios would someday return, and the parents spared no
expense in trying to locate their son, but after eighteen years with no
word from him they presumed him to be dead. In his eighteen years in
the monastery, Alexios was transformed into a respected holy man
whose solemn dedication to Jesus was the subject of many
discussions among not only the monks but the community which he
served. Unlike other monks, he was a man of few words and left the
preaching
and
sermonizing
to
other
brother
monks
while
he
to get a glimpse of his folks, but when they failed to recognize him he
felt compelled to remain and was given the task of spiritual
counselor, not only to the estate, but to the neighboring families as
well. The abandoned bride was still living with the parents and she
also failed to recognize him, for which he was grateful, for he found
contentment in being able to serve the Lord while not revealing his
true identity, which he considered would be a disservice to the Savior
after all the years of anonymity. He went about his duties with grace
acquired and enjoyed the respect of families for miles around. When
he felt death drawing near, Alexios wrote a letter to his family in
which he expressed his love for them, which he could not do in life.
The letter was read posthumously not only by his family but by the
bishop of Rome, who had him interred in the chapel of St. Peter's. He
died for Christ on 17 March 440, after thirty-four years of celibacy and
anonymity.
TODAY IS MARCH 18
was
formerly
the
Metropolitan
of
Caesarea,
and
he
secure
upon
the
throne,
he
openly
apostasized
and
destruction of the Temple down to its very stones (Luke. 21:6) would
undoubtedly transpire, and the blasphemous intent of Julian would
come to naught. Soon there was such a powerful earthquake, that
even the solidly set foundation of the ancient Temple of Solomon
shifted in its place, and what had been rebuilt fell down and shattered
into dust. When the Jews resumed construction, a fire came down
from the heavens and destroyed the tools of the workmen. Great
terror seized everyone. On the following night, the Sign of the Cross
appeared on the clothing of the Jews, which they could not remove by
any means. After this heavenly confirmation of St. Cyrils prediction,
they banished him again, and the bishops throne was occupied by St.
Cyriacus. But St. Cyriacus soon suffered a martyrs death (October
28). After the emperor Julian perished in 363, St. Cyril returned to his
See, but during the reign of the emperor Valens (364-378) he was
exiled for a third time. It was only under the holy emperor St
Theodosius the Great (379-395) that he finally returned to his
archpastoral activity. In 381 St. Cyril participated in the Second
Ecumenical Council, which condemned the heresy of Macedonius and
affirmed the Nicea-Constantinople Symbol of Faith (Creed). St. Cyrils
works include twenty-three Instructions (Eighteen are Catechetical,
intended for those preparing for Baptism, and five are for the newlybaptized) and two discourses on Gospel themes: On the Paralytic,
and Concerning the Transformation of Water into Wine at Cana. At
the heart of the Catechetical Instructions is a detailed explanation of
the Symbol of Faith. The saint suggests that a Christian should
inscribe the Symbol of Faith upon the tablets of the heart. The
articles of the Faith, St. Cyril teaches, were not written through
human cleverness, but they contain everything that is most important
in all the Scriptures, in a single teaching of faith. Just as the mustard
seed contains all its plethora of branches within its small kernel, so
also does the Faith in its several declarations combine all the pious
201
teachings of the Old and the New Testaments. St. Cyril, a great
ascetic and a champion of Orthodoxy, died in the year 386.
TODAY IS MARCH 19
Saint Innocent of Komel and Vologda was born at Moscow, and was
descended from the Moscow princely family of Okhlyabinin. He
became a monk in the monastery of St. Cyril of White Lake (June 9),
and was put under the guidance of St. Nilus of Sora (May 7). Sts.
Innocent and Nilus wandered through the East visiting Palestine,
Constantinople, and spent several years at the monasteries of Mt.
Athos. Having returned to Rus, the saints did not return to their
original St. Cyril of White Lake monastery, but to solitary cells for
monastic seclusion. Out of love for wilderness-life they then withdrew
into the impassable forest at the River Sora, some fifteen versts from
the monastery. Here they set up a cross, dug a well, and built
separate cells, after the manner of the skete monasteries. A church
was built on a marshy spot, and there the hermits led strict lives.
Foreseeing his own demise, St. Nilus sent St. Innocent to the River
Nurma and predicted to him: God is sending you there, and yours
shall be a cenobitic monastery; after my death, my wilderness
monastery will remain as it was during my life, with the brothers
202
living separately each in his own cell. Upon the death of St. Nilus, his
holy disciple withdrew into the Vologda hinterland and in 1491 he
built a cell at the River Eda, which flows into the River Nurma. In a
short while disciples began to gather to him. Following the final
command of his teacher, St. Innocent did not seek any donations for
it. St. Innocent labored for thirty years at building his monastery. He
left behind an instruction for the brethren, based on the works of the
holy Fathers, particularly the writings of St. Nilus of Sora. St Innocent
bade them first of all to avoid wrangling and disputes and asked them
to preserve love for Christ and spiritual peace. The saint forbade
young and beardless monks to be accepted and tonsured at his
monastery, and he forbade women to enter the monastery. A monk
who left the monastery lost his right to a cell, and if he returned, then
he could occupy it only with the consent of the igumen and the
brethren. The monk asked that a future church be consecrated in the
name of St. John the Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord, in
commemoration of the Third Finding of his Venerable Head, because
St. John is a patron for all monks and wilderness dwellers (later, the
monastery was called Transfiguration after its chief temple). St.
Innocent died on March 19, 1521 at 80 years of age. In accordance
with his last wish, he was buried in a corner of the monastery near a
marsh. A stone was placed on his grave inscribed with the year,
month and day of his repose. When a monk became ill, he would pray
at the gravesite and was healed.
than one day, and when the monks reached the age of 80, they died of
old age.
203
TODAY IS MARCH 20
St. Photini lived in first century Palestine. She was the Samaritan
woman who Christ visited at the well asking her for water. It was she
who accepted the living water offered her by Christ Himself after
repenting from her many sins (John. 4:5-42). She went and told her
townspeople that she had met the Christ. For this, she is sometimes
recognized as the first to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. She
converted her five sisters (Sts. Anatole, Photo, Photis, Paraskeve, and
Kyriake) and her two sons (Victor and Joses). They all became
tireless evangelists for Christ. The apostles of Christ baptized her and
gave her the name of Photini which means the enlightened one. She
is remembered by the Church as a Holy Martyr and Equal to the
Apostles. After Sts. Peter and Paul were martyred, St. Photini and her
family left their homeland of Sychar, in Samaria, to travel to Carthage
to proclaim the Gospel of Christ there. Reports of this reached Nero,
and he commanded that the Christians be brought to him at Rome.
The Lord Himself appeared to the confessors and said, Fear not, for I
am with you. Nero, and all who serve him, will be vanquished. The
Lord said to Victor, From this day forward, your name will be
Photinus, because through you, many will be enlightened and will
believe in Me. The Lord then told the Christians to strengthen and
encourage Joses to persevere until the end. All these things, and
even future events, were revealed to St. Photini. She left Carthage in
the company of several Christians and joined the confessors in Rome.
204
most impious of the blind, you profligate and stupid man! Do you think
me so deluded that I would consent to renounce my Lord Christ and
instead offer sacrifice to idols as blind as you? Hearing such words,
Nero gave orders to throw St. Photini down a well, where she
surrendered her soul to God in the year 66.
TODAY IS MARCH 21
Saint Serapion
FEAST DAY
TODAY IS MARCH 22
St. Isaac lived during the fourth century, received monastic tonsure
and pursued ascetic labors in the desert. During the reign of the
emperor Valens, a zealous adherent of the Arian heresy, there was a
persecution
of
the
Orthodox,
and
churches
were
closed
and
thrown into a deep ravine, filled with thorns and mud, from which it
was impossible to escape. St. Isaac remained alive by Gods help, and
he emerged, overtook the emperor and said, You wanted to destroy
me, but three angels pulled me from the mire. Hear me, open up the
churches for the Orthodox and you shall defeat the enemy. If,
however, you do not heed me, then you shall not return. You will be
captured and burned alive. The emperor was astonished at the saints
boldness and ordered his attendants Saturninus and Victor to take
the monk and hold him in prison until his return. St. Isaacs prophecy
was soon fulfilled. The Goths defeated and pursued the Greek army.
The emperor and his Arian generals took refuge in a barn filled with
straw, and the attackers set it afire. After receiving news of the
emperors death, they released St. Isaac and honored him as a
prophet. Then the holy Emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395) came
to the throne. On the advice of Saturninus and Victor, he summoned
the Elder, treating him with great respect. Obeying his instructions,
he banished the Arians from Constantinople and restored the
churches to the Orthodox. St. Isaac wanted to return to his desert,
but Saturninus and Victor begged him not to leave the city, but to
remain and protect it by his prayers. Saturninus built a monastery for
the saint in Constantinople, where monks gathered around him. St.
Isaac was the monasterys igumen and spiritual guide. He also
nourished laypeople, and helped many of the poor and suffering. When
he had reached an advanced age, St. Isaac made St. Dalmatus
(August 3) igumen. The monastery was later named for Dalmatus. St.
Isaac died in the year 383.
TODAY IS MARCH 23
St. Basil was born in 1587 in the very old town of Yaroslavl. Yaroslavl
was an important port on the Volga River. Basils father, Theodore,
was a poor merchant and his family often had very little food. Even
when he was a very small boy, St. Basil used to go to the church
every time he could. He loved Gods house and he wanted to be there
more than any place else. In those days, when a boy was twelve years
old, he could become an apprentice. An apprentice is someone who
works for a company without pay just to learn the business. The boss
pays the boys father a certain amount and then gives the boy food
and a place to live. Because Basils family was very poor, he agreed
to become an apprentice. The Saint became an apprentice for a
merchant in the Siberian town of Mangazeya. Siberia was a very
dangerous place, full of wild animals, warlike native tribes and
lawless men. The journey to Mangazeya was long, difficult and full of
danger. When St. Basil arrived there safely, he hurried to the church
to give thanks to God for His protection on the road. Then the boy
went to the merchants office where he was given the job of clerk. St.
Basil was a very good and careful worker. Soon he was given a more
responsible job in the company. Unfortunately, at that time Siberia
was a frontier area, and there were almost no women there. Because
of this, some men who had bestial passions used to commit
homosexual acts with young men and boys. St. Basils boss was one
of those perverse men. Soon after St Basil had arrived in Mangazeya,
the boss tried to entice the youth into homosexual relations. He tried
flattery, he offered Basil money and finally, he tried threats and
209
punishments. St. Basil only continued to fast and pray and ask God to
help him remain pure. The boss began to hate Basil. He was angry
that the boy would not submit to his evil lust, and he hated Basils
prayerful, religious life. He especially hated Basil for his meek and
humble personality. But no matter how much he persecuted and
mistreated the innocent lad, St. Basil continued to faithfully and
honestly perform all his duties and responsibilities. Finally, the
persecutions and slanders reached a terrible point. During the
Paschal Matins, thieves robbed the merchandise house in which Basil
worked. The boss, discovering the theft, went to the governor and
reported the theft. But then a terrible deed occurred: the merchant
hated Basil so much and the evil in him was so strong that he formally
accused the innocent youth of being the robber. Thus, on the day of
Christs Bright Pascha, when the Holy Church calls all people to
peace and love, this innocent, God-fearing boy was betrayed by a
false witness, just as Christ had been betrayed by false witnesses.
The governor did not even investigate the charges. He sent officers to
arrest St. Basil and drag him right out of the church. The governor and
Basils boss began to torture the boy in order to force a confession
from him. In spite of all the fierce tortures, the blessed one would only
reply meekly, I am innocent. The pain from the tortures became so
unbearable that the youth fainted, but when he came to, he again
quietly repeated, I am innocent. The meek, humble, Christ-like
endurance and peaceful reply of the young saint enraged the evil
merchant even more. Finally, he flew into a demonic rage and struck
the innocent virgin in the head with a heavy chain of keys. St. Basil
fell to the floor, sighed heavily and gave up his pure soul into the
hands of the Lord, on the day of Christs Radiant Pascha, 1600. He
was thirteen years old. In order to hide this foul crime, the Governor,
Mr. Pushkin, and the passion crazed merchant placed the body of the
Holy Martyr into a rough coffin and lowered it into a nearby marsh,
210
TODAY IS MARCH 24
The Holy Martyr Stephen of Kazan was a Tatar. For more than twenty
years, he suffered from a weakness of the legs. After the capture of
211
TODAY IS MARCH 25
TODAY IS MARCH 26
Saint Maxima
FEAST DAY
to
Sirmium
(west
of
Belgrade)
in
order
to
distance
themselves from the seat of power. However, in the year 304, they
were seized by Roman soldiers and brought to stand trial before
Governor Probus. As they stood before the governor on a bridge
overlooking the Sava River, the captives were given the choice of
sacrifice to the idols or death. St. Montanus showed great heroism
and explained that if he were to sacrifice to the idols, it would be
tantamount to rejecting Jesus Christ as God and Lord of heaven and
earth, and he refused to comply. Frustrated and intending to take
advantage of her weaker sex, Probus tried to persuade St. Maxima
213
to deny Christ. Much to the surprise of the crowd, her fidelity and
apostolic courage proved to be as great, if not greater, than her
husbands. St. Maxima defended her faith so convincingly and with
such eloquent zeal that Probus cut the trial short, fearing mass
conversions
to
Christianity.
Sts.
Maxima
and
Montanus
were
beheaded by the sword, and their remains were thrown into the Sava
River. The faithful, and those converted by the zeal of the holy couple,
willingly endangered their lives in order to rescue the bodies and
heads of the martyrs from the river. The relics were transported to
Rome and interred in the Catacombs of St. Priscilla on the Salarian
Way where they remained for 1,500 years. In 1804, certain tombs in
the Catacombs of St. Priscilla were opened. The many relics that
were discovered were presented to various Roman Catholic churches
and to notable families in Rome. St. Maximas relics were found to be
in a remarkable state of preservation. They were ultimately presented
to the influential Sinibaldi family, and for over a hundred years, her
relics were venerated at the altar of their private chapel in Rome. In
1927, the Sinibaldi family presented St. Maximas relics to the Poor
Clares of San Lorenzo Monastery in Rome who, in turn, presented
them to the Poor Clares Monastery in Chicago, Illinois, where they
remained for forty years. For the next few decades, St. Maximas
relics were transported from one monastery or priest to another,
including Father Joseph Louro, a Roman Catholic missionary in South
America. After Father Louros death, St. Maximas relics found a
permanent home with the Byzantine Poor Clares in North Royalton,
Ohio. Wherever her relics journeyed, veneration of St. Maxima grew
because of the boundless miracles that occurred through her
intercessions. It was, however, the impact of her life that most
impressed the faithful. The visible presence of a priests wife who, in
a time of confusion and darkness, confronted evil with selfless
courage and willingly gave her life confessing Christ has inspired
214
TODAY IS MARCH 27
Churches
of
Byzantine
Rite
practised
(Gk:
TODAY IS MARCH 28
of
Russia
were
corresponding
regularly
about
the
TODAY IS MARCH 29
219
TODAY IS MARCH 30
St. John Climacus of Sinai accepted the ascetical life from the age of
about sixteen and was tonsured as a monk three or four years later.
Then, at the age of 35, he isolated himself from the world and lived as
a hermit for 40 years at a monastery church called Thola, about 10
kilometres from the Mount Sinai monastery. While living an ascetical
life he is reported to have received the gift of tears and the grace of
continual prayer. Fellow monks in large numbers began to seek him
out for spiritual guidance. When criticized for making a mockery of his
hermitage by entertaining so many people there, he decided to keep
total silence. After a year or so of this, those who had criticized him
pleaded with him to resume guiding others. Experienced both in the
solitary life of the hermit and in the communal life of cenobitic
[Cenobitic (or coenobitic) monasticism is a monastic tradition that
stresses community life] monasticism, he was appointed Abbot of the
Monastery at Mount Sinai (built at the site of the burning bush where
Moses spoke to God). The day he was made Abbot of Sinai, the
Prophet Moses was seen giving commands to those who served at the
table. St. John wrote a book containing thirty homilies. Each homily
deals with one virtue, and progressing from those that deal with holy
and righteous praxis [activity] unto those that deal with theoria
[divine vision], they raise a man up as though by means of steps unto
220
the height of Heaven; thus the book is called "The Ladder of Divine
Ascent", and the saint is known as "Climacus". "The Ladder of Divine
Ascent" is so God-inspired that this book greatly esteemed in the
Orthodox Christian Church that its author, St. John Climacus, is
celebrated twice a year - on 30th March (the day of his repose), and
the Fourth Sunday of the Great Lent. Each monastic community of the
Orthodox Church reads "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" during each day
of the Great Lent, in their common dining hall (or refectory) during the
daily meal. This is a period of strict fasting, struggle, prostration and
extensive prayers; when only one meal is eaten in the day and after 3
pm, and water is only consumed during 3-6pm. The book, by means of
thirty steps (or logoi), calls us to the spiritual life; it inspires,
instructs, speeds the reader towards the "things on high", and pointsout the dangers and pitfalls. Each step describes the origin of a
certain virtue or passion and the path it can take us. The Ladder does
not offer us a formula to accomplish salvation, for "the life you have is
hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3), but: "Let us try to learn Divine
truth more by toil and sweat than by mere word, for at the time of our
departure it is not words but deeds that will have to be shown" (Step
26:36 in St. John Climacus book). Saint John reposed in 603, at eighty
years of age.
TODAY IS MARCH 31
221
224
TODAY IS APRIL 1
The Holy Martyr St. Abraham the Bulgar, Vladimir Wonderworker, lived
during the thirteenth century, and was descended from the Kamska
Bulgars and brought up as a Moslem. He was good and kindly towards
the destitute, and when the Lord enlightened him with the light of
reason, he accepted Christianity. In the city of Bolgara, on the lower
stretches of the Volga, St. Abraham began to preach to his fellow
countrymen about the true God. They seized him and tried to force
him to renounce Christ, but the saint remained firm in his confession.
They tortured the martyr fiercely and for a long while, but he endured
everything with unshakable patience. On April 1, 1229 they quartered
the holy Martyr Abraham, and then cut off his venerable head. Russian
Christians living in the city buried the saints body in the Christian
cemetery. On March 6, 1230, the relics of St. Abraham were
transferred by the Great Prince St. George Vsevolodovich of Vladimir
to the Dormition cathedral of the Knyaginin (Princess) monastery.
Worshipers at his reliquary were healed by calling upon his name in
faithful prayer. His memory began to be celebrated from that time.
TODAY IS APRIL 2
St. George of Atsquri lived at the end of the 9th and the beginning of
the 10th centuries. A member of the aristocratic and pious Shuartqeli
family, St. George was raised and educated in the environs of
Georgias renowned Opiza Monastery in Klarjeti. Four years after the
death of the great feudal lord George Chorchaneli, St. George
succeeded him as ruler of the Samtskhe region. At that time a bitter
conflict arose over who was the rightful heir to Chorchanelis
inheritance, of which St. George prayed to go for victory that was
granted to him. While serving as the chief political leader of
Samtskhe, St. George also directed the regions spiritual life, wisely
administering the ancient Atsquri diocese for many years. According
to tradition, the diocese of Atsquri was founded by the holy Apostle
Andrew the First-called, who left there the Not-Made-By-Hands icon
of the Most Holy Theotokos (known as the Atsquri Icon of the Mother
of God) as an offering to the Georgian Church. Though his literary
works have not been preserved, St. George is also commemorated as
a great writer of the Church. A few biographical details about St.
George of Atsquri have been preserved in the writings of the famous
10th-century Georgian hagiographers George Merchule and Basil of
Zarzma.In his book The Life of St. Grigol of Khandzta, St. George
Merchule notes that St. George of Atsquri made some of the most
significant contributions to the biographical writings on St. Grigol of
Khandzta. St. George of Atsquri was a close companion of St.
Serapion of Zarzma. He was present at his burial and contributed
much to the hagiographical writings on his life and works.
226
TODAY IS APRIL 3
Our Holy Father (824) St. Nicetas the Confessor was born in Caesarea
of Bithynia. His widowed father became a monk, leaving Nicetas to
the care of his grandmother. Nicetas himself, when he was grown,
entered a monastery in Midikion, on the Sea of Marmara. After seven
years of monastic life he was ordained hieromonk [Hieromonk (Greek:
,
Ieromonachos;
Slavonic:
Ieromonakh,
Romanian:
TODAY IS APRIL 4
The holy New Martyr St. Nicetas was a Slav from Albania, but we
know nothing of his family or his early life. He lived on Mt. Athos in
the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon, then lived in the Skete of
St. Anne. Burning with a desire for martyrdom, he decided to travel to
Serres. He arrived on March 30, 1808 (Great and Holy Monday) and
stopped at a local monastery. In speaking to the igumen, he revealed
that he was a hieromonk from Mt. Athos. At midnight, the igumen was
making his customary rounds of the monastery when he saw someone
standing in the moonlight praying on the church porch. As he came
closer, he could see that it was Father Nicetas, who revealed his
intention to shed his blood for Christ. After speaking with the saint for
a while, the igumen continued his rounds and left Fr. Nicetas to pray.
In
the
morning,
Fr.
Nicetas
received
Communion
from
the
will be healthy and no trace of your lameness will remain. The man
said nothing, but went to his teacher to report what the monk had
said to him. The teacher questioned St. Nicetas about where he had
come from, and what he had said to his disciple. Fearlessly, the
warrior of Christ told him he was from Albania and had come to
preach Christianity. Feeling pity for the lame man, he had advised him
to believe in Christ so that he might receive his bodily health and the
Kingdom of Heaven after death. The teacher sent word to the mayor
that a monk had come to their city and was speaking against their
religion. St. Nicetas was locked up in prison for the night, and the
next day he was interrogated by Moslem religious leaders. Since they
could not defeat him with reason, they tortured him and hanged him in
the evening of Great and Holy Saturday in 1808. He was left hanging
until Bright Tuesday, when Christians were given permission to take
his body and bury it. Pilgrims who even today pray at his gravesite
are healed of body sickness.
229
TODAY IS APRIL 5
Our Holy Father Mark of Trache (270~400) is also called 'Mark the
Athenian' because he was born in Athens. When his parents died, he
pondered the transience of all earthly things, gave his goods to the
poor, and embarked on a plank in the sea, asking God to lead him
wherever He desired. By God's providence, Mark was cast up on the
shores of Libya, where he settled as a hermit on a mountain called
Trache. (Some say it was in Ethiopia, but this seems less likely.)
There he lived for ninety-five years, healing the sick and praying for
the poor. Saint Serapion visited him before his death and recorded his
life. Serapion asked Mark if there were any Christians whose faith
was so great that they could say to a mountain 'Get up and cast
yourself into the sea,' and it would be so. Immediately the mountain
on which they stood began to move like a wave, but Mark raised his
hand and stilled it. On his deathbed, St. Mark prayed for the salvation
of all men and gave up his soul to God. Saint Serapion saw an angel
carrying Mark's soul, and a hand extended from heaven to receive it.
Saint Mark was about 130 years old when he reposed.
230
TODAY IS APRIL 6
Saint Eutychius
FEAST DAY
At
the
Council,
he
was
one
of
those
who
argued,
heresies
in
the
history
of
the
Church:
TODAY IS APRIL 7
cast
out unclean
spirits and
healed incurable
TODAY IS APRIL 8
Saint Herodion
FEAST DAY
TODAY IS APRIL 9
rich and illustrious family. In his youth, he was enlightened with the
Christian teaching. The saint gave away all his wealth to the poor and
withdrew into the wilderness, where he founded a monastery. He
would go up on a mountain for solitary prayer, and once was
permitted to behold the Glory of God. During this period the Persian
emperor
Sapor
(310-381)
began
to
persecute
Christians.
They
arrested St. Bademus and his seven disciples, and tortured them in
prison, hoping that they would renounce Christ and worship the sun
and fire. But St. Bademus and his disciples held firmly to the Christian
Faith. The confessors spent four months in jail. All this time St.
Bademus was a spiritual leader and support for the Christians living in
Persia. One of the associates of the emperor Sapor, Nirsanes, was a
Christian and suffered imprisonment for this. He did not hold up under
torture and denied Christ, promising to fulfill whatever the emperor
commanded. Sapor demanded that Nirsanes personally cut off the
head of St. Bademus. For this he was promised a reprieve and great
rewards. Nirsanes was not able to overcome his fear of new tortures,
and he agreed to follow the path of betrayal walked by Judas. When
they brought St. Bademus to him, he took the sword and turned
toward him, but overcome by conscience, he trembled and stood
petrified. St. Bademus said to him, Has your wickedness now
reached this point, Nirsanes, that you should not only renounce God,
but also murder His servants? Woe to you, accursed one! What will
you do on that day when you stand before the Dread Judgment Seat?
What answer will you give to God? I am prepared to die for Christ, but
I dont want to receive death at your hands. Nirsanes struck with the
sword, but his hands shook, and he could not behead the saint
immediately, and the fire-worshippers began to call him a coward.
The holy martyr Bademus stood motionless, enduring many terrible
blows, until the murderer succeeded in cutting off his head. The just
punishment for his misdeeds were not slow in overtaking the hapless
234
TODAY IS APRIL 10
Greek churches but the secular ruler of the Greek people, bound by
oath to respect the authority of the Sultan. This, combined with
Gregory's personal experience of the treatment of Greek rebels, made
him a staunch opponent of revolutionary activity among his people.
Still, when revolutionaries on the Peloponnese declared Greek
independence from Turkey on March 25, 1821, Turkish retribution was
harsh: On Pascha, April 10, after serving the Paschal Liturgy, the aged
Patriarch was arrested by the Turkish authorities. He was tortured in
an effort to have him reveal the names of those heading the
revolution, then was offered his freedom if he would convert to Islam.
Gregory answered, 'You ask in vain: the Patriarch of Christians dies a
Christian.' He (along with other clergy and hierarchs) was hanged as a
traitor on the gate of the patriarchal compound. An eyewitness, a
British
clergyman
visiting
Constantinople,
wrote:
'His
body,
Painting by Peter von Hess depicting the casting of the corpse of Patriarch
Gregory V of Constantinople into the Bosphorus
236
In 1871 the relics were returned to Greece by Tsar Alexander III. They
were incorrupt, though fifty years had passed since his death. Saint
Gregory was officially glorified in 1921. His relics may be venerated at
the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens.
TODAY IS APRIL 11
Saint Barsanuphius of Tver was born in the year 1495, and was from
Serpukhov. He was named John in Baptism, and he was taught to
read and write. While still a youth, he was captured by the Crimean
Tatars. Accepting this as the Lords will, he meekly submitted to his
masters, and dutifully accomplished the work they assigned him to
do. After three years, Johns father ransomed him. He then went to
Moscow and became a monk in the Andronikov Monastery, where he
received the monastic name Barsanuphius. Devoting himself to the
ascetical life, he became proficient in virtue and piety. In 1544, he
was appointed as igumen of the Pesnosha Monastery. Later, he went
to Kazan and founded a monastery dedicated to the Transfiguration of
the Lord. While in Kazan, Archimandrite Barsanuphius was able to
help St. Gurias in spreading Christianity among the Moslems and
pagans. His knowledge of the Tatar language proved to be very useful
in this work.
237
reached
old
age,
he
returned
to
Kazan
and
to
the
healed.
238
TODAY IS APRIL 12
from
prison
and entreated
her
prayers.
The
abbess
predicted the birth of the twins and their fate, and the daughter was
named in her honor. When she grew up, the emperor began to urge her
to marry. But from her youth St. Anthusa yearned for monasticism and
would not agree to his suggestions. After the death of her father, she
used all her personal property to help the poor and the orphaned. The
devout empress Irene (780-802), wife of Leo the Khazar, regarded St.
Anthusa with love and esteem and invited her to be a co-regent. St.
Anthusa, however, did not desire worldly honors. Being at court, she
wore clothes befitting her position as an emperors daughter, but
underneath her finery she wore a hair-shirt. St. Anthusa was tonsured
by
the
holy
Patriarch
Tarasius
(784-806).
She
founded
at
Constantinople the Omonia monastery, known for its strict rule. St.
Anthusa was herself an example of humility. She did hard work, she
cleaned the church and carried water. She never sat at table during
meals, but instead served the sisters. She saw to it that no one left
239
prayers, and the people from the Empire would visit her at Omonia to
seek her blessings, healings and asking her to petition God on their
behalf. Her prayers were always answered for those who sought in
humbleness, but those bringing gifts or money to influence Saint
Anthusa were turned away. The humble and gentle ascetic lived to
the age of fifty-two, and died peacefully in 801.
TODAY IS APRIL 13
The Holy martyr St. Thomais was born into a Christian family in the
city of Alexandria. She was raised in piety, and loved to read spiritual
books. When she was fifteen, the girl married a fisherman, who was
also a Christian. The young couple lived in the house of her husbands
family, where St. Thomais was loved for her mild and gentle
disposition, and for other good traits. St. Thomais father-in-law, at the
prompting of the devil, was captivated by her beauty. One night, when
his son went out fishing, he attempted to lead his daughter-in-law into
sin. Horrified, St. Thomais admonished the senseless old man,
reminding him of the Last Judgment and the penalty for sin. Infuriated
by her steadfastness, he seized a sword and threatened to cut off her
head. St. Thomais answered resolutely, Even if you cut me to pieces,
240
I shall not stray from the commandments of the Lord. Overcome with
passion, the old man cut St. Thomais in two with the sword. The saint
received the crown of martyrdom in the year 476. Divine punishment
overtook the murderer. He became blind and could not find the door in
order to escape. In the morning, the companions of the saints
husband came to the door. They saw the body of the saint, and the
blind old man covered with blood. The murderer confessed his evil
deed and asked to be taken to the judge for punishment. He was
beheaded for his crime. At this time, St. Daniel of Skete happened to
be in Alexandria. He told the monks of the Oktodekadian monastery
(at the eighteenth mile on the road leading west from Alexandria) to
bring the body of the martyr to the monastery and bury her in the
cemetery with the departed fathers. Some of the monks were
scandalized because he wanted to bury a womans body with the
monks. St. Daniel replied, She is a mother to me and to you, because
she died for her chastity. After the funeral St Daniel returned to
skete. Soon one of the young monks began to complain to him that he
was tormented by fleshly passions. St. Daniel ordered him to go and
pray at the grave of the holy martyr Thomais. The monk did the
bidding of the Elder. While he prayed at the grave, he fell into a light
sleep. St. Thomais appeared to him and said, Father, accept my
blessing and go in peace. When he awakened, the monk felt joy and
peace in his soul. After this, he told St. Daniel that he was no longer
bothered by the temptations of the flesh. Abba Daniel exclaimed,
Great is the boldness of those who have struggled for chastity.
Many found both spiritual joy and release from their passions at the
grave
of
St.
Thomais.
Her
holy
relics
were
transferred
to
241
TODAY IS APRIL 14
The Holy Martyrs Anthony, John, and Eustathius were brothers who
suffered for Christ under the Lithuanian Great Prince Olgerd (13451377). The prince was married to the Orthodox princess Maria
Yaroslavna (+ 1346). He was baptized and during his wifes lifetime he
allowed the preaching of Christianity. Two brothers, Nezhilo and
Kumets, received holy Baptism from the priest Nestor, and they
received the names Anthony and John. And at the request of Maria
Yaroslavna an Orthodox church was built at Vilnius (Vilna). After the
death of his spouse, Prince Olgerd began to support the pagan priests
of the fire-worshippers, who started a persecution against Christians.
Sts John and Anthony endeavored not to flaunt their Christianity, but
they did not observe pagan customs. They did not cut their hair as the
pagans did, and on fast days they did not eat forbidden foods. The
prince soon became suspicious of the brothers, so he interrogated
them and they confessed themselves Christians. Then he demanded
that they eat meat (it was a fast day). The holy brothers refused, and
the prince locked them up in prison. The brothers spent an entire year
behind bars. John took fright at the impending tortures and declared
that he would obey all the demands of the Great Prince. The delighted
Olgerd released the brothers and brought them to himself. But
Anthony did not betray Christ. When he refused to eat meat on a fast
242
day, the prince again locked him up in prison and subjected him to
brutal tortures. The other brother remained free, but both Christians
and pagans regarded him as a traitor and would not associate with
him. Repenting of his sin, John went to the priest Nestor and
entreated him to ask his brother to forgive him. When he openly
confesses Christ, we will be reconciled, Anthony replied. Once, while
serving the prince at the bath, St. John spoke privately with him
about his reconciliation with the Church. Olgerd did not display any
anger and said that he could believe in Christ, but must conduct
himself like all the pagans. Then St. John confessed himself a
Christian in the presence of numerous courtiers. They beat him
fiercely with rods and sent him to his brother in prison. The martyrs
met with joy, and received the Holy Mysteries that same day. Many
people went to the prison to see the new confessor. The brothers
converted many to Christ by their preaching. The prison was
transformed into a Christian school. The frightened pagan priests
demanded the execution of the brothers, but they did not fear death.
On the morning of April 14, 1347 the Martyr Anthony was hanged on a
tree after receiving the Holy Mysteries. This oak, which the pagans
considered sacred, became truly sacred for Orthodox Christians. The
pagan priests, who hoped that Christian preaching would stop with
the death of St. Anthony, were disappointed. A multitude of the
people gathered before the walls of the prison where St. John was
being held. On April 24, 1347 they strangled him and hanged his dead
body upon the same oak. The venerable bodies of both martyrs were
buried by Christians in the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
A third sufferer for Christ was their relative Kruglets. At Baptism the
priest Nestor named him Eustathius. Kruglets stood out because of
his comeliness, valor and bravery, but even more because of his mind
and virtue of soul. A favorite of Olgerd, he could count on a very
promising future. However, he also refused to eat meat at the festal
243
found
to
be
incorrupt.
In
1364
Patriarch
Philotheus
of
passion-bearers
were
returned
to
the
Vilnius
Holy
Spirit
244
TODAY IS APRIL 15
TODAY IS APRIL 16
meaning
Love,
Purity,
and
Peace),
were
born
in
Thessalonica and were three virgin sisters who were martyred for
their faith in 304.These three sisters lived in Aquilea, Macedonia.
When the Emperor Diocletian was visiting there, he learned that they
were Christians and had them brought to him. When they would not
deny Christ, they were cast into prison, than handed over to a general
named Dulcitius for torture. Dulcitius conceived a passion for the
sisters, and entered the prison planning to defile them; but when he
tried to enter, he was deprived of his reason and fell upon the dirty
pots at the entrance, embracing and kissing them until he was
completely black with soot. Hearing of this, the Emperor appointed
246
TODAY IS APRIL 17
1436, the hermits crossed the sea and landed at the Solovki islands.
There St. Zosimas had a vision of a beautiful church in the sky. With
their own hands the monks built cells and an enclosure, and they
began to cultivate and sow the land. Once, in late autumn, St Herman
went to the mainland for provisions. Because of the autumn weather
he was not able to return. St. Zosimas remained alone on the island
all winter. He suffered many temptations in struggles with the
demons. Death by starvation threatened him, but miraculously two
strangers appeared and left him a supply of bread, flour and oil. In
spring St. Herman returned to Solovki with the fisherman Mark, and
he brought supplies of food and rigging for fishing nets. When several
hermits had gathered on the island, St. Zosimas constructed a small
wooden church in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and a
trapeza [In an Orthodox monastery, a trapeza (or refectory), is the
dining
hall
where
monks
and
pilgrims
gather
for
food
and
249
TODAY IS APRIL 18
Saint Basil Ratishvili, one of the most prominent figures of the 13thcentury Church, was the uncle of Catholicos [Catholicos is a title
used by the ruling bishops or primates of several churches in the
Middle East, especially Georgia] Ekvtime III. He labored with the
other Georgian fathers at the Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos.
Endowed with the gift of prophecy, St. Basil beheld a vision in which
the Most Holy Theotokos called upon him to censure King Demetres
impious rule (This is actually St. Demetre the Devoted, who in his
youth lived profligately but later laid down his life for his nation).
Having arrived in Georgia and been brought before the king George IV
Lasha, the God-fearing father denounced the sovereigns uncrowned
marriage [a conjugal union without the blessing of the Church]. He
promised the king that if he abandoned his present way of life, he
would find great happiness and success. St. Basil also condemned
the ungodly ways of Georgias apostate feudal lords. But the king and
his court disregarded the virtuous elders admonitions, and in
response St. Basil prophesied: A vicious enemy will kill you, and your
kingdom will remain without refuge. Your children will be scattered,
your kingdom conquered, and all your wealth seized. Know that,
according to the will of the Most Holy Theotokos, everything I have
told you will come to pass unless you repent and turn from this way of
250
life. Now I will depart from you in peace. St. Basil returned to Mt.
Athos and peacefully reposed at the Iveron Monastery. His vision was
fulfilled. The first Mongol expedition defeated two Georgian armies in
12211222 and left through Inner Caucasus. Georgians suffered heavy
losses in this war and the King himself was severely wounded. As a
result, King George IV Lasha became an invalid and died prematurely
at the age of 31.
TODAY IS APRIL 19
Matrona was born in 1881 into a poor family in the village of SebinoEpifaniskaya (now Kimovski) in the Tula region of Russia. Blind from
birth, her eyes were without pupils, she bore her infirmity with
humility and patience, and God made her a vessel of grace. At the
moment of her baptism, the priest saw a cloud above the child, which
shed forth a sweet fragrance as a sign of divine favor. From the age of
six or seven, she exhibited an extraordinary gift of insight, discerning
sicknesses of soul and body in the many people who visited her,
revealing to them their secret sins and their problems, and healing
them through prayer and wise counsel. Around the age of fourteen,
she made a pilgrimage to the great holy places in Russia along with a
devout benefactress. When they arrived at Kronstadt to receive the
blessing of St. John, they became lost in the crowd. St. John suddenly
251
cried out, Matrona, come here! She will be my heir, and will become
the eighth pillar of Russia. At that time, no one understood the
meaning of this prophecy. When she turned seventeen, Matrona
became paralyzed and was unable to walk from then on. Knowing that
this was Gods will, she never complained but thanked the Lord. For
the rest of her life over fifty years she lived in a room filled with
icons, sitting cross legged on her bed. With a radiant face and a quiet
voice, she received all who came to seek divine consolation through
her presence. She foretold the great misfortunes that were to sweep
down upon the country after the Bolshevik revolution, placing her gift
of insight at the service of the people of God. One day when some
visitors commiserated with her about her disablement, she replied: A
day came on which God opened my eyes, and I saw the light of the
sun, the stars and all that exists in the world: the rivers, the forests,
the sea and the whole of creation. In 1925 she left her village to
settle in Moscow and, after her mothers death in 1945, she moved
frequently, welcomed secretly into the houses of the faithful. This
was because the Communists, fearing her influence among the
people, wanted to arrest her. But, every time, she had advance
knowledge, and when the police arrived they learned that she had
moved an hour or two earlier. One day, when a policeman arrived to
arrest her, she advised him to return home as quickly as possible,
promising him that she would not escape. When the man arrived
home, he discovered that his wife was on fire, and was just in time to
take her to the hospital.
believers after this miracle. St. Matrona led an ascetic life on her bed
of pain. She fasted constantly, slept little, her head resting on her
chest, and her forehead was dented by the innumerable signs of the
Cross that she made. Not only the Muscovites but also people from
afar, of all ages and conditions, thronged around her to ask her advice
and her prayers. In this way she truly became the support of afflicted
252
people, especially during World War II. To those who came to ask her
for news of their relatives in battle, she reassured some and
counseled others to hold memorial services. She spoke to some
directly, and to others in parables, having in view their spiritual
edification and recommending them to keep the Churchs laws, to
marry in the Church and to regularly attend Confession and take
Communion. When the sick and possessed were brought to her, she
placed her hands on their heads, saying several prayers or driving the
demons out with authority, always insisting that she was doing
nothing of herself but that God was healing by her mediation. When
asked why the Church was undergoing such great persecutions, she
replied that it was because of the sins of the Christians and their lack
of faith. All the peoples who have turned away from God have
disappeared from off the face of the earth, she affirmed. Difficult
times are our lot, but we Christians must choose the Cross. Christ has
placed us on His sleigh, and he will take us where He will. Having
foretold the day of her death, she gave instructions for her funeral.
Before falling asleep in peace on April 19, 1952, she cried out, Come
close, all of you, and tell me of your troubles as though I were alive!
Ill see you, Ill hear you, and Ill come to your aid. Miracles were
multiplied at her tomb and, ever since her translation to the womens
monastery of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God (March 13,
1998), the faithful who, in their thousands, line up to venerate
Moscows new protectress, turn to her icon and bring her their various
problems as though St. Matrona were alive in front of them.
253
TODAY IS APRIL 20
Saint Anastasius of Sinai lived in the seventh century, and was one of
the great ascetics who flourished on Mt. Sinai. From his youth, he was
raised in great piety and love for God. When he reached manhood, St.
Anastasius left the world and entered a monastery to take upon
himself the yoke of Christ (Mt.11:29). Wishing to perfect himself in
virtue, he went to St. Catherines Monastery on Mt. Sinai, where St.
John of the Ladder was abbot. There he profited from the example of
many holy men who were proficient in monasticism. Because of his
humility, St. Anastasius received wisdom and spiritual discernment
from God. He wrote the Lives of several holy Fathers, as well as other
spiritually instructive books. In time, he was found worthy of
ordination to the holy priesthood. Following St. John and St. George of
Sini, St. Anastasius became abbot of Sinai. He was most zealous in
his opposition to heresy, exposing it, refuting it, and covering its
adherents with shame. He even traveled to Syria, Egypt, and Arabia to
uproot heresy and strengthen the Church of Christ. St. Anastasius
taught that God gives each Christian an angel to care for him
throughout his life. However, we can drive our Guardian Angel away
by our sins, just as bees are driven away by smoke. While the demons
work to deprive us of the heavenly Kingdom, the holy angels guide us
to do good. Therefore, only the most foolish individuals would drive
254
TODAY IS APRIL 21
Saint January
FEAST DAY
met
during
his
priestly
studies.
During
the
112 year-long
the fourth century AD. Saint Januarius is famous for the miracle of the
annual liquefaction of his blood, which, according to legend, was
saved by a woman called Eusebia just after the saint's death.
Thousands of people assemble to witness this event in Naples
Cathedral on his feast day to commemorate his martyrdom.
TODAY IS APRIL 22
veiled such with his garb, so that no one might see his sin. Thus the
wise hierarch shamed the calumniators. St. Vitalius continued on with
his difficult exploit: appearing himself before people under the guise
of a sinner and a prodigal, he led the prodigal to repentance. One
time, emerging from a house of ill repute, the monk encountered a
young man going there -- a prodigal fellow, who with an insult struck
him on the cheek and cried out that the monk was a disgrace to the
Name of Christ. The monk answered him: Believe me, that after me,
humble man that I be, thou also shalt receive such a blow on the
cheek, that will have all Alexandria thronging to thine cry. A certain
while afterwards St. Vitalius settled into a small cell and in it at night
he died. At that very hour a terrifying demon appeared before the
youth who had struck the saint, and the demon struck the youth on
the cheek and cried out: Here is a knock from St. Vitalius. The youth
went into a demonic madness. In a frenzy he thrashed about on the
ground, tore the clothing from himself and howled so loudly, that a
multitude of people gathered. When the youth finally came to his
senses after several hours, he then rushed off to the cell of the monk,
calling out: Have mercy on me, O servant of God, for I have sinned
against thee. At the door of the cell he came fully to his senses and
he told those gathered there about his former encounter with St.
Vitalius. Then the youth knocked on the door of the cell, but he
received no answer. When they broke in the door, they then saw, that
the monk was dead, on his knees before an icon. In his hand was a
scroll with the words: Men of Alexandria, judge not beforehand, til
cometh the Lord, the Righteous Judge. At this moment there came
up the demon-possessed woman, punished by the monk for wanting to
violate the secret of his exploit. Having touched the body of the saint,
she was healed and told the people about everything that had
happened with her. When the women who had been saved by St.
Vitalius learned about his death, they gathered together and told
258
everyone about the virtues and mercy of the saint. St. John the
Merciful also rejoiced, in that he had not believed the calumniators,
and that a righteous man had not been condemned. And then together
with the throng of repentant women, converted by St. Vitalius, the
holy Patriarch solemnly conveyed his remains throughout all the city
and gave them reverent burial. And from that time many of the
Alexandria people made themselves a promise to judge no one.
TODAY IS APRIL 23
Saint George
FEAST DAY
Saint George (c. 275/281 23 April 303) was a Greek who became an
officer in the Roman army. His father was the Greek Gerondios from
Cappadocia Asia Minor and his mother was the Greek Polychronia
from the city Lydda. Lydda was a Greek city in Palestine from the
times of the conquest of Alexander the Great (333 BC), however it is
now known as its Hebrew name Lod and is now a part of modern
Israel. Saint George became an officer in the Roman army in the
Guard of Diocletian. He is venerated as a Christian martyr. In
hagiography, Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the
Western and Eastern Rites, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the
Oriental Orthodox churches. He is immortalized in the tale of Saint
George and the Dragon and is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. His
259
Genoa,
Amersfoort,
Beirut,
Botoani,
Drobeta
Turnu-Severin,
260
the Synod of Oxford, 1222 declared St. George's Day a feast day in the
kingdom of England. Edward III put his Order of the Garter under the
banner of St. George, probably in 1348. The chronicler Froissart
observed the English invoking St. George as a battle cry on several
occasions during the Hundred Years' War. In his rise as a national
saint George was aided by the very fact that the saint had no
legendary connection with England, and no specifically localized
shrine. Saint George is somewhat of an exception among saints and
legends, in that he is known and respected by Muslims, as well as
venerated by Christians throughout the Middle East, from Egypt to
Asia Minor. He is said to have killed a dragon near the sea in Beirut
and at the beginning of the 20th century Muslim women used to visit
his shrine in the area to pray to him. St. George is very much honored
by the Eastern Orthodox Church, wherein he is referred to as a "Great
Martyr", and in Oriental Orthodoxy overall. His major feast day is on
April 23 (Julian Calendar April 23 currently corresponds to Gregorian
Calendar May 6). If, however, the feast occurs before Easter, it is
celebrated on Easter Monday instead. The Russian Orthodox Church
also celebrates two additional feasts in honour of St. George: one on
November
commemorating
the
consecration
of
cathedral
St George's Cross
265
The "Colours of Saint George", or St. George's Cross are a white flag
with a red cross, frequently borne by entities over which he is patron:
the Republic of Genoa, Liguria, England, Georgia, Catalonia, and
Aragon just to name the most known. The cross was originally the
personal flag of another saint and key Christian figure, St. Ambrose.
Adopted by the city of Milan (of which St. Ambrose was Archbishop)
at least as early as the Ninth century, its use spread over Northern
Italy including Genoa. Genoa's patron saint was St. George and
through the flag's use by the vast Genoese trading fleet, the
association was carried throughout Europe. The same color scheme
was used by Viktor Vasnetsov for the faade of the Tretyakov Gallery,
in which some of the most famous St. George icons are exhibited and
which displays St. George as the coat of arms of Moscow over its
entrance. In 1606, the flag of England (St. George's Cross), and the
flag of Scotland (St. Andrew's Cross), were joined together to create
the Union Flag. St. George is most commonly depicted in early icons,
mosaics and frescos wearing armor contemporary with the depiction,
executed in gilding and silver color, intended to identify him as a
Roman soldier. After the Fall of Constantinople and the association of
St George with the crusades, he is more often portrayed mounted
upon a white horse. At the same time St. George began to be
associated with St. Demetrius, another early soldier saint. When the
two saints are portrayed together mounted upon horses, they may be
likened to earthly manifestations of the archangels Michael and
Gabriel. St. George is always depicted in Eastern traditions upon a
white horse and St. Demetrius on a red horse. St. George can also be
identified in the act of spearing a dragon, unlike St. Demetrius. In
Russian Orthodox Christianity it is possible to find Icons of St. George
riding on Black horse, as well, there are various examples in Russian
Iconography, like the Icon in British Museum Collection. A 2003
266
TODAY IS APRIL 24
267
TODAY IS APRIL 25
Saint Sylvester of Obnora was a disciple and novice under St. Sergius
of Radonezh. After completing his obedience at the Trinity monastery,
St. Sylvester received a blessing to live alone in the wilderness. In the
deep forest at the River Obnora, flowing into the River Kostroma, he
set up a cross at his chosen spot and began his ascetical labors. For
a long time no one knew about the holy hermit. His cell was
discovered by a peasant who had lost his way. He told the distraught
hermit that people had seen bright rays, and a pillar of cloud above
his habitation. The monk shed tears of sorrow, because the place of
his solitude had been discovered. The pilgrim besought the saint to
tell about himself. St. Sylvester said that he had been living there a
long time, and that he ate tree bark and roots. At first he became
weak without bread, and fell on the ground from his weakness. Then
an angel appeared to him in the guise of a wondrous man and touched
his hand. From that moment St. Sylvester did not experience any
distress. Another time, the peasant came back to the saint and
brought him bread and flour for reserve supply. This one meeting was
sufficient for the exploits of the hermit to become known to many.
Soon
peasants
began
to
come
to
him
from
the
surrounding
settlements. St. Sylvester allowed them to build cells near his. When
the brethren had gathered, St. Sylvester went to Moscow and
268
TODAY IS APRIL 26
modern age.], and also that of reader. The young saint received
monastic tonsure at the Monastery of St. Gregory the Theologian at
Rostov. The monastery was famed for its fine library. Since St.
Stephen wanted to read the holy Fathers in their original language, he
studied Greek. In his youth, when he had assisted his father in
church, he frequently spoke with the Zyrian [The Zyrians are an
ethnic group whose homeland is in the north-east of European Russia
around the basins of the Vychegda, Pechora and Kama rivers] people.
Now, having been immersed in the rich culture of the Church, St.
Stephen burned with a desire to convert the Zyrians to Christ. To
facilitate the enlightenment of the Zyrians, he compiled an alphabet
of their language and translated some of the Church books. For this
pious work Bishop Arsenius of Rostov ordained him to the rank of
hierodeacon. Having prepared himself for missionary activity, St.
Stephen journeyed to Moscow (1379) to see Bishop Gerasimus of
Kolomna, who then oversaw the affairs of the metropolitanate. The
saint implored him, Bless me, Master, to go into a pagan land, Perm. I
want to teach the holy Faith to the unbelieving people. I am resolved
either to lead them to Christ, or to lay down my life for them and for
Christ. The bishop joyfully blessed him and ordained him as a
hieromonk. He provided him with an antimension for the altar table,
holy chrism and service books, and Great Prince Demetrius gave him
a document of safe passage. From Ustiug St. Stephen made his way
along the North Dvina River up to the confluence of the Vychegda into
it, where settlements of the Zyrians began. The proponent of faith in
Christ suffered many toils and struggles, deprivation and sorrow,
living among the pagans who worshipped idols with fire, water,
trees, a stone and golden woman-figure, and shaman, and wizard, and
wood. Father Stephen was sad to see that the Zyrians continued to
worship a sacred birch tree. Immense in its thickness and height,
the birch tree grew on an elevated spot. The Zyrians gathered there
271
and brought wild animals there for sacrifice. St. Stephens cell was
not far from the birch tree. He prayed and set fire to the tree in order
to end the superstition. The Zyrians, seeing that the tree had been
destroyed, meant to kill him. The saint said to them, Judge for
yourselves whether or not your gods have any power, since they are
not able to defend themselves from the fire. Can they be gods, when
they are so powerless? They have no mind, neither can they see or
hear. Your idol could not defend itself against me, a weak man. Are all
your other gods so powerless? The Christian God is not like this. He
sees everything, knows everything and is Almighty, since He created
the whole world and foresees everything. How good He is, particularly
to those who know Him! I desire only what is good for you, to bring
you to the true God. He will love you and bless you, when you
sincerely begin to honor Him. On the site of the sacred birch tree,
St Stephen built a church in honor of the Archangel Michael, the
vanquisher of the spirits of darkness. The newly-baptized Zyrians
themselves began to remove that which they once worshiped. They
cut down sacred trees, they destroyed idols, and they brought to St.
Stephen the rich gifts set aside for the pagan sacrifices. He told his
Zyrian helper Matthew to throw everything into the fire, except the
linen cloth which was used for foot wrappings. But things came to a
head among the Zyrians after St. Stephen got the better of their chief
priest Pama, who rose up against the spread of Christianity. The
pagan priest entered into a debate with St Stephen. Christian, you
have only one God, said Pama, but we have many helpers on the
land, and in the water, granting us good hunting in the forests, and
with its abundance providing food and pelts to Moscow, the Horde
and faraway lands. Our gods reveal to us the magic mysteries,
inaccessible to you. St. Stephen answered that the true God is one;
the Almighty is one, but experience has proven that the idols are
powerless. After a lengthy dispute the pagan priest Pama challenged
272
St. Stephen to pass through fire and water in a test of faith. St.
Stephen humbly replied, Great is the Christian God. I accept your
challenge. Pama, however, lost his nerve and entreated the saint to
save him from certain death. You are witnesses, said St. Stephen to
the people how he wished to resolve the dispute about faith by fire
and water, but he does not wish to be baptized. Who has regard for
Pama now? What is to be done with him? Let the deceiver be put to
death, the people said, for if Pama is set free, he will make mischief
for you. No, the saint replied, Christ has not sent me to hand
anyone over to death, but to teach. Since Pama does not wish to
accept the saving Faith, let his stubbornness punish him, but I will
not. Pama was banished. In thanksgiving for his victory over the
chief pagans, St. Stephen built a church in honor of St. Nicholas at
Vishero. After this, the saints preaching of Christ was more
successful. In 1383, St. Stephen was consecrated Bishop of Malaya
Perm [Lesser Perm]. Like a loving father he devoted himself to his
flock. To encourage the newly-converted, St Stephen opened schools
adjacent to the churches, where they studied the Holy Scriptures in
the Permian language. The saint supervised the instructions, and
taught them what they needed to know in order to become priests
and deacons. St. Stephen taught several of his students how to write
in the Permian language. The saint built churches, in which he placed
Zyrian priests, and services were conducted in the Zyrian language.
St. Stephen translated the HOROLOGION [Book of Hours], the
PSALTER, and other liturgical books into the Zyrian language. During
a crop failure the saint provided the Zyrians with bread. Many times
he protected them from the trickery of corrupt officials, gave them
alms, and defended them from the incursions of other tribes,
interceding for them at Moscow. The fruit of his efforts and good
deeds came in the conversion of all of Perm to Christianity. This great
deed was accomplished by his strength of faith and Christian love.
273
The life of the saint was a victory of faith over unbelief, of love and
meekness over malice and impiety. There was a touching meeting in
absence of St. Stephen of Perm with St. Sergius of Radonezh,
occurring in the year 1390 as St. Stephen journeyed to Moscow on
church business. St. Stephen fervently loved the Radonezh ascetic
and very much wanted to pay him a visit, but had no time to do so.
Ten versts [a verst equals 3,500 feet] from the monastery of St.
Sergius, St. Stephen turned in the direction of the monastery and with
a bow he said, Peace to you, my spiritual brother! St. Sergius, who
was eating a meal with the brethren, stood up, made a prayer and,
bowing towards the direction where the saint rode, answered, Hail
also to you, pastor of the flock of Christ, may the peace of God be
with you! The deep spiritual connection of St. Stephen of Perm and
St. Sergius of Radonezh is recalled even today in a certain prayer
recited each day in the trapeza. Besides building churches, St.
Stephen also founded several monasteries for the Zyrians: the Savior
Ulianov wilderness monastery 165 versts from Ust-Sysolsk, the
Stephanov 60 versts from Ust-Sysolsk, the Ust-Vym Archangel, and
the Yareng Archangel. In the year 1395 St. Stephen again went to
Moscow on affairs of his flock, and died there. His body was placed in
the Church of the Transfiguration in the Moscow Kremlin. The Zyrians
bitterly lamented the death of their archpastor. They earnestly
entreated the Moscow prince and the Metropolitan to send the body
of their patron back to Perm, but Moscow did not wish to part with the
relics of the saint. The glorification of St. Stephen began already at
the beginning of the fiftenth century. The life of the saint was written
soon after his death. The hieromonk Pachomius the Serb composed
the service to him, with the hieromonk Epiphanius the Wise, who was
a disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh. He also knew St. Stephen and
loved to converse with him.
274
TODAY IS APRIL 27
of
Her
Robe
at
Blachernae.
The
monastery
was
founded
in
thanksgiving for solicitude of the Most Holy Theotokos for the Caves
monastery. In 1091 St. Stephen was made Bishop of Vladimir in
Volhynia, and he participated in the transfer of the relics of St.
Theodosius from the cave to the monastery. He also labored to
convert the inhabitants of Volhynia to Christianity.
His prayers to
heal the sick were always answered, and it is recorded that he cast
out demons from 9 infested men and 11 infested women. St. Stephen
died on April 27, 1094 during the sixth hour of the night. He was
interned next to the Cathedral of Saint Demetrius after its completion
in 1191.
TODAY IS APRIL 28
Saint Cyril, Bishop of Turov, was born of rich parents in the thirties of
the twelfth century in the city of Turov at the River Pripyat. From his
early years St. Cyril eagerly read the sacred books and attained a
profound understanding of them. He studied not only in Russian, but
also in Greek. When he reached maturity St. Cyril refused his
inheritance and was tonsured in Turovs Sts. Boris and Gleb
monastery. He struggled much in fasting and prayer and taught the
monks to obey the igumen. A monk who is not obedient to the igumen
does not fulfill his vow, and therefore is not able to be saved, he
276
wrote. Three writings of St. Cyril on monastic life have survived, one
of which, A Narrative on the Black Clergy from the Old Law and from
the New, may be ascribed to a period of his being in the monastery.
After a certain while St. Cyril lived on a pillar, where he increased his
asceticism, and meditated on the Holy Scripture. Many turned to him
for counsel in the spiritual life. Some claimed he had the power to
heal sickness. St. Cyrils holiness of life and profound enlightenment
became known to many, and so he was chosen as Bishop of Turov. In
1169 St. Cyril took part in a council censuring Bishop Theodore, who
occupied the Vladimir-Suzdal cathedra and who sought to separate
from the metropolitanate of Kiev. St. Cyril denounced the heresy of
Theodore and wrote many letters to the holy prince Andrew
Bogoliubsky, in which he provided him instruction and guidance in
discovering the cause of church disorders in the Rostov region.
Because of his love for solitude, St. Cyril left his See (by the year
1182, Bishop Laurence is mentioned as the Bishop of Turov) and he
devoted himself fully to spiritual writing. He composed a discourse on
the yearly cycle of the Lords Feasts, but not all of them have been
preserved. The works of St. Cyril deserve a place beside the works of
the holy Fathers in book collections. The most complete collection of
works by St. Cyril of Turov, published by Bishop Eugenius of Turov in
1880, includes: Sermon on Palm Sunday, from Gospel accounts;
Sermon on Holy Pascha on the Radiant Day of the Resurrection of
Christ, from the prophetic accounts; Sermon on the Sunday after
Pascha, on the Renewal of the Resurrection, on the Artos [loaf
blessed on Pascha], and on Thomas Touching the Side of the Lord
among 350 other preserved sermons. Later, the Sermon on the
Enlightenment of our Lord Jesus Christ was discovered. The saint
also composed a Great Canon of Repentance to the Lord in
Alphabetic Chapters. As a theologian St. Cyril believed his task was
to discern the true and hidden meaning of various texts of Holy
277
TODAY IS APRIL 29
Turks and the guile of the Latins. When his monastery was destroyed
by the Turks he moved to Ostrog. He occupied the bishops cathedra
in the second half of the sixteenth century, a successor to Bishop
Paul and predecessor of Bishop Nicodemus. St. Basil was a good
pastor of the flock of Christ, and the Lord strengthened his discourse
with various miracles. For the sanctifying of soul with the wisdom of
holy ascetic fathers, the saint journeyed to Athos. St. Basil died
peacefully and was buried in the city of Ostrog in Chernogoria on the
border with Herzegovina. His body has remained whole, incorrupt,
healing and wonderworking to this day. Innumerable miracles have
been worked at his grave, and both Christians and Muslims seek out
his relics for healing from sicknesses and sufferings. (A story heard
from a parishioner at St. Basil of Ostrog Church in Illinois: while the
Saint's relics remain intact, reputedly his shoes wear out from time to
time and need to be replaced.)
TODAY IS APRIL 30
name
Ignatius.
Soon
afterwards
he
was
ordained to
the
had
desired
only
life
of
solitude
and
prayer,
the
new
281
282
TODAY IS MAY 1
In 1166 a daughter, Tamara, was born to King George III and Queen
Burdukhan of Georgia. The king proclaimed that he would share the
throne with his daughter from the day she turned twelve. The royal
court unanimously vowed its allegiance and service to Tamar, and
father and daughter ruled the country together for five years. After
King Georges death in 1184, the nobility recognized the young
Tamara as the sole ruler of all Georgia. Queen Tamara was enthroned
as ruler of all Georgia at the age of eighteen. She is called King in
the Georgian language because her father had no male heir and so
she ruled as a monarch and not as a consort. At the beginning of her
reign, Tamara convened a Church council and addressed the clergy
with wisdom and humility: Judge according to righteousness,
affirming good and condemning evil, she advised. Begin with me if
I sin I should be censured, for the royal crown is sent down from
above as a sign of divine service. Allow neither the wealth of the
nobles nor the poverty of the masses to hinder your work. You by
word and I by deed, you by preaching and I by the law, you by
upbringing and I by education will care for those souls whom God has
entrusted to us, and together we will abide by the law of God, in order
to escape eternal condemnation. You as priests and I as ruler, you
283
284
Having taken off her shoes, Queen Tamara climbed the hill to the
Metekhi Church of the Theotokos and knelt before the Icon of the
Most Holy Theotokos. She prayed without ceasing until the good
news arrived that the battle had ended in the unquestionable victory
of the Orthodox Georgian army. After this initial victory the Georgian
army launched into a series of triumphs over the Turks, and
neighboring countries began to regard Georgia as the protector of the
entire Transcaucasus. By the beginning of the 13th century, Georgia
commanded a political authority that was recognized by both the
Christian West and the Muslim East. Georgias military successes
alarmed the Islamic world. Sultan Rukn al-Din was certain that a
united Muslim force could definitively decide the issue of power in the
region, and his enormous armies marched on Georgia in 1203. Having
encamped near Basiani, Rukn al-Din sent a messenger to Queen
Tamara with an audacious demand: to surrender without a fight. In
reward for her obedience, the sultan promised to marry her on the
condition that she embrace Islam. However, he stated that if Tamara
were to cleave to Christianity, he would number her among the other
unfortunate concubines in his harem. When the messenger relayed
the sultans demand, a nobleman was so outraged that he slapped
him on the face, knocking him unconscious. At Queen Tamaras
command, the court generously bestowed gifts upon the ambassador
and sent him away with a Georgian envoy and a letter of reply. Your
proposal takes into consideration your wealth and the vastness of
285
your armies, but fails to account for divine judgment, Tamara wrote,
while I place my trust not in any army or worldly thing but in the right
hand of the Almighty God and the infinite aid of the Cross, which you
curse. The will of God and not your own shall be fulfilled, and the
judgment of God and not your judgment shall reign! The Georgian
soldiers were summoned without delay. Queen Tamara prayed for
victory before the Vardzia Icon of the Theotokos, then, barefoot, led
her army to the gates of the city. Hoping in the Lord and the fervent
prayers of Queen Tamara, the Georgian army marched toward
Basiani. The enemy was defeated. The victory at Basiani was an
enormous event not only for Georgia, but for the entire Christian
world. The military victories increased Queen Tamaras faith. During
the day, she shone in all her royal finery and wisely administered the
affairs of the government. At night, on bended knees, she beseeched
the Lord tearfully to strengthen the Georgian Church. She busied
herself with needlework and distributed her embroidery to the poor.
Once, exhausted from her prayers and needlework, Tamara dozed off
and saw a vision. Entering a luxuriously furnished home, she saw a
gold throne studded with jewels, and she turned to approach it, but
was suddenly stopped by an old man crowned with a halo. Who is
more worthy than I to receive such a glorious throne? Queen Tamara
asked him. He answered her, saying, This throne is intended for your
maidservant, who sewed vestments for twelve priests with her own
hands. You are already the possessor of great treasure in this world.
And he pointed her in a different direction. Having awakened, Queen
Tamara immediately took to her work and with her own hands sewed
vestments for twelve priests. History has preserved another poignant
episode from Queen Tamaras life: Once she was preparing to attend
a festal Liturgy in Gelati, and she fastened precious rubies to the belt
around her waist. Soon after she was told that a beggar outside the
monastery tower was asking for alms, and she ordered her entourage
286
to wait. Having finished dressing, she went out to the tower but found
no one there. Terribly distressed, she reproached herself for having
denied the poor and thus denying Christ Himself. Immediately she
removed her belt, the cause of her temptation, and presented it as an
offering to the Gelati Icon of the Theotokos. During Queen Tamaras
reign a veritable monastic city was carved in the rocks of Vardzia,
and the God-fearing Georgian ruler would labor there during the Great
Fast. The churches of Pitareti, Kvabtakhevi, Betania, and many others
were also built at that time. Queen Tamara generously endowed the
churches and monasteries not only on Georgian territory but also
outside her borders: in Palestine, Cyprus, Mt. Sinai, the Black
Mountains, Greece, Mt. Athos, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Thrace, Romania,
Isauria and Constantinople. Queen Tamara abolished the death
penalty and all forms of bodily torture. A regular, secret observance
of a strict ascetic regime fasting, a stone bed, and litanies chanted
in bare feet finally took its toll on Queen Tamaras health. For a long
time she had refrained from speaking to anyone about her condition,
but when the pain became unbearable she finally sought help. The
best physicians of the time were unable to diagnose her illness, and
all of Georgia was seized with fear. Everyone from the small to the
great prayed fervently for Georgias ruler and defender. The people
were prepared to offer not only their own lives, but even the lives of
their children, for the sake of their beloved ruler. God sent Tamara a
sign when He was ready to receive her into His Kingdom. She bade
farewell to her court and turned in prayer to an icon of Christ and the
Life-giving Cross: Lord Jesus Christ! Omnipotent Master of heaven
and earth! To Thee I deliver the nation and people that were
entrusted to my care and purchased by Thy Precious Blood, the
children whom Thou didst bestow upon me, and to Thee I surrender
my soul, O Lord! The burial place of Queen Tamara has remained a
mystery to this day. Some sources claim that her tomb is in Gelati, in
287
TODAY IS MAY 2
Gospel in the soul of the Bulgarian tsar. In one of the campaigns with
the Greeks the young sister of Tsar Boris was taken captive, and was
raised in the Orthodox Faith at the court of the Byzantine Emperor.
When the emperor Theophilus died, Tsar Boris decided to take
advantage of this circumstance to take revenge upon the Greeks for
his former defeats. But the widow of the emperor, Theodora, showed
courage and sent a messenger to the Bulgarian tsar saying that she
was prepared to defend the Empire and humiliate its opponents. Tsar
Boris agreed to a peace alliance, and Theodore Kuphares was
exchanged for the Bulgarian princess, who influenced her brother
toward Christianity. A while later St Methodius was sent into Bulgaria.
He and his brother St. Cyril were enlightening the Slavic peoples with
the light of Christ. St. Methodius baptized Tsar Boris, his family and
many of the nobles. When the pagan Bulgarians learned of this, they
wanted to kill Tsar Boris, but their plot was frustrated by the tsar.
Deprived of their rebellious leaders, the Bulgarian people voluntarily
accepted Baptism. A peace was concluded between Byzantium and
Bulgaria, based on their unity in faith, which was not broken until the
end of the reign of the noble tsar. The Patriarch Photius took great
interest in the spiritual growth of the Bulgarian nation. In 867,
preachers from Rome were sent into Bulgaria. This led to three years
of discord between the Greek and Roman Churches in Bulgaria. A
Council at Constantinople in 869 put an end to the quarrel, and on
March 3, 870 Bulgaria was joined to the Eastern Church, and
Orthodoxy was firmly established there. Bulgarias holy ascetics: Sts.
Gorazd and Clement of Ochrid were glorified as saints. Tsar Boris
adorned the land with churches and furthered the spread of piety.
Later, a Patriarchal See was established in Bulgaria. In his declining
years, Tsar Boris entered a monastery, leaving the throne to his sons
Vladimir and Simeon. While in the monastery the saint learned that
Vladimir, who succeeded him, had renounced Christianity. Distressed
290
by this, St. Boris again donned his military garb, punished his
disobedient son and threw him in prison. After giving the throne to his
younger son Simeon, St. Boris returned to the monastery. He left it
once more to repel a Hungarian invasion. St. Boris, who was named
Michael in holy Baptism, reposed on May 2, 907.
TODAY IS MAY 3
Saint Theodosius of the Caves the Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves
Monastery, and Founder of Coenobitic Monasticism in Russia. He was
born at Vasilevo, not far from Kiev. From his youth he felt an
irresistible attraction for the ascetic life, and led an ascetic lifestyle
while still in his parental home. He disdained childish games and
attractions, and constantly went to church. He asked his parents to
let him study the holy books, and through his ability and rare zeal, he
quickly learned to read the books, so that everyone was amazed at
his intellect. When he was fourteen, he lost his father and remained
under the supervision of his mother, a strict and domineering woman
who loved her son very much. Many times she chastised her son for
his yearning for asceticism, but he remained firmly committed to his
path. At the age of twenty-four, he secretly left his parents home and
St. Anthony at the Kievan Caves monastery blessed him to receive
monastic tonsure with the name Theodosius. After four years his
291
mother found him and with tearfully begged him to return home, but
the saint persuaded her to remain in Kiev and to become a nun in the
monastery of St. Nicholas at the Askold cemetery. St. Theodosius
toiled at the monastery more than others, and he often took upon
himself some of the work of the other brethren. He carried water,
chopped wood, ground up the grain, and carried the flour to each
monk. On cold nights he uncovered his body and let it serve as food
for gnats and mosquitoes. His blood flowed, but the saint occupied
himself with handicrafts, and sang Psalms. He came to church before
anyone else and, standing in one place, he did not leave it until the
end of services. He also listened to the readings with particular
attention. In 1054 St. Theodosius was ordained a hieromonk, and in
1057 he was chosen igumen. The fame of his deeds attracted a
number of monks to the monastery, at which he built a new church
and cells, and he introduced cenobitic rule of the Studion monastery,
a copy of which he commissioned at Constantinople. As igumen, St.
Theodosius continued his arduous duties at the monastery. He usually
ate only dry bread and cooked greens without oil, and spent his nights
in prayer without sleep. The brethren often noticed this, although the
saint tried to conceal his efforts from others. No one saw when St.
Theodosius dozed lightly, and usually he rested while sitting. During
Great Lent the saint withdrew into a cave near the monastery, where
he struggled unseen by anyone. His attire was a coarse hairshirt worn
next to his body. He looked so much like a beggar that it was
impossible to recognize in this old man the renowned igumen, deeply
respected by all who knew him. Once, St. Theodosius was returning
from
visiting
the
Great
Prince
Izyaslav.
The
coachman,
not
recognizing him, said gruffly, You, monk, are always on holiday, but I
am constantly at work. Take my place, and let me ride in the
carriage. The holy Elder meekly complied and drove the servant.
Seeing how nobles along the way bowed to the monk driving the
292
horses, the servant took fright, but the holy ascetic calmed him, and
gave him a meal at the monastery. Trusting in Gods help, the saint
did not keep a large supply of food at the monastery, and therefore
the brethren were in want of their daily bread. Through his prayers,
however, unknown benefactors appeared at the monastery and
furnished the necessities for the brethren. The Great Princes,
especially Izyaslav, loved to listen to the spiritual discourses of St.
Theodosius. The saint was not afraid to denounce the mighty of this
world. Those unjustly condemned always found a defender in him, and
judges would review matters at the request of the igumen. When
Prince Svyatoslav drove out his elder brother the pious Prince
Isyaslav, and ascended to the throne of Chernigov in his place, Saint
Theodosius courageously rebuked him, and continued reproving him
even when threatened with exile. At the request of Prince Shimon, the
son of a Varangian (Viking) prince, the Saint wrote a prayer for the
nobleman's forgiveness of sins, and, at his behest, had it placed in in
his coffin. He was particularly concerned for the destitute. He built a
special courtyard for them at the monastery where anyone in need
could receive food and drink. Sensing the approach of death, St.
Theodosius peacefully fell asleep in the Lord in the year 1074. He was
buried in a cave which he dug, where he secluded himself during
fasting periods. The relics of the ascetic were found incorrupt in the
year 1099, and he was glorified as a saint in 1108. Of the written
works of St. Theodosius six discourses, two letters to Great Prince
Izyaslav, and a prayer for all Christians have survived to our time. The
Life of St. Theodosius was written by St. Nestor the Chronicler, a
disciple of the great Abba, only thirty years after his repose, and it
was always one of the favorite readings of the Russian nation.
293
TODAY IS MAY 4
He left this
294
TODAY IS MAY 5
The holy New Martyr and wonderworker Saint Ephraim was born in
Greece on September 14, 1384. His father died when the saint was
young, and his pious mother was left to care for seven children by
herself. When Ephraim reached the age of fourteen, the all-good God
directed his steps to a monastery on the mountain of Amoman near
Nea
Makri
in
Attica.
The
monastery
was
dedicated
to
the
torture him and force him to deny Christ. They locked him in a small
cell without food or water, and they beat him every day, hoping to
convince him to become a Moslem. For several months, he endured
horrible torments. When the Turks realized that the saint remained
faithful to Christ, they decided to put him to death. On Tuesday May 5,
1426, they led him from his cell. They turned him upside down and
tied him to a mulberry tree, then they beat him and mocked him.
Where is your God, they asked, and why doesnt he help you? The
saint did not lose courage, but prayed, O God, do not listen to the
words of these men, but may Thy will be done as Thou hast ordained.
The barbarians pulled the saints beard and tortured him until his
strength ebbed. His blood flowed, and his clothes were in tatters. His
body was almost naked and covered with many wounds. Still the
Hagarenes were not satisfied, but wished to torture him even more.
One of them took a flaming stick and plunged it violently into the
saints navel. His screams were heart-rending, so great was his pain.
The blood flowed from his stomach, but the Turks did not stop. They
repeated the same painful torments many times. His body writhed,
and all his limbs were convulsed. Soon, the saint grew too weak to
speak, so he prayed silently asking God to forgive his sins. Blood and
saliva ran from his mouth, and the ground was soaked with his blood.
Then he lapsed into unconsciousness. Thinking that he had died, the
Turks cut the ropes which bound him to the tree, and the saints body
fell to the ground. Their rage was still not diminished, so they
continued to kick and beat him. After a while, the saint opened his
eyes and prayed, Lord, I give up my spirit to Thee. About nine
oclock in the morning, the martyrs soul was separated from his body.
These things remained forgotten for nearly 500 years, hidden in the
depths of silence and oblivion until January 3, 1950. By then a
womens monastery had sprung up on the site of the old monastery.
Abbess Makaria (+ April 23, 1999) was wandering through the ruins of
296
small, round eyes, whose beard reached his chest. In his left hand
was a bright light, and he gave a blessing with his right hand. Mother
Makaria was filled with joy and her fear disappeared. Forgive me,
she said, I will take care of you tomorrow as soon as God makes the
day dawn. The saint disappeared, and the abbess continued to read
Vespers. In the morning after Matins, Mother Makaria cleaned the
bones and placed them in a niche in the altar area of the church,
lighting a candle before them. That night St. Ephraim appeared to her
in a dream. He thanked her for caring for his relics, then he said, My
name is Ephraim. From his own lips, she heard the story of his life
and martyrdom. Since St. Ephraim glorified God in his life and by his
death, the Lord granted him the grace of working miracles. Those who
venerate his holy relics with faith and love have been healed of all
kinds of illnesses and infirmities, and he is quick to answer the
prayers of those who call upon him.
TODAY IS MAY 6
This holy ascetic, newly glorified in 2011, was born as Sophia Saoulidi
in 1883 in Trebizond, Turkey. In 1907 she married, but her husband
disappeared seven years later, leaving her with a newborn son. Not
long afterward her beloved only son also died. Turning from the world,
298
she placed all her trust in God, spending her time in solitary prayer on
a mountain near her town. In 1919 she arrived in Greece as part of the
exchange of populations between Turkey and Greece. Not long after
her arrival the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to her in a vision and
said Come to my house. When Sophia asked her where to find her
house, the Virgin replied I am in Kleisoura. Heeding these holy
instructions, Sophia moved to the Monastery of the Nativity of the
Theotokos in Kleisoura in northern Greece, where she remained for
the rest of her life. She never took monastic tonsure, but lived in the
monastery kitchen. She slept only two hours a night, giving over the
rest of the night to prayer. She dressed in old, tattered clothes, but if
anyone tried to give her better clothing she would give it away to the
poor. Similarly, if anyone gave her money, she would hide it until she
could give it to someone in need. She ate very little and showed no
interest in food. Worldly people called her Crazy Sophia, but those
with discernment saw her as a living saint. She was endowed with
gifts of healing and prophecy: when visitors would come to her she
would greet them by name even if she had never met them before,
and would describe their family problems, offering counsel. Through
her prays thousands of people were healed after their visit with the
Saint.
through a vision of the Holy Theotokos, the Archangel Gabriel and St.
George. She fell asleep in the Lord on May 6 (New Calendar) 1974,
after a long life given over to prayer, asceticism and utter poverty.
Her relics are enshrined in the monastery where she spent most of
her life. When a member of the community of the Monastery of the
Nativity of the Theotokos is ill, they pray at her site where they are
healed.
299
TODAY IS MAY 7
meeting
of
about
ten
Eastern-rite
priests
in
Wilkes-Barre
TODAY IS MAY 8
Father Arsenios the Great was born in 350 AD, in Rome to a Christian,
Roman senatorial family. After his parents died, his sister Afrositty
was admitted to a community of virgins, and he gave all their riches
to the poor, and lived an ascetic life. Arsenius became famous for his
righteousness and wisdom. Arsenius is said to have been made a
deacon by Pope Damasus I who recommended him to Byzantine
Emperor Theodosius I the Great, who had requested the Emperor
Gratian and Pope Damasus around 383 to find him in the West a tutor
for his sons (future emperors Arcadius and Honorius). Arsenius was
chosen on the basis of being a man well read in Greek literature. He
reached Constantinople in 383, and continued as tutor in the imperial
family for eleven years, during the last three of which he also had
charge of his original pupil Arcadius's brother, Honorius. Coming one
day to see his sons at their studies, Theodosius found them sitting
301
TODAY IS MAY 9
about John, and others also believed that Gods special favor was
upon the boy. When he was only four, Johns beloved father died, and
his mother had to raise the children herself. When he was eight, John
was playing with some friends, and suddenly froze on the spot. He
raised his arms and his head toward the sky, then fell down
unconscious. They carried him home and put him to bed. When he
awoke, they asked him what had happened. He told them that he had
seen the Queen of Heaven in the air. What makes you think you saw
the Queen? they asked. Because she had a crown with a cross, he
replied. From that time on, the boy became more quiet and thoughtful,
and started to avoid childrens games. Soon after this, the family
moved into a new home. There was a great fire in the village, and
John prayed that the Mother of God would protect their house from
the flames. The Livotkin home was spared, even though everything
around it was burned. In 1848, their mother died during an outbreak of
cholera. John was only eleven at the time. His older brother Simeon
and his sister Anna were both married before their mother passed
away, and his sister Alexandra had gone to the Borisovsk monastery
in Kursk Province to become a nun. Simeon became the head of the
family, although his drinking problem made him rather unreliable.
Simeon took care of John for a while, and their younger brother Peter
went to live with Anna. Simeon decided to leave home, and so John
was placed in the care of various people, including a tavern keeper
and a grocer. Unable to endure conditions in the homes of such
people, John went to live with a cousin who was a deacon in
Novocherkassk. He ate nothing on his journey, for he was ashamed to
beg, and people did not offer him any food on their own. When he
arrived at the church where his cousin served, John sat down outside
and waited for the Liturgy to end. Two women with rolls passed by
and took pity upon him. One of them gave him a warm roll, which the
boy regarded as manna from heaven. John stayed with his cousin for
305
March 1, 1861 John found himself standing before the Elder Ambrose,
telling him of his life, and asking for a blessing to go to Kiev. Fr.
Ambrose told him to remain at Optina, forseeing the blessings he
would bring to Optina, and to the womens monasteries which were
under the guidance of the Optina Elders. Taking St. Ambroses words
as an indication of Gods will, John murmured, May it be blessed.
John, like all new novices, was given an obedience in the kitchen. He
was assigned to help the cook in the skete. From the very start, John
demonstrated perfect obedience and humility. Life in the monastery
was everything he had hoped it would be, and he was glad to leave
the tumult of the world behind. In June the Superior of the Skete, Fr.
Paphnutius, asked John if he would like to move in with the Elder
Ambrose as his cell-attendant. The next day he moved to the Elders
quarters, where he remained for the next fifty years. As happy as he
was to be near the Elder, he was disturbed by the constant flow of
visitors. He felt that there was no time to pray or go to church, and
began to have misgivings. He was tempted by the thought that
perhaps he would be better off in Kiev or on Mount Athos, and did not
notice that Fr. Ambrose had entered the cell. Suddenly he felt a hand
on his shoulder and heard the Elder say, Brother John, its better
here than it is on Athos. Stay with us. John realized that his thoughts
had been sent by the Enemy of our salvation, and he fell down at Fr.
Ambroses feet in repentance. On April 15, 1872 he was tonsured as a
rassophore (wearer of the rassa), then on June 16, 1872 he was
tonsured as a monk, receiving the name Joseph in honor of St. Joseph
the Hymnographer. He was unexpectedly ordained as a deacon in
1877 in a way which demonstrated that God was directing the course
of his life.
spiritual needs. Fr. Joseph attended St. Ambrose for thirty years, until
the Elders death on October 10, 1891. Fr. Ambrose prepared Fr.
Joseph for eldership, teaching him by word and by example. He would
also refer some visitors to Fr. Joseph for advice. There was such
oneness of mind between them that when people would ask Fr.
Joseph about something and then ask Fr. Ambrose about the same
thing, they would receive the very same answer. Fr. Josephs health
was not good, and he was susceptible to colds in winter. In February
1888 he became very ill and took to his bed, and he received the
Mystey of Holy Unction. The doctor recommended that he be moved
to the infirmary for treatment, but Fr. Joseph did not wish to leave Fr.
Ambrose. The Superior of the skete insisted on the transfer, however.
The ride to the monastery in a sleigh during cold weather only made
his illness worse. Fr. Joseph was tonsured into the schema (the
highest level of monasticism) during the Liturgy on February 14. The
next day, prayers for the Departure of the Soul were read for him, and
people came to bid him farewell. A novice, sitting behind a screen,
heard Fr. Joseph praying aloud. Peering through a slit in the screen,
he saw Fr. Joseph gazing at an icon of Christ and lifting up his hands.
This novice went to the infirmary later and heard someone behind the
screen say, Be patient, my dear one, only a little remains. He looked
behind the screen, but saw no one there except Fr. Joseph. Later, Fr.
Ambrose told people that Fr. Joseph had seen the Mother of God
during his illness. Though he had been quite near death, he got well.
After his recovery, Fr. Joseph began to hear confessions on a regular
basis, since this was becoming too difficult for Fr. Ambrose. He
blessed people to go to Fr. Joseph not just once, but always. In the
summer of 1888, Fr. Ambrose blessed Fr. Joseph to go on a pilgrimage
to Kiev. After nearly thirty years, he was able to fulfill his desire to
visit the holy places of Kiev. On his way back to Optina, he stopped to
visit his sister Mother Leonida at Borisovsk. Fr. Ambrose usually
309
Ambrose, or gave examples from his life. He spoke very little, and
then only to answer a question which had been put to him. Some
laymen, and even some of the monks, were annoyed with him
because he did not say more. One monk had the thought that since Fr.
Joseph was filled with spiritual wisdom and was so familiar with the
writings of the Fathers, he could have said many beneficial things to
people. The Elder explained this to him, quoting St. Peter of
Damascus, who said that one should not say anything helpful unless
asked by the brethren, because then the resulting benefit would come
from their free choice. Even concerning something which might be
useful for salvation, the ancient Fathers would not speak without
being asked, considering unsolicited advice as idle talk. His greatest
care was for the Shamordino Convent, which remained unfinished,
and for the spiritual welfare of its nuns. The Superior of the convent
now turned to Fr. Joseph to consult him about everything related to
the life of the convent, and would do nothing without his blessing. He
went there twice a year, during the Apostles Fast, and during the
Dormition Fast, to hear the confessions of the sisters. In the winter,
they would visit him at Optina for Confession. Soon he was obliged to
give up traveling to Shamordino because of his health. Fr. Joseph was
officially appointed as confessor for the Optina brotherhood near the
end of 1893 when Fr. Anatole became ill and could not fulfill this duty.
Many of the monks had already been confessing to Fr. Joseph, but
now they all came to him. On January 25, 1894 St. Anatole, the head
of the skete, fell asleep in the Lord. Archimandrite Isaac and the
bretheren unanimously chose Fr. Joseph to succeed Fr. Anatole as
Superior of the skete. Although he never sought this honor, Fr. Joseph
accepted his election with all humility. He discharged his duties, not
by issuing orders, but with paternal love and humility. As Superior, he
could have chosen to serve only on major Feast Days when the
priests concelebrated, and designated one of the priests of the skete
311
night and on subsequent days. Several miracles took place on the day
St. Joseph was laid to rest at the feet of Fr. Ambrose. Even today, he
continues to intercede with God and to work miracles for those who
entreat him with faith. St. Joseph became a great Elder because first
he had been a great disciple. He was obedient to his Elder Fr.
Ambrose in all things, and never contradicted him. Because he
renounced his own will, refrained from judging others, and reproached
himself for his own sins, Fr. Joseph acquired humility and the grace of
God. He also obtained from the Lord the discernment to recognize
every sort of spiritual illness, and how to treat it.
TODAY IS MAY 10
Saint Thais lived in Egypt in the fifth century. Left an orphan after the
death of her wealthy parents, she led a pious life, distributing her
wealth to the poor, and she gave shelter to pilgrims on her estate.
She decided that she would never marry, but would devote her life to
serving Christ. After spending all her inheritance, Thais was tempted
to acquire more money by any means, and began to lead a sinful life.
The Elders of Sketis near Alexandria heard of her fall, and asked St.
John the Dwarf (November 9) to go to Thais and persuade her to
repent. She was kind to us, they said, now perhaps we can help
313
her. You, Father, are wise. Go and try to save her soul, and we will
pray that the Lord will help you. The Elder went to her home, but
Thaiss servant did not want to allow him into the house. St. John
said, Tell your mistress that I have brought her something very
precious. Thais, knowing that the monks sometimes found pearls at
the shore, told her servant to admit the visitor. St. John sat down and
looked her in the face, and then began to weep. Thais asked him why
he was crying. How can I not weep, he asked, when you have
forsaken your Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, and are pleasing
Satan by your deeds? The Elders words pierced the soul of Thais
like a fiery arrow, and at once she realized how sinful her present life
had become. In fear, she asked him if God would accept the
repentance of a sinner like her. St. John replied that the Savior
awaited her repentance. That is why He came, to seek and to save
the perishing. He will welcome you with love, he said, and the
angels will rejoice over you. As the Savior said Himself, one repentant
sinner causes the powers of Heaven to rejoice (Luke 15:7). A feeling
of repentance enveloped her, and regarding the Elders words as a
call from the Lord Himself to return to Him, Thais trembled and
thought only of finding the path of salvation. She stood up and left her
house without speaking to her servants, and without making any sort
of disposition of her property, so that even St. John was amazed.
Following St. John into the wilderness, she hastened to return to God
through penitence and prayer. Night fell, and the Elder prepared a
place for Thais to lay down and sleep. He made a pillow for her from
the sand, and he went off somewhat farther, and went to sleep after
his evening prayers. In the middle of the night, he was wakened by a
light coming down from the heavens to the place where Thais was at
rest. In the radiant light he saw holy angels bearing her soul to
Paradise. When he went over to Thais, he found her dead. St. John
prayed and asked God to reveal to him whether Thais had been saved.
314
An angel of God appeared and told him, Abba John, her one hour of
repentance was equal to many years, because she repented with all
her soul, and a companionate heart. After burying the body of the
saint, St. John returned to Sketis and told the monks what had
happened. All offered thanks to God for His mercy toward Thais who,
like the wise thief, repented in a single moment.
TODAY IS MAY 11
and in perfect meekness. Every day he walked over four miles to fill a
pitcher with water and then carried it to a small hut nearby. He hung
the pitcher at the entrance to make it visible from a distance, and
travelers who passed by would come to quench their thirst. He also
kept a small vegetable garden to feed the passers-by. Every Saturday
he prepared kolio (a dish of wheat and honey traditionally offered to
commemorate the departed) and divided it in three parts: one part
commemorated the family and loved ones of those who had donated
the wheat and honey; the second, the deceased fathers of the
monastery; and the last, all departed Orthodox Christians. It always
disturbed St. Christesia to see his brothers and sisters at odds with
one another, so when he heard that two people were quarreling, he
would go and reconcile them. My children! he would say, If you do
not heed my words, I will leave in sorrow, and the devil, who is always
resistant to peace, will rejoice and send more tribulations upon you. I
came to you hungry, and I will depart hungry! His words warmed the
hearts of those whom he counseled and helped them to be reconciled
with one another. One hot evening after Vespers, St. Christesia set off
on foot for a certain village. He left during twilight, and when night fell
the sky was without a moon and extraordinarily dark. Before long it
became difficult to walk any farther, so St. Christesia stopped to pray,
and a bright light appeared before him to light the way. The divine
light guided him all through the night, until he reached the village of
Sartichala. St. Christesias cell was poor and cramped. He slept on a
bed of wooden planks that he covered in sheepskin, and instead of a
pillow he rested his head on a stone. The pious ascetic wore a
sheepskin coat and sandals made of bark. Whatever he received he
gave to the poor. Having placed complete trust in God, he would not
permit himself to worry about the morrow, nor did he bother to store
up food or supplies for the harsh winter months. Father Christesia
was already advanced in age when he was tonsured a monk and given
316
TODAY IS MAY 12
TODAY IS MAY 13
The venerable Euthymius of Mt. Athos was the son of St. John of Mt.
Athos,
military
commander
during
the
reign
of
King
Davit
already forgotten his native language. Soon St. Johns name was
known in every monastery on Mt. Olympus, so the holy father
withdrew with his son and several disciples to Mt. Athos, to the Lavra
of St. Athanasius the Great, to escape the homage and praise. From
his youth Euthymius received great grace from the Holy Spirit. While
still a child he fell deeply ill, and his father, losing hope in his
recovery, sent for a priest to bring him Holy Communion. Then he
went into a church, knelt before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos,
and began to pray for his son. When he returned to his cell he was
greeted by the pleasant scent of myrrh and the sight of his son,
standing
in
perfect
health.
Euthymius
told
his
father
that
tongue!
After
this
miraculous
healing
the
Georgian
many miracles. Once, while his father was still living, Byzantium was
struck by a terrible drought. The earth became cracked, trees and
vineyards withered, and all the vegetation dried up after four months
without rain. St. John sent Euthymius and his brothers to the Church
of the Prophet Elijah to celebrate an All-Night vigil. (During periods of
drought Orthodox Christians have traditionally turned to the Prophet
Elijah to bring rain as he did in the Old Testament.) During the Gospel
reading a dark cloud formed in the sky, and at the moment Euthymius
received Holy Communion it began to rain. Once, during the Feast of
the Transfiguration, the faithful of Mt. Athos saw Fr. Euthymius
embraced by divine fire. The crowd of witnesses fell on their knees
before him, but the saint calmed them, saying, Do not be afraid, my
brothers; God has looked down on us, and Christ has glorified His
feast! But the devil could not tolerate the godly labors of the
venerable Euthymius and his brothers at the monastery, so he
persuaded a certain beggar, who resembled a monk, to kill the holy
father. When the killer approached Fr. Euthymiuss cell, two monks
blocked his way. So the assassin slashed them with his sword. Upon
hearing the noise, Father Euthymius came outside and served Holy
Communion to his fallen brothers. The two monks were fatally
wounded and crowned as martyrs of the Church, while the killer
confessed his sin and died, greatly afflicted in spirit. Later a
monastery gardener attempted to murder St. Euthymius, but when he
lifted his hand to strike the saint, it withered suddenly, and only the
prayers of Fr. Euthymius could heal it. St. Euthymius labored as abbot
of the Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos for fourteen years. His literary
endeavors demanded much time and great effort, so, according to his
fathers will, he appointed a certain George (later St. George of Mt.
Athos, the Builder) his successor. Then he locked himself in his cell
and dedicated himself exclusively to his translations. Once the
Byzantine
Emperor
Constantine
VIII
321
(1027-1039)
summoned
Fr.
TODAY IS MAY 14
323
TODAY IS MAY 15
324
TODAY IS MAY 16
St. Nicholas Mystikos was known for the purity and austerity of his
life. When the Emperor Leo VI married a fourth time (his three
previous wives having died), the Patriarch barred him from the
church. The Emperor sent the Patriarch into exile and had his
marriage approved by delegates of the Roman Pope. When the
Emperor died, Nicholas was restored to the Patriarchal throne, and
called a Council in 925, at which fourth marriages were forbidded in
the Church under any circumstance. He died peacefully. The title
Mystikos was given to some high-ranking members of the Imperial
council (perhaps because they met in secret). The Patriarch was a
courtier with this title before he forsook the world and was tonsured a
monk. {Note: From early times, the Eastern and Latin churches have
differed in their views on marriage. The Latin church held, and still
holds, that marriage is dissolved by death, so in theory any number of
re-marriages is permissible (a view that the Emperor Leo sought to
exploit). The Eastern Church has traditionally been uncomfortable
with any second marriage some of the Fathers even call the remarriage of widows or widowers "bigamy". Still the Eastern Church
tolerates re-marriage (even after divorce) as a concession for the
salvation of those who cannot sustain the single state. }
325
TODAY IS MAY 17
TODAY IS MAY 18
327
TODAY IS MAY 19
close to God, but who actively fled from Him. Still he hoped in God,
knowing that the freedom of Christ can be found even in the most
stifling and evil surroundings. With the support and encouragement of
Fr. George Bogdanos, a Greek priest who recognized in him the
integrity and zeal of a true pastor, Fr. John was ordained to the
deaconate in 1971 with the blessing of Archbishop lakovos, who
supported him in this. Since both his love for the Church and the love
of the churchgoers for him was so apparent, he was made a priest
only a few weeks later by Bishop Meletios Christianopolis of San
Francisco.
He
first
served
the
Greek
Orthodox
community
in
With
their
new
and
beautiful
church,
the
parishioners,
They felt that they had come a long way from the days when they had
little choice but to use a chapel which was outside of town. Now they
could branch out into other activities. Fr. John by no means wanted
his Orthodox community to be a closed one, and he rejoiced to
discover any fervent young souls which came to him in search of the
fullness of Christianity. Santa Cruz has been a gathering place not
only of the darker and meaner elements of society, but also of
idealistic young people who have desired something more meaningful
than the American values of materialism and competition. By the time
Fr. John started his church in Santa Cruz, a small but significant
"Orthodox Christian movement" had already begun at the university
there. This was primarily the result of the missionary work of
Hieromonk Anastassy. Through him, many Santa Cruz university
students embraced the Orthodox faith and dedicated their lives to
serving Christ. In 1981, Fr. Seraphim Rose, at the request of the
Orthodox students there, gave two lectures at the university and
further inspired young souls to enter what he called "the saving
enclosure of the Church." The fellowship of Orthodox students turned
also to Fr. John and his church in order to receive spiritual
nourishment and to participate in the divine services, which lifted
them above the worldliness of university life. Fr. John always greeted
them with a radiant smile and warm love, seeing in their young faces
the freshness and enthusiasm that would keep Orthodoxy alive for
future generations. After these students graduated, Fr. John brought
other young people to the Orthodox faith, giving them all that they
needed for their growth in the faith and being to them a loving father
who was concerned for their spiritual welfare. Since the Prophet Elias
Church was in the middle of town, people would often come from off
the streets to ask questions and attend the services. Fr. John kept an
"open-door policy," making himself and his church available to anyone
with a pastoral need. The people of Santa Cruz came to know him as
331
being kind, trusting, full of love and open. He had great compassion
for the poor, and was helpful to all who came to him, disregarding
their religion or whether or not they were taking advantage of him. It
was not uncommon for him to be awakened at odd hours of the night
by needy people knocking at his back door. No one would be refused,
but would always be given alms for a meal. In the most outcast and
downtrodden of individuals, and perhaps especially in them, Fr. John
saw the image of Christ. With deep-felt Christian love, he once wrote
these words about the simple people who, although rejected by the
world, are faithful to Christ and follow the voice of their hearts: "We
see them lonely within the crowd, or following the life of a hermit as
they become symbols of truth and beacon lights of Christianity,
praying for peace and brotherly love on earth." Orthodox Christianity
was not just something "for Greeks," but rather was universal. His
love for God induced him to earnestly desire to bring forth fruits for
Him, as a son strives to please his father, and this made him a
zealous missionary to all peoples. He had services in public parks,
where the townspeople would stop to attend something, which,
although foreign to them, they found to be divinely beautiful. Hearing
Fr. John, with his full and resonant voice, chanting the ancient
Byzantine melodies along with his cantor, would unexpectedly catch
a vague and half-remembered glimpse of that sacred realm which
their souls knew but their minds had never been exposed to. In such a
way was Fr. John able to introduce the riches of Orthodoxy to the
spiritually impoverished American people. While Fr. John's fervent
pastoral work served to convert many non-Greek people, his first job
was, of course, to "convert" many of his own people -those who
were baptized Orthodox but whose commitment to Christ meant, at
most, only an external commitment to church attendance and
activities. By his own faith he demonstrated to them that Orthodoxy
is not merely a ritual, a system of dogmas or a behavior pattern, but is
332
334
way the realities of not only our Orthodox faith, but of the bizarre and
truly anti-Christian ways of our times."
TODAY IS MAY 20
large army, went to engage the enemy with his retainers and he
expelled the sacrilegious defilers from the boundaries of the Russian
Land. Several months later, holy Prince Dovmont-Timothy died and
was buried in the Trinity cathedral of Pskov. The Chronicler relates
that there was then great sadness in Pleskov for the men and woman
and small children on account of their good lord, the noble Prince
Timothy. The people of Pskov remembered how the holy prince had
cared for them during peaceful times, and when the city was
threatened by danger, how he led them into battle saying, Good men
of Pskov! Whoever is old among you is my father; whoever is young is
my brother. Stand fast for the Holy Trinity! Soon after the Princes
death he began to be venerated as a holy intercessor before God,
guarding the land from enemies and misfortune. The holy Saint
defended Pskov more than once after his death. In the year 1480,
when more than a hundred thousand Germans besieged the city, he
appeared in a dream to a certain citizen and said, Take my grave
cover, carry it three times around the city with a cross, and do not be
afraid. The people of Pskov fulfilled his instructions and the Germans
departed from the city. A service to the holy prince was composed
after this miraculous deliverance from enemies. Along with the relics
of the saint, his battle sword was preserved (now the sword is in a
Pskov museum). Thereafter, the sword was handed to the Pskov
princes upon their elevation to the princely throne. Holy Prince
Dovmont-Timothy and his wife, the future Schemanun Martha, were
depicted upon the wonderworking Murozh Icon of the Mother of God:
You have bestown a blessing on the all-pure image of Your icon, O
Mother of God, by portraying the likeness of our steadfast intercessor
Prince Dovmont and his pious spouse (Service to the holy Prince
Dovmont-Timothy). When the Mother of God appeared to the Elder
Dorotheus during a siege of Pskov by the Poles on August 27, 1581,
holy Saint Dovmont-Timothy was among the saints accompanying the
337
heavenly Protectress of Pskov. The relics of holy Prince DovmontTimothy rest in the Pskov cathedral of the Life-Creating Trinity. The
holy Prince Saint Dovmont aided Russian armies more than once in
defense of the countrys western borders. Then came the hour when
they were sent by the Leader of the Heavenly Hosts to rise up in
defense of the eastern frontiers. In the year 1640, the great national
movement to the east, the meeting of the sun, resulted in the
Russian explorers arriving at the mouth of the Amur River and the
Pacific Ocean. Rus bordered pagan China on these frontiers. The
bulwark of Orthodoxy became the Russian fortress of Albazin, famous
for the wonderworking Albazin Icon of the Mother of God and the
heroic defense of Albazin (1685-1686). In the summer of 1679,
during the Apostles Fast, Gabriel Florov and a company of cossacks
set out from Albazin to explore the Zea River valley. For three years
the cossacks did patrol duty on the Zea, making the rounds of the
surrounding settlements. They brought the Tungus settlers under
Russian rule, and they established winter quarters and a stockade.
Once, cossack riders encountered a man on a white horse, clad in
armor and armed with bows and swords. This was Saint Dovmont.
Speaking with the cossacks and learning that they were from Albazin,
the holy warrior-princes predicted the approach of Chinese armies
upon the Amur soon afterwards. He said the battle would be difficult,
but predicted the ultimate triumph of Russian arms. The Chinese will
come again, and enter into a great battle, and we shall aid the
Russian people in these struggles. The Chinese will not trouble the
city. Several times during 1684-1686 the Chinese horde advanced
towards Albazin, but did not take the city. By the miraculous help of
the Albazin Icon of the Mother of God and the holy Prince Saint
Dovmont of Pskov, the enemy was rendered powerless against the
Orthodox fortress. The Account of the Miracles of Holy Prince Saint
Dovmont was written by Gabriel Florov at Yakutsk on October 23,
338
1689. The fealty of these saints has not ceased. New generations
arise to change the face of the earth, but the Russian warrior Saint
Dovmont stand steadfast in sacred patrol of his country.
TODAY IS MAY 21
Saint Helen was the mother of St Contantine the Great, and was
probably born at Drepanum (Helenopolis) in Asia Minor to parents of
humble means. She married Constantius Chlorus, and their son
Constantine was born in 274. Constantius divorced her in 294 in order
to further his political ambition by marrying a woman of noble rank.
After he became emperor, Constantine showed his mother great
honor and respect, granting her the imperial title Augusta. After
Constantine became the sole ruler of the Western Roman Empire, he
issued the Edict of Milan in 313 which guaranteed religious tolerance
for Christians. St. Helen, who was a Christian, may have influenced
him in this decision. In 323, when he became the sole ruler of the
entire Roman Empire, he extended the provisions of the Edict of Milan
to the Eastern half of the Empire. After three hundred years of
persecution, Christians could finally practice their faith without fear.
The emperor deeply revered the victory-bearing Sign of the Cross of
the Lord, and also wanted to find the actual Cross upon which our
Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. For this purpose he sent his own
339
should
be
freed
of
all
traces
of
paganism, and
she
TODAY IS MAY 22
earliest,
lost
hagiography
was
probably
written
sometime
TODAY IS MAY 23
Saint Damiane (in the world King Demetre I) was the son of Holy King
Davit I the Restorer. King Davit I proclaimed his son Saint Damiane
co-ruler of Georgia and crowned him with his own hands. He declared
that his son Demetre, through his wisdom, chastity, bravery, and
handsome appearance, would rule Georgia better than he himself had.
Demetre acquired great glory while his father was still alive. In 1117
Davit I sent him to Shirvan to fight, and the young commander
astonished the people with his deftness in battle. St. Demetre seized
342
Kaladzori Castle and returned home with many captives and much
wealth. King Demetre struggled tirelessly to protect the inheritance
he had received from his father: he guarded Georgias borders and
fought to enlarge its frontiers. Many regions, including Hereti,
Somkhiti, Tashiri, Javakheti, Artaani and the Tao border, were
repopulated during King Demetres rule. These regions had been
largely deserted after King Davit I joined Tbilisi to the region of HeretKakheti. King Demetre was never shaken by the evil intrigues plotted
against
him. First
his
noblemen
revolted,
demanding that
his
TODAY IS MAY 24
Our Holy Father St. Nikita Stylites was born in 1186. As a youth, he
was heedless and corrupt; but one day he entered a church and heard
the words of Isaiah, 'Wash you, make you clean' (Is. 1:16). His life
changed completely: he left his family and property to enter a
monastery near Pereyaslavl, where he took on a life of severe
asceticism. He wore chains and in the words of the Prologue, 'shut
himself up in a pillar,' for which he was called the Stylite. He was
granted the gift of healing and by his prayers restored many who
came to him, including Michael, Prince of Chernigov, whom he healed
of palsy. Some thieves, seeing his chains and thinking that they were
made of silver, killed him one night and made off with the chains.
Soon afterward, Saint Nikita appeared to an elder named Simeon and
told him to put the chains with him in his grave when they were
found.
TODAY IS MAY 25
344
Upon
arrival
at
Constantinople,
the
relics
of
the
TODAY IS MAY 26
345
The Holy Martyr Saint George the New was born into an illustrious
Bulgarian family, living in the capital city of Bulgaria, Sredets (now
the city of Sofia). St. Georges childless parents, John and Mary, in
their declining years entreated the Lord to send them a child. Their
prayer was answered, and they baptized the infant with the name of
the holy Great Martyr George. Young George received a fine
upbringing, he attentively studied the Holy Scriptures, and he was
pious and chaste. His parents died when George was twenty-five. At
that time Bulgaria found itself under the rule of the Turks, who
forcibly converted Christians to Islam. Once, several Moslems tried to
convert George. They put a fez on the saints head. This is a red
circular hat which Moslems wear to enter their house of prayer. But
George threw the fez on the ground. The Turks brought the martyr to
their governor with beatings and abuse. The governor was impressed
with St Georges appearance and bearing, and he urged him to accept
Islam, promising honors and wealth from Sultan Selim (1512-1520).
The saint boldly and steadfastly confessed his faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ, and reproached the errors of Islam. The governor in a rage
gave orders to beat St George with rods, but the saint persevered in
his confession of faith in Christ. The governor ordered the tortures to
be increased. The passion-bearer bore all his sufferings, calling on the
Lord Jesus Christ for help. Then they led the martyr through the city
to the beat of a drum and shouts: Do not insult Mohammed nor abase
the Moslem faith. Finally, a large fire was lit in the city, to burn St.
George. Weakened by his wounds, the saint fell to the ground. They
threw him into the fire still alive, and they threw corpses of dogs on
346
top of him so that Christians would not be able to find the relics of the
martyr. Suddenly, a heavy rain fell and extinguished the fire. With the
onset of darkness, the place where the body of the martyr was thrown
was illumined with a bright light. They gave permission to a certain
Christian priest to take the venerable relics of the martyr for burial.
Informed about the occurrence, Metropolitan Jeremiah and his clergy
went to the place of execution. In the ashes of the fire they located
the body of the holy Martyr George and carried it to the church of St
George the Great Martyr in the city of Sredets.
TODAY IS MAY 27
Wilderness.
Fr.
Michael
journeyed
to
Khandzta
TODAY IS MAY 28
1769. This child was named Demetrios and when forcibly converted
was re-named Moystafas. By the nature of the intelligent and active,
Mustapha became prominent among Turks of Peloponnese and got
the rank of Prefect (improchwraga), and acquired much wealth and
slaves. But from the beginning wanted to return to the faith of his
fathers, so dazzled by the wealth of the Scriptures and values. So the
decision to go back to Christianity was made and he went to a
spiritual leader in Tripoli, where he confessed. He took his advice and
lived secretly as a Christian. But his life of a Christian scandalized
Muslims and they denounce him to the Pasha of Tripoli. When he
arrested in Mystras, he led to the Pasha of Tripoli and confessed that
he is ready to pour his blood for the love of Jesus Christ. Despite the
advice and promises of Pasha, the witness remained true to his faith.
After a certain period of time in prison, he was eventually decapitated
on 28 May 1794, Whit Sunday, in Tripoli. The relic of the Saint
received the Christians and buried in the Temple of the Holy great
martyr Demetrios in Tripoli. Saint Makarios of Corinth wrote the
history of Martyrdom of Demetrios.
349
TODAY IS MAY 29
Saint Theodosia
Virginmartyr of Constantinople
FEAST DAY
Theodosia, shook the ladder strongly until the officer fell from it. The
man died from his injuries, and Theodosia was arrested. The women
then stoned Patriarch Anastasius. Emperor Leo ordered the women to
be beheaded. St. Theodosia, an ardent defender of icons, was thrown
in prison. She was given one hundred lashes a day for over one week.
On the eighth day, she was led naked through the city, being beaten
350
along the way. Ultimately, one of the soldiers stabbed her in the
throat with a rams horn, and she received the crown of martyrdom.
The body of the holy virgin martyr was reverently buried by Christians
in the St. Euphemia Monastery in Constantinople, near a place called
Dexiokratis. The tomb of St. Theodosia was glorified by numerous
healings of the sick. Theodosia became one among the most
venerated saints in Constantinople, being invoked particularly by the
infirm. The fame of the saint was increased by the recovery of a deafmute in 1306.
TODAY IS MAY 30
The holy and righteous Emilia (also Emily or Emmelia), is the mother
of St. Basil the Great and several other children who are saints of the
Church. Churches of the Russian tradition keep her feast on January
3, along with her son Basil. Greek churches keep her feast on May 30,
along with her husband, St. Basil the Elder, and her mother-in-law, St.
Macrina the Elder. There are very few descriptions of St. Emilias life.
She was the daughter of a martyr and the daughter-in-law of Macrina
the Elder. Along with her husband, Basil the Elder, she gave birth to
ten children. She instilled the Orthodox faith in her children, teaching
them to pray and devote their lives to the service of the Church. As a
351
them! St. Emilia was buried as she had requested, beside her
husband in the chapel at their estate in Annesi, where Naucratius had
also been laid.
TODAY IS MAY 31
near
the
Gulf
of
Finland
between
Ligovo
and
Oranienbaumom. His body, shot full of holes. was dumped in the Bay.
In August 2000 the Archpriest Saint Nikolaevich Ornatskij was listed
as a universal Jubilee Saint Used by the Cathedral of Russian
Orthodox Churchs.
354
355
TODAY IS JUNE 1
356
TODAY IS JUNE 2
Every mother wins the Mother of the Year award in her own family,
but if a vote were taken for the Mother of the Thousand Years of the
Byzantine Empire, the unanimous choice would be a valiant woman
named Sophia who turned a personal tragedy into a triumph of the
spirit in the name of the Lord and so glorified His name in her every
thought and deed that she was sainted by popular acclaim. She
symbolizes motherhood in the purest sense, sanctifying the role all
mothers play in the daily grind of raising a family, elevating the
mothers of the world to a sacred level in the eyes of God and giving
them their due recognition in the divine plan of the universe. A woman
acquires a spark of divine grace in bearing a child, and thereafter in
caring for it she labors not only for herself but for the property of the
Almighty as well, for we are the children of God. The Noble Sophia
came into the world with every advantage, including wealth of beauty
and intelligence, as well as an abiding faith in Jesus Christ, and at
maturity she left nothing to be desired as a model wife. When she
married, she took leave of her parents to make a home of her own
with the prayer that she would be blessed with children, a prayer
which was answered. She became the mother of six children, all of
whom she loved deeply and none of whom lacked the religious fervor
of their mother. It was in her thirty-fourth year, when her happiness
357
TODAY IS JUNE 3
first tried to kill the Tsarevich using the strongest poison, but it had
no effect, as God protected him. Godunov's then had the child publicly
beheaded. Not long afterwards a 'false Dimitri' arose, claiming to be
the Tsarevich, and rallied a great army against Godunov. Godunov
was driven to such a desperate position that he took his own life by
poison, the 'remedy' he had intended for the true Dimitri.
TODAY IS JUNE 4
had
the
holy
Fathers
of
the
Council
bestow
upon
St.
Metrophanes the title of Patriarch. Thus, the saint became the first
Patriarch of Constantinople. St. Metrophanes was very old, and was
not able to be present at the Council, and he sent in his place the
chorepiscopos (vicar bishop) Alexander. At the close of the Council
the emperor and the holy Fathers visited with the ailing Patriarch. At
the request of the emperor, the saint named a worthy successor to
himself, Bishop Alexander. He foretold that Paul (at that time a
Reader) would succeed to the patriarchal throne after Alexander. He
also revealed to Patriarch Alexander of Alexandria that his successor
would be the archdeacon St. Athanasius.
TODAY IS JUNE 5
Saint Peter was born in 1211 in the village of Unjimir between the city
of Pech and the Field of Kosovo. As a child, he was meek and humble,
and seldom participated in childrens games. At an early age, he and
his younger sister Helena devoted themselves to prayer and fasting.
When he was ten years old, the future saint told his parents that he
wished to serve God by becoming a monk. St. Peters father died
when the boy was fourteen, so he put off his plans to enter the
monastery in order to care for his mother and sister. At the same
time, he increased his ascetical efforts. When St. Peter was sixteen,
his beloved mother reposed. Determined to enter a monastery, he
asked his sister whether she intended to be married, for his
conscience would not allow him to abandon her unless he had
provided for her. Helena said that it was her wish to preserve her
virginity and become a nun. She said she would share his life of
prayer and asceticism if only he would take her with him. Peter
rejoiced and replied, May the Lords will be done. They sold their
family possessions and distributed the money to the poor. Traveling
to Pec, they reached the Monastery of Sts. Peter and Paul. Peter
remained here, while Helena entered a nearby womens monastery.
After several years, both were granted permission to live in solitude.
Peter built two cells, one for himself and one for his sister, near the
monastery. They spent their time in continual prayer and fasting,
freeing themselves from worldly attachments, subduing the flesh, and
struggled on the path of salvation. These two spiritual lamps could
not remain hidden for very long. People started coming to them for
362
spiritual counsel and healing. St. Peter and his sister agreed to avoid
the snare of vainglory by moving to a more remote area. They went to
Crna Reka (the town of Black River) on the Ibar River. St Peter wished
to move even farther into the woods for a life of even greater
asceticism, but was reluctant to leave his sister. On the other hand,
he was concerned that she might risk her physical and spiritual
health if she were to come with him, so he decided to slip away and
leave her in order to live alone on a mountain. He did not get very far
before she noticed he was gone. She caught up to him and they
traveled together to a mountain near the town of Prizren. On top of
the mountain was a town called Korisha (modern Kabash), where they
stopped to rest. Helena went to sleep there in the grass. St. Peter
wept and made the Sign of the Cross over her, then went off into the
forest. When she awoke and found him gone, she wept and called his
name. Finally, she went down from the mountain and lived in Prizren
for the rest of her life. The holy ascetic lived in a cave near Korisha,
where he continued his spiritual struggles in the heat of summer and
in the cold of winter. He withstood the temptations and attacks of the
demons which assailed him. When this happened, he sang Psalms and
hymns all night until the sun came up in the morning. He fervently
prayed for God to help and comfort him in his struggles. The
Archangel Michael appeared to him and drove away the demons,
promising St. Peter that they would never enter his cell again. The
Archangel warned him to be vigilant and to persevere, for the Devil
wished to destroy him. After advising the saint to call upon the name
of the Lord whenever he was attacked by the forces of evil, the holy
Archangel vanished. St. Peter still endured temptations, but was
victorious against all of them. Realizing his own weakness, he turned
to Christ, Who strengthened him and sustained him. After these
victories, the Lord consoled him with a vision of the Uncreated Light
which lasted several days. From that time forward, St. Peter was
363
364
TODAY IS JUNE 6
TODAY IS JUNE 7
He was a disciple of St. Arsenios the great and abbot of the Scetis in
Egypt (the monastic system known as the "Skete" takes its name
from Scetis). He lived the communal monastic life for forty years, then
in 420 retired to the desert, where he remained until his repose. From
the Prologue: "A saint has a very sensitive conscience. What ordinary
people may consider a small sin, a saint sees as a great crime. It is
said of Abba Daniel that highwaymen attacked him on three
occasions and took him off to the mountains. Twice he was rescued,
but the third time, in attempting to escape, he struck one of them
with a stone and killed him, and then made his escape. That murder
lay on his conscience like a lead weight. In perplexity as to what he
should do, he went to Timothy, the Patriarch of Alexandria, and asked
his advice. The Patriarch soothed him, and released him from all
penance. But his conscience continued to gnaw at him, so Daniel
visited the remaining patriarchs in turn; going to Constantinople,
367
TODAY IS JUNE 8
that the man was a bishop. One day he lay down to take a rest from
the exhausting work with the other laborers, and fell asleep. Ephraim
glanced at him, and saw a flaming pillar rising above the man and
reaching up to heaven. Amazed and frightened, Ephraim summoned
him and bound him under oath to reveal who he was. The man
hesitated a long time, but finally admitted that he was a bishop and
foretold that Ephraim would shortly be consecrated Patriarch of
Antioch (the patriarchal throne having been empty since the old
Patriarch, Euphrasius, perished in the earthquake). Ephraim was
indeed elected and consecrated as Patriarch. For his goodness, purity
and zeal for Orthodoxy, a great gift of wonderworking was given him
by God. Once, in order to convince some heretic that Orthodoxy is the
true Faith, he placed his Omophor [In the Eastern Orthodox liturgical
tradition, the omophor () is the distinguishing vestment of
a bishop and the symbol of his spiritual and ecclesiastical authority.
Originally
of
wool,
it
is
band
of
brocade decorated
with
four crosses and an eight-pointed star and is worn about the neck and
shoulders] in the flames and prayed to God. The Omophor remained
unharmed in the fire for three hours. When the heretic saw this, he
was afraid and cast his heresy aside. Ephraim entered peacefully into
rest in 546.
369
TODAY IS JUNE 9
Saint David of Gareji was Syrian by birth. The future ascetic became a
disciple of St. John of Zedazeni and journeyed with him to Georgia. St.
David and his spiritual son Lucian settled on a mountain above Tbilisi,
the capital of Kartli. At that time Kartli was constantly under threat of
the Persian fire-worshippers. St. David would spend entire days in
prayer, beseeching the Lord for forgiveness of the sins of those who
dwelt in the city. When he was finished praying for the day, he would
stand on the mountain and bless the whole city. Once a week Sts.
David and Lucian would go down into the city to preach. A church
dedicated to St. David was later built on the mountain where he
labored. St. Davids authority and popularity alarmed the fireworshippers, and they accused him of adultery, in an attempt to
discredit him in the eyes of the people. As a witness they
summoned a certain expectant prostitute, who accused him of being
the childs father. Hoping in God, the Holy Father touched his staff to
the prostitutes womb and ordered the unborn child to declare the
truth. From out of the womb the infant uttered the name of his true
father. Outraged at this slander, the bystanders savagely stoned the
woman to death. St. David pleaded with them to stop, but he was
unable to placate the furious crowd. Deeply disturbed by these
events, St. David departed the region with his disciple Lucian. The
370
certain pious man named David, who was visiting from afar, had taken
with him all the holiness of Jerusalem. The angel proceeded to tell
him that the venerable one had marched through the city of Nablus,
clothed in tatters and bearing on his shoulders an old sack in which
he carried the three holy stones. The patriarch sent messengers after
the stranger with a request that he return two of the stones and take
only one for himself. St. David returned the two stones, but he
declined the patriarchs invitation to visit him. He took the third stone
back with him to the monastery, and to this day it has been full of the
grace of miraculous healing. After St. David brought the miraculous
stone from Jerusalem, the number of brothers at the monastery
doubled.
The venerable
father
ministered
to
all
of
them
and
TODAY IS JUNE 10
TODAY IS JUNE 11
Joachim
proposed
to
the
Moscow
Council
that
the
TODAY IS JUNE 12
Peter and advised him to call upon St. Simeon the God-Receiver for
help. St. Nicholas appeared to him once more in a dream, encouraging
the prisoner in patience and hope. The third time that he appeared it
was not in a dream, but with St. Simeon the God-Receiver. St. Simeon
touched his staff to the chains binding St. Peter, and the chains
melted away like wax. The doors of the prison opened, and St. Peter
was free. St. Simeon the God-Receiver became invisible, but St.
Nicholas conveyed St. Peter to the borders of the Greek territory.
Reminding him of his vow, St. Nicholas became invisible. St. Peter
then journeyed to Rome to receive monastic tonsure at the tomb of
the Apostle Peter. Even here St. Nicholas did not leave him without
his help. He appeared in a dream to the Pope of Rome and informed
him of the circumstances of St. Peters liberation from captivity, and
he commanded the Pope to tonsure the former prisoner into
monasticism. On the following day, in the midst of a throng of the
people who had gathered for divine services, the Pope loudly
exclaimed, Peter, you who are from the Greek lands, and whom St.
Nicholas has freed from prison in Samara, come here to me. St. Peter
stood in front of the Pope, who tonsured him into monasticism at the
tomb of the Apostle Peter. The Pope taught St. Peter the rules of
monastic life and kept the monk by him. Then with a blessing, he sent
St. Peter to where God had appointed him to journey. St. Peter
boarded a ship sailing to the East. The ship owners, after going
ashore, besought St. Peter to come and pray at a certain house,
where the owner and all the household lay sick. St. Peter healed them
through his prayer. The Most Holy Mother of God appeared in a dream
to Saint Peter and indicated the place where he should live till the
very end of his days Holy Mount Athos. When the ship sailed
alongside Athos, it then halted of its own accord. Saint Peter realized
that this was the place he had to go, and so he went ashore. This was
in the year 681. The Monk Peter then dwelt in the desolate places of
375
the Holy Mountain, not seeing another person for 53 years. His
clothing had tattered, but his hair and beard had grown out and
covered his body in place of clothes. The icon above depicts an
episode from the life of St. Peter the Athonite, the first ascetic of
Mount Athos. It shows the devil as an angel of light appearing to St.
Peter in order to persuade him away from the monastic path he
endured bravely. The first biography of St. Peter was written by St.
Gregory Palamas, who relates the story behind this icon. This is a
lesson which teaches us the great virtue of humility and obedience in
withstanding demonic attacks and deception. At first the Monk Peter
was repeatedly subjected to demonic assaults. Trying to force the
saint to abandon his cave, the devils took on the form at times of
armed soldiers, and at other times of fierce beasts and vipers that
seemed ready to tear apart the hermit. But through fervent prayer to
God and the Mother of God, the Monk Peter conquered the demonic
assaults. Then the enemy began to resort to trickery. Appearing under
the guise of a lad, sent to him from his native home, he with tears
besought the monk to leave the wilderness and return to his own
home. The monk was in tears, but without hesitation answered: "Here
has the Lord and the Most Holy Mother of God led me, and without Her
leave I will not leave from here." Hearing the Name of the Mother of
God, the demon vanished. After seven years the devil came before the
monk in the guise of a luminous angel and said that God was
commanding him to go into the world for the enlightening and
salvation of people needful of his guidance. The experienced ascetic
again replied, that without the permission of the Mother of God he
would not forsake the wilderness. The devil disappeared and did not
bother more to approach the saint. The Mother of God appeared to the
Monk Peter in a dream together with Saint Nicholas and said to the
brave hermit, that each 40 days an Angel would bring him Heavenly
manna. From that time the Monk Peter fasted for 40 days, and on the
376
377
TODAY IS JUNE 13
Saint Anthimus of Iberia was one of the most highly educated people
of his time. He was fluent in many languages, including Greek,
Romanian, Old Slavonic, Arabic, and Turkish and well-versed in
theology, literature, and the natural sciences. He was unusually gifted
in the fine artsin painting, engraving, and sculpture in particular. He
was famed for his beautiful calligraphy. Finally, St. Anthimus was a
great writer, a renowned orator, and a reformer of the written
Romanian language. Little is known about the youth of St. Anthimus.
He was a native of the Samtskhe region in southern Georgia. His
parents, John and Mariam, gave him the name Andria at Baptism. He
accompanied King Archil to Russia and helped him to found a
Georgian print shop there, but after he returned he was captured by
Dagestani robbers and sold into slavery. Through the efforts of
Patriarch Dositheus of Jerusalem, Anthimus was finally set free, but
he remained in the patriarchs service in order to further his spiritual
education.
Already
famed
for
his
paintings,
engravings,
and
and driving force behind the great advances was the Georgian master
Anthimus. He succeeded in making Wallachia a center of Christianity
and a major publisher of books for all the East. In 1694 Anthimus was
enthroned as abbot of Snagov Monastery (in present-day Romania),
where he soon founded a print shop. In the same year his new print
shop published Guidelines for the Divine Services on May 21, All
Saints
Day.
The
book
was
signed
by
Subdeacon
Michael
Metropolitan
Anthimus
fought
tirelessly
for
the
prince
Constantine
Brincoveanu,
and
in
1716
they
Anthimus,
beloved
of
the
Romanian
people,
was
escorted out of the city at night since the conspirators feared the
reaction of the people. But Metropolitan Anthimus never reached Mt.
Sinai. On September 14, 1716, a band of Turkish soldiers stabbed St.
Anthimus to death on the bank of the Tundzha (Tunca) River where it
flows through Adrianople, not far from Gallipoli, and cast his
butchered remains into the river. Thus ended the earthly life of one
more Georgian sainta man who had dedicated all of his strength,
380
TODAY IS JUNE 14
Saint Methodius
Patriarch of Constantinople
DAY OF CELEBRATION
dignity
of
presbyter
he
struggled
incessantly
against
the
382
The empress tried to extirpate the Iconoclast heresy, and gave orders
to free the confessors imprisoned for icon veneration. The heretic
Annios occupying the patriarchal throne was banished, and Saint
Methodius chosen in his place. At Constantinople was convened a
local Council with Saint Methodius presiding (842). The Council
restored icon veneration and established an annual celebration of the
triumph of Orthodoxy. The Synodikon of Orthodoxy compiled by
Saint Methodius is read on the First Sunday of Great Lent. Attempting
to undermine the authority of Saint Methodius, and also the love and
esteem of his flock for him, the heretics slandered him as having
transgressed chastity. The slander was exposed as such, and the
enemies of the saint put to shame. The final years of the saint passed
peacefully, he toiled much, wisely guided the Church and his flock,
renovated temples ruined by the heretics, gathered up the relics of
saints scattered about by the heretics, and transferred the relics of
Patriarch Nicephorus from the place of his imprisonment back to
Constantinople. Saint Methodius died in the year 846. He was
spiritually close to Ioannikos, who had foretold that he would become
patriarch and also the time of his death. Besides the Synodikon of
Orthodoxy, the holy hierarch also compiled a rule for those converted
to the Faith, three rites of marriage and several pastoral sermons and
church hymns.
383
TODAY IS JUNE 15
TODAY IS JUNE 16
Saint Tikhon, Bishop of Amathus, was born in the city Amathus on the
island of Cyprus. His parents raised their son in Christian piety, and
taught him the reading of sacred books. It is said that the gift of
wonderworking appeared in St. Tikhon at quite a young age. His
father was the owner of a bakery, and whenever he left his son alone
in the shop, the holy youth would give free bread to those in need.
Learning of this, his father became angry, but the son said that he had
read in the Scriptures, that in giving to God one receives back a
hundredfold. I, said the youth, gave to God the bread which was
taken, and he persuaded his father to go to the place where the grain
was stored. With astonishment the father saw that the granary, which
formerly was empty, was now filled to overflowing with wheat. From
that time the father did not hinder his son from distributing bread to
the poor. A certain gardener brought the dried prunings of vines from
the vineyard. St. Tikhon gathered them, planted them in his garden
and besought the Lord that these branches might take root and yield
fruit for the health of people. The Lord did so through the faith of the
385
holy youth. The branches took root, and their fruit had a particular
and very pleasant taste. It was used during the lifetime of the saint
and after his death for making wine for the Mystery of the Holy
Eucharist. They accepted the pious youth into the church clergy,
made him a reader. Later, Mnemonios, the Bishop of Amathus
ordained him a deacon. After the death of Bishop Mnemonios, St.
Tikhon by universal agreement was chosen as Bishop of Amathus. St.
Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus, presided at the service. St. Tikhon
labored zealously to eradicate the remnants of paganism on Cyprus;
he destroyed a pagan temple and spread the Christian Faith. The holy
bishop was generous, his doors were open to all, and he listened to
and lovingly fulfilled the request of each person who came to him.
Many people were healed when he prayed for them. Fearing neither
threats nor tortures, he firmly and fearlessly confessed his faith
before pagans. In the service to St. Tikhon it is stated that he foresaw
the time of his death, which occurred in the year 425.
TODAY IS JUNE 17
387
TODAY IS JUNE 18
renounce
their
being
Christians.
However,
Saint
Sebastian
TODAY IS JUNE 19
St. Paisius the Great lived in Egypt. After the death of her husband his
mother, on the suggestion of an angel, gave her young son Paisius to
the clergy of the church. The youth Paisius loved monastic life and
spent his time in one of the Egyptian sketes. Renouncing his own will,
he lived under the spiritual guidance of St. Pambo, finishing all the
tasks assigned him. The Elder said that a new monk in particular
needs to preserve his sight, in order to guard his senses from
temptation. Paisius, heeding the instruction, went for three years with
his eyes cast downwards. The saintly ascetic read spiritual books,
and he was known for his ascetic fasting and prayer. At first he did
not eat any food for a week, then two weeks. Sometimes, after
partaking of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, he survived without food for
seventy days. St. Paisius distinguished himself by his great humility,
and performed ascetic deeds of fasting and prayer, but he concealed
them from others as far as possible. When the monks asked which
virtue is the highest of all, the saint replied, Those which are done in
389
secret, and about which no one knows. St. Paisius died in the fifth
century at a great old age, and he was buried by the monks.
TODAY IS JUNE 20
390
TODAY IS JUNE 21
son,
Stefan,
to
whom
he
bequeathed
all
his
earthly
possessions. Although Vukan was King Stefan eldest son, King Stefan
preferred to see Stefan II on the Serbian throne mostly because
Stefan was married to Byzantine princess Eudokia. This decision was
not in accordance with the traditional right of primogeniture,
according to which Vukan, his first son, should inherited the throne.
This was not accepted lightly by Vukan as he reacted on this change
in succession by declaring himself King of Duklja. King Stefan took
monastic vows with his wife Ana in the Church of Saint Peter and Paul
in Ras and adopted the monastic name of Simeon. St. Anna took the
name Anastasia. Simeon subsequently retired to his Studenica
monastery and St. Anastasia retired to the Monastery of the Mother of
Christ in Kurumlija. St. Anastasia finished her life as a nun, where
prayer request from her former subjects kept her in constant prayer.
It is recorded that most of the request St. Anastasia prayed for were
answered,
and
was
canonized
supplications.
391
because
of
her
miraculous
TODAY IS JUNE 22
by Polish
Lisovski.
had been restored, St. Onuphrius withdrew from the general monastic
life, and having entrusted the guidance of the brethren to one of his
disciples, he took the schema with the name Macarius. For the place
of his solitude, he chose a spot along the upper tributary of the River
Zhabynka. About one verst separated the mouth of the tributary and
the banks of the River Oka. The ascetical struggles of St. Macarius
were concealed not only from the world, but also from his beloved
brethren. He died in 1623 at the age of eighty-four, at the hour when
the roosters start to crow. He was buried opposite the gates of the
monastery on January 22, the commemoration of St. Timothy, where a
church was later built and named for him. The Iconographic Originals
has preserved a description of St. Macarius in his last years: he had
gray hair with a small beard, and over his monastic riassa he wore the
schema. Veneration of St. Macarius was established at the end of the
seventeenth century, or the beginning of the eighteenth. According to
Tradition, his relics remained uncovered, but by 1721 they were
interred in a crypt. In the eighteenth century the monastery became
deserted. The memory of his deeds and miracles was so completely
forgotten, that when the incorrupt relics of the monasterys founder
were uncovered during the construction of the church of St Nicholas
in 1816, a general panikhida was served over them. The restoration of
the liturgical commemoration of St. Macarius of Belev is credited to
Igumen Jonah, who was born on January 22 (the Feast of St
Macarius), and who began his own monastic journey at the Optina
monastery not far from the Zhabyn monastery. In 1875 Igumen Jonah
became head of the Zhabyn monastery. His request to re-establish the
Feast of St. Macarius was strengthened by the petition of the people
of Belev, who through the centuries had preserved their faith in the
saint. On January 22, 1888, the annual commemoration of St.
Macarius of Zhabyn was resumed. In 1889, a church dedicated to St.
Macarius was built at his tomb. Igumen Jonah, who lived at the
393
TODAY IS JUNE 23
the Verkola. In 1918, the impious Soviets chopped the holy relics into
pieces and threw them into a well.
TODAY IS JUNE 24
John the Baptist is one of the most distinctive characters in the New
Testament. He had an unusual flair for fashion, wearing wild-looking
clothing made of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist. He
lived in the desert wilderness, ate locust and wild honey and
preached a strange message. Unlike so many people, John the
Baptist knew his mission in life. He clearly understood that he had
been set apart by God for a purpose. Through God's direction, John
the Baptist challenged the people to prepare for the coming of the
Messiah by turning away from sin and being baptized as a symbol of
repentance. Although he held no power or influence in the Jewish
political system, he delivered his message with the force of authority.
People could not resist the overpowering truth of his words, as they
flocked by the hundreds to hear him and be baptized. And even as he
attracted the attention of the crowds, he never lost sight of his
missionto point people to Christ. John's mother, Elizabeth, was a
395
relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The two women were pregnant
at the same time. The Bible says in Luke 1:41, when the two
expectant mothers met, the baby leaped within Elizabeth's womb as
she was filled with the Holy Spirit. The angel Gabriel had already
foretold the miraculous birth and prophetic ministry of John the
Baptist to his father Zechariah. The news was a joyous answer to
prayer for the previously barren Elizabeth. John was to become the
God-ordained messenger proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus
Christ. The remarkable ministry of John the Baptist included the
Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. John did not lack boldness as
he challenged even Herod to repent of his sins. In approximately 29
AD, Herod Antipas had John the Baptist arrested and put in prison.
Later John was beheaded through a plot devised by Herodias, the
illegal wife of Herod and ex-wife of his brother, Philip. In Luke 7:28,
Jesus declared John the Baptist to be the greatest man to have ever
lived: "I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater
than John ..." John's greatest strength was his focused and faithful
commitment to the call of God on his life. Taking the Nazirite vow for
life, he personified the term "set apart for God." John knew he had
been given a specific job to do and he set out with singular obedience
to fulfill that mission. He didn't just talk about repentance from sin.
He lived with boldness of purpose throughout his uncompromising
mission, willing to die a martyr for his stand against sin. Undoubtedly,
moments after his beheading John the Baptist must have heard his
master say, "Well done!"
TODAY IS JUNE 25
TODAY IS JUNE 26
the
In
the
year
1371
forty-year-old
the
widow
saint
of
tonsured
Prince
into
Andrew
TODAY IS JUNE 27
Saint Sampson the Hospitable was the son of rich and illustrious
Roman parents. In his youth he received an excellent education, he
studied the medical arts, and doctored the sick without charge. After
the death of his parents St. Sampson generously distributed alms and
set his slaves free, preparing himself to go into the wilderness. With
this intent in mind he soon journeyed from Rome to the East. But the
Lord directed him onto a different path, that of service to neighbor,
and so St. Sampson came to Constantinople. Settling into a small
house, the saint began to take in homeless wanderers, the poor and
the sick, and he attended to them. The Lord blessed the efforts of St.
Sampson and endowed him with the power of wonderworking. He
healed the sick not only through being a skilled physician, but also as
a bearer of the grace of God. News of St. Sampson spread abroad. The
400
patriarch heard of his great virtue and ordained him to the holy
priesthood. It was revealed to the grievously ill Emperor Justinian
(527-565), that he could receive healing only through St. Sampson. In
praying, the saint put his hand on the afflicted area, and Justinian
was healed. In gratitude the emperor wanted to reward his healer
with silver and gold, but the saint refused and instead asked Justinian
to build a home for the poor and the sick. The emperor readily fulfilled
his request. St. Sampson devoted the rest of his life to serving his
neighbor. He survived into old age and after a short illness he
departed peacefully to the Lord. The saint was buried at the church of
the holy Martyr Mocius, and many healings were affected at his grave.
His hospice remained open, and the saint did not cease to care for the
suffering. He appeared twice to a negligent worker of the hospice and
upbraided him for his laziness. At the request of an admirer of St.
Sampson the hospice was transformed into a church, and beside it a
new edifice was built for the homeless. During the time of a powerful
fire at Constantinople the flames did not touch the hospice of St.
Sampson. Through his intercession a heavy rain quenched the fire.
401
TODAY IS JUNE 28
with
its
authority
in
the
fourteenth
century
being
TODAY IS JUNE 29
blind woman see, a lame man walk and drove out demons from
possessed people. He was praised by St. Gregory the Great, and was
noted for his charity. Cassius died at Rome after going on pilgrimage
there. Cassius was married; his wife's name was Fausta. In the year
878, Cassius relics were taken to Basilica di San Frediano in Lucca
with those of Saints Juvenal of Narni and Cassius' wife Fausta. They
were taken by Adalbert, Margrave of Tuscany, but all of the relics
were returned to Narni two years later. The relics of Saint Cassius
were built in a restored shrine later known as the Sacello di San
TODAY IS JUNE 30
tribes
that
carried
out
incursions
in
the
southernmost
404
405
TODAY IS JULY 1
TODAY IS JULY 2
Russia
near
Finland
at
the
Konyavesky
and
Valaam
was commonplace. The promised church was not there, and the
promised supplies for three years were absent. While Archimandrite
Joseph dealt with the leadership issues with Baranov, the leader of
the settlement, Hieromonk Juvenaly and the others in their party
began their missionary work. Within two years their zeal had brought
more than 12,000 Alaskans to the Orthodox Christian faith. They did
this not by degrading their former shaman based faith but by showing
them that Christianity was the fulfillment of that faith. As the group
continued preaching further away from the settlement on Kodiak,
Hieromonk Juvenaly began missionary work on the mainland of
Alaska 1796. Here he continued the success of the past two years as
he baptized hundreds of Chugach Sugpiag and Athabaskan Indians.
But as his mission continued along northwest toward the Bering Sea,
he disappeared. No material evidence of his disappearance has been
found, but among the Alaskan people oral tradition relates of his
martyrdom. The tradition is that as he moved into territory inhabited
by Eskimos, some Eskimos did not understand some of his gesturing
while making the sign of the cross. Disturbed, a Yupiat shaman
ordered an attack upon the hieromonk, and he was killed by spears
and arrows. Thus, Juvenaly became the first Orthodox martyr in the
Americas.
408
TODAY IS JULY 3
seven years. When St. George the Recluse heard this, he sent his
disciple Theodore to Mt. Athos to rebuke him and remind him that he
was sent there to translate theological texts from the Greek to the
Georgian language. This time George of the Holy Mountain humbly
obeyed the will of his teacher. When he was not with George of the
Holy Mountain, St. George the Recluse confined himself to strict
solitude and, like his spiritual son, dedicated much of his time to
literary pursuits. He was closely acquainted with the writers of Iveron
and other Georgian monasteries, and he encouraged his spiritual son
to continue his labor of translating Orthodox theological literature. St.
George the Recluse copied Davit Mtbevaris translations of the Life of
Martha (the mother of Simeon of the Wonderful Mountain) and the Life
of St. Barlaam of the Syro-Caucasus. When George the Recluse heard
that no copies of these Lives existed on Mt. Athos, he transcribed the
texts and sent them to the Athonites. St. George the God-bearer and
reposed in 1068, after the death of his venerable disciple St. George
of the Holy Mountain.
TODAY IS JULY 4
of Christ he found the gift of speech and began to speak. From that
time the lad began earnestly to study Holy Scripture and the iscipline
of theology. At fourteen years of age he went off to Jerusalem and
there he accepted monastic tonsure at the monastery of St. Sava the
Sanctified. St. Andrew led a strict and chaste life, he was meek and
abstinent, such that all were amazed at his virtue and reasoning of
mind. As a man of talent and known for his virtuous life, over the
passage of time he came to be numbered among the Jerusalem clergy
and was appointed a secretary for the Patriarchate -- a writing clerk.
In the year 680 the locum tenens of the Jerusalem Patriarchate,
Theodore, included archdeacon Andrew among the representatives of
the Holy City sent to the Sixth Ecumenical Council, and here the saint
contended against heretical teachings, relying upon his profound
knowledge of Orthodox doctrine. Shortly after the Council he was
summoned back to Constantinople from Jerusalem and he was
appointed archdeacon at the church of Hagia Sophia, the Wisdom of
God. During the reign of the emperor Justinian II (685-695) St. Andrew
was ordained bishop of the city of Gortineia on the island of Crete. In
his new position he shone forth as a true luminary of the Church, a
great hierarch -- a theologian, teacher and hymnographer. St. Andrew
wrote many liturgical hymns. He was the originator of a new liturgical
form -- the canon. Of the canons composed by him the best known is
the Great Penitential Canon, including within its 9 odes the 250
troparia recited during the Great Lent. There have also been
preserved edifying Sermons of St. Andrew for certain of the Church
feasts. While Bishop, he was one of the people. His healing prayers
were offered to any person who asked, usually resulting in miraculous
healing. Church historians are not of the same opinion as to the date
of death of the saint. One suggests the year 712, while others the
year 726. He died on the island of Mytilene, while returning to Crete
from Constantinople, where he had been on churchly business. His
411
pilgrim
Stephen
Novgorodets
saw
the
relics
at
the
TODAY IS JULY 5
Elizabeth and her sisters continued to visit the poor and hungry in
Moscow. During the First World War, she nursed sick and wounded
soldiers in the hospitals and on the battle front. She was respected
and admired throughout Russia and people came to her for spiritual
direction. After her brother-in-law, Tsar Nicholas II, abdicated the
throne and he and his family were placed under house arrest, St.
Elizabeth was urged to abandon her convent and seek shelter with
her remaining family in Western Europe. She refused all offers of help,
saying she would not leave the other sisters and would die in Russia if
that was His Will. On Pascha 1918, Soviet soldiers came to the
convent and ordered her to leave Moscow to join the royal family near
Ekaterinburg. She was allowed to leave with a novice, Sister Barbara,
but was not permitted to say goodbye to the other sisters. After
arriving in Ekaterinburg, St. Elizabeth was denied access to the Tsars
family. She and Sister Barbara were placed in a convent, where she
was warmly received by the sisters. At the end of May St. Elizabeth
and St. Barbara were moved to the nearby village of Alopaevsk with
the Grand Dukes Sergius, John, and Constantine, and the young Count
Vladimir Paley. They were all housed in a schoolhouse on the edge of
town. St. Elizabeth was placed under guard, but was permitted to go
to church and work in the garden. On the night of July 5, they were all
taken to a place in the woods, twelve miles from Alopaevsk, and
executed. Grand Duke Sergius was shot, but the others were thrown
down a mineshaft, with grenades being tossed in after them. St.
Elizabeth lived for several hours, and could be heard singing hymns by
local villagers who came up to the mineshaft after the murderers had
left. A few days later, the bodies of St. Elizabeth and St. Barbara were
recovered from the mineshaft after the pro-Tsarist armies took
Alopaevsk. They were ultimately taken to Jerusalem in 1920, and
buried in the church of St. Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives.
413
TODAY IS JULY 6
Saint Sisos the Great before the tomb of Alexander the Great
(16th c., Meteora Monastery), signifying the remembrance of death
Saint Sisos the Great, also Sisoi the Great, Sisoy the Great, Sisoes of
Scet or Shishoy (429) was a solitary monk, pursuing asceticism in
the Egyptian desert in a cave sanctified by the prayerful labors of his
predecessor, St. Anthony the Great. For his sixty years of labor in the
desert, St. Sisos attained to sublime spiritual purity and he was
granted the gift of wonderworking, so that by his prayers he once
restored a dead child back to life. His feast day is observed on July 6.
Saint Sisos was an Egyptian by birth. Having withdrawn the world
from his youth, he retired to the desert of Scet, and lived some time
under the direction of abbot Hor. The desire of finding a retreat yet
more unfrequented induced him to cross the Nile and hide himself in
the mountain where St. Antony died some time before. Extremely
strict with himself, Abba Sisos was very merciful and compassionate
to others, and he received everyone with love. The reputation of his
sanctity became so illustrious as to merit the full confidence of all the
neighboring solitaries. Some even came a great distance to be guided
in the interior ways of perfection; and, in spite of the pains he took he
was forced to submit his love of silence and retreat, to the greater
duty of charity. To those who visited him, the saint first of all always
taught humility, as the most necessary virtue. When one of the monks
asked how he might attain to a constant remembrance of God, St.
Sisos remarked, "That is no great thing, my son, but it is a great
414
the mercy of God that if such a man repents with all his heart, then
God will accept his repentance in three days." He often passed two
days without eating, and was so rapt in God that he forgot his food, so
that it was necessary for his disciple Abraham to remind him that it
was time to break his fast. His prayer was so fervent that it often
passed into ecstasy, his heart becoming inflamed with divine love. It
was a maxim with him that a solitary ought not to choose the manual
labor which is most pleasing to him. His ordinary work was making
baskets. He was tempted one day as he was selling them, to anger;
instantly he threw the baskets away and ran off. By efforts like these
to command his temper he acquired a meekness which nothing could
disturb. His zeal against vice was without bitterness; and when his
monks fell into faults, far from affecting astonishment or the language
of reproach, he helped them to rise again with a tenderness truly
paternal. Some Arians had the impudence to come to his mount, and
utter their heresy before his disciples. The saint, instead of an
answer, desired one of the monks to read St. Athanasiuss treatise
against
Arianism,
which
at
once
stopped
their
mouths
and
that my Lord Jesus may preserve me from saying an idle word, and
yet I am always relapsing. Thus he was singularly observant of the
times of retirement and silence, and kept his cell constantly locked to
avoid interruption, and always gave his answers to those who asked
his advice in the fewest words. When St. Sisos lay upon his
deathbed, the disciples surrounding the Elder saw that his face shone
415
like the sun. They asked the dying man what he saw. Abba Sisos
replied that he saw St. Anthony, the Prophets, and the Apostles. His
face increased in brightness, and he spoke with someone. The monks
asked, "With whom are you speaking, Father?" He said that angels
had come for his soul, and he was entreating them to give him a little
more time for repentance. The monks said, "You have no need for
repentance, Father" St. Sisos said with great humility, "I do not think
that I have even begun to repent." After these words the face of the
holy abba shone so brightly that the brethren were not able to look
upon him. St. Sisos told them that he saw the Lord Himself. Then
there was a flash like lightning, and a fragrant odor, and Abba Sisos
departed to the Heavenly Kingdom.
TODAY IS JULY 7
Saint Kyriake was the only child of Dorotheus and Eusebia. Since she
was born on a Sunday (Kyriake, in Greek), she was named Kyriake.
One day a wealthy magistrate wished to betroth Kyriake to his son.
Not only was she young and beautiful, but her parents were wealthy,
and the magistrate wished to control that wealth. The magistrate
went to her parents to request her hand, but St. Kyriake told him that
she wished to remain a virgin, for she had dedicated herself to Christ.
416
told him that she had been healed by Christ, but agreed to go to the
temple. The eparch rejoiced, thinking that he had defeated her. In the
temple, St. Kyriake prayed that God would destroy the soulless idols.
Suddenly, there was a great earthquake which toppled the idols,
shattering them to pieces. Everyone fled the temple in fear, leaving
Hilarion behind. Instead of recognizing the power of Christ, the eparch
blasphemed the true God as the destroyer of his pagan gods. He was
struck by a bolt of lightning and died on the spot. St. Kyriake was
tortured again by Apollonius, who succeeded Hilarion as eparch.
When she was cast into a fire, the flames were extinguished. When
she was thrown to wild beasts, they became tame and gentle.
Therefore, Apollonius sentenced her to death by the sword. She was
permitted time to pray, so she asked God to receive her soul, and to
remember those who honored her martyrdom. Just as St. Kyriake
ended her prayer, angels took her soul before the soldiers could strike
off her head. Pious Christians took her relics and buried them in a
place of honor.
418
TODAY IS JULY 8
St. Sunniva was born in the tenth century and is the patron saint of
the Norwegian Orthodox Diocese of Bjrgvin, as well as all of Western
Norway. She was the heir of an Irish kingdom, but had to escape with
her brother and others when a pagan king, who wanted to marry her,
invaded. She and her companions became shipwrecked off the coast
of Norway, but eventually landed on Silje Island where they took
refuge in a cave. The local people suspected them of stealing their
sheep and demanded that they be arrested. Sunniva prayed to God
that they should not fall into the hands of the heathens, upon which
rocks fell down blocking the entrance to the cave. Sunniva and her
companions died in the cave, but in the years to come miracles were
reported on the island. When King Olaf Tryggvason excavated the
cave in 996, the body of Sunniva was found intact. Later, a monastery,
Selje Abbey, was built on the site, the ruins of which can still be seen.
During the fires in Bergen in 1170-71 and in 1198. Sunnivas remains
were taken from the monastery and placed near the flames. This
action halted the advance of the fire and was hailed as a miracle.
419
TODAY IS JULY 9
Our father Saint Theodoros the Great Ascetic (also known as St.
Theodore of Edessa and St. Theodore the Syrian) was a monk of the
monastery of St. Savas near Jerusalem. In 835, he was asked by the
Bishop of Jerusalem to take the Gospel of Christ to the Islamic area
of Edessa. The missionary work was difficult, but by 846 there was a
thriving community of Orthodox believers.
John together with his three confidants. His Life was written by
Basil of Emesa. The work A Century of Spiritual Texts is included in
the Philokalia and is believed to have been written by St.
Theodoros.
TODAY IS JULY 10
420
The
pain, Amalberga had the Prince moved to and placed on the altar of
the familys chapel.
Prince, without moving for three days. At the end of the third day, the
Prince opened his eyes, sat up and was healed. This was witnessed
by 72 people who had crowded into the chapel to watch the strange
prayers of Amalberga. When forty two years later, weeks before his
death, Witger became a monk at Lobbes, St. Amalberga joined the
monastic community at Maubeuge Abbey. Her feast is celebrated on
July 10. (Amalberga of Maubeuge is not to be confused with the virgin
Amalberga of Temse who died in 722, and whose feast day is also on
July 10.)
421
TODAY IS JULY 11
Saint Olga, was the wife of the Kievan Great Prince Igor. The struggle
of Christianity with paganism under Igor and Olga, who reigned after
Oleg (+ 912), entered into a new phase. The Church of Christ in the
years following the reign of Igor (+ 945) became a remarkable
spiritual and political force in the realm. The preserved text of a
treaty of Igor with the Greeks in the year 944 gives indication of this:
it was included by the chronicler in the Tale of Bygone Years, under
the entry recording the events of the year 6453 (945). The peace
treaty had to be sworn to by both the religious communities:
Baptized, i.e. the Christian, took place in the cathedral church of the
holy Prophet of God Elias; Unbaptized, i.e. the pagans, in turn swore
their oath on their weapons in the sanctuary of Perun the Thunderer.
The fact, that Christians are included in the document in the first
place, indicates their significant spiritual influence in the life of
Kievan. When the Byzantine emissaries arrived, conditions along the
River Dneipr had essentially changed. A pagan opposition had clearly
emerged, at the head of which stood the Varangian voevoda (militaryleader) Sveneld (or Sveinald) and his son Mstislav (Mtsisha) to whom
Igor had given holdings in the Drevlyani lands. Strong also was the
influence of the Khazar Jews, who could not but be displeased with
the thought of the triumph of Orthodoxy. Unable to overcome the
customary inertia, Igor remained a pagan and he concluded the treaty
422
are
filled
with
accounts
of
her
incessant
goings
throughout the land with the aim of the well-being and improvement
of the civil and domestic manner of life of her subjects. Having
consolidated the inner strengthening of the might of the greatprincely throne, thereby weakening the influence of the hodge-podge
of petty local princes, Olga centralized the whole of state rule with
the help of the system of pogosti (administrative trade centers). In
the year 946 she went with her son and retinue through the Drevlyani
land, imposing tribute and taxes, noting the villages, inns and
hunting places, liable for inclusion in the great-princely holdings. The
next year she went to Novgorod, establishing administrative centers
along the Rivers Msta and Luga, everywhere leaving visible traces of
her
activity.
The
pogosti
established
by
Olga,
as
financial-
and oak walls (battlements), and they bristled them with ramparts
and palisades. Knowing how hostile many were to the idea of
strengthening the princely power and the unification, the princess
herself lived constantly on the hill over the Dneipr, behind the trusty
battlements of Kievan Vyshgorod (Verkhna-gorod or Upper-city),
surrounded by her faithful retainers. Two thirds of the gathered
tribute, as the chroniclers testify, she gave over for the use of the
Kiev veche (city-council), and the remaining one third went to Olga,
for Vyshgorod -- for the needs of building fortifications. Foreigners
hastened to Gardarika (the land of cities), with merchandise and
craftwares.
Swedes,
Danes,
Germans
all
eagerly
entered
as
mercenaries into the army. In her heart the wise Olga found the desire
for holy Orthodoxy, and she made the decision to become a Christian.
The sacrament of Baptism was made over her by the Constantinople
Patriarch Theophylactus (933-956), and her godfather was the
emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitos (912-959). At Baptism she was
given the name Helen in honor of Helen, the mother of St.
Constantine. At the conclusion of the rite, the Patriarch said: Blessed
are you among women, for you have forsaken the darkness and have
loved the Light. The people shall bless you in all the future
generations,
from
your
grandson
and
great-grandson
to
your
was
seen
Yadeikovich
and
described
(who
by
the
afterwards
was
Russian
to
diplomat
become
the
Dobrynya
Novgorod
TODAY IS JULY 12
Saint John was born the son of a nobleman during the reign of King
Davit Kuropalates. For his love of Christ he left his family and the
world to be tonsured a monk. After informing the royal court of his
decision, St. John received a blessing from his spiritual father to
travel to Greece, where he settled at a monastery on Mt. Olympus. At
that time, as a sign of friendship, the Byzantine emperor returned
the Georgian lands he had conquered to King Davit Kuropalates, but
as a sign of dedication, he demanded that children of the nobility be
sent as surety. Among those sent to Byzantium was St. Johns son,
Ekvtime. St. John begged the Byzantine emperor to release his son,
and when Ekvtime was finally freed, John took him back with him to
the Monastery of St. Athanasius the Athonite. At that time the famed
Georgian military commander Tornike Eristavi came to visit St. John.
Tornike was soon tonsured a monk and given the new name JohnTornike, and he settled at the Monastery of St. Athanasius the
Athonite as well. Soon the Georgian faithful began to flock to the
Monastery of St. Athanasius, and St. John withdrew from the
monastery to a more secluded place, where he constructed a cell and
a church in honor of St. John the Theologian. Two more churches
were later built in that same area in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos
427
Monastery of Mt. Athos was established, with St. John as its first
abbot. After the repose of his faithful friend and assistant JohnTornike, it became difficult for St. John to continue to labor on the
Holy Mountain. He and several of his disciples planned to leave Athos,
but in the end they remained at the insistence of the Byzantine
emperor. St. John soon fell ill with gout and was bedridden for several
years. Prior to his death he summoned his son, Ekvtime, confessed to
him his sins, and designated him abbot of the Iveron Monastery, then
blessed all the brothers and fell asleep among the ranks of the
righteous in the arms of his son. Ekvtime robed the holy relics of his
fleshly and spiritual father in costly linens and later erected a church
in honor of the Archangels over his grave.
TODAY IS JULY 13
sick, cast out devils, and was able to discern the thoughts of those
who came to him for counsel. He fell asleep in the Lord in the year
794, foretelling in advance the day of his death. The Life of St.
Stephen was compiled by his disciple Leontius. (Todays saint should
not be confused with the other St. Stephen of St. Savas Monastery
who is commemorated on October 28.)
TODAY IS JULY 14
St. Hellius lived and died in the fourth century. He was sent to a
monastery when he was still a child. There he was raised in piety,
temperance and chastity. When he grew up, he went into the Egyptian
desert, where through his ascetical struggles he attained great
proficiency in the spiritual life. He was endowed with the gift of
clairvoyance, and he knew all the thoughts and disposition of the
monks conversing with him. Great faith, simplicity of soul and deep
humility allowed St. Hellius to command wild animals. Once, the saint
became tired while carrying a heavy load to the monastery. He prayed
and called a wild donkey to carry his burden. The donkey meekly
carried the load to the place and was set free to return to the
wilderness. Another time, when St. Hellius needed to cross a river and
there was no boat, he summoned a crocodile from the water and
crossed to the opposite shore while standing on its back. One of the
429
young novices of the monastery, whom St. Hellius visited, asked him
to take him along into the far desert. St. Hellius warned him about the
great work, exploits and temptations which inevitably beset all the
hermits, but since the novice continued fervently to ask, he took him
along. On the first night the novice, frightened by terrible visions, ran
to St. Hellius. The monk comforted and calmed him down and ordered
him to return. Tracing the Sign of the Cross over the cave, the monk
told the young hermit not to fear, because he would not be disturbed
by these apparitions any more. Trusting the word of the saint, the
novice decided to remain in solitude and afterwards attained such
perfection that he, like his teacher Hellius, received food from an
angel. St. Hellius peacefully entered the heavenly mansions after
reaching an advanced age.
TODAY IS JULY 15
The Holy Great Prince Vladimir, Equal of the Apostles. Few names in
the annals of history can compare in significance with the name of St.
Vladimir, the Baptizer of Rus, who stands at the beginning of the
spiritual destiny of the Russian Church and the Russian Orthodox
people. Vladimir was the grandson of St. Olga, and he was the son of
Svyatoslav (+ 972). His mother, Malusha (+ 1001) was the daughter of
Malk Liubechanin, whom historians identify with Mal, prince of the
430
facilitated
through external
circumstances.
The
Byzantine
proclaimed
himself
Emperor
and
moved
against
brothers
consoled
her,
stressing
the
significance
of
the
the Greek Church, was combined with the Feast of the All-Merciful
Savior and the Most Holy Theotokos (established by St. Andrew
Bogoliubsky in the year 1164). In this combination of feasts there is
found a precise expression of the Russian theological consciousness,
for which both Baptism and the Cross are inseparable. Everywhere
throughout Holy Rus, from the ancient cities to the far outposts, St.
Vladimir gave orders to destroy the pagan sanctuaries, to flog the
idols, and in their place to clear land in the hilly woods for churches,
in which altars would be consecrated for the Bloodless Sacrifice.
Churches of God grew up along the face of the earth, at high elevated
places, and at the bends of the rivers, along the ancient trail from
the Variangians to the Greeks figuratively as road signs and lamps of
national holiness. Concerning the famed church-building activity of St.
Vladimir, the Metropolitan of Kiev St. Hilarion (author of the Word on
Law and Grace) exclaimed: They demolished the pagan temples,
and built up churches, they destroyed the idols and produced holy
icons, the demons have fled, and the Cross has sanctified the cities.
From the early centuries of Christianity it was the custom to raise up
churches upon the ruins of pagan sanctuaries or upon the blood of the
holy martyrs. Following this practice, St. Vladimir built the church of
St. Basil the Great upon a hill, where a sanctuary of Perun had been
located, and he built the stone church of the Dormition of the Most
Holy Theotokos (Desyatinnaya) on the place of the martyrdom of the
holy Varangian Martyrs (July 12). The magnificent temple was
intended to become the cathedral for the Metropolitan of Kiev and All
Rus, and thus the primal altar of the Russian Church. It was built in
five years, and was richly adorned with frescoes, crosses, icons and
sacred vessels, brought from Korsun. The day of the consecration of
the church of the Most Holy Theotokos, May 12 (in some manuscripts
May 11), was ordered by St. Vladimir to be inserted into the Church
calendar as an annual celebration. This event was linked with other
435
Chronicle),
Vladimir-Volyn
(opened
May
11,
992),
Chronicles under the year 990 was written: And in that same year
there came to Volodimir at Kiev four princes from the Bulgars and
they were illumined with Divine Baptism. In the following year the
Pecheneg prince Kuchug came and accepted the Greek faith, and he
was baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and served Vladimir with a pure heart. Under the influence of
the holy prince several apparent foreigners were also baptized. For
example, the Norwegian koenig (king) Olaf Trueggvason (+ 1000)
who lived several years at Kiev, and also the renowned Torvald the
Wanderer, founder of a monastery of St. John the Forerunner along
the Dneipr near Polotsk, among others. In faraway Iceland the poetskalds called God the Protector of the Greeks and Russians. In
addition to the Christian preaching, there were the renowned feasts
of St. Vladimir. After Liturgy on Sundays and Church Feasts there
were put out abundant feasting tables for the Kievans, they rang the
bells, choirs sang praise, the transported infirm sang bylini-ballads
and spiritual verses. On May 12, 996, for example, on the occasion of
the consecration of the Tithe Church, the prince made a bright
feast. He distributed goods to many of the poor, and destitute and
wanderers, and through the churches and the monasteries. To the
sick and the needy he delivered through the streets casks and barrels
of mead, and bread, and meat, and fish, and cheese, desiring that all
might come and eat, glorifying God. Feasts were likewise celebrated
in honor of the victories of Kievan warriors, and the regiments of
Vladimirs retinue: of Dobrynya, Alexander Popovich, Rogda the Bold.
In the year 1007 St. Vladimir transferred the relics of St. Olga to the
Tithe Church. Four years later, in 1011, his spouse and companion in
many of his undertakings, the Blessed Empress Anna, was also buried
438
there. After her death the prince entered into a new marriage with the
young
daughter
of
the
German
Graf
Kuno
von
Enningen,
granddaughter of the emperor Otto the Great. The era of St. Vladimir
was a crucial period for the formation of Orthodox Rus. The
unification of the Slavic lands and the formation of state boundaries
under the domain of the Rurikovichi resulted from a strenuous
spiritual and political struggle with neighboring tribes and states. The
Baptism of Rus by Orthodox Byzantium was a most important step in
its self-definition as a state. The chief enemy of Vladimir became
Boleslav the Brave, whose plans included the extensive unification of
the West Slavic and East Slavic tribes under the aegis of Catholic
Poland. This rivalry arose back when Vladimir was still a pagan: In
the year 6489 (981). Volodimir went against the Lakhs and took their
cities, Peremyshl, Cherven, and other cities, which be under Rus. The
final years of the tenth century are likewise filled with the wars of
Vladimir and Boleslav. After a brief lull (the first decade of the
eleventh century), the great stand-off entered into a new phase: in
the year 1013 a conspiracy against St. Vladimir was discovered at
Kiev. Svyatopolk the Accursed, who was married to a daughter of
Boleslav, yearned for power. The instigator of the conspiracy was
Boleslavs
cleric,
the
Kolobzheg
Catholic
bishop
Reibern.
The
tithe. The unity of the Russian land, for which St. Vladimir had
struggled all his life, was threatened with ruin. In both anger and in
sorrow St. Vladimir gave orders to secure the dams and set the
bridges, and to prepare for a campaign against Novgorod. His powers
were on the decline. In the preparations for his final campaign,
happily not undertaken, the Baptizer of Rus fell grievously ill and
surrendered his soul to the Lord in the village of Spas-Berestov on
July 15, 1015. He had ruled the Russian realm for thirty-seven years
(978-1015), twenty-eight of these years after his Baptism. Preparing
for a new struggle for power and hoping for Polish assistance, and to
play for time, Svyatopolk attempted to conceal the death of his father.
But patriotically inclined Kievan nobles, by night, secretly removed
the body of the deceased sovereign from the Berestov court, where
Svyatopolks people were guarding it, and they conveyed the body to
Kiev. At the Tithe Church the coffin with the relics of St. Vladimir was
met by Kievan clergy with Metropolitan John at the head of the
procession. The holy relics were placed in a marble crypt, set within
the St. Clement chapel of the Dormition church beside the marble
crypt of Empress Anna. The name and deeds of the holy Equal of the
Apostles St. Vladimir, whom the people called the Splendid Sun, is
interwoven with all the successive history of the Russian Church.
Through him we too have come to worship and to know Christ, the
True Life, testified St. Hilarion. His deeds were continued by his
sons, and grandsons and descendants, rulers of the Russian land for
almost six centuries, from Yaroslav the Wise, who took the first steps
towards the independent existence of the Russian Church, down to
the last of the Rurikovichi, Tsar Theodore Ioannovich, under whom (in
1589) the Russian Orthodox Church became the fifth independent
Patriarchate in the dyptichs of Orthodox Autocephalous Churches.
The festal celebration of the holy Equal of the Apostles Vladimir was
established
under
St.
Alexander
440
Nevsky,
in
memory
of
the
intercession of St. Vladimir on May 15, 1240, for his help in gaining
the renowned victory by Nevsky over Swedish crusaders. But the first
veneration of the holy prince began in Rus rather earlier. The
Metropolitan of Kiev St. Hilarion (+ 1053), in his Word on Law and
Grace, spoken on the day of memory of St. Vladimir at the saints
crypt in the Tithe church, calls him an apostolic sovereign, like St.
Constantine, and he compares his apostolic evangelization of the
Russian Land to the evangelizations by the holy Apostles.
TODAY IS JULY 16
The Virgin Martyr Julia was born in Carthage into a Christian family.
While still a girl she was captured by the Persians. They carried her
off to Syria and sold her into slavery. Fulfilling the Christian
commandments, St. Julia faithfully served her master. She preserved
herself in purity, kept the fasts and prayed much to God. No amount of
urging by her pagan master could turn her to idolatry. Once the
master set off with merchandise for Gaul and took St. Julia with him.
Along the way the ship stopped over at the island of Corsica, and the
master decided to take part in a pagan festival, but Julia remained on
the ship. The Corsicans plied the merchant and his companions with
wine, and when they had fallen into a drunken sleep, they took Julia
from the ship. St. Julia was not afraid to acknowledge that she was a
441
Christian, and the savage pagans crucified her. An angel of the Lord
reported the death of the holy martyr to the monks of a monastery,
located on a nearby island. The monks took the body of the saint and
buried it in a church in their monastery. In about the year 763 the
relics of the holy Martyr Julia were transferred to a womens
monastery in the city of Breschia.
TODAY IS JULY 17
The Holy Great Martyr St. Marina was born in Asia Minor, in the city of
Antioch of Pisidia (southern Asia Minor), into the family of a pagan
priest. In infancy she lost her mother, and her father gave her into the
care of a nursemaid, who raised Marina in the Orthodox Faith. Upon
learning that his daughter had become a Christian, the father angrily
disowned her. During the time of the persecution against Christians
under the emperor Diocletian, when she was fifteen years old, St.
Marina was arrested and locked up in prison. With firm trust in the will
of God and His help, the young prisoner prepared for her impending
fate. The governor Olymbrios, charmed with the beautiful girl, tried to
persuade her to renounce the Christian Faith and become his wife.
But the saint, unswayed, refused his offers. The vexed governor gave
the holy martyr over to torture. Having beaten her fiercely, they
fastened the saint with nails to a board and tore at her body with
442
443
TODAY IS JULY 18
TODAY IS JULY 19
444
TODAY IS JULY 20
Elizaveta Pilenko, the future Mother Maria, was born in 1891 in Riga,
Latvia, then part of the Russian Empire, and grew up in the south of
Russia on the shore of the Black Sea. Her father was mayor of the
town of Anapa, while on her mother's side, she was descended from
the last governor of the Bastille, the Parisian prison destroyed during
the French Revolution. Her parents were devout Orthodox Christians
whose faith helped shape their daughter's values, sensitivities and
goals. As a child she once emptied her piggy bank in order to
contribute to the painting of an icon that would be part of a new
church in Anapa. At seven she asked her mother if she was old
enough to become a nun, while a year later she sought permission to
become a pilgrim who spends her life walking from shrine to shrine.
At the age of 14, her father died, an event that seemed to her
meaningless and unjust and led her to embrace atheism. "If there is
no justice,"
nonexistence was well known to adults but kept secret from children.
For her, childhood was over. When her widowed mother moved the
family to St. Petersburg in 1906, she found herself in the country's
political and cultural center also a hotbed of radical ideas and
446
Petersburg's
Theological
Academy
of
the
Alexander
Nevsky
the sick, survivors of many tragedies. But not all responded to trust
with trust. Theft was not uncommon. On one occasion a guest stole
25 francs. Everyone guessed who the culprit was, a drug addict, but
Mother Maria refused to accuse her. Instead she announced at the
dinner table that the money had not been stolen, only misplaced, and
she had found it. "You see how dangerous it is to make accusations,"
she commented. At once the girl who stole the money burst into
tears. Mother Maria and her collaborators would not simply open the
door when those in need knocked, but would actively seek out the
homeless. One place to find them was an all-night caf at Les Halles
where those with nowhere else to go could sit for the price of a glass
of wine. Children also were cared for, and a part-time school was
opened at several locations. Turning her attention toward Russian
refugees who had been classified insane, Mother Maria began a series
of visits to mental hospitals. In each hospital five to ten percent of
the Russian patients turned out to be sane and, thanks to her
intervention,
were
released.
Language
barriers
and
cultural
misunderstandings had kept them in the asylum. In time, she and her
associates helped establish clinics for TB sufferers and a variety of
other ministries. Another landmark was the foundation in September
1935 of a group named "Orthodox Action" a name proposed by her
friend, philosopher Nicholas Berdyaev. Co-founders included Father
Sergei Bulgakov, historian George Fedotov, the scholar Constantine
Mochulsky,
the
publisher
Ilya
Fondaminsky,
and
her
long-time
stadium and for three days offered comfort to the children and their
parents, distributing what food she could bring in. She even managed
to rescue a number of children by enlisting the aid of garbage
collectors and smuggling them out in trash bins. Meanwhile, her
house was bursting with people, many of them Jews. "It is amazing,"
Mother Maria remarked, "that the Germans haven't pounced on us
yet." Father Dimitri, Mother Maria and their coworkers set up routes
of escape to the unoccupied south. It was complex and dangerous
work. Forged documents had to be obtained. A local resistance group
helped secure provisions for those Mother Maria's community was
struggling to feed. On February 8, 1943, while Mother Maria was
traveling, Nazi security police entered the house and found a letter in
her son Yura's pocket in which Father Dimitri was asked to provide a
Jew with a false baptismal document. Yura, now actively a part of his
mother's work, was taken to the office of Orthodox Action, soon after
followed
by
his
distraught
grandmother,
Sophia
Pilenko.
The
interrogator ordered her to bring Father Dimitri. Once the priest was
there, said the interrogator, they would let Yura go. His grandmother
Sophia was allowed to embrace Yura and give him a blessing. It was
last time she saw him in this world. The following morning, after
celebrating the Divine Liturgy, Father Dimitri set off for the Gestapo
office, where he was interrogated for four hours, making no attempt
to hide his beliefs. The next day, February 10, Mother Maria was
arrested and her quarters were searched. Several others were called
for questioning and then held by the Gestapo. She was confined with
34 other woman at the Gestapo headquarters in Paris. Her son Yura,
Father Dimitri and their coworker of many years, Feodor Pianov, were
held in the same building. Pianov later recalled witnessing Father
Dimitri being prod and beaten by an SS officer while Yura stood by,
weeping. Father Dimitri "began to console him, saying the Christ
withstood greater mockery than this." In April, the prisoners were
453
were
deported
to
Buchenwald
concentration
camp
in
of
arrival,
Yura
contracted
furunculosis.
On
February
6,
body
was
disposed
of
in
the
Buchenwald
crematorium.
case. On March 30, 1945 Great, Holy and Good Friday that year
Mother Maria was selected for the gas chambers, in which she
perished the following day, on Great and Holy Saturday. Accounts are
at odds about what happened. According to one, she was one of the
many selected for death that day. According to another, she took the
place of another prisoner, a Jew, who had been chosen. Although
perishing in the gas chamber, she did not perish in the Church's
memory. Survivors of the war who had known her would again and
again draw attention to the ideas, insights and activities of the
unusual nun who had spent so many years coming to the aid of people
in desperate straits. Soon after the end of World War II, essays and
books about her began to appear in France and Russia. A Russian
film, "Mother Maria," was made in 1982. There have been two
biographies in English and, little by little, the translation and
publication in English of her most notable essays. On January 18,
2004,
the
Holy
Synod
of
the
Ecumenical
Patriarchate
of
TODAY IS JULY 21
456
The details of the life of St. Salome the Georgian are preserved in the
Synaxarion of Jerusalems Holy Cross Monastery it is written: On this
day we commemorate the martyrdom of Salome the Georgian, who at
first yielded to the Persian threats and renounced Christ, but later
confessed the true Faith. For this she was beheaded and cast into the
flames. In his famous work Pilgrimage, the 18th-century historian
and archbishop Timote (Gabashvili) writes that the godless Persians
captured the holy martyr Salome and tortured her at Jerusalems Holy
Cross Monastery for defending the name of Christ. It appears that
Salome labored at one of the convents in Jerusalem. It is believed
that she was tortured to death after the martyrdom of Luka of
Jerusalem, around 12271228.
TODAY IS JULY 22
was chasing her, and how she had come to this spot. Then he heard
the sound of a horse approaching, and recognized the mayor of the
village. He asked the shepherd if he had seen his daughter. He said
that he had not seen her, but pointed to her hiding place with his
finger. The mayor ordered Markella to come out of the bush, but she
refused. Therefore, he set fire to the bush in order to force her out.
She emerged on the side opposite her father, and ran toward the
rocky shore, calling out to the Mother of God for help. Markella
continued to run, even though blood was flowing from her face and
hands. Feeling a sharp pain in her leg, she saw that she had been shot
with an arrow. She paused to pull it out, then took to flight once more.
She scrambled over the rocks, staining them with her blood. Hearing
her father getting closer, she prayed that the earth would open up and
swallow her. The saint sank to her knees, her strength all gone, and
then a miracle took place. The rock split open and received her body
up to the waist. Her father drew near with wild-eyed joy shouting, I
have caught you. Now where will you go? Drawing his sword, he
began to butcher his helpless daughter, cutting off pieces of her body.
Finally, he seized her by the hair and cut off her head, throwing it into
the sea. At once the calm sea became stormy, and large waves
crashed to the shore near the murderers feet. Thinking that the sea
was going to drown him because of his crime, he turned and fled. His
ultimate fate has not been recorded. In later years, pious Christians
built a church on the spot where St. Markella hid in the bush. The spot
where she was killed became known as The Martyrdom of St.
Markella, and the rock that opened to receive her is still there. The
rock appears to be a large stone that broke off from a mountain and
rolled into the sea. Soil from the mountain covers the spot on the side
facing the land. On the side facing the ocean is a small hole, about
the size of a finger. A healing water flows from the opening, which
cures every illness. The flow of water is not due to the movements of
459
the tide, because when the tide is out, there would be no water. This,
however, is not the case. The water is clear, but some of the nearby
rocks have been stained with a reddish-yellow color. According to
tradition, the lower extremities of St. Markellas body are concealed
in the rock. The most astonishing thing about the rock is not the
warmth of the water, nor the discoloration of the other rocks, but
what happens when a priest performs the Blessing of Water. A sort of
steam rises up from the water near the rock, and the entire area is
covered with a mist. The sea returns to normal as soon as the service
is over. Many miracles have occurred at the spot, and pilgrims flock
there from all over the world.
TODAY IS JULY 23
The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God is among the most venerable
sacred items of the Orthodox Church. Located at the Dormition
Cathedral, Pochaev, Ukraine, the icon is renowned throughout the
Slavic world and is venerated by Orthodox Christians throughout the
world. Christians of other confessions also come to venerate the
wonderworking image of the Most Holy Theotokos, together with the
Orthodox. The wonderworking icon has been kept at the Pochaev
Lavra, an ancient bastion of Orthodoxy, for about 400 years. The
miracles which issued forth from the holy icon are numerous and are
460
following
miraculous
circumstance.
Having
accused
his
461
TODAY IS JULY 24
The Life of George of the Holy Mountain, George the Lesser writes
that Venerable Hilarion was outstanding in virtue and celebrated for
his sermons and ascetic labors. St. Hilarion raised the young George
of the Holy Mountain to be a brilliant writer, translator, theologian and
patriot. From him George also received a blessing to enter the
monastic life. According to the chronicle Life of Kartli, St. Hilarion
was a famous translator and writer and an eminent theologian.
Eventually St. Hilarion moved from Khakhuli to Tvali Monastery, not
far from Antioch, where he remained for the rest of his life. According
to
the
19th-century
historian-iconographer
462
Michael
Sabinin,
St.
TODAY IS JULY 25
wealth as her own but rather Gods, and she distributed not only to
good people, but also to their enemies. St. John Chrysostom
(November 13) had high regard for St. Olympias, and he showed her
good will and spiritual love. When this holy hierarch was unjustly
banished, St. Olympias and the other deaconesses were deeply upset.
Leaving the church for the last time, St. John Chrysostom called out
to St. Olympias and the other deaconesses Pentadia, Proklia and
Salbina. He said that the matters incited against him would come to
an end, but scarcely more would they see him. He asked them not to
abandon the Church, but to continue serving it under his successor.
The holy women, shedding tears, fell down before the saint. Patriarch
Theophilus of Alexandria (385-412), had repeatedly benefited from the
generosity of St. Olympias, but turned against her for her devotion to
St John Chrysostom. She had also taken in and fed monks, arriving in
Constantinople, whom Patriarch Theophilus had banished from the
Egyptian desert. He leveled unrighteous accusations against her and
attempted to cast doubt on her holy life. After the banishment of St.
John Chrysostom, someone set fire to a large church, and after this a
large part of the city burned down. All the supporters of St. John
Chrysostom came under suspicion of arson, and they were summoned
for interrogation. They summoned St. Olympias to trial, rigorously
interrogating her. They fined her a large sum of money for the crime of
arson, despite her innocence and a lack of evidence against her. After
this the saint left Constantinople and set out to Kyzikos (on the Sea of
Marmara). But her enemies did not cease their persecution. In the
year 405 they sentenced her to prison at Nicomedia, where the saint
underwent much grief and deprivation. St. John Chrysostom wrote to
her from his exile, consoling her in her sorrow. In the year 409 St.
Olympias entered into eternal rest. St. Olympias appeared in a dream
to the Bishop of Nicomedia and commanded that her body be placed
in a wooden coffin and cast into the sea. Wherever the waves carry
464
the coffin, there let my body be buried, said the saint. The coffin was
brought by the waves to a place named Brokthoi near Constantinople.
The inhabitants, informed of this by God, took the holy relics of St.
Olympias and placed them in the church of the holy Apostle Thomas.
Afterwards, during an invasion of enemies, the church was burned,
but the relics were preserved. Under the Patriarch Sergius (610-638),
they were transferred to Constantinople and put in the womens
monastery founded by St. Olympias. Miracles and healings occurred
from her relics.
TODAY IS JULY 26
and
in
1826
graduated
from
the
Seminary
with
the
natural history
museums
of
Moscow and
St.
alphabet
for
the
Unangan-Aleut
language,
and
the
came. Instead, Bishop Innocent soon came to Atka and asked Father
Jacob to accompany him on a voyage by ship to Kamchatka. Who can
know the heavenly discourse enjoyed by these two lovers of Christ as
they traveled over the waves? This, however, is clear, the holy
archpastor was able to accomplish three things in Father Netsvetov.
Firstly, he applied the healing salve of the Spirit with words of
comfort; secondly, he dissuaded Father Jacob from entering the
monastery; and thirdly, he revealed to the godly priest the true plan of
the Savior for his life, that he might preach (Christ) among the
Gentiles (Gal. 1:16) deep in the Alaskan interior. Father Jacob
continued to serve his far-flung flock of the Atka parish until
December 30, 1844. A new zeal had taken hold of him, and it was then
that St. Innocent appointed him to head the new Kvikhpak Mission in
order to bring the light of Christ to the people of the Yukon. Here,
aided by two young Creole assistants, Innokentii Shayashnikov and
Konstantin Lukin, together with his young nephew, Vasilii Netsvetov,
Father Jacob settled in the wilderness of Alaska. He learned new
languages, embraced new peoples and cultures, devised another
alphabet, built another church and Orthodox community, and for the
next twenty years, until his health and eyesight failed, continued to
be an evangelical beacon of the grace of God in southwestern Alaska.
Establishing
Ikogmiute
his
headquarters
(todays
Russian
in
the
Mission)
Yupik
he
Eskimo
traveled
village
to
of
native
joined
her
prayer
to
his,
470
and
accompanied
them
with
endure the hardships which Father Jacob faced, yet he did so with
patience and humility. His life of faith and piety are the legacy which
he leaves to us, his spiritual children in America, and indeed to all
Christians throughout the world.
TODAY IS JULY 27
St.
Panteleimon
prepared
him
to
accept
Christianity.
When
Pantoleons father saw how his son healed a blind man by invoking
Jesus Christ, he then believed in Christ and was baptized by St.
Hermolaus together with the man whose sight was restored. After the
death of his father, St. Panteleimon dedicated his life to the suffering,
the sick, the unfortunate and the needy. He treated all those who
turned to him without charge, healing them in the name of Jesus
Christ. He visited those held captive in prison. These were usually
Christians, and he healed them of their wounds. In a short time,
reports of the charitable physician spread throughout the city.
Forsaking the other doctors, the inhabitants began to turn only to St.
Panteleimon.
The
envious
doctors
told
the
emperor
that
St.
to
refute
the charge by
offering sacrifice
to idols.
St.
and licked his feet. The spectators began to shout, Great is the God
of the Christians! The enraged Maximian ordered the soldiers to stab
with the sword anyone who glorified Christ, and to cut off the head of
the Great Martyr Panteleimon. Portions of the holy relics of the Great
Martyr Panteleimon were distributed throughout the entire Christian
world. His venerable head is now located at the Russian monastery of
St. Panteleimon on Mt. Athos. St. Panteleimon is venerated in the
Orthodox Church as a mighty saint, and the protector of soldiers. This
aspect of his veneration is derived from his first name Pantoleon,
which means a lion in everything. His second name, Panteleimon,
given him at Baptism, which means all-merciful, is manifest in the
veneration of the martyr as a healer. The connection between these
two aspects of the saint is readily apparent in that soldiers, receiving
wounds more frequently than others, are more in need of a physicianhealer. Christians waging spiritual warfare also have recourse to this
saint, asking him to heal their spiritual wounds.
TODAY IS JULY 28
it was God's will that she assume the monastic habit instead. She
shone forth in great ascetical labours, and suffered many attacks
from the demons; while yet a novice, she attained to the practice
of Saint Arsenius the Great, of praying the whole night long with
arms stretched out towards Heaven. God showed forth great signs
and wonders in her, and she became the Abbess of the Convent of
Chrysovalantou. She was granted the gift of clairvoyance and
knew the thoughts of all that came to her. She appeared in a vision
to the king and rebuked him for unjustly imprisoning a nobleman
who had been falsely accused. Through a sailor from Patmos to
whom he had appeared, Saint John the Evangelist sent her
fragrant and wondrous apples from Paradise. She reposed at the
age of 103, still retaining the youthful beauty of her countenance.
After her repose, marvelous healings beyond numbers have been
wrought by her to the present day.
TODAY IS JULY 29
that
seven
more
fire-worshippers
had
converted
to
477
TODAY IS JULY 30
Saints Angelina and Stephen were the parents of St. John of Serbia.
The life of the Serbian ruler Stephen Brankovich and his family was
filled with instability and misfortune. After Serbia was seized in 1457
by
the
Turks,
the
then
Serbian
rulers
middle
son,
Stephen,
478
TODAY IS JULY 31
480
TODAY IS AUGUST 1
Saint Solomonia was the mother of the seven Maccabee brothers. She
encouraged her sons to remain faithful to the Law of God even when
threatened with death. This admirable mother is honored and
remembered for her great courage, for she watched all seven of her
sons die in a single day. May we also be faithful to Gods
commandments and the traditions of the Church.
TODAY IS AUGUST 2
The holy and righteous Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to hear
the Lord by night. After the Crucifixion, he acted as one of the Holy
481
TODAY IS AUGUST 3
heavy
political
pressure
from
Persia.
Enraged
at
King
TODAY IS AUGUST 4
The Holy Martyr Eudokia was a native of Anatolia, living in the fourth
century. The army of the Persian emperor Sapor took her into
captivity with 9,000 Christians. Since she knew the Holy Scriptures
484
well, she instructed the prisoners. The saint also preached to the
Persian women and converted many of them to Christianity. For this
she was subjected to lengthy and fierce tortures and then beheaded.
TODAY IS AUGUST 5
Saint John the Chozebite, the son of Maxim and Catherine Jacob, was
born July 23, 1913 in the Horodistea district of Moldavia. He was
named for the holy prophet Elias. In 1914, his father died in the war,
and his mother succumbed to a disease, leaving Elias as an orphan.
His grandmother Maria raised him until he was eleven. She was a nun,
so she was able to educate him in spiritual matters. She died in 1924,
so young Elias went to live with other relatives. He had a great love
for Christ and His Church, and longed for the monastic life. He entered
Neamts Monastery on August 15, 1933 when he was twenty years old.
Here his soul was nourished by the beauty of the services, the
experienced spiritual instructors, and the silence of the mountains.
The young monk loved prayer, vigils, spiritual reading, and solitude,
and soon he surpassed many experienced monks in obedience,
humility, and patience. Seeing his great love for spiritual books, the
igumen made him the monasterys librarian. Elias gave comfort to
485
486
TODAY IS AUGUST 6
Biographers recorded
TODAY IS AUGUST 7
fasting,
vigil
and
prayer,
enduring
cold, hunger,
and demonic
temptations. When her spiritual mother fell asleep in the Lord, St.
Theodora was led by God to the mountains of Neamts. After
venerating the wonderworking Neamts Icon of the Mother of God in
the monastery, she was told to seek the advice of Hieromonk
Barsanuphius of Sihastria Skete. Seeing her desire for the eremetical
life, and recognizing her great virtues, he gave her Holy Communion
and assigned Hieromonk Paul as her Father Confessor and spiritual
guide. Fr. Barsanuphius advised Theodora to go and live alone in the
wilderness for a year. If, by the grace of Christ, you are able to
endure the difficulties and trials of the wilderness, then remain there
until you die. If you cannot endure, however, then go to a womens
monastery, and struggle there in humility for the salvation of your
soul. Fr. Paul searched in vain for an abandoned hermitage where St.
Theodora might live. Then they met an old hermit living beneath the
cliffs of Sihla. This clairvoyant Elder greeted them and said, Mother
Theodora, remain in my cell, for I am moving to another place. Fr.
Paul left Theodora on Mount Sihla, blessing her before he returned to
the skete. St. Theodora lived in that cell for thirty years. Strengthened
with power from on high, she vanquished all the attacks of the Enemy
through patience and humility. She never left the mountain, and never
saw another person except for Fr. Paul, who visited her from time to
time to bring her the Spotless Mysteries of Christ and the supplies she
needed to survive. St. Theodora made such progress in asceticism
that she was able to keep vigil all night long with her arms lifted up
toward heaven. When the morning sun touched her face, she would
eat some herbs and other vegetation to break her fast. She drank
rainwater which she collected from a channel cut into the cliff, which
is still known as St. Theodoras Spring. When Turks attacked the
villages and monasteries around Neamts, the woods became filled
with villagers and monastics. Some nuns found St. Theodoras cell,
489
and she called out to them, Remain here in my cell, for I have
another place of refuge. Then she moved into a nearby cave, living
there completely alone. An army of Turks discovered the cave, and
were about to kill the saint. Lifting up her hands, she cried out, O
Lord, deliver me from the hands of these murderers. The wall of the
cave opened, and she was able to escape into the woods. As St.
Theodora grew old, she was forgotten and there was no one to care
for her. Placing all her hope in God, she continued her spiritual
struggles, and reached great heights of perfection. When she prayed
her mind was raised up to heaven, and her body was lifted up off the
ground. Like the great saints of earlier times, her face shone with a
radiant light, and a flame came forth from her mouth when she
prayed. In time her clothes became mere rags, and when her food ran
out, she was fed by birds like the Prophet Elias. They brought her
crusts of bread from the Sihastria Skete. Seeing the birds come to the
skete and then fly away with pieces of bread in their beaks, the
igumen sent two monks to follow them. Night fell as they walked
toward Sihla, and they lost their way in the woods. They decided to
wait for daylight, and began to pray. Suddenly, they saw a bright light
stretching up into the sky, and went to investigate. As they
approached, they saw a woman shining with light and levitating above
the ground as she prayed. St. Theodora said, Brethren, do not be
afraid, for I am a humble handmaiden of Christ. Throw me something
to wear, for I am naked. Then she told them of her life and
approaching death. She asked them to go to the skete and ask for Fr.
Anthony and the hierodeacon Laurence to come and bring her
Communion. They asked her how they could find their way to the
skete at night, for they did not know the way. She said that they
would be guided to the skete by a light which would go before them.
The next day at dawn, Fr. Anthony went to Sihla with the deacon and
two other monks. When they found St. Theodora, she was praying by a
490
fir tree in front of her cave. She confessed to the priest, then received
the Holy Mysteries of Christ and gave her soul to God. The monks
buried her in her cave with great reverence sometime during the first
decade of the eighteenth century. News of her death spread quickly,
and people came from all over to venerate her tomb. Her holy relics
remained incorrupt, and many miracles took place before them. Some
kissed the relics, others touched the reliquary, while others washed
in her spring. All who entreated St. Theodoras intercession received
healing and consolation. St. Theodoras former husband, Hieromonk
Eleutherius, heard that she had been living at Sihla, and decided to go
there. He found her cave shortly after her death and burial. Grieving
for his beloved wife, Eleutherius did not return to his monastery, but
made a small cell for himself below the cliffs of Sihla. He remained
close to her cave, fasting, praying, and serving the Divine Liturgy. He
lived there for about ten years before his blessed repose. He was
buried in the hermits cemetery, and the Skete of St. John the Baptist
was built over his grave. St Theodoras relics were taken to the Kiev
Caves Monastery between 1828 and 1834. There she is known as St.
Theodora of the Carpathians.
491
TODAY IS AUGUST 8
Saint Euthymius was abbot of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in
the Davit-Gareji Wilderness. In the chronicles of the monastery he is
commemorated as a man of many labors. According to the 19thcentury
historian
philosopher
and
Prince
John
theologian
and
Bagrationi,
an
Euthymius
outstanding
was
preacher.
a
He
dedicated his life to improving the monastery and rebuilt the nearby
village of Khashmi, which had been utterly razed by Dagestani
thieves. In Khashmi he constructed a mill and planted a vineyard with
a rare variety of grapes. He adorned the monastery and expanded the
estate surrounding the complex. At his instruction, a great number of
theological works were translated, and many rare books were
recopied. St. Euthymius instructed several of his pupils in philosophy
and theology as well. In 1797 the black plague broke out in Tbilisi and
residents fled from the city. Like true guardian angels, monastics and
hermits abandoned their isolated cells and arrived to minister to the
sick and the suffering. As he had in so many other worthy endeavors,
St. Euthymius served as the leader and inspiration behind these
works of mercy. The pious Euthymius reposed peacefully in the year
1804.
492
TODAY IS AUGUST 9
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Saint Lawrence
DAY OF CELEBRATION
TODAY IS AUGUST 11
TODAY IS AUGUST 12
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TODAY IS AUGUST 14
strongly built temple of Jupiter at Apamea, but the saint didnt know
how to accomplish this. A certain worker promised to help him. He
undermined three of the huge columns, propping them up temporarily
with olive wood. Then he tried to set them afire, but the wood would
not burn. When St. Marcellus learned of this, he performed the Lesser
Blessing of Water, and he commanded that this water be faithfully
sprinkled around the wood. After this, the wood burned quickly, the
columns fell down and the whole pagan temple collapsed in upon
itself. When soldiers near Aulona in the Apamea district demolished
another pagan temple, the saint, watching from a distance, was
seized by pagans and thrown into a fire. The killers were found, and
the saints sons wanted to take revenge. A local Council forbade them
to do this, decreeing that it would be wrong to avenge such a death
as the saint had received. Instead, they ought to give thanks to God.
TODAY IS AUGUST 15
St. Macarius was born in Rome, into a wealthy and renowned Italian
family. He received a superior education and a brilliant future lay
before him. But this is not what concerned him. This was the time of
the Reformation, a schism which shook Western Christendom;
meanwhile, Rome was drowning in luxury and licentiousness. This
situation grieved the youth who could think of nothing but how to
498
the marsh. The hunters looked upon the holy hermit as an angel. They
were struck by his humility and especially by his patient endurance of
the ascetic life. In this way St. Macarius became known. People
began coming to him for counsel, for blessing and prayer. He never
denied anyone spiritual aid, but his solitude was disturbed, and the
glory was burdensome. He went deeper into the forest and, on the
banks of the same river, built himself another cell. Here, however,
God's will manifest itself clearly. Above his new cell appeared
sometimes a fiery pillar, sometimes a fragrant cloud, rising toward
heaven. And people again discovered his whereabouts. Many began
asking his blessing to settle there with him. "May God's will be done,"
said the saint. A church was built, dedicated to the Dormition of the
Mother of God, and cells for the brethren. Archbishop Macarius of
Novgorod ordained the Saint and, about the year 1540, appointed him
abbot of the new monastery. St. Macarius was granted the blessed
gifts of clairvoyance and wonderworking. After his repose he
frequently appeared in visions to sick people, blessed them to drink
water from the spring he had dug, and they were healed. Before he
died, St. Macarius returned to his first skete and there, on the feast of
Dormition, August 15, 1550, he gave his soul to the Lord. The brethren
buried him near the Dormition church and built another, dedicated to
St. Sabbatius of Solovki. In his testament, St. Macarius enjoined the
monks to adhere strictly to the monastic rule, to spread the Gospel
and take care for the spiritual enlightenment and the needs of the
local people. His testament was fulfilled. St. Macarius' Hermitage was
always poor and small in number. Over the years it suffered many
misfortunes and by the mid-19th century there remained little but
ruins. Local inhabitants, however, piously recalled its holy founder.
They continued to take holy water from the spring and, on the days of
his commemoration, gathered by the thousand. Finally, in 1894, the
hermitage was restored by a missionary abbot, Arsenius, and became
500
TODAY IS AUGUST 16
TODAY IS AUGUST 17
501
The holy Father Saint Tbeli Abuseridze lived and labored in the 13th
century. His father John, the archduke of Upper Atchara, perished in a
battle with the Turks. After Tbelis mother was widowed, she was
tonsured a nun and given the name Katherine. Tbelis brothers,
Abuseri and Bardan, were also well-known figures in their time. St.
Tbeli received an education befitting his noble rank and succeeded in
fully developing his natural abilities. St. Tbeli left an indelible mark on
the history of Georgian culture as a hymnographer, an astronomer, an
expert in sacred music, and a scholar of diverse interests. We know
from his works that he built a church in honor of St. George in the
village of Khikhani (in upper Atchara), and it has been suggested that
he composed most of his works, including a chronicle of his own
ancestry, in that village. He had seven children whom he brought
there, and at the end of his chronicle he left a second testament,
commanding that his familys future generations be brought there as
well. St. Tbeli contributed immensely to the life of Gelati Academy.
Historians believe it was there that he received the broad education
that allowed him to express himself in so many different fields. St.
Tbelis collection of hymns to St. John the Baptist, St. John the
Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom reveals his true piety and talent
as a writer of the Church. The profound theological ideas, the
symbolic and mystical comprehension of phenomena, the knowledge
of the visible and comprehension of the invisible evident in this
work paint St. Tbeli as one equally endowed as both a scholar and a
theologian. St. Tbeli was fascinated by the science of chronology, and
502
Miracle
of
Great-martyr
George
contains
valuable
historical
TODAY IS AUGUST 18
The great Church figure and philosopher St. Christodoulos was from
the village of Sakara in the Imereti region. He possessed an
exceptional knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and spoke several
languages fluently. To support his prodigious understanding of the
Christian Faith, Christodoulos became thoroughly acquainted with
503
TODAY IS AUGUST 19
St. Theophanes the New, a native of the city of Ioannina, lived during
the sixteenth century. As a young man, he received monastic tonsure
on Mount Athos at the Docheiariou monastery. He was later chosen
igumen of this monastery because of his lofty virtue. In giving refuge
504
to his own nephew (who had been forcibly converted to Islam) from
the Turks who had captured Constantinople, St. Theophanes, with the
help of God, freed the youth, hid him in his own monastery and
blessed him to enter the monastic life. The brethren, fearing revenge
on the part of the Turks, began to grumble against the saint. He, not
wanting to be the cause of discord and dissension, humbly withdrew
with his nephew from the Docheiariou monastery, quit the Holy
Mountain and went to Beroea. There, in the skete monastery of St.
John the Forerunner, St. Theophanes built a church in honor of the
Most Holy Theotokos. And as monks began to gather, he gave them a
cenobitic monastic rule. When the monastery flourished, the saint
withdrew to a new place at Naousa, where he made a church in honor
of the holy Archangels and founded there also a monastery. To the
very end of his days St. Theophanes did not forsake guiding the
monks of both monasteries, both regarding him as their common
father. In a revelation foreseeing his own end and giving his flock a
final farewell, the saint died in extreme old age at the Beroeia
monastery. Even during life the Lord had glorified his humble saint:
saving people from destruction, he calmed a storm by his prayer, and
converted sea water into drinking water. Even after death, the saint
has never forsaken people with his grace-filled help.
505
TODAY IS AUGUST 20
St. Horus in his youth withdrew into the Thebaid desert [is the region
of ancient Egypt containing the thirteen southernmost nomes of
Upper Egypt, from Abydos to Aswan. It acquired its name from its
proximity to the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes] and struggled in
complete solitude for many years, leading the life of a strict hermit.
Having advanced in years, St. Horus was granted to see an angel, who
announced that the Lord had destined him for the salvation of the
many people who would seek his guidance. After this, the monk
began to accept everyone who came to him for advice and help. The
Lord granted him a gift of reading the Holy Scriptures, despite the fact
that the saint since childhood had not been taught reading and
writing. Gradually, a large monastery formed around StHorus, in which
the holy Elder was the spiritual guide. The monk never entered the
trapeza for food, nor did he eat on the day of partaking of the Holy
Mysteries. He often taught the brethren by means of stories about the
temptations which might beset a monk living in solitude. But he
always told them in such a way that everyone would know that he
was speaking of desert-dwellers personally known to him. The saint
concealed his own ascetic exploits. Once, when the saint still lived
with only one disciple, he brought to the Elder's attention the
approach of Holy Pascha. St. Horus immediately stood up at prayer,
506
and raising his hands, he stood thus for three days under the open
sky, in unceasing prayer. He then explained to his disciple that for a
monk every feast day, and especially Pascha, is celebrated by
removing oneself from everything mundane and lifting up one's mind
to unity with God. All the thoughts and deeds of his disciples were
revealed to St. Horus, and no one dared to lie to him. Having survived
well into old age, St. Horus founded several monasteries, comprising
altogether as many as 1,000 monastics. He died at age 90 in about
the year 390.
TODAY IS AUGUST 21
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TODAY IS AUGUST 23
He was born in Asia Minor around the year 120, and was a disciple of
Saint Polycarp, who was in turn a disciple of St. John the Evangelist.
He succeeded the martyred St. Pothinus as Bishop of Lyons in Gaul.
He produced many writings contesting not only against paganism but
against Gnostic heresies that were then troubling the Church. When
Victor, Bishop of Rome, planned to excommunicate the Christians of
Asia Minor for celebrating Easter on a different date than the Church
of Rome, Irenaeus persuaded him to stay his hand and maintain unity
and peace in the Church. (This was before the date of Easter had
been set by the Ecumenical Councils). By his efforts Lyons became
for centuries a center and bastion of Orthodoxy in the West.
509
TODAY IS AUGUST 24
Saint Serapion was abbot of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in
the Davit-Gareji Wilderness. He was endowed by God with the ability
to work miracles. Once St. Serapion set off for the city, following at a
short distance behind several of the monasterys brothers. While they
were traveling, a group of bandits attacked the monks who were
walking in front of their abbot and made off with many of the church
vessels they were carrying. Terrified, the monks ran back to Serapion
and told him what had happened Great is God! said Serapion. I will
not permit the unbelievers to steal His sacred things! With staff in
hand, the elder raced ahead alone in pursuit of the robbers. When the
robbers turned back they saw a terrible flame issuing forth from the
elders staff and became greatly afraid. They abandoned the donkey
that had been carrying their spoils and took to their heels. Another
time Serapion suddenly burst out of his cell and cried to the brothers,
Woe is me! Woe is me! Robbers have attacked the servants on their
way to the monastery! Having made this frightening announcement,
he returned to his cell and began to pray. After a few hours the
distraught servants arrived at the monastery and reported that
bandits had attacked them along the way. The servants said that,
510
when fleeing their attackers, they had abandoned the mules that were
hauling the monasterys property. A short time later the mules arrived
at the monastery unaccompanied, bearing their load as before. St.
Serapion eventually abandoned his leadership of the monastery. He
was tonsured into the great schema and withdrew into seclusion.
Soon after, God revealed to him that his death was near, and he asked
the brothers to bury him under the church gates, in a grave that he
had prepared for himself. He intended for all who entered there to
walk over his grave. St. Serapion reposed in the year 1774.
TODAY IS AUGUST 25
TODAY IS AUGUST 26
Saint Irene was the wife of the Byzantine emperor John II Comnenos
(1118-1143). She was very pious, and unequaled in her philanthropic
works. Instead of spending her money on jewelry, cosmetics, or other
worldly vanities, St. Irene used her wealth to care for the poor and the
sick. One of her greatest projects was the building of the royal
monastery of the Pantocrator in Constantinople, the largest, most
beautiful of all the City's monasteries. The Church of Christ has
numbered her among the saints because of her piety, philanthropy, as
well as for her determination to live her life according to the Gospel,
and her patronage of this monastery. Toward the end of her life, St.
Irene was tonsured as a nun with the name Xenia. She died in
Bithynia in 1124, but she and her husband were buried in the
monastery she had founded.
TODAY IS AUGUST 27
Saint Phanourius
DAY OF CELEBRATION
512
When the island of Rhodes had been conquered by Moslems, the new
ruler of the island wished to rebuild the walls of the city, which had
been damaged in previous wars. Several ruined buildings were near
the fortress, and stone from these buildings was used to repair the
walls at the end of the fifteenth century, or the beginning of the
sixteenth. While working on the fortress, the Moslems uncovered the
ruins of a beautiful church. Several icons, most of them badly
damaged, were found on the floor. One icon, of St. Phanourius, looked
as if it had been painted that very day. The local bishop, whose name
was Nilus, was called to see the icon. It said, Saint Phanourius. The
saint is depicted as a young soldier holding a cross in his right hand.
On the upper part of the cross is a lighted taper. Twelve scenes from
his life are shown around the border of the icon. These scenes show
him being questioned by an official, being beaten with stones by
soldiers, stretched out on the ground while soldiers whip him, then
having his sides raked with iron hooks. He is also shown locked up in
prison, standing before the official again, being burned with candles,
tied to a rack, thrown to the wild animals, and being crushed by a
large rock. The remaining scenes depict him standing before idols
holding burning coals in his hands, while a demon stands by
lamenting his defeat by the saint, and finally, the saint stands in the
midst of a fire with his arms raised in prayer. These scenes clearly
revealed
that
the
saint
was
martyr.
Bishop
Nilus
sent
the church. At that time, there was no Orthodox bishop on the island
of Crete. Since Crete was under the control of Venice, there was a
Latin bishop. The Venetians refused to allow a successor to be
consecrated when an Orthodox bishop died, or for new priests to be
ordained, hoping that in time they would be able to convert the
Orthodox population to Catholicism. Those seeking ordination were
obliged to go to the island of Kythera. It so happened that three young
deacons had traveled from Crete to Kythera to be ordained to the holy
priesthood. On their way back, they were captured at sea by Moslems
who brought them to Rhodes to be sold as slaves. Lamenting their
fate, the three new priests wept day and night. While in Rhodes the
priests heard of the miracles performed by the holy Great Martyr
Phanourius. They began to pray to him with tears, asking to be freed
from their captivity. Each of the three had been sold to a different
master, and so remained unaware of what the others were doing. By
the mercy of God, each of the priests was allowed by his master to
pray at the restored church of St. Phanourius. All three arrived at the
same time and prostrated themselves before the icon of the saint,
asking to be delivered from the hands of the Hagarenes (Moslems,
descendents of Hagar). Somewhat consoled, the priests left the
church and returned to their masters. That night St. Phanourius
appeared to the three masters and ordered them to set the priests
free so that they could serve the Church, or he would punish them.
The Moslems ignored the saints warning, believing the vision to be
the result of sorcery. The cruel masters bound the priests with chains
and treated them even worse than before. Then St. Phanourius went
to the priests and freed them from their shackles, promising that they
would be freed the next day. Appearing once more to the Moslems,
the holy martyr told them severely, If you do not release your slaves
by tomorrow, you shall witness the power of God! The next morning,
all the inhabitants of the homes where the priests were held awoke to
514
515
TODAY IS AUGUST 28
Saint Moses Murin the Black lived during the fourth century in Egypt.
He was an Ethiopian, and he was black of skin and therefore called
Murin (meaning like an Ethiopian). In his youth he was the slave of
an important man, but after he committed a murder, his master
banished him, and he joined a band of robbers. Because of his bad
character and great physical strength they chose him as their leader.
Moses and his band of brigands did many evil deeds, both murders
and robberies. People were afraid at the mere mention of his name.
Moses the brigand spent several years leading a sinful life, but
through the great mercy of God he repented, left his band of robbers
and went to one of the desert monasteries. Here he wept for a long
time, begging to be admitted as one of the brethren. The monks were
not convinced of the sincerity of his repentance, but the former
robber would not be driven away nor silenced. He continued to ask
that they accept him. St. Moses was completely obedient to the
igumen and the brethren, and he poured forth many tears of sorrow
for his sinful life. After a certain while St. Moses withdrew to a
solitary cell, where he spent the time in prayer and the strictest
fasting in a very austere lifestyle. Once, four of the robbers of his
former band descended upon the cell of St Moses. He had lost none of
his great physical strength, so he tied them all up. Throwing them
over his shoulder, he brought them to the monastery, where he asked
the Elders what to do with them. The Elders ordered that they be set
516
free. The robbers, learning that they had chanced upon their former
ringleader, and that he had dealt kindly with them, followed his
example: they repented and became monks. Later, when the rest of
the band of robbers heard about the repentance of St. Moses, then
they also gave up their thievery and became fervent monks. St. Moses
was not quickly freed from the passions. He went often to the igumen,
Abba Isidore, seeking advice on how to be delivered from the
passions of profligacy. Being experienced in the spiritual struggle, the
Elder taught him never to eat too much food, to remain partly hungry
while observing the strictest moderation. But the passions did not
cease to trouble St. Moses in his dreams. Then Abba Isidore taught
him the all-night vigil. The monk stood the whole night at prayer, so
he would not fall asleep. From his prolonged struggles St. Moses fell
into despondency, and when there arose thoughts about leaving his
solitary cell, Abba Isidore instead strengthened the resolve of his
disciple. In a vision he showed him many demons in the west,
prepared for battle, and in the east a still greater quantity of holy
angels, also ready for fighting. Abba Isidore explained to St. Moses
that the power of the angels would prevail over the power of the
demons, and in the long struggle with the passions it was necessary
for him to become completely cleansed of his former sins. St. Moses
undertook a new effort. Making the rounds by night of the wilderness
cells, he carried water from the well to each brother. He did this
especially for the Elders, who lived far from the well and who were
not easily able to carry their own water. Once, kneeling over the well,
St. Moses felt a powerful blow upon his back and he fell down at the
well like one dead, laying there in that position until dawn. Thus did
the devils take revenge upon the monk for his victory over them. In
the morning the brethren carried him to his cell, and he lay there a
whole year crippled. Having recovered, the monk with firm resolve
confessed to the igumen, that he would continue to live in asceticism.
517
But the Lord Himself put limits to this struggle of many years: Abba
Isidore blessed his disciple and said to him that the passions had
already gone from him. The Elder commanded him to receive the Holy
Mysteries, and to go to his own cell in peace. From that time, St.
Moses received from the Lord power over demons. Accounts about his
exploits spread among the monks and even beyond the bounds of the
wilderness. The governor of the land wanted to see the saint. When
he heard of this, St. Moses decided to hide from any visitors, and he
departed his own cell. Along the way he met servants of the governor,
who asked him how to get to the cell of the desert-dweller Moses. The
monk answered them: Go no farther to see this false and unworthy
monk. The servants returned to the monastery where the governor
was waiting, and they told him the words of the Elder they had
chanced to meet. The brethren, hearing a description of the Elders
appearance, told them that they had encountered St. Moses himself.
After many years of monastic exploits, St. Moses was ordained a
deacon. The bishop clothed him in white vestments and said, Now
Abba Moses is entirely white! The saint replied, Only outwardly, for
God knows that I am still dark within. Through humility, the saint
believed himself unworthy of the office of deacon. Once, the bishop
decided to test him and he bade the clergy to drive him out of the
altar, reviling him as an unworthy Ethiopian. In all humility, the monk
accepted the abuse. Having put him to the test, the bishop then
ordained St. Moses to be presbyter. St. Moses labored for fifteen
years in this rank, and gathered around himself 75 disciples. When the
saint reached age 75, he warned his monks that soon brigands would
descend upon the skete and murder all that were there. The saint
blessed his monks to leave, in order to avoid violent death. His
disciples began to beseech the monk to leave with them, but he
replied: For many years already I have awaited the time when there
the words which my Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, should be fulfilled:
518
All who take up the sword, shall perish by the sword (Mt. 26: 52).
After this, seven of the brethren remained with the monk, and one of
them hid nearby during the attack of the robbers. The robbers killed
St. Moses and the six monks who remained with him. Their death
occurred in about the year 400.
TODAY IS AUGUST 29
A wealthy and devout woman, she lived on the island of Aegina, but,
when the Arabs over-ran the island, she moved to Salonica. There,
she gave her only daughter to a monastery, where she received the
monastic name Theopista. Her husband Theodorinus died very soon
thereafter, and then Theodora became a nun. She was a great
ascetic. She often heard angelic singing, and would say to her sisters:
'Don't you hear how wonderfully the angels are singing in heavenly
light?' She entered into rest in 879, and a healing myrrh flowed from
her body, which gave healing to many.
519
TODAY IS AUGUST 30
Saint Alexander
DAY OF CELEBRATION
as
the
delegate
of
Saint
Metrophanes,
Bishop
of
520
TODAY IS AUGUST 31
522
523
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 1
Saint Meletius the New was born in Cappadocia in 1035. Many people
regarded him as an imbecile, but God hath made foolish the wisdom
of this world (I Cor. 1:20), and it has also pleased Him by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (I Cor. 1:21). So
the Lord used the saint to draw many souls to Himself. St. Meletius
was given the gift of prophecy, and performed many miracles.
Motherless
women
would
seek
his
healing,
and his
prophecy
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 2
524
the
character
of
the
penances:
severe
fasting,
daily
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 3
instructed him in the true Faith, and Aristion increased in piety and
zeal for God. It is significant that Anthony, despite the constant fear
of persecution, exile and even danger to his own life, was not just a
member of the local church, but also preached the Faith to others. It
is certain that Aristion prayed for his young friend and remembered
his courage and strength, for Anthonys efforts to bring Aristion to the
saving Faith had born fruit and were not in vain. Not only did Anthony
give himself to the Church through his martyrdom at the age of
twenty, he also gave it another saint and martyr: St. Aristion. Years
later, St. Aristion was consecrated bishop for Isso in Cilicia, which is
found in lesser Alexandria. He was a good shepherd to his flock, and
cared diligently for their souls. One day the ruler of Alexandria had St.
Aristion arrested because he was a Christian. Although he was placed
on public trial, the holy bishop was calm and showed no fear. His
whole demeanor made the Roman eparch realize that it would not
easy to deal with this man who stood before him. He tried to turn
Aristion from Christ through flattery and promises of reward, but the
saint stood firm. Seeing that his words had no effect on the bishop, he
threatened him with fierce tortures. He was not influenced by these
threats, however. St. Aristion stood before the eparch and his
counselors, gazing at them with love and concern for their salvation.
Even in his weakness, this captive was stronger than his captors, and
he refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Before a multitude of
idolaters, St. Aristion spoke of the Triune God, by Whom all things
were created. He also told them about the Incarnation of the Lord
Jesus
Christ,
which
was
accomplished
through
Gods
saving
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 4
monk that was sick Saint Simeon would heal except those who were
sick unto death. He also healed the sick people who lived around
the Davit-Gareji Monastery. His fame as a healer grew so great that
there were days where he healed the sick lined up in front of the
Monastery from sun-up to sun-down. St. Simeon became deathly ill
and lay lifeless for more than an hour. Then, by Divine Providence, he
arose and distributed all of his possessions to the fathers of the
monastery to keep him in remembrance. When St. Serapion heard
about this miracle, he hastened to Abbot Simeon, his spiritual father,
and, enlightened with prophetic grace, comforted him: O honorable
Father, give me your holy hands that I may kiss them. How I desire for
these hands to bury the dust of my worthless bodybut now you are
departing this world ahead of me. You will go, Father, but without you
I will not remain long on this earth; soon I will follow after you! So
the fathers bade him farewell for the last time. St. Simeon settled his
affairs at the monastery, and in 1773 he reposed in peace, exactly
one week after he had recovered from his deathly illness.
529
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 5
531
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 6
of
the
Lemko
people,
was
Carpatho-Russian
stay at his home in the village Hrab was to prove to be short as the
first shots of the war heralded a wave of new repressions of the
Orthodox Carpatho-Russians. The militia, on August 4, 1914, arrested
the whole family of the young priest and dragged them off in shackles
to the prison in Gorlice. Fr. Maxim, his father, mother, brother, and
wife were forced to travel on foot to the prison while being prodded
by the bayonets of the gendarmes. In prison they were placed in
separate cells and denied the opportunity to see each other. Then, on
Sunday, August 6, while at prayer at the dawn of the new day, Fr.
Maxim could hear the noise of a crowd beyond the walls of their
prison. The noise was accompanied finally by a loud thud as a
mustachioed German captain, named Dietrich, from Linz entered the
prison grounds, accompanied by two soldiers and four gendarmes.
The captain was known to be a cruel and sadistic person. This group
was followed by the prison wardens, some civil servants, officers, and
a group of curious women led by Pan Mitshka, the leader of the
Gorlice District. As silence fell, the order was given to the warden to
bring Fr. Maxim from his cell. With that order two soldiers led the
twenty-eight-year-old Orthodox priest from the prison. Fr. Maxim
suddenly realized where they were taking him and humbly and with
dignity asked, "Be so good as not to hold me. I will go peacefully
wherever you wish." Even the taunting of the crowd did not affect his
courageous bearing as he walked calmly and with a measured gait to
the fateful wall, as befitting a follower of Christ. Captain Dietrich
ripped Fr. Maxim's cross from his chest, tossing it on the ground
where he trampled it with his feet. As the captain bound Fr. Maxim's
hands behind his back and blind folded him, Fr. Maxim exclaimed that
it was not necessary as he had no intention of running away. But, the
"brave" captain laughed and then marked with white chalk a line on
Fr. Maxim's black cassock as a target for the riflemen. In the silence
of the moment as the executioners were arranged, Pan Mitshka read
533
the death sentence. With a short command from the captain, the
saber was raised and lowered. With that action, shots echoed through
the prison. Fr. Maxim's voice could then be heard, first strongly but
diminishing as he spoke, "Long live the Russian people." Then,
leaning against the wall, "Long live the Holy Orthodox Faith." And,
finally and barely audible, "Long live Slavdom." As his powerful frame
slid down the wall, a gendarme ended Fr. Maxim's suffering by firing
three shots from his pistol into Fr. Maxim's head. Through all this Fr.
Maxim's father and mother watched his heroic death in silence and as
the final shots echoed through the prison his wife fell senselessly to
the ground. Thus died Fr. Maxim Sandovich, a martyr for Orthodox
Christianity.
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 7
Saint Kassiane
DAY OF CELEBRATION
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 8
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 9
Saint Pimen the Great was born about the year 340 in Egypt. He went
to one of the Egyptian monasteries with his two brothers, Anoub and
Paisius, and all three received monastic tonsure. The brothers were
such strict ascetics that when their mother came to the monastery to
see her children, they did not come out to her from their cells. The
mother stood there for a long time and wept. Then St. Pimen said to
her through the closed door of the cell, "Do you wish to see us now, or
in the future life?" St. Pimen promised that if she would endure the
sorrow of not seeing her children in this life, then surely she would
see them in the next. The mother was humbled and returned home.
Fame of St. Pimen's deeds and virtues spread throughout the land.
537
Once, the governor of the district wanted to see him. St. Pimen,
shunning fame, thought to himself, "If dignitaries start coming to me
and show me respect, then many other people will also start coming
to me and disturb my quiet, and I shall be deprived of the grace of
humility, which I have acquired only with the help of God." So he
refused to see the governor, asking him not to come. For many of the
monks, St. Pimen was a spiritual guide and instructor. They wrote
down his answers to serve for the edification of others besides
themselves. A certain monk asked, "If I see my brother sinning,
should I conceal his fault?" The Elder answered, "If we reproach the
sins of brothers, then God will reproach our sins. If you see a brother
sinning, do not believe your eyes. Know that your own sin is like a
beam of wood, but the sin of your brother is like a splinter (Mt. 7:3-5),
and then you will not enter into distress or temptation." Another monk
said to the saint, "I have sinned grievously and I want to spend three
years at repentance. Is that enough time?" The Elder replied, "That is
a long time." The monk continued to ask how long the saint wished
him to repent. Perhaps only a year? St. Pimen said, "That is a long
time." The other brethren asked, "Should he repent for forty days?"
The Elder answered, "I think that if a man repents from the depths of
his heart and has a firm intention not to return to the sin, then God
will accept three days of repentance." When asked how to get rid of
persistent evil thoughts, the saint replied, "This is like a man who has
fire on his left side, and a vessel full of water on his right side. If he
starts burning from the fire, he takes water from the vessel and
extinguishes the fire. The fire represents the evil thoughts placed in
the heart of man by the Enemy of our salvation, which can enkindle
sinful desires within man like a spark in a hut. The water is the force
of prayer which impels a man toward God." St. Pimen was strict in his
fasting and sometimes would not partake of food for a week or more.
He advised others to eat every day, but without eating their fill. Abba
538
Pimen heard of a certain monk who went for a week without eating,
but had lost his temper. The saint lamented that the monk was able to
fast for an entire week, but was unable to abstain from anger for even
a single day. To the question of whether it is better to speak or be
silent, the Elder said, "Whoever speaks on account of God, does well,
and whoever is silent on account of God, that one also does well." He
also said, "If man seems to be silent, but his heart condemns others,
then he is always speaking. There may be a man who talks all day
long, but he is actually silent, because he says nothing unprofitable."
The saint said, "It is useful to observe three things: to fear God, to
pray often, and to do good for one's neighbor." "Wickedness never
eradicates wickedness. If someone does evil to you, do good to them,
and your goodness will conquer their wickedness." Once, after St.
Pimen and his disciples arrived at the monastery of Scetis, he learned
that the Elder living there was annoyed at his arrival and was also
jealous of him, because monks were leaving the Elder to see Abba
Pimen. In order to console the hermit, the saint went to him with his
brethren, taking food with them as a present. The Elder refused to
receive them, however. Then St. Pimen said, "We shall not depart
from here until we are permitted to see the holy Elder." He remained
standing at the door of the cell in the heat. Seeing St. Pimen's
humility and patience, the Elder received him graciously and said,
"Not only is what I have heard about you true, but I see that your
works are a hundred times greater." He possessed such great
humility that he often sighed and said, "I shall be cast down to that
place where Satan was cast down!" Once, a monk from another
country came to the saint to receive his guidance. He began to speak
about sublime matters difficult to grasp. The saint turned away from
him and was silent. They explained to the bewildered monk that the
saint did not like to speak of lofty matters. Then the monk began to
ask him about the struggle with passions of soul. The saint turned to
539
him with a joyful face, "Now you have spoken well, and I will answer."
For a long while he provided instruction on how one ought to struggle
with the passions and conquer them. St. Pimen died at age 110, about
the year 450. Soon after his death, he was acknowledged as a saint
pleasing to God. He was called "the Great" as a sign of his great
humility, uprightness, ascetic struggles, and self-denying service to
God.
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 10
confessed
their
faith
before
him,
rejecting
all
his
suggestions. They told him that they did not value the temporal things
540
of this world, and that they were prepared to die for their Heavenly
Bridegroom, for death would be their gateway to eternal life. Flying
into a rage, Frontonus took out his wrath on Menodora, the eldest
sister. She was stripped of her clothes and beaten by four men, while
a guard urged her to offer sacrifice to the gods. She bravely endured
the torments and cried out, Sacrifice? Can't you see that I am
offering myself as a sacrifice to my God? They renewed their
torments with even greater severity, with the martyr crying out, Lord
Jesus Christ, joy of my heart, my hope, receive my soul in peace.
With these words she gave up her soul to God, and went to her
Heavenly Bridegroom. Four days later, the two younger sisters,
Metrodora and Nymphodora, were brought to the court, and were
shown the battered body of Menodora in order to frighten them. The
virgins wept over her, but remained steadfast. Thereafter, St.
Metrodora was tortured. She died, crying out to her beloved Lord
Jesus Christ with her last breath. They then turned to the third sister,
Nymphodora with the bodies of her sisters before her. Frontonus
hoped that this sight would intimidate the young virgin. Pretending
that he was charmed by her youth and beauty, he urged her to
worship the pagan gods, promising great rewards and honors.
Nymphodora scoffed at his words, and shared the fate of her sisters.
She was tortured and beaten to death with iron rods. The bodies of
the holy martyrs were to be burnt, but a heavy rain extinguished the
blazing fire, and lightning struck down Frontonus and his servants.
Christians took the bodies of the holy sisters and reverently buried
them at the Warm Springs at Pythias (Bithynia). Part of the relics of
the holy martyrs are preserved on Mt. Athos in the Protection
Cathedral of the St. Panteleimon Monastery, while the hand of St.
Metrodora is on
Pantocrator.
541
Monastery
of
the
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 11
and
endured
every
unpleasantness.
St.
Euphrosynus
pleased the Lord by his inner virtue which he concealed from people,
and the Lord Himself revealed to the monastic brethren the spiritual
heights of their unassuming fellow-monk. The Abbot of the monastery
prayed and asked the Lord to show him the blessings prepared for the
righteous in the age to come. The Abbot saw in a dream what
Paradise is like, and he contemplated its inexplicable beauty with
fear and with joy. He also saw there a monk of his monastery, the
cook Euphrosynus. Amazed at this encounter, the presbyter asked
Euphrosynus, how he came to be there. The saint answered that he
was in Paradise through the great mercy of God. The Abbot again
asked whether Euphrosynus would be able to give him something
from the surrounding beauty. St. Euphrosynus suggested to the Abbot
to take whatever he wished, and so the Abbot pointed to three
luscious apples growing in the garden of Paradise. The monk picked
542
the three apples, wrapped them in a cloth, and gave them to his
companion. When he awoke in the early morning, the Abbot thought
the vision a dream, but suddenly he noticed next to him the cloth with
the fruit of Paradise wrapped in it, and emitting a wondrous fragrance.
The Abbot found St. Euphrosynus in church and asked him under oath
where he was the night before. The saint answered that he was
where the Abbot also was. Then the monk said that the Lord, in
fulfilling the prayer of the priest, had shown him Paradise and had
bestown the fruit of Paradise through him, the lowly and unworthy
servant of God, Euphrosynus. The Abbot related everything to the
monastery
brethren,
pointing
out
the
spiritual
loftiness
of
The
place
where
he
concealed
himself
remained
543
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 12
the
battleground,
when
several
traitors
reported
to
Aqa
Muhammed Khan that King Erekle had lost nearly his entire army.
This betrayal decided the fate of the battle: the one hundred fifty
soldiers who remained in the Georgian army barely succeeded in
saving the life of King Erekle, who had willed to perish on the
battlefield with his soldiers. All of Tbilisi was engulfed in flames. The
plunderers murdered the people, set fire to the libraries, destroyed
the print shop, and vandalized the churches and the kings palace.
They
slaughtered
the
clergy
in
an
especially
cruel
manner.
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 13
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 14
545
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 15
546
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 16
547
The Holy Martyr Ludmilla was married to Czech Prince Borivoy, and
both were baptized by St. Methodius, Archbishop of Moravia and
Enlightener of the Slavs. As Christians, they showed concern for the
enlightening of their subjects. With the light of the true Faith, they
built churches and invited priests to celebrate the divine services.
Prince Borivoy died at the age of 36. As a widow, St. Ludmilla led an
austere, pious life and continued to work for the Church during the
reign of her son, Bratislav. Prince Bratislav married the Princess
Dragomira with whom he had a son, Vyacheslav. After the death of
Prince Bratislav, eighteen-year-old Vyacheslav came to the throne.
Taking advantage of the inexperience and youth of her son,
Dragomira began to introduce pagan manners and customs in the
country. St. Ludmilla opposed this, and Dragomira came to hate her
mother-in-law. When St. Ludmilla moved to the city of Techin,
Dragomira secretly sent two boyars to murder her. While St. Ludmilla
was praying, the two assassins entered the house and carried out
Dragomiras orders. The relics of the holy Martyr Ludmilla were buried
in Techin in the city wall. Numerous healings occurred at her grave.
Later, Prince Vyacheslav transferred the body of St. Ludmilla to the
city of Prague and placed it in the church of St. George.
548
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 17
Saint Babylas
DAY OF CELEBRATION
This `great and wonderful man," as St. John Chrysostom expresses it,
was archbishop in Antioch in the time of the wicked Emperor
Numerian. This Numerian made a peace treaty with a barbarian king,
who was of better character and a greater lover of peace than
himself. As a sign of his sincere desire for a lasting peace, the king
gave his little son to be brought up at Numerian"s court. One day,
Numerian butchered the boy and offered him as a sacrifice to the
idols. Still hot from his wicked shedding of innocent blood, this
evildoer went to a Christian church to see what was happening there.
Holy Babylas was at prayer with the people. He heard that the
Emperor was coming with his retinue and intended to enter the
church. Babylas stopped the service, went out in front of the church
and told the Emperor that, as an idolater, he was not permitted entry
to the holy church where the one, true God was worshipped. Speaking
of Babylas, Chrysostom says: "Who else in the world would he fear,
having with such authority withstood the Emperor? By this he taught
kings not to spread their power further than the measure given them
by God, and also showed the clergy how to use their authority." The
shamed Emperor turned back, but planned revenge. The following
day, the Emperor summoned Babylas, and began to berate him and
bid him offer sacrifice to idols, which the saint, naturally, steadfastly
549
refused to do. The Emperor then bound him with chains and threw him
into prison. He also tortured three children: Urban, aged twelve,
Prilidian, aged nine and Hippolinus, aged seven. Babylas was their
spiritual father and teacher, and they had stayed near him out of love
for him. They were the sons of a Christian woman, Christodoula, who
herself suffered for Christ. The Emperor first ordered that each child
be beaten with the number of blows that totaled his age, and then had
them thrown into prison. Babylas, in bonds, was present at the
beheading of the children, giving them courage, and then laid his
honored head under the sword. He was buried by Christians, in the
chains in which he was bound at his death, in one grave with the
three children. Their holy souls flew off to the company of heaven,
and their wonderworking relics remained to be of support to the
faithful, along with the enduring witness of their heroism in the Faith.
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 18
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 19
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 20
people would not accept Prince Svyatoslav. They also took the
tribute-tax of the Dvina district which was not subject to them. In
grief the people of Novgorod prayed to God and the Most Holy
Theotokos for the salvation of the city. On the third night, while he
was praying before an icon of the Savior, St. John heard a voice
ordering him to go to the church of the Savior on Il'ina Street, to take
the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and carry it out to the walls of
the city. In the morning the saint told the people about the command
and sent his deacon with clergy to the church of the Savior for the
icon. Going into the church, the archdeacon bowed down before the
icon and wanted to take it, but the icon would not budge. The
archdeacon returned to the archbishop and told him what had
happened. Then the saint with all the assembly went to the Il'ina
church and on their knees began to pray before the icon. They began
to sing a Molieben, and after the Sixth Ode at the kontakion
"Protectress of Christians," the icon itself moved from the place. The
people with tears cried out: "Lord, have mercy!" Then St. John took
the icon and together with two deacons carried it to the city walls.
The Novgorodian people saw their doom, for the Suzdal forces and
their allies were ready for pillage. In the sixth hour the assault began,
and the arrows fell like rain. Then the icon turned its visage towards
the city, and tears trickled down from the eyes of the Most Holy
Theotokos, which the saint gathered on his phelonion. A darkness
covered the Suzdal forces, they became unable to see and they fell
back in terror. This occurred on February 25, 1170. St. John
established a solemn feastday for Novgorod, the Sign of the Most Holy
Theotokos. The Suzdal army inflicted great harm on the Novgorod
region. Here also the archpastor did not remain on the sidelines. He
showed fatherly concern for devastated households suffering hunger,
and he distributed aid to orphans. In 1172, the archpastor journeyed
to
Vladimir
to
reconcile
Prince
554
Andrew
Bogoliubsky
with
the
Novgorod people. The saint not only shared in the adversity of his
people, but most of all he concerned himself with their spiritual
enlightenment.
St.
John
devoted
much
attention
to
spiritual
custom,
he
heard
something
splashing
the
water
in
the
washbasin. Seeing that there was no one beside him, the saint
realized that this was a demon trying to scare him. The saint made
the Sign of the Cross over the washbasin and restrained the devil.
Soon the evil spirit could no longer bear the prayer of the saint, which
scorched it like fire, and it began to beg to be released from the
555
washbasin. The saint was agreeable, but ordered the demon to carry
him from Novgorod to Jerusalem to the Sepulchre of the Lord and
back, all in one night. The demon fulfilled the saint's command, but
asked him to tell no one about his shame. In one of his conversations,
the saint told his flock that he knew a man who visited the Holy Land
in one night. The revenge of the evil spirit was not slow in coming. It
began to scatter women's things in his cell. Once, when people had
gathered in St. John's cell, the devil transformed himself into a
woman who ran in front of them as if fleeing from the cell. The saint
heard the racket and gently asked, "What has happened, my children,
what is the noise all about?" The unruly crowd, shouting various
charges of perverse life against the saint, dragged him to the River
Volkhov. They put the saint on a raft and released it down along the
current of the river. But the raft, contrary to expectation, sailed
against the current straight to the St. George men's monastery, three
versts from Novgorod. Seeing this, people were ashamed and with
weeping and shouts they went along the riverbank after the raft,
beseeching the saint to forgive them and to return to the city. The
heart of the simple archpastor was filled with joy, not only for himself,
but for his flock: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" he prayed,
and granted pardon to all. This happened not long before the death of
the saint. Sensing its approach, he put off the hierarch's omophor and
took the schema with the name John, the same name he had in his
youth. He appointed his brother, St. Gregory as his successor. The
saint died on September 7, 1186 and was buried in the church of Holy
Wisdom. In 1439, repairs were being made at the cathedral of Holy
Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) through the zeal of St. Euthymius; in the
portico chapel of St. John the Forerunner, a stone suddenly came
loose and cracked the lid of the tomb standing there. St Euthymius
gave orders to lift off the boards broken by the stone, and the temple
was filled with fragrance. In the tomb they beheld the incorrupt relics
556
of the saint, but no one was able to identify who this archpastor was.
In his cell, St. Euthymius fervently began to pray for God to reveal to
him the name of this saint. That night a man appeared before him,
clothed in the vestments of a hierarch, and said that he was
Archbishop John, who was found worthy to serve the miracle of the
Most Holy Theotokos in honor of Her Sign. "I proclaim to you the will
of God," continued the saint, "to celebrate the memory of the
archbishops and princes lying here, and I shall pray Christ for all
Christians."
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 21
at
Armazi
Monastery
outside
of
Mtskheta,
where
the
Bolsheviks had left just one monk to labor in solitude. Once a band of
armed Chekists broke into the monastery, led both Fr. John and the
other monk away, and shot them in the back. Believing them to be
dead, they tossed them in a nearby gorge. A group of people later
discovered Fr. Johns nearly lifeless body and brought it to Samtavro
Monastery in Mtskheta. The other monk suffered only minor injuries
and returned to the monastery on his own. When his health had been
restored, Fr. John went to Betania Monastery, where his first spiritual
father was still laboring. He was appointed abbot shortly thereafter.
Accustomed
to
hard
work
from
his
childhood,
he
skillfully
several
days
in
the
monastery,
the
infirm
would
infirmities.
Once
twenty-year-old
girl
arrived
at
the
559
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 22
among whom Deacon Sozon recognized his dead friend. St. Nicetas
quietly said: "Father, speak to your brother, and cease the enmity
between you." Immediately the priest and Deacon Sozon greeted each
other. They embraced one another with love and were reconciled. The
priest went back, and the doors closed by themselves. St. Nicetas
said to the deacon: "Brother Sozon, save your soul both for your sake,
and for my benefit. To the Father who sent you, say that the purity of
his holy prayers and his trust in God made possible the return of the
dead." After these words St. Nicetas became invisible to Sozon.
Having returned to his Elder, the deacon thanked him with tears, that
through his prayers, the great hidden saint of God Nicetas the
Chartolarian had removed the sin from both the living and the dead.
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 23
The
Holy
Right-Believing
Empress
Pulcheria,
daughter
of
the
the
Fourth
Ecumenical
Council
which
was
convened
at
Chalcedon in the year 451, to deal with the heresies of Dioscorus and
Eutychius. St. Pulcheria built the church of the Mother of God at
Blachernae at Constantinople, and also found the relics of the Forty
Martyrs of Sebaste. Throughout her life St. Pulcheria defended the
Orthodox Faith against various heresies. After giving away her wealth
to the poor and to the Church, she died peacefully at the age of fiftyfour in the year 453.
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 24
Saint Peter the Aleut is mentioned in the Life of St. Herman of Alaska.
Simeon Yanovsky (who ended his life as the schemamonk Sergius in
the St. Tikhon of Kaluga Monastery), has left the following account:
On another occasion I was relating to him how the Spanish in
California had imprisoned fourteen Aleuts, and how the Jesuits
(actually Franciscans) were forcing all of them to accept the Catholic
Faith. But the Aleuts would not agree under any circumstances,
saying, We are Christians. The Jesuits argued, Thats not true, you
are heretics and schematics. If you do not agree to accept our faith
then we will torture all of you to death. Then the Aleuts were placed
in prisons two to a cell. That evening, the Jesuits came to the prison
with lanterns and lighted candles. Again they tried to persuade two
Aleuts in the cell to accept the Catholic Faith. We are Christians, the
Aleuts replied, and we will not change our Faith. Then the Jesuits
began to torture them, at first the one while his companion was a
witness. They cut off one of the joints of his feet, and then the other
joint. Then they cut the first joint on the fingers of his hands, and then
the other joint. Then they cut off his feet, and his hands. The blood
flowed, but the martyr endured all and firmly repeated one thing: I
am a Christian. He died in such suffering, due to a loss of blood. The
Jesuit also promised to torture his comrade to death the next day.
But that night an order was received from Monterey stating that the
imprisoned Aleuts were to be released immediately, and sent there
under escort. Therefore, in the morning all were sent to Monterey with
the exception of the dead Aleut. This was related to me by a witness,
the same Aleut who had escaped torture, and who was the friend of
563
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 25
receive his blessing for the planned wedding of his daughter. The
monk spoke with Euphrosyne and gave her his blessing, but she
yearned for the monastic life. She secretly accepted tonsure from a
wandering monk, left her fathers house and decided to enter a
monastery in order to lead her life in solitude and prayer. However,
she feared that her father would find her in a womens monastery.
Calling herself Smaragdos, she went to the very same mens
monastery which she had visited with her father since childhood. The
monks did not recognize Euphrosyne dressed in mens garb, and so
they accepted her into the monastery. In a solitary cell, St.
Euphrosyne spent 38 years in works, fasting and prayer, and attained
a high level of spiritual accomplishment. Her father grieved over the
loss of his beloved daughter and more than once, on the advice of his
spiritual guide, conversed with the monk Smaragdos, revealing his
grief and receiving spiritual comfort. Before her death, Euphrosyne
revealed her secret to her grieving father and asked that no one but
he should prepare her body for burial. Having buried his daughter,
Paphnutius distributed all his wealth to the poor and to the
monastery, and then accepted monasticism. For ten years up to his
own death, he labored in the cell of his daughter.
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 26
565
567
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 27
568
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 28
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 29
572
TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 30
He was born into a powerful boyar family in the city of Galich. Early in
life he was drawn to the ascetical life, and was distressed when his
parents arranged for him to be married at the age of only fifteen. By a
mysterious providence, both his parents died before the wedding
could be held, and St. Gregory very soon distributed his considerable
wealth to the poor, freed all his serfs, and went to the nearest
monastery. Such was his holiness of life that he rose to be abbot of
the monastery, but as in his youth he felt burdened by the admiration
and attention of men, so he left for the monastery of St. Dionysius of
Glushitsa, where he strove to live a hidden life. His Starets, St.
Dionysius, discerned Gregory's spiritual gifts and wanted him to found
his own monastery, but the saint resisted, desiring only to live in
humility and obedience, unknown to the world. At the age of 104
Gregory, with his elder's blessing, went to live as a hermit in a small
cell on the banks of the River Pelshma. After a few years other monks
came to live the hesychastic life with him and, as his elder had
desired, Gregory against his will became the abbot of a new
573
monastery. Abbot Gregory excelled not only in prayer but in his works
of love for the poor, many of whom came to him in times of famine,
when he would give them the small reserves of the monastery. More
than once he traveled to Moscow to rebuke the Princes for their evil
deeds. One of these, Prince Basil II, was so angered by the
'presumption' of the Saint that he had him thrown from a bridge into a
deep gorge, but he emerged miraculously unharmed. At the age of
127, St. Gregory felt his end approaching and prepared himself. He
told his disciples to throw his body into a swamp when he died, but
after his repose they disobeyed and gave him honorable burial. A
beautiful fragrance filled the church and, for the first time, a miracle
of healing was performed through the Saint's relics, which from that
time forward were the source of countless wonders.
574
575
TODAY IS OCTOBER 1
Saint Romanus the Melodist was born in the fifth century in the Syrian
city of Emesa of Jewish parents. After moving to Constantinople, he
became a church sacristan in the temple of Hagia Sophia. The monk
spent his nights alone at prayer in a field or in the Blachernae church
beyond the city. St. Romanus was not a talented reader or singer.
Once, on the eve of the Nativity of Christ, he read the kathisma
verses. He read so poorly that another reader had to take his place.
The clergy ridiculed Romanus, which devastated him. On the day of
the Nativity, the Mother of God appeared to the grief-stricken youth in
a vision while he was praying before her Kyriotissa icon. She gave
him a scroll and commanded him to eat it. Thus was he given the gift
of understanding, composition, and hymnography. That evening at the
all-night Vigil St. Romanus sang, in a wondrous voice, his first
Kontakion: Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One...
All the hymns of St. Romanus became known as kontakia, in
reference to the Virgins scroll. St. Romanus was also the first to
write in the form of the Oikos, which he incorporated into the all-night
Vigil at his places of residence (In Greek, oikos). For his zealous
service St. Romanus was ordained as a deacon and became a teacher
of song. Until his death, which occurred about the year 556, the
hierodeacon Romanus the Melodist composed nearly a thousand
hymns, many of which are still used by Christians to glorify the Lord.
About eight hundred still survive.
576
TODAY IS OCTOBER 2
The 8th century was extremely difficult for the Georgian people.
Marwan bin Muhammad (called the Deaf by the Georgians and the
Blind by the Armenians), the Persian ruler and military leader for the
Arab caliph, invaded eastern parts of the Byzantine Empire, then
Armenia and Georgia. With fire and the sword he fought his way
across Georgia from the east to the city of Tskhumi (now Sokhumi) in
the region of Abkhazeti. The Prince David Mkheidze of Argveti was a
faithful Christian and skilled military leader. When he heard about the
enemys invasion, he prayed to God for protection, assembled armies,
and urged his people to pray fervently for Gods help. The Persian
warriors approached Argveti from Samtskhe and attacked the
Georgians on Persati Mountain. The Georgian army won the battle,
with David leading the resistance against the fearsome conquerors.
But before long the enraged Marwan the Deaf gathered an enormous
army and marched toward Argveti to take revenge. This time the
enemy routed the Georgian army. Many were killed and those who
survived were forced to flee to the forests. The commander David was
taken captive. The Persian soldiers bound David and brought him
before Marwan the Deaf, who began to mock him. But he reacted with
complete composure, saying, Your laughter and boasting are in vain,
since earthly glory is fleeting and soon fades away. It is not your valor
that has captured us, but our own sins. For the atonement of these
577
sins have we fallen into the hands of the godless enemy! The furious
Marwan ordered that he be beaten without mercy, but he steadfastly
endured the suffering. Stunned by his resolve, Marwan decided to win
him over with flattery instead. Promising him great honors and
command of the armies, he turned to David, saying, I have heard of
your valor, and I advise you to abandon your erroneous faith and
submit yourself to the faith of Muhammad! St. David crossed himself
and answered, Let not this disgrace come upon us, that we would
depart from the light and draw nearer to the darkness! Then he
condemned the error of the Islamic faith: Muhammad converted you
from the worship of fire, but he could not instill in you the knowledge
of the True God. Therefore it appears as though you suffered a
shipwreck and saved yourselves from the depths of the sea, but
drowned in the shallow waters of the coast. I believe and follow the
one Faith and one doctrine in which we have been instructed. Our
faith is in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and I will die for
the sake of the One True God! Marwan ordered him to be starved to
death. After he had suffered for ten days, Marwan sent sorcerers and
charmers to arouse in him a desire to convert to Islam, but their
efforts were in vain. Finally the holy David was led to the riverbank
near the Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian. There he was brutally
beaten and bound. Heavy rocks were hung from his neck, and
drowned in the river. That night three beams of light descended from
the heavens and lit up the place where he had been drowned.
According to Gods holy will, the ropes binding the holy martyr were
loosed, and his body floated to the surface. A group of faithful
Christians carried him out of the river and buried him on the bank of
the Tsqaltsitela River, in a church that Marwan the Deaf had
devastated. The place of their burial remained concealed until the
beginning of the 12th century, during the reign of King Bagrat the
Great (1072-1117). Then, in fulfillment of King Bagrats decree, the
578
Monastery of the Martyrs (Motsameta) was built over that place, and
the incorrupt relic of the Great Martyr are still preserved there.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 3
TODAY IS OCTOBER 4
TODAY IS OCTOBER 5
upon his flock to tend sick Christians and pagans alike, and to bury
the dead. Concerning the death of his spiritual children he wrote, In
such a manner the best of our brethren have departed this life. This
generation of the dead, a deed of great piety and firm faith, is no less
of a martyrdom. St. Dionysius illumined his flock through his
preaching, and with deeds of love and charity. An illness prevented
him from attending the Council of Antioch, and he fell asleep in the
Lord while it was in session. The influence of St. Dionysius extended
beyond the limits of his diocese, and his writings dealt with practical
as well as theological subjects (On Nature, On Temptations, On
TODAY IS OCTOBER 6
He suffered for the Christian faith as a young man at the hands of the
Turks in Constantinople in 1672; his father, a grocer, having moved
there from Thessaly. He took the name of his father"s trade (
pantopoles in Greek). After great pressure to become a Turk, and
torture because he refused, he was beheaded and entered into the
Kingdom of God. His relics are preserved in the monastery of
582
TODAY IS OCTOBER 7
her mother wished. Along the way St. Pelagia, by the grace of God,
met Bishop Linus. Pelagia immediately recognized the bishop who
had appeared to her in the dream. She fell at his feet, requesting
Baptism. At the bishops prayer a spring of water flowed from the
ground. Bishop Linus made the Sign of the Cross over St. Pelagia, and
during the Mystery of Baptism, angels appeared and covered the
chosen one of God with a bright mantle. After giving the pious virgin
Holy Communion, Bishop Linus offered a prayer of thanksgiving to the
Lord with her, and then sent her to continue her journey. She then
exchanged her expensive clothing for a simple white garment, and
distributed her possessions to the poor. Returning to her servants, St.
Pelagia told them about Christ, and many of them were converted and
believed. She tried to convert her own mother to Christ, but the
obdurate woman sent a message to Diocletians son that Pelagia was
a Christian and did not wish to be his wife. The youth realized that
Pelagia was lost to him, and he fell upon his sword in his despair.
Pelagias mother feared the emperors wrath, so she tied her daughter
up and led her to Diocletians court as a Christian who was also
responsible for the death of the heir to the throne. The emperor was
captivated by the unusual beauty of the virgin and tried to turn her
from her faith in Christ, promising her every earthly blessing if she
would become his wife. The holy virgin refused the emperors offer
with contempt and said, You are insane, Emperor, saying such things
to me. I will not do your bidding, and I loathe your vile marriage, since
I have Christ, the King of Heaven, as my Bridegroom. I do not desire
your worldly crowns which last only a short while. The Lord in His
heavenly Kingdom has prepared three imperishable crowns for me.
The first is for faith, since I have believed in the true God with all my
heart; the second is for purity, because I have dedicated my virginity
to Him; the third is for martyrdom, since I want to accept every
suffering for Him and offer up my soul because of my love for Him.
584
TODAY IS OCTOBER 8
Saint Thas the Repentant Harlot lived in Alexandria, where, when she
was seventeen, her own mother placed her in a brothel, where due to
her great beauty she was able to amass some wealth. Saint Serapion,
hearing about Thas and her way of life, was moved by God to try to
convert her. He dressed himself as a soldier, found her, gave her a
gold piece, and went with her to her room. When the door was shut,
he put aside his tunic, revealing his monastic robe, and asked if he
might speak with her. With tears he told her of the doom that awaits
585
sinners, and of the infinite mercy of God, who desires that all should
be saved and welcomes every repentant sinner. Thas, her heart
melted by his words, ran to the public square, burned all the fine
clothes and possessions that she had acquired through her trade, and
went with Serapion to a women's monastery. There he instructed her
to stay secluded in her cell, beseeching God's mercy constantly and
only eating every other day; she was to do this until she was
instructed otherwise. Thas lived in this way for three years, with
such zeal that she amazed all her monastic sisters. Petitions for
prayers were given to her and her prayers were always answered,
making her a miracle worker in gods spirit. Meanwhile St. Serapion
went to St. Anthony the Great to ask him if God had accepted Thas'
repentance. Saint Anthony and his brethren spent a night in prayer
and received a vision in which they were assured that Thas had been
found worthy of God's mercy. Returning to the monastery, Serapion
made the repentant Saint leave her cell, though by now she only
wished to spend her life in repentant prayer. After spending only
fifteen days in the common life of the monastery, the holy Thas
reposed in peace.
586
TODAY IS OCTOBER 9
St. Stephen the Blind, Prince of Serbia was born in 1417. Stephen and
his younger brother Gregory were taken captive by the Turks and
blinded on the day of Pascha 1441; several years later they were
ransomed back to their father. After his father's death, Stephen,
though blind, ruled Serbia for a short time, but was deposed in a coup
and exiled to Albania. There he met St. Angelina, whom he married in
1461. Their marriage was blessed with three children. Once again
Stephen was threatened by the Turks and fled with his family to
Trieste in Italy. There he held firmly to the Orthodox faith despite
strong pressures to convert to Roman Catholicism. The holy prince,
having patiently endured the many hardships of his life, reposed in
peace in 1476. Years after his death, a heavenly light miraculously
appeared over his tomb. When the tomb was opened, his relics were
found to be incorrupt; the sick were healed by touching them, and the
blind received their sight. The relics were placed in the Monastery of
Krushedol, founded by his widow St. Angelina. The Monastery was
sacked in 1716 by the Turks, who burned the church and cut the holy
relics to pieces. Some fragments still remain at the reconstructed
monastery.
587
TODAY IS OCTOBER 10
day
of
his
decease.
He
called
588
priest,
confessed
and
communicated in the holy Mysteries, and not long after he fell asleep
in the Lord, a heavenly scent pervading the room where his body lay.
Sometime later, the Saint appeared to a sick woman as she slept,
holding the Gospel for her to venerate and telling her to pray at his
tomb. When she awoke, the woman was healed (Synaxarion).
TODAY IS OCTOBER 11
needles.
Therefore,
they
589
are
called
Branded.
Write
whatever you wish, but at the Last Judgment you shall read your own
writing, said the agonized brothers to the emperor. They sent
Theodore to prison, where also he died. Theophanes was sent into
exile. With the restoration of Icon veneration St. Theophanes was
returned from exile and consecrated Bishop of Nicea. The saint wrote
about 150 canons, among which is a beautiful canon in defense of
holy icons. He died peacefully around the year 850.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 12
writings and hymns, a number of them in metered verse. With St. John
the Evangelist and St. Gregory, Patriarch of Constantinople, he is one
of only three whom the Church has officially called "Theologian."
TODAY IS OCTOBER 13
death. St. Zlata was unmoved by their pleas, and replied, You who
incite me to deny Christ are no longer my parents and sisters.
Instead, I have the Lord Jesus Christ as my father, the Theotokos as
my mother, and the saints as my brothers and sisters! When the
Moslems saw that they could not weaken the resolve of the saint,
they tormented her for three months, beating her with clubs. Later,
they peeled strips of skin from her body so that the earth was
reddened by her blood. Then they heated a skewer and passed it
through her ears. Nearby was her spiritual Father, the hieromonk
Timothy of Stavronikita Monastery on Mt. Athos. She sent word to him
to
pray
that she
would
successfully
complete
the
course
of
TODAY IS OCTOBER 14
592
Saint Paraskeva the New was born into a pious family, living during
the eleventh century in the village of Epivato, between Silistra and
Constantinople. Her older brother Euthymius became a monk, and
later he was consecrated as Bishop of Matidia. One day, while
attending the divine services, the words of the Lord pierced her heart
like an arrow, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself
(Mt. 16:24). From that time she began to distribute her clothing to the
needy, for which reason she endured much grief from her family. Upon
the death of her parents, the saint was tonsured into monasticism at
the age of fifteen. She withdrew to the Jordanian desert where she
lived the ascetic life until she reached the age of twenty-five. An
angel of the Lord ordered her to return to her homeland, so she stayed
at Epivato for two years. St. Paraskeva departed to the Lord at the
age of twenty-seven, and was buried near the sea. Because of the
many miracles which took place at her grave, her relics were
uncovered and found to be incorrupt. They were placed in the church
of the Holy Apostles at Epivato, where they remained for about 175
years. The faithful prayed and were healed at her internment
placement. St. Paraskevas relics were moved to Trnovo, Bulgaria in
1223 and placed in the cathedral. Patriarch Euthymius wrote her Life
and established the day of her commemoration as October 14. The
Turks occupied Bulgaria in 1391, and her relics were given to Mircea
the Elder, Prince of the Romanian Land (one of the districts of
Romania). In 1394 the relics were given to Princess Saint Angelina of
Serbia, who brought them to Belgrade. For 120 years St. Paraskevas
relics rested in Constantinople in the patriarchal cathedral.
The
593
relics were moved again. This time they were placed in the new
cathedral at Jassy, where they remain until the present day.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 15
Lucian died in prison from many terrible tortures and from hunger.
Before his death, he wished to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ
on the Feast of Theophany. Certain Christians who visited him
brought bread and wine for the Eucharist. The hieromartyr, bound by
chains and lying on a bed of sharp potsherds, was compelled to offer
the Bloodless Sacrifice upon his chest, and all the Christians there in
prison received Communion. The next day the emperor sent people to
see if the saint was still alive. St. Lucian said three times, I am a
Christian, then surrendered his soul to God. The body of the holy
martyr was thrown into the sea, but after thirty days dolphins brought
it to shore. Believers reverently buried the body of the much-suffering
St. Lucian. St. Lucian was originally commemorated on January 7, the
day of his death. Later, when the celebration of the Synaxis of St.
John the Baptist was appointed for this day, the feast of St. Lucian
was transferred to October 15. The October date may be associated
with the dedication of a church which was built in Antioch by St.
Helen over St. Lucians holy relics. Although he was only a priest,
sometimes St. Lucian is depicted in the vestments of a bishop. The
Stroganov Guide for Iconographers was published in Russia in 1869,
based on a 1606 manuscript. There St. Lucian is depicted wearing a
phelonion and holding a Gospel. He does not wear the omophorion of
a bishop, however. Another handbook, the Litsevoy Podlinnik, states
that St. Lucian is to be depicted with the omophorion. It may be that
the Russians thought of St. Lucian as a bishop because of his
importance to the Church, and so that is how they depicted him.
Similarly, St. Charalampus is depicted as a priest in Greek icons, and
as a bishop in Russian icons.
595
TODAY IS OCTOBER 16
640, at the age of ninety-nine. In later years, and continuing well into
the middle ages, the Monastery of St. Gall became famed for the
holiness of its monks and for its library.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 17
Saint Joseph (Jandierishvili) received his spiritual education at DavidGareji Monastery. He was endowed by the Lord with the gift of
wonder-working. His prayers healed the terminally ill and demonpossessed. For his wisdom and virtue, he was consecrated bishop of
Rustavi, and in 1755 enthroned as Catholicos-Patriarch. St. Joseph
remained a monk-ascetic in spite of his hierarchical rank. In 1764
Holy Catholicos Joseph, like St. Gregory the Theologian, humbly
stepped down from the archpastors throne and withdrew to Akhmeta
in northeastern Georgia. With his own hands he cultivated a vineyard
and distributed his harvest to the poor. The climate in that region was
capriciousdroughts were frequent, and hail would devastate the
fragile crops, laying waste to the farmers labors. But while St.
Joseph was laboring there, the region suffered neither drought nor
hail. Through St. Josephs prayers, the sick were healed and the blind
received sight. Those who dwelt near him loved him deeply and put
their hope in him. St. Gabriel the Lesser remarked joyfully in one of
597
his writings: Once I saw and two times I kissed the hand of this holy
man. Having lived in godliness to a ripe old age, Catholicos Joseph
reposed peacefully in the year 1770.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 18
TODAY IS OCTOBER 19
day through his prayers, often for people who had only written to him
asking his help. During his lifetime he was known throughout Russia,
as well as in the Western world. He has left us his diary My Life in
Christ as a spiritual treasure for Christians of every age; simple in
language, it expounds the deepest mysteries of our Faith with that
wisdom which is given only to a heart purified by the grace of the
Holy Spirit. Foreseeing as a true prophet the Revolution of 1917, he
unsparingly rebuked the growing apostasy among the people. He
foretold that the very name of Russia would be changed. As the
darkness of unbelief grew thicker, he shone forth as a beacon of
unquenchable
piety,
comforting
the
faithful
through
the
many
miracles that he worked and the fatherly love and simplicity with
which he received all. Saint John reposed in peace in 1908" (Great
Horologion).
TODAY IS OCTOBER 20
Desert into China. There he was made Bishop, and immediately began
working tirelessly to encourage his flock and to provide for their
material needs (most had arrived in China with only the clothes on
their backs). He established churches, opened soup kitchens and an
orphanage, cared personally for the sick, and in every way personified
a true Minister of Christ. When his death approached (from an
infection
acquired
while
caring
for
the
sick)
he
donned
his
epitrachelion, read the Canon for the Departure of the Soul, lay down
on his bed and said God's will be done. Now I shall die.' Within
minutes he was dead. On the night of his funeral the Bishop appeared
to a paralyzed ten-year-old boy, who was miraculously healed. St.
Jonah's commemoration is October 7 on the Old Calendar, which falls
on this day (20) of the New Calendar.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 21
Saint Hilarion the Great was born in the year 291 in the Palestinian
village of Tabatha. He was sent to Alexandria to study. There he
became acquainted with Christianity and was baptized. After hearing
an account of the angelic life of St. Anthony the Great, Hilarion went
to meet him, desiring to study with him and learn what is pleasing to
God. Hilarion soon returned to his native land to find that his parents
601
602
TODAY IS OCTOBER 22
Saint John was from Monembasia in the Peloponnese. At that time the
region was under the Turkish yoke and subject to frequent raids from
Albanians who captured Christians to sell them as slaves. In the
course of one such attack, John's father was killed and the young boy
and his mother were taken as captives to Larissa, where they were
sold to a Turk from Thessalonica. This man, who had no son, wanted
to adopt John and make him a Muslim. But nothing was able to
persuade the fifteen-year-old youth: attractive promises, threatened
beatings, the magic arts the Turk's wife used to make him lose his
chastity, all were in vain. John remained as immovable as a rock and
preferred to starve for days on end than break the fasts of the Church.
The Turk became enraged at his failure to prevail over his young
slave, and ran a sword into his stomach. For two days John suffered
in agony before he departed to the abode of the blessed in 1773.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 23
603
TODAY IS OCTOBER 24
These Martyrs contested for piety's sake in the year 524 in Najran, a
city of Arabia Felix (present-day Yemen). When Dhu Nuwas, ruler of
the Himyarite tribe in south Arabia, and a Judaizer, took power, he
sought to blot out Christianity, especially at Najran, a Christian city.
Against the counsels of Arethas, chief man of Najran, the city
surrendered to Dhu Nuwas, who immediately broke the word he had
given and sought to compel the city to renounce Christ. Led by Saint
Arethas, hundreds of martyrs, including women, children, and babes,
605
valiantly withstood his threats, and were beheaded and burned. After
the men had been slain, all the free-born Christian women of Najran
were brought before the tyrant and commanded to abjure Christ or
die; yet they rebuked the persecutor with such boldness that he said
even the men had not insulted him so contemptuously. So great was
their faith that not one woman was found to deny Christ in all Najran,
although some of them suffered torments more bitter than most of the
men. In alliance with Byzantium, the Ethiopian King Elesbaan
liberated Najran from Dhu Nuwas soon after and raised up churches in
honour of the Martyrs. Najran became a place of pilgrimage until the
rise of Islam a century later. At the end of his life King Elesbaan, who
was also called Caleb, retired into solitude as a hermit; he sent his
crown to Jerusalem as an offering to the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre. He also is commemorated on this day as a saint. Saint
Arethas' name in Arabic, Harith, means "plowman, tiller," much the
same as "George" in Greek.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 25
and secretly executed the righteous Patriarch Paul. His throne was
given to the heretic Macedonius. The heretics attempted to entice Sts
Marcian and Martyrius over to their side by flattery. They offered them
gold and promised to consecrate them as archbishop, but all the
efforts of the Arians were in vain. Then the impious threatened to
slander them before the emperor, and sought to intimidate them with
torture and death. But the saints steadfastly confessed Orthodoxy, as
handed down by the Fathers of the Church. Marcian and Martyrius
were sentenced to death. Before death, the martyrs prayed, Lord
God, Who have invisibly created our hearts, and directed all our
deeds, accept with peace the souls of Your servants, since we perish
for You and are considered as sheep for the slaughter (Ps 32/33:15;
43/44:22). We rejoice that by such a death we shall depart this life for
Your Name. Grant us to be partakers of life eternal with You, the
Source of life. After their prayer the martyrs, with quiet rejoicing,
bent their necks beneath the sword of the impious. Their holy bodies
were reverently buried by Orthodox Christians. Later, by decree of St.
John Chrysostom, the relics of the holy martyrs were transferred to a
church built in their honor. Believers here were healed of many
infirmities through the prayers of the saints, to the glory of the One
Life-Creating Trinity.
607
TODAY IS OCTOBER 26
The Martyr Lupus lived at the end of the third century and beginning
of the fourth century, and was a faithful servant of the holy Great
Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. Being present at the death of his
master, he soaked his own clothing with his blood and took a ring
from his hand. With this clothing, and with the ring and the name of
the Great Martyr Demetrius, St. Lupus worked many miracles at
Thessalonica. He destroyed pagan idols, for which he was subjected
to persecution by the pagans, but he was preserved unharmed by the
power of God. St. Lupus voluntarily delivered himself into the hands of
the torturers, and by order of the emperor Maximian Galerius, he was
beheaded by the sword.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 27
608
609
TODAY IS OCTOBER 28
and Word of God, Whom I preach. May that which was foreordained
for me by the Providence of God be fulfilled, for He has called me to
His light from the depths of ungodliness! The furious pagans stoned
the saint to death. With his last breath Holy Hieromartyr Neophytus
cried out, Lord Jesus Christ receive my soul!
TODAY IS OCTOBER 29
after. From childhood St. Serapion longed to lead the life of a hermit.
With his younger brother, John, he set off for Parekhi Monastery,
where he requested the spiritual guidance of the spiritual father and
teacher of orphans, the great wonderworker St. Michael of Parekhi.
The older brother remained at home to continue the family tradition of
caring for wanderers and the poor. St. Michael perceived in the young
Serapion true zeal for a divine ministry and blessed him to enter the
priesthood. Once, while he was praying, St. Michael was instructed in
a vision to send his disciples Serapion and John to Samtskhe to found
a monastery. Serapion was alarmed at the thought of such a great
responsibility, but he submitted to his spiritual fathers will and set off
612
for Samtskhe with several companions. He took with him a wonderworking icon of our Lords Transfiguration. The monks climbed to the
peak of a very high mountain and, having looked around at their
environs, decided to settle there and begin construction of the
monastery. But soon the villagers chased the monks away, and the
holy fathers located the exact place that their shepherd, St. Michael,
had seen in the vision. At that time a faithful nobleman named Prince
George Chorchaneli ruled in this mountainous region. Once, while he
was out hunting, George saw smoke over the dense forest and sent a
servant to discover the cause. He was soon informed that two
remarkable monks had settled in that place. Immediately he set off
for the spot, humbly greeted the monks, venerated the wonderworking icon, and asked for the fathers blessings. Overjoyed and
inspired by St. Serapions preaching, the prince fell on his knees
before him and promised to help him in every way to establish the
new monastery. Having donated this land and the surrounding area to
the monastery, he presented the monks with a deed assigning
ownership of all the territory the monks could cover on foot in one
day to the future monastery. The prince sent his servant to
accompany them. The brothers walked over unexplored territory,
through dense forests, and over rocky paths. Two local residents, the
God-fearing Ia and Garbaneli, accompanied them. But not all the local
people received the monks so warmly: the residents of Tsiskvili met
them with hostility and tried to block their path. That very same night
a miracle occurred: an earthquake split the rocks that were holding
back Lake Satakhve and washed away the entire village of Tsiskvili.
Only two brothers survived. To this day this place has been called
Zarzma
[the
word
zari
is
often
used
to
denote
tragic
614
TODAY IS OCTOBER 30
Saint Stephen was the younger son of King Stephen Urosh I, and
grandson of First-Crowned King St. Stephen. He ruled Serbia from
1275 to 1320. Stephen Milutin received the throne from his elder
brother Dragutin, a true Christian, who after a short reign transferred
power over to his brother, and he himself in loving solitude withdrew
to Srem, where he secretly lived as an ascetic in a grave, which he
dug with his own hands. During his righteous life, St. Dragutin toiled
much over converting the Bogomil heretics to the true Faith. His
death occurred on March 2, 1316. St. Stephen Milutin, after he
became king, bravely defended, by both word and by deed, the
Orthodox Serbs and other Orthodox peoples from their enemies. St.
Stephen did not forget to thank the Lord for His beneficence. He built
more than forty churches, and also many monasteries and hostels for
travelers. The saint particularly concerned himself with the Athonite
monasteries.
When
the
Serbian
kingdom
fell,
the
monasteries
monastery.
After
two
years
his
incorrupt
relics
615
were
TODAY IS OCTOBER 31
617
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 1
role throughout
the
reign
of
his
older
brother
and
predecessor John IV. He had been given the courtly title of despotes,
which in Trebizond designated the heir to the throne. David had
participated in his brother's depredations against the Genoese, and
also fulfilled various diplomatic tasks. In 1458 he ratified his brother's
treaty with the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in Adrianople, and later the
same year he conveyed his niece Theodora to her husband, Uzun
Hassan of the Ak Koyunlu. David ascended the throne on his brother's
death, sometime before April 22, 1459. Although John IV had a son
named Alexios, he was a boy four years old and the precarious
position of the Empire of Trebizond dictated that the crown should
pass to a man of experience. David's accession proceeded without
recorded opposition. David had married Maria of Gothia, the daughter
of the semi-independent ruler of Theodoro (Mangup) in the Crimea, an
area that had been under the control of Trebizond. After Maria's death
(sometime before 1447), he married Helena Kantakouzene, a great618
With the
than Trebizond?" she asked him. He replied that the Sword of Islam
was in his hand, and he would be ashamed not to tire himself for his
faith. With David's most effective ally neutralized, Mehmed II marched
to Trebizond. His fleet had landed there in early July, defeated David's
army, and plundered the suburbs, besieging the city for more than a
month.
The
Ottoman
commander
Mahmud
Pasha
had
opened
negotiations with David even before his master's arrival, and David's
Treasurer, George Amiroutzes, advised the emperor to surrender on
terms. When Mehmed II arrived in August, he was displeased with the
negotiations, but allowed them to proceed. David was now persuaded
to surrender, keeping his family, household, and wealth, and was
promised a profitable retirement in Thrace. David's surrender about
15 August 1461 marks the end of the Empire of Trebizond and of the
Byzantine imperial tradition. The deposed emperor, his family, and
courtiers were shipped off to Constantinople. The population was
divided into groups, some being allocated to the service of the Sultan
and his officers, others added to the population of Constantinople,
and the remainder were allowed to inhabit the outskirts of Trebizond
itself. Some local youths were duly conscripted into the Janissaries,
while the Ottoman admiral was left to garrison the city. David was
settled in Adrianople together with his family, and received the profits
of estates in the Struma River valley, comprising an annual income of
some 300,000 pieces of silver. The close family relations and
continued exchange between David and Uzun Hassan were betrayed
to the Sultan by George Amiroutzes (which involved an ambitious plan
to send one of David's sons or Alexios to grow up at the court of Uzun
Hassan in seeming opposition to Mehmed), furnished an excuse to
imprison David and his sons in March 1463. On November 11, 1463 he
was executed in Adrianople together with his nephew (the son of
John IV) and three of his sons. Only one son, George, was spared due
to his young age, and became a Muslim, before escaping to Georgia.
620
Other members of the family fared better. Maria Gattilusio, the widow
of David's older brother Alexander, joined the Sultan's harem, as did
David's daughter Anna (although she was later passed on to the
general Zagan Pasha). Maria's son Alexios was also spared, becoming
one of the Sultan's pages and earning his favor; according to tradition
he was given lands just outside the city walls of Pera, where he was
known locally as "the Son of the Bey" and after whom the district of
Beyolu
was
named.
However,
the
widowed
Empress
Helena
Kantakouzene was heavily fined by the Sultan for burying her husband
and her sons and spent the rest of her life in poverty. Her youngest
son, George, was raised as a Moslem, but when he was later allowed
to visit Uzun Hassan George fled his court to his sister in Georgia
where he reverted to Christianity and married a Georgian princess. In
a manuscript, now treasured at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, we read
When David appeared to Sultan Mehmed II, Sultan gave him two
choices: or to renounce his faith and to spare his life or to kill him and
his whole family. From this terrible proposal David chose the second
option saying boldly to Sultan that: No torture is going to make me to
renounce the faith of my fathers. So David entered into eternity
exchanging his royal crown with the wreath of martyrdom. In July
2013, after a proposal made by His Eminence Metropolitan Paul of
Drama,
Manouel (his sons) and Alexios (his nephew), were declared Saints,
through an official Act of Canonization by the Holy and Sacred Synod
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Their memory will be celebrated on
November 1, which is the date of their martyrdom.
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 2
years later, his grave was opened and his holy relics were found
fragrant and incorrupt with a healing power. Since the Feast of the
Dormition falls on August 15, St. Gerasimus is commemorated today.
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 3
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 4
624
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 5
monastery.
To
St.
Zosimas
he
gave
special
land-grant
(in
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 6
In
1551
the
brethren
of
the
Staritsa
Dormition
the
Metropolitans
quarters
and
that
he
be
kept
under
628
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 7
Saint Eugene was one of the thirty-two soldiers beheaded with St.
Hieron of Melitene. The co-ruling emperors Diocletian and Maximian
sent a large military detachment headed by Lysias to Cappadocia to
eradicate Christianity there, and also to conscript healthy and strong
men into the imperial army. Lysias told the soldiers gathered at
Melitene to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. Eugene and another
thirty-two soldiers refused to do this, and openly confessed their faith
in Christ. Then the persecutor gave orders to beat the martyrs. After
cruel tortures they threw the martyrs into prison barely alive, and
they beheaded them four days later.
629
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 8
In 1824 the future Saint Alexander was born into a priestly family as
Alexei Okropiridze. The family lived in the village of Disevi in the Gori
district of Georgia. The future hierarch and saint received his primary
education in the Gori Theological School. He continued his education
at the Tbilisi Seminary, completing his course of study in 1845. He,
then, was tonsured a monk and was given the name Alexander. To
continue his education, the monk Alexander traveled to Kazan,
Russia, where he attended the Kazan Academy. Upon graduation with
honors, he returned to Georgia where he was ordained to the
diaconate and then to the priesthood. After returning to Georgia, Fr.
Alexander began teaching at the Tbilisi Seminary, encompassing
courses in Holy Scriptures, Latin, moral theology, and archaeology.
On July 21, 1851 he departed Tbilisi and, at the direction of the Holy
Synod, began to serve a term as dean at the Abkhazeti Theological
School. He arrived at the Abkhazeti school on September 21, 1851. In
addition to his work at Abkhazeti, he actively pursued improvement of
the Ilori Theological School at Ochamchire. Beginning his efforts as a
teacher, Fr. Alexander was soon raised to the dignity of archimandrite
on February 29, 1856 and to bishop on March 4, 1862. His reputation
grew throughout Georgia, and he came to be called by many the
Second Apostle to Abkhazeti. He was given the power by God for
630
Divine healing of the very ill. This gift was used. The period of Bp.
Alexanders pastoral activities was a difficult time in Georgian
Christian history. The use of the Georgian language in the divine
services had declined greatly, such that it was not used in the
services. This situation resulted in many of the faithful drifting away
from the Church. Many churches and monasteries were deserted,
including many that were considered cultural and academic centers
from ancient times. Further, the Georgian language was not being
taught in the schools. Also, education was not available to the poorer
families as they were not able to afford education for their children. In
this environment Bp. Alexander led a revival of spiritual life and
learning
that
was
rooted
in
the
national
consciousness.
Bp.
the Lord on October 27, 1907 and was buried on the grounds of the
Shio-Mgvime Monastery.
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 9
Anastasius
found
job
with
tobacco
merchant
in
Constantinople, who did not pay him very much. In his desire to share
useful information with others, Anastasius wrote down short maxims
from spiritual books on the paper bags and packages of the tobacco
shop. The customers would read them out of curiosity, and might
perhaps derive some benefit from them. The boy went about barefoot
and in ragged clothing, but he trusted in God. Seeing that the
632
three times and commanded the sea, Silence! Be still. At once, the
wind died down and the sea became calm. Anastasius was saddened,
however, because his cross had fallen into the sea and was lost. As
the boat sailed on, sounds of knocking seemed to come from the hull
below the water line. When the ship docked, the young man got off
and started to walk away. Suddenly, the captain began shouting,
Kephalas, Kephalas, come back here. The captain had ordered
some men into a small boat to examine the hull in order to discover
the source of the knocking, and they discovered the cross stuck to
the hull. Anastasius was elated to receive his Treasure, and always
wore it from that time forward. There is a photograph taken many
years later, showing the saint in his monastic skufia. The cross is
clearly visible in the photo.
some people had begun to realize that the rumors were untrue,
because they saw nothing in his life or conversation to suggest that
he was guilty of anything. With their help and influence, St. Nectarius
was appointed Director of the Rizarios Seminary in Athens on March
8, 1894. He was to remain in that position until December of 1908.
The saint celebrated the services in the seminary church, taught the
students, and wrote several edifying and useful books. Since he was a
quiet man, St. Nectarius did not care for the noise and bustle of
Athens. He wanted to retire somewhere where he could pray. On the
island of Aegina he found an abandoned monastery dedicated to the
Holy Trinity, which he began to repair with his own hands. He
gathered a community of nuns, appointing the blind nun Xenia as
abbess, while he himself served as Father Confessor. Since he had a
gift for spiritual direction, many people came to Aegina to confess to
him. Eventually, the community grew to thirty nuns. He used to tell
them, I am building a lighthouse for you, and God shall put a light in
it that will shine forth to the world. Many will see this light and come
to Aegina. They did not understand what he was telling them, that he
himself would be that beacon, and that people would come there to
venerate his holy relics. On September 20, 1920 the nun Euphemia
brought an old man in black robes, who was obviously in pain, to the
Aretaieion Hospital in Athens. This was a state hospital for the poor.
The intern asked the nun for information about the patient. Is he a
monk? he asked. No, he is a bishop. The intern laughed and said,
Stop joking and tell me his name, Mother, so that I can enter it in the
register. He is indeed a bishop, my child. He is the Most Reverend
Metropolitan of Pentapolis. Then the nun showed the saints
credentials to the astonished intern who then admitted him. The
intern muttered, For the first time in my life I see a bishop without a
panagia or cross, and more significantly, without money. For two
months St. Nectarius suffered from a disease of the bladder. At ten
636
637
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 10
The 9th century was one of the most difficult periods in Georgian
history. The Arab Muslims wreaked havoc throughout the region of
Kartli, forcibly converting many to Islam with fire and the sword.
Many of the destitute and frightened were tempted to betray the Faith
of their fathers. At that time the valorous aristocrat and faithful
Christian, Prince Constantine, was living in Kartli. He was the
descendant of Kakhetian princes, hence his title Kakhi. As is meet
for a Christian believer, St. Constantine considered himself the
greatest of sinners and often said, There can be no forgiveness of my
sins, except through the spilling of my blood for the sake of Him Who
shed His innocent blood for us! While on a pilgrimage to the holy
places of Jerusalem, Constantine distributed generous gifts to the
churches, visited the wilderness of the Jordan, received blessings
from the holy fathers, and returned to his motherland filled with inner
joy. After that time Constantine would send thirty thousand pieces of
silver to Jerusalem each year. In the years 853 to 854, when the Arab
Muslims invaded Georgia under the command of Buga-Turk, the
eighty-five-year-old Prince Constantine commanded the army of Kartli
with his son Tarkhuj. Outside the city of Gori an uneven battle took
place between the Arabs and the Georgians. Despite their fierce
resistance, the Georgians suffered defeat, and Constantine and
638
639
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 11
Saint Theodore the Confessor, Abbot of the Studion was born in the
year 758 at Constantinople into a family of the imperial tax-collector
Photinus and his spouse Theoctiste, both pious Christians. St.
Theodore received a good education from the best rhetoricians,
philosophers and theologians in the capital city. During this time the
iconoclast heresy had become widespread in the Byzantine Empire,
and it was supported also by the impious emperor Constantine
Kopronymos (741-775). The views of the emperor and his court
conflicted with the religious beliefs of Photinus, who was a fervent
adherent of Orthodoxy, and so he left government service. Later, St.
Theodores parents, by mutual consent, gave away their substance to
the poor, took their leave of each other and accepted monastic
tonsure. Their son Theodore soon became widely known in the capital
for his participation of the numerous disputes concerning iconveneration. St. Theodore was accomplished in oratory, and had a
command of the terminology and logic of the philosophers, so he
frequently debated with the heretics. His knowledge of Holy Scripture
and Christian dogma was so profound that no one could get the better
of him. The Seventh Ecumenical Council put an end to dissension and
brought
peace
to
the
Church
under
the
empress
Irene.
The
his death. Those invoking his name have been delivered from fires,
and from the attacks of wild beasts, they have received healing,
thanks to God and to St. Theodore the Studite. Those with stomach
ailments entreat the help of St. Theodore.
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 12
heresy,
and
drove
out
from
Alexandria
the
bring your gift to the altar and remember that your brother has
something against you, leave your gift before the altar ... first, be
reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Mt.
5:23-24). The saint came out of the altar, called the offending
clergyman to him, and falling down on his knees before him in front of
all the people he asked forgiveness. The cleric, filled with remorse,
repented of his sin, corrected himself, and afterwards was found
worthy to be ordained to the priesthood. There was a time when a
certain citizen insulted George, the Patriarchs nephew. George asked
the saint to avenge the wrong. The saint promised to deal with the
offender so that all of Alexandria would marvel at what he had done.
This calmed George, and St. John began to instruct him, speaking of
the necessity for meekness and humility. Then he summoned the man
who insulted George. When St. John learned that the man lived in a
house owned by the church, he declared that he would excuse him
from paying rent for an entire year. Alexandria indeed was amazed by
such a revenge, and George learned from his uncle how to forgive
offenses and to bear insults for Gods sake. St. John, a strict ascetic
and man of prayer, was always mindful of his soul, and of death. He
ordered a coffin for himself, but told the craftsmen not to finish it.
Instead, he would have them come each feast day and ask if it was
time to finish the work. St. John was persuaded to accompany the
governor Nicetas on a visit to the emperor in Constantinople. While on
his way to visit the earthly king, he dreamed of a resplendent man
who said to him, The King of Kings summons you. He sailed to his
native island of Cyprus, and died at Amanthos, the saint peacefully
fell asleep in the Lord (620).
646
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 13
(also
known
as
year
397
with
the
death
of
Archbishop
Nectarius
of
The saints zeal in spreading the Christian Faith extended not only to
the inhabitants of Constantinople, but also to Thrace to include Slavs
and Goths, and to Asia Minor and the Pontine region. He established a
bishop for the Bosphorus Church in the Crimea. St. John sent off
zealous missionaries to Phoenicia, to Persia, and to the Scythians, to
convert pagans to Christ. He also wrote letters to Syria to bring back
the Marcionites into the Church, and he accomplished this. Preserving
the unity of the Church, the saint would not permit a powerful Gothic
military commander, who wanted the emperor to reward his bravery
in battle, to open an Arian church at Constantinople. The saint
exerted much effort in enhancing the splendor of the church services:
he compiled a Liturgy, he introduced antiphonal singing for the allnight Vigil, and he wrote several prayers for the rite of anointing the
sick with oil. The saintly hierarch denounced the dissolute morals of
people in the capital, especially at the imperial court, irrespective of
person. When the empress Eudoxia connived to confiscate the last
properties of the widow and children of a disgraced dignitary, the
saint rose to their defense. The arrogant empress would not relent,
and nursed a grudge against the archpastor. Eudoxias hatred of the
saint blazed forth anew when malefactors told her that the saint
apparently had her in mind during his sermon on vain women. A court
was
convened
composed
of
hierarchs
who
had
been
justly
For All His Ways. The slanderers fled to Alexandria. But after only
two months a new denunciation provoked the wrath of Eudoxia. In
March 404, an unjust council was convened, decreeing the exile of St.
John. Upon his removal from the capital, a fire reduced the church of
Hagia Sophia and also the Senate building to ashes. Devastating
barbarian incursions soon followed, and Eudoxia died in October 404.
Even pagans regarded these events as Gods punishment for the
unjust judgment against the saint. In Armenia, the saint strove all the
more to encourage his spiritual children. In numerous letters (245 are
preserved) to bishops in Asia, Africa, Europe and particularly to his
friends in Constantinople, St. John consoled the suffering, guiding and
giving support to his followers. In the winter of 406 St. John was
confined to his bed with sickness, but his enemies were not to be
appeased. From the capital came orders to transfer St. John to
desolate Pityus in Abkhazia on the Black Sea. Worn out by sickness,
the saint began his final journey under military escort, traveling for
three months in the rain and frost. He never arrived at his place of
exile, for his strength failed him at Comana. At the crypt of St.
Basiliscus, St. John was comforted by a vision of the martyr, who
said, Despair not, brother John! Tomorrow we shall be together.
After receiving the Holy Mysteries, the hierarch fell asleep in the Lord
on September 14, 407. His last words were, Glory to God for all
things! The holy relics of St. John Chrysostom were solemnly
transferred to Constantinople in the year 438. The disciple of St. John,
the venerable Isidore of Pelusium, wrote: The house of David is
grown strong, and the house of Saul enfeebled. He is victor over the
storms of life, and has entered into heavenly repose. Although he
died on September 14, St. Johns celebration was transferred to this
651
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 14
church
construction
within
the
Empire.
His
finest
churches
were
built
dedicated
to
our
Most
Holy
Lady
653
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 15
of loving the Creator with her whole heart and soul, she loved His
creation (her son) more. Because of this excessive love, the angel
went on, she was thinking of starving herself to death, which would
result in her eternal condemnation. The angel said that by Gods
grace, her son would become a monk, and that she should also
renounce the world and become a nun. After this, she became calm
and accepted Gods will. She entered a convent and was tonsured
with the name Juliana. After about ten years, she departed to the
Lord. While at Kiev, Platon met two monks from Romania who were
about to return to their country. After crossing the border into
Moldavia, they came to Vlachia and the Skete of St. Nicholas, which
is
called
Treisteny,
around
1745.
The
Elder
of
the
Skete,
Athanasius the reason for his sorrow. The Elder told Platon not to
grieve so over something that had happened involuntarily, and did his
best to console him. From that time, however, the saint would not
sleep lying down in bed, but sitting up on a bench. One day the Elder
Onuphrius of Kyrkoul visited the skete and spoke about his skete at
Kyrkoul. Platon long to see Kyrkoul, and so he returned there with Fr.
Onuphrius. He remained there for a time, conversing with Fr.
Onuphrius about overcoming the passions, the struggle with demons,
unceasing prayer, and other soul-profiting topics. This seed fell on
good ground, later bearing spiritual fruit a hundredfold. The time came
when Platon was filled with a longing to visit Mount Athos. He asked
the brethren of the skete, and those of other sketes, for their
forgiveness and blessing for the journey. He also thanked them for
their kindness and their paternal instruction. They blessed him and let
him go in peace. At that time he was just twenty-four years old.
Platon went to Mount Athos in 1746, arriving at the Great Lavra on
July 4, the eve of the Feast of St. Athanasius of Athos. His traveling
companion, Hieromonk Tryphon fell ill and died after four days. Platon
would have died from the same illness, if not for the care of the
Russian monks. He recovered and lived in solitude in a cell called
Kaparis near the Pantokrator Monastery. He went around visiting the
ascetics and solitaries, looking for a spiritual Father, but was unable
to find anyone suitable. In 1750 St. Basil of Poiana Marului visited the
Holy Mountain and spent some time with Platon, who asked him for
monastic tonsure. Elder Basil granted his request, giving him the
name Paisius. Then Fr. Basil returned to his skete at Vlachia. About
three months later, a young monk named Bessarion came to the Holy
Mountain from Vlachia. He went around to the monasteries searching
for an instructor, but did not find one. He also came to Fr. Paisius and
asked him to tell him something about saving his soul. Fr. Paisius
sighed and told him that he himself had been looking for an instructor
656
many battles. Dragomirna and the forests around it became filled with
refugees
from
the
villages
near
the
battlegrounds.
Another
and surrendered his soul to God. His funeral was conducted by Bishop
Benjamin of Tuma, and was attended by multitudes of priests, monks,
laymen, nobles and ordinary people. The holy relics of St. Paisius
were uncovered in 1846, 1853, 1861 and 1872, and were found to be
incorrupt. St. Paisius has had an enormous influence, not only in
Romania, but throughout the Orthodox world. His disciples traveled to
Russia, sparking the spiritual revival of the nineteenth century with
Slavonic translations of the PHILOKALIA and the tradition of eldership
which they had learned from St. Paisius. This influence has been felt
even in America through St. Herman of Alaska. One of the books that
St.
Herman
brought
with
him
to
America
was
the
Slavonic
659
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 16
were
widely
distributed
in
literature,
and
one
of
these
was
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 17
for Christs sake. The Saracens escorted Gobron and 133 Georgian
soldiers to their execution. Abu al-Qasim tempted the faithful prince
by offering him earthly glory and honor in exchange for his
renunciation of the Christian Faith. But St. Gobron firmly declined all
of his offers. Then the furious Abu al-Qasim ordered that he be taken
into the yard and shown his fallen countrymen on one side and the
promised wealth on the other. When the emir cunningly asked which
one he would choose, Gobron answered, I told you from the very
start that I will not retreat from Christ my Lord! Then the emir
devised a new, more cruel trial: He knows not the grief of death.
Lead him outside and execute every living Christian before his eyes!
he commanded. They led the saint out in the midst of his brothers and
proceeded to slaughter every one of them. The blood of the dead flew
around Gobron in every direction, and the martyrs limp bodies
collapsed at his feet, but none of these horrors could break his will.
Then they compelled him to bow his head and brandished their
swords above him two times. Prince Gobron traced a cross on his
brow with blood and said, I thank Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, that Thou
hast accounted me, the most contemptible and chief among sinners,
worthy to lay down my life for Thy sake! Again they brought St.
Gobron before the emir. For the last time Abu al-Qasim tried to entice
him to apostatize, but the saint, dripping with blood, declared, Do as
you wish. I am a Christian and will never retreat from the name of my
Christ! Having lost all patience, Abu al-Qasim ordered that St.
Gobrons head be chopped off and thrown in with the other mutilated
bodies. Then they dug three large holes, tossed in the relics of the
martyrs, refilled the holes with earth, and forbade all Christians to
approach that place. At night the graves shone with a divine light
visible to believers and unbelievers alike. For laying down their lives
for Christ, the valorous prince Michael-Gobron and the 133 martyrs
were numbered among the saints by the Georgian Apostolic Church.
662
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 18
St. Anastasius and his sister were Greek peasants living in Epirus
under Ottoman rule. One day a band of Turks came through their
village, led by Musa, the son of the local Pasha (Governor). Musa was
struck by the beauty of Anastasius' sister and tried to seize her, but
Anastasius threw himself at the Turks and fought them off long
enough for his sister to escape. Musa's father had Anastasius
arrested and brought before him and, impressed by his courage,
attempted to convert him to Islam by many means: threats, beatings,
and offers of worldly honor but Anastasius held firm and was cast into
prison. Musa was moved by the way that Anastasius bore all these
trials and temptations, and wanted to know more about the Faith that
sustained him. Going secretly to Anastasius' prison cell, he peered in
and saw two young men of shining appearance with the prisoner.
They vanished as soon as Musa entered. Anastasius told Musa that
these were angels who guard and aid every Christian, especially when
they suffer for Christ. He also explained in a simple way the Gospel of
663
Jesus Christ, which enables His followers to set little value upon
worldly things. Musa, deeply moved, threw himself at Anastasius' feet
and asked to become a Christian. Anastasius told him to wait until the
proper time, because his conversion would cause his father to
persecute all the Christians under his power. A few days later, in
1750, Anastasius was beheaded by order of the Pasha. Soon after
this, Musa visited the tomb of a holy Martyr and was granted a vision
of Anastasius, who appeared to him encircled in light and urged him
to continue on the road to Christ. Musa fled his father's domain to the
Peleponnese where he received direction in the Faith from an aged
ascetic. He then traveled to Venice to be baptized without fear of
reprisal by the Turks. In time he became a monk on Corfu, receiving
the monastic name of Daniel. He lived there in asceticism, but the
desire grew in him to taste martyrdom for Christ, so he traveled to
Constantinople to declare his conversion to the Muslims. But the
Christians there dissuaded him, knowing that the conversion of such
a prominent Turk would, if it were known, lead to retaliation against
Christians. Saint Daniel returned to Corfu, where he founded a church
in honor of St. Anastasius and reposed in peace.
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 19
664
Saint Hilarion the Georgian was the son of a Kakheti aristocrat. There
were other children in the family, but only Hilarion was dedicated to
God from his very birth. Hilarions father built a monastery on his own
land, and there the boy was raised. At the age of fourteen Hilarion left
the monastery and his fathers guardianship and settled in a small
cave in the Davit-Gareji Wilderness. There he remained for ten years.
Soon reports spread through all of eastern Georgia of the angelic
faster and tireless intercessor in prayer. Crowds flocked to his cave
to receive instruction, blessings, and counsel. When the bishop of
Rustavi came to visit Hilarion, he ordained him a priest. Soon he was
made abbot of St. Davit of Gareji Lavra. After his ordination, the holy
father was praised even more among his people, and he decided to
leave his motherland. Hilarion chose one of the brothers to replace
him as abbot of the monastery and set off on a pilgrimage to
Jerusalem. On the way Venerable Hilarion was attacked by a band of
vicious thieves. They sought to kill the holy father, but their hands
suddenly withered. When the terrified thieves realized that God had
punished them for raising their hands to kill the saint, they fell to their
knees before St. Hilarion and begged his forgiveness. The venerable
father blessed them with the sign of the Cross, healed them and let
them depart in peace. St. Hilarion venerated the holy places in
Jerusalem, then settled in a cave in the Jordan wilderness (according
to tradition, the holy prophet Elijah had dwelt in that same cave). One
night St. Hilarion saw a vision: He was standing before the Most Holy
Theotokos, in the midst of twelve men, on the Mount of Olives, the
place of our Lords Ascension. The Holy Virgin said to him, Hilarion!
Return to your home and prepare a meal for the Lord, my Son! Upon
waking, Hilarion understood this vision with both his heart and mind
and immediately set off for his motherland. When he returned to
Georgia, St. Hilarion learned of the repose of his father and brothers.
His mother gave her only living son the family inheritance. Blessed
665
time.
He
took
two
companions
and
journeyed
to
church.
During
the
evening
services
on
Cheese-fare
country for the love of my Son and God? Why have you broken the
commandment to receive and show mercy to strangers and the poor?
Do you not know that there are many living on this mountain that
speak the same language as they? They are also praising God here.
He who fails to receive them is my enemy, for my Son entrusted me to
protect them and to ensure that their Orthodox Faith is not shaken.
They believe in my Son and have been baptized in His name! The
next day the elder fell to his knees before St. Hilarion, begged
forgiveness for his impertinence, and requested that he remain at the
monastery. St. Hilarion consoled the elder and agreed to stay. St.
Hilarion spent five years on Mt. Olympus, than journeyed again to
Constantinople, to venerate the Life-giving Cross of our Lord. From
there he traveled to Rome to venerate the graves of the holy Apostles
Peter and Paul. On the way to Rome his prayers healed a paralyzed
man. After spending two years in Rome, St. Hilarion set off again for
Constantinople. On the way, in the city of Thessalonica, the blessed
Hilarion stopped for a rest at the home of the prefect. When he
arrived, a servant woman was carrying a paralyzed fourteen-year-old
boy out of the house, and she laid him in the sun. The saint asked the
woman for water, and when she had gone to bring it, he blessed the
child with the sign of the Cross and healed him. Immediately the boy
ran to his mother, and St. Hilarion quickly departed from that place.
But the prefect, the boys father, had witnessed the miracle, and he
ordered that the wonderworker be found. When he had been brought
before him, the prefect begged St. Hilarion to remain in Thessalonica
and choose for himself a place to continue his miraculous works.
Recognizing the prefect to be a true lover of God, the saint heeded his
entreaty and agreed to remain. The prefect built a church in the place
that Hilarion had chosen, and before long the entire city had heard
about St. Hilarion and his miracles. St. Hilarion spent the remainder of
his days in Thessalonica. When the Lord made known to him the day
667
of his repose, he called for the prefect, thanked him, and instructed
him to love the monks and all the suffering and to be just and
merciful. The saint reposed on November 19, 875, and the sorrowful
prefect prepared a marble shrine for him. Those who were sick and
who approached St. Hilarions grave with faith were healed of their
infirmities. The prefect and the archbishop of Thessalonica informed
the Byzantine emperor Basil the Macedonian (867-886) about the
miracles that had occurred at the holy fathers grave. The emperor in
turn informed the monks who came to him from Mt. Olympus, among
whom was the elder who once had tried to chase St. Hilarion out of
the church. Emperor Basil became intrigued with St. Hilarions
disciples and fellow countrymen through the stories of Hilarions
miracles. St. Hilarions three disciples were presented to him, and the
emperor was so struck by their holiness that he sent them to the
patriarch of Constantinople to receive his blessing. Recognizing
immediately that the three elders were filled with divine favor, the
patriarch advised the emperor to confer great honors upon them. In
response, Emperor Basil invited the elders to choose for themselves
and their countrymen one of the monasteries in Constantinople and
make it their own. The fathers graciously declined since they did not
wish to live in the populous city. Instead the monks asked the
emperor to build cells for them outside the capital. So Emperor Basil
built a large church dedicated to the Holy Apostles in a place that the
Georgian fathers had chosen in a certain ravine, where a spring of
cold water flowed from beneath a little hill, and he carved a cell for
himself as well. The monastery was called Romana, after the nearby
brook. Later the emperor sent his own two sons, Leo 1 and Alexander,
to be raised by the holy fathers. Emperor Basil sought to bury St.
Hilarions holy relics in the capital, but the people of Thessalonica
would not allow the relics to be taken away. In the end, it was
necessary for the emperors envoys to conceal the sacred shrine and
668
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 20
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 21
670
Priest Basil Gorbachev was was the parish priest to the church of
Bolshiye Vyazemy Village, Zvenigorod District. There, on 15 February
1937,
he
was
arrested
on
charges
of
anti-Soviet
propaganda
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 22
The Holy Right-Believing Prince Michael of Tver was born in the year
1272, already after the death of his father Great Prince Yaroslav
Yaroslavich, a brother of holy Prince Alexander Nevsky. On the
journey to the Horde [Constrainable], Prince Yaroslav fell ill, and was
tonsured a monk with the name Athanasius, then died. Michaels
mother, Xenia, raised her son in fervent love for God. Michael was
educated and studied under the guidance of the Archbishop (probably
671
and put him in a heavy wooden stock. As was his habit, St. Michael
constantly read the Psalter in prison and blessed the Lord for granting
him to suffer for Him. He asked not to be abandoned in his present
torments. Since the hands of the holy sufferer were secured in the
stock, a boy sat before him and turned the pages of the Psalter. The
holy captive languished at the Horde for a long time, enduring
beatings and ridicule. Others suggested that he flee, but the saint
bravely answered, In all my life I never fled from an enemy. If I save
myself and my people remain in peril, what glory is that to me? No, let
it be as the Lord wills. Through the mercy of God, he was not
deprived of Christian solace: Orthodox priests attended to him, the
igumens Alexander and Mark. Each week he made his Confession and
received the Holy Mysteries of Christ, thus receiving a Christian
preparation for his death. At the instigation of Prince Yurii and
Kavgadi, who took revenge on the holy prince for their defeat,
November 22, assassins rushed into the encampment where the
captive was held. They fiercely beat the martyr and kicked him with
their feet, than one of them stabbed St. Michael with a knife. The holy
martyrs naked body was exposed for abuse, and later they covered
him with a cloth and placed him on a large board attached to a cart.
By night two guards were set to watch the body, but fear seized them
and they fled. In the morning, his body was not on the board. On the
previous night many, not only Orthodox but also Tatars, had seen two
radiant clouds shining over the place where the body of the martyr
lay. Although many wild animals roamed the steppes, not one of them
had touched him. In the morning everyone said, Prince Michael is a
saint, and was innocently murdered. From the Horde the body of the
prince was transferred to Moscow, where they buried him in the
church of the Savior-Wood in the Kremlin. Just a year later, in 1319,
the people of Tver learned the fate of their prince. At the wish of his
wife, the right-believing Princess Anna of Kashin, and at the request
673
of the people of Tver, the relics of St. Michael were transferred to his
native city, and on September 6, 1320 were placed in the church he
built in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Local veneration of
the holy Prince began soon after the transfer of his relics to Tver, and
the general Church glorification of the saint took place at a 1549
Council. On November 24, 1632 the incorrupt relics of St. Michael
were uncovered. The holy Prince has often helped the Russian land.
In 1606 the Polish and Lithuanians besieging Tver repeatedly saw a
wondrous horseman ride out from the city upon a white horse with
sword in hand , turning them to flight. Later, when they saw an icon of
holy Prince Michael, they affirmed with an oath to Archbishop
Theoctistus of Tver that the horseman was indeed St. Michael
himself.
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 23
when the Lord summoned him for hierarchic service. In the year 372
the Bishop of Iconium died. Angels of the Lord thrice appeared in
visions to St. Amphilochius, summoning him to go to Iconium to be
the bishop. The truthfulness of these visions was proven when the
angel, appearing to him the third time, sang together with the saint
the angelic song: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabbath. The heavenly
messenger led the saint to the nearest church, where an assembly of
angels consecrated Amphilochius bishop. The saint, on the way back
to his cell, encountered seven bishops who were seeking him at the
command of God, in order to establish him as archpastor of Iconium.
St. Amphilochius told them that he was already consecrated by the
angels. For many years St. Amphilochius tended the flock of Iconium
entrusted to him by the Lord. The prayer of the righteous one was so
intense that he was able to ask the Lord to heal the spiritual and
bodily infirmities of his flock. The wise archpastor, gifted as writer
and preacher, unceasingly taught piety to his flock. A strict Orthodox
theologian, the saint relentlessly confronted the Arian and Eunomian
heresies. He participated in the Second Ecumenical Council (381),
and he headed the struggle against the heresy of Macedonius. Letters
and treatises of St. Amphilochius are preserved, which are profoundly
dogmatic and apologetic in content. The holy Bishop Amphilochius of
Iconium departed peacefully to the Lord in the year 394.
675
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 24
the
descendant
of
princely
line.
Brought
up
in
Orthodoxy, St. Mercurius in zeal for the true Faith left his own native
land for Russia, where he served in the army of the Prince of
Smolensk. The saintly soldier secretly led an ascetic life. He was
strict in fasting, he was chaste, spending his nights at prayer, and
spiritually preparing himself to suffer for Christ. In the year 1239 a
horde of Tatars [Mongols], already having laid waste to many Russian
cities, appeared in the vicinity of Smolensk and set up camp 25 versts
[around 14 miles] away at Dolgomost, threatening to destroy the city
and its holy places. A church warden, praying by night in the
Smolensk cathedral before a wonderworking icon of the Theotokos,
heard the voice of the Queen of Heaven commanding him to find the
holy warrior and say to him: Mercurius, go forth into battle, for the
Sovereign Lady summons you. The soldier went himself to the
cathedral and heard the voice of the All-Pure Virgin, sending him to
fight the enemy and promising him heavenly assistance. The warrior
of Christ set off that very night to the Tatar camp at Dolgomost.
Mercurius fought there with the leader of the Tatar army, a giant
possessed of immense strength. He killed him and entered into singlecombat with the enemy host. Invoking the name of the Lord and of the
All-Pure Theotokos, the holy warrior destroyed many of the enemy.
676
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 25
spiritual guide, the holy Bishop Theonas. Forced into exile from the
city during the anti-Christian persecutions under the emperors
Diocletian and Maximian, St. Peter traveled through many lands,
encouraging his flock by letter. He returned to his city, in order to
guide the Alexandrian Church personally during this dangerous
period. The saint secretly visited Christians locked up in prison,
encouraging them to be steadfast in faith, assisting the widows and
orphans,
preaching
the
Word
of
God,
constantly
praying
and
officiating at the divine services. And the Lord kept him safe from the
hands of the persecutors. During this time of unrest the iniquitous
heretic Arius, who denied the divinity of Jesus Christ, sowed the tares
of his impious teaching. When Arius refused to be corrected and
submit to the truth, St. Peter anathematized the heretic and
excommunicated him from the Church. Arius then sent two of St.
Peters priests to beg the saint to lift the excommunication from him,
pretending that he had repented and given up his false teachings.
This was not true, for Arius hoped to succeed St. Peter as Archbishop
of Alexandria. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to St. Peter as a
twelve-year-old child wearing a robe that was torn from top to bottom.
St. Peter asked the Savior who had torn his garment, and He replied,
That madman Arius has torn it by dividing the people whom I have
redeemed by My blood. Do not receive him into Communion with the
Church, for he has worked evil against Me and My flock. St. Peter,
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, saw through the wickedness
and deceit of Arius, and so he instructed his flock not to believe Arius
nor to accept him into communion. Under the wise nurturing of St.
Peter the Church of Alexandria strengthened and grew in spite of the
persecutions. But finally, on orders from the emperor Maximian (305311), the saint was arrested and sentenced to death. A multitude of
people gathered at the entrance of the prison, expressing their
outrage. Wanting to avoid bloodshed and a riot by the people, the
678
Penitential Canons.
679
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 26
680
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 27
The Holy Great Martyr James the Persian (the Sawn-Asunder) was
born in the fourth century into a pious Christian family, both wealthy
and illustrious. His wife was also a Christian, and the couple raised
their children in piety, inspiring in them a love for prayer and the Holy
Scriptures. James occupied a high position at the court of the Persian
emperor Izdegerd (399-420) and his successor Barakhranes (420-438).
But on one of the military campaigns James, seduced by the
emperors
beneficence,
was
afraid
to
acknowledge
himself
him renounce Christ. The emperor then ordered the saint to be put to
death. They began to cut off his fingers and his toes one by one, then
his hands and his feet, and then his arms and legs. During the
prolonged torture St. James offered prayers of thanksgiving to the
Lord, Who had granted him the possibility of redemption from his sins
by
enduring
these
terrible
torments.
Finally,
the
martyr
was
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 28
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 29
Saint Abibus of Nekresi was one of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers who
arrived in Georgia in the 6th century under the leadership of St. John
of Zedazeni. With the blessing of his instructor, St. Abibus began his
683
Kartli, St. Abibus converted not only Georgians but also most of the
mountain tribesincluding the Dagestani/Didoiansto the Christian
Faith. Abounding with apostolic zeal, St. Abibus journeyed throughout
the villages of his diocese, preaching the Truth and calling upon all to
strengthen the true Faith. The time that St. Abibus was serving as
bishop coincided with a dark period of Persian rule in eastern
Georgia. The Persians exerted every effort to implant their faiththe
worship of fireand everywhere erected altars where the fire burned
without ceasing. Once in the village of Rekhi the holy hierarch, finding
a group of fire-worshipers forcing the Georgian faithful to worship the
flame, poured water on their fire to extinguish it. The enraged pagan
priests bound St. Abibus, beat him cruelly, locked him up, and
reported the incident to the marzban. The marzban ordered that the
bishop be brought to him at once. St. Abibus was a friend of the holy
wonderworker Simeon the Stylite of the Wonderful Mountain. St.
Simeon received a sign from God of the imminent martyrdom of St.
Abibus and, in order to console him, sent him a letter, an evlogia (a
blessingprobably a piece of prosphoron or some other holy object)
and a staff. While Abibus was being escorted to the marzban, in the
village of Ialdo he met a messenger from Antioch who presented him
with St. Simeons gifts. The letter and gifts gladdened the holy
hierarch and strengthened him for his martyrdom. Then St. Abibus
was approached by a group of Christians who offered to help him
escape, but he graciously declined. Having arrived in Mtskheta, the
saint prayed at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, then requested that the
guards permit him to meet with St. Shio of Mgvime. The Persians
granted his request, and the spiritual brothers greeted one another
with love and prayed together to the Lord. St. Abibus was brought
684
before the dread marzban and asked how he could dare raise his hand
against the Persian god. He replied with complete composure, saying,
I did not kill any god; rather I extinguished a fire. Fire is not a god,
but a part of nature, which is created by God. Your fire was burning
wood, and a little water was enough to extinguish it. The water
turned out to be stronger. Your fury amazes me. Isnt it humiliating to
call something a god which has no soul? Furious at this response,
the marzban ordered the holy hierarchs execution. The executioners
mercilessly beat the blessed Abibus and shattered his skull with
stones. Then they dragged his body through the city, cast it to the
beasts, and assigned a guard to ensure that the Christians did not
come to steal it. Nevertheless, that night the priests and monks of
Rekhi came, took the body of the holy martyr, and buried it with great
honor at Samtavisi Monastery (located midway between Mtskheta and
Gori). Many miraculous healings have taken place over the grave of
St. Abibus. During the rule of Prince Stepanoz of Kartli, the incorrupt
relics of St. Abibus were translated from Samtavisi to Samtavro
Monastery in Mtskheta, according to the decree of Catholicos Tabori.
They were buried under the holy altar at Samtavro Church.
TODAY IS NOVEMBER 30
685
Saint Peter was the first catholicos of Georgia. He led the Church of
Kartli from the 460s through the beginning of the 6th century.
According to Gods will, St. Peter inaugurated the dynasty of the chief
shepherds of Georgia. It is written in the biography of Holy King
Vakhtang IV Gorgasali that the king was introduced to Peter, a pupil
of St. Gregory the Theologian, during one of his visits to Byzantium,
and he became very close to him. The close spiritual bond of the holy
king and the catholicos [Eastern Orthodox churches, and some
Eastern Catholic Churches historically use this title. In the Church of
the East, the title was given to the church's head, the Patriarch of the
Church of the East; the title Catholicos is also used for the head of
the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Georgian Orthodox Church],
combined with their concerted efforts on behalf of the Church,
contributed immeasurably to the establishment of friendly political
relations between Georgia and Byzantium and the proclamation of the
autocephaly of the Georgian Apostolic Church. Having returned to his
own capital, King Vakhtang sent an envoy to Byzantium to find him a
wife. He also sent a request that the hierarch Peter be elevated as
catholicos and that the priest Samuel be consecrated bishop. He
pleaded with the patriarch to hasten the arrival of Catholicos Peter
and the twelve bishops with him. The patriarch of Constantinople
approved King Vakhtangs request to institute the rank of catholicos
of Georgia. Since the Georgian Church was still under the jurisdiction
of Antioch, Peter and Samuel were sent to the Antiochian patriarch
himself to be elevated. The autocephaly of the Georgian Church was
proclaimed upon the arrival of the holy fathers in Georgia. St. Peter
ruled the Church according to the principle of autocephaly and
established a form of self-rule that would later help to increase the
authority of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church. The mutual
respect and cooperation of the catholicos and the holy king laid the
foundations for future, harmonious relations between secular and
686
687
688
TODAY IS DECEMBER 1
Righteous Philaret the Merciful, son of George and Anna, was raised
in piety and the fear of God. He lived during the eighth century in the
village of Amneia in the Paphlagonian district of Asia Minor. His wife,
Theoseba, was from a rich and illustrious family, and they had three
children: a son John, and daughters Hypatia and Evanthia. Philaret
was a rich and illustrious dignitary, but he did not hoard his wealth.
Knowing that many people suffered from poverty, he remembered the
words of the Savior about the dread Last Judgment and about these
least ones (Mt. 25:40); the Apostle Pauls reminder that we will take
nothing with us from this world (1 Tim 6:7); and the assertion of King
David that the righteous would not be forsaken (Ps 36/37:25). Philaret,
whose name means lover of virtue, was famed for his love for the
poor. One day Ishmaelites [Arabs] attacked Paphlagonia, devastating
the land and plundering the estate of Philaret. There remained only
two oxen, a donkey, a cow with her calf, some beehives, and the
house. But he also shared them with the poor. His wife reproached
him for being heartless and unconcerned for his own family. Mildly,
yet firmly he endured the reproaches of his wife and the jeers of his
children. I have hidden away riches and treasure, he told his family,
so much that it would be enough for you to feed and clothe
yourselves, even if you lived a hundred years without working. The
689
gave
the
man
two
bushels
of
wheat.
Theoseba
said
sarcastically, Give him half the load so you can share it. The saint
measured out a third bushel and gave it to the man. Then Theoseba
said, Why dont you give him the bag, too, so he can carry it? He
gave him the bag. The exasperated wife said, Just to spite me, why
not give him all the wheat. St. Philaret did so. Now the man was
unable to lift the six bushels of wheat, so Theoseba told her husband
to give him the donkey so he could carry the wheat home. Blessing
his wife, Philaret gave the donkey to the man, who went home
rejoicing. Theoseba and the children wept because they were hungry.
The Lord rewarded Philaret for his generosity: when the last measure
of wheat was given away, an old friend sent him forty bushels.
Theoseba kept most of the wheat for herself and the children, and the
saint gave away his share to the poor and had nothing left. When his
wife and children were eating, he would go to them and they gave him
some food. Theoseba grumbled saying, How long are you going to
690
keep that treasure of yours hidden? Take it out so we can buy food
with it. During this time the Byzantine empress Irene (797-802) was
seeking a bride for her son, the future emperor Constantine
Porphyrogenitos
(780-797).
Therefore,
emissaries
were
sent
throughout all the Empire to find a suitable girl, and the envoys came
to Amneia. When Philaret and Theoseba learned that these most
illustrious guests were to visit their house, Philaret was very happy,
but Theoseba was sad, for they did not have enough food. But Philaret
told his wife to light the fire and to decorate their home. Their
neighbors, knowing that imperial envoys were expected, brought
everything required for a rich feast. The envoys were impressed by
the saints daughters and granddaughters. Seeing their beauty, their
deportment, their clothing, and their admirable qualities, the envoys
agreed that Philaret granddaughter, Maria was exactly what they
were looking for. This Maria exceeded all her rivals in quality and
modesty and indeed became Constantines wife, and the emperor
rewarded Philaret. Thus fame and riches returned to Philaret. But just
as before, this holy lover of the poor generously distributed alms and
provided a feast for the poor. He and his family served them at the
meal. Everyone was astonished at his humility and said: This is a
man of God, a true disciple of Christ. He ordered a servant to take
three bags and fill one with gold, one with silver, and one with copper
coins. When a beggar approached, Philaret ordered his servant to
bring forth one of the bags, whichever Gods providence would ordain.
Then he would reach into the bag and give to each person, as much
as God willed. St. Philaret refused to wear fine clothes, nor would he
accept any imperial rank. He said it was enough for him to be called
the grandfather of the Empress. The saint reached ninety years of age
and knew his end was approaching. He went to the Rodolpheia (The
Judgment) monastery in Constantinople. He gave some gold to the
Abbess and asked her to allow him to be buried there, saying that he
691
would depart this life in ten days. He returned home and became ill.
On the tenth day he summoned his family, he exhorted them to
imitate his love for the poor if they desired salvation. Then he fell
asleep in the Lord. He died in the year 792 and was buried in the
Rodolpheia Judgment monastery in Constantinople. The appearance
of a miracle after his death confirmed the sainthood of Righteous
Philaret. As they bore the body of the saint to the cemetery, a certain
man, possessed by the devil, followed the funeral procession and
tried to overturn the coffin. When they reached the grave, the devil
threw the man down on the ground and went out of him. Many other
miracles and healings also took place at the grave of the saint. After
the death of the righteous Philaret, his wife Theoseba worked at
restoring monasteries and churches devastated during a barbarian
invasion.
TODAY IS DECEMBER 2
Saint Jesse of Tsilkani arrived in Georgia in the 6th century with the
other Syrian fathers and companions of St. John of Zedazeni. At the
recommendation of St. John of Zedazeni, Catholicos Evlavios of Kartli
consecrated St. Jesse as bishop of Tsilkani. The Holy Father traveled
throughout his diocese preaching the Holy Gospel. Passing from city
692
to city, from valley to mountain and back, the kind shepherd worked
wonders, healed the infirm, cleansed lepers, cast out demons and
raised those who were confined to their beds. Once, with the blessing
of his teacher St. John of Zedazeni, St. Jesse performed a miracle to
strengthen the people in their Faith. He descended to the bank of the
Ksani River, followed by Fr. John and a multitude of people. He made
the sign of the Cross over the river, touched his staff to the water and
commanded: In the name of our Lord and God Jesus Christ, I
command you, river: follow me! Immediately the river reversed its
current and began to flow backwards, following in St. Jesses
footsteps right up to Tsilkani Church. Those living near Mtskheta and
Tsilkani who witnessed this miracle glorified the Lord Jesus Christ for
bestowing upon one of His children the gift of wonder-working. When
the Lord made known to the saint the day of his repose, he gathered
his disciples and church servitors, bade them farewell, blessed them,
partook of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and reposed in peace. His last
words were Lord, into Thy hands I commit my spirit! St. Jesse of
Tsilkani is buried in the Tsilkani Church of the Most Holy Theotokos.
TODAY IS DECEMBER 3
693
TODAY IS DECEMBER 4
Saint John of Damascus was born about the year 680 at Damascus,
Syria into a Christian family. His father, Sergius Mansur, was a
694
treasurer at the court of the caliph. John had also a foster brother,
the orphaned child Cosmas, whom Sergius had taken into his own
home. When the children were growing up, Sergius saw that they
received a good education. At the Damascus slave market he
ransomed the learned monk Cosmas of Calabria from captivity and
entrusted to him the teaching of his children. The boys displayed
uncommon ability and readily mastered their courses of the secular
and spiritual sciences. After the death of his father, John occupied
ministerial
posts
at
court
and
became
the
city
prefect.
In
who Revile the Holy Icons. The wise and God-inspired writings of St.
John enraged the emperor. But since the author was not a Byzantine
subject, the emperor was unable to lock him up in prison, or to
execute him. The emperor then resorted to slander. A forged letter to
the emperor was produced, supposedly from John, in which the
Damascus official was supposed to have offered his help to Leo in
conquering the Syrian capital. This letter and another hypocritically
flattering note were sent to the Saracen caliph by Leo the Isaurian.
The caliph immediately ordered that St. John be removed from his
post, that his right hand be cut off, and that he be led through the city
in chains. That same evening, they returned the severed hand to St.
John. The saint pressed it to his wrist and prayed to the Most Holy
Theotokos to heal him so that he could defend the Orthodox Faith and
write once again in praise of the Most Pure Virgin and Her Son. After a
time, he fell asleep before the icon of the Mother of God. He heard Her
voice telling him that he had been healed, and commanding him to toil
unceasingly with his restored hand. Upon awakening, he found that
his hand had been attached to his arm once more. Only a small red
695
others). For this disobedience the Elder banished him from his cell.
John fell at his feet and asked to be forgiven, but the Elder remained
unyielding. All the monks began to plead for him to allow John to
return, but he refused. Then one of the monks asked the Elder to
impose a penance on John, and to forgive him if he fulfilled it. The
Elder said, If John wishes to be forgiven, let him wash out all the
chamber pots in the lavra, and clean the monastery latrines with his
bare hands. John rejoiced and eagerly ran to accomplish his
shameful task. After a certain while, the Elder was commanded in a
vision by the All-Pure and Most Holy Theotokos to allow St. John to
write again. When the Patriarch of Jerusalem heard of St. John, he
ordained him priest and made him a preacher at his cathedral. But St.
John soon returned to the Lavra of St. Sava, where he spent the rest
of his life writing spiritual books and church hymns. He left the
monastery only to denounce the iconoclasts at the Constantinople
Council of 754. They subjected him to imprisonment and torture, but
he endured everything, and through the mercy of God he remained
alive. He died in about the year 780, more than 100 years old. St. John
of Damascus was a theologian and a zealous defender of Orthodoxy.
His most important book is the Fount of Knowledge. The third section
of this work, On the Orthodox Faith, is a summary of Orthodox
doctrine and a refutation of heresy.
697
TODAY IS DECEMBER 5
future to be told them, but never once did the saint infringe upon what
he felt was the will of God. Before his repose, he healed the abbot of
an unknown illness that was robbing him of his ability to sleep. The
saint perceived his own death, calling his fellow monks to his bedside
the night he passed to his eternal reward.
TODAY IS DECEMBER 6
698
him, Nicholas, this is not the vineyard where you shall bear fruit for
Me. Return to the world, and glorify My Name there. So he left Patara
and went to Myra in Lycia. Upon the death of Archbishop John,
Nicholas was chosen as Bishop of Myra after one of the bishops of the
Council said that a new archbishop should be revealed by God, not
chosen by men. One of the elder bishops had a vision of a radiant
Man, Who told him that the one who came to the church that night
and was first to enter should be made archbishop. He would be named
Nicholas. The bishop went to the church at night to await Nicholas.
The saint, always the first to arrive at church, was stopped by the
bishop. What is your name, child? he asked. Gods chosen one
replied, My name is Nicholas, Master, and I am your servant. After
his consecration as archbishop, St. Nicholas remained a great
ascetic, appearing to his flock as an image of gentleness, kindness
and love for people. Bishop Nicholas, locked up in prison together
with other Christians for refusing to worship idols, sustained them
and exhorted them to endure the fetters, punishment and torture. The
Lord preserved him unharmed. Upon the accession of St. Constantine
as emperor, St. Nicholas was restored to his flock, which joyfully
received their guide and intercessor. Despite his great gentleness of
spirit and purity of heart, St Nicholas was a zealous and ardent
warrior of the Church of Christ. Fighting evil spirits, the saint made
the rounds of the pagan temples and shrines in the city of Myra and
its surroundings, shattering the idols and turning the temples to dust.
In the year 325 St. Nicholas was a participant in the First Ecumenical
Council. This Council proclaimed the Nicean Symbol of Faith, and he
stood up against the heretic Arius with the likes of Sts Sylvester the
Bishop of Rome, Alexander of Alexandria, Spyridon of Trimythontos
and other Fathers of the Council. St. Nicholas, fired with zeal for the
Lord, assailed the heretic Arius with his words, and also struck him
upon the face. For this reason, he was deprived of the emblems of his
701
episcopal rank and placed under guard. But several of the holy
Fathers had the same vision, seeing the Lord Himself and the Mother
of God returning to him the Gospel and omophorion. The Fathers of
the Council agreed that the audacity of the saint was pleasing to God,
and restored the saint to the office of bishop. Having returned to his
own diocese, the saint brought it peace and blessings, sowing the
word of Truth, uprooting heresy, nourishing his flock with sound
doctrine, and also providing food for their bodies. Even during his life
the saint worked many miracles. One of the greatest was the
deliverance from death of three men unjustly condemned by the
Governor, who had been bribed. The saint boldly went up to the
executioner and took his sword, already suspended over the heads of
the condemned. The Governor, denounced by St. Nicholas for his
wrong doing, repented and begged for forgiveness. Witnessing this
remarkable event were three military officers, who were sent to
Phrygia by the emperor Constantine to put down a rebellion. They did
not suspect that soon they would also be compelled to seek the
intercession of St. Nicholas. Evil men slandered them before the
emperor, and the officers were sentenced to death. Appearing to St.
Constantine in a dream, St. Nicholas called on him to overturn the
unjust sentence of the military officers. He worked many other
miracles, and struggled many long years at his labor. Through the
prayers of the saint, the city of Myra was rescued from a terrible
famine. He appeared to a certain Italian merchant and left him three
gold pieces as a pledge of payment. He requested him to sail to Myra
and deliver grain there. More than once, the saint saved those
drowning in the sea, and provided release from captivity and
imprisonment. Having reached old age, St. Nicholas peacefully fell
asleep in the Lord. His venerable relics were preserved incorrupt in
the local cathedral church and flowed with curative myrrh, from
which many received healing. In the year 1087, his relics were
702
transferred to the Italian city of Bari, where they rest even now. The
name of the great saint of God, the hierarch and wonderworker
Nicholas, a speedy helper and suppliant for all hastening to him, is
famed in every corner of the earth, in many lands and among many
peoples. St. Nicholas is the patron of travelers, and we pray to him for
deliverance from floods, poverty, or any misfortunes. He has promised
to help those who remember his parents, Theophanes and Nonna.
TODAY IS DECEMBER 7
enough food for him, she replied, I send you plenty of food. Ask your
daughter what she does with it. Becoming angry with Philothea, her
father decided to spy on her to see what happened to the food. From
a place of hiding, he saw her giving food to the poor children who
came to her. In a violent rage, he took the axe from his belt and threw
it at the twelve-year-old girl, hitting her in the leg. The wound was
mortal, and she soon gave her pure soul into Gods hands. Her father
was filled with fear and remorse, and tried to lift his daughters body
from the ground, but it became as heavy as a rock. He then ran to the
Archbishop of Trnovo to confess his sin and explain what had
happened. The Archbishop and his priests went with candles and
incense to take up the martyrs body and bring it to the cathedral, but
they were also unable to lift it. The Archbishop realized that St.
Philothea did not wish to remain in her native land, so he began to
name various monasteries, churches, and cathedrals to see where
she wished to go. Not until he named the Monastery of Curtea de
Argesh in Romania were they able to lift her holy relics and place
them in a coffin. The Archbishop wrote to the Romanian Voievode
Radu Negru, asking him to accept the saints relics. The Archbishop
and his clergy carried the holy relics in procession as far as the
Danube, where they were met by Romanian clergy, monastics, and
the faithful. Her relics were then carried to the Curtea de Argesh
Monastery. Many people have been healed at the tomb of St.
Philothea located in a small chapel in the belltower behind the
monastery church. Those who entreat her intercession receive help
from her. Each year on December 7 there is a festal pilgrimage to the
Monastery, and people come from all over Romania. The relics of St.
Philothea are carried around the courtyard in procession, and there
are prayers for the sick.
704
TODAY IS DECEMBER 8
705
TODAY IS DECEMBER 9
He lived in Constantinople for his entire life, but lived there as if in the
desert, devoting himself entirely to solitude, fasting and prayer. For
most of his adult life he ate only a few vegetables without salt once
or twice a week; by his prayers many miracles were wrought in the
City. In time he was made a priest and served in the church of St.
Antipas, where he lived in seclusion. When the church was destroyed
in the earthquake of 879, he withdrew to a dank pit in the ruins where
the air was so unwholesome that he lost his hair and teeth and was
almost paralyzed. He only emerged from this ascesis after twelve
years. Thereafter he served the Divine Liturgy only on Feasts of the
Lord, allowing himself some water and fruit after the service;
otherwise he spent his time alone in silent prayer. Toward the end of
his life the saint acquired great grace from the Lord, shining in the
constellation of the saints like the ancient ascetics of the Orthodox
Church, so that he came to be called the New Light. According to
the Prologue, he died in the year 912 at the age of seventy-three and
was buried in the church of St. Antipas.
706
TODAY IS DECEMBER 10
Saints Angelina and Stephen were the parents of St. John of Serbia.
The life of the Serbian ruler Stephen Brankovich and his family was
filled with instability and misfortune. After Serbia was seized in 1457
by
the
Turks,
the
then
Serbian
rulers
middle
son,
Stephen,
707
TODAY IS DECEMBER 11
Saint Luke the New Stylite was a soldier under the Byzantine emperor
Constantine Porphyrogenitos (912-959). During a war with Bulgaria
(917), St. Luke remained unharmed through the Providence of God.
Saint Luke wanted to give God the glory for his safety, so became a
monk, and having succeeded in his efforts, was ordained as a
presbyter. Striving for an even higher degree of perfection, the monk
put chains upon himself and ascended a pillar. After three years
standing on the pillar, through divine inspiration, he went to Mount
Olympus, and then to Constantinople, and finally to Chalcedon, where
he chose a pillar upon which he remained for 45 years, manifesting a
gift of wonderworking. He died in about the year 980.
708
TODAY IS DECEMBER 12
709
TODAY IS DECEMBER 13
711
TODAY IS DECEMBER 14
Saint Hilarion, Metropolitan of Suzdal and Yuriev (in the world John),
was born November 13, 1631 into the family of the lower city priest
Ananias. His father, famed for his piety and reading, was one of three
candidates for the Patriarchal throne, together with the future
Patriarch Nikon. John entered a monastery in 1653. In 1655, he
became founder and builder of the Phlorischev wilderness monastery
not far from the city of Gorokhovetsa. In his monastic struggles, the
saint wrestled with fleshly passions. When he fell down in exhaustion
before the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God beseeching Her help,
the Mother of God shielded him with gracious power and calmed his
spirit. Once, when St. Hilarion was serving Vespers together with a
hierodeacon, robbers burst into the church. They killed the deacon
and started to set St. Hilarion on fire, asking him where the
monastery treasure was hid. They did not believe that there was no
gold in the monastery. Overcome by the pain, St. Hilarion turned to
the wonderworking icon and said, O All-Pure Virgin Mary, Mother of
our Lord Jesus Christ! If they injure me with the fire, I shall no longer
have the ability to glorify Thy Son and Thee. Suddenly the robbers
heard the shouts of people searching for them, and they fled. Another
time, St. Hilarion in passing by the church heard a voice: I shall
glorify thee throughout all the land. He trembled, and going into the
712
TODAY IS DECEMBER 15
TODAY IS DECEMBER 16
Saint Sophia
DAY OF CELEBRATION
TODAY IS DECEMBER 17
The holy New Martyr St. Avakum was born in Bosnia in 1794, and was
named Lepoje by his parents. Lepojes father died when he was still a
young boy, so his mother took him to the Mostanica monastery, where
his uncle was the spiritual Father. He grew up in the monastery, and
later became a monk with the name Avakum. When he was eighteen,
he was ordained a deacon by Metropolitan Joseph (Sakabenta). In
1809, the monks took part in an unsuccessful revolt against the
Turks, and had to flee for their lives. They settled in the Annunciation
monastery in Trnava near Cacak, where the igumen was St. Paisius.
After the collapse of Karageorges revolt in 1813, the Turks began a
716
reign of terror against the Serbs. Disease also swept the area
because of the many bodies left unburied. The people attempted
another revolt under Hadj-Prodan Gligorijevic, and the monks of
Trnava became involved in it. The rebellion took place on the Feast of
the Cross, but it was crushed by the Turks. Many people were
captured, and some were executed on the spot as a warning to
others. Some of the prisoners were sent to Suleiman Pasha in
Belgrade, among whom were Sts. Paisius and Avakum. The holy
deacon Avakum sang God is with us (from Compline) in the prison
cell, while St. Paisius prayed. The Turks offered to free anyone who
would convert to Islam. Some of the prisoners agreed to this, but the
majority refused to deny Christ, and so they were put to death. The
Turks tried to pressure Avakum to save himself by embracing their
religion, but he refused even to consider it. His former spiritual
Father, Gennadius, accepted the offer of the Turks and urged Avakum
to follow his example. The courageous deacon declared that he was a
warrior of Christ, and preferred to die rather than deny Christ. St.
Avakum was sentenced to be impaled on a stake, which he was
forced to carry to the place of execution. His own mother urged him
to embrace Islam, then to seek forgiveness later because he had been
forced into it. The saint thanked her for giving him life, but not for her
advice. At the place of execution, the Turks asked him one more time
to consider his youth and not to die before his time. Avakum laughed
and asked, Dont even Turks eventually die? They replied, Of
course they do. Well then, he said, the sooner I die, the fewer sins
I will have. Because of his courage and steadfastness in his faith, the
Turks decided not to impale him. They killed him quickly by stabbing
him in the heart with a sword on January 27, 1815. St. Avakum the
deacon is commemorated on December 17 with St. Paisius.
717
TODAY IS DECEMBER 18
Modestus was
entrusted
to
govern the
Jerusalem
Church
devastated
Christian
shrines,
among
which
was
the
and
after
his
death
St.
Modestus
became
718
Patriarch
of
TODAY IS DECEMBER 19
Saint
Gregentios
of
Himyaritia
was
the
missionary
Bishop
of
grace
of
God
and
possessed
the
gifts
of
healing
and
accomplished his mission with much zeal and great fruition, bringing
into bosom of the Church a great number of the Jews of that area. He
reposed peacefully on December 19, 552, and his loss was lamented
by many people. He was buried in a crypt in the cathedral of Afar.
Christianity is a minority religion in Yemen today. The World
719
TODAY IS DECEMBER 20
Saint Daniel of Serbia, the only son of rich and renowned parents, was
a close associate of the Serbian king Stephan Urosh Milutin. Having
renounced a secular career, he received monastic tonsure from the
igumen of the St. Nicholas monastery at Konchul near the River Ibar.
St. Daniels ascetic life was an example for all the brethren.
Archbishop Eustathius of Serbia ordained him presbyter and took him
into his cell. When it was time to choose the igumen for the Hilandar
monastery on Mount Athos, St. Daniel received the appointment. The
saint was igumen at a most difficult time for the Holy Mountain. After
the Crusaders were expelled from Palestine, they joined with the
Arabs to plunder and loot the Athonite monasteries, not sparing
anything sacred. St. Daniel remained at the Hilandar monastery,
enduring siege and hunger. When peace came to the Holy Mountain,
the saint resigned as igumen and withdrew into complete silence in
the cell of St. Sava of Serbia (at Karyes). During the internecine war
of Kings Milutin and Dragutin and Stephen of Dechani, the ascetic
was summoned to Serbia, where he reconciled the adversaries. In his
native land Daniel was made Bishop of Banja and head of the
renowned
monastery
of
St.
Stephen,
royal
treasury.
After
from
Athos
again
in
720
1325,
when
he
was
elected
TODAY IS DECEMBER 21
located on Turkish territory, but the grace of the ascetic labors of the
fathers who labored there in the past pours forth hope upon the
Georgian people to this day. Many holy and wonder-working fathers
labored at Khakhuli Monastery, including St. Basil the son of King
Bagrat III, the brothers George and Saba of Khakhuli, St. Hilarion of
Tvali and many other God-fearing ascetics, whose righteousness and
spiritual feats were guided by the holy abbot Macarius. Fr. Macarius
was a great ascetic, teacher, and prophet. Novices and wise,
experienced elders alike flocked to him for advice and blessings. The
young monk George, later the great ascetic George of the Holy
Mountain, was brought to St. Macarius to receive his blessing. St.
Macarius called George his spiritual son. By the grace of God, St.
Macarius reconciled his responsibilities as abbot of the monastery
with the great spiritual labor of solitude. He earned the title the
Faster for his exceptional ascesis in fasting and prayer. It is said
that, as abbot of Khakhuli Monastery, he shone like the morning
sunrise and guided the spiritual activity and secular life of the entire
Tao-Klarjeti region. St. Macarius reposed around the year 1034.
TODAY IS DECEMBER 22
722
would also die on the same day. Nine days later, the words of St.
Chrysogonus were fulfilled. Zoilus fell asleep in the Lord, and St.
Anastasia visited the three maidens before their tortures. When these
three martyrs gave up their souls to the Lord, she buried them. Having
carried out her teachers request, the saint went from city to city
ministering to Christian prisoners. Proficient in the medical arts of the
time, she zealously cared for captives far and wide, healing their
wounds and relieving their suffering. Because of her labors, St.
Anastasia received the name Deliverer from Potions (Pharmakolytria),
since by her intercessions she has healed many from the effects of
potions, poisons, and other harmful substances. She made the
acquaintance of the pious young widow Theodota, finding in her a
faithful helper. Theodota was taken for questioning when it was
learned that she was a Christian. Meanwhile, St. Anastasia was
arrested in Illyricum. This occurred just after all the Christian
captives there had been murdered in a single night by order of
Diocletian. St. Anastasia had come to one of the prisons, and finding
no one there, she began to weep loudly. The jailers realized that she
was a Christian and took her to the prefect of the district, who tried
to persuade her to deny Christ by threatening her with torture. After
his unsuccessful attempts to persuade St. Anastasia to offer sacrifice
to idols, he handed her over to the pagan priest Ulpian in Rome. The
cunning pagan offered St. Anastasia the choice between luxury and
riches, or grievous sufferings. He set before her gold, precious stones
and fine clothing, and also fearsome instruments of torture. The crafty
man was put to shame by the bride of Christ. St. Anastasia refused
the riches and chose the tools of torture. But the Lord prolonged the
earthly life of the saint, and Ulpian gave her three days to reconsider.
Charmed by Anastasias beauty, the pagan priest decided to defile her
purity. However, when he tried to touch her he suddenly became
blind. His head began to ache so severely that he screamed like a
724
in
Christ
and
were
baptized
by
Sts.
Anastasia
and
TODAY IS DECEMBER 23
TODAY IS DECEMBER 24
by
the
innkeepers
daughter,
but
he
resisted
her
TODAY IS DECEMBER 25
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, was born of the Most
Holy Virgin Mary in the city of Bethlehem during the reign of the
emperor Augustus (Octavian). Caesar Augustus decreed that a
universal census be made throughout his Empire, which then also
included Palestinian Israel. The Jews were accustomed to be counted
in the city from where their family came. The Most Holy Virgin and the
Righteous Joseph, since they were descended from the house and
lineage of King David, had to go to Bethlehem to be counted and
taxed. In Bethlehem they found no room at any of the citys inns.
Thus, the God-Man, the Savior of the world, was born in a cave that
was used as a stable. I behold a strange and most glorious mystery,
the Church sings with awe, Heaven, a Cave; the Virgin the Throne of
the Cherubim; the Manger a room, in which Christ, the God Whom
nothing can contain is laid. (Irmos of the 9th Ode of the Nativity
Canon). Having given birth to the divine Infant without travail, the
Most Holy Virgin wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a
manger (Luke 2:7). In the stillness of midnight (Wisdom of Solomon
18:14-15), the proclamation of the birth of the Savior of the world was
heard by three shepherds watching their flocks by night. An angel of
the Lord (St. Cyprian says this was Gabriel) came before them and
said: Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David
a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11). The humble
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the Theologian, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Ambrose of Milan, St. John
Chrysostom and other Fathers of the Church of the fourth century.
TODAY IS DECEMBER 26
Our Holy Father Constantine of Synnada (7th c.) His parents were
Jews living at Synnada in Phrygia. One day when he was nine years
old, he saw a Christian merchant make the sign of the Cross in the
marketplace; and in imitation, without understanding its meaning, he
began to make the sign. This became a habit with him, and he began
to imitate other practices of the Christians around him, still without
any understanding of the Christian faith. But by the power of the
Cross, the grace of Christ began to grow in him secretly. He began to
hear a voice within him revealing some of the mysteries of
Christianity, and he began to be filled with a fervent love for the
Savior. After the death of his mother, he fled his home town to escape
an arranged marriage, and came in time to a monastery in Nicaea. He
told his story to the abbot, who baptized him, giving him the name of
Constantine. When the sign of the Cross was made on his head at
baptism, a cross appeared visibly on his forehead, where it remained
for the rest of his life. The holy Constantine devoted the rest of his
days to the ascetical life, excelling in every virtue. It is said that a
delightful scent would fill any place that he went, and that church
doors would open spontaneously at his approach. He comforted many
by healing their ailments through his prayers, and was granted the gift
of discerning the secrets of hearts. After living for some time in
Nicaea, he travelled to Mt. Olympus in Bithynia where he lived as a
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hermit. Seeing that there were many Jews living in that area, he
strove for a time to preach the Gospel to them, but was unable to win
many of his former brethren to faith in Christ. He foretold the date of
his death eight years beforehand. His final words to his disciples were
'The Lord is coming to invite me to the feast of Joy.' He then died, and
a fragrant scent filled his cell. His relics gave off a healing myrrh for
many years.
TODAY IS DECEMBER 27
Our Righteous Father St. Theodore the Branded was born in Arabia to
wealthy Christian parents. He became a monk in the monastery of St.
Sabbas the Sanctified. During the iconoclast persecutions, he was
sent by Patriarch Thomas of Jerusalem to the Emperor Leo the
Armenian, to defend the veneration of icons. The Emperor had St.
Theodore tortured and imprisoned; then, as a final insult, he had a
condemnation branded (or, by another account, tattooed) on his face
in twelve lines of iambic verse. When the iconoclast persecution
ended, St. Theodore was freed and was soon made a bishop. In all, he
suffered for the holy icons for twenty-five years. St. Theodore
composed many Canons and hymns, which are still used in the
Church's services. He reposed in peace.
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TODAY IS DECEMBER 28
Our
Holy
Father
Simon
the
Outpourer
of
Myrrh,
Founder
of
TODAY IS DECEMBER 29
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family's fortune upon his brother's death, he kept none of it either for
himself or even for his monastery, but distributed it to poorer
communities and to the needy. Saint Marcellus reposed in peace
around 484, having lived the ascetical life for some sixty years.
TODAY IS DECEMBER 30
the
emperor
transferred
the
capital
from
Rome
to
became angry, for he thought that Zoticus had purchased jewels with
the money received from his father, and he wanted them back.
TODAY IS DECEMBER 31
were so impressed with the education that she was receiving they
sent a large donation with Thekla when she returned to the Samtskhe
Tadzrisi Monastery. The donation was more than sufficient to enlarge
the teaching and student areas so that the nuns could accommodate
50 more students. Before long Theklas brother, the seven-year-old
George, who was to become an educator and saint himself, was also
brought to the monastery, where St. Sabiana spent three years
educating and instructing him in the spiritual life. St. Sabiana was
known for her healing prayers.
Sabiana would visit the ill right after evening prayers and anoint the
sick with oil and place her hands on their heads and spend an hour
praying for healing. The next morning, the sick were always healed.
St. Sabiana gathered around her nuns that were gifted teachers. The
Samtskhe Tadzrisi Monastery became known as the best school in
Georgia Russia and what we today call the Ukraine. When her former
student Thekla was widowed at age 30, she joined the school at the
Samtskhe Tadzrisi Monastery and at the repose of St. Sabiana, Thekla
became the abbess. As the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew
attests, the tree is known by his fruit (Matt. 12:33). The high level of
monastic life during St. Sabianas abbacy and the pious lives of her
spiritual children attest to the great spiritual heights she attained.
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Greek Saints Names
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Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdicocese of North America
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www.assemblyofbishops.org
Assembly of Canonical Bishops of North and Central America
www.ec-part.com
Orthodox links
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