October
21st
(New Style) October 8th (Old Style)
The
Venerable Pelagia
Pelagia
was a repentant sinner. She was born to pagan parents in Antioch, and
was endowed by God with great physical beauty. Pelagia used her beauty
to the destruction of her own soul and those of others. She became
very wealthy as a result of her prostitution. Once, while walking past
the Church of the Holy Martyr Julian, in which Bishop Nonnus was
preaching, she stopped in and heard a sermon on the Dread Judgment and
the punishment of sinners. Those words so shook her and changed her
that she immediately felt revulsion for herself, acquired true fear of
God, repented of all her sins and fell down before St. Nonnus with the
plea that he baptize her: ``Have mercy on me, a sinner, holy Father.
Baptize me and teach me repentance-I am a sea of iniquity, an abyss of
destruction, a net and weapon of the devil.'' Thus this penitent
begged the hierarch of Christ with tears, and he baptized her. At her
baptism, Blessed Romana, the deaconess of the church, was her
godmother. Romana, as her spiritual mother, grounded her well in the
Christian Faith. But Pelagia was not satisfied with baptism alone. She
was keenly aware of the multitude of her sins and, pricked by her
conscience, decided on a great ascetic labor. She left her enormous,
sinfully gained wealth to the poor, and secretly went to Jerusalem as
the monk Pelagius. There, she shut herself up in a cell on the Mount
of Olives, and began the difficult ascesis of fasting, prayer and
all-night vigils. After three years, St. Nonnus's deacon, James,
visited her and found her still alive, but when he visited her again
several days later, he found that she had reposed, and he honorably
buried her body. St. Pelagia entered into rest in about the year 461.
Thus, this formerly terrible sinner pleased God by her repentance and
labor, was forgiven of her sins, and became sanctified. And her
purified and enlightened soul was deemed worthy of the Kingdom of God.
The
Venerable Thais
Thais
was a repentant sinner. She was an Egyptian by birth. Like St. Pelagia,
Thais also spent her youth in unrestrained fornication. Thais was
directed in this evil way of life by her shameless mother. But the
merciful God, Who does not desire the death of a sinner, but
salvation, found a way in His wondrous providence to save the sinner
Thais. One of the disciples of St. Anthony the Great, Paphnutius the
Sindonite, heard of Thais's sinful life, and the spiritual poison with
which she was poisoning the souls of many men. He decided to save her,
with God's help. Clothed in secular clothing, St. Paphnutius took one
gold coin and went to the city. He found Thais and gave her the gold
coin. Thais, thinking that this man gave her the gold coin for an
impure act, took Paphnutius into her room. Then Paphnutius opened his
blessed mouth and denounced Thais's sins and called her to repentance.
Thais's soul and conscience were both awakened, and she burst into
tears of profound, sincere repentance. Distributing all her goods to
the poor, she entered a convent at the instruction of St. Paphnutius,
and remained there for about three years, closed off in a cell, living
only on bread and water. St. Paphnutius visited her before her death,
and brought her out of her cell against her will. She soon fell ill,
and after a brief illness gave up her purified and sanctified soul to
God. St. Paul the Simple, another disciple of St. Anthony, saw in a
vision a most beautiful habitation in Paradise, prepared by God for
St. Thais the penitent. This holy soul entered into rest in the year
340.
The
Holy Martyr Pelagia
Pelagia
was a maiden from an eminent family in Antioch. During the reign of
Emperor Numerian, the governor of Antioch sent soldiers to bring
Pelagia to trial as a known Christian. The soldiers surrounded the
house and called the holy maiden to come to the door. She greeted
them, and when she heard that they were taking her before the judge,
she pretended to be happy, and told the soldiers to wait for a moment
while she went back into the house to change clothes. Then she climbed
to the roof of the house, raised her hands to heaven and prayed to God
for a long time that He receive her soul and not permit her virginal
purity be defiled. God received her soul, and her body fell dead
before the soldiers. St. John Chrysostom wrote: ``Her death came about
not by natural causes but rather by the command of God.'' And he
continues: ``Thus, this virginal body, more pure than any gold, lay on
the ground; angels surrounded it, archangels honored it and Christ
Himself was beside her.''
Reflection
Oh, if
only we would invest as much effort in our souls as we invest in our
bodies! Oh, if only we could become as desirous of adorning ourselves
with virtue before God and His glorious angels, as we do with the
vain, transitory, external displays of appearances! At first, both
Pelagia and Thais were only aware of theier bodies, while their souls
were slaves bound in the prison of the body. Both were adorned with
nothing but vanity: clothed in vanity, arrayed with vanity, surrounded
by vanity, and flattered by vanity. But what a sudden change! What a
divine turn of events in their lives! More wondrous than if a wild
apple were to be grafted and begin to bring forth sweet fruits; or if
a turgid, fetid swamp were suddenly to become clear, pure potable
water. When Bishop Nonnus, in the company of other bishops, first saw
the sinner Pelagia in her outward splendor-clothed in the most
expensive garments, adorned and bedecked with rings, necklaces and
baubles, perfumed, and surrounded by slaves-Bishop Nonnus began to
weep, and said to his companions: ``In truth, I have learned much from
this woman. The Lord will set her before His Dread Judgment and will
rebuke us through her. How many hours does this woman spend in her
room bathing herself, clothing herself, adorning herself, and looking
at herself in the mirror-and for what? Only to appear more beautiful
to men. And we, who have the immortal Bridegroom in heaven, do not
strive to adorn our souls with repentance; we do not hasten to bathe
them with the tears of repentance and clothe them in the beauty of the
virtues, that they might appear more beautiful before the eyes of
God!''
Contemplation
Contemplate
the unrighteousness of King Ahab, and God's punishment of him through
the Prophet Elias (I Kings 16, 17):
1. How Ahab gave himself up totally to idolatry, and did that which is
evil in the sight of the Lord;
2. How the Prophet Elias shut the heavens by his prayer, and there was
no rain for three years.
Homily
On how
the weapons of the enemy will vanish in the end
O thou
enemy, thy destructions are come to a perpetual end, even as the
cities which thou hast destroyed; thy memorial is perished with a roar
(Psalm 9:6).
The enemy of the human race, the murderer of men from the very
beginning, has used every weapon and intrigue against man. He thinks
up new weapons and new intrigues day and night, in order to destroy
someone as a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour (I Peter
5:8). He hides like a poisonous snake and awaits his prey; he
stretches his webs everywhere, like a spider, with the sole purpose of
ensnaring some human soul and entrapping it in his foul kingdom. Pagan
peoples were his cities. Until the coming of Christ, he ruled
untroubled and absolutely in them. When they served idols, they served
him; the practices of soothsaying and fortune-telling served him; he
protected, directed and enhanced men's unbridled licentiousness; human
sacrifice, fiery passions, discord, war, evildoings of all
descriptions-this was all pleasure for him. But in the end, no weapons
remained in him; his ``cities'' were destroyed and his memorial is
perished with a roar. This ``end'' of which the prophet speaks is the
coming of Jesus Christ the Lord into the world. The Lord manifested
His power over the devil when He overcame his temptations on the
mountain. He manifested His authority in driving demons out of men,
commanding them to go this way or that; He manifested His invincible
lordship over sin and death by His suffering and Resurrection. And,
what is perhaps most important, He harrowed hell and scattered the
demonic power. He did not desire to utterly destroy the demons, but to
disperse them and smash their weapons; He smashed them and scattered
them as He later did the Jews, but more terribly than He did the Jews.
He freed the people from their domination; and even more importantly,
He gave men authority over the demons, such that they can drive the
demons out by the power of His name. Do you see how the Lord linked
His victory over the demons with His mercy toward men? He so weakened
and broke them, He so confused and dispersed them, that He placed them
under the authority of men. Even so, the Lord did not grant authority
over demons to all men, but only to those who believe in Him and who
follow His commandments. He gave them authority, and He also gave them
a weapon. That weapon is the Cross.
O Lord our God, our Savior from the dominion of the devil, help us
also to do that ``least part'' that Thou hast left us to do.
To
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October
22nd
(New Style) October 9th (Old Style)
The
Holy Apostle James
James,
the son of Alphaeus, was one of the Twelve Apostles. He was the
blood-brother of the Apostle and Evangelist Matthew. He was a witness
of the true words and miracles of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
and a witness of His suffering, Resurrection and Ascension. After the
descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the lot fell to James to
preach the Gospel of Christ in Eleutheropolis and the surrounding
areas, and then in Egypt, where he suffered for his Savior. With great
power in word and in deed, James disseminated the saving news of the
incarnate Word of God, destroying idolatry, driving demons out of men,
and healing every infirmity and disease in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ. His labor and zeal were crowned with great success. Many
pagans came to believe in Christ, churches were built and organized,
and priests and bishops were ordained. James suffered in the Egyptian
town of Ostracina, being crucified by the pagans. Thus, this great and
wonderful apostle of Christ took up his abode in the Heavenly Kingdom,
to reign eternally with the King of Glory.
The
Venerable Andronicus and his wife Athanasia
Andronicus
was a citizen of Antioch during the reign of Theodosius the Great.
Andronicus was a goldsmith by trade. He and his wife were very devout,
continually striving to follow the way of the Lord. He gave a third of
his income to the poor, another third to the church, and supported his
family with the last third. After two children were born to them, they
agreed to live as brother and sister. However, according to God's
unfathomable providence, both of their children died on the same day,
and they were in great sorrow. Then the holy martyr Julian appeared to
Athanasia at the children's grave, and comforted her with the tidings
that her children were in the Kingdom of God, and were better off
there than with their parents on earth. Andronicus and Athanasia left
everything and went to Egypt and received the monastic tonsure-St.
Andronicus with the elder Daniel at Scetis; and Athanasia in the
convent in Tabennisi. Pleasing God by their long years of asceticism,
they at last went to the Eternal Kingdom of Christ. St. Athanasia
reposed first, and eight days later, St. Andronicus.
The
Righteous Abraham and Lot
Their
lives can be read in the Book of Genesis.
Saint
Demetrius, Patriarch of Alexandria
Demetrius
was the eleventh Bishop of Alexandria after St. Mark the Evangelist.
He governed his flock long and wisely, from 189 to 231. During this
time, he received a request from India and sent St. Pantaenus, the
director of the famous catechetical school in Alexandria, to India to
preach the Gospel. It was in India that Pantaenus found the Gospel
written by St. Matthew in Aramaic.
Saint
Stefan, Despot of Serbia
Stefan
was the son of the Despot George and Queen Irene. He and his sister
Mara lived at the court of Sultan Murat II for a time. He was blinded
at Jedrene together with his brother Grgur. He received authority as
Despot over Serbia in 1458. Soon after that, he had to flee his
country to Albania where he married Angelina, the daughter of
Skenderbeg. Blind and unfortunate but always devoted to God, Stefan
entered into rest in Italy in the year 1468. His relics repose in the
Monastery of Kru
edol, founded by his son St. Maxim.
Reflection
How God
both punishes and shows mercy is clearly shown to us from the lives of
the last of the Serbian Despots during the Turkish conquest of the
Serbian lands. The Turks did not come to the Balkans by their own
power to enslave Christian peoples (Greeks, Bulgarians and Serbs) but
by God's permission, in the same way that Nebuchadnezzar conquered
Jerusalem and took the Hebrews into slavery, not by his own power but
rather by God's permission. Because of the sins of their princes and
nobles, the Serbian people suffered bitterly; and the princes and
nobles themselves suffered even more bitterly. Despot George died as
an exile; two of his sons, Grgur and Stefan, were blinded by the
Turks; his daughter was forced to become the wife of a sultan; his
middle son rose up against his own mother, Irene, and brother Grgur,
and seized the shaky throne of Smederevo by force, only to die soon
thereafter. As soon as he became despot, the blind Stefan had to flee
to Albania, then to Italy where, as an exile and an unfortunate, he
reposed. All of this is God's punishment. Yet where is His mercy? God
glorified both Stefan and his wife Angelina and their children Maxim
and John. After eight years of lying in the grave, Stefan's body was
exhumed and found to be intact, and exuded a sweet, heavenly
fragrance. Many miracles were manifested from his holy relics. God
graced his wife and his children in the same manner, glorifying and
sanctifying them.
Contemplation
Contemplate
the wondrous bringing down of fire from heaven by the Prophet Elias (I
Kings 18):
1. How St. Elias prayed to God on Mount Carmel in the presence of King
Ahab and the idolatrous priests;
2. How the fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice that Elias
offered to God.
Homily
On how
only the foolish deny God
The fool
hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt. They have
done abominable works (Psalm 14:1).
The mind is the rudder of man's entire being. It counsels, persuades
and guides. Both the soul and the body act according to the mind. If
the mind is upright before God, then the whole man is upright. If the
mind is iniquitous before God, the whole man is iniquitous. Even if
someone merely thinks, ``There is no God,'' the thought immediately
manifests itself in his deeds. Evil thoughts come first and evil deeds
inevitably follow. Do you see how well the inspired prophet knows the
nature of man? First, he underlines the cause, then he cites the
consequences. Evil deeds necessarily proceed from evil thoughts. That
is why, brethren, you should not believe those who say: ``I do not
believe in God, but I do good deeds.'' First of all, he who does not
believe in God does not know what good is, nor can he differentiate
good from evil. By his disbelief, a man cuts himself off from the
greatest Good and the Source of every good! Furthermore, let us
carefully study this: you will see that all the deeds of the ungodly
are corrupt and hateful. They are corrupt because they are evil,
worthless and transitory; they are hateful, because they are contrary
to the will of the Living God. The godless cannot distinguish good
from evil, for only in the light of God's law can one determine
precisely what is good and what is evil. However, it can also be that
those who merely say they believe in God do corrupt and hateful deeds,
acknowledging God with their lips but denying Him in deeds. It is good
to confess God with your lips, but that is a long way from being
enough! One must also acknowledge Him with the heart, and confirm
one's faith by good deeds. Even so, it does happen that a man believes
in his heart, and confesses with his lips, and still sins. This
happens either from the weakness of the will or from the devil's
arrows. Let such a one repent, and he will be forgiven immediately.
Repentance is salvific even for the godless; how much more so for a
believer? As long as a man is on earth, he has a chance for
repentance. But who can be certain that his time will extend beyond
this night? Hence, delaying repentance is utter foolishness.
O most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God; help us to repent as
Thou dost help us to breathe.
To
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October
23rd
(New Style) October 10th (Old Style)
The
Holy Martyrs Eulampius and Eulampia
They
were brother and sister from Nicomedia. During one of the terrible
persecutions of Christians by Maximian some of the faithful fled
Nicomedia and hid. The young Eulampius was sent into the city to buy
bread. There he saw the imperial edict decreeing the persecution of
Christians posted on a wall. He laughed at it, removed it, and tore it
up. He was arrested and immediately brought before the judge. When the
judge advised him to deny Christ, Eulampius counseled the judge to
reject the false idols and to acknowledge Christ as the One Living
God. The judge ordered that he be flogged for a long time until his
blood flowed, and that he be tormented with other cruel tortures.
Hearing of her brother's suffering, the virgin Eulampia came running,
and she, together with her brother, suffered for Christ. She was
flogged until blood flowed from her nose and mouth. After that, they
were thrown into boiling pitch, and then into a red-hot furnace, but
by the power of the sign of the Cross and the name of Christ, they
rendered the fire harmless. Finally Eulampius was beheaded, but
Eulampia died before being beheaded. Two hundred other Christians were
also slain, who had come to believe in Christ upon witnessing the
power and miracles of St. Eulampius and his sister. All were crowned
with martyrs' wreaths, and passed over into their eternal heavenly
homeland.
The
Holy Martyrs of Zographou
When
Emperor Michael Palaeologus contracted the infamous Union of Lyons
with the pope, in order to obtain help from the West against the
Bulgarians and Serbs, the monks of the Holy Mountain sent a protest to
the emperor against this Union, imploring him to reject it and return
to Orthodoxy. The pope dispatched an army to help the emperor. The
Latin army entered the Holy Mountain and committed such barbarism as
the Turks had never committed in five hundred years. Having hanged the
Protaton, and having killed many monks in Vatopedi, Iveron
and other monasteries, the Latins attacked Zographou. The blessed
Abbot Thomas warned the brethren that whoever wished to be spared from
the Latins should flee from the monastery, and that whoever desired a
martyr's death should remain. And so, twenty-six men remained: the
abbot, twenty-one monks, and four laymen who served as laborers for
the monastery. They all closed themselves in the monastery's tower.
When the Latins arrived, they set fire to the tower and these
twenty-six heroes of Christ found a martyr's death in the fire. While
the tower was burning, they chanted the Psalms and the Akathist to the
Most-holy Mother of God. They gave their holy souls to God on October
10, 1283. In December of the same year, the dishonorable Emperor
Michael died in poverty, when the Serbian King Milutin rose up against
him in defense of Orthodoxy.
The
Venerable Theophilus the Confessor
Theophilus
was a Macedonian Slav from somewhere near Strumica. He was tonsured a
monk when still young, and founded his own monastery. He suffered much
for the icons during the reign of Leo the Isaurian, and would have
been slain on one occasion, had he not succeeded in convincing
Governor Hypaticus, his judge, of the principle and need for the
veneration of icons. The governor freed him. Theophilus returned to
his monastery, where he reposed peacefully in the year 716, and
entered into the joy of his Lord.
The
Holy Martyr Theotecnus
He was a
Roman officer in Antioch during the reign of Emperor Maximian. When
the emperor urged him to sacrifice to the idols, he replied: ``I
believe in Christ God, and to Him will I offer myself as a sacrifice-a
living sacrifice.'' After cruel tortures, he was drowned by being
thrown into the sea with a stone around his neck. He suffered
honorably for Christ and was crowned with the wreath of martyrdom.
The
Venerable Bassian
During
the reign of the right-believing Emperor Marcian, this saint came to
Constantinople from Anatolia in the year 450. Great was his
asceticism, and great was the wonderworking power that God bestowed
upon him. Bassian had about three hundred disciples. Among them was
St. Matrona. Emperor Marcian built a church in Bassian's name, which
still exists today.
Reflection
By God's
providence, the greatest number of miracles and heavenly
manifestations occur during the martyrdom of His servants. On the day
that the Latins set out for the Monastery of Zographou, an old monk
had an obedience in a vineyard half an hour's distance from the
monastery. At the prescribed time, he read the Akathist before the
icon of the Mother of God. However, when he began to pronounce the
word ``Rejoice!'' a voice came to him from the icon: ``Do thou also
rejoice, O elder! Flee from here now, or misfortune will befall thee;
go and tell the brethren of the monastery to lock themselves in, for
the God-opposing Latins have attacked this, my chosen Mountain, and
are already near.'' The frightened elder fell to his knees and cried
out in fear: ``How can I leave thee here, my Queen and Intercessor?''
At this he again heard the voice: ``Do not worry about me, but go
quickly!'' The elder went to the monastery immediately. But when he
reached the monastery gates he beheld that same icon of the Mother of
God. In a miraculous manner, the icon had preceded him to the
monastery. The amazed elder related all that had been revealed to him
to the abbot and the brethren. At that, all of them glorified God and
the Mother of God.
Once, during the celebration of the Feast of the twenty-six martyrs of
Zographou, on October 10, 1873, there was a great all-night vigil. It
was a moonless night. In the middle of the night, while the monks were
chanting and reading the lives of the holy martyrs in the church, a
noise was suddenly heard, and over the church a fiery pillar appeared,
extending from earth to heaven. It was so bright that things at a
distance could be seen as though it were midday. This wondrous
manifestation lasted for about a quarter of an hour and then
disappeared.
Contemplation
Contemplate
God's miraculous appearance to the Prophet Elias (I Kings 19):
1. How Elias, fatigued by the unrighteousness of the people, prayed to
God to grant him death;
2. How God comforted Elias by His appearing on Horeb;
3. How there was a strong wind, then an earthquake, then fire, and
finally a still, small voice-the voice of God.
Homily
On the
sufferings of David and the prophecy of the sufferings of Christ
For many
dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed
Me. They pierced My hands and My feet (Psalm 22:16).
This is the mystical experience of the penitent David, and, at the
same time, a clear prophecy of Christ's sufferings. Yea, and all that
will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (II Timothy
3:12), says the Apostle Paul. When King David sinned, the devils did
not appear to him nor did they disturb him; but when he began to
repent and to direct his life on the path of God, then the devils
surrounded him and tormented him. The words here are not about men but
about demons, who sometimes attack the penitent directly, or torment
him through other men. David would not have called God's people, the
crown of God's creation, ``dogs.'' Rather, he called the demons
``dogs,'' who are perceived by righteous men as dogs, snakes, black
men, lions, or in some other form. That he here means ``dogs'' as evil
spirits can be proven by the written lives of the great ascetics, to
whom the demons appeared in the form of dogs and other animals, to
frighten them. We can also be convinced of this from the words of the
Lord our Savior, that He spoke from the Cross: Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). This means that the Jews
were not doing their own will but rather someone else's: the demons'
will. For many dogs and the congregation of the wicked gathered to
destroy Christ the Lord. When the devil-the tempter-could not defeat
the Lord on the Mount of Temptation by his false promises, he began
with all his might to destroy Him through men by a dishonorable death
on the Cross. Brethren, see how clear the prophecy is! They pierced My
hands and My feet. These words could not have pertained to anyone
else, in the entire history of the world, but the crucified Savior.
This prophecy continues in great detail: They divided My garments
among them and for My vesture they cast lots (Psalm 22:18). Everything
happened as it was prophesied-everything! But the devil was deluded in
his reckoning. He thought he could destroy the One mightier than
death, by condemning Him to death. He thought to dishonor Him Who
alone gives honor to all creation. By his glorious Resurrection, the
Lord Jesus Christ conquered and shamed the devil and his entire pack
of dogs, and gave man power and authority over them. The whole pagan
world was unable to exorcize even one single demon; but we, by the
name of Christ and by the power of His Cross, are able to disperse
legions of demons like smoke-for, after Christ's victory, the demons
became like whipped and frightened dogs.
To
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October
24th
(New Style) October 11th (Old Style)
The
Holy Apostle Philip
Philip
was born in Palestinian Caesarea. He was married and had four
daughters. All four were endowed by God with the gift of prophecy, and
all four were vowed virgins for the sake of Christ. When the holy
apostles chose deacons, Philip was chosen with Stephen and the others.
He served the needy and widows with great diligence. When the
persecution of Christians began in Jerusalem, Apostle Philip found
refuge in Samaria, and there preached the Gospel and gave witness by
many miracles: driving out demons, healing the sick, and so forth.
Seeing the miracles of the holy apostle, Simon the Magician was
baptized. St. Philip also baptized the eunuch of Queen Candace. After
that, an angel of God suddenly and invisibly translated him to Azotus,
where he taught, preached and converted many to Christ. Philip was
appointed Bishop of Tralles. He reposed peacefully in deep old age,
and took up his habitation in the joy of his Lord.
The
Commemoration of the Seventh Ecumenical Council
The
Seventh Ecumenical Council was held in 787 at Nicaea during the reign
of the devout Empress Irene and her son, Constantine, in the time of
Patriarch Tarasius. This Council finally confirmed the veneration of
icons, justifying it by Holy Scripture, by the witness of the Holy
Fathers, and by the undeniable example of miracles manifested through
the holy icons. Adding to examples of miracles previously cited,
Bishop Constantine of Cyprus recounted this: One day, a certain
shepherd from the town of Constantia drove his flock to pasture, and
there saw an icon of the Most-holy Theotokos, all decorated with
flowers by the faithful. ``Why render so much honor to a rock?'' said
the shepherd, who had obviously been brought up in iconoclasm. He
struck the icon with his iron shepherd's cane, and damaged the right
eye of the image of the Mother of God. As soon as he turned away, he
stumbled over that same cane and gouged out his own right eye. Thus
injured, he returned to the city, crying out tearfully that the
punishment of the Theotokos had befallen him. This Council also
decreed that the holy relics of a martyr be placed, without fail, in
the Antimension. Three hundred and sixty-seven Fathers
participated in this Council. May the Lord also have mercy on us and
save us by their prayers.
The
Venerable Theophanes the Branded
Theophanes
was a confessor and writer of canons. He was born in Arabia of wealthy
and pious parents. With his brother Theodore (December 27), he was
tonsured a monk in the Monastery of St. Sava the Sanctified. As they
were very educated monks, Patriarch Thomas of Jerusalem sent them to
Emperor Leo the Armenian, to justify and defend the veneration of
icons. The iniquitous emperor harshly tortured these holy brothers and
cast them into prison. Later, the iconoclastic Emperor Theophilus
resumed their torture and commanded that words of mockery be branded
on their faces, to expose them to the ridicule of the world. When the
iconoclastic controversy was resolved, Theophanes was freed, and
shortly thereafter was consecrated a bishop. He died peacefully in the
year 847, having suffered for the holy icons for a total of
twenty-five years. He wrote 145 Canons. He entered into the eternal
joy of his Lord.
Saint
Nectarius, Patriarch of Constantinople
As a
layman and a high-ranking court official, Nectarius was unanimously
chosen as patriarch in 381, succeeding St. Gregory the Theologian. He
was distinguished by profound understanding, tact and zeal for the
Church. He reposed peacefully in the year 397.
The
Holy Martyrs Zinaida and Philonilla
Zinaida
and Philonilla were sisters by birth, and were born in Tarsus. They
are called the kinswomen of St. Paul the Apostle. Remaining virgins,
they renounced the world for the sake of Christ, and, withdrawing to a
cave, lived the ascetic life. They were knowledgeable in medicine and
healed many of the sick. Because of her great fasting, Philonilla
especially was vouchsafed the gift of miracle-working. Certain
unbelievers attacked them one night and stoned them to death.
Reflection
Just as,
by God's providence, the power of miraculous healing is given to
blessed water or sanctified oil, so this same power is also given to
icons. St. Athanasius the Great cites one wonderful example of the
miraculous power of holy icons: In the town of Beirut, there lived a
Christian in a rented house. In moving out of the house, he forgot an
icon of the Savior. Then a Jew moved into that house. There were many
Jews in that town who were particularly embittered against the
Christian Faith. Consequently, when the icon was found in the house,
the Jews carried it to their gathering place and mocked it, as their
ancestors had once mocked the living Savior. The Jews also did to the
icon what their ancestors had done to the Savior: they pierced the
hands and feet with nails, wiped vinegar on the lips of the image on
the icon, and mocked the image of the Savior in every way possible.
Finally, one of them took a spear and struck the divine image under
the rib. But oh, the wonder-blood and water flowed from the image's
wound as they had from the living body of the crucified Lord. The
Jews' terror cannot be described. However, they brought a vessel to
catch the blood, and brought many of the sick, blind, deaf, lame and
insane to the icon. As soon as the Jews anointed the ailing with this
blood, they were healed. The whole town gathered to see this miracle
and all glorified Jesus Christ, the true God; and all the Jews in that
town came to believe in the living and life-giving Lord Jesus Christ.
Contemplation
Contemplate
the numerous unrighteous acts of the people of Israel, and the
numerous punishments that God visited upon them (II Kings 24):
1. How the princes of the people often turned away from God, and did
that which is evil in the sight of God;
2. How God punished the people in order to correct them;
3. How finally, under the evil King Jehoiachin, the Israelites were
taken into the Babylonian captivity.
Homily
On the
voice of the Lord upon the waters
The
voice of the Lord is upon the waters (Psalm 29:3).
The voice of the Lord was heard over Jordan, when St. John baptized
the Savior. On the Sea of Galilee, when there were storms and winds,
the voice of the Lord was heard, and the tempest was calmed and the
winds ceased. The voice of the Lord was heard at the marriage feast at
Cana of Galilee, and the water was changed into wine. The voice of the
Lord was heard at the Red Sea, and the sea parted and a path was
opened for the people of God. The voice of the Lord was heard in the
wilderness, and water flowed from a dry rock. Given all this, what
does the voice of the Lord is upon the waters mean? It means that the
element, water, is the work of God; and through it, God works miracles
when He wills, and how He wills. No less are the other elements the
work of God: fire, air and earth. And God is Lord over them all, and
through them He works miracles when He wills, and how He wills.
God the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of fire at Pentecost. In the
furnace at Babylon, the flames lost their power at the sound of the
voice of the Lord, and did not harm the blessed children. Fire was
sent down from heaven to consume the sacrifice of Gideon (Judges 6).
Elias brought down fire from the heavens (II Kings 1:10). The bush
burned and was not consumed (Exodus 3). Fire from heaven came down and
consumed Elias's sacrifice to God (I Kings 18:38). A fiery pillar went
before the Israelites (Exodus 13, 14). All of this was according to
the word of the Lord.
The earth opened up and swallowed the unrighteous Korah, Dathan and
Abiram (Numbers 16:32). The earth opened and hid Elizabeth and the
infant child John from the sword of Herod. The earth quaked when the
Lord breathed His last on the Cross, and the graves opened up (Matthew
27:51-52).
The Lord ascended into the heavens through the air (Luke 24:51). The
holy apostles were carried through the air to Jerusalem, from various
parts of the world. An angel took the Prophet Habakkuk to Babylon
through the air in an instant (Bel and the Dragon 1:35). And all of
this was in accord with the voice of the Lord: by the Lord's command.
When will men be as obedient to the voice of the Lord as the
irrational elements of nature are? Then again, ``the waters'' is to be
interpreted as meaning ``men''-men who are obedient to the voice of
the Lord-the apostles and the saints. Like water, they covered the
earth with the preaching of Christ our God. Like water, they assuaged
the thirsty world with the effusion of the fountain of eternal life,
and the world was restored and blossomed. Upon them, just as upon
ordinary water, numerous miracles were manifested; for they were
submissive to the will of God, obedient to the voice of God, just like
water.
O Lord Jesus Christ, help us to be obedient to Thy voice. Help us to
be ashamed before lifeless elements that obey Thee better than we do.
To
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October
25th
(New Style) October 12th (Old Style)
The
Holy Martyrs Tarachus, Probus and Andronicus
Tarachus
was born in Syrian Claudiopolis, Probus was from Perga of Pamphylia,
and Andronicus was the son of an eminent citizen of Ephesus. All three
were martyred together by the Proconsul Numerian Maximus, in Emperor
Diocletian's time. Tarachus was sixty-five years old when he was
tortured. The proconsul asked him for his name, and he answered: ``I
am a Christian.'' The proconsul asked thrice, and received the same
answer each time. These martyrs were beaten with rods, then were cast
into prison bloodied and wounded. After this, they were brought out
again for torture. When the proconsul advised Probus to deny Christ,
promising him imperial honors and his own friendship, holy Probus
replied: ``Neither the emperor's honors do I desire, nor your
friendship do I wish.'' When Andronicus was threatened with even
greater bodily tortures, the young martyr of Christ replied: ``My body
is before you, do with it what you will.'' After prolonged tortures in
various locales, the three holy martyrs were thrown into an arena with
wild beasts. Other prisoners in the same arena were torn apart by the
beasts, but they would not harm the saints; a bear and a ferocious
lioness fawned around them. Seeing this, many believed in Christ the
Lord and cried out against the proconsul. Crazed with anger, and more
furious than the beasts, the proconsul ordered his soldiers to enter
the arena and chop the soldiers of Christ into pieces with their
swords. Their bodies were mingled with the dead bodies of other
prisoners. Three Christians, Macarius, Felix and Berius, who were
present at the slaying of the holy martyrs, came that night to remove
their bodies. But as the bodies were heaped in confusion, and the
night was very dark, they prayed to God to help them find the saints;
and suddenly three candles were manifested over the bodies of the
martyrs. Thus, they were able to remove the saints' bodies and
honorably bury them.
Saint
Martin of Tours
Martin
was born of pagan parents in the Pannonian town of Sabaria in the year
316. His father was a Roman officer, and the young Martin was given
over to military service against his will. By then, however, he was
already a catechumen in the Christian Church. From early childhood he
had loved the Church with all his heart. One winter, while traveling
with his companions to the town of Amiens, he saw a beggar before the
town gates, almost naked and shivering from the cold. Martin felt
sorry for him, and fell behind his companions. He then removed his
military cloak and cut it in two with his sword. He gave one half to
the beggar and wrapped the other around himself, and left. That night,
the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream, wrapped in the other
half of his cloak, and said to His angels: ``Martin is only a
catechumen, yet behold: he has clothed Me with his garment!'' Leaving
the army, Martin was immediately baptized, and then baptized his
mother. He was then tonsured a monk in the diocese of St. Hilary of
Poitiers and led a life of true asceticism. Martin was exceptionally
humble, for which God endowed him with an abundant gift of working
miracles, such that he raised the dead and drove out evil spirits.
Martin was appointed Bishop of Tours against his will. After abundant
labor in the vineyard of the Lord, and after a difficult struggle with
pagans and Arian heretics, St. Martin gave his holy soul into the
hands of his Lord in the year 397.
The
Venerable Cosmas of Maiuma
He was
born in Jerusalem. He was a friend of St. John Damascene, whose
parents took him in as an orphan and raised him. As a monk, he
assisted John in compiling the Octoechos, and he himself composed many
canons to the saints. His canons on Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and
Passion Week are particularly distinguished by their beauty and
profundity. He was Bishop of Maiuma, near Palestinian Gaza. He
outlived St. John Damascene, and died in deep old age.
Reflection
By what
virtue have the saints been most exalted and glorified in the eyes of
heaven and men? Primarily by their humility and service. Even before
his baptism, while he was still an officer, St. Martin had a servant
whom he considered more a brother than a servant. He often served this
servant unashamedly; in fact, he even rejoiced in it. Again, when St.
Hilary wanted to ordain him a priest, he refused this honor with
tears, and begged the bishop to let him simply be a monk in some
remote place. Once, St. Martin was traveling from France to Pannonia
to visit his parents. While he was crossing over the Alps, murderous
robbers captured him. When one of the robbers raised his sword to
behead him, Martin showed no fear, and remained motionless; he did not
beg for mercy but was completely at peace, as if nothing were
happening. The robber, amazed at such behavior, lay aside his sword
and asked Martin who he was. Martin replied that he was a Christian,
and hence, he was not afraid-for he knew that God, according to His
great mercy, is always close to men, especially in times of danger.
The thieves were astonished at the rare virtue of this man of God, and
he who had drawn his sword against Martin believed in Christ, was
baptized, and later became a monk. When the episcopal throne in Tours
became vacant, the people wanted Martin to be bishop, but Martin did
not even want to hear of it. However, certain citizens of Tours
craftily lured him from the monastery and carried him off. They came
to the gate of Martin's monastery and told the Martin that a sick man
was out there with them, and they begged him for a blessing. When
Martin came out they seized him, took him to Tours, and had him
consecrated bishop. In old age, he foresaw his approaching death. He
told his brethren and they began to weep copiously, begging him not to
leave them. The saint, seeking to comfort them, prayed to God in their
presence and said: ``Lord, if I am still needed by Thy people, I do
not reject the labor. Let it be according to Thy holy will.''
Contemplation
Contemplate
the wondrous work of the Apostles Peter and John (Acts 3):
1. How a beggar, lame from birth, asked them for alms;
2. How Peter told him they had no silver or gold;
3. How the apostle took him by the hand and said, In the name of Jesus
Christ, rise up and walk! and the sick man was made whole.
Homily
On
weeping in the evening and joy in the morning
Weeping
may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).
God rebukes, and God makes glad. Just one repentant thought eases the
wrath of God; for God is not angry at men as an enemy is angry, but
His anger toward men is as that of a father toward his children. His
anger is momentary, and His mercy is infinite. If He rebukes you in
the evening, He causes you to rejoice in the morning; men know Him
best in His rebuking and in His mercy. O my brethren, if men
constantly knew and recognized God as the Doer of good, they would
never know Him as Rebuker and Judge. Behold, God rejoices more when we
recognize Him by His mercy than by His anger. However, there are very
ungrateful and thoughtless people who never remember God when He
grants mercy, but remember Him only when He chastises and rebukes them
through sickness, death in the family, failure and shame before men,
fire, the sword, earthquake or flood, or numerous other punitive rods
and sticks with which He chastens the unawakened, reminds the
ungrateful, brings the errant to their senses, and reminds everyone
that He is the Creator and Lord, the Giver of Gifts and the Judge.
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. These
words also mean that the night is for weeping and prayer, for
repentance and divine contemplation. The night especially is for
repentance, and there is no true repentance without tears. At night a
man thinks without hindrance about his deeds, his words, and his
thoughts, and repents for all that he has done contrary to God's law.
If a man weeps in repentance at night, then he will rejoice during the
day. He will rejoice as a newborn, as one bathed, as one alleviated
from the burden of sin. But, if he spends the night in sin and
senseless revelry, a sorrowful and tearful day will dawn for him.
O Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Teacher, rebuke us, but forgive
us; chastise us, but save us.
To
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October
26th
(New Style) October 13th (Old Style)
The
Holy Martyrs Carpus and Papylus
Carpus
was Bishop of Thyateira and Papylus was a deacon. They were born in
Pergamum where they finally suffered for the Christian Faith at the
hands of the evil proconsul Valerius, during the reign of Decius.
Valerius tied them to horses and dragged them to Sardis, where he
subjected them to harsh tortures. Then an angel of God appeared to
them, healed them of their wounds and encouraged them. Carpus's
servant, Agathadorus, followed his master with great sorrow. Valerius
then condemned him to torture as well. The saints were again tied to
horses, and were dragged from Sardis to Pergamum. They tied holy
Carpus to a tree and flogged him so that his body was covered with
wounds, and his blood flowed like a stream, soaking the ground; but
Carpus smiled in the midst of these horrible tortures. When they asked
him why he was smiling, the holy martyr replied that he saw the
heavens opened and the Lord seated on His throne, surrounded by
Cherubim and Seraphim. As Papylus was being tortured, by prayer he
healed a man blind in one eye, and many who witnessed this came to
believe in Christ the Lord. Thrown to wild beasts, the martyrs
remained unharmed. Then they were thrown into a fiery furnace.
Agathonica, Carpus's sister, also leaped into the fire, but the fire
did not consume them. Finally, they were all beheaded with the sword,
in the year 251. Thus, after their righteous endeavors, they received
a wreath of glory in the Kingdom of Christ.
The
Hieromartyr Benjamin the Deacon
This
soldier of Christ was a Persian who zealously preached the Gospel and
brought many pagans, both Persians and Greeks, to the Christian Faith.
He suffered during the reign of the Persian King Yezdegeherd, circa
412. When he was cast into prison, one of the king's nobles defended
him to the king. The king then released him, under the condition that
he no longer preach Christ to the people. Benjamin boldly said: ``This
I can never give up. For he who hides the talent given him will be
given over to great suffering,'' and he continued to spread the
Christian Faith. The emperor had him seized, and commanded that thorns
be driven under his nails, and he was further tortured until he
rendered his spirit to God.
The
Holy Great-martyr Zlata of Meglin
Zlata
was born of poor peasant parents (who also had three other daughters)
in the village of Slatina, in the province of Meglin. She was a meek
and devout girl, wise in the wisdom of Christ and golden, not only in
name but also in her God-fearing heart. Once when Zlata
went out to get water, some shameless Turks seized her and took her to
their home. When one of them urged her to become a Moslem and be his
wife, Zlata fearlessly replied: ``I believe in Christ and Him alone do
I know as my Bridegroom. I will never deny Him, even though you
subject me to a thousand tortures and cut me into pieces.'' When her
parents and sisters found her, her parents said to her: ``O daughter,
have mercy on yourself and on us, your parents and sisters; deny
Christ in words only, so that we can all be happy, for Christ is
merciful. He would forgive such a sin, committed due to the
necessities of life.'' Her poor parents, sisters and relatives wept
bitterly. However, the noble soul of St. Zlata resisted such
diabolical snares. She answered them: ``When you counsel me to deny
Christ the true God, you are no longer my parents or my sisters. I
have the Lord Jesus Christ as my father, the Theotokos as my mother,
and the saints as my brothers and sisters.'' The Turks then cast her
into prison for three months, flogging her every day until her blood
soaked the ground. Finally, they suspended her upside down and lit a
fire, to suffocate her with the smoke; but God was with Zlata, and
gave her strength in suffering. At last they hanged her from a tree
and cut her into small pieces. Thus, this brave virgin gave her soul
up to God, and went to dwell in Paradise in the year 1796. Pieces of
her relics were taken by Christians to their homes for a blessing.
Reflection
There is
nothing more wretched than a man who, in the hour of misfortune,
abandons hope in God and resorts to a means of salvation contrary to
the Law of God. Not only does such a man not succeed in righting his
outward situation, but he also loses his soul. Such was the case with
Emperor Michael Palaeologus. In order to save his kingdom-threatened
by the Bulgars and Serbs-he sought help from the pope, and agreed to
an uncanonical union. What did he gain by this? He did not save the
kingdom, but did commit numerous evil crimes. Soon after, he died
miserably in a military campaign against John Ducas, Prince of Epirus.
The Orthodox people were so resentful toward him that his son,
Andronicus, dared not bury him publicly, but buried him at night
without a funeral or prayer. He was cut off from the Orthodox Church,
and he was not received by the Roman Church. Michael Palaeologus died
outside the Church of God. Following Michael's death, his widow, the
empress, issued the following decree: ``My majesty abhors and regards
as loathsome this action (the Union) that has recently occurred in the
Church and created discord in it
. And, as the Holy Church of God
has determined not to sanction any official commemoration of my
deceased spouse, our lord and king, because of the aforementioned deed
and discord, My Majesty also, submitting all things to the fear of God
and obedience to the Holy Church, approve and accept this, the
Church's decision, and never will I dare to perform a memorial service
for my lord and spouse.''
Contemplation
Contemplate
the wondrous punishment by which the Apostle Peter punished Ananias
(Acts 5):
1. How Ananias, and then his wife Sapphira, lied and concealed part of
the money;
2. How the Apostle Peter denounced them, and they fell down and died
one after the other.
Homily
On the
burden of sin and deliverance from sin
Blessed
is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (Psalm
32:1).
Fear, confusion, weakness, infirmity and darkening of the mind are
born of sin. By sin, a man provokes others against himself, confuses
his own conscience, attracts demons to himself, and gives them weapons
against himself. By sin, a man separates himself from God, estranges
himself from his guardian angel, and walls himself off from the source
of all good. The committing of sin signifies a declaration of war
against God and all godly powers. This is more preposterous than if a
withered autumn leaf were to declare war on the wind. And, indeed, the
most preposterous thing of all occurs: a man declares war on God! This
declaration alone guarantees ruin and destruction for a man if he does
not quickly come to himself, repent and flee to God for mercy.
The great King David was well aware of the terrible predicament of the
sinner, and he himself experienced it. He felt inexpressible fear,
confusion, weakness and loneliness; he felt the arrows of men and the
arrows of demons. But, realizing his horrible situation, David
acknowledged his sin, prostrated himself in ashes before God, soaked
the ground with tears of repentance and words of anguish that burned
like fire, and prayed to the merciful God to forgive him. And, when
all was forgiven him, he felt inexpressible blessedness. This
blessedness of the forgiven soul he could not express in words. He
could only declare, confirm and assure us of the condition of
sinfulness and the condition of forgiveness from God, based on his
direct experience of both conditions: Blessed is he whose
transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (Psalm 32:1). What is
this blessing? Freedom, courage, indescribable joy, power, strength,
clarity of thought, peace of conscience, hope in God, hymnody to God,
love for one's neighbors, and meaning to one's life! In other words:
light, joy and strength are the blessing. This is the blessing that
one who is forgiven of sin feels here on earth. If this is so, then
what is the blessing that awaits him in heaven, that eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man (I
Corinthians 2:9)?
O Lord our God, forgive us our transgressions by Thine infinite mercy,
and cover our sins!
To
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October
27th
(New Style) October 14th (Old Style)
The
Venerable Parasceva (Petka)
This
glorious saint was of Serbian descent, and was born in the town of
Epivat between Selymbria and Constantinople. St. Parasceva's parents
were wealthy, devout Christians. They also had a son, Euthymius, who
was tonsured a monk during his parents' lifetime, and later became the
famous Bishop of Madytos. The virgin Parasceva always yearned for the
ascetic life for the sake of Christ. After her parents' repose, she
left her home and went first to Constantinople, then to the wilderness
of Jordan, where she lived the ascetic life until old age. Who can
express all the labors, sufferings and demonic temptations that St.
Parasceva endured in the course of her many years? In her old age, an
angel of God once appeared to her and said: ``Leave the wilderness and
return to your homeland; it is necessary that you render your body to
the earth there, and your soul to the habitation of the Lord.'' St.
Parasceva obeyed, and returned to Epivat. There she lived for two
years in ceaseless fasting and prayer, then gave up her soul to God
and took up her abode in Paradise. St. Parasceva entered into rest in
the eleventh century. Over the course of time her relics were
translated to Constantinople, to Trnovo, again to Constantinople, and
then to Belgrade. Her relics now repose in Romania, in the town of
Iasi. In Belgrade, the well of St. Petka miraculously heals the sick
who draw near with faith in God and love for this saint.
The
Holy Martyrs Nazarius, Gervasius and Protasius
Nazarius
was born in Rome of a Jewish father and a Christian mother. His
mother, Perpetua, was baptized by the Apostle Peter himself.
Confessing his mother's Faith, Nazarius sincerely fulfilled all the
precepts of the Church. Fearlessly preaching the Gospel, Nazarius went
to Milan. There, he found the Christians Gervasius and Protasius in
prison, and ministered to them with great love. Learning of this, the
local eparch ordered Nazarius to be beaten and driven from the city.
His mother came to him in a vision and told him to go to Gaul, and to
preach the Gospel there; and this is what Nazarius did. After several
years, Nazarius returned to Milan-this time with a disciple, the young
man Celsus, whom he had baptized in Gaul. There he found the brothers
Gervasius and Protasius still in prison, and he was soon thrown in
with them by the governor Anulinus. Christ's martyrs rejoiced because
of this reunion brought about by God's providence. Emperor Nero
ordered Nazarius slain, and the governor brought Nazarius and Celsus
out of prison and beheaded them. Soon after that, General Astazius,
passing through Milan en route to battle against the Moravians,
beheaded St. Gervasius along with St. Protasius. He had heard that
these two brothers would not sacrifice to idols, and fearing that he
might lose the battle by losing favor with his false gods, he
commanded that they be executed immediately. Gervasius and Protasius
were twins, born of the blessed parents Vitalius and Valeria, who were
also martyred for the Faith. The relics of St. Nazarius were
translated by St. Ambrose from a garden outside the city to the Church
of the Holy Apostles. The relics of St. Gervasius and St. Protasius
were revealed to him in a miraculous vision.
Reflection
Examples
of how the saints themselves reveal their hidden relics to men justify
the honor rendered to the relics of the saints-not to mention the
miraculous action of these relics, which doubly justifies them. For a
long, long time, no one could locate the grave of St. Parasceva. Then
it happened that a sailor died, and his body was carelessly laid in
the proximity of the saint's grave. When the body turned into carrion
and began to emit an unbearable stench, a monk who lived nearby
summoned the peasants to help him bury the corpse. It happened that
they buried him in St. Parasceva's own grave. That night, St.
Parasceva appeared in a dream to one of those peasants (George by
name) who had buried the corpse. She appeared as a beautiful and
exquisitely-adorned queen, surrounded by many glorious soldiers. She
said: ``George, exhume my relics at once, and lay them in another
place; for I can no longer endure the stench from that corpse.'' Then
she told him who she was, and where she was from. The same night a
local peasant woman named Euphemia had the same dream. The next day,
the peasants began to dig and in fact found the relics of St.
Parasceva. They were extraordinarily fragrant, and soon proved to be
miracle-working.
Concerning the relics of St. Gervasius and St. Protasius, St. Ambrose
relates how their relics were discovered in a similar manner. One
night, two handsome youths and an old man appeared to Ambrose, who was
awake. He thought that the old man was the Apostle Paul. While the
young men remained silent, the old man spoke to Ambrose concerning
them, saying that they were Christ's martyrs, and that their relics
lay in the very place where Ambrose was praying to God at that time.
He went on to say that everything else concerning them would be
revealed in a book that Ambrose would find in their grave. The
following day, Ambrose recounted his vision and began to dig, and
found the relics of both men. From the book that he found he learned
that their names were Gervasius and Protasius. In the presence of St.
Ambrose, a certain blind man named Severus touched these holy relics
and immediately received his sight.
Contemplation
Contemplate
the wondrous healings worked by the holy apostles (Acts 5):
1. How many signs and miracles were performed through the hands of the
apostles;
2. How many of the sick were healed just by the shadow of the Apostle
Peter.
Homily
On how
the angels do battle for the righteous
The
angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him and delivers
them (Psalm 34:7).
The angel of the Lord will do battle for those who fear God. This has
been clearly shown many times, as has been recorded; and it has
occurred numberless times that have not been recorded. The Archangel
Michael took up arms for Joshua, the Son of Nun. An angel did battle
for the righteous King Hezekiah and, in one night, destroyed the army
of the Chaldeans. How many times have angels visited the Christian
apostles and martyrs of in prison, strengthened them, and caused them
to rejoice? The consolation of the righteous one comes from knowing
that God is All-seeing, and sees his misfortune; that God is
Omnipotent, and has power to save him from misfortune; that God is
All-merciful, and will save him from misfortune. God will send His
radiant angel to the aid of the righteous. The righteous one will not
have to struggle against his tyrant, for the angel of God will do
battle in his place. When God's angel takes up arms, what army dares
confront him? What empire will wage war against him? In an earlier
Psalm, the Prophet David says: No king is saved by the multitude of an
army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a
vain hope for safety (Psalm 33:16-17).
Hence, it does not help at all if the unjust, the worldly, are allies.
When God's angel takes up arms-all will burst as a bubble of water.
Even when he was king, David remembered how, as a mere shepherd boy,
he killed Goliath, a giant who was armed to the teeth, with a
slingshot. On many occasions, David sensed the assistance of God's
angel. That is why he could with confidence console the oppressed but
righteous ones with these words of comfort and strength: the angel of
the Lord encamps around all who fear the Lord, and who serve Him, and
an angel of God will deliver them.
O my brethren, let us not doubt these words, but carefully consider,
on a daily basis, how the angel of God leaves us in sorrow when we
sin, and how he hastens to our assistance with joy and unspeakable
power when we repent and implore God's mercy.
O Lord God, our Creator, the King of myriads of angels: forgive us,
and save us, and protect us by Thy holy angels.
To
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October
28th
(New Style) October 15th (Old Style)
The
Venerable Martyr Lucian, Presbyter of Antioch
Lucian
was born of noble parents in the Syrian city of Samosata. In his
youth, he acquired a very broad education, both secular and spiritual.
He was a man distinguished in learning, as well as in the austerity of
his ascetic life. Having distributed his goods to the poor, Lucian
supported himself by compiling instructive works, and thus fed himself
by the work of his hands. He performed a great service to the Church
in that he corrected many Hebrew texts in Holy Scripture (that
heretics, in accordance with their own false teaching, had distorted).
Because of his learning and spirituality, he was ordained a presbyter
in Antioch. During Maximian's persecution, when St. Anthimus of
Nicomedia and St. Peter of Alexandria were tortured, St. Lucian was on
the list of those the emperor wanted to kill. Lucian fled the city and
hid, but an envious heretical priest, Pancratius, reported him. The
persecution was horrible and not even young children were spared. Two
boys who did not want to eat food sacrificed to idols were thrown into
a boiling bath, where in torments they gave up their holy souls to
God. A disciple of Lucian named Pelagia (October 8) preserved her
virginal purity from dissolute attackers by praying to God on her
roof-top: she gave up her soul to Him, and her body fell from the
roof. Lucian was brought to Nicomedia before the emperor. Along the
way, his counsels converted forty soldiers to the Christian Faith, and
all died a martyr's death. Following interrogation and flogging, St.
Lucian was cast into prison where he suffered starvation. St. John
Chrysostom writes of St. Lucian: ``He scorned hunger: let us also
scorn luxury and destroy the power of the stomach that we may, when
the time that requires such courage comes for us, be prepared in
advance by the help of a lesser ascesis, to show ourselves glorious at
the time of battle.'' He received Holy Communion in prison on the
Feast of Theophany, and on the following day rendered his soul to God.
St. Lucian suffered on January 7, 311.
The
Venerable Euthymius the New
Euthymius
was born in Ancyra in 824 of righteous parents, Epiphanius and Anna.
He served in the army, married and had one daughter, Anastasia. He
lived a strict and long ascetic life in monasteries on Mount Olympus
and Mount Athos. For a time he also lived as a stylite near
Thessalonica. He founded a monastery for men and a convent for women,
near Thessalonica. He entered into rest on an island near the Holy
Mountain toward the end of the ninth century. His holy and
miracle-working relics repose in Thessalonica.
Reflection
The
saints of God place great importance on receiving Holy Communion
before their death. Even though they were sacrificing their lives for
Christ the Lord and washing away all their sins by the blood of
martyrdom, the martyrs longingly received the Holy Mysteries whenever
it was possible. St. Lucian was in prison with several of his
disciples and other Christians. On the eve of Theophany, Lucian
longed, on such a great Christian feast, to partake of the Body and
Blood of Christ, for he knew that his death was imminent. Seeing the
sincere desire of His sufferer, God Almighty arranged that some
Christians pass bread and wine into the prison. When the Feast of
Theophany dawned, Lucian called all the Christian prisoners to stand
in a circle around him and said to them: ``Surround me and be the
Church.'' He had no table, chair, stone or wood in the prison upon
which to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. ``Holy Father, where shall we
place the bread and wine?'' they asked Lucian. He lay down in their
midst and said: ``Place them on my chest, let it be a living altar for
the Living God!'' And thus the Liturgy was celebrated correctly and
prayerfully on the chest of the martyr, and all received Holy
Communion. The next day, the emperor sent soldiers to bring Lucian out
for torture. When the soldiers opened the door of the prison, St.
Lucian cried out three times: ``I am a Christian! I am a Christian! I
am a Christian!'' and with that, he gave up his soul to his God.
Contemplation
Contemplate
the wondrous freeing of the apostles from prison (Acts 5):
1. How the elders of the Jews cast the apostles into prison;
2. How an angel of God appeared at night, opened the prison, led the
apostles out and ordered them to enter the temple and preach the
Gospel.
Homily
On how
the Lord watches over the bones of the righteous
He
watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken (Psalm
34:20).
Let not
the righteous be afraid. The All-seeing God watches over them. Can the
All-seeing lose or forget something? On the Day of Resurrection, He
shall gather all their bodily parts and gloriously resurrect them. The
persecutors hurled the bodies of the martyrs into the sea, buried them
in deep pits, or left them in fields for the birds to devour. But the
Lord, by His divine providence, so guided events that these holy
relics came into the hands of the faithful. They were laid honorably
in costly reliquaries, churches were built over them, and
wonderworking power emanated from them. God wanted to show the
faithful by this that He watches over the bones of the righteous, and
that He has glorified them in the Heavenly Kingdom. And the Church on
earth has affirmed this through the miraculous power of their
glorified bodies. Wonderworking relics are like forerunners of the
general and glorious resurrection of the righteous. But what if some
of the bones of the righteous are burned or ground up-could that be an
obstacle to the almighty power of God? Can He not, in the Day of
Resurrection, reassemble and enliven them from the scattered ashes?
There shall not an hair of your head perish (Luke 21:18), assures the
Lord. Nevertheless, if you want to understand ``bones'' as ``works,''
know then that the works of the unrighteous are as smoke, and the
works of the righteous are powerful and as lasting as hard bones. Not
even one righteous deed will fade away or disappear in the course of
time. God knows them and God watches over them, so that He may reveal
them like precious pearls before the assembly of angels and men on
that Day.
O All-seeing Lord, Master and Protector of the righteous, multiply our
righteous deeds by Thy Holy Spirit, without whom nothing good can be
done; and save us by Thy mercy, not according to our deeds.
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