#Monastery of St. John the Wonderworker

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Monday, March 4, 2024

february 20_march 4

Week of the prodigal son

ABBOT MACARIUS AND 34 MONKS AND NOVICES OF VALAAM MONASTERY MARTYRED BY THE LUTHERANS

In Memoriam: hieromonk Titus, schemamonk Tikhon, monks Gelasius, Sergius, Varlaam, Sabbas, Conon, Silvester, Cyprian, Pimen, John, Simonas, Jonah, David, Cornelius, Niphon, Athanasius, and Serapion, and novices Varlaam, Athanasius, Anthony, Luke, Leontius, Thomas, Dionysius, Philip, Ignatius, Basil, Pachomius, Basil, Theophilus, John, Theodore, and John (1578).

ST. BESSARION THE GREAT, WONDERWORKER OF EGYPT (466)

Saint Bessarion, Wonderworker of Egypt was an Egyptian. He was baptized while still in his youth, and he led a strict life, striving to preserve the grace given him during Baptism. Seeking to become more closely acquainted with the monastic life, he journeyed to the holy places. He was in Jerusalem, he visited Saint Gerasimus (March 4) in the Jordanian wilderness, he viewed other desert monasteries, and assimilated all the rules of monastic life.

Upon his return, he received monastic tonsure and became a disciple of Saint Isidore of Pelusium (February 4). Saint Bessarion took a vow of silence, and partook of food only once a week. Sometimes he remained without food or drink for forty days. Once, the saint stood motionless for forty days and forty nights without food or sleep, immersed in prayer.

Saint Bessarion received from God the gift of wonderworking. When his disciple was very thirsty, he sweetened bitter water. By his prayer the Lord sent rain upon the earth, and he could cross a river as if on dry land. With a single word he cast out devils, but he did this privately to avoid glory.

His humility was so great that once, when a priest ordered someone from the skete to leave church for having fallen into sin, Bessarion also went with him saying, “I am a sinner, too.” Saint Bessarion slept only while standing or sitting. A large portion of his life was spent under the open sky in prayerful solitude. He peacefully departed to the Lord in his old age.

1 JOHN 2:18-3:10

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us-eternal life. 26These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

MARK 11:1-11

1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here. 4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?" 6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:"Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" 11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

[orthodoxadventure]

2nd Sunday of Great Lent: St Gregory Palamas

Commemorated on March 31

O luminary of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, ideal of monks and invincible champion of theologians, O wonderworker Gregory, boast of Thessalonika and herald of grace, always intercede for all of us that our souls may be saved.

This Sunday was originally dedicated to Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (February 23). After his glorification in 1368, a second commemoration of Saint Gregory Palamas (November 14) was appointed for the Second Sunday of Great Lent as a second “Triumph of Orthodoxy.”

Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, was born in the year 1296 in Constantinople. Saint Gregory’s father became a prominent dignitiary at the court of Andronicus II Paleologos (1282-1328), but he soon died, and Andronicus himself took part in the raising and education of the fatherless boy. Endowed with fine abilities and great diligence, Gregory mastered all the subjects which then comprised the full course of medieval higher education. The emperor hoped that the youth would devote himself to government work. But Gregory, barely twenty years old, withdrew to Mount Athos in the year 1316 (other sources say 1318) and became a novice in the Vatopedi monastery under the guidance of the monastic Elder Saint Νikόdēmos of Vatopedi (July 11). There he was tonsured and began on the path of asceticism. A year later, the holy Evangelist John the Theologian appeared to him in a vision and promised him his spiritual protection. Gregory’s mother and sisters also became monastics.

After the demise of the Elder Νikόdēmos, Saint Gregory spent eight years of spiritual struggle under the guidance of the Elder Nikēphóros, and after the latter’s death, Gregory transferred to the Lavra of Saint Athanasius (July 5). Here he served in the trapeza, and then became a church singer. But after three years, he resettled in the small skete of Glossia, striving for a greater degree of spiritual perfection. The head of this monastery began to teach the young man the method of unceasing prayer and mental activity, which had been cultivated by monastics, beginning with the great desert ascetics of the fourth century: Evagrius Pontikos and Saint Macarius of Egypt (January 19).

Later on, in the eleventh century Saint Simeon the New Theologian (March 12) provided detailed instruction in mental activity for those praying in an outward manner, and the ascetics of Athos put it into practice. The experienced use of mental prayer (or prayer of the heart), requiring solitude and quiet, is called “Hesychasm” (from the Greek “hesychia” meaning calm, silence), and those practicing it were called “hesychasts.”

During his stay at Glossia the future hierarch Gregory became fully embued with the spirit of hesychasm and adopted it as an essential part of his life. In the year 1326, because of the threat of Turkish invasions, he and the brethren retreated to Thessalonica, where he was then ordained to the holy priesthood.

Saint Gregory combined his priestly duties with the life of a hermit. Five days of the week he spent in silence and prayer, and only on Saturday and Sunday did he come out to his people. He celebrated divine services and preached sermons. For those present in church, his teaching often evoked both tenderness and tears. Sometimes he visited theological gatherings of the city’s educated youth, headed by the future patriarch, Isidore. After he returned from a visit to Constantinople, he found a place suitable for solitary life near Thessalonica the region of Bereia. Soon he gathered here a small community of solitary monks and guided it for five years.

In 1331 the saint withdrew to Mt. Athos and lived in solitude at the skete of Saint Savva, near the Lavra of Saint Athanasius. In 1333 he was appointed Igumen of the Esphigmenou monastery in the northern part of the Holy Mountain. In 1336 the saint returned to the skete of Saint Savva, where he devoted himself to theological works, continuing with this until the end of his life.

In the 1330s events took place in the life of the Eastern Church which put Saint Gregory among the most significant universal apologists of Orthodoxy, and brought him great renown as a teacher of hesychasm.

About the year 1330 the learned monk Barlaam had arrived in Constantinople from Calabria, in Italy. He was the author of treatises on logic and astronomy, a skilled and sharp-witted orator, and he received a university chair in the capital city and began to expound on the works of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite (October 3), whose “apophatic” (“negative”, in contrast to “kataphatic” or “positive”) theology was acclaimed in equal measure in both the Eastern and the Western Churches. Soon Barlaam journeyed to Mt. Athos, where he became acquainted with the spiritual life of the hesychasts. Saying that it was impossible to know the essence of God, he declared mental prayer a heretical error. Journeying from Mount Athos to Thessalonica, and from there to Constantinople, and later again to Thessalonica, Barlaam entered into disputes with the monks and attempted to demonstrate the created, material nature of the light of Tabor (i.e. at the Transfiguration). He ridiculed the teachings of the monks about the methods of prayer and about the uncreated light seen by the hesychasts.

Saint Gregory, at the request of the Athonite monks, replied with verbal admonitions at first. But seeing the futility of such efforts, he put his theological arguments in writing. Thus appeared the “Triads in Defense of the Holy Hesychasts” (1338). Towards the year 1340 the Athonite ascetics, with the assistance of the saint, compiled a general response to the attacks of Barlaam, the so-called “Hagiorite Tome.” At the Constantinople Council of 1341 in the church of Hagia Sophia Saint Gregory Palamas debated with Barlaam, focusing upon the nature of the light of Mount Tabor. On May 27, 1341 the Council accepted the position of Saint Gregory Palamas, that God, unapproachable in His Essence, reveals Himself through His energies, which are directed towards the world and are able to be perceived, like the light of Tabor, but which are neither material nor created. The teachings of Barlaam were condemned as heresy, and he himself was anathemized and fled to Calabria.

But the dispute between the Palamites and the Barlaamites was far from over. To these latter belonged Barlaam’s disciple, the Bulgarian monk Akyndinos, and also Patriarch John XIV Kalekos (1341-1347); the emperor Andronicus III Paleologos (1328-1341) was also inclined toward their opinion. Akyndinos, whose name means “one who inflicts no harm,” actually caused great harm by his heretical teaching. Akyndinos wrote a series of tracts in which he declared Saint Gregory and the Athonite monks guilty of causing church disorders. The saint, in turn, wrote a detailed refutation of Akyndinos’ errors. The patriarch supported Akyndinos and called Saint Gregory the cause of all disorders and disturbances in the Church (1344) and had him locked up in prison for four years. In 1347, when John the XIV was replaced on the patriarchal throne by Isidore (1347-1349), Saint Gregory Palamas was set free and was made Archbishop of Thessalonica.

In 1351 the Council of Blachernae solemnly upheld the Orthodoxy of his teachings. But the people of Thessalonica did not immediately accept Saint Gregory, and he was compelled to live in various places. On one of his travels to Constantinople the Byzantine ship fell into the hands of the Turks. Even in captivity, Saint Gregory preached to Christian prisoners and even to his Moslem captors. The Hagarenes were astonished by the wisdom of his words. Some of the Moslems were unable to endure this, so they beat him and would have killed him if they had not expected to obtain a large ransom for him. A year later, Saint Gregory was ransomed and returned to Thessalonica.

Saint Gregory performed many miracles in the three years before his death, healing those afflicted with illness. On the eve of his repose, Saint John Chrysostom appeared to him in a vision. With the words “To the heights! To the heights!” Saint Gregory Palamas fell asleep in the Lord on November 14, 1359. In 1368 he was canonized at a Constantinople Council under Patriarch Philotheus (1354-1355, 1364-1376), who compiled the Life and Services to the saint.

[Text from OCA]

Now is the time for action! Judgment is at the doors! So let us rise and fast, offering alms with tears of compunction and crying: “Our sins are more numerous than the sands of the sea; but forgive us, O Master of All, so that we may receive the incorruptible crowns.”

Holy and divine instrument of wisdom, radiant and harmonious trumpet of theology, we praise you in song, O divinely-speaking Gregory. As a mind standing before the Primal Mind, guide our minds to Him, Father, so that we may cry aloud to you: “Rejoice, herald of grace.”

[discoveringorthodoxy]

St. Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker

Christ is Baptized in the Jordan by John!

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ! I pray that you all continue to have a blessed Theophany and blessed new year! Today I would like to look into the life of St. Seraphim of Sarov, one of the most beloved Saints in recent Orthodox history. I have seen a lot of quotes from this saint but I never knew much about him. I only knew that he was often depicted with a bear. Why is that? Why is he so well loved? Today we're going to find out.

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Prokhor Moshnin (Feast Day: 2 January) was born in the town of Kursk on July 30th in either the year 1754 or 1759. He was born into the family of a wealthy eminent merchant. He lost his father, Isidore, at a young age and was brought up by his pious widowed mother, Agathia. Since he was a child, Prokhor would read the Holy Scripture and go to church services daily. One day, he fell from a bell tower of the church his father had started building before his death. However, a miracle happened and Prokhor was alive and unharmed (St. Seraphim of Sarov).

When Moshnin was around 9 or 10 years old, be became gravely ill. One day, the most holy Mother of God appeared to him in a dream, telling him that she was going to heal him. When Agathia put him up to the miracle-working icon of the Mother of God called "The Sign", he was miraculously healed.

When he was 19, the saint felt a call to follow the monastic path after visiting the monastery of Sarov. So, Agathia blessed him and gave him a large crucifix made out of copper, which St. Seraphim would wear over his clothes until the day he passed. At the age of 20, he joined the Sarov Monastery as a novice.

In 1780, the Saint was stricken with a sickness which he endured for three years, until the Theotokos healed him, appearing to him with the Apostles Peter and John (Seraphim the Wonderworker of Sarov).

In 1786, Prokhor was tonsured a monk and was given the name Seraphim, after the holy Hieromartyr Seraphim, Bishop of Phanarion (Dec. 4). St. Seraphim was ordained a hierodeacon and then a hieromonk. He served the Divine Liturgy every day and in his love for God, continually added labours to labours. Once, during the Divine Liturgy of Holy Thursday, he was counted worthy of a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared encompassed by the heavenly hosts (Seraphim the Wonderworker of Sarov). After this vision, St. Seraphim gave himself over to greater labors.

In 1794, St. Seraphim got a blessing from the Monastery's Hegumen Nicodemus to become a hermit. So, he took up the solitary life in a cell in the forest, where he lived in a remote cabin. The Saint devoted most of his time to praying, fasting, reading the Gospel, and working in his vegetable garden (St. Seraphim of Sarov). He spent 1000 successive nights being awake and praying on his knees. This period of extreme asceticism lasted about 15 years and his only visitors were wild animals.

Once while living in isolation, St. Seraphim was assaulted by robbers who severely injured him. They broke his chest and his head with their blows, leaving him almost dead. Even though he could have defended himself, he did not and completely forgave the robbers for their crime. St. Seraphim began to recover after receiving another appearance from the Theotokos, who was accompanied by the Apostles Peter and John. The Theotokos pointed to St. Seraphim and said to him, "This is one of my kind" (Seraphim the Wonderworker of Sarov).

In 1810, after being weakened by his more than human struggles, St. Seraphim returned to the monastery, where he lived as a recluse until 1825. For the first five years of his reclusion, he spoke to no one at all and very little is known about this period. After five years, he began receiving visitors, giving them counsel and consolation to ailing souls.

In 1825, he had another vision of the Mother of God, who blessed him to become an elder. She revealed to him that it was pleasing to God that he fully end his seclusion. Thousands of people would come to him for advice and blessing. People remembered the elder as extremely meek and joyful, greeting everyone with the words, "My joy, Christ is risen!" It was also at the command of the Theotokos that St. Seraphim undertook the spiritual direction of the Diveyvo Convent. The Saint healed "body ailments, foretold things that were to come, brought hardened sinners to repentance, and saw clearly the secrets of the heart of those who came to him" (Seraphim the Wonderworker of Sarov).

The last time the most holy Theotokos appeared to St. Seraphim was on Annunciation in 1831. She announced to him that he would soon enter into his rest. The holy Virgin was accompanied by twelve-virgin martyrs and monastic saints with St. John the Baptist and St. John the Theologian.

Shortly before his death, St. Seraphim became very ill. And less than two years after his last vision of the Theotokos, he fell asleep in peace on January 2, 1833. He was found asleep by his cell attendant standing on his knees in front of the icon of the Mother of God.

On the night of his repose, the righteous Philaret of the Glinsk Hermitage behind his soul ascending to Heaven in light. Because of the universal testimony to the holiness of his life, and the multitude of miracles that he performed in life and death, St. Seraphim's veneration quickly spread outside of Russia to the whole world (Seraphim the Wonderworker of Sarov). And on July 19, 1903, St.Seraphim of Sarov was canonized by the Orthodox Church.

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St. Seraphim of Sarov is often depicted with a bear in his icons. The story behind this is as follows:

One day Matrona, one of the nuns at the monastery, saw St. Seraphim sitting on a tree trunk in the company of a bear. Being terrified, she let out a scream. The elder, seeing her, patted the bear and sent him away. He then invited the nun to sit beside him. But, they had barely sat down together when the bear returned from the wood and came and lay at St. Seraphim's feet. Matrona was terrified but when she saw that St. Seraphim was unconcerned. He was treating the bear like a lamb, stroking him and giving him bread. When Matrona was wholly reassured, the Elder gave her a piece of bread and said: "You needn't be the least afraid of him, he won't hurt you." So, she held out the bread to the bear, and felt great joy as it ate the bread.

Seeing how much Matrona was enjoying feeding the bear, Fr. Seraphim said: "You remember the story of St. Jerome feeding a lion in the desert? Well, here we've got a bear obeying us."

"The sisters would die of fright if they saw such a sight!" Matrona exclaimed.

"They won't see it," replied the Elder.

"I'd be very sad if anyone killed him," Matrona went on.

"Nobody will kill him and nobody except yourself will see him," answered Fr. Seraphim.

Matrona was rejoicing at the thought of telling the sisters about it, but Elder Seraphim, reading her thoughts, said to her, "'No, my joy, you're not to tell anyone until eleven years after my death. Then God will show you whom to tell."

A day came years after St. Seraphim's death where Matrona went past an artist's studio in the monastery. The artist was working on a portrait of the Elder in the forest on a tree trunk. "You really must paint the bear!" Matrona told him. "What bear?" the artist asked in surprise. Then Matrona told him the story and remembered the Elder's words. Eleven years had gone by since his repose (Carlson).

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St. Seraphim of Sarov is indeed a holy and blessed man. His life alone shows the beauty of God's grace and love for all of us. There were many times where St. Seraphim could have fallen to illness, but through the Theotokos, God healed him. He had every opportunity to give up and not fully commit himself to God. For example, the 1000 nights of prayer. If I did that now, I wouldn't make it very long. But St. Seraphim, through the grace of God, did.

I love the words that he greeted everyone with: "My joy, Christ is risen!". I might start doing the same to my brothers and sisters.

And the fact that he reposed while praying to God is the most beautiful thing. If I had to choose how I'd die, that is the death I'd seek.

The story behind the bear is also beautiful. I think it's interesting how his words about revealing the story of the bear came true. And St. Seraphim was so peaceful and holy that a wild bear felt safe to lie at his feet. It is truly a testament to the kind of person St. Seraphim was.

Until next time and may God bless all of you!

Love your sister in Christ,

Joanna

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Works Cited:

Carlson, Kristofer “The Story of St Seraphim of Sarov and the Bear.” Why Mary Matters, 3 Sept. 2017, http://wmm.dormitionpress.org/archives/1285.

“Seraphim the Wonderworker of Sarov .” Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=366.

“St. Seraphim of Sarov.” Https://Obitel-Minsk.org/, St. Elisabeth Convent, https://obitel-minsk.org/st-seraphim-of-sarov.

[discerningthoughts]

‘Do we have Mysteries or not?’ A striking and Grace-filled contemporary discourse by a now reposed Presbyter, from among our Matthewite brethren, renders more accessible the view that we have been articulating:

[traumacatholic]

Our Lady of Kazan, also called Mother-of-God of Kazan (Russian: Казанская Богоматерь, romanized: Kazanskaya Bogomater'), was a holy icon of the highest stature within the Russian Orthodox Church, representing the Virgin Mary as the protector and patroness of the city of Kazan, and a palladium of all of Russia and Rus', known as the Holy Protectress of Russia. As is the case for any holy entity under a Patriarchate in communion within the greater Orthodox Church, it is venerated by all Orthodox faithful.

According to legend, the icon was originally acquired from Constantinople, lost in 1438, and miraculously recovered in pristine state over 140 years later in 1579. Two major cathedrals, the Kazan Cathedral, Moscow, and the Kazan Cathedral, St. Petersburg, are consecrated to Our Lady of Kazan, and they display copies of the icon, as do numerous churches throughout the land. The original icon in Kazan was stolen, and probably destroyed, in 1904.

The "Fátima image" is a 16th-century copy of the icon, or possibly the 16th-century original, stolen from St. Petersburg in 1917 and purchased by F. A. Mitchell-Hedges in 1953. It was housed in Fátima, Portugal from 1970 to 1993, then in the study of Pope John Paul II in the Vatican from 1993 to 2004, when it was returned to Kazan, where it is now kept in the Kazan Monastery of the Theotokos. Copies of the image are also venerated in the Catholic Church.

Feast days of Our Lady of Kazan are 21 July, and 4 November (which is also the Russian Day of National Unity).

Our Lady of Kazan, most blessed and all-holy, we venerate your glorious icon which was brought to Russia from Constantinople in the thirteenth century. You are our treasure, Virgin Mary, and where our treasure is our heart is. Your wonderworking icon is a precious fortune, a wealth of intercession for the Godly minded who bow before you – as we do today, amid the agonizing events of our own Time of Troubles. In humility we therefore declare: Rejoice, Virgin of Kazan, Protectress of the repentant and merciful.

We flee to you, Mother of God of Kazan, and beg you to save us from the Tatars of our time and from all enemies of the Holy Church. May their cruel yoke not be upon us, no matter the number of our sins which we now put behind us – for today we celebrate your icon and we turn to you in repentance. Receive us even as your Son, Jesus Christ, received the Penitent Woman who wept as His feet, that we may thrive in your fearlessness and bring you these praises: Rejoice, imperishable wealth of the persecuted. Rejoice, enduring prosperity that cannot be plundered. Rejoice, unrivaled treasure of true believers. Rejoice, unshakable courage that will not be silenced. Rejoice, cause of gladness even in the Time of Troubles. Rejoice, cause of cheerfulness for the clean of heart. Rejoice, reason for hope even in the gloomiest hour. Rejoice, reason for confidence in the course of salvation. Rejoice, conqueror of the anguish of sinfulness. Rejoice, vanquisher of the agony of time and place. Rejoice, stronghold of truth. Rejoice, guardian of righteousness. Rejoice, Virgin of Kazan, Protectress of the repentant and merciful.

[Full version]

[hieromonkcharbel]

St John of Rila, the wonderworker, was the first Bulgarian hermit who was revered as a saint in his own time. His followers established and guided the Rila Monastery, which became a spiritual and creative center of Bulgaria. He is honored as the patron saint by the Bulgarian people.

John was born in 876 in the village of Skrino in Sardica Province (today Sofia) of God-fearing parents of Bulgarian ancestry. From an early age John was disposed to a life of piety and good deeds. Orphaned at young age, he hired himself out as a cowherd. It happened that a rich man beat him because a cow and its calf had gotten lost. John cried a long time and then prayed that God would help him. When he located the cow and calf along the Sturma River the water was running swiftly and high. The young boy John prayed again to God, made the sign of the cross over his tattered cloak and placed it on the surface of the water. He then picked up the calf and carried it across to the other shore, as if it were dry land, to the cow that was waiting for them.

The rich man, who had been watching from a hidden place, became frightened as he saw this miracle. He paid the boy generously and released him from his service. Giving away his worldly things, John left his village to live in the barren countryside. When and where he took his monastic tonsure is unknown.

He began his ascetic life in a brushwood hut on a high, barren hill. For his food he gathered from the plants in the wilderness. But, soon he was attacked by robbers who beat him and drove him away. Finding a deep cave he settled there and was soon joined by his nephew Luke. The area around the cave was so unpopulated that John thought that Luke's appearance was a demonic trick, but he soon learned that the youth was looking for salvation of his soul. However, their lives together did not last long as John's brother found the ascetics and took his son away. On their way home, Luke was bitten by a snake and soon died. His brother repented for his action and asked forgiveness of John. John would often visit the grave of his cousin, a place that became his favorite place of rest.

After living for twelve years in the lonely cave, John moved to the wilderness of Rila where he settled in a hollow in a tree. There he fasted and prayed while weeping incessantly. He only ate grass. Seeing such endurance, God caused beans to grow nearby that provided sustenance for the ascetic. The beans soon caused people to learn of John's spiritual struggles.

Once, a flock of lost and frightened sheep came upon the place where John lived. Chasing their sheep, a group of shepherds were surprised to find the hermit who greeted them with an offer of beans to eat. As all ate, one shepherd gathered some beans to have in reserve. When, on their way home he offered the beans to his companions, they found no beans in the stolen pods. Turning back contritely, the shepherds were received again by John who quietly admonished them that the beans were only for subsistence in the wilderness.

From that time on, people would bring to John those who were sick or possessed of evil spirits whom he would heal through prayer. To avoid fame, John departed from his tree hollow to settle onto a high, nearly inaccessible cliff. Here he spent seven years under the open sky. When news of the great ascetic reached King Peter of Bulgaria, he wanted to meet him. John, however, wrote him a letter humbly declining the meeting.

Later, John began to take under his care monastics who begged him to accept them in their desire to follow his divine way of life. As these disciples grew in number they built a church in the cave he formerly lived in and soon formed a monastery. Five years before his repose, John wrote one of the finest creations of Old Bulgarian literature, his "A Testament to Disciples".

He continued to wisely looked after his flock until his repose on August 18, 946. He was seventy years old.

[ustkhan]

St John and St Longinus of Solovetsky Monestary (1500) interesting read also their use of  prayer

The Monks John and Longinus labored at the Solovetsky monastery under the leadership of the holy hegumen Philip, spending their lives in strict fasting and prayer. Their constant rule was the saying of St. Apostle: "Everything that you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men" (Col. 3. 23). Although they were not bookish people, they were instructed in the original truths of Christianity, and from the contemplation of the majestic nature, they learned important lessons for their simple mind and pure heart. They saw the boundless sea and in thought ascended to the Creator, who put the limit to the sea; the starry sky turned their eyes to God, who appointed everything a harmonious order. Thus, these ordinary people in the silence of the monastery humbly ascended from perfection to perfection, while the Lord pleased to call them to the non-evening Light.

Returning to the monastery in 1561 on ships loaded with building materials, they were caught in a violent storm and sank. Their holy bodies were found incorrupt on the Korelian coast, 120 miles from the Solovetsky monastery, and laid in the village of Yarenge.

Soon the glory of the miracles performed with the relics of the righteous attracted several monks to them, who built cells for themselves. Thus, a monastery arose in Yareng.

In 1622 in this monastery, located near a village on the seashore, there was a wooden church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as cells with a meal and a chapel. The church was sufficiently supplied with icons, books, candles, bells, the care of Elder Barlaam, Tryphon and Ermolai Telov. The divine service was conducted by Hieromonk Matthew.

[musicdish]

PaTRAM Institute To Record Next CD In Saratov, Russia, Accompanied By The Wonderworking Kursk Root Icon Of The Mother Of God

Fresh off their GRAMMY nomination for their CD, Teach Me Thy Statutes, and their newly released CD, The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the PaTRAM Institute will record their next CD in Saratov, Russia, this summer. The new CD, entitled More Honorable Than the Cherubim, is a compendium of hymns to the Theotokos by various composers, which will be sung by a fifty-six-member male choir. The singers hail from Russia, Serbia, North America, and Australia. GRAMMY-nominated Maestro Vladimir Gorbik will conduct the choir, which will include an unprecedented ten octavists, with baritone Michail Davydov as the featured soloist. On August 22nd, 2019, the choir will perform their repertoire in concert at the Saratov Conservatory. The PaTRAM Institute Male Choir will be in Saratov for rehearsals and the recording of the new CD from August 20th-26th, 2019. The CD will be recorded at St. Nicholas Monastery by multi-GRAMMY Award-winning production company Sound Mirror. Sound Mirror has received more than one hundred GRAMMY Awards and nominations for their body of work. PaTRAM is thrilled to be working with them again to create a professional quality CD that brings the beauty of Russian choral music to a Western audience. Reference Recordings, a multi-GRAMMY Award-winning record label based in San Francisco, will print and distribute the completed CD. With the special permission and blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, considered by the Orthodox Church to be wonderworking, will also be traveling with the choir, accompanied by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan. The icon will be in Saratov, Russia, from August 20th-28th, 2019, including during services for the feast of the Dormition. On the evening of August 20th, the PaTRAM Institute Male Choir will be singing near Holy Protection Cathedral to greet the icon as it arrives in Saratov. PaTRAM will hold a press conference regarding this special project on Thursday, August 22nd, at the Saratov Conservatory at 5pm before the concert, and include a question and answer period with Alex Lukianov, co-founder and CEO of PaTRAM, and Maestro Vladimir Gorbik and Katya Lukianov, co-founders of PaTRAM. Alexis Lukianov, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of PaTRAM Institute said, "This is the next step for our organization. We are trying to replicate our success from our earlier CDs, but with different composers and prayers. Originally, we had planned to focus on just one composer for this next recording. But once we realized the incredible blessing of the icon traveling with us, we decided to change the repertoire to be comprised of hymns to the Theotokos to honor the Mother of God and to appropriately celebrate the feast of the Dormition right after our recording." PaTRAM's GRAMMY-nominated CD Teach Me Thy Statutes was recorded in Russia in 2016 and featured both American and Russian singers. Teach Me Thy Statuteswas also named MusicWeb International's 2018 Recording of the Year. PaTRAM's newest CD, The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, has consistently been in the Top 15 on Amazon's list of Hot New Releases in Opera and Vocal since the CD was released at the end of April. Besides continuing to promote and develop the skills of Orthodox choral singers in North America, PaTRAM also views its work as a landmark opportunity to unite East and West as the organization brings together singers from different countries who share the same language, culture, and beliefs to create beautiful and prayerful music. PaTRAM seeks to broaden its partnerships around the world with the aim of introducing more people to the beauty and power of Russian liturgical music, so that their lives might be transformed through a connection to this ancient and soulful form of worship. About PaTRAM (Patriarch Tikhon Russian American Music Institute) The mission of the Patriarch Tikhon Russian American Music Institute (PaTRAM) is to cultivate and promote the beauty and spiritual depth of Russian Orthodox liturgical arts in general and choral singing in particular, in both the English and Church Slavonic languages. PaTRAM seeks to utilize rigorous educational programs, distinctive performance events, and the latest technological tools to realize this mission. PaTRAM is a non-profit 501-c3 organization in their 6th year of existence and headquartered in Tiburon, CA. To learn more visit www.patraminstitute.org To learn more visit http://soundcloud.com/reference-recordings/teach-me-thy-statutes

[drubblernews-blog]

New Post has been published on http://drubbler.com/2017/01/27/on-the-islands-of-the-northern-dvina-river-stand-modern-church/

On the islands of the Northern Dvina River stand modern church

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Arkhangelsk, January 28, 2017, 2:07- REGNUM

churches and monasteries of the Russian North is closely linked to the benefactors to their deposits deflection remembered in prayers. Nikolo-Korelsky monastery on the site of the Severodvinsk is based on money of Novgorod Governor’s widow Martha, whose sons Anton and Felix drowned in the early 15th century in the White Sea. The sons of Martha was buried on the shore, where now the shop «Sevmash», and built up on their money at this place.

Kevrol’skij Governor Athanasios Pashkov in 1635 year brought a dying son to the relics of St. Artemios servant Verkol’skogo and Ivan’s son healed. In gratitude, the Governor built a church and monastic cells, which went Artemievo-Verkola monastery that Pinege.

St. John of Kronstadt, a native of Sura pinezhskoj, donated the Church of Demetrios in the homeland of Lomonosov 400 rubles, Spaso-Preobrazhenskomu Cathedral Kholmogory — 2000 rubles, and in Artemievo-Verkol’skom monastery was built in the year 1891 the main Cathedral of the assumption.

before the revolution 1917 year charity was the main source of income of the majority of the churches and monasteries. During the Soviet period for any church activities could land, and could have shoot, and this has made donations to the feat. Now the tradition revived, many donations benefactors want to remain anonymous, but on those whose participation cannot be hidden, should tell — to expand the number of such people.

on the Dvina River Delta Islands are two wooden churches — Elias at Kegostrove, in the village of Konecdvor’e and Nikolskaya. Benefactors first became Governor of Arkhangelsk region in 2008-2012 years Ilya Mikhalchuk and Governor of the Nenets district in 2009-2014 years Igor Fedorov, a church in Konecdvor’e was revived with the help of the then President of the CEC HEAD Alexander Veshnyakov.

Kegostrovskaja Church is located on the eponymous island just opposite the Dvina River in Arkhangelsk. Nobody knows exactly what this church account, and where the first temples. The island gradually washes Dvina, while Petra First with it could negotiate with the residents of the city, and now the River a couple of kilometers wide. Therefore, the questions of where the old church the Islanders meet, that place is washed off the Dvina. The documents allege that one of the first wooden church burned down in the year 1749. Soon a fire destroyed and bellow. The third church was built in 1796 year on donations of merchants, Mitropolova, Teljat’eva, Korzinina, Korzhavin Belyaeva.

the Church was nice in that it 12 (!) times in 1693, 1694, 1702 respectively visited King Peter the great (1672 1725 −). Apparently she liked Archbishop Athanasius Holmogorskomu (1642 − 1702), and he drove the King here. In the year 1819 it prayed arrived in Arkhangelsk Emperor Alexander I (1777 − 1825), often served as archbishops of Arkhangelsk and Holmogorskie. Under Soviet rule it destroyed, and now on its place by local curators cross — it just off winter pedestrian crossing in Arkhangelsk. Ancient bells, one other year 1638, 1607, also vanished.

in the year 2007 with the blessing of Bishop Archangel and Kholmogory Tikhon (Stepanova) (was laid new ilinskaya Church, it was built with funds of entrepreneurs Alexander Volkov and Antonina Drachevoj, and in August 2012 year consecrated Metropolitan Daniel (Dorovskih). Bells for the church acquired in the year 2011, the then Governor of Ilya Mikhalchuk and Governor of the Nenets district Igor Fedorov. parishioners in gratitude was cast in bronze that “this Bell” appeared “diligence and radeniem I.f. Mikhalchuk» and «radeniem I.g. Fedorov. Before leaving the area of Mikhalchuk handed Temple a large icon of its Patron Saint Elijah the Prophet. Parishioners say that Ilya Filippovich did much to Kegostrova, and the main thing is solved the problem of winter car ferries.

downstream of the Dvina River on the island of Koneshnyj stands the village of Konecdvor’e. Unlike Kegostrova it is known that the first Church of St. Nicholas was placed in a village near the year 1677, then to its place in the year 1769 Kuznechevskogo have bought a large wooden parish church, which in Soviet times was the first school and then a warehouse. By the early 2000s it is so old and bent, that represented a threat to the people.

for its revival came from native Konecdvor’ja, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation in 1999 — 2007 years Alexander Veshnyakov. Helped entrepreneurs is one of the founders of the Wim-Bill-Danna “Sergei Plastinin, General Director of” Arhangel’skgeoldobychi “Alexei Barinov and others. Restoration project and the work of the Architectural Heritage Fund was led by Andrey Rublev. In October 2010 the year the Church was consecrated. Donated her Patriarch Alexy II handed the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. In deference to native Konecdvor’ja participated in the ceremony Bishop Archangel and Kholmogorsky Tikhon (Stepanov), then Governor of Archangelsk region Nikolay Kiselev, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Valeri Mal’chihin, Federation Council members Yuri Sivkov and Alexander Tishchenko, Rector of PSU Vladimir Bulatov, Alexey Barinov.

local residents now say that pray and put candles in wholesomeness Alexander Veshnyakov in the Church the icon of its Patron Saint. Majestic temple as though collects House of locals, is the pivot around which revolves the ancient life of the Pomeranian village.

someone ironic smile at the mention of charity bosses, but these people by its example, reminded all that tradition will not revive without personal effort.

If you notice an error in the text, highlight it and press Ctrl + Enter to send information to the editor.

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[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Sunday, May 19, 2024

may 6_may 19

Tradition Liturgique: On the Third Sunday of Pascha the Orthodox Church celebrates theMyrrh-Bearing women as well as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodimius.

SAINTS. MARY AND MARTHA, SISTERS OF ST. LAZARUS (1ST C.)

Icon: Uncut Mountain Supply

The righteous sisters Martha and Mary were believers in Christ even before He raised their brother Saint Lazarus (October 17) from the dead. After the murder of the holy Archdeacon Stephen a persecution against the Jerusalem Church broke out, and Righteous Lazarus was cast out of Jerusalem. The holy sisters then assisted their brother in the proclaiming of the Gospel in various lands.

Saints Martha and Mary are also commemorated on the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women.

VENERABLE JOB, HEGUMEN OF POCHAEV AND WONDERWORKER (1651)

Saint Job, Abbot and Wonderworker of Pochaev (in the world named Ivan Zhelezo), was born around 1551 in Pokutia in Galicia. At age ten he came to the Transfiguration Ugornits monastery, and at age twelve he received monastic tonsure with the name Job. The venerable Job from his youth was known for his great piety and strict ascetic life, and he was accounted worthy of the priestly office.

Around the year 1580, at the request of the renowned champion of Orthodoxy Prince Constantine Ostrozhsky, Saint Job was appointed the head of the Exaltation of the Cross monastery near the city of Dubno, and for more than twenty years he governed the monastery amidst the growing persecution of Orthodoxy on the part of the Catholics and Uniates.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Saint Job withdrew to Pochaev hill and settled in a cave not far from the ancient Dormition monastery, famed for its wonderworking Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God (July 23). The holy hermit, beloved by the brethren of the monastery, was chosen as their Igumen. Saint Job zealously fulfilled his duty as head of the monastery, kind and gentle with the brethren, he did much of the work himself, planting trees in the garden, and strengthening the waterworks at the monastery.

Saint Job was an ardent defender of the Orthodox Faith against the persecution of the Catholics. Following the Union of Brest (1596), many Orthodox living in Poland were deprived of their rights, and attempts were made to force them to convert to Catholicism. Many Orthodox hierarchs became apostates to Uniatism, but Saint Job and others defended Orthodoxy by copying and disseminating Orthodox books. Prince Ostrozhsky was also responsible for the first printed edition of the Orthodox Bible (1581).

In taking an active part in the defense of Orthodoxy and the Russian people, Saint Job was present at the 1628 Kiev Council, convened against the Unia. After 1642, he accepted the great schema with the name John.

Sometimes he completely secluded himself within the cave for three days or even a whole week. The Jesus Prayer was an unceasing prayer in his heart. According to the testimony of his disciple Dositheus, and author of the Life of Saint Job, once while praying in his cave, the saint was illumined by a heavenly light. Saint Job reposed in the year 1651. He was more than 100 years old, and had directed the Pochaev monastery for more than fifty years.

The uncovering of Saint Job’s relics took place on August 28, 1659. There was a second uncovering of the relics on August 27-28, 1833.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

ACTS 6:1-7

1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

MARK 15:43-16:8

43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away-for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

[orthodoxydaily]

About the Ilyin-Chernigov and Chernigov-Gethsemane icons of the Mother of God.

Commemoration:

CHERNOGOV-GETHSEMANE ICON

april 16_april 29

Many healings of mental illness and demonic possession happened from the Chernihiv icon. St. Ambrose of Optina suggests in one letter that a mad person be brought to this icon.

The Ilyin-Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God was painted in the year 1658 by the iconographer Gregory Dubensky, (Gennadius in monasticism). Tears flowed from the icon for eight days in 1662, from April 16-24. In this same year, Tatars descended upon Chernigov and devastated it. At midnight, they burst into the Trinity monastery, entered the church, overturned all the icons, and grabbed all the utensils, but the wonderworking icon and its ornaments remained untouched. An invisible power held back the impious from the holy icon. Previously, the Queen of Heaven had not permitted the enemy to enter the cave of St Anthony of the Caves, where the monastery's brethren had hidden. The Tatars fled, as though terrified by a vision. The miracle of the Mother of God and Her Chernigov Icon was described by St Demetrius of Rostov (October 28 and September 21) in his book, THE BEDEWED FLEECE [Runo Oroshennoe]. Later on, St John of Tobolsk (June 10) also wrote about the Chernigov Icon. A wonderworking copy of the Chernigov Icon of the Mother of God, in the Gethsemane skete of the Trinity-Sergiev Lavra, was glorified in the year 1869 (September 1).

24 miracles (by the number of hours in a day) from Ilyin-Chernigov icon of the Mother of God (based on the book of Saint Dimitry of Rostov “The bedewed fleece”).

Miracle 1. In the reign of the Great Sovereign Tsar and Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich, Autocrat of All the Great and Small and White Russia, when the archbishop throne in Chernigov was held by the Right Reverend Father Lazarus Baranovich, the Orthodox Archbishop of Chernigov, Novgorod, and the entire North,  in the year 1662 Anno Domini, in the month of April, in the monastery of Elijah the Prophet (the Ilyin monastery), under the hegumen Zosima, from the 16th day to the 24th, the icon of the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mary was weeping in the church. All the people of the city of Chernigov watched this miracle with great horror. Miracle 2. Also, in 1662, when the icon of the Mother of God was weeping, the Saracens (Muslims), by God's allowance for our sins, quietly crept up and captured many villages in the neighborhood of Chernigov. The monks of that Ilyin monastery, unaware of the barbarian invasion, sat in their monastery, and one night, it was announced about the Tartars. Then they all went to the church and hid in the cave of our Saint Father Anthony. At midnight, the Tatars attacked the monastery and broke into the church, where there was a miracle-working icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, decorated with silver plates, according to the custom. The godless committed a lot of blasphemies: they threw down all the icons from their places to the ground, took all churchware... But they did not touch the icon of the Mother of God, which was standing at the local place of the iconostasis, nor did they touch the silver plates on it. Possibly as once for Prophet Elisha, so here the Lord God smote the heathens with blindness, so that being blind with their spiritual eyes, they would not sight with the bodily eyes either at the icon of the Mother of God, which we, looking at, see as the true Mother of God. The power of God forbade them: let they not touch the Mental Kiot with unworthy hands. The heathens not only did not touch the icon but also could not enter the cave where the monks were hiding, even though they attempted to do so many times with lit splinters and drawn swords. However, they, being driven away, returned as if thrown back by someone. The Immaculate Virgin's power, protecting the monks, prevented the Saracens from entering the cave.

Miracle 3 in 1667. One woman named Vera (what means Faith - translator's note) from Mozirsk county (uyezd) was paralyzed for a whole year. Being dumb, she had a withered hand as well. Having reached the Ilyin monastery on Saturday, the eve of Pentecost, the woman was healed during the singing of the Akathist before the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God. First, she moved the withered and motionless hand, showing it to all stretched out her hand, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then, during the liturgy, at "It is truly meet," she spoke with the silent tongue - and cried, thanking the Most Blessed Virgin for the sudden healing. Miracle 4 in 1671. Someone of the nobles named Penskiy, from the outskirts of Bragin, had a wife, Anna. For several years, she had severe pain in her legs; she had to be carried; she could not make a single step herself. Doctors who treated the incurable disease have already become exhausted. The man heard about the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God that was in the Ilyin monastery and brought his wife there. She was carried to the church, and here, having prayed warmly with tears, she received a quick healing: she got up on her feet at once. As the lame in Jerusalem described in Acts (Acts 3, 3), this wife also had her feet and ankles strong again, and she jumped up, praising God and the Mother of God. Everyone was filled with amazement at what had happened to her. Miracle 5 in 1672, ( commemoration in April) Some nun named Alexandra of the convent of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva in Chernihiv has long suffered from demonic delusion: many times, terrible images appeared to her, rushing to her, seeking to kidnap her, forbidding her to pray. She endured all this with great fear, horror, and dread; sometimes, she screamed with fear and cried so that people being with her were terrified and trembled. Finally, when she was exhausted with so many fears and was only waiting for death, she was brought by the nuns to the Ilyin monastery, to the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, for the Saturday Akathist. Here, by the grace of Our Lady Intercessor, all dreams, apparitions, and fears left her, and she returned, having the help of the Mother of God against the entire enemy's force, which no longer could cause her such suffering. Miracle 6 in 1672. One man named Lavrentiy, a resident of Chernihiv, got mad and, as is commonly the case with such people, ran around the town and the field at night. One day, he wanted to drown in the river, but he was captured and brought to the miraculous icon in the Ilyin monastery. During the monks' prayer for him, the grace of the Mother of God gave him intellect, sense, and reason. So, being healthy and sane, he returned home, praising the Mother of God Who brought him to reason. Miracle 7. Andrey Rachkevich, captain of the army of his Imperial Majesty, lived in Chernigov castle with his wife of the Roman faith. His daughter was in shrouds because of grave illness, she was dumb and blind, her eyes were covered with scabs and swelled up with pus... Her father and mother, weeping, brought her, close to death, with faith to the Ilyin monastery and put her before the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, warmly praying for the healing of their daughter. The Akathist to the Mother of God was read as usual; it was Saturday. And so, at the reading, that girl shrouded began letting out a plaintive voice and, having freed the hands from the shrouds, began to wipe her eyes. Parents rejoiced and, having lifted their daughter off the ground, found that scales of scabs fell away from the eyes, and the child became healthy all over. Seeing this, everyone who happened to be there gave glory to God and the Mother of God...Continue reading the list of miracles

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Wednesday, September 6, 2023

august 24_september 6

THE APPEARANCE OF THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD TO THE MONK SERGEI OF RADONEZH:

Late at night, St. Sergius was reading an Akathist to the Mother of God. Having finished his habitual rule, he sat down to rest a bit, but suddenly he said to his disciple, St. Micah, "Be alert, my child, for we shall have a wondrous visitation." Scarcely had he uttered these words than a voice was heard: "The All-Pure One approaches!"

St. Sergius rushed from the cell to the entrance, and suddenly it was illumined by a bright light, brighter than the sun. He beheld nearby in imperishable glory the Mother of God, accompanied by the Apostles Peter and John. Unable to bear such a vision, St. Sergius reverently prostrated himself before the Mother of God.

She said to him, "Fear not, My chosen one! I have come to visit you. Your prayer for your disciples and your monastery has been heard. Do not be troubled, for your habitation shall prosper, not only in your lifetime, but also after your departure to God. I will be with your monastery, supplying its needs abundantly, and protecting it." Having said this, the Mother of God disappeared.

For a long time St. Sergius was in an inexpressible rapture, and having come to himself, he went to St. Micah. "Tell me, Father," he asked, "what is the meaning of this miraculous vision? My soul nearly left my body from terror!" But St. Sergius was silent, and only his luminous face spoke of the spiritual joy which he had experienced. "Wait a bit," he said finally to his disciple, "my soul also trembles because of this wondrous vision."

After a while St. Sergius summoned two of his disciples, Sts. Isaac and Simon, and shared with them the vision and the promise of the Theotokos. They all sang a Molieben to the Mother of God. St. Sergius spent the remaining part of the night unable to sleep, calling to mind the divine vision.

The appearance of the Mother of God at the cell of St. Sergius, at the present place of the Serapionov Chamber, was on one of the Fridays of the Nativity Fast in 1385. The commemoration of the visit of the Mother of God to the Trinity Monastery and of Her promise was reverently kept by the disciples of St. Sergius.

On July 5, 1422 the holy relics of St. Sergius were uncovered, and soon after an icon of the Appearance of the Mother of God was placed on his grave. The icon was honored with great reverence.

In 1446, Great Prince Basil was besieged at the Trinity Monastery by the armies of Princes Demetrius Shemyaka and John of Mozhaisk. He barricaded himself in the Trinity Cathedral, and when he heard that he was being sought, he took the icon of the Appearance of the Mother of God and with it met Prince John at the southern church doors, saying: "Brother, we kissed the Life-Creating Cross and this icon in this church of the Life-Creating Trinity at this grave of the Wonderworker Sergius, that we would neither intend nor wish any evil to any of our brethren among ourselves. Now I do not know no what will happen to me here."

Monk Ambrose reproduced the icon of the Appearance of the Mother of God to St. Sergius, carved in wood in the mid-fourteenth century.

In 1552, Tsar Ivan the Terrible took the icon of the Appearance of the Mother of God on his Kazan Campaign. The most famous icon, written in 1588, was by the steward of the Trinity-Sergiev Lavra, Eustathius Golovkin, on a board from the wooden reliquary of St. Sergius, which was taken apart in 1585 when the relics of St. Sergius were placed in a silver reliquary.

Through this icon, the Mother of God repeatedly protected the Russian army. In 1657, Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich took it on the Polish campaign. In 1703, the icon took part in all the military campaigns against Swedish King Charles XII, and in 1812 Metropolitan Platon sent it to the Moscow military levy. The icon was carried in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, and during World War I it was at the quarters of the supreme commander-in-chief in 1914.

A church was built over the grave of St. Micah and at its consecration on December 10, 1734 was named in honor of the Appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos and the holy Apostles to St. Sergius of Radonezh.

On September 27, 1841 the church was restored and consecrated by Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow who said: "By the grace of the All-Holy and All-Sacred Spirit the restoration of this temple is now accomplished, fashioned before us in honor and memory of the Appearance of our Lady the Most Holy Theotokos to our holy God-bearing Father Sergius, to which St. Micah was also an eyewitness."

The commemoration of this grace-bearing event is rightly marked by the consecration of a church, however, this whole monastery is a memorial of that miraculous visit. Therefore, its purpose in the continuing centuries was the fulfillment of the promise of the heavenly Visitor: "This place shall endure."

In memory of the visit of the Mother of God at the Trinity-Sergiev Monastery, an Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos is sung on Fridays, and a special service in honor of the appearance of the Mother of God is celebrated at the monastery on August 24, on the second day of the leave-taking of the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_ OCA

THE PRIESTMARTYR EUTYCHIUS ( 1th. c)

 The PriestMartyr Eutychius, a disciple of the holy Apostles John the Theologian and Paul, lived from the I Century into the beginning II Century and was from Palestinian Sebasteia. Although Saint Eutychius is not reckoned among the number of the 70 Disciples, he received the title Disciple for his labours together with the older Apostles, by whom he was made bishop. Having heard the preaching about Christ the Saviour, Saint Eutychius at first became a student of the Apostle John the Theologian, and then having met the Apostle Paul, he preached with him on the early journeys. According to tradition, Saint Eutychius underwent many sufferings: they starved him with hunger, struck at his body with iron, flung him in the fire, and then devoured by wild beasts. One time, a lion was let loose upon the saint, which frightened everyone in that it rendered praise to the Creator – having been given a human voice. The Priestmartyr Eutychius finished his works in his native city, where he was beheaded with a sword at the beginning of the II Century.

HEBREWS 7:26-8:2

26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

MARK 4:35-41

35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

[orthodoxadventure]

4th Sunday of Great Lent: St John Climacus (of the Ladder)

Commemorated on April 14

Dweller of the desert and angel in the body, you were shown to be a wonderworker, our God-bearing Father John. You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer: healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith. Glory to Him who gave you strength. Glory to Him who granted you a crown. Glory to Him Who, through you, grants healing to all.

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is dedicated to Saint John Klimakos, the author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent. In this book the Igoumen of Saint Katherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai bears witness to the great effort which is required for entry into God’s Kingdom (Matthew 10:12). The spiritual struggle of the Christian life is difficult since it is “not against flesh and blood, but against ... the rulers of the present darkness ... the hosts of wickedness in heavenly places ...” (Ephesians 6:12). Saint John encourages the faithful in their efforts for, as the Lord has said, only “he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

Saint John was born around the year 525, the son of devout and wealthy parents. He received a very good education, but at the age of sixteen, he forsook the world and went to Mount Sinai, subjecting himself to the spiritual guidance of Elder Martyrios. When he was nineteen years of age1, his Elder reposed. Then Saint John entered the arena of hesychasm, visiting the monastic communities of Skḗtē and Tabénnisē in Egypt. For another forty years, he lived in a cell at Thora in the Sinai Desert, which was a two hour (5 mile) walk from the Monastery of Saint Katherine.

Aflame with indescribable longing for God, he ate everything that was permitted by the monastic Rule, but only in very small quantities, and not unto satiety. By so doing, he overcame the vice of pride; and by eating just a little food, he humbled the stomach, which always wants more. He raised his body from death and paralysis by the remembrance of death, and he overcame the tyranny of anger with the sword of obedience.

Who can describe the fountain of his tears, which is now to be seen in very few individuals? He slept only as much as was necessary to prevent his mind from being distracted. Before going to sleep he prayed a great deal, and he also wrote books. This was how he subdued despondency. His entire life was spent in unceasing prayer, and incomparable love for God.

After writing The Ladder at the request of Igoumen John of Raithu Monastery, and leading a God-pleasing life, Saint John fell asleep in the Lord when he was about seventy-five years old (ca. 603). He is also commemorated on March 30.

1 This was his monastic age

[Text from OCA]

The Lord truly set you on the height of abstinence, O our instructor and Father John, as an unerring star, guiding the ends of the earth by your light.

[orthodoxydaily]

SAints&Reading: Sunday, December 31, 2023

december 18_december 31

SAINT MODESTOS, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM (4th c.)

Saint Modestos (Módestos) was born into a Christian family at Sebásteia in Cappadocia (Asia Minor). Inclined toward a strict monastic life from his youth, the Saint was tonsured on Mount Sinai. Later, he became the Superior of the Monastery of Saint Theodosios the Great in Palestine. In the year 614, Syria and Palestine were attacked by the the army of the Persian king Chosroes. 90,000 Christians were killed, and many Christian churches were destroyed. Patriarch Zachariah of Jerusalem and a multitude of Christians were taken into captivity, along with the Cross of the Lord. Saint Modestos was appointed to govern the Jerusalem Church temporarily as locum tenens of the patriarchal kathedra.

With the help of Patriarch John the Merciful of Alexandria (November 12), Saint Modestos restored the devastated Christian shrines, among which was the Lord's Tomb. He also buried the murdered monks from the Monastery of Saint Savva the Sanctified. After fourteen years, Patriarch Zacharias returned from captivity with the Lord's Cross, and after his death, Saint Modestos became the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Saint Modestos reposed at the age of 97 in the year 634.

The head of Saint Modestós is located in the Athonite Monastery of Simonopetra.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

KNown also to be the protector of animals:

Once, there was a poor widow who had five pairs of oxen, which were her only means of support and which, unfortunately, they became very sick. The woman was deeply worried. She took refuge in the Church and entreated all Saints to help her in her time of need. Having not found any help, she called upon the Holy Unmercenaries Sts. Kosmas and Damian, to have mercy on her, a sinner, for she would lose her oxen because of her sins. Sts. Kosmas and Damian appeared in her sleep and told her that to them was not granted the grace to heal animals, for this Grace was granted by God to the great Bishop of Jerusalem Modesos, and if she went to him, her oxen would be healed. She awoke and hastened straightaway, seeking St. Modesos, but did not find him because he lived far from Jerusalem. She prayed with fervent faith for this Wonderworking physician to be revealed... One night, the woman saw the Saint in a dream, who asked her why she was weeping, revealing to her that he was the Modestos that she was seeking and that he had heard her prayer and had come to heal her oxen! He advised her to cut off a portion of her iron tools, and to go to a place called "Lagenas", where there was a Church of the Archangel Michael. There, in front of the Church, lived a good artist named Eustathios, and with her iron, he would make a cross that she should bring to her home. In the morning, when the priests would be serving liturgy, she should take the cross, dip it in some oil, and immediately anoint her oxen in the name of Christ, and this supplication would heal them from their sickness. The woman did as the Saint advised, and her oxen were healed, and she could resume her work without any problem, while all gave glory to God, Who gave such Wonderworking power to His servant Modestos. Since then, the art of the faithless and magicians could not affect the houses of faithful Christians, for they could not approach the wondrous power of that Cross. And even today, whoever celebrates the memory of Saint Modestos with faith, preparing a cross as mentioned above, his animals remain unharmed, through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, from every diabolic energy and danger by men.

Source: the Myrrbearers St Martha and Mary Convent

St. GATIANUS , FIRST BISHOP OF TOURS (3rd c.)

Pre-schism saint

St Gatianus was the founding bishop of the see of Tours. He was one of the "seven apostles of Gaul" commissioned by Pope Fabian to evangelize in the region.

According to Christian historians, during the consulship of the Emperor Decius and Vettius Gratus (250 AD), Pope Fabian sent out seven bishops from Rome to Gaul to preach the Gospel: Gatianus to Tours, Trophimus to Arles, Paul to Narbonne, Saturnin to Toulouse, Denis to Paris, Austromoine to Clermont, and Martial to Limoges. A community of Christians had already existed for many years in Lyon, where Irenaeus had been bishop.

As with other founders of the seven Catholic churches of Gaul, especially Martial, Gatianus became confounded in later western Christianity mythology with the "seventy-two disciples of Christ", alleged to have been sent into Gaul during the first century by Saint Peter himself, other details of his biography, while not as quickly disprovable, are also largely legendary. Gregory of Tours, writing in the 6th century, is a more dependable source for the few biographical details concerning his predecessor. According to the Catholic historian Mons. Louis Duchesne (Christian Worship: Its Origin and Evolution), the traditions preserved at Tours provided. Gregory with only the name of Gatianus and perhaps the 50-year extent of his episcopacy; it was by comparison with a brief early biography of Saturninus of Toulouse (Passio S. Saturnini) that Gregory arrived at the date 250 for the beginning of Gatianus' ministry at Tours (History of the Franks, 1.30).[3]

There were few Christians in Tours at that time. In one of the troubled years of his Episcopate, he is said for a time to have lain concealed in a cave on the banks of the Loire, at a spot where later rose the great Abbey of Marmoutier, and Gregory states that Gratianus would go into the city only when opportunities of preaching presented themselves. He devoted half a century to evangelization amid innumerable difficulties, and at his death, the diocese of Tours was securely established.

In a part of the Empire where Mithraism was a dominating force among the legions, the Abbé Jaud reports that Gatianus likewise retreated into a grotto and there celebrated a mystical banquet (célébrait les saints mystères). Gatianus was often portrayed officiating at a ceremony in a cavern-like setting. Two grottos cut into the limestone hill above the river Loire, across from Tours at the largely demolished Marmoutier Abbey, are designated the first sites where Gatianus celebrated the Divine Liturgy. 

The abbey of Marmoutier, which sprung from the grottos in the cliff to which Saint Gatianus and Saint Martin retired to pray, was, therefore, the creation of the latter worthy. ..Gatianus established a hospice for the poor outside the walls of Tours. There he reposed, overcome with weariness, after five decades of fasting, penances, and toil. And there, the abbé Jaud relates, the Saviour appeared to him, saying, "Fear not! Thy crown is readied, and the Saints await thy arrival in Heaven."

After Gatianus' death, during renewed persecution of Christians, the see of Tours remained unoccupied for 36 years. The Christians were dispersed and any direct connection with the historical Gatianus was utterly broken. Gregory records the second bishop as Lidorius, traditionally credited with building the predecessor of the present cathedral in Tours, and states that he was bishop for 33 years until  Saint Martin arrived in Tours in 371 AD. However, Martin found few Christians in this city; local lore nevertheless kept the legend of Gatianus alive. Martin found Gatianus' burial site, and always venerated his predecessor. With the rise in importance of Paris, Gatianus became seen more and more as a disciple of Saint Denis, and is so described at many modern Catholic websites.

Tours became a major pilgrimage site, focused on the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours. The cathedral, originally consecrated to Saint Maurice, was reconsecrated to Saint Gatianus at its 13th century rebuilding. His relics were destroyed in 1793, during the French Revolution. Petty ambitions and little tragedies of mid-19th century provincial life, centered on the cathedral, are portrayed in Honoré de Balzac's Le Curé de Tours ("The curate of Tours").

Source Wikipedia (edited for clarity)

HEBREWS 11:9-10, 17-23, 32-40

9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. 32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

JOHN 20:11-18

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' " 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Monday, December 11, 2023

november 29_december 11

THE HOLY MONKMARTYR AND CONFESSOR STEPHEN THE NEW OF Mt. St AUXENTIUS (767)

The Monk Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New was born in 715 at Constantinople into a pious Christian family. His parents, having two daughters, prayed the Lord for a son. The mother of the new-born Stephen took him to the Blachernae church of the Most Holy Theotokos and dedicated him to God.

During the reign of the emperor Leo the Isaurian (716-741) there was a persecution against the holy icons and against those venerating them. With the support of the emperor, the adherents of the Iconoclast heresy seized control of the supreme positions of authority in the Empire and in the Church. Persecuted by the powers of this world, Orthodoxy was preserved in monasteries far from the capital, in solitary cells, and in the brave and faithful hearts of its followers.

The Orthodox parents of Saint Stephen, grieved by the prevailing impiety, fled from Constantinople to Bithynia, and they gave over their sixteen-year-old son in obedience to the monk John, who labored in asceticism in a solitary place on the Mount of Saint Auxentius. Saint Stephen dwelt with the venerable monk John for more than fifteen years, devoting himself totally to this spirit-bearing Elder, and learning monastic activity from him. Here Stephen received the news that his father was dead, and his mother and sisters had been tonsured as nuns.

After a certain time his teacher John also died. With deep sorrow Saint Stephen buried his venerable body, and continued with monastic effort in his cave by himself. Soon monks began to come to the ascetic, desiring to learn from him the virtuous and salvific life, and a monastery was established, with Saint Stephen as the igumen. At forty-two years of age Stephen left the monastery he founded, and he went to another mountain, on whose summit he dwelt in deep seclusion in a solitary cell. But here also a community of monks soon gathered, seeking the spiritual guidance of Saint Stephen.

Leo the Isaurian was succeeded by Constantine Copronymos (741-775), a fiercer persecutor of the Orthodox, and an even more zealous iconoclast. The emperor convened an Iconoclast Council, attended by 358 bishops from the Eastern provinces. However, except for Constantine, the Archbishop of Constantinople, illegitimately raised to the patriarchal throne by the power of Copronymos, not one of the other patriarchs participated in the wicked doings of this Council, thus making it less likely to style itself as “ecumenical.” This council of heretics, at the instigation of the emperor and the archbishop, described icons as idols, and pronounced an anathema on all who venerated icons in the Orthodox manner, and it described icon veneration as heresy.

Meanwhile, the monastery of Mount Auxentius and its igumen became known in the capital. They told the emperor about the ascetic life of the monks, about their Orthodox piety, about the igumen Stephen’s gift of wonderworking, and of how Saint Stephen’s fame had spread far beyond the region of the monastery, and that the name of its head was accorded universal respect and love. The saint’s open encouragement of icon veneration and the implied rebuff to the persecutors of Orthodoxy within the monastery of Mount Auxentius especially angered the emperor. Archbishop Constantine realized that in the person of Saint Stephen he had a strong and implacable opponent of his iconoclastic intentions, and he plotted how he might draw him over to his side or else destroy him.

They tried to lure Saint Stephen into the Iconoclast camp, at first with flattery and bribery, then by threats, but in vain. Then they slandered the saint, accusing him of falling into sin with the nun Anna. But his guilt was not proven, since the nun courageously denied any guilt and died under torture and beatings. Finally, the emperor gave orders to lock up the saint in prison, and to destroy his monastery. Iconoclast bishops were sent to Saint Stephen in prison, trying to persuade him of the dogmatic correctness of the Iconoclast position. But the saint easily refuted all the arguments of the heretics and he remained true to Orthodoxy.

Then the emperor ordered that the saint be exiled on one of the islands in the Sea of Marmora. Saint Stephen settled into a cave, and there also his disciples soon gathered. After a certain while the saint left the brethren and took upon himself the exploit of living atop a pillar. News of the stylite Stephen, and the miracles worked by his prayers, spread throughout all the Empire and strengthened the faith and spirit of Orthodoxy in the people.

The emperor gave orders to transfer Saint Stephen to prison on the island of Pharos, and then to bring him to trial. At the trial, the saint refuted the arguments of the heretics sitting in judgment upon him. He explained the dogmatic essence of icon veneration, and he denounced the Iconoclasts because in blaspheming icons, they blasphemed Christ and the Mother of God. As proof, the saint pointed to a golden coin inscribed with the image of the emperor. He asked the judges what would happen to a man who threw the coin to the ground , and then trampled the emperor’s image under his feet. They replied that such a man would certainly be punished for dishonoring the image of the emperor. The saint said that an even greater punishment awaited anyone who would dishonor the image of the King of Heaven and His Saints, and with that he spat on the coin, threw it to the ground, and began to trample it underfoot.

The emperor gave orders to take the saint to prison, where already there were languishing 342 Elders, condemned for the veneration of icons. In this prison Saint Stephen spent eleven months, consoling the imprisoned. The prison became like a monastery, where the usual prayers and hymns were chanted according to the Typikon. The people came to the prison in crowds and asked Saint Stephen to pray for them.

When the emperor learned that the saint had organized a monastery in prison, where they prayed and venerated holy icons, he sent two of his own servants, twin-brothers, to beat the saint to death. When these brothers went to the prison and beheld the face of the monk shining with a divine light, they fell down on their knees before him, asking his forgiveness and prayers, then they told the emperor that his command had been carried out. But the emperor learned the truth and he resorted to yet another lie. Informing his soldiers that the saint was plotting to remove him from the throne, he sent them to the prison. The holy confessor himself came out to the furious soldiers, who seized him and dragged him through the streets of the city. They then threw the lacerated body of the martyr into a pit, where they were wont to bury criminals.

On the following morning a fiery cloud appeared over Mount Auxentius, and then a heavy darkness descended upon the capital, accompanied by hail, which killed many people.

2 TIMOTHY 2:20-26

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

LUKE 19:37-44

37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: " 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." 41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.

[discerningthoughts]

Letter To Abbess Magdalena by St Philaret of New York (Written in 1979)

A Letter from Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) to Abbess Magdalena (Countess Grabbe), Superior of the Lesna Convent in France*

November 26 / December 9, 1979

Your Reverence,1

I am writing this letter en route — onboard the ocean liner Orion, which is sailing to Australia. The ship is a rather large one, 42,000 tons (that’s roughly the size of the Titanic)2 and comfortable enough. This morning…