#monastery of saint naum

[theadventurouslife4us]

Monastery of Saint Naum, Ohrid

[orthodoxadventure]

The Monastery of St. Naum of Ohrid

The monastery is located twenty miles from Ohrid, near the border with Albania, on the cliffs of the southern shore of Lake Ohrid. At the end of the ninth century, it was built by St. Naum, the young disciple of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, and dedicated to the holy Archangel Michael. After St. Naum reposed and was canonized, the monastery took his name, and here lie his holy relics.

During the Ottoman yoke, the monastery was destroyed, and only the columns of the tribelon from the original monastery have survived to this day. Archaeological research has shown that the current church was built on the foundation of the original church in the period between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It underwent reconstruction several times and was also significantly expanded. The carved iconostasis dates to 1711, and the iconography to the eighteenth century. The abbot Archimandrite Nektary has undertaken great labors to revive and beautify the monastery in recent years.

Besides the educational activity of the medieval Preslav and Ohrid schools, St. Naum of Ohrid is known for the miracles that occurred and still occur by his prayers to this day, and his special prayerful assistance to those who are mentally ill. It’s known that St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco venerated this saint and would visit the mentally ill with an icon of St. Naum of Ohrid blessed on his relics.

|| Source: OrthoChristian.com ||

[discoveringorthodoxy]

Equals of the Apostles and Teachers of the Slavs, St. Cyril and St. Methodius

Christ is with us! He is and always shall be!

In school, we are often taught that Martin Luther was the first to translate the Bible into a common language for all to understand. And while Martin Luther did translate the Bible from Latin to German for the common folk to understand, he was not the first to accomplish this feat. There are two saints who had achieved this over 700 years prior. These saints are Saints Cyril and Methodius. 

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St. Methodius and St. Constantine (Feast Days May 11th and 24th) were brothers born in Thessalonica. St. Methodius, the oldest of seven brothers, was in the military and became governor in one of the Slavic principalities that were dependent on the Byzantine Empire. This made it possible for him to learn the Slavic language. Ten years later, St. Methodius became a monk on Mount Olympus. 

St. Constantine was a smart man who studied with emperor Michael under the finest teachers in Constantinople. One such teacher was Saint Photius, who would later become the Patriarch of Constantinople (February 6). St. Constantine also studied all the current sciences and knew several languages. He studied the works of St. Gregory the Theologian. Because of his wealth in knowledge, St. Constantine became know as the “Philosopher”. After completing his education, the Saint was ordained into holy priesthood and appointed the curator of the patriarchal library at the church of Hagia Sophia. However, he soon left the capital and secretly went to a monastery. Being discovered there, he went back to Constantinople where he was appointed as an instructor in philosophy. While there, he even won a debate against Ananias, the leader of the iconoclasts. After this victory, the emperor sent Constantine to discuss the Holy Trinity with the Saracens, who were people who professed Islam. He also gained a victory against them. After he returned, he went to St. Methodius and spent his time in unceasing prayer and reading the works of the holy Fathers. 

Soon, the emperor summoned both of the brothers and sent them to preach the Gospel to the Khazars, a semi-nomadic Turkic people. During their journey, they stayed in the city of Korsun in order to make preparations. While there, they discovered the relics of the hieromartyr Clement, Pope of Rome (November 25). 

While in Korsun, St. Constantine found a Gospel and Psalter written in Slavonic (Russian letters) and a man who spoke the Slavic tongue. He learned from this man how to read and speak the language. Eventually the brothers arrived at the Khazars, where they won a debate with the Jews and Muslims by preaching the Gospel. On their way back, the brothers visited Korsun and took up the relics of St. Clement. Then, they returned to Constantinople. 

Later, they were called by Moravian prince Rostislav to instruct his people in the Orthodox Faith. Along with the help of their disciples Gorazd, Clement, Savva, Naum, and Angelyar, they devised a Slavonic alphabet and translated the books that were necessary for the celebration of the divine services. They translated the Gospel, Epistles, Psalter, and collected services into the Slavic tongue. This occured in the year 863, over 700 years before Martin Luther translated the New Testament. 

After they completed the translation, the holy brothers went to Moravia, where they began to teach the services in the Slavic language. This angered the German bishops, who celebrated the divine services in the Moravian churches in Latin. They were convinced that the divine services should be done in one of three languages: Hebrew, Greek, or Latin. However, St. Constantine said, “You only recognize three languages in which God may be glorified. But David sang, ‘Praise the Lord, all nations, praise the Lord all peoples (Psalm 116/117:1)’.’ Humiliated and bitter, the bishops complained to Rome. 

The holy brothers were then summoned to Rome for a decision to be made on the matter. As they set off to Rome, the brothers took with them the relics of St. Clement. Knowing that they were bringing these relics with them, Pope Adrian met them along the way with his clergy. The brothers were greeted with honor and the Pope gave permission to have the divine services in the Slavonic language. He then ordered the books translated by the brothers to be placed in the Latin churches, and to serve the Liturgy in the Slavonic language.

While in Rome, St. Constantine fell ill and the Lord revealed that he would die. So, he was tonsured into the monastic schema with the name of Cyril. On February 14, 869, St. Cyril died at the age of 42. Before he died, St. Cyril commanded St. Methodius to continue their task of enlightening the Slavic people with the true Faith. 

After St. Cyril’s death, the Pope sent Methodius to Pannonia, a province of the Roman Empire, and consecrated him as Archbishop of Moravia and Pannonia. In Pannonia, St. Methodius and his disciples continued to distribute service books written in the Slavonic language. This once again angered the German bishops, who arrested and tried the Saint. The Saint was sent to Swabia where he endured several sufferings for two and a half years. 

After being set free by the order of Pope John VIII of Rome and being restored to his archdiocese, St. Methodius continued to preach the Gospel to the Slavs. He baptized the Czech prince Borivoi and his wife Ludmilla (September 16), as well as one of the Police princes. The German bishops began to persecute him again because he did not accept the heretical teaching of the Holy Spirit proceeding from both the Father and Son. St. Methodius was summoned to Rome where he was able to justify himself before the Pope and preserve the Orthodox teaching. Afterwards, he was sent to Velehrad, the capital of Moravia. 

Velehrad is where he spent the remaining years of his life. St. Methodius spent the rest of his life, with the assistance of two of his former pupils, translating the entire Old Testament into Slavonic. The only books he did not translate was the Book of Maccabbess, the Nomocanon (Rule of the Holy Fathers) and Paterikon (book of the Holy Fathers). 

Before he died, St. Methodius designated one of his students, Gorazd, as a worthy successor to himself. The saint predicted the day of his death and died on April 6, 885, at the age of 66. The saint’s burial service was chanted in three languages, Slavonic, Greek, and Latin. 

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The story of Sts. Cyril and Methodius is an amazing one. As a STEM student,  I found it fascinating that St. Cyril had studied all of the current sciences of his time. And as someone who is continually seeking knowledge, his story gave me a sense of hope that I can use what I learn to glorify God and to spread His message. 

We should keep the spirit of Sts. Cyril and Methodius as we approach the modern era. Today, thanks to the Internet, we are connected to people from all around the world that come from all sorts of cultures. One thing I do appreciate from the Protestant movement is that there is a passion to translate the Bible into other languages and go out among other cultures to spread it. It does help spread the Gospel and we ought to do as Orthodox Christians. 

But on a more local issue, we should focus on making our services more accessible to people in the West. In the US, where I’m from, I’ve seen a problem where the liturgy is not performed in English. While I understand having the liturgy in for example, Greek, for new immigrants, it also cuts off any potential new converts for the local population. Having the liturgy mostly in English or even a Spanish service could help our population greatly. But this is just my humble opinion. 

Until next time and may God bless all of you!

- Joanna

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Sources:

“Equals of the Apostles and Teachers of the Slavs, Cyril and Methodius.” Orthodox Church in America, https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2001/05/11/101350-equals-of-the-apostles-and-teachers-of-the-slavs-cyril-and-metho.

“Methodios & Cyril, Equal-to-the Apostles Illuminators of the Slavs - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.” Go to Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=486&type=saints.

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Friday, May 24, 2024

may 11_may 24

THE HOLY EQUAL-TO-THE-APOSTLES FIRST-TEACHERS AND ENLIGHTENERS OF THE SLAVIC PEOPLES, THE BROTHERS CYRIL (885) AND METHODIUS (869)

Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equals of the Apostles, and Enlighteners of the Slavs came from an illustrious and pious family living in the Greek city of Thessalonica. Saint Methodius was the oldest of seven brothers, Saint Constantine [Cyril was his monastic name] was the youngest. At first Saint Methodius was in the military and was governor in one of the Slavic principalities dependent on the Byzantine Empire, probably Bulgaria, which made it possible for him to learn the Slavic language. After living there for about ten years, Saint Methodius later received monastic tonsure at one of the monasteries on Mount Olympus (Asia Minor).

Saint Constantine distinguished himself by his great aptitude, and he studied with the emperor Michael under the finest teachers in Constantinople, including Saint Photius, the future Patriarch of Constantinople (February 6).

Saint Constantine studied all the sciences of his time, and also knew several languages. He also studied the works of Saint Gregory the Theologian. Because of his keen mind and penetrating intellect, Saint Constantine was called “Philosopher” (wise). Upon the completion of his education, Saint Constantine was ordained to the holy priesthood and was appointed curator of the patriarchal library at the church of Hagia Sophia. He soon left the capital and went secretly to a monastery.

Discovered there, he returned to Constantinople, where he was appointed as instructor in philosophy. The young Constantine’s wisdom and faith were so great that he won a debate with Ananias, the leader of the heretical iconclasts. After this victory Constantine was sent by the emperor to discuss the Holy Trinity with the Saracens, and again he gained the victory. When he returned, Saint Constantine went to his brother Saint Methodius on Olympus, spending his time in unceasing prayer and reading the works of the holy Fathers.

The emperor soon summoned both of the holy brothers from the monastery and sent them to preach the Gospel to the Khazars. Along the way they stayed in the city of Korsun, making preparations for their missionary activity. There the holy brothers miraculously discovered the relics of the hieromartyr Clement, Pope of Rome (November 25).

There in Korsun Saint Constantine found a Gospel and Psalter written in Russian letters [i.e. Slavonic], and a man speaking the Slavic tongue, and he learned from this man how to read and speak this language. After this, the holy brothers went to the Khazars, where they won a debate with Jews and Moslems by preaching the Gospel. On the way home, the brothers again visited Korsun and, taking up the relics of Saint Clement, they returned to Constantinople. Saint Constantine remained in the capital, but Saint Methodius was made igumen of the small Polychronion monastery near Mount Olympus, where he lived a life of asceticism as before.

Soon messengers came to the emperor from the Moravian prince Rostislav, who was under pressure from German bishops, with a request to send teachers to Moravia who would be able to preach in the Slavic tongue. The emperor summoned Saint Constantine and said to him, “You must go there, but it would be better if no one knows about this.”

Saint Constantine prepared for the new task with fasting and prayer. With the help of his brother Saint Methodius and the disciples Gorazd, Clement, Savva, Naum and Angelyar, he devised a Slavonic alphabet and translated the books which were necessary for the celebration of the divine services: the Gospel, Epistles, Psalter, and collected services, into the Slavic tongue. This occurred in the year 863.

After completing the translation, the holy brothers went to Moravia, where they were received with great honor, and they began to teach the services in the Slavic language. This aroused the malice of the German bishops, who celebrated divine services in the Moravian churches in Latin. They rose up against the holy brothers, convinced that divine services must be done in one of three languages: Hebrew, Greek or Latin.

Saint Constantine said, “You only recognize three languages in which God may be glorified. But David sang, ‘Praise the Lord, all nations, praise the Lord all peoples (Ps 116/117:1).’ And the Gospel of Saint Matthew (28:18) says, ‘Go and teach all nations....’” The German bishops were humiliated, but they became bitter and complained to Rome.

The holy brothers were summoned to Rome for a decision on this matter. Taking with them the relics of Saint Clement, Saints Constantine and Methodius set off to Rome. Knowing that the holy brothers were bringing these relics with them, Pope Adrian met them along the way with his clergy. The holy brothers were greeted with honor, the Pope gave permission to have divine services in the Slavonic language, and he ordered the books translated by the brothers to be placed in the Latin churches, and to serve the Liturgy in the Slavonic language.

At Rome Saint Constantine fell ill, and the Lord revealed to him his approaching death. He was tonsured into the monastic schema with the name of Cyril. On February 14, 869, fifty days after receiving the schema, Saint Cyril died at the age of forty-two.

Saint Cyril commanded his brother Saint Methodius to continue with their task of enlightening the Slavic peoples with the light of the true Faith. Saint Methodius entreated the Pope to send the body of his brother for burial in their native land, but the Pope ordered the relics of Saint Cyril to be placed in the church of Saint Clement, where miracles began to occur from them.

After the death of Saint Cyril, the Pope sent Saint Methodius to Pannonia, after consecrating him as Archbishop of Moravia and Pannonia, on the ancient throne of Saint Andronicus (July 30). In Pannonia Saint Methodius and his disciples continued to distribute services books written in the Slavonic language. This again aroused the wrath of the German bishops. They arrested and tried Saint Methodius, who was sent in chains to Swabia, where he endured many sufferings for two and a half years.

After being set free by order of Pope John VIII of Rome, and restored to his archdiocese, Saint Methodius continued to preach the Gospel among the Slavs. He baptized the Czech prince Borivoi and his wife Ludmilla (September 16), and also one of the Polish princes. The German bishops began to persecute the saint for a third time, because he did not accept the erroneous teaching about the procession of the Holy Spirit from both the Father and the Son. Saint Methodius was summoned to Rome, but he justified himself before the Pope, and preserved the Orthodox teaching in its purity, and was sent again to the capital of Moravia, Velehrad.

Here in the remaining years of his life Saint Methodius, assisted by two of his former pupils, translated the entire Old Testament into Slavonic, except for the Book of Maccabbees, and even the Nomocanon (Rule of the Holy Fathers) and Paterikon (book of the Holy Fathers).

Sensing the nearness of death, Saint Methodius designated one of his students, Gorazd, as a worthy successor to himself. The holy bishop predicted the day of his death and died on April 6, 885 when he was about sixty years old. The saint’s burial service was chanted in three languages, Slavonic, Greek, and Latin. He was buried in the cathedral church of Velehrad.

NEW MARYR OLYMPIA ABBESS OF MITYLENE (1235)

A Great Sign, p. 115): "The officer said he came from Kalloni, where he dwelt in a monastery. The officer explained how an empress built the Karyes Monastery. The officer described it as a large complex with an imperial suite or cell. The officer told Kanellos that there were three icons still remaining: one underneath the church, another at the holm-oak, and the third in the forecourt." Kontoglou believed the military officer was Saint Demetrios of Thessaloniki, since there is a church dedicated to him at Kalloni.

In 1235 the convent was attacked, demolished and set on fire by Turkish corsairs out of Crete. Many nuns were slain. The Abbess at the time was named Olympia, who attained great heights of virtue and sanctity. Her mother was from Constantinople and the daughter of a priest, and had three sisters and one brother; the latter eventually became an archimandrite. Her father, the priest, counseled his daughter Dorothea to become a nun, and in time she became the abbess at the Monastery of Karyes. Her three sisters married. Olympia's mother married a man who became a priest in the Peloponnese. It was there that Olympia was born and raised in the piety of the Orthodox faith. When Olympia was ten years old, both of her parents died, and was therefore sent to Karyes in Mytilene to her aunt, the Abbess Dorothea. There she decided to also dedicate her life to the Lord, and at the age of nineteen she was tonsured a nun. When she was twenty-five her aunt Dorothea reposed, and the sisterhood elected Olympia as her successor. She had thirty nuns under her spiritual direction, with eighteen cells at the convent.

On the 11th of May, in the year 1235, pirates attacked the convent, and at first tried to defile the nuns. Some escaped and fled into the mountains, but many were raped and slaughtered by the Turks.One of the elderly nuns, Mother Euphrosyne, who was infirm and could not walk and hide herself, was greatly tortured by the attackers. She was suspended on a tree and burned alive. All that remained of her were ashes.

Mother Olympia did not wish to flee. She chose to remain behind and endure the horrific torments she was to endure. The pirates took lit torches and burned her flesh. They then prepared a red-hot iron rod and hammered it into her ear forcing it out of the other ear. She was also tortured with candle flames. They then stripped her and stretched her on an iron door, and affixed her there to a wooden board using twenty large nails. The pirates then took three nails larger than the others and hammered them into her head. Two of the nails were driven into each ear. The third nail penetrated through her cranium. After she expired, they burned down the monastery as well as its beautiful church.

What was left of the monastery lay in ruins for about a hundred and fifty years, when a pious and wealthy woman named Melpomene undertook to rebuild it, though this time it would be a monastery for men. It was in this monastery where Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene were to suffer martyrdom at the hands of wrathful Turks.

In September of 1961, Vasiliki Rallis had a dream in which....Continue reading

Surce; Orthodox Christianity Then and Now

ACTS 8:40-9:19

40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." 11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name. 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake. 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

MATTHEW 5:14-19

14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 17 Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

[istanbulboatours]

Glimpses of the History of Bulgaria

Then three schools were set up and soon hundreds of enlightened Bulgarians came out if them. Having the ruler Boris I behind his back Clement built a monastery in Ohrid, Macedonia, improved the Glagolitic alphabet and named it after his teacher Cyril – Cyrillic alphabet. For those merits Clement of Ohrid received high recognition and even today the University of Sofia bears his name. The other disciple of Cyril, Naum, led the second centre of enlightenment in the capital Pliska which was focused mainly on literary activities. There were laid the foundations of a literature which could be compared to the Byzantine and in that initiative took part the son of Boris I, Simeon, to whom Fate had allotted a great future…

Relics from Veliki (Great) r re Slav, the second capital city oj the Kingdom established by Boris l in 893.

After the death of Naum in 910 both disciples were canonized as Bulgarian saints . These men had a substantial contribution to the spiritual, cultural and intellectual development of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, to the raising of Bulgaria as a spiritual leader of the Slav community and to the cultural advance of Medieval Europe as a whole. Under the influence of Christianity and the Slavic script by the end of the 9th century the Bulgarian nation was ultimately formed and the Bulgarian state was consolidated.

The “Golden Age” of King Simeon the Great

After Prince Boris I retired on his own will to a monastery in 889 his first-born son Vladimir sat on the throne. Soon it came clear that the new ruler had a different vision for the religious and cultural future of the country: he wanted to restore paganism and did not hesitate to reaccept his pagan name Rassate. At hearing about this Boris left the monastery, dethroned his son and blinded him, then handed the crown to his second son, Simeon (893-917). Meanwhile, in 893 he shifted the capital city from Pliska some forty kilometres to the south-west and established Veliki (Great) Preslav which remained as a capital city until 972.

[istanbultulip]

Glimpses of the History of Bulgaria

Then three schools were set up and soon hundreds of enlightened Bulgarians came out if them. Having the ruler Boris I behind his back Clement built a monastery in Ohrid, Macedonia, improved the Glagolitic alphabet and named it after his teacher Cyril – Cyrillic alphabet. For those merits Clement of Ohrid received high recognition and even today the University of Sofia bears his name. The other disciple of Cyril, Naum, led the second centre of enlightenment in the capital Pliska which was focused mainly on literary activities. There were laid the foundations of a literature which could be compared to the Byzantine and in that initiative took part the son of Boris I, Simeon, to whom Fate had allotted a great future…

Relics from Veliki (Great) r re Slav, the second capital city oj the Kingdom established by Boris l in 893.

After the death of Naum in 910 both disciples were canonized as Bulgarian saints . These men had a substantial contribution to the spiritual, cultural and intellectual development of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, to the raising of Bulgaria as a spiritual leader of the Slav community and to the cultural advance of Medieval Europe as a whole. Under the influence of Christianity and the Slavic script by the end of the 9th century the Bulgarian nation was ultimately formed and the Bulgarian state was consolidated.

The “Golden Age” of King Simeon the Great

After Prince Boris I retired on his own will to a monastery in 889 his first-born son Vladimir sat on the throne. Soon it came clear that the new ruler had a different vision for the religious and cultural future of the country: he wanted to restore paganism and did not hesitate to reaccept his pagan name Rassate. At hearing about this Boris left the monastery, dethroned his son and blinded him, then handed the crown to his second son, Simeon (893-917). Meanwhile, in 893 he shifted the capital city from Pliska some forty kilometres to the south-west and established Veliki (Great) Preslav which remained as a capital city until 972.

[istanbulfoodtour]

Glimpses of the History of Bulgaria

Then three schools were set up and soon hundreds of enlightened Bulgarians came out if them. Having the ruler Boris I behind his back Clement built a monastery in Ohrid, Macedonia, improved the Glagolitic alphabet and named it after his teacher Cyril – Cyrillic alphabet. For those merits Clement of Ohrid received high recognition and even today the University of Sofia bears his name. The other disciple of Cyril, Naum, led the second centre of enlightenment in the capital Pliska which was focused mainly on literary activities. There were laid the foundations of a literature which could be compared to the Byzantine and in that initiative took part the son of Boris I, Simeon, to whom Fate had allotted a great future…

Relics from Veliki (Great) r re Slav, the second capital city oj the Kingdom established by Boris l in 893.

After the death of Naum in 910 both disciples were canonized as Bulgarian saints . These men had a substantial contribution to the spiritual, cultural and intellectual development of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, to the raising of Bulgaria as a spiritual leader of the Slav community and to the cultural advance of Medieval Europe as a whole. Under the influence of Christianity and the Slavic script by the end of the 9th century the Bulgarian nation was ultimately formed and the Bulgarian state was consolidated.

The “Golden Age” of King Simeon the Great

After Prince Boris I retired on his own will to a monastery in 889 his first-born son Vladimir sat on the throne. Soon it came clear that the new ruler had a different vision for the religious and cultural future of the country: he wanted to restore paganism and did not hesitate to reaccept his pagan name Rassate. At hearing about this Boris left the monastery, dethroned his son and blinded him, then handed the crown to his second son, Simeon (893-917). Meanwhile, in 893 he shifted the capital city from Pliska some forty kilometres to the south-west and established Veliki (Great) Preslav which remained as a capital city until 972.

[travelistanbul]

Glimpses of the History of Bulgaria

Then three schools were set up and soon hundreds of enlightened Bulgarians came out if them. Having the ruler Boris I behind his back Clement built a monastery in Ohrid, Macedonia, improved the Glagolitic alphabet and named it after his teacher Cyril – Cyrillic alphabet. For those merits Clement of Ohrid received high recognition and even today the University of Sofia bears his name. The other disciple of Cyril, Naum, led the second centre of enlightenment in the capital Pliska which was focused mainly on literary activities. There were laid the foundations of a literature which could be compared to the Byzantine and in that initiative took part the son of Boris I, Simeon, to whom Fate had allotted a great future…

Relics from Veliki (Great) r re Slav, the second capital city oj the Kingdom established by Boris l in 893.

After the death of Naum in 910 both disciples were canonized as Bulgarian saints . These men had a substantial contribution to the spiritual, cultural and intellectual development of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, to the raising of Bulgaria as a spiritual leader of the Slav community and to the cultural advance of Medieval Europe as a whole. Under the influence of Christianity and the Slavic script by the end of the 9th century the Bulgarian nation was ultimately formed and the Bulgarian state was consolidated.

The “Golden Age” of King Simeon the Great

After Prince Boris I retired on his own will to a monastery in 889 his first-born son Vladimir sat on the throne. Soon it came clear that the new ruler had a different vision for the religious and cultural future of the country: he wanted to restore paganism and did not hesitate to reaccept his pagan name Rassate. At hearing about this Boris left the monastery, dethroned his son and blinded him, then handed the crown to his second son, Simeon (893-917). Meanwhile, in 893 he shifted the capital city from Pliska some forty kilometres to the south-west and established Veliki (Great) Preslav which remained as a capital city until 972.

[historicalistanbul]

Glimpses of the History of Bulgaria

Then three schools were set up and soon hundreds of enlightened Bulgarians came out if them. Having the ruler Boris I behind his back Clement built a monastery in Ohrid, Macedonia, improved the Glagolitic alphabet and named it after his teacher Cyril – Cyrillic alphabet. For those merits Clement of Ohrid received high recognition and even today the University of Sofia bears his name. The other disciple of Cyril, Naum, led the second centre of enlightenment in the capital Pliska which was focused mainly on literary activities. There were laid the foundations of a literature which could be compared to the Byzantine and in that initiative took part the son of Boris I, Simeon, to whom Fate had allotted a great future…

Relics from Veliki (Great) r re Slav, the second capital city oj the Kingdom established by Boris l in 893.

After the death of Naum in 910 both disciples were canonized as Bulgarian saints . These men had a substantial contribution to the spiritual, cultural and intellectual development of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, to the raising of Bulgaria as a spiritual leader of the Slav community and to the cultural advance of Medieval Europe as a whole. Under the influence of Christianity and the Slavic script by the end of the 9th century the Bulgarian nation was ultimately formed and the Bulgarian state was consolidated.

The “Golden Age” of King Simeon the Great

After Prince Boris I retired on his own will to a monastery in 889 his first-born son Vladimir sat on the throne. Soon it came clear that the new ruler had a different vision for the religious and cultural future of the country: he wanted to restore paganism and did not hesitate to reaccept his pagan name Rassate. At hearing about this Boris left the monastery, dethroned his son and blinded him, then handed the crown to his second son, Simeon (893-917). Meanwhile, in 893 he shifted the capital city from Pliska some forty kilometres to the south-west and established Veliki (Great) Preslav which remained as a capital city until 972.

[healthistanbul]

Glimpses of the History of Bulgaria

Then three schools were set up and soon hundreds of enlightened Bulgarians came out if them. Having the ruler Boris I behind his back Clement built a monastery in Ohrid, Macedonia, improved the Glagolitic alphabet and named it after his teacher Cyril – Cyrillic alphabet. For those merits Clement of Ohrid received high recognition and even today the University of Sofia bears his name. The other disciple of Cyril, Naum, led the second centre of enlightenment in the capital Pliska which was focused mainly on literary activities. There were laid the foundations of a literature which could be compared to the Byzantine and in that initiative took part the son of Boris I, Simeon, to whom Fate had allotted a great future…

Relics from Veliki (Great) r re Slav, the second capital city oj the Kingdom established by Boris l in 893.

After the death of Naum in 910 both disciples were canonized as Bulgarian saints . These men had a substantial contribution to the spiritual, cultural and intellectual development of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, to the raising of Bulgaria as a spiritual leader of the Slav community and to the cultural advance of Medieval Europe as a whole. Under the influence of Christianity and the Slavic script by the end of the 9th century the Bulgarian nation was ultimately formed and the Bulgarian state was consolidated.

The “Golden Age” of King Simeon the Great

After Prince Boris I retired on his own will to a monastery in 889 his first-born son Vladimir sat on the throne. Soon it came clear that the new ruler had a different vision for the religious and cultural future of the country: he wanted to restore paganism and did not hesitate to reaccept his pagan name Rassate. At hearing about this Boris left the monastery, dethroned his son and blinded him, then handed the crown to his second son, Simeon (893-917). Meanwhile, in 893 he shifted the capital city from Pliska some forty kilometres to the south-west and established Veliki (Great) Preslav which remained as a capital city until 972.

[istanbulwild]

Glimpses of the History of Bulgaria

Then three schools were set up and soon hundreds of enlightened Bulgarians came out if them. Having the ruler Boris I behind his back Clement built a monastery in Ohrid, Macedonia, improved the Glagolitic alphabet and named it after his teacher Cyril – Cyrillic alphabet. For those merits Clement of Ohrid received high recognition and even today the University of Sofia bears his name. The other disciple of Cyril, Naum, led the second centre of enlightenment in the capital Pliska which was focused mainly on literary activities. There were laid the foundations of a literature which could be compared to the Byzantine and in that initiative took part the son of Boris I, Simeon, to whom Fate had allotted a great future…

Relics from Veliki (Great) r re Slav, the second capital city oj the Kingdom established by Boris l in 893.

After the death of Naum in 910 both disciples were canonized as Bulgarian saints . These men had a substantial contribution to the spiritual, cultural and intellectual development of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, to the raising of Bulgaria as a spiritual leader of the Slav community and to the cultural advance of Medieval Europe as a whole. Under the influence of Christianity and the Slavic script by the end of the 9th century the Bulgarian nation was ultimately formed and the Bulgarian state was consolidated.

The “Golden Age” of King Simeon the Great

After Prince Boris I retired on his own will to a monastery in 889 his first-born son Vladimir sat on the throne. Soon it came clear that the new ruler had a different vision for the religious and cultural future of the country: he wanted to restore paganism and did not hesitate to reaccept his pagan name Rassate. At hearing about this Boris left the monastery, dethroned his son and blinded him, then handed the crown to his second son, Simeon (893-917). Meanwhile, in 893 he shifted the capital city from Pliska some forty kilometres to the south-west and established Veliki (Great) Preslav which remained as a capital city until 972.

[theadventurouslife4us]

Monastery Saint Naum

Monastery Saint Naum, Ohrid The original monastery was built on in 905 by Saint Naum of Ohrid himself, while in later centuries it was then rebuilt several times. Watch the video of Monastery Saint Naum on youtube!

[istanbultulips]

Glimpses of the History of Bulgaria

Then three schools were set up and soon hundreds of enlightened Bulgarians came out if them. Having the ruler Boris I behind his back Clement built a monastery in Ohrid, Macedonia, improved the Glagolitic alphabet and named it after his teacher Cyril – Cyrillic alphabet. For those merits Clement of Ohrid received high recognition and even today the University of Sofia bears his name. The other disciple of Cyril, Naum, led the second centre of enlightenment in the capital Pliska which was focused mainly on literary activities. There were laid the foundations of a literature which could be compared to the Byzantine and in that initiative took part the son of Boris I, Simeon, to whom Fate had allotted a great future…

Relics from Veliki (Great) r re Slav, the second capital city oj the Kingdom established by Boris l in 893.

After the death of Naum in 910 both disciples were canonized as Bulgarian saints . These men had a substantial contribution to the spiritual, cultural and intellectual development of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, to the raising of Bulgaria as a spiritual leader of the Slav community and to the cultural advance of Medieval Europe as a whole. Under the influence of Christianity and the Slavic script by the end of the 9th century the Bulgarian nation was ultimately formed and the Bulgarian state was consolidated.

The “Golden Age” of King Simeon the Great

After Prince Boris I retired on his own will to a monastery in 889 his first-born son Vladimir sat on the throne. Soon it came clear that the new ruler had a different vision for the religious and cultural future of the country: he wanted to restore paganism and did not hesitate to reaccept his pagan name Rassate. At hearing about this Boris left the monastery, dethroned his son and blinded him, then handed the crown to his second son, Simeon (893-917). Meanwhile, in 893 he shifted the capital city from Pliska some forty kilometres to the south-west and established Veliki (Great) Preslav which remained as a capital city until 972.

[whiiteniights]

Books read in 2023: nr.1

E madhe është gjëma e mëkatit, Mitrush Kuteli

“Aq shumë e desh Urata Kalijen sa trembej nga lumturia e tij dhe i lutej Tënezotit mos ia shkruaj si mëkat.”

(Made by Onufri/Onufri/Onufri/The Other Side,Dean Cornwall/Antique Moon Girl,Voltairis/On the Seashore,Hanuš Knöchel/Saint Naum Monastery/Onufri/Saint Naum Monastery)

[lutnistas]

Lake Ohrid ( North Macedonia ) 

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Mon, Apr., 19, 2021

April 6/April 19

Saint Eutykhios, Archbishop of Constantinople (582)

     Saint Eutykhios, Archbishop of Constantinople, was born in a village bearing the name "Divine" in the province of Phrygia. His father, Alexander, was a soldier, and his mother Synesia – was the daughter of the Augustopolis priest Isichias. Saint Eutykhios received the first rudiments of his education and a Christian upbringing from his grandfather the priest. Once during the time of a childhood game the boy wrote his own name with the title of Patriarch and by this seemed to predict his future service. He was sent off to Constantinople at age 12 for continuing further education. The youth persevered in his study of science and realised, that human wisdom – is nothing in comparison to the study of Divine Revelation. He decided to dedicate himself to monastic life. Saint Eutykhios withdrew into one of the Amasian monasteries and in it accepted the Angelic order. For his strict life he was made archimandrite of all the Amasian monasteries, and in 552 was appointed to the Patriarchal throne.      When the V OEcumenical Council prepared to assemble during the reign of the holy nobleborn emperor Justinian (527-565), the metropolitan of Amasia was ill and he sent in his place Saint Eutykhios. At Constantinople the aged Patriarch Saint Minas (536-552; Comm. 25 August) beheld Blessed Eutykhios and predicted that he would be the next Patriarch. After the death of the holy Patriarch Minas, the Apostle Peter appeared in a vision to the emperor Justinian and, pointing his hand at Eutykhios, said: "Let he be made your bishop".      At the very beginning of his patriarchal service, Saint Eutykhios convened the V OEcumenical Council (553), at which the fathers condemned the heresies cropping up and pronounced them anathema. However, after several years there arose a new heresy in the Church, Aphthartodocetism (asartodoketai) or "imperishability" – which taught that the flesh of Christ, before His death on the Cross and resurrection, was imperishable and not capable of suffering.      Saint Eutykhios vigourously denounced this heresy, but the emperor Justinian himself inclined towards it, and turned his wrath upon the saint. By order of the emperor, soldiers seized hold of the saint within the temple, tore off from him his patriarchal vestments, and sent him off into exile to an Amasian monastery (565).      The saint bore his banishment with meekness, and dwelt at the monastery in fasting and prayer, and he worked many miracles and healings.      Thus, through his prayer the wife of a pious man, Androgenes, who before having borne to light only dead infants, now gave birth to two sons who lived to reach years of maturity. Two deaf-mutes received the gift of speech; and two little children, grievously ill, he restored to health. The saint healed a cancerous ulcer on the hand of an artist. The saint healed also another artist, anointing his diseased hand with oil and making over it the sign of the cross. The saint healed not only bodily, but also spiritual afflictions: he banished the devil out of a girl that had kept her from Holy Communion; he banished the devil out of a youth who had fled off from a monastery (after which the youth returned to his monastery); he healed a drunken leper, who – cleansed of his leprosy, stopped drinking.      During the time of an invasion by the Persians into Amasia and its widespread devastation for the inhabitants – by order of the saint, they distributed grain to the hungry from the monastic granaries – and the stores of grain at the monastery, through his prayers, were not depleted.      Sainted Eutykhios received of God a gift of prophecy: thus, he indicated the names of two successors to emperor Justinian – Justin (565-578) and Tiberias (578-582).      After the death of the holy Patriarch John Scholastikos, Saint Eutykhios returned to the cathedra in 577 after his 12 year exile, and he again wisely ruled his flock.      Four and an half years after his return to the Patriarchal throne, Saint Eutykhios on Thomas Sunday 582 gathered together all his clergy, gave them a blessing and in peace expired to the Lord.

Saint Methodius, ArchBishop of Moravia (885)

     The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles First-Teachers and Enlighteners of the Slavic Peoples, the Brothers Cyril and Methodius came from an illustrious and pious family living in the Greek city of Soluneia (Thessalonika). Saint Methodius was the oldest of seven brothers, Saint Contantine (Cyril – was his monastic name) was the youngest. Saint Methodius was at first in the military profession and was governor in one of the Slavic principalities dependent to the Byzantine empire – probably Bulgaria, which made it possible for him to learn the Slavic language. Having dwelt there for about 10 years, Saint Methodius afterwards accepted monastic orders at one of the monasteries on Mount Olympos (Asia Minor). Saint Constantine from his early years distinguished himself by great aptitude and he studied together with the emperor Michael during that one's youth – under the finest teachers in Constantinople, among which were Photios, future Patriarch of Constantinople. Saint Constantine, having attained knowledge in all the sciences of his time and also many languages, also with particular diligence studied the works of Saint Gregory the Theologian. Because of his keen mind and penetrating perception, Saint Constantine received the title "Philosopher" (wise). Upon the completion of his education, Saint Constantine accepted the dignity of priest and was appointed curator of the patriarchal library at the church of Saint Sophia, but he soon quit the capital and went off secretly to a monastery. Discovered there and having returned to Constantinople, he was appointed teacher of philosophy in the highest level of the Constantinople schools. The wisdom and strength of faith for the still rather young Constantine was so great, that he won the victory in a debate with the leader of the heretic-iconclasts Ananias. After this victory Constantine was sent by the emperor to dispute in a debate about the Holy Trinity with the Sarasins (muslims) and again he gained the victory. Having returned, Saint Constantine went off to his brother Saint Methodius on Olympos, spending the time in unceasing prayer and reading the works of the holy fathers.

The emperor soon summoned forth both of the holy brothers from the monastery and dispatched them to preach the Gospel to the Khazars. Along the way they stayed for some time in the city of Korsun, making preparations for preaching. There the holy brothers in miraculous manner discovered the relics of the Priestmartyr Clement, Pope of Rome (Comm. 25 November). There also at Korsun Saint Constantine found a Gospel and Psalter written in "Russian letters" [i.e. Slavonic], and a man speaking in Slavic, and he began to learn from this man to read and to speak in his language. After this, the holy brothers set off to the Khazars, where they gained the victory in a debate with Jews and Muslims by preaching the Gospel teaching. On the way home the brothers again visited Korsun and, taking up the relics of Saint Clement there, they returned to Constantinople. Saint Constantine remained in the capital, but Saint Methodius received the hegumenate at the small Polychronion monastery – not far from Mount Olympos, where he pursued asceticism as before.

     Soon there came to the emperor messengers from the Moravian prince Rostislav, otherwise pressured by German bishops – with a request to send teachers to Moravia, who would be able to preach in the vernacular Slavic tongue. The emperor summoned Saint Constantine and said to him: "It is necessary for thee to go their, where it be better for thee that no one realise this". Saint Constantine prepared for the new task with fasting and prayer. With the help of his brother Saint Methodius and the students Gorazd, Clement, Savva, Naum and Angelyar he composed a Slavonic alphabet and translated into the Slavic tongue books – without which it would be impossible to celebrate Divine‑services: the Gospel, Epistles, Psalter and collected services. This occurred in the year 863.      After completing the translation, the holy brothers set off to Moravia, where they were received with great honour, and they began to teach the Divine-services in the Slavic language. This aroused the malice of the German bishops, who celebrated Divine-services in the Moravian churches in the Latin language, and they rose up against the holy brothers, convinced that Divine-services must be done only in one of three languages: Hebrew, Greek or Latin. Saint Constantine answered them: "Ye recognise only three languages by which to give glory to God. But David sang: Come to the Lord, all nations, praise the Lord all peoples, let everything that hath breath praise the Lord! And in the Holy Gospel it says: Go teach all nations...". The German bishops were humiliated, but they became all the more bitter and sent off a complaint to Rome. The holy brothers were summoned to Rome for a decision on this question. Taking with them the relics of Saint Clement Pope of Rome, Saints Constantine and Methodius set off to Rome. Knowing that the holy brothers were bringing along with them these relics, Pope Adrian met them along the way with his clergy. The holy brothers were greeted with honour, the pope of Rome gave permission for Divine-services in the Slavonic language, and the books translated by the brothers he ordered to be placed in Roman churches and to make liturgy in the Slavonic language.      At Rome Saint Constantine fell ill and, in a miraculous vision from the Lord advising of the nearness of death, he accepted the monastic schema-order with the name of Cyril (Kirill). 50 days after the accepting of the schema, on 14 February 869, Saint Cyril died at 42 years of age. In expiring to God, Saint Cyril commanded his brother Saint Methodius to continue with their common task – the enlightening of the Slavic peoples with the light of the true faith. Saint Methodius entreated the pope of Rome to send the body of his brother for burial in their native land, but the pope commanded the relics of Saint Cyril to be placed in the church of Saint Clement, where miracles began to occur from them.      After the death of Saint Cyril, the pope in fulfilling the request of the Slavic prince Kotsel, sent Saint Methodius to Pannonia, – having ordained him Archbishop of Moravia and Pannonia, on the ancient throne of the holy Disciple Andronikes. In Pannonia Saint Methodius together with his students continued to propagate Divine-services in books inscribed in the Slavonic language. This again aroused the wrath of the German bishops. They obtained an arrest and held a trial over Saint Methodius, who was sent in chains to Swabia, where during the course of two and an half years he underwent many sufferings. Having been set free by order of the Pope of Rome, John VIII, and restored to the rule of his archdiocese, Saint Methodius continued to preach the Gospel among the Slavs. He baptised the Czech prince Borivoi and his spouse Liudmila (Comm. 16 September), and also one of the Polish princes. The German bishops started a persecution against the saint for a third time, – for not accepting the Roman teaching about the procession of the Holy Spirit from both the Father and from the Son. Saint Methodius was summoned to Rome, but he justified himself before the pope, and preserved in its purity the Orthodox teaching, and was sent off again to the capital of Moravia, Velehrad.      Here in the ensuing years of his life Saint Methodius with the help of two of his priest-students translated into the Slavonic language all the Old Testament except for the Book of Maccabbees, and even the Nomokanon (Rule of the holy fathers) and books of the holy fathers (Paterikon).      Sensing the nearness of death, Saint Methodius decreed one of his students – Gorazd, as worthy successor to himself. The saint-bishop predicted the day of his death and he died on 6 April 885 at an age of about 60 years. The burial service of the saint was done in three languages – Slavonic, Greek and Latin. He was buried in the cathedral church of Velehrad.

All texts© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.

Isaiah 48:17-49:4

17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.

18 Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

19 Your descendants also would have been like the sand, And the offspring of your body like the grains of sand; His name would not have been cut off Nor destroyed from before Me.”

20 Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing, Declare, proclaim this, Utter it to the end of the earth; Say, “The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob!”

21 And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.

22 “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

1 “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.

2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me.”

3 “And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.’

4 Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, And my work with my God.’ ”

Proverbs 19:16-25 

16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.

17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.

18 Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.

19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel — that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.