#oldtestament

[walkthroughtheword]

Father in heaven, we love and revere you. We recognize that you have the power and authority over all of heaven and earth. You formed the seas, you set the sun in its place, and you gave us life. Please forgive us when we think we have control and help us to surrender that illusion to you. We pray this all in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

[whencyclopedia]

Book of Genesis

The Book of Genesis is the first book of the Jewish scriptures and the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. Genesis takes its name from the opening line in Hebrew – beresit, ("in the beginning") – later translated into Greek as genesis ("origin"). Genesis is the first text of what eventually became designated the Pentateuch, the Jewish Torah ("teachings"): five books of the Laws of Moses.

The Documentary Hypothesis

Genesis consists of a variety of literary details: myth, hymns, prayers, sacrifices, rituals, oracles, folk tales, and historical narratives. Tradition claimed that the first five books were written down by Moses, who passed them to his general Joshua when the Israelites arrived in Canaan from Egypt. In the 19th century, the social science disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, and sociology emerged and were utilized to study ancient civilizations and ancient texts. What is noteworthy in Genesis is that several of the stories are repeated, but with varying details. At times, the God of Israel is referred to as "Lord," but at other times as "God almighty." When this occurs we also find theological differences, as well as indications of changing historical contexts that included politics.

After the period of the united monarchy under King David and his son, Solomon (c. 900 BCE), two separate kingdoms were created: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the South Kingdom of Judah. A way to explain the formation of the text was proposed by Julius Wellhausen (1844-1918), who taught at the University of Göttingen in Germany, in what became known as the Documentary Hypothesis. As we do not know who actually wrote the biblical texts, the various elements were assigned to a source:

J, the Jahwist, or Jerusalem source The Hebrew name of God (revealed in the book of Exodus) consisted of four consonants, YHWH ("I am that I am"), described as the tetragrammaton. We have the German J, for the pronouncement of the Y sound. The later Masoretic version added vowels, which gives us the English version, Jehovah (which does not appear in the Bible). The J source utilized anthropomorphic portraits of God; "the face of God," "the hand of God." In these texts, God often visits the earth.

E, the Elohim source The E comes from a form of the Canaanite el, pluralized as representing several aspects of the godhead, but also from the tribe of Ephraim, settled in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The E source portrays God as a more abstract being who does not come to earth, but communicates through angels.

P, the Priestly source The P source is a collective term for priestly concerns. This includes the sacrifices, rituals, hymns, prayers, and the begats of Genesis. The Hebrew begat ("brought forth") was the term for procreation. All ancient cultures emphasized bloodlines in detailed genealogies. This validated concepts and practices handed down through the generations. In oral cultures, the repeated lists of the begats may have been a way to memorize oral traditions.

D, the Deuteronomist source This source was named after the last of the five books assigned to Moses (Deuteronomy). It is a collective term for the final form of the traditions that were written down. In 722 BCE, the Neo-Assyrian Empire invaded the Northern Kingdom, and refugees from the North migrated to Judah. This may be when northern traditions were first joined to southern traditions, combining the J and E sources.

In 587 BCE, the Babylonian Empire invaded Judah and destroyed the Temple of Solomon. At that time, some Jews were taken captive to the city of Babylon. This period is known as the Babylonian exile." The theory is that the "Deuteronomist," either a person or school of scribes, completed the final redaction, or editing, of all the combined sources while in Babylon, beginning c. 600 BCE, but with further editing over the next several centuries (in a range from 538-332 BCE).

Jews Mourning the Exile in Babylon

Eduard Bendemann (CC BY-SA)

Continue reading...

[chapelofmyheart]

Genesis: Let us make man in our image.

First commandment: Have no other gods before me.

Psalms: *talks about Yahweh being in a divine counsel*

Yahweh, El, Baal, Asherah: "Maybe monotheism was the friends we made along the way. Amen."

[portraitsofsaints]

Saint Hannah, Mother of Samuel

12 C. BC

Feast Day: December 9

Patronage: Childless and infertile women, and poverty

Saint Hannah is an Old Testament (1st Book of Samuel) wife, whose marriage to Elkanah was barren. Even though Elkanah loved her dearly, he married Peninnah, who bore him many children. Hannah grieved bitterly and prayed fervently in the temple over her misfortune. The priest Eli learned of her story, gave her a blessing and she conceived and bore Samuel. (meaning; Asked from God, or God heard) Samuel served Eli and became one of the greatest of the Judges in the Old Testament.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)

[orthodoxydaily]

SAINTS&READING: TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2025

march 19_april 1

MARTYR CHRYSANTHUS AND DARIADARIA AND THEIR COMPANIONS (283).

source: thesynaxarium Instagram

Saint Chrysanthus came from a pagan family who had moved to Rome from Alexandria. He received a fine education, and among the books he read were those in which pagans discussed Christianity. The young man, however, wanted to read books written by Christians themselves. He finally managed to find a copy of the New Testament, which enlightened his rational soul.

Seeking someone to instruct him in the Holy Scriptures, he found the presbyter Carpophoros hiding from persecution, and received holy Baptism from him. After this, he began to preach the Gospel. Chrysanthus’ father tried to turn his son from Christianity, and finally married him to Daria, a priestess of Minerva.

Saint Chrysanthus managed to convert his wife to Christ, and the young couple mutually agreed to lead celibate lives. After the death of the father, they began to live in separate houses. Saint Chrysanthus converted several young men to Christ, and many pious women gathered around Saint Daria.

The people of Rome complained to the eparch Celerinus that Saints Chrysanthus and Daria were preaching celibacy and attracting too many young men and women to monasticism. Saint Chrysanthus was sent to the tribune Claudius for torture.

The torments, however, did not shake the bravery of the young martyr, since the power of God clearly aided him. Struck by this, the tribune Claudius himself came to believe in Christ and accepted holy Baptism together with his wife Hilaria, their sons Jason and Maurus, and all his household and soldiers. When news of this reached the emperor Numerian (283-284), he commanded them all to be executed. The Martyr Claudius was drowned in the sea, and his sons and soldiers were beheaded. Christians buried the bodies of the holy martyrs in a nearby cave, and Saint Hilaria constantly went there to pray. Once, they followed her and led her off for torture. The saint asked that they give her a few moments to pray, and as soon as she finished, she gave up her soul to God. A servant buried the saint in the cave beside her sons.

The torturers sent Saint Daria to a brothel, where she was protected by a lion sent by God. A certain man who tried to defile the saint was knocked to the ground and pinned down by the lion, but the lion did not kill him. The martyr preached to them about Christ and set them to the path of salvation.

They threw Saint Chrysanthus into a foul-smelling pit, into which all the filth of the city flowed. But a heavenly light shone on him, and the pit was filled with a sweet fragrance.

Then the emperor Numerian ordered Saints Chrysanthus and Daria to be turned over to the executioners. After many cruel tortures, the martyrs were buried alive in the ground.

In a cave near the place of execution, Christians began to gather to honor the anniversary of the saints’ martyrdom. They celebrated Church services and partook of the Holy Mysteries. Learning of this, the pagan authorities sealed the entrance to the cave, and those within received the crown of martyrdom. Two of these martyrs are known by name: the Presbyter Diodorus and the Deacon Marianus.

St.SOPHIA OF SLUTSK AND MINSK (1612)

Source: St Elizabeth Convent

Holy Righteous Sophia, Princess of Slutsk, came from an ancient family of Olelkovichs, who reigned in the city of Slutsk since 1395. During their reign, Slutsk was built and fortified. By the 15th century, it became one of the main cities of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, of which it was then a part. The Olelkovich dynasty showed the world many pious Christians who remained faithful to the Orthodox Church. St Sophia's grandfather Yuri Yurievich, known for his unshakable faith, exhorted his sons to hold fast to Orthodoxy. The father of St Sophia, Yuri Yurievich II, fulfilled his father's commandment.

rincess Sofia was born on May 1 (11), 1585 and became the last of the Olelkovich family. Becoming an orphan in her infancy, the girl was brought up by her maternal relatives. Sophia's guardians were motivated not by compassion, but by a selfish desire to pay off their debts to the princely family of the Radziwills at the expense of the significant estate of their niece, the only direct heiress of the wealthy Slutsky family. They decided to make a match between Sophia and Janusz Radziwill, Prince of Nesvizh.

n order to marry a Catholic, one had to convert to Catholicism, but the fourteen-year-old princess, usually obedient to her uncle, resolutely refused to change her faith. Sophia also insisted that the children from her future marriage should be baptised in the Orthodox Church and brought up as Orthodox. Sophia was adamant that only under these conditions she would agree to marry. Her guardian had to turn to the Pope with a petition. Permission was granted and the marriage took place.

Sophia's difficult life with her uncle ended; but her life in marriage was hardly any easie...continue reading St Elizabeth convent

Isaiah 40:18-31

18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him? 19 The workman molds an image, The goldsmith overspreads it with gold, And the silversmith casts silver chains. 2 Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution Chooses a tree that will not rot; He seeks for himself a skillful workman To prepare a carved image that will not totter. 21 Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24 Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. 25 “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Proverbs 15:7-19

7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so. 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. 9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness. 10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die. 11 Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men 12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise. 13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. 16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred. 18 A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention. 19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.

[stefanzl]

Another one of my old maps that I made, Twelve Tribes of Israel according to the Bible

[redenokjvbiblestudy]

1 Corinthians 8:6

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

[tmarshconnors]

The Ten Plagues of Egypt

The Ten Plagues of Egypt are a series of calamities described in the biblical book of Exodus, chapters 7-12. According to the narrative, these plagues were inflicted upon Egypt by God through the agency of Moses and his brother Aaron, as a demonstration of divine power and to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. Here's a summary:

Water turned to blood: All water in Egypt, including the Nile River, turned to blood, causing the fish to die and rendering the water undrinkable.

Frogs: The land was overrun with frogs, which invaded houses and beds, even appearing in bread ovens.

Gnats or Lice: Swarms of gnats or lice infested the land, causing irritation and discomfort.

Flies or Wild Animals: This plague is sometimes interpreted as a swarm of flies or as wild animals, such as lions or other predators, causing destruction and fear.

Pestilence or Livestock Disease: Livestock in Egypt, including cattle, horses, donkeys, camels, and sheep, suffered from a fatal disease.

Boils: Afflicted both humans and animals with painful boils or sores.

Hail: Hailstones rained down upon the land, destroying crops and causing damage to property.

Locusts: Swarms of locusts descended upon Egypt, devouring any remaining vegetation after the hail.

Darkness: A thick darkness covered the land of Egypt for three days, preventing people from seeing or moving about.

Death of the Firstborn: The most severe plague, where the firstborn of every Egyptian household, including humans and animals, died. This ultimately led to Pharaoh allowing the Israelites to leave Egypt.

After each plague, Pharaoh initially promised to let the Israelites go, but then changed his mind, leading to the next plague. It was only after the tenth plague that Pharaoh relented and allowed the Israelites to depart.

[laciniagallery]

Ruth

[thefiretongue]

The Ten Commandments: I

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2-3)

To me, this commandment signifies that God demands our focus and attention on Him alone when it comes to divine things or objects of worship. Until recently I often took this to mean that other gods are false, or even that they don’t exist. I don’t read it that way anymore. If anything, it is a biblical confirmation that other gods do exists, and God is telling the Israelites as His very first commandment not to have them before Him.

What is a god? Is it a being that has attained a divine status, able to greatly influence mankind? Is it that thing in our life we expend a great amount of emotional energy thinking about, dedicating time to giving praise and thanks to instead of our divine creator?

This commandment doesn’t say to deny those things exist, or to avoid considering them, but to give credit where it is due. God is the originator of those things and alone deserves the praise and thanks for them along with the many other blessings He has provided us. When I read this commandment not, I start to consider the belief of other gods, but know that my worship belongs to the one true God. Many people have come into the world to influence masses of people with human teachings that appease carnal knowledge and passions. If we are swayed by their doctrine and start to live without God’s purposes in mind, then I believe we are breaking this commandment.

Let’s consider the latter type of god – the blessings we have that might distract us from our relationship with God. Money, friendships, popularity, competition, knowledge, innocence, good works, music, entertainment, stories, health and fitness, romance. These are all good things, many of which God commonly wants for us. If they become a priority in our lives, though, and we fail to acknowledge their source – God’s love – then that can become an existential problem. It’s like enjoying something without saying thanks to who made it possible. “Say thank you,” is what God is saying to us in this commandment, as a parent would say to their child when someone does something kind for them. We shouldn’t give praise and thanks to the act or provision itself, but to the one responsible, in turn strengthening our relationship with them, and acknowledging that we appreciate and benefit from their act of love.

The Israelites broke this commandment many times throughout the Bible. They were in the midst of it while Moses was up the mountain receiving it as a commandment:“1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” 6 And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” (Exodus 32: 1-6).

What an odd turn of events. They lost their leader and it’s as if they needed something to collectively focus on, to unite them, but what they did was fashion an earthly image and declare it to be God that brought them out of Egypt.

Do we see this sort of behaviour elsewhere in society and around the world? Do people lose leaders guided by God and panic to find what will keep them united? Patriotism, humanism, communism, socialism, liberalism, conservatism, anarchism, atheism, moralism, postmodernism, religious dictatorships, military conquest, democracy. If God is not acknowledged by the masses, they might easily turn to these ideologies, declaring them the ultimate sources of progress and the responsibility of their happiness instead of their true originator. Most of those ideologies can and do bring real peace and progress to societies, but if God is not in the picture they will be corrupted by human abuse of power and lead to conflict and war.

“Have no other gods before me.” Acknowledge God in all things, especially the things that can benefit our lives and the world when He is at the receiving end of our praise and thanks for them. If we don’t, our individual lives and collective societies will lose site of their ultimate purposes in life that are guided by Him alone.

[onetwentysixfive]

Exodus 12:1-12

[walkthroughtheword]

Dear Lord, help me to not be afraid. Make me strong against worry and fear and bring peace. Lord, I don't want to be a worrier, I want to be a warrior for you. Thank you for fighting for me when I struggle to do it myself. I pray this all in Jesus' powerful name. Amen!

[whencyclopedia]

Old Testament

Old Testament is the Christian name for the books of the Jewish scriptures that constitute the first half of the Christian Bible. "Old" in this sense was a means to distinguish Judaism from Christianity at the creation of the New Testament beginning in the 2nd century CE Jewish believers do not consider their scriptures old, as in no longer valid; they remain at the center of Jewish life and practice.

Etymology

"Testament" became the English translation for a shared religious and cultural concept in the ancient world, that of "covenant." A covenant was a legal contract upheld and sworn to by oaths and rituals. We have examples between overlords and constituents. The Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II (r. 1279-1213 BCE) and the Hittite king, Hattusili III, signed such a covenant in 1259 BCE. Both called upon their distinct gods to validate the agreement, an early example of a peace treaty after the Battle of Kadesh.

The Hebrew for covenant, beriyth, meant a promise or a pledge but may also have derived from a root word that meant "cutting." Covenants were "sealed," legally attested, by passing cut pieces of the flesh of sacrifices between the parties. It may also have been derived from ancient Akkadian, for "between," an agreement between people.

In the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, beriyth became diatheke, a Greco-Roman concept of jurisprudence, "agreement," "will," that described "a last will and testament." The King James version used the English "testament" for the biblical books, understanding God's covenants as eternal. We still refer to someone's "last will and testament," directions for the disbursement of their property and assets, as legally binding.

All ancient religions had contracts between their gods and humans. The contract detailed the relationship between society and the divine. Covenants had two essential elements: 1) the god's promise to help the community to prosper in return for worship, which meant the sacrifices, and 2) law codes that detailed behavior and gender roles. Law codes were manifest in forms of governing, originally through kings, and were validated by the fact that they were given by the gods. There was no distinction between divine and civic laws. Elected Roman magistrates carried the power of imperium, the religious authority and duty to carry out the dictates of the divine.

Continue reading...

[unfoldingmoments]

Covenants

In Christianity, the concept of covenants is central to understanding God’s relationship with humanity. A covenant is essentially a binding agreement or promise between God and His people, often with specific terms, blessings, and consequences. The number of covenants recognized can vary depending on theological perspectives, but most Christian traditions identify several key covenants, with the Old Covenant and New Covenant being the most prominent in terms of their relevance to today’s Christians. Below, I’ll outline the major covenants, differentiate the Old and New Covenants, and address their relevance. How Many Covenants in Christianity?

Christian theology typically identifies five to seven major covenants in the Bible, depending on how they’re categorized. These are drawn from both the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) and the New Testament. Here’s a common list:

Noahic Covenant (Genesis 9)

Parties: God and Noah (representing all humanity and creation).

Promise: God promises never again to destroy the earth with a flood, symbolized by the rainbow.

Sign: The rainbow.

Nature: Universal, unconditional, and ongoing for all humanity.

Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12, 15, 17)

Parties: God and Abraham (and his descendants).

Promise: God will make Abraham a great nation, bless all nations through him, and give his descendants the land of Canaan.

Sign: Circumcision.

Nature: Unconditional in its ultimate fulfillment (God’s promise), though obedience is expected.

Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19–24)

Parties: God and the nation of Israel through Moses.

Promise: God will make Israel His treasured possession if they obey His laws (the Ten Commandments and the Law).

Sign: The Sabbath.

Nature: Conditional—blessings for obedience, curses for disobedience.

Priestly Covenant (Numbers 25:10–13)

Parties: God and Phinehas (extended to Aaron’s priestly line).

Promise: An everlasting priesthood for Aaron’s descendants.

Sign: None explicitly stated, but tied to priestly service.

Nature: Specific to the Levitical priesthood (some see this as a subset of the Mosaic Covenant).

Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7)

Parties: God and David.

Promise: An everlasting kingdom through David’s line, fulfilled in the Messiah (Jesus).

Sign: None explicit, but the throne symbolizes it.

Nature: Unconditional—God ensures a king from David’s line forever.

New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34; fulfilled in Jesus, Luke 22:20, Hebrews 8–9)

Parties: God and all who believe in Jesus (extending beyond Israel to all nations).

Promise: Forgiveness of sins, a new heart with God’s law written on it, and direct relationship with God through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Sign: The Lord’s Supper (Communion).

Nature: Unconditional in its initiation (by God’s grace), with faith as the response.

Some theologians group minor covenants (like the Priestly) under larger ones, reducing the count to five or six. Dispensationalists might emphasize seven distinct covenants as part of their framework, aligning with their view of salvation history.

Old Covenant: Established at Mount Sinai, it’s often called the Law or the Mosaic Covenant. It was a system of rules and sacrifices meant to guide Israel and show humanity’s need for a savior, as no one could perfectly keep it (Galatians 3:24).

New Covenant: Prophesied in Jeremiah and inaugurated by Jesus at the Last Supper (“This cup is the new covenant in my blood” – Luke 22:20), it fulfills and surpasses the Old Covenant. Jesus’ death and resurrection provide forgiveness and a direct relationship with God, replacing the need for ongoing sacrifices (Hebrews 10:10).

Which is Relevant to Today’s Christians?

For today’s Christians, the New Covenant is the most relevant. Here’s why:

Fulfillment of the Old: Christians believe Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant’s requirements (Matthew 5:17). The Law pointed to Him, and His sacrifice completed its purpose (Romans 10:4). The Old Covenant’s ceremonial and civil laws (e.g., animal sacrifices, dietary rules) are no longer binding, though its moral principles (e.g., Ten Commandments) remain instructive.

Universal Access: The New Covenant extends God’s promises beyond Israel to all nations (Galatians 3:28–29). It’s based on faith, not ethnicity or adherence to the Mosaic Law.

Practical Application: Christians live under the New Covenant through practices like Communion, prayer, and following Jesus’ teachings (John 13:34–35). The Holy Spirit, given under this covenant, empowers believers (Acts 2).

Theological Consensus: Most Christian denominations (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) affirm the New Covenant as the current framework. The Old Covenant is respected as foundational but seen as superseded (Hebrews 8:13: “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete”).

Exception: Some Messianic Jews or Hebrew Roots movements may still observe aspects of the Old Covenant (e.g., Sabbath, kosher laws) alongside the New, but this is a minority view and debated (Acts 15, Galatians 3).

Unexpected Detail

An intriguing point is that the New Covenant was foreshadowed in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 31:31–34), showing continuity rather than a complete break. The idea of God writing His law on hearts connects back to Deuteronomy 30:6, where God promises to circumcise hearts—suggesting the New Covenant fulfills rather than replaces the intent of the Old.

Conclusion

Christianity recognizes multiple covenants, but the Old (Mosaic) and New (Jesus) Covenants are the focal points. The Old Covenant set the stage, revealing God’s holiness and human sinfulness, while the New Covenant, established through Christ, is the one relevant to Christians today. It offers forgiveness, transformation, and a direct relationship with God, making it the cornerstone of modern Christian faith and practice.

[orthodoxydaily]

SAINTS&READING: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025

march 20_ april 2

THE HOLY FATHERS WHO WERE SLAIn AT THE MONASTERY OF ST SABBAS, VENERABLE MONKS JOHN, SERGIUS, PATRICK... ( 796)

Saints John, Sergius, Patrick and others were slain in the Monastery of Saint Savva. During the VIII century the area around Jerusalem was subjected to frequent incursions by the Saracens. The monastery of Saint Chariton was devastated and fell into ruin. Twice the Saracens tried to plunder the Lavra of Saint Savva the Sanctified, but God’s Providence protected the monastery. But the third time the Saracens came to plunder the monastery the monks would have been able to escape the barbarians by going to Jerusalem, but they decided not to forsake the place where they had sought salvation for so many years.

On March 13, the Saracens broke into the monastery and demanded all the valuables. The monks told them that there was nothing in the monastery but a meager supply of food and old clothing. Then the Saracens began shooting arrows at the monks.

Thirteen men were killed and many wounded, and monastery cells were set afire. The Saracens intended to torch the monastery church, but seeing a throng of people in the distance, they mistook this for an army sent from Jerusalem. The Saracens managed to get away, carrying off the little they were able to plunder. After the enemy fled, Father Thomas, an experienced physician, began to help those who remained alive.

On Great Thursday, March 20, the Saracens again descended upon the Lavra with a larger force and started to beat the monks. The survivors were driven into the church, where they were tortured in order to force them to reveal where any treasure might be hidden. The monastery was surrounded, so no one could save himself by fleeing. The barbarians seized Saint John, a young monk, who had cared for vagrants. They beat him savagely, then they cut the sinews of his hands and feet and dragged him over stones by his feet, which tore the skin from the martyr’s back.

The keeper of the Church vessels, Saint Sergius, hid them and attempted to flee, but he was captured and beheaded. Several of the monks nevertheless managed to hide themselves outside the monastery in a cave, but they were spotted by a sentry on a hill, and they ordered everyone to come out. Inside the cave Saint Patrick whispered to the brethren with him, “Fear not, I will go alone and meet my death. Meanwhile, sit and pray.”

The Saracens asked whether there was anyone else in the cave, and Patrick said that he was alone. They led him to the Lavra, where the captives awaited their fate. The Saracens demanded of them a ransom of 4,000 gold pieces and the sacred vessels. The monks were not able to give such a ransom. Then they led them into the cave of Saint Savva inside the monastery walls. They lit a fire on which they piled up dung in front of the entrance to the cave, hoping to suffocate the monks with the poisonous fumes. Eighteen men perished in the cave, among whom were Saints John and Patrick. The Saracens continued to torture those who were still alive, but got nothing out of them. Finally, they left the monastery.

Later, on the night of Great Friday, the monks hidden in the hills returned to the Lavra, they took up the bodies of the murdered Fathers to the church and buried them there.

The barbarians who plundered the monastery were punished by God. They were stricken with a sudden illness, and they all perished. Their bodies were devoured by wild beasts.

The Saints commemorated today should not be confused with other martyrs of the Saint Savva Lavra, who suffered in 610, and are commemorated on May 16. The two dates reflect separate attacks on the monastery at different times. History tells us that barbarians raided Saint Savva Lavra on several occasions.

SUFFERING OF VENERABLE EUPHROSYNUS OF BLUE-JAY LAKE ( VALAAM_1612)

Saint Euphrosynos of Blue Jay Lake, (Ephraim in the world) was born in Karelia near Lake Ladoga in the second half of the XVI century. When he was young he lived near Valaam Monastery, and later he moved to Novgorod the Great. After spending some time there, the Saint then withdrew to a place on the outskirts of Novgorod - the Bezhetsk “pentary” (one fifth of the “Pyatiny Novgorodskiya,” comprising five outlying districts of Novgorod the Great).

He became a Reader for the Church services in the village of Doloska, twenty versts from the city of Ustiuzhna of Zhelezopolska. He was tonsured at the Tikhvin Dormition Monastery with the name Euphrosynos. After living there for some time, he told the Superior of his desire to go into the wilderness for greater solitude, and a life of fasting and silence. The Superior told him about some of the dangers of the eremetic life, and then gave his blessing. So, in 1600 he began his solitary life in the wild marshlands by the shore of Blue Jay Lake. Here the Saint planted a Cross and dug a cave. He lived here for two years, eating nothing but wild vegetation, berries, and mushrooms.

Unexpectedly, people from neighboring villages found him, and they came to him for instruction, prayer, and spiritual counsel. Several of them remained with him. Soon it became necessary to build a church, where all the brethren could pray together. They cleared the forest, hewed the timber, and built a log church. Since the Elder, out of humility, had not been ordained, the church was consecrated by his fellow ascetic Saint Gurias of Shalatsk (November 15), and dedicated to the Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos. This was done with the blessing of Archbishop Isidore of Novgorod (1603-1609). Saint Gurias sometimes visited Blue Jay Lake in order to pray with the brethren, converse with them about spiritual matters, and to give them Holy Communion. On one of these visits Saint Euphrosynos was tonsured into the Great Schema by Saint Gurias.

In 1612, when Polish troops were laying waste to Russia, many people saved their lives by hiding at the Monastery of the Annunciation in the wilderness. On March 19, Saint Euphrosynos revealed to everyone that the Poles were on their way to the monastery, and he advised everyone to flee.

"My brethren and beloved children in Christ, whoever wishes to escape certain death, leave the Monastery of the Mother of God and save yourselves from this great calamity, for it is pleasing to God's righteous judgment that enemies will come soon to this holy place."

Many did not believe him. “Then why don’t you leave this place yourself?” they asked.

The Elder replied, “I have come here to die for Christ.”

Those who obeyed the Saint and left the monastery were spared, but all those who remained met a horrible death.

Saint Jonah was one of the monks at the monastery. Frightened by the Elder's clairvoyant prediction, he wanted to flee with the others, but Saint Euphrosynos held him back, inspiring him with zeal for the house of God.

“Brother Jonah,” he said, "why do you allow faint-hearted fear into your soul? When the battle begins, that is the time for courage. For the love of Christ, let us not be afraid of some passing fear. We have vowed to live and die here in the wilderness. We must be faithful to our vow, made before the Lord. It is different for laymen, who are not bound by a vow. They must spare themselves for the sake of their children.”

Becoming inflamed in spirit, Saint Jonah placed all his hope in God, and decided to die there in the wilderness with his Elder.

After this Saint Euphrosynos clothed himself in the Great Schema, and spent the entire night in prayer. On the following day, March 20, Polish forces descended upon the monastery. In the garb of a Schema-monk, the Saint emerged from his cell and stood beside the Cross he had planted. The enemy said to him, “Old man, give us all the monastery’s possessions."

“All my possessions, and those of this monastery, are in the church of the All-Pure Theotokos,” he replied.

He was referring to spiritual treasures which cannot be stolen (Matthew 6:19-21). Failing to comprehend this, the Poles rushed to the church. One of them drew a sword and struck Saint Euphrosynos. His neck was cut half way through, and the holy Elder fell to the ground dead. When the Poles returned, angry because they had found nothing in the church, one of them struck the Saint's head with an axe. Saint Jonah perished in the attack along with his Elder, and he is also commemorated today with Saint Euphrosynos.

A certain pious Christian, Ioann Suma, had also stayed at the monastery with the monks. When the Poles attacked, he was in the Elder's cell. Despite the grievous wounds he received from these ruffians, Ioann remained alive, but unconscious. After the Poles left, he regained his senses and told his son Emilian what had transpired. From them, the nearby inhabitants learned about the destruction of the monastery and the martyric death of Saint Euphrosynos.

On March 28, the bodies of Saint Euphrosynos, Saint Jonah, and all the others who had perished by the sword, were buried with due reverence by the Cross where they suffered martyrdom.

Thirty-four years after the death of the Saint, a new church was built by a man named Moses, and dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity. With the blessing of Metropolitan Makarios of Novgorod, the incorrupt relics of Saint Euphrosynos were transferred to a new reliquary beneath the belfry on March 25, 1655.

According to the Monastery's records, the Monastic Martyr Euphrosynos was of medium height, with wide shoulders and a broad chest. His hair was brown, with traces of gray. His beard was long, and divided in two at the bottom.

Saint Euphrosynus was glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church on June 29, 1912.

Source: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

Isaiah 42:5-16

5 Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. 8 I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images. 9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.” 10 Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise from the ends of the earth, You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, You coastlands and you inhabitants of them! 11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, Let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12 Let them give glory to the Lord, And declare His praise in the coastlands. 13 The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies. 14 “I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I will pant and gasp at once. 15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills, And dry up all their vegetation; I will make the rivers coastlands, And I will dry up the pools. 16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

Proverbs 16:17-17:17

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

21 The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

26 The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.

27 An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire.

28 A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

29 A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good.

30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil.

31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.

4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.

7 Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince.

8 A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?

17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

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Psalms 118:17

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.