ON THIS DATE: From the Prologue to Ohrid/Ochrid

[尼古拉前执事]

1. SAINT EUTYCHIUS, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Euthychius was born in Phrygia of pious and devout parents. His father was an officer. Once, as a child, when Eutychius was playing with his playmates, their game was that each of them would write their names on a wall and, beside their name, they would guess what rank each of them would attain in life. When it was Eutychius' turn he wrote: Eutychius -- Patriarch ! In his thirtieth year he became abbot of the monastery in Amasea. At age forty, he was sent by the Metropolitan of Amasea to represent him at the Fifth Ecumenical Council [Constantinople, 553 A.D.]. At the Council, he glowed like a shining star among the Fathers of the Church both in learning as well as in his zealousness. When the debate began whether heretics could be anathematized after their deaths, he supported the opinion that they could be by calling upon the Third Book of Kings ( in some translations, called The First Book of Kings 13: 1-8 and the Fourth Book of Kings (in some translations, called The Second Book of Kings 23:16 ). Eutychius endeared himself greatly to Emperor Justinian and Patriarch Mennas. The emperor sought his advice on many occasions and Patriarch Mennas designated Eutychius as his successor and implored the emperor to carry this out in deed. And so it happened! St. Eutychius governed the Church in peace for twelve years. Then the devil raised up a tempest against him. This tempest reached Justinian himself. The emperor became deluded and succumbed to the Monophysite heresy ( Aphtartodocetea ) which falsely taught that the Lord Jesus, before His resurrection, had a divine and incorruptible body, without feeling, hunger, thirst or pain. Eutychius adamantly stood up against this heresy, for which the emperor banished him into exile to his original monastery. Eutychius remained there for twelve years and eight months and proved himself to be a great miracle-worker healing people of various illnesses through prayer and by anointing them with holy oil. Justinian repented and died. He was succeeded by Justin, who then restored Eutychius to the patriarchal throne where this saint remained, governing the Church of God in peace, until his death. In 582 A.D., in his seventieth year, he took up habitation in the kingdom of Christ the Lord, Whom he faithfully and courageously served throughout his entire life.

1. THE HOLY ONE-HUNDRED TWENTY MARTYRS, WHO SUFFERED IN PERSIA

When the Persian Emperor Sapor plundered the lands of Byzantium, heenslaved one-hundred twenty Christians. Since his attempts to persuade them to deny Christ and worship fire proved to be in vain, the emperor tossed them into the fire and burned them alive. Among those martyrs, were nine virgins dedicated to God. They all suffered honorably between the years 344 A.D. and 347 A.D. and took up habitation in the mansions of Christ the King.

HYMN OF PRAISE

SAINT EUTHYCHIUS

Euthychius witnessed Christ to the Emperor:

Christ, said he, a weakened body He had,

A body susceptible to hunger and pain,

Similar to, but not the same with the body on the Throne.

A ray of the servant on earth, the King of Glory carried

But the glorified body, into heaven He ascended.

Where would the tears be in the illusionary body?

Where the bloody sweat O Emperor, on the illusionary brow?

"I am hungry !" " I am thirsty !" spoke the Truth [Christ],

Why do you drive the Son of God into a lie?

When His hunger He witnesses to the world

And you to Him: you are satiated! You speak to His face!

When thirsty, He cries out while on the Cross hangs,

And, to Him you respond: Thirsty You are not, You are not!

O Great Emperor, impurity do not speak,

Behind your words, the demon himself hides.

In vain do you build churches, when you destroy the Faith,

And in vain the votive offerings, when its flames you extinguish.

Christ's sufferings, of all other sufferings are greater,

The whole of history, revolves around the Cross.

For that, the Cross is honorable, capable of healing and awesome,

Because [the Cross of Christ] it is the source of pain -

It is brimming over and abundant.

On the Cross is Christ; man nailed,

Blood, sweat and moaning - and not a dream that is dreamed.

REFLECTION

It is said about an ancient orator that he labored day and night to perfect himself in the art of oratory. Someone said to him: "Demosthenes does not want you to be the chief orator." To which he immediately retorted: "Neither will I allow him to be the only one." If you cannot be a first-class saint like St. Anthony, do not lower your hands and do not say: " Nothing can come of me!" Increase your effort and double your talent. " In my Father's house, there are many dwelling places " said the Lord ( St. John 14:2 ). If you merit to settle in the least of these dwelling places, you will be more glorious and more fortunate than all of the rulers who have ever existed on earth. Everyone, according to his own talent. Neither will you be a St. Anthony nor will St. Anthony, alone, occupy the Kingdom of God.

CONTEMPLATION

To contemplate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus:

1. How the stone on the tomb did not split, neither was the seal on it broken;

2. How the All-powerful and meek Lord did not damage the tomb during His resurrection, as the Virgin's womb was not damaged at the time of His birth.

HOMILY

About the victory over the last enemy

"The last enemy to be destroyed is death "(1 Corinthians 15:26 ).

Man's first enemy is the devil, the second is sin and the third is death. The Lord Jesus conquered all three of these enemies of the human race. By His humility , He conquered the proud devil. By His death , He conquered sin and by His resurrection , He conquered death. In conquering all of our enemies, He invites us to be partakers in His glorious victory. Not only that we conquer but that we attach ourselves next to the Victor. Only His power conquers, only His weapons mow down. We are without power and weapons but our enemies are fearful. With Him and along side Him, we are conquering those mightier than ourselves. What is the price that He offers to us for His victory? A meager price, my brethren; for a very paltry price He offers us the most precious victory. To humble ourselves and to submit ourselves to the will of God, that is the price He seeks in order to conquer the devil for us. To die unto ourselves, to die to fleshly desires and passions, that is the price which He seeks in order to conquer for us. To live for Him and not for ourselves, to receive Him into our hearts, that is the price He seeks in order to conquer death for us. He conquered all enemies openly and completely. This is the price for which He offers His victory to each of us. The Apostle Paul speaks: " But thanks be to God Who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ " ( 1 Corinthians 15:57 ).

O resurrected Lord, enlighten, strengthen and heal us by Your victory.

We who are grateful, lift up to You glory and thanks always. Amen.

[尼古拉前执事]

1. SAINT GEORGE THE CONFESSOR

Because of his great virtues, which he attained through a long and difficult ortification, George was chosen and invested as Metropolitan of Mitylene. This saint governed his spiritual flock prudently and zealously to a ripe old age. When a persecution began under Leo V, the Armenian, who, in destroying holy icons, summoned this saintly elder to Constantinople to an assembly of bishops convened by him and, whose intention it was to discontinue the veneration of icons, George not only refused to carry out the wish of the wicked emperor but with other courageous bishops stood up in defense of holy icons. Not only was he ridiculed for that but he was also banished into exile by the emperor to the region of Cherson. Here he endured all sorts of physical afflictions and deprivations for the remaining years of his life. He died and was translated to eternal life about the year 816 A.D. Because of his great sanctity and love for the Lord Jesus, George was a great miracle-worker, both during his life and after his death.

1. THE VENERABLE NIL SORSKY

Nil is one of the great Fathers of the Russian Church. He was the founder of the Scete way of monastic life in Russia. He died peacefully in the year 1508 A.D. His relics repose in the Sorsky Monastery. His "Rule of Life" for the "Scete" way of monastic living represents a first-class work on the spiritual and practical life of a monk.

1. THE HOLY MARTYR CALLIOPIUS

Calliopius was an only son granted by God to a senator from Perga in Pamphylia after the senator had shed many tears in prayer. From his early youth his devout mother, Theoclea, taught him to respect God and to live a chaste life. Calliopius was still a youngster when a terrible persecution began during the reign of Emperor Maximian. To spare him from death, his mother placed him in a boat, gave him an ample amount of money and saw him off to the city of Pompeiopolis. However, God in His Divine Providence, planned it otherwise. Landing in Pompeiopolis he fell into the midst of a tumultuous polytheistic celebration. When Calliopius refused to participate in this ridiculous feast, at the insistence of the crazed mob, he was pushed toward Maximus the commander, before whom Calliopius confessed that he was a Christian. The commander ordered that Calliopius be beaten with lead canes and burned by fire. Wounded throughout, they cast him into prison. Learning about the tortures of her son, Theoclea distributed her entire estate to the poor and needy and with a paltry sum of money hurried to her son in prison. Upon entering the prison, Theoclea bowed down before her son and dressed his wounds. Finally, the commander pronounced the ultimate sentence. Calliopius was to be crucified on a cross. Joy and pain intermingled in the heart of his mother. When they brought her son to the place of execution, she slipped five pieces of gold to the executioners to have her son crucified, not as the Lord was, but rather upside down. Theoclea did this out of humility before the Lord. Calliopius was crucified upside down on Holy Thursday. His mother stood beneath the cross-giving praise to God. One the second day when they removed his lifeless body from the cross, she fell upon her son and she, herself, died. Thus, these two went before the Throne of the King of Glory together. They honorably suffered in the year 304 A.D.

1. THE VENERABLE DANIEL OF PEREYASLAVL

Daniel had, as a unique form of mortification, that of caring for the dead. Whenever he heard that someone was found frozen to death or that had died in some other manner, Daniel would hasten to bury him decently and to offer prayers to God for him. He died peacefully in the year 1540 A.D. His relics remain intact.

1. THE VENERABLE GREGORY SINAITES

A great saint and ascetic of Mt. Sinai and Mt. Athos [August 8].

HYMN OF PRAISE

THE HOLY MARTYR CALLIOPIUS

Calliopius ,Calliopius ,

Depart there! Where there is no death!

His mother speaks to him and bids him her last farewell,

About the fate of her only son, she dreams.

Calliopius , the youth most handsome

To the commander, his faith he explained:

Christ is my life, the way, the truth,

Christ is my desire: my only desire!

To crucifixion, Calliopius , they lead,

Behind him, throngs of people walk.

He, pale and peaceful, rigidly bound,

Walking quietly, bitterly tortured,

His mother to him whispers: Calliopius !

I am traveling O mother where there is no death!

Martyr of Christ, martyr glorious,

The Cross received, heavy and head first.

Over the dead body, the mother is bending:

With tears, Calliopius she bathes

And whispering quietly: Calliopius !

Here I am mother, where there is no death!

RELFECTION

"Spiritual directors should distinguish themselves from their subordinates as much as a shepherd distinguishes himself from his sheep." Thus speaks St. Isidorus of Pelusium in interpreting the First Epistle of St. Timothy. The life of a priest always serves as an example, be it good or be it bad. By an exemplary life, a priest confirms the Gospel and, by a wicked life, he denies the Gospel. No one in this world is in such a position to confirm the truth of the Gospel or to deny it in such a manner by his life, as is a priest. A good priest is distinguished from a wicked priest by his works no less than a shepherd is distinguished from a wolf. That is why a goodly portion of good priests will be with the sons of God and a goodly portion of wicked priests will be with the wild beasts of darkness. The good shepherds of the Church, even in the last moments of their lives, were concerned about their flocks which they were leaving behind. Upon his death bed, St. Joseph the Hymnographer prayed to God: "Preserve your flock, O Son of God, created by Your right hand and protect them to the end of time. Be of assistance to the beloved sons of Your Church. Grant to Your Bride [Holy Church] eternal peace and a stormless calm." St. Antipas, burning in a blazing ox, cast out of copper, prayed to God in this manner: "Not only me, but those also who would come after me, make them partakers of Your mercy."

CONTEMPLATION

To contemplate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus:

1. How the myrrh-bearing women approached the tomb to anoint Him with myrrh and aloes. To anoint the One Who is the sweet-smelling savor of heaven and earth;

2. How the angel announces the resurrection of our Lord to them with the words: " Why do you seek the living One among the dead ?" ( St. Luke 24:5 ).

HOMILY

About seeking the living among the dead

"Why do you seek the living One among the dead?" (St. Luke 24:5 ).

The angel of God asks the Myrrh-bearing women as though in astonishment: " Why do you seek the living One among the dead ?" As though the perceiver of the mystery of God and God's power wanted to say: "How could you have thought for a moment that He is the hostage of death? Do you not know that He is the principal source of life? Do you not know that all life is through Him and that not one living thing can borrow not even a drop of life from any other source? Did He not fully reveal to you His authority over life and death on earth? Who gave life to the lifeless Lazarus? Who took away the life of the barren fig tree?"

O my brethren, let us also cease to look for the living among the dead. If there are some of us who are still seeking Christ among the dead, let them desist from this soul-destroying effort. This is the vain effort of the Jews, pagans and non-Christians. We know that the Lord and Giver of life is not in the tomb but on the Throne of Glory in the heavens. The spirit, not darkened by sin, looks up into heaven and does not see the tomb; and the spirit, darkened by sin, looks into the tomb and does not see heaven. Sin and virtue govern the spiritual vision of man and reveals to each man its own world at cross purposes with one another. Sin overthrows the vision of the spirit to the earth and reveals to it the corruption of the world. Virtue uplifts the spirit to heaven and reveals to it the eternal world and the resurrected Christ as the King in that world.

O my brethren, let us not seek life among creation, but from the Creator. Let us not commit an even graver sin i.e., let us not seek the Creator in the tomb of creation nor the Illuminating, Immortal One in the darkness of death.

O Lord Jesus, Victor over death, we cry out to You: resurrect us also into life eternal from the corruption and darkness of death.

To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.

[尼古拉前执事]

1. THE HOLY APOSTLES HERODIAN, AGABUS, RUFUS, ASYNCRITUS, PHLEGON AND HERMES

They were all numbered among the Seventy [Lesser] Apostles. All were mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his epistles. Herodian was a kinsman of Paul. "Greet," writes St. Paul to the Romans, "m y relative Herodian " ( Romans 16:11 ). As the Bishop of Neo-Parthia, Herodian suffered much at the hands of the Jews. They beat him over the head with rods, they struck him on the mouth with stones and stabbed him with knives. After they left him for dead, St. Herodian arose and continued to serve the apostles. He assisted the Apostle Peter in Rome and was beheaded along with many other Christians the same day that St. Peter was crucified.

St. Agabus possessed a prophetic spirit. Two of his prophecies are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. First , he prophesied a great famine throughout the world which came true during the reign of Caesar Claudius: " And one of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine all over the world and it happened under Claudius " ( Acts of the Apostles 11:28 ). Second , when he met with the Apostle Paul in Caesarea, who was enroute to Jerusalem, Agabus took Paul's belt and bound his own hands and feet saying: " Thus says the Holy Spirit: This is the way the Jews will bind the owner of this belt in Jerusalem, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles " ( Acts of the Apostles 21:11 ).

St. Rufus was a Bishop of Thebes in Greece. St. Paul also mentions him. "Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord " ( Romans 16:13 ).

St. Asyncritus was Bishop of Hyrcania in Asia and is mentioned along with the others in Romans 16:14 .

St. Phlegon is also mentioned in the same epistle. " Greet ASYNCRITUS ,PHLEGON, HERMES, PATROBAS and HERMAS and the brothers who are with them " ( Romans 16:14 ). He was a bishop in the Thracian city of Marathon.

St. Hermas, mentioned with the others, was a bishop in Dalmatia.

All of them, like bees for Christ, spread the honey of the Gospel into the various regions, suffering much for the love of Christ. All were translated into the eternal kingdom of Christ the beloved.

1. SAINT NIPHON, BISHOP OF NOVGOROD

Niphon was distinguished by his great enthusiasm in constructing and restoring the churches of God and by showing great courage in opposing the stances of the tyrannical princes. Thirteen days before his death, St. Theodosius appeared to Niphon and announced his imminent passing over to the other world. He died in the year 1156 A.D.

1. SAINT CELESTINE, POPE OF ROME

A great champion of the Orthodox Faith. At the time of the Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus, 431 A.D.), Celestine wrote an epistle against Nestorius, the heretic. He died peacefully in the year 432 A.D.

HYMN OF PRAISE

THE HOLY APOSTLES

Holy apostles , chosen ones of God,

You ran the race and reached the goal.

The vanity of the world, they despised; to God, they reached out,

The worldly they sacrificed, the eternal, they acquired.

Their love for Christ, stronger than all other powers,

To them, it shone through the darkness of paganism.

The race is over, the battle obtained,

The army of heroes brought to Christ.

In Christ there are many victorious wreaths,

Even if you want, you could be wedded.

Apostles holy , pray to God,

That He deprive us not of the Kingdom of Heaven.

REFLECTION

There is heroism above heroism and asceticism above asceticism. St. Epiphanius of Cyprus invited Hilarion the Great to dinner and in order to show the greatest hospitality to his distinguished guest, placed fried chicken on the table and offered it to him. Hilarion said to him: "Forgive me, but ever since I was tonsured a monk, I have eaten nothing butchered." To that Epiphanius replied: "And I, ever since I was tonsured a monk, have never lay down in bed until I first forgave my enemy." Amazed, Hilarion said: "Your virtue is greater than mine, Oh holy master!" This is a great lesson for all of us. Fasting is an admirable thing but it is more admirable to forgive insults. Through fasting, man is preparing for charity but, by forgiving insults, man shows charity. Fasting precedes forgiveness but fasting alone, does not save without forgiveness.

CONTEMPLATION

To contemplate the resurrected Lord Jesus:

1. In the earthly body before the resurrection; in the body susceptible to hunger, pain and death;

2. In the Heavenly Body after the resurrection; in the body not susceptible to hunger, pain and death.

HOMILY

About the resurrection of the dead

"But someone may say, `How are the dead raised?' With what kind of body will they come back ?" ( 1 Corinthians 15:35 ).

The Apostle Paul knows in advance the objections which the unbelievers will make concerning the resurrection from the dead and, in advance, he rejects them. Even today, the non-believers who have not seen with the physical eyes the miracle of the resurrection in nature, much less the spiritual resurrection, ask: " How will the dead be raised ?" " You fool !" continues the apostle, " What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies " ( 1 Corinthians 15:36 ). Until the seed dies in the ground, the plant will not grow, in other words, something totally different than the seed will sprout up. The non-believers see through their eyes and do not see, but further ask: "How will a dead man resurrect?" How? In the same way that Christ resurrected. He lowered Himself lifeless in the tomb and rose alive. Even nature manifests the resurrection from the dead; but stronger than nature, it is manifested by the resurrected Lord. In order to make it easier for us to believe and to hope - to believe in the resurrection in general and to have hope in our own resurrection, He Himself, resurrected from the grave and prior to that resurrecting Lazarus who lay in the grave for four days, the son of the widow of Nain and the daughter of Jarius.

The non-believers ask: "With what kind of body will the dead rise?" In that kind of body which God wills. With God there are many kinds of bodies. The Apostle Paul divides all bodies into two groups: into earthly bodies and into heavenly bodies. Therefore, they who have died in earthly bodies will be clothed with heavenly bodies: the incorruptible will replace the corruptible, the immortal will replace the mortal, the beautiful will replace the ugly. In this heavenly body man will also recognize himself and others around him as man recognizes himself or even when he is clothed in beggar's rags or even when he is clothed in royal purple.

Lord, All-plentious, do not hand us over to eternal corruption but, as royal sons, clothe us in the garment of immortality.

To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.

[尼古拉前执事]

1. THE HOLY MARTYR EUPSYCHIUS

Eupsychius was of noble birth and was well instructed in pious beliefs. During the reign of Julian the Apostate and when St. Basil the Great governed the Church of God in Caesarea, Eupsychius entered into marriage with a prominent maiden. However, it was not given to him to live even one day in marriage. For at the time of his wedding, it so happened that there was a pagan feast with sacrificial offerings to the idol Fortune. Eupsychius, with his companions, entered the temple and smashed all the idols and even demolished the temple itself. Hearing of this, Julian became greatly enraged and ordered the culprits beheaded; that many Christians be inducted into the army; that an enormous tribute be imposed upon all Christians; that, at the expense of the Christians, the temple of Fortune be rebuilt again and, that the city be deprived of its honorary name `Caesarea' given it by Caesar Claudius and to be called by its former name, Maza. At first, Eupsychius was tied to a tree, brutally tortured and later was beheaded in the year 362 A.D. Shortly after that, the wicked Emperor Julian visited this city (Maza) on his way to Persia against whom he was waging war. St. Basil the Great went out to meet him and carried three loaves of barley bread as a sign of respect and hospitality. The emperor ordered that a handful of hay be given to the saint as a reciprocal gift. St. Basil said to the emperor: "You make jest of us O Emperor. We offer you bread by which we feed ourselves and you, in turn, give us food for livestock which you, by your authority cannot change into food for men." To that the emperor replied: "Know that I will feed you this hay when I return from Persia." However, the wicked apostate did not return from Persia, for he died a deserving and unnatural death.

1. THE VENERABLE MARTYR VADIM

During the reign of the Persian Emperor Sapor, Vadim, the abbot of a certain monastery and a man famous for his generosity was cast into prison with seven of his disciples. With them in prison was a certain Prince Nirsan who was also a Christian. Everyday they were taken out and beaten. Prince Nirsan became terrified and promised to deny the Faith and worship the sun. This was gratifying to Sapor and he promised to give Nirsan, among other things, the entire estate of Vadim's monastery if he would behead Vadim by his own hand. Nirsan agrees to this. With a quivering hand and frightened by the majestic countenance of St. Vadim, he struck this holy man with the sword many times on the neck until he finally beheaded him. Shortly after that, Nirsan succumbed to despair and stabbed himself with the sword and received at his own hand, the due punishment for the murder of the righteous one. St. Vadim suffered in the year 376 A.D.

HYMN OF PRAISE

THE VENERABLE MARTYR VADIM

The courageous Vadim , looks death in the eyes

And feels sorry for Nirsan because misery befell him.

Nirsan, with a bare sword before Vadim stands,

Of God he is not afraid, but is afraid of the saint.

Brandishing the sword and, brandishing, lowers it!

Before the knight of God; in truth, a sheer coward!

Nirsan, Nirsan! Vadim , to him, speaks:

On the road to eternity, Vadim to you, speaks:

You denied Christ; falsehood, you embraced,

By yourself alone, your soul you lost [destroyed].

Death, I eagerly await every godly-hour,

That the gate of the eternal kingdom, He opens to me.

But, from your hand, I was sorry to die,

And, never more, to see you O prince.

Any traitor of Christ, eternal darkness will cover

And, twice as black - one who slays Christians.

That, the saint uttered and with silence became silent,

And Nirsan slew him with a quivering hand.

Such a lion died from a frightened rabbit!

But, who did Nirsan slay? Himself or the saint?

Eternal justice speaks: the thief judges himself,

And to the saint of God, no harm came to him.

REFLECTION

It is said about Pericles that he was a man of almost perfect human beauty but that his head was oblong and resembled a squash, so that he incurred being ridiculed when he appeared bareheaded in public. In order to conceal the defect of this great man of his people, Greek sculptors always portrayed him with a helmet on his head. When some, among the pagans, knew how to conceal the defects of their friends, how much more, therefore, are we as Christians obligated to do the same? " Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor " ( Romans 12:10 ), commands the apostle to those who cling to Christ. How can we say that we adhere to the meek and All-pure Christ, if we daily poison the air with tales about the sins and shortcomings of others? To conceal your own virtue and the shortcomings of others, this is the preeminent spiritual wisdom.

CONTEMPLATION

To contemplate the resurrected Lord Jesus:

1. How He appears to Mary Magdalene in the Garden and at first glance, Mary does not recognize Him;

2. How He tenderheartedly addresses Mary and Mary recognizes Him, rejoices in Him and she imparts her joy to the disciples.

HOMILY

About the need for death in order to bring forth much fruit

"Amen, Amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit " ( St. John 12:24 ).

Why does the sower throw wheat into the ground? Does he do this so that the wheat will die and rot? No, he does this so that it would live and bear fruit. In sowing the seed, the sower does not think about the death and decay of the seed, but rather about its life and its yield. Indeed, with joy does the sower sow his seed, not thinking about the death of the seed, but rather about life and fruit-bearing yield.

The Sower is Christ the Lord and men are His wheat. He was pleased to call us wheat. There are many other types of seed on earth but nothing is more priceless than wheat. Why did the Lord sow us throughout the world? So that we should die and decay? No, rather that we should live and bring forth fruit. He alludes to our death along the way. He alludes to death only as a condition for life and multiple yield. The goal of sowing is not death but life. The seed must first die and decay. He only mentions this because He knows that we are fully aware of this. He reminds us of this along the way, whereas His Gospel is primarily a narrative of life, about life and about bringing forth good fruit. He speaks to us a great deal about the latter because He knows that we are not aware of this and that we are suffocating from ignorance and doubt. Not only does He speak to us abundantly about life but He also shows us life. By His resurrection, He demonstrates to us life and the multitude of fruit which is brighter than the sun. The entire history of His Church is a clear map of life.

O Lord of Life, Invincible, save us from a sinful death. Redeem us from a spiritual death.

To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.

[尼古拉前执事]

1. THE HOLY MARTYRS TERENTIUS (TERENCE), AFRICANUS, MAXIMUS, [POMPILIUS] POMPEIUS AND THIRTY-SIX OTHERS WITH THEM
   
   

   Code: Select all

   They all suffered for Christ and were crowned with the wreaths of glory during the reign of Emperor Decius.  By order of the emperor, the governor of Africa announced to the people that everyone must offer sacrifices to the idols.  To those who resisted, the governor threatened with cruel tortures. Upon hearing about these threats many fell away from the Faith and worshipped the idols.  However these forty remained unwavering in their faith and were exposed to torture.  St. Terentius (Terence) encouraged his companions saying: "Brothers, let us be on guard that we do not deny Christ our God, lest He deny us before His Heavenly Father and Holy Angels."  The governor divided them into two groups.  Thirty-six of them, after flogging, scrapping of the skin and pouring salt into their open wounds, were all beheaded.  The first four they cast into prison with heavy iron chains around their necks, their hands and their feet.  An angel of God appeared in the prison, touched the chains of the shackled and the chains fell off.  After that, the angel prepared a bountiful table for them and fed them.  Once again, they were brought out and tortured and, again, they were imprisoned.  Then the governor ordered the soothsayers to gather as many poisonous, loathsome creatures as possible, such as snakes and scorpions and to lock them up in the same cell with the martyrs.  The loathsome creatures did not want to touch those chosen by God but rather lay compressed in the corner where they remained for three days.  On the third day, when the door of the cell was opened, the repulsive creatures rushed out and bit the soothsayers.  Finally, the governor pronounced the death penalty upon the four martyrs.  When they were brought out to be beheaded, they rejoicefully chanted Psalms and praised God, Who made them worthy of a martyr's death.  They suffered honorably in the year 250 A.D., and were found worthy of the Kingdom.

1. THE SIX-THOUSAND MARTYRS IN GEORGIA

In the wilderness of David-Garejeli in Georgia, there were twelve monasteries in which many monks practiced and lived the ascetical life for centuries. In 1615 A.D., the great king of Persia, Shah Abbas I, attacked Georgia, devasted it and beheaded many Christians. Once while hunting early in the morning on the Feast of the Resurrection, Shah Abbas noticed many lights in the mountains. They were the monks from the twelve monasteries in procession around the Church of the Resurrection with lighted tapers in hand. When the Shah discovered that they were monks, he asked in amazement: "Has not all of Georgia been given over to the sword?" He then ordered his solders to immediately go and behead all the monks. At that moment an angel of God appeared to Abbot Arsenius and informed him of impending death. Arsenius informed his brethren. They all received Communion of the All-Pure Mysteries and prepared themselves for death. Suddenly, the assailants arrived and hacked to pieces, first of all, the abbot, who came before the others and, after that, all the rest. They all suffered honorably and were crowned with incorruptible wreaths in the year 1615 A.D. Thus, ended the history of these famous monasteries which, for more than a thousand years, served as the spiritual hearth of enlightenment for the Georgians. Only two of the monasteries exist today: St. David and St. John the Forerunner. The Georgian Emperor Arcil gathered the relics of the monks and honorably interred them. Even today, these relics emit a sweet-smelling Chrism (oil) and heal the sick.

HYMN OF PRAISE
THE SIX-THOUSAND MARTYRS OF GEORGIA

Six-thousand chosen ones of God
They rejoiced in the glorious resurrection,
Six-thousand hearts of men,
The entire flock of innocent lambs!
Around the church, with tapers they processed,
Sweet hymns to the Resurrection they sang,
While the terrible wolf, from the midnight darkness
With hungry wolves attacked,
To slaughter the innocent lambs.
Those were not lambs, but shepherds
The suffering Georgian race,
Saints and illuminators,
All monks, wonderful ascetics.
For all, Arsenius foresaw death,
And spoke thusly to the monks:
Brethren of mine, sons of Georgia,
The hour has come to drink of the cup
The sweet cup of suffering for Christ.
Behold, the wolves rush through the mountains
Faster brethren, to the All-Pure Communion.
And, after that, a bloody baptism!
Repent for yourself and for the people,
And all your thoughts to God, direct,
Your evil doers, you forgive,
The doors of Paradise, for us are opening.
Let every brother, forgive his brother.
Christ is Risen - that we resurrect,
Faithful to Him, we are until we die!

REFLECTION

Code: Select all

    When a man detaches his mind from earth, opens it toward God with the desire to please God, then God reveals His will in various ways.  St. Peter of Damascus writes: "If a man has a full intention to please God, then God teaches him His will either through thoughts, through some other person or through Holy Scripture."  Such a man becomes attentive, keen and awaits God's promptings from within and from without.  For him, chances cease to exist.  The entire world becomes as a ten-stringed harp which does not give out one sound without the finger of God.

CONTEMPLATION
To contemplate the resurrected Lord Jesus:

1. How He appeared to two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus and they did not recognize Him;

2. How the hearts of these two disciples burned within when He spoke to them and how they recognized Him only when He blessed and broke bread for them;

3. How, all at once, before their eyes the Lord became invisible to them.

HOMILY
About living hope

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who in His mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christfrom the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).

Brethren, who has dead hope and who has living hope? He who hopes in dead things has a dead hope. He who hopes in the Living God has a living hope.

Further, he who hopes in himself and in other people has a dead hope. He who hopes in the Living God has a living hope.

Further, he who hopes in luck and well-being in this brief earthly existence and does not extend his hope beyond the grave, has a dead hope. He who hopes in the resurrection and eternal life in the kingdom of heaven has a living hope.

Truly, a living hope is better than a dead hope; as life is better than death; as light is better than darkness; as health is better than sickness; as understanding is better than ignorance.

But, Who brought and showed man that living hope; Who, and how? The Apostle Peter gives an answer to that question: Our Lord Jesus Christ and that, by His resurrection from the dead. No one else but the Lord Jesus Christ and by nothing else than His own resurrection from the dead. By His resurrection, the Lord gave wings to the pathetic hopes of man, extended him beyond the grave and showed him the goal, purpose and fruit beyond the grave.

All of this is not confirmed by a credulous man but by an apostle who wavered for a long while in his faith and who denied Christ three times. That is why St. Peter's witness of the resurrected Lord and the significance of His resurrection is inexpressibly priceless for us.

O resurrected Lord, Victor over death, uproot from us dead hope and plant a living hope in us through the prayers of St. Peter, Your great apostle.

To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.

[尼古拉前执事]

1. THE PRIESTLY-MARTYR ANTIPAS, BISHOP OF PERGAMUM IN ASIA MINOR

Antipas is mentioned in the Book of Revelation as, " Antipas, my faithful witness, who was martyred among you, where Satan lives " ( Revelation 2:13 ), i.e., in the city of Pergamum. The inhabitants of this city lived in the darkness of idolatry and in extreme impurity. They were slaves to passions. They were slanderers, tyrants and they were incestuous. In other words, they were the servants of Satan. Here among them lived Antipas, "As a light in the midst of darkness, as a rose among thorns and as gold in mud." He, who captured and killed a Christian, would be deemed as good and just. The totality of pagan belief consisted of soothsaying, interpretation of dreams, serving demons and extreme perversion. Being frightened of Antipas as from fire, the demons appeared to the soothsayers in a dream and confessed how afraid they were of Antipas and how, because of him, they must depart from this city. The pagan priests summoned a large number of people against Antipas and began to interrogate and to force him to deny Christ and to worship idols. Antipas said to them: "When your so-called gods, lords of the universe are frightened of me, a mortal man, and must flee from this city, do you not recognize that, by this, your faith is an aberration?" The saint also spoke to them further about the Faith of Christ as being the only One, True Saving Faith. They became enraged as wild beats and dragged the aged Antipas to the temple of Artemis before which stood an ox cast in bronze. They heated the bronzed ox and hurled the servant of God into the red-hot molten ox. From within the molten ox, St. Antipas glorified God with thanksgiving, as once did Jonah in the belly of the whale or the Three Youths in the fiery furnace. Antipas prayed for his flock and for the entire world until his soul parted from his weakened body and ascended among the angels into the Kingdom of Christ. He died suffering and was crowned with unfading glory in the year 92 A.D.

1. THE HOLY MARTYRS PROCESSUS AND MARTINIAN

Processus and Martinian were jailers in the Roman prison where the Apostles Peter and Paul were imprisoned. Hearing the words and witnessing the miracles of the apostles, they were baptized and released the apostles from prison. The apostles left Rome but the Lord, on His way to Rome, appeared to Peter who asked Him: " Lord where are you going ?" [( Wither goest Thou ?-- Domine Quo Vadis ?)] and the Lord answered: "I go to Rome to be crucified a second time." Ashamed, the apostles returned to Rome where they were apprehended and slain. Also slain with the apostles were these two brave martyrs, Processus and Martinian.

HYMN OF PRAISE

SAINT ANTIPAS

In a fiery ox as in a luminous temple

Antipas , the Christian, does not suffer loneliness:

In his pure heart, the Lord abides

Neither the fire burns him neither is he in horror of it

The saint for Christ patiently endures all,

And prayers to Christ from the fire, ascend,

Oh, All-Powerful Christ, King of all ages,

For these sufferings, a hundred-fold thanks be to You!

All in me that is sinful, let burn with fire,

That I be more precious according to heavenly worth.

Oh Savior, I pray to You; my flock protect

In this town, in awful dung!

May my blood strengthen them in the Faith,

And their hearts to You be fixed.

And for the heathen, also, O Blessed One I pray to You

Seize them, once and for all, from demonic lies;

And for all sinners, who ridicule Your law,

Direct them to You, the only One to serve.

Behold, all is within the authority of Your Holy Will,

And finally, to You I pray: may it be better for the Church!

REFLECTION

"There can be no rest for those on earth who desire to be saved," says St. Ephrem the Syrian. The struggle is unceasing be it either external or internal. The adversary acts visibly at times through men and other things and at other times, invisibly through thoughts. At times, the adversary appears openly and behaves brutally and cruelly like an enemy and, at other times, under the guise of a flattering friend, he seduces by shrewdness. That which occurs in battle between two opposing armies also occurs to every man individually in battle with the passions of this world. Truly, "There can be no rest for those on earth who desire to be saved." When salvation comes, rest also comes.

CONTEMPLATION

To contemplate the resurrected Lord Jesus:

1. How Simon Peter and the other disciple ran quickly to the tomb to confirm the news of the Resurrection;

2. How one after the other entered the tomb and saw the cloths and napkin;

3. How they both saw and believed and, after that, they witnessed and for their witness they died.

HOMILY

About the two Adams; the Death-creating and the Life-giving

"For just as in Adam all die, so too, in Christ, shall all be brought to life "(1 Corinthians 15:22 ).

Following Adam's example, life is sown in shame, and following Christ's example, life is raised in glory. Sin is from Adam and justice is from Christ. Weakness and death come from Adam and strength and life come from Christ. Accordingly, in Adam we all die. Accordingly, in Christ, we shall all be brought to life.

That one is the earthly man [Adam], this one is the heavenly man [Christ]. That is the bodily man [Adam] and this is the spiritual man [Christ].

Christ did not resurrect for His sake but for our sake just as He did not die for His sake but for our sake. If His resurrection does not signify our resurrection, then His resurrection is bitterness and not sweetness. Where, then, would the love of God be? Where, then, would the meaning of our miserable earthy experience be? What, then, would be the purpose of Christ's coming to earth?

There, where Adam ends, Christ begins. Adam ends up in the grave and Christ begins with the resurrection from the grave. Adam's generation, i.e., the seed underground that rots and decays, does not see the sun, does not believe that it can emerge from beneath the earth to blossom into a green plant with leaves, flowers and fruit. Christ's generation is a green field upon which wheat grows, turns green, becomes covered with leaves, blossoms and bears much fruit.

"In Adam " does not only mean that we will die one day, rather it means that we are already dead; dead to the last one. " In Christ " does not only mean that we will revive one day, but rather that we are already alive, i.e., that the seed in the ground has already begun to germinate and to break through to the light of the sun. The complete expression of death is in the grave, but the complete expression of eternal life is in the kingdom of God.

The mind of the sons of Adam are in accordance with death, reconciled with being decayed and sink even deeper into the ground. The mind of the sons of Christ rebel against death and decay and exert all the more, to burgeon a man toward the light, which the Grace of God helps. O resurrected Lord sober the minds of all the sons of man that they would flee from darkness and destruction and reach out toward the light and life eternal which is in You.

To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.

[尼古拉前执事]

1. VENERABLE ISAAC THE SYRIAN II

Isaac the Syrian I, is commemorated on January 28. St. Gregory the Dialogues writes about this Isaac II. He came to Italy at the time of the Goths and entered a church to pray in the city of Spoleto. He implored the verger to allow him to remain locked in the church overnight. And so, he spent the entire night in prayer, remaining in the same place. The same thing happened the next day and even the second night. The verger called him a hypocrite and struck him with his fist. Instantly, the verger went insane. Seeing that the verger was bitterly tormented, Isaac leaned over him and the evil spirit departed from him and the verger was restored to health. Upon hearing of this incident, the entire populace of the city thronged around this amazing foreigner. They offered him money and property, but he declined all and accepted nothing and withdrew into the forest where he built a cell for himself, which was rapidly transformed into a large monastery. Isaac was known for working miracles and especially for his special "gift of discernment." On one occasion, he ordered the brethren to carry all the hoes into the vineyard and to leave them there. The next day Isaac, along with the brethren, went out into the vineyard and brought along lunch. The brethren were puzzled. Who was this lunch for, since there were no laborers? Upon arriving at the vineyard, there were as many men digging as there were hoes. This is what happened: these men came as thieves to steal the hoes, but by the power of God, they were detained to dig all night. On another occasion, two partly-clad men came to Isaac and sought clothes from him. Isaac sent a monk to a hollow tree along the road to retrieve what he would find there. The monk departed, found some clothing and brought it to the monastery. The abbot took these clothes and gave them to the beggars. The beggars were extremely ashamed when they recognized their own clothes which they had hidden in this tree. Once, a man sent two beehives to the monastery. The monk hid one along the way and the other he brought to the monastery and turned it over to the abbot. The saint said to him: "Be careful upon your return. For in the beehive that you left along the way, a poisonous snake had slithered into it. Be careful, therefore, that it does not bite you."

1. SAINT BASIL THE CONFESSOR

At the time of the Iconoclastic controversy, this devout man was bishop in the town of Parius in Asia Minor. He refused to sign an imperial document against the veneration of icons. For that, Basil was greatly persecuted and severely tortured. He remained as firm as a diamond in His Orthodoxy. He died at the beginning of the eighth century and was translated to the Lord.

1. THE VENERABLE ACACIUS

Acacius was from the village of Gollitsa in Epirus. He was a great Athonite ascetic, spiritual father and possessed the "gift of discernment." Acacius had many heavenly visions. He gave his blessings to several monks who chose the mortification of martyrdom. Acacius died in his ninety-eighth year in the year 1730 A.D.

1. THE VENERABLE ATHANASIA

Athanasia was born on the island of Aeginia of wealthy and benevolent parents. She distributed her wealth to the poor and retreated to a convent. There she took upon herself greater and more difficult mortifications. Athanasia took food only once a day and that, only bread and water. During the Honorable Fast [Lenten Season], she ate once every other day. She tasted oil and fish only on the Feasts of the Nativity and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even thought she was the abbess of this convent, Athanasia was a servant to the other sisters and shied away from having anyone serve her. Athanasia was made worthy of the great gift of working miracles, both, during her life and after death. She died in the Lord in the year 860 A.D.

HYMN OF PRAISE

SAINT ATHANASIA

Athanasia , most beautiful soul,

On earth, shone like a bright star,

By the spirit, bodily weakness overcame,

While still young, fell in love with God;

Through fasting and vigils, her body she withered,

Only to attain salvation for her soul;

Property much, to the poor she distributed,

All of herself, to the will of God, she gave.

A vision she saw in the church, holy:

A heavenly light, the darkness penetrated,

And a voice to her came: Athanasia ,

Meekness and humbleness; that is pleasing to God,

In this, practice above all else

While your heart beats and your spirit breathes.

Athanasia , that counsel she fulfilled -

And, all pride in herself she crushed,

Her will to God, she totally gave,

Obedient to God, as the blazing sun.

Love, with Love, the Lord returned

And with Grace, He rewarded her labors.

And when her time on earth was over

He granted her life, immortal and paradiscal.

REFLECTION

The wicked Emperor Constantine Copronymos had a virtuous daughter, the maiden, Anthusa: "A beautiful branch on a wicked tree." Despite all the pressure placed on her by her father to marry, Anthusa remained adamant, for she was firmly attached with a sincere love for Christ the Lord. When her father died, Anthusa distributed her entire estate to the poor, entered a convent and was tonsured a nun. How much for astonishment are the many noble men who left the vanity of this world and followed the narrow path of Christ; twice as much for astonishment are the many women who despised both, youth and riches and the transitory attractions of this world for the love of Christ. Our Lord Himself said: " It would be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven " ( St. Matthew 19:23 ). Difficult yes, but not impossible. For him, who despises himself, it is easy to despise the riches of the entire world.

CONTEMPLATION

To contemplate the resurrected Lord Jesus:

1. How He enters through closed doors among His disciples and gives them peace;

2. How His glorified body does not have any material obstacles to appear wherever He wants.

HOMILY

About the city which is being built

"For here, we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come " ( Hebrews 13:14 ).

Brethren, where are the great cities of Babylon and Nineveh? Today, only lizards lay in the dust of their towers. Memphis and Thebes, were they not the pride of the pharaohs and the princes of mankind? Today, it is difficult to establish the exact place where these two cities were located.

However, let us leave these cities of stones and bricks. Let us look at the cities of blood, flesh and bones. Men fashion the city of their bodies more slowly and more painstakingly than they fashion fortresses and cathedrals. Men spend about eighty to a hundred years to fashion the cities of their bodies and, in the end, see that their effort is in vain. That which took them decades to fashion with care and constant fear, collapses into the dust of the grave in the twinkling of an eye. Whose bodily city is not toppled over and turned into dust? Not anyones.

But, let us leave the cities of the body. Let us look at the cities of fortune which men have built from generation to generation. The materials of which these cities were built are: good times, pleasure, property, authority, honor and glory. Where are these cities? As a cob-web they spin around man in an instant and as a cob web they break and vanish, making the fortunate more unfortunate than the unfortunate.

Truly, we have no city here that will remain.

This is why we seek the city which is to come. This is the city built of Spirit, Life and Truth. This is the city whose one and only architect is the Lord Jesus Christ. This city is called the Kingdom of Heaven, Eternal Life, the dwelling place of the angels, the haven of saints and refuge of martyrs. In this city, there is no dualism of either good or evil but, everything is a harmony of good. Everything that is built in this city is built to last forever. Every brick in this city remains without end and termination. The bricks are living angels and men. In this city the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ sits on the throne and reigns.

O resurrected Lord, redeem us from beneath the ruins of time and lead us mercifully into Your eternal city of Heaven.

To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.