My beloved spiritual children in Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
SEPTEMBER 6TH--COMMEMORATION OF THE MIRACLE OF THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL AT COLOSSAE (CHONAE) (4th Century)
In Phrygia, not far from the city of Hierapolis, in a place called Kherotopa, there was a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Near the church there flowed a healing spring. The church was built through the efforts of a resident of the city of Laodicea, in thanks to God and to the Archangel Michael for the healing of his mute daughter with waters from the spring; the maiden received healing at the spring and began to speak. Following this miracle, the father, his daughter and his entire family were baptized. Thereafter, through the father's efforts, a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael was erected. Both Christians and pagans renounced their idol worship and turned to faith in Christ. A person named Archippus served for over 60 years as a sacristan at the church. Through his preaching of Christ, and by the example of his God-pleasing life, the pious man brought many pagans to faith in Christ. Pagans who hated Christians in general especially hated Archippus, who never left the church, and who served as an example to all who served Christ. They decided to destroy the church and at the same time to do harm to Archippus. To this end, they diverted two mountain rivers into one watercourse directed toward the church. Saint Archippus fervently prayed to the Archangel Michael, asking him to turn away their misfortune. By those prayers, Archangel Michael appeared near the church, and, by means of the Cross and a great earthquake that shook the entire area and striking the rock with his staff, opened a wide fissure in the mountain and ordered the torrent to flow into it. Thus, the church remained unharmed. At the sight of such a wonderful miracle the pagans fled in terror. Saint Archippus and the Christians assembled in the church praised God, and offered thanks unto Holy Archangel Michael for his assistance. The site of the miracle became as Chonae, which means "fissure" or "funnels" in Greek.
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Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of Archangel Michael Colossae. Fourth Tone
O Commander of the Heavenly Host, we the unworthy beseech you, that through your entreaties you will fortify us, guarding us in the shelter of the wings of your ethereal glory, even as we fervently bow before you crying: "Deliver us from all danger, as Commanders of the Powers on high!"
Kontakion of Miracle of Archangel Michael. Second Tone
O Michael, who standest altogether before the Trinity together with all the heavenly Hosts, and with them dost cry aloud the song inspired of God: As thou dost pass throughout the earth by God's command and art made wondrous with exceedingly great marvels, cease not to intercede for us all.
(Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George