My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WA, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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ON NOVEMBER 25th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY AND GLORIOUS MARTYR KATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA
Saint Katherine, the glorious holy Martyr of Christ, came from the metropolis of Alexandria. She struggled during the reign of the ungodly and pagan Emperors Maximian (306-308 A.D., Maxentius (308-312 A.D.), and Maximinus (308-314 A.D.). The blessed one's life and martyrdom is so marvelous, sweet, and compunctious that each soul who reads it with care and attention will greatly rejoice and be inspired by the fruit garnered there from.
The anticipation of reaping a good crop gives confidence to the farmer and, as a result, he counts as naught the labor, toil, and hardships of winter. Similarly, the brave soldier who, in the hope of enjoying glory and honor, takes no account of the peril in which he places his life, nor the sufferings he must undergo, contends to vanquish the enemies of his king, so as to be honored and rewarded by him according to his acts of valor.
More amazing is that not only men, who are helped by the bodily strength with which they were endowed by nature, but also even tender young maidens twelve and fifteen years of age, possessed a boundless desire and a heart aflame with love for the Heavenly Bridegroom, putting aside the frivolities of young womanhood. Undaunted by the brutality of rulers and tyrants, neither were they perturbed by fierce tortures, nor did they take pity on their youth and youthful beauty, but instead disdained every transient enjoyment and carnal pleasure. Indeed, of their own volition, they hastened to death, knowing that through martyrdom they would be granted eternal life and blessedness. She whom we joyously commemorate today is the most beautiful and all-praised bride of Christ the Heavenly King. She exceeded all the rest in wisdom, beauty, and in many qualities: the renowned and all-wise queen, Katherine.
This ever-memorable daughter of the earthly ruler of Alexandria, Constas (Kestou), was tall in stature, incomparably beautiful, and exceedingly kind. She was instructed in the wisdom of the Greeks, learning all the works of the poets and philosophers, including Homer, Virgil, Aristotle, and Plato. Not only was she well-versed in philosophy, but she also knew the medical writings of Asklepios (Aesculapius). Hippocrates, and Galen. Indeed, the maiden was a master of all the nuances of many languages, surpassing all others in rhetoric and logic. All who saw and heard Katherine marveled at her scholarship. Many of the wealthy and leading men of the Senate besought Katherine's mother for her daughter's hand in marriage.
Now her mother was a Christian, but a secret one because of the great persecutions brought about by the followers of Maximian. Both the maiden's relatives and mother counseled her to marry so that her father's estate should not fall to another, thus cutting her off altogether. But Katherine, on account of her many philosophical studies, cherished her virginity and protested, giving many excuses; for she had no wish whatsoever to wed. However, when she saw that they troubled her greatly over the matter, she proposed the following--actually to divert them--so as not to be further importuned: "Present unto me a young man who is like unto me in the four virtues in which you claim that I am peerless among women, and I will take him as my interior. Therefore, search here and abroad for one who is equal to me in rank, wealth, wisdom, and beauty--if such an individual exists. Yet, if he is deficient in any of these areas, he is unsuitable."
Now they knew that it would be quite impossible to find such a qualified suitor. They suggested the son of the Roman emperor and other possible candidates of exalted rank and even greater wealth, but they were inferior to her in the categories of erudition and appearance. She stubbornly persisted in her refusal to contract a marriage with an unlettered man. However, her mother had a most holy spiritual confessor who was in hiding outside the city limits. She took her daughter to visit the geronda (elder) to seek his counsel. The ascetic, perceiving Katherine's modesty and proper deportment, gave close attention to her judicious and well-spoken words. He resolved to bring her to the knowledge of Christ, the Heavenly King, and said, "I am acquainted with a unique Man Who incomparably transcends all those attributes thou has mentioned and countless others. His comeliness eclipses the radiance of the sun; His wisdom governs those things both perceptible to the senses and the intelligence; the world of His treasures is distributed to the ends of the earth, yet never diminishes, but rather increases His nobility is indescribable, infinite, inconceivable, and incomprehensible!"
The venerable elder expounded on this and many other salutary virtues. Now the maiden presumed all the while that he referred to an earthly prince; whereupon, her expression changed, and she questioned him in detail if all the commendations and praises were indeed true concerning this Man. He reinforced his praises further, extolling His other attributes. The maiden asked, "Whose Son is this Man Whom thou dost laud?" He asserted, "He has no father on earth, but He was born of a most noble and holy grace-filled Virgin in a manner surpassing our understanding and transcending the nature of generation; she was deemed worthy by her sublime sanctity to abide both in soul and body, being taken up into the highest heavens, wherein our Lady is venerated by the Holy Angels as Queen of All Creation." Further interested, Katherine continued, "Is it possible to see the Youth?" The old man responded, "If thou wilt do as I say, thou shalt be deemed worthy to behold the radiant splendor of His splendid countenance!" Katherine replied, "I perceive thee to be a faithful witness and a venerable elder. I believe all thou has revealed to me; therefore, I am prepared to follow thine instructions implicitly." Then, the ascetic gave her an icon depicting the Most Holy Theotokos holding the Divine Child. He then called Katherine's attention to it, and said, "This is the Ever-virgin Mother of the One Whose wonders I have extolled. Take this sacred image and close the door to thy bedchamber; pray all night with profound reverence to her whose name is Mary. Implore her to condescend to reveal her Son; and, I believe, if thou wilt pray with faith, she will hearken and show thee Him Whom thy soul desires!"
The maiden then took the holy icon and returned to the palace. She closed herself in her inner room as the elder directed. From the tremendous effort exerted in her supplications, she fell asleep and beheld in a vision the Queen of the Angels, as portrayed in the holy icon, holding the Holy Child, Whose Person emitted rays more radiant than the sun; yet His face was turned toward His Mother. Thus, Katherine saw His back only. She yearned to behold His countenance, and so went to the other side, but once again He turned His face away. This happened three times. She then heard the Most Holy Mother say, "My Child, look upon Thy handmaiden Katherine! How beautiful and comely she is!" He answered, "Nay, rather she is gloomy and so repugnant that it is not possible for Me to look upon her!" The Most Holy Theotokos continued, "Is she not more wise than all the orators, very wealthy, and the most elegant in all the cities?" Yet Christ replied, "My Mother, I tell thee that she is ignorant, poor, and contemptible! Whosoever is in like condition, I do not wish to look upon!" Again, the Theotokos spoke, "I beg Thee, my sweet Child, despise not the work of Thy hands! But, advise and guide her as to what she should do, so as to have a share of Thy glory and behold Thy face resplendent with light, which the Angels long to gaze upon!" Christ then said, "She ought to go to the elder who gave her the icon. Whatever instructions he gives, she should do. Then, when she desires to see, she will receive joy and benefit." (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
(To be continued)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George