My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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ON DECEMBER 8th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE LIFE OF OUR HOLY FATHER PATAPIUS
In Egypt, there is a city named Thebes, situated alongside the Nile River. It was here that the blessed Patapius was born, the son of Christians who reared him in piety and the fear of the Lord. Reaching manhood, he came to despise the vanity of this world, so he forsook his home, parents, and friends to become a monk. He went into the desert, where he began to live for God alone, fasting, praying, and undertaking other ascetic labors. In time his place of seclusion became known, and many people began to visit him and extol his virtuous way of life. Grieving because his silence was lost and because he was praised by men, Patapius left Egypt and went to Constantinople. He built himself a hut next to the city wall near the Vlachernae quarter and lived as a recluse there. Patapius conversed in solitude, praying without ceasing. Guided by the Lord's hand, a Christian youth who was blind from birth found his way to the hut of our holy father. He entreated the blessed one to pray to the Lord for him, asking that he be granted to see the visible creation, and through things created come to know more perfectly the Maker of all. The venerable Patapius felt compassion for him and declared, "In the name of Jesus Christ, Who gives life to the dead and sight to the blind: see!" At that very moment, the blind youth opened his eyes. He could see clearly and began to glorify and thank God.
He performed many miracles i.e., a prominent citizen suffering from dropsy after blessing him with a cross and anointing him with oil was healed; a young man possessed by a cruel demon who had tormented him, the evil spirit went out of God's creature like smoke and was healed; He made the sign of the Cross over a woman who had sores on her breasts and was in great pain and was healed.
Having worked these and many miracles, our venerable father Patapius reached his end, departing in great old age unto the Lord Whom he had pleased throughout his life. Saint Patapius was reverently buried by the faithful in the Church of the Forerunner. Unto Christ our God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory and worship forever. Amen. (Source: The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints)
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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