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.
+
ON THE 25TH OF NOVEMBER, THE HOLY CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY AND GLORIOUS GREAT-MARTYR KATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA
Katherine, the glorious great martyr of Christ, came from the metropolis of Alexandria. She struggled during the reigns 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 refreshed 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 hardship of winter. He braves wind and rain, and even the frigid snows. He awaits the harvest season with the utmost eagerness to enjoy the fruits of his labors. The expectation of financial gain leads merchants to defy all hardships and dangers of land and sea, so as to increase their capital, oft-times to no profit, and many 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.
Hence, they persevere in so many hardships, toils, and sufferings to acquire the perishable and effete things which today exist and tomorrow vanish away; moreover, oft-times the wretched ones fail and do not attain their goal, as we have seen various times and places. The farmer toils extensively and scatters his seed upon the earth, expecting it to increase tenfold. Yet, many times he does not reap what he sows. Again, the merchant expends sums and embarks on a voyage to double his capital, and many times the unfortunate one casts his goods overboard to avoid falling into the hands of pirates who might rob him, and oftentimes he, too, will lose his life. Furthermore, the soldier goes into battle, and the poor one is slain. Therefore, if they expose their lives and souls to innumerable dangers for transient and vain things, how much more should we Christians struggle, who undoubtedly understand that we are to inherit so many good things in the kingdom of the heavens, wherein we shall delight eternally?
Knowing this, the people of past generations, being well-intentioned and prudent, strived according to their strength to be deemed worthy of this blessedness. Some imposed extreme asceticism and discipline upon themselves, fleeing the world and dwelling in mountains and caves, praying alone unto God. Others, ardent in piety and zealots of our True Faith, rejected their wealth and property. They gave up their lives to receive death for the sake of their boundless love which they had toward the most desired Jesus Christ. Indeed, the more they saw the bloodthirsty tyrants devising various means of torture, the more so did they, of their own volition, desire death.
More amazing is that not only men, who are aided by the bodily strength with which they were endowed by nature, but also even tender young hearts 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 bloom 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 on November 25th is the most beautiful and all-praised bride of Christ the heavenly King. She exceeds 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 Home, 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 husband; for I will not condescend to be yoked to one who is unworthy or inferior. 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 by 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 Geronda (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 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 hast 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 of 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!" (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
(To be continued)
___________________
DIVINE SERVICES FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25th:
Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.
___________________
"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos
+++
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George