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 AUGUST 8th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE FEAST OF OUR VENERABLE FATHER EMILIANOS (EMILIAN) THE CONFESSOR BISHOP OF KYZIKOS

Emilianos (Emilian) the Confessor, Bishop of Kyzikos (Cyzicus), underwent much hardship and exile and affliction for the sake of the Orthodox veneration of the sacred icons. He endured the ferocious reign of that beastly minded lion, Emperor Leo V the Armenian, who reigned from 813 A.D. until 820 A.D. This emperor restored iconoclasm (the destruction of holy icons) after he was crowned in Hagia Sophia by Patriarch Nikephoros I (806 A.D. - 815). Predictably, Leo disposed of the Patriarch by deposing him and appointing in his place the iconoclast Theodores I Kassiteras (815-821 A.D.), John VII Grammatikos had prepared the iconoclasts for the council with mostly arguments from Hieria (754 A.D.). The 815 A.D. Council called the holy icons spurious and ordered their destruction.

Before Saint Emilianos was elevated as bishop of the metropolis of Kyzikos, he has spent time in a monastery that had been founded by Saint Tarasios. Hierarch Tarasios helped those who desired to forsake the world and take up the monastic life. With much labor, Saint Tarasios established a monastery with the share he received from his father's inheritance. It was located on the left bank, as one sailed upstream, of the Thracian Bosporos. A fair number of the monks from that holy community were elected to the ministry of the priesthood. Since they were adorned with Orthodox belief, they were able to put down heresy. Their labors succeeded under the teaching and example of St. Tarasios, although they endured many tribulations and afflictions at the hands of the heretics.

As a monk of that monastery, St. Emilianos learned to govern the passions. Saint Emilianos had been lawfully consecrated from childhood and made resplendent by asceticism in that sacred precinct. When appointed as Bishop of Kyzikos (788 A.D.), he notably presided over that Church as a venerable initiate of Sacred Mysteries. Now Kyzikos, situated on the Southern Coast of the Sea of Marmara, was a city of commercial importance throughout the years of its existence. Our Venerable Emilianos shepherded the flock of that metropolis with much purpose and a great soul. He was adorned with chastity.

Saint Emilianos was a fervent iconophile (a lover or friend of holy icons). He loved and honored the holy icon of Christ. He gave no consequence to the bestial impudence of Leo, who madly raged as he raised up the godless heresy of former emperor Constantine Kopronymos V (741-775 A.D.). Now a Synod (Council) had been convened at that time, at which our Saint Emilianos was the first to speak. He openly and boldly convicted the ungodly detractors of the holy icons. His zeal and unyielding desire for right-believing piety and like Prophet Elias of old, as he slew the pagan priests of shame with the sword of the Spirit. For Saint Emilianos spoke boldly, with skill and wisdom, as Christ's high priest. He also opposed Leo, contending for the Truth and declaring that veneration rendered to images (holy icons) passes on to the archetype. Leo was aptly reproved by Saint Emilianos, who spiritually broke the great teeth of that lion and stopped his foul mouth. But Saint Emilianos's firm resolve to venerate the holy icons ushered in the tyrant's bitter sentencing to exiles in distant parts. Showing great fortitude, Saint Emilianos ended his days bearing up under ill-treatment while contending in foreign climes. He considered it more profitable to embrace difficulties. He received from the Lord the crown of a Confessor of the Faith, for "the Master flung open the gates of Heaven, and received his soul, giving it rest in the places of refreshment. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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Please note: Iconoclasm was one of the most powerful and prolonged heretical movements The Iconoclast heresy began in the first half of the 7th Century and continued to disturb the Church for more than a hundred years. Directed against the veneration of holy icons, it touched also on other aspects of the faith and church order (for example, the veneration of Saints). The seriousness of this heresy was increased by the fact that a whole series of Byzantine emperors acted energetically in its favor for reasons of internal and external polities; these emperors were also hostilely disposed to monasticism. The heresy was condemned at the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 A.D., and the final triumph of Orthodoxy occurred in 842 A.D. under Saint Methodios, Patriarch of Constantinople; at that time there was established the feast of the "Triumph of Orthodoxy", which is observed by the Church up to now (on the First Sunday of Great and Holy Lent). (Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Father Michael Pomazanksy)

My beloved in Christ God,

Countless lives of Orthodox Christians were sacrificed during 100 years of iconoclasm and persecution. By the grace of God, the Authentic Church of Christ Triumphed over heresy. Since that day of triumph over falsehood and heresy, Orthodox Christians have been able to venerate the holy icons, holy relics, and Saints of the Church without fear of persecution. The current or contemporary iconoclasts are the Protestants. It is a blessing for Orthodox Christians to continue the Holy Tradition of the Church and to offer veneration to the holy icons wherever they are. The 'domestic church' or 'e katoikon ecclesia', the Orthodox Christian home and family should embrace the holy icons with reverence and secure a place, a corner in the house where the holy icons will be placed and where the family will offer prayers and adoration to our Savior Jesus Christ. Every bedroom should have an icon or icons or a cross. The holy icon reminds us of the virtuous and holiness of that Saint/s and encourages us to emulate the Saint's life. It reminds us of the Presence of God and His mercy and protection. Indeed, we, as Orthodox Christians, are inspired by the symbol of the Cross, and by our patron Saint and intercessor. A family who prays together, is a spiritually healthy family, a united family, a loving family, a respectful family, a Christ-centered family.

No true Orthodox Christian would ever disrespect or be afraid to venerate our holy icons.

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostom

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George