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 SEPTEMBER 3rd OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY MARTYR VASILISSA OF NIKOMEDIA
Vasilissa, the Saint, lived as a Christian when Alexander was governor of Nikomedia in Bithynia of Asia Minor, at the time when there was a persecution against the Christians (303-305 A.D.). When the maiden was nine years old, approaching ten, and resplendent in the bloom of girlhood, she was arrested with other Christians and made to stand before the governor of Bithynia. When the lass was questioned concerning piety, she confessed Christ Who gave her "a mouth of wisdom" (Luke 21:15) well beyond her years. On account of her quick rejoinders, when she spoke her mind wisely and prudently, the governor vented his anger. He ordered that her face be struck, but she gave thanks to God. Not willing to spare Vasilissa because of her youth, he had her stripped and beaten with rods; but she offered up additional thanks to God. This further enraged the governor, who commanded that the executioners stretch out the maiden and increase the number of blows, rendering her whole body one great wound. Afterward, they tore off the skin from the soles of her feet, thereupon she shouted aloud, "O my God, I thank Thee." The vicious governor then ordered that they bore through the ankle joints of the martyr and put an iron pin through them. Next, from the pins, they tied chains from which they raised aloft the holy maiden head downwards. Underneath the blessed one, they released vile smelling smoke from burning sulfur, pitch, bitumen, and lead, with the object that the Lord's athlete might expire quickly, being unable to bear inhaling the smoke. The Saint, however, patiently endured this foul torment with joy, as though she were luxuriating and taking her ease in Paradise; so eager was she to give even more thanks and glory to God.
The governor, seeing that such measures were ineffective, perceived that the tortures were making him a laughingstock. He charged that a furnace be lit and that Vasilissa be cast inside. When the blazing furnace was ready, she made the sign of the Cross and entered therein. Supplied with an abundance of Divine power, she stood for many hours without experiencing the least injury. The prodigious marvel astonished all. The governor then ordered that she be removed, and directed that two huge lions be released against her. The maiden bore everything, praying continually, and remained unharmed by the beasts. Governor Alexander, beholding all things, felt debased in his own eyes and was moved to compunction in his soul. Acknowledging his blunders, he fell at the feet of the holy maiden, saying, "Have mercy on me, servant of the Heavenly King, and pardon me for these torments which I provoked. Make me also a fellow soldier of thy King, since, even as thou sayest, He receives the sinners." Thus, conscious of his own sinfulness, he rightly understood and disowned his ancestral impiety and assented to the teaching of the Gospel. The Saint then gave thanks to the Almighty God, and catechized the governor. She presented him in the church to the Bishop of Nicomedia, Anthony, who baptized him.
After the Baptism, the governor, now a much altered man, again prostrated himself before the holy Vasilissa, making a heartfelt appeal, saying to her, "Servant of the True God, pray on ;my behalf that I might receive forgiveness for my wicked deeds which I committed against thee, that I may finish my life with a good confession of the Faith." The Saint then prayed for him, and it was as balm to his stricken soul, which he immediately surrendered, glorifying and blessing the God of the Christians. In the company of the bishops, Vasilissa then buried the relics of the governor. Afterward, she went outside the city of Nicomedia, as far as the third signpost, some two miles. She found a rock and stood upon it praying. Then--O the wonder!--water, forthwith, gushed forth from the rock. The holy maiden partook of the water, quenched her thirst, and gave thanks to God. She went a little further, and said, "Lord, receive my spirit in peace." Saint Vasilissa, crowned with the chaplet of True faith, then departed to the Lord deeply joyous and carrying her adornment on her soul, she was translated to those happy and everlasting abodes. Bishop Anthony learned of her repose and interred her august holy relics near that rock from which water came forth and continues to flow until this day. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
________________
"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostom
+++
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George