May 9 - Saint Christopher the Great Martyr

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord, and Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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ON MAY 9th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE FEAST OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER THE GREAT MARTYR

Saint Christopher, the holy and great Martyr of Christ, was vouchsafed the crown of martyrdom during the reign of the unjust pagan Roman emperor Decius (249-251 A.D.). From his youth, the Saint had been called Reprobus. During that epoch, the rulers were possessed by a frenzied madness against the pious Christians. The lawless emperor had issued an outrageous decree. His foul command urged the ill use of the righteous and godly slaves of the Christians, with the application of violence, if they could not be coerced into eating meats offered and sacrificed to idols. These foods had been defiled by the sprinkling of the blood of sacrificial victims. Those who consented not to deny Christ were to be subjected to ten thousand torments, which led to death in a most horrifying manner. All the rulers and governors of the cities of the realm made it a point to appear compliant and obedient to the crown. The impious, as a result, were afforded no small protection by law while the pious were being persecuted.

One of the emperor's military commanders, at that time, who was engaged in a campaign against other nations, encountered the blessed Reprobus. The latter hailed from the tribe of the dog-faced, whom the general apprehended. (The dog-faced, according to the Greek compilers, must signify that the Saint was not comely but rather had an ill-favored facial appearance...Although he had a look that was displeasing to the senses, and even frightening and wild-looking, yet his inner man was Christ-like.) The blessed Reprobus did not bear the least character resemblance to his countrymen. Indeed, he may be described as prudent and noble-minded, and as one who kept the divine words in his heart. The man of God observed how the idol-worshipers were torturing each of the Christians, which was ushering in no small grief for such a one as Reprobus who was predisposed toward sympathy. With such a compassionate turn of mind, his fellow-feeling toward the sufferers stirred him. Since, however, he was ignorant of the language of the idol madmen who had captured him, he was unable either to reason with or to rebuke the benighted ones. There was no one with whom he could speak and come to an understanding. He prostrated himself to the ground, supplicating the Lord with tears that he might be endowed with the power to converse with his pagan captors. He noetically offered up this prayer:  

"O Lord God, the Almighty, hearken to my low estate and humiliation.  Show Thy compassion to me, the unworthy one. Open my lips and grant me to speak as the men of this place that I might be able to reprove the tyrant."

While Reprobus was praying in this manner, he found before him a certain light-bearing youth who addressed him and said, "Thine entreaty has been heard, O Reprobus. So then, rise up and receive grace from the Lord."

The holy man rose up, at which point the light-bearing being touched Reprobus' lips.  Straightway, as the Angel breathed upon his mouth, Reprobus was enabled to speak freely.  He then, at once, marched into the city. He viewed the Christians undergoing punishment, which sight pained his heart. It was as if he were receiving those scourges. He, thereupon, directed his words to the idolaters, speaking on behalf of his fellow Christians, saying, "O guides of the darkness and those full of every transgression, does it not suffice to surrender your own souls to Satan, but must you compel even us, who fear the one, God, to perish along with you? I am a Christian and I do not condescend to venerate your vain gods and useless abominations." As the holy Reprobus was speaking, Vachthios, one of the pagan officers, happened to be near him. He struck Reprobus on the mouth. The blessed man, not giving reign to anger, turned to him and said modestly, "My Savior Christ is preventing me from retaliating; thus, I shall not render a fitting recompense. But should I become angry, all of thy perverse kingdom would not be able to vanquish me."

Vachthios, goaded by this statement, turned on his heel and departed for the city where the emperor was abiding. He submitted his report to the emperor, adding the following verbal declarations: "Sir, a few days ago, while the authorities were punishing the Christians, in accordance with thy divine command, there appeared a young man in the midst of the people.  He can only be described as a huge and dreadful giant. He has the form and looks of a wild man.  His teeth jut out from his mouth, even as a swine. He has a head like a dog. Simply put, he is so unsightly that he defies description. Now this very tall fellow was blaspheming both the gods and thy realm. Decius deemed it prudent to investigate the matter. He, immediately, summoned two hundred soldiers and dispatched them with these words: "Bind this giant, named Reprobus, and conduct him here before me. In the event, he should resist, cut him into a thousand pieces. Only bring forward his head that I may see for myself if he is the frightening ogre that this coward claims."

Now the soldiers, whom Decius dispatched to arrest the righteous man, arrived there the very moment Reprobus was engaged in prayer outside the church. From a distance, they decried his features and became frightened. As a result, they did not dare to draw near. But one of the soldiers plucked up courage and rallied his comrades, saying, "Why should we fear one lone man who is unarmed?" Thus, they approached and questioned him in this wise: "Whence comest thou and why weepest thou?" Reprobus gave an answer, speaking with a humble tone, "I weep for the sake of men who are wanting in understanding. Such ones have left off venerating the True God for senseless graven images". When the soldiers, therefore, heard him speak to them with meekness, they became bold and declared unto him: "Our emperor has commissioned us to bind you and lead you before his presence because you will not pay homage to the ancient gods but rather a new one."

Reprobus replied, "If you will let me, I will come of my own volition; for you shall not be able to drag me bound before him. The reason for this is that my Master Christ loosed the bonds of my iniquities and delivered me from Satan, your father." 

The most wicked and unrighteous Decius was thinking of diverse methods to inflict a violent death upon Christ's witness. He, thereupon, ordered that a huge stone--necessitating thirty men to drag it--be brought to him. A hole was bored into the stone, through which a chain was passed.  One end of the chain was tied around the neck of the Saint. After they fettered the hands and feet of Christopher, he was cast inside a deep well. The idolaters thought it impossible that he should ever exit from that darkest of places. But in vain did they meditate these things. This is because an Angel of the Lord descended and led forth the Saint, alive and unwounded. Decius, beholding such an extrication, became demonized from his own perniciousness. Why? Because he saw he was unable to put to death one naked and unarmed man. Decius then asked the Saint, "Until when shall thy magic arts keep thee intact? Is it not possible, then, to blot thee out of existence by the many tortures to which I have thrown upon you?" The Saint replied, "Christ sustains me to the end of this life, my temporal one; for I have Him for my helper. While I am in this life, I despise your inventions."

The tyrant, whose thoughts were bent to contrive means to be rid of Christopher, responded by giving instructions for the making of the garment of copper. After it was constructed, it was mightily heated. Christopher was fitted with the shirt. The heat of red-hot copper, nonetheless, never touched Christopher; thus, he remained unscathed. Decius, therefore, handed down his final decision when he said, "Since this most incorrigible and useless fellow foolishly slights my own commands, I command the severing of his revolting and ugly head."

The beheaders, thereupon, drew him to the place of execution. A multitude of people, both idolaters, and Christians followed after the Saint. When they arrived at the site, Saint Christopher requested leave from the headsman that he might first pray. Having received permission, Saint Christopher prayed to God in the hearing of the whole company. He uttered these words: "O Lord Thou also come now as my enemy together with his minions. Therefore, do Thou also come as my supporter and flank me, O All-Good Lord. Receive my spirit in peace and number me with the least of Thy slaves. As for the unjust Decius, render to him the deserving reward of his irreverence. May he be delivered up to Satan for the devouring and destruction of the flesh..."

After the Saint prayed in this manner, there came forth a voice out of the heavens, saying, "All, of whatsoever thou didst ask of Me, was My will to fulfill that I do not sorrow thee...Do you, therefore, come that you mightest enjoy the good things and gladness which have been prepared for you." Saint Christopher, hearing these promises, rejoiced and said to the executioner, "Child, do that which you have been charged to perform." The decapitator, drawing near to Saint Christopher with much fear and reverence, then swung his sword and severed that honorable head. It should be noted that, after the execution, the same executioner took his own life and died upon the sacred body of the martyr. The day of the martyrdom was the 9th day of May.  (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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

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With sincere agape in His Holy Resurrection,

The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

May 8 - Saint John the Theologian

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord, and Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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ON MAY 8th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES

THE SYNAXIS OF THE DISPATCH OF HOLY DUST, THAT IS, THE MANNA, FROM THE TOMB OF THE HOLY AND GLORIOUS APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN.

Saint John the Theologian, the divine Apostle and Evangelist, the beloved Disciple of the Lord, was born in Bethsaida of the Galilee. He was translated to the Lord, while preaching the word of God at Ephesus, in deep old age during the days of Emperor Trajan (98-117 A.D.). When the blessed John was about to depart from this present life, to what which is perpetual and eternal, he foreknew it by the indwelling of divine grace. He took his Disciples and went outside of the city of Ephesus, St. John, according to Prochoros his disciple, had assembled seven of his disciples:  Prochoros and six others. Saint John said to them, "Take spades in your hands and follow me." They followed him outside the city to a certain place, where he said, "Sit down." He then went a little apart from them to where it was quiet and began to pray. It was very early in the morning; the sun had not quite risen. After his prayer, he said to them, "Dig with your spades a cross-shaped trench as long as I am tall." This was done while the Evangelist prayed.  After he had finished his prayer, he set himself down in the trench that has been dug. Saint John then to Prochoros, "My son, thou shalt go to Jerusalem. That is where thou must spend thy days." The Evangelist then gave them instructions and embraced them, saying, "Take some earth, my mother earth, and cover me." The disciple embraced them again and, taking some earth, covered him only up to his knees. Once more, he embraced them, saying, "Take some more earth and cover me up to the neck." So they embraced him again and then took some more earth and covered him up to his neck." Then he said to them, "Bring a thin veil and place it on my face, and embrace me again for the last time, for you shall not see me any longer in this life." So they, stricken with grief, embraced the holy Apostle again. As he was sending us off in peace, the disciples, lamenting bitterly, covered his whole body. The sun rose just then, and he surrendered his spirit.

The disciples returned to the city and were asked, "Where is your teachers?" So they explained what had just occurred in great detail. The Ephesians begged them that they show them the site.  They, therefore, went back to the grave with the brethren, but Saint John was not there. Only his shoes were left behind. Then they remembered the words of the Lord to the Apostle Peter, "If I wish him to tarry while I am coming, what is that to thee?" (John 21:22). And they all glorified God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to Whom is due glory, honor, and worship, unto the ages of ages. Amen. Each year, on the 8th day of May, the grave of the Saint was decorated with roses.

Saint Bede remarks that "Jesus did not love John alone in a singular way to the exclusion of others, but He loved John beyond those whom He loved, in a more intimate way as one whom the special prerogative of chastity had made worthy of fuller love. Indeed, Jesus proved that He loved them all when before His Passion He said to them, 'Even as the Father loved Me, I also loved you; abide in the love, that which is Mine' (John 15:9). But beyond the others, He loved the one who, being a virgin when chosen by Him, remained forever a virgin. Accordingly, when Christ was about to die on the Cross, He commended His Mother to John (John 19:26-27), so that virgin might watch over virgin; and when He Himself ascended to heaven after His death and Resurrection, a son would not be lacking to His Mother whose chaste life would be protected by his chaste services." Furthermore on, Saint Bede writes: "Mystically speaking, we can take these things which are predicted by the Lord to Peter and John, as designating the two ways of life in the Church which are carried out in the present, namely the active and the contemplative...Christ saying this about John suggests the state of contemplative virtue, which is not to be ended through death, as the active life is, but after death is to be more perfectly completed with the coming of the Lord."

As we said, after the Evangelist's falling asleep in the Lord, his tomb was shown to be another pool of Siloam. Since our all-good and man-befriending Lord not only glorifies the Saints--that is, those who for love of Him engaged in struggles such as the disciples and Apostles, the Prophets, and Martyrs, and all those who led God-pleasing lives--accounting them worthy of the Kingdom of the Heavens and those everlasting good things, but also grants, by the free gift of divine gifts of grace, manifold and splendid miracles then and now and forever.

We, therefore, at the empty tomb of Saint John the Theologian celebrate the great Evangelist.  He was granted Christ's grace by which he is adorned with many wonderworking. His tomb, yearly and to the day of this writing, in a sudden and mysterious manner, spouts up dust.  The natives have named the dust, "Manna." The dust has been called so because it is used for the deliverance and recovery from every disease. It is employed for the health of both souls and bodies, to the glorification of God and His servant John.

The Holy Apostle John remained with the Theotokos until the holy Dormition (Koimisis).  Afterward, he left Jerusalem and went to Asia Minor; for when the lands of the earth were divided among the Holy Apostles, Saint John chose the last lot--that of Asia Minor. He, therefore, repaired to Ephesus and other places. Ephesus was the most important Greek city in Ionian Asia Minor. The colossal Temple of Artemis, or Diana, to which Ephesus owed much of its fame, was demolished by the lever of Saint John's prayers. The idol worshipers, thereupon, were delivered from their error as they were guided to the light of the knowledge of God by Saint John. The number of them was forty myriads, that is to say, four hundred thousand people who worshiped the false goddess Artemis. At length, they built and named a church after Saint John the Theologian. The church is situated atop a mountain that the Ephesians called Elivaton, which was situated in ancient Ephesus.

The Synaxis of the Holy Apostle John the Apostle and Evangelist is celebrated in his august Apostolic church, which is located at Evdomon (Hebdomon).  (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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

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

+ Father George

May 7 - The Appearance of the Sign of the Precious Cross Over Jerusalem

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord and Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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ON MAY 7th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE APPEARANCE OF THE SIGN OF THE PRECIOUS CROSS OVER JERUSALEM.

The sign of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross appeared in the sky over Jerusalem during the day of Emperor Constantius (337-361 A.D.), the son of Saint Constantine the Great. The apparition took place during the episcopacy of the holy Patriarch Kyril of Jerusalem. Throughout the days of the Pentecost, the Honorable sign of the Cross, filled with Divine Light, was made manifest over Jerusalem.

Saint Kyril, in his epistle to Emperor Constantius, speaks of the miraculous appearance of a luminous cross in the sky over the city of Jerusalem. The epistle (letter) is dated the 7th day of May, in the year 351. "In these holy days of the Paschal season, on the 7th of May at about the third hour, a huge cross made of light appeared in the sky above holy Golgotha (Calvary) extending as far as the holy Mount of Olives. It was not revealed to one or two people alone, but it appeared unmistakably to everyone in the city. It was not as if one might conclude that one had suffered momentary optical illusion; it was visible to the human eye above the earth for several hours. The flashes it emitted outshone the rays of the sun...It prompted the whole populace at once to run together into the holy church, overcome both with fear and joy at the Divine vision. Young and old, men and women of every age, even young girls confined to their chambers at home, natives and foreigners, Christians and pagans visiting from abroad, all together as if with a single voice raised a hymn of praise to God's Only-Begotten and Wonderworking Son. They had the evidence of their own senses that the holy Faith of Christians is not base on the persuasive arguments of philosophy but on the revelation of the Spirit and power; it is not proclaimed by mere human beings but testified from heaven by God Himself. Accordingly, we citizens of Jerusalem, who saw this extraordinary wonder with our own eyes, have paid due worship and thanksgiving to God the Universal King and to God's Only-Begotten Son--and shall continue to do so."

The sign of the Cross, shining more brilliantly than the sun and stretching a distance of about five and one-half miles, lasted for an entire week over the Holy City. This appearance, together with confirming the articles at Nicaea, also led many pagans and Jews to Christianity. "With the Light that shone in the form of Thy Cross, O compassionate Savior, Thou didst triumph over the lawless daring of the God-slayers."

The apparition of the Cross should also bring to our minds that final one, at the Second Coming of Christ. "And then shall the sign of the Son of Man appear in the heaven, and then the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory. Saint John Chrysostom comments: "And then shall the Sign of the Son of Man appear in the heaven (εν τω ουρανώ); that is, the Cross, being brighter than the sun--since the latter shall be darkened and hide itself--will appear...far brighter than the rays of the sun" (Homily 76," Matthew, P.G. 58:736 (col. 698). Blessed Theophylact: "What need is there for such a sensory light, since there is no night and the Sun of Righteousness has appeared? But even the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, that is, they shall be astounded and shudder seeing creation.] And He shall send forth His Angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost parts of the heavens unto their extremities (Matthew 24:30-31). (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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

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

+Father George

May 6 - Holy Prophet Job

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord, Only True God, and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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ON MAY 6TH OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY PROPHET JOB.

Job, the righteous and wise man, was living in the land of Ausis, on the borders of Idumea and Arabia. He was the grandson of Esau and fifth from Abraham. In the Old Testament book of his name, we learn how he loses wealth, large family of ten children, and health. Saint Andrew of Crete (660-740) writes: "Once Job sat upon a throne, but now he sits upon a dunghill, naked and covered with sores (Job 2:7-8). Once he was blessed with many children and admired by all, but suddenly he is childless and homeless. Yet he counted the dunghill as a palace and his sores as pearls. The book records a number of debates, an extraterrestrial one between God and Satan, and an earthly one between Job and three of his acquaintances (Eliphaz the king of the Minaeans). Job, in the end, acknowledges the sovereignty of God, and he is restored. God blesses Job, and the man of God receives more than what he had lost in cattle, sheep, camels, oxen, and she-asses. He also begot other children, three of whom were daughters. And he (Job) called the first Day, and the second Casia, and the third Amalthaea's horn. And they were not found, in comparison with the daughter of Job, fairer women than they in all the world. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brethren (Job 42:14).

Satan's idea of theology is that if Job were to be blessed by God, then Job would be faithful. If Job is not blessed by God, then he would be unfaithful. Job's friends believe that only when Job is faithful, shall he be blessed; but if he is unfaithful, he shall be punished. At God's challenge, Job could only humble himself. He was absent at creation and cannot explain the forces of nature. Conspicuously, Job admits his ignorance and keeps silent. Job also admits that neither can he overrule God's ways nor can he control the forces of nature. Thus, he confesses his presumption and repents. Saint Ambrose (339-397) observes that the devil knows that when the book of Job is explained, "the power of his temptations is shown and made clear."

Saint Ambrose describes the holy man thus: "Job, also, in prosperity and adversity, was blameless, patient, pleasing, and acceptable to God. He was harassed with pain, yet could find consolation." And, speaking of how fortitude should be used in struggling for virtue, he writes: "What of all this wanting in holy Job, or in his virtue, or what came upon him in the way of vice? How did he bear the distress of sickness or cold or hunger? How did he look upon dangers which menaced his safety? Were the riches from which so much went to the poor gathered together by plunder? Did he ever allow greed for wealth, or the desire for pleasure, or lusts to rise in his heart? Did ever the unkind disputes of the three kinglets, or the insults of the slaves, rouse him to anger? Did glory carry him away like some fickle person when he called down vengeance on himself if ever he had hidden even an involuntary fault, or had feared the multitude of the people so as not to confess it in the sight of all? His virtues had no point of contact with any vices but stood firm on their own ground. Who, then, was so brave as holy Job? Can he be put second to any, on whose level hardly one like himself can be placed?"

Saint Ambrose continues: "The three royal friends of Job declared him to be a sinner because they saw that he, after being rich, became poor; that having many children, he had lost them all, and that he was now covered with sores and was full of welts, and was a mass of wounds from head to foot. But holy Job made his declaration to them, 'If I suffer thus because of my sins, why did the wicked live? They grow old also in riches, their seed is according to their pleasure, their houses are prosperous, but they have no fear; there is no scourge from the Lord on them' (Job 21:7-9). A faint-hearted man, seeing this, is disturbed in mind, and turns his attention away from it."

Let us close with the counsel of Saint Basil the Great, who speaks on detachments from world goods. This homily was prompted when a devastating fire had occurred in the neighborhood of the church. "Recall to your mind the patience of Job. No one should be led by his sufferings to think or to say that no providence rulers our affairs. Nor should any man cast aspersion upon the government and decree of the Lord. Let him contemplate the athlete just mentioned and provide himself with an adviser of wiser counsel. Let him review in his mind all the trials, once after another, in which Job distinguished himself and reflect that, for all the many shafts aimed at him by the devil, he did not receive a mortal blow. The devil took from him his domestic prosperity and planned to overwhelm him with reports of disasters, following closely upon one another. While the first messenger was announcing a heavy misfortune, another came, bringing news of more serious calamities, Evils were linked, one with another, and the catastrophes were like onrushing waves. Before the first lamentation had ceased, cause for another was at hand. That just man, however, stood firm as a rock, receiving the blasts of the tempest and reducing to foam the dash of the waves...He deemed worthy of tears none of the evils which were befalling him. But, when one came to report that, while his sons and daughters were feasting, a violent wind had blown down the chamber where the merrymaking was going on, he rent his garments, showing his natural sympathy and proving by the action that he was a father who loved his children. But even that moment he set a limit and measure to his grief. And he graced with words of piety the misfortune that had occurred, saying that 'the Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away; as if hath pleased the Lord, so also is it done' (cf. Job 1:21).  

"Thus, Job repulsed the devil's attack and brought upon Satan the disgrace of total defeat. What happened then? His malady left him as if it had visited him to no avail and had gained no advantage. His flesh regained the health of a second youth. His life prospered again with all the good things of his former wealth and doubled riches flowed in from all sides upon his house. One-half consisted of his former wealth as if he had lost nothing, and the other half represented the reward of patience which is bestowed upon a just man. But why did he receive in double measure houses, mules, camels, sheep, fields, and all the accouterments of wealth while the number of children born to him remained equal to those who had died? It was because brute beasts and riches of all kinds are completely destroyed when they perish. Children, on the other hand, even if they are dead, live on in the best part of their nature. Therefore, when he was favored by the Creator with other sons and daughters, he possessed this portion of his goods also in a double measure--one family abiding with him to give joy to their parents, the other children gone before to await their father. All of them will stand about Job when the Judge of human life will gather together the universal Church, when the trumpet, which is to announce the coming of the King, alls loudly to the tombs and demands the bodies which have been entrusted to their charge. Then, they who now appear to be dead will take their place before the Master of the whole world more quickly than will the living. For this reason, I think, the Lord allotted to Job a double portion of his other wealth, but judged that he would be satisfied with the same number of children as before? Do you see how many blessings the just Job reaped from his patience? Therefore, you too, bear patiently any harm enkindled by a demon's treachery. Alleviate your feelings of distress over your misfortunes with more courageous thoughts, in accordance with the words of the Holy Scripture: "Cast thy care upon the Lord, and He will nourish thee" (Psalm 54:25). To Him is due glory everlasting. Amen."

We read in the Septuagint that "Job lived after his affliction a hundred and seventy years. And all the years he lived were two hundred and forty. And Job saw his sons and his sons' sons, the fourth generation" (Job 42:16). 

And, "Sickness and health, riches and poverty, are become the glory of thy life, O blessed Job; for through all things thou art shown to be illustrious." (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

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

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With sincere agape in Our Risen Lord,

The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George

May 5 - Saint Irene of Thessaloniki the Great Martyr

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord, Our Only True God, and Our Only True Savior,

CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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ON 5TH MAY, THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE HOLY AND GREAT-MARTYR IRENE.

Saint Irene, the holy Great-Martyr, was born in the city of Magedon or Magedo. She lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great (306-337 A.D.). She was the sole offspring of her pagan parents, Licinius, who was a certain kinglet, and Licinia. Irene had been given the name of Penelope at birth. Since she was the fairest of maidens and surpassed in beauty all the other of the day, her father, who feared for his daughter, built a lofty tower to isolate Penelope. He also lodged thirteen other young maidens with her, amid whom she lived in luxury and wealth. She received such items as a throne, a table, and a lamp made of solid gold. She was six years of age when her father confined her to the tower. He also assigned a certain elderly Apellianos to supervise his sheltered little daughter's education.

One day, the Saint observed that a dove had entered the tower. The dove, bearing an olive branch in its beak, placed it on the golden table. Subsequent to this, she beheld an eagle fly into the tower. The creature was holding a wreath of plaited flowers in its beak, which it deposited on the table. Following close upon this delivery, she then noticed that a raven came in through the window, carrying a snake, which it also dropped on the golden table. Witnessing all this, the blessed virgin was perplexed and wondered at the meaning of these signs.

Apellianos interpreted all these signs for her, saying, "The dove makes known thy superior education; the olive branch signifies many wondrous events and is a symbol of Baptism. The eagle, being the king of birds, foretells, by the royal crown of flowers, future success in notable endeavors. But the raven and serpent disclose thy future sufferings and anguish." By these hidden meanings, the elderly teacher revealed the great struggle of martyrdom, which the Saint was to undergo one day for the sake of her love for God. All the events that followed concerning the holy Irene, which have been committed to writing, are indeed supernatural and paradoxical.

It is said that an Angel of the Lord gave her the name of Irene, changing it from Penelope. The incorporeal being instructed her in the Faith of the Christ and foretold that myriads of souls would be saved by means of her. Furthermore, Holy Apostle Timothy, a Disciple of Saint Paul, would visit her in a paradoxical manner and baptize her. When this latter prophecy was fulfilled, the blessed Irene cast her father's idols to the ground, shattering them. At first, the blessed Irene was questioned by her father who, upon seeing that she persisted in the beliefs of the Christian Faith, was intensely dissatisfied. He ordered that she be bound, Irene was then cast between many horses that they might trample upon her. However, one of the horses, instead of harming the Saint, turned on Licinius. It struck him down, crushing his right hand and slaying him. The horse then magnified the Saint with a human voice!

The Martyr was thereafter released from her bonds. At the request of the bystanders, she prayed and resurrected her father. Licinius came to believe in God, as did his wife Licinia. In fact, another three thousand people received holy Baptism. Thenceforth, Saint Irene's father abandoned his dominion and lived in the tower which he had built for his daughter, passing the rest of his life in repentance.

After her father renounced this world, another kinglet, named Sedekias, rose to power. He attempted to force the Saint to sacrifice to idols. Since she opposed his demand, he ordered that the blessed maiden be cast healing into a deep pit filled with a nest of venomous snakes and reptiles. After fourteen days, she emerged unscathed. Next, the idolaters bound her to a wheel that turned by the force of water. When the waters miraculously ceased flowing, the sacred damsel remained unharmed. As a result of this miracle, eight thousand people came to believe in Christ Jesus.

The Saint came to a city called Kallinikos (Callinicus). It was the seat of Numerianos the kinglet, the son of Savastianos. Once there, Irene appeared before him and proclaimed Christ. He, as a result, confined her to the interior of three bronze oxen, which figures were heated until they glowed red. He then had her transferred from the first to the second, and from the second to the third. The third ox, albeit it was inanimate, walked miraculously and then split asunder. The Saint, thereupon, exited uninjured, without the least trace of a burn or singed hair and attire.

By 330 A.D., the fame of the Saint's miracles reached the impious ears of Shapur II the Great, king of Persians, who ordered the beheading of the Saint. The victorious champion of Christ, Irene, was apprehended and her head was struck off. Though the Holy Martyr was interred, yet was she was resurrected by an Angel of God. He magnified her because she had been martyred for Christ. Moreover, those who honor her name and commemorate the day of her martyrdom also bring blessings upon themselves. After her resurrection, it is said that she entered the city of Mesembria, bearing an olive branch in her hand. Saint Irene appeared before the kinglet who, upon seeing her, straightaway, accepted Christ and was baptized with myriads of other people by the Priest Timothy. When the holy one returned to her parental home in Magedon, she mourned the death of her father. After visiting and bidding farewell to her mother, Saint Irene was caught up in a cloud and traveled to Ephesus, carrying many miracles. She was honored there as an Apostle. Thereafter, she also saw her teacher Apellianos.

Since Saint Irene had taught and exhorted the populace of Ephesus, she departed thence in the company of six followers, including Apellianios. Not too far from its outskirts, she came upon a newly constructed tomb wherein none had lain.  She entered the tomb, and Apellianos sealed it with a stone. While Saint Irene was still among the living, the Saint ordered that, for four days, no one was to move the stone which Apellianos had placed over the grave. Two days later, he returned to the tomb, and--lo, the miracle!--he discovered the stone overturned and the body of the Saint missing. All these accounts may seem improbable to the limited intelligence of man, but to God, they are possible.

Myriads were brought to repentance and embraced Christ by her preaching and example.  (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)

CHRONIA POLLA TO ALL THOSE WHO CELEBRATE ON THE FEAST DAY OF SAINT IRENE THE GREAT MARTYR.

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

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With sincere agape in Our Risen Lord,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

The Life and Sufferings of Holy Prophet Isaiah

My beloved spiritual children in Our Risen Lord and Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!

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ON MAY 9th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE HOLY PROPHET ISAIAH

"Having seen and been taught of the divine Seraphim, who unceasingly glorify the single dominion of the Godhead in three Hypostases (Isaiah 6:2-3), thou wast assured of the grace of prophecy, O wondrous one; wherefore, celebrating thy most sacred memory, we bring thee before Christ as a most powerful advocate."

Saint Gregory (335-395 A.D.), Bishop of Nyssa, believes that the Prophet Isaiah "knew more perfectly than all others the mystery of the religion of the Gospel." Blessed Jerome (342-420 A.D.) also lauds the Prophet, Isaiah, saying, "He was more of an Evangelist than a Prophet because he described all of the mysteries of the Church of Christ so vividly that you would assume he was not prophesying about the future, but rather was composing a history of past events."

The Isaiah (pronounced Esaias in Greek), whose Hebrew name is an approximate translation of the abbreviated form Yesha' yah, is derived from the fuller and older form Yesha, Yahu, meaning " 'J' is salvation." It is therefore synonymous with Joshua or Jeshua (Jesus) or "God is salvation" or "God of salvation." This Great Prophet, born in 765 B.C., hailed from Jerusalem. His family was related to the imperial house of Juda. He was the son of Amos (Isaiah 1:1), who was the brother of King Amessias or Amaziah (796-767 B.C.) of Juda. From his writings, it is safe to presume he was well educated and that he probably came from an upper-class family. Israel and Juda, under Jeroboam II (793-753 B.C.) and Ozias or Uzziah (791-739 B.C.), enjoyed a time of prosperity during the Prophet's boyhood, with little interference from foreigners. He was called to the prophetic ministry at a young age, in his twenties, through a divine vision during the last year of the reign of King Ozias or Uzziah (Isaiah 6:1), in about 740 B.C. Isaiah was married to a woman described as "the Prophetess" (Isaiah 8:3). They had two sons, naming one Jasub meaning "A remnant shall return" (Isaiah 7:3) and the other Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, meaning "Spoil quickly, plunder speedily" (Isiah 8:3).

Prophet Isaiah admits, "The instruction of the Lord, even the Lord, opens mine ears, and I do not disobey, nor dispute" (Isaiah 50:5)." "Comprehend what the Prophet means," says Blessed Jerome, "The Lord has given me an ear. Because I did not possess that ear which is of the heart, He gave me one that I might hear God's message. Whatever the Prophet hears, therefore, he hears in his heart."

Possessed of considerable literary skill by the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Prophet's devotion to God is manifest. He is one of the four major Prophets, that is, those with longer writings extant. His prophesy is the third-longest book in the Holy Bible, sixty-six chapters, being exceeded only by the books of the Prophet Jeremiah and the Psalms. His long ministry, approximately forty-years, extended from about 740 B.C. until at least 701 B.C. (Isaiah 37-39). The life and times of the Prophet are also mentioned in two other books of Holy Scripture, namely Chronicles (32:20, 32) and 4 Kings (20:1-19). He is depicted in sacred icons as approaching old age and having gray hair and a long pointed beard. 

The Son of God

1. "I am" (Isaiah 41:4)

Prophet Isaiah prepared the people for the Coming One. He speaks of the One Who spoke to Moses and reveals His Divine Name, saying, "I am the Being; He said, 'Thus shall ye say to the children of Israel, the Being has sent Me to you" (Exodus 3:14). God's parousia shall be for all the human race. "Who has wrought and done these things? He has called it Who called it from the generations of old; I God, the first and to all futurity, I am" (Isaiah 41:4). Saint Justin explains the name: "God cannot be called by any proper name, for names are given to mark out and distinguish their subject-matters, because these many and diverse; but neither did anyone exist before God Who could give Him a name, nor did He Himself think it right to name Himself, seeing that He is One and unique, as He Himself also by His own Prophet testifies (Isaiah 44:6). On this account, God did not, when He sent Moses to the Hebrews, mention any name, but by a participle, He mystically teaches them that He is the One and Only God. "For, "14) says He, 'I am the Being' (Exodus 3:14); manifestly contrasting Himself, 'the Being,' with those who are not (not-beings)...(B)y the participle "Being" He might teach the difference between God Who is and those who are not (that is, the God-being and not-beings).

Saint Ambrose says that "the Son of God had no beginning, seeing, seeing that He already was at the beginning, nor shall He come to an end, Who is the Beginning and the End (Alpha and Omega) of the Universe; for being the Beginning, how could He take and receive that which He already had, or how shall He come to an end, being Himself the End of all things so that in that End we have an abiding-place without end? The Divine Generation is not an event occurring in the course of time, and within its limits, and therefore before it, time is not, and in it time has no place."

2. "There is No Other God Beside Me" (Isaiah 45:5)

Not wishing the Jews to fall into polytheism, "this is why the Prophets revealed the Son of God to the Jews in a somewhat dim and scantly fashion," says Saint John Chrysostom, "rather than with clear and obvious statements. After the Jews had just been set free from the error of polytheism, they would have fallen back into the same disease if they were again to have heard of one person is God and another person who is God and another person who is God. This is why, throughout the Old Testament, the Prophets are constantly saying, "there is one God except for Him (cf. Deut. 4:35; Isaiah 45:5, 21). The Prophets were not denying the Son--God forbid!--but they wished to cure the Jews of their weakness and meanwhile, to persuade them to give up their belief in the many gods which did not exist. (Source: The Lives of the Holy Prophets)

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

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

+Father George