The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date February 23, and New Calendar date March 8 (7).
1. THE HOLY PRIESTLY-MARTYR POLYCARP, BISHOP OF SMYRNA
Polycarp, this great apostolic man, was born a pagan. St. John the Theologian converted him to the Faith of Christ and baptized him. In his childhood, Polycarp became an orphan and according to a vision in a dream Callista, a noble widow, took him as her own son, raised and educated him. From his childhood Polycarp was devout and compassionate. He strove to emulate the life of St. Bucolus, then the Bishop of Smyrna, as well as the holy Apostles John and Paul, whom he knew and heard. St. Bucolus ordained him a presbyter and before his death, Bucolus designated him as his successor in Smyrna. The apostolic bishops, who gathered at the funeral of Bucolus, consecrated Polycarp as bishop. From the very beginning, Polycarp was gifted with the power of working miracles. He expelled an evil spirit from the servant of a prince and through prayer stopped a terrible fire in Smyrna. Upon seeing this, many pagans regarded Polycarp as one of the gods. He brought down rain in times of drought, healed illnesses, discerned, prophesized and so forth. He suffered during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Three days before his death, St. Polycarp prophesized: "In three days, I will be burned in fire for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ!" And on the third day when the soldiers arrested him and brought him to trial, he cried out: "Let this be the will of the Lord my God." When the judge counseled him to deny Christ and to acknowledge the Roman gods, Polycarp said: "I cannot exchange the better for the worse!" The Jews especially hated Polycarp and endeavored to have Polycarp burned alive. When they placed him bound at the stake, he prayed to God for a long while. He was very old, grey and radiant as an angel. The people witnessed how the flame encircled him but did not touch him. Frightened by such a phenomenon, the pagan judges ordered the executioner to pierce him with a lance through the fire. When he was pierced, so much blood flowed from him that the entire fire was extinguished, and his body remained whole and unburned. At the persuasion of the Jews, the judge ordered Polycarp's lifeless body be incinerated according to the custom of the Hellenes. So the evil ones burned the dead body of the lifeless one whom they could not burn while alive. St. Polycarp suffered on Great and Holy Saturday in the year 167 A.D.
2. THE VENERABLE DAMIAN
Damian, a monk of the Monastery of Esphigmenou on Mt. Athos, was a contemporary and companion of the great Cosmos of Zographou. He lived a life of asceticism on Mount Samareia between Esphigmenou and Hilendar. He died peacefully in the year 1280 A.D. When he died, a pleasant and sweet-smelling aroma emitted from his body for forty days.
HYMN OF PRAISE
SAINT POLYCARP
His holy ones, God preserves
That until their appointed time, they do not perish,
Until they complete their task, they perish not.
The Elder Polycarp and saint of God
With his deacon, journeyed,
In a road inn, spent the night.
The Elder prays while the deacon sleeps.
Until an angel of God appeared to the Elder
And commanded that they immediately arise,
And from this road inn to depart,
For the inn is soon to be destroyed.
The young deacon, the Elder awakes,
But the deacon fatigued, slept on.
In that, the angel appeared again,
And again, the same warning gave,
Again, the Elder, his deacon awakes,
But, a heavy sleep, the deacon, overpowered
One moment he awakes, the next moment he is drowned in sleep.
And a third time, the angel appeared,
And a warning he issues for the third time.
That this was not a deceit, the Elder perceived,
But a warning from God, verily.
The saint jumped and the deacon he lifted,
And from the road inn, walked out.
And as soon as they walked out from the inn,
To the foundation, the entire house was destroyed,
All who were in it perished
Because of certain kinds of secret transgressions.
With fright, the young deacon was filled,
But in prayer, the saint was silent.
To the Most High God, they offered thanks,
They continued their way, under the stars.
REFLECTION
St. Polycarp writes the following to the Philippians about a priest Valentine who fell into the sin of avarice and secretly hid money belonging to the church: "I was deeply saddened because of Valentine who, at one time, was a presbyter among us, who had forgotten the rank [the priesthood] bestowed upon him. That is why I beg you, beware of greed and remain pure and just. Restrain yourself from every vice. He who cannot restrain himself, how will he be able to teach others restraint. He who submits to avarice pollutes himself with idolatry and numbers himself among the ranks of pagans. Who is not aware of God's judgement? As Paul teaches: "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?" (1 Corinthians 6:2). In other words, I have not noticed anything similar among you neither have I heard anything among you; among those whom Blessed Paul lived a life of asceticism and about whom he speaks with praise at the beginning of his Epistle to the Philippians. He boasts of you throughout the churches, which, at that time, knew God, and we did not yet know him, i.e., Polycarp and the inhabitants of Smyrna. Brethren, that is why I am very saddened because of Valentine and his wife. May God grant them true repentance. "And you, be prudent in that and `not count him as an enemy' (2 Thessalonians 3:15), but endeavor to correct them as suffering and prodigal members, that your entire body be sound. Acting thusly, you build yourselves up." Thus, the saints dealt with sinners: cautiously and compassionately; cautiously to prevent others from a similar sin and compassionately in order to correct and save sinners.
CONTEMPLATION
To contemplate the Lord Jesus in conversation with the woman of Samaria (St. John, Chapter 4):
1. How at first, the mind of the woman was smothered completely by carnal sophistry;
2. How the meek Lord gradually leads her mind toward a loftier and spiritual reasoning;
3. How this encounter culminated in the conversion of many to Christ;
4. How the scattered seeds of the Lord, at first, seemingly decays in the physical mind, and how later it resurrects, grows, ripens and brings forth much spiritual fruit.
HOMILY
About the works of Christ
"For the works which the Father has given Me to finish - the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me" (St. John 5:36).
Brethren, what are those works of Christ? Those are the works of the Householder Who had returned from a journey and found the home robbed and desolate. Those are the works of the Physician Who entered into the most contaminated hospital and brought medicines and began to heal. Furthermore, those are the works of the King Who returned to his country and found it divided and ruined and his subjects as slaves in a strange land. Those are the works of the elder Brother who journeyed to a distant land to seek his younger brothers who, wandering and prodigal impoverished and became wild. Those are also the works of the Healer, Shepherd, Hero and Provider. Truly, these are not minor works! The average man with the greatest worldly knowledge, skill and courage would not be able to accomplish even in three-thousand years; those works which Christ completed in three years. Not only one man, but all men of all times, together, would not be able to complete the works of Christ for all eternity.
How did the Lord complete so many works? He completed them with the aid of five main miracles: Humility, Words, Deed, Blood and Resurrection.
What do the works of Christ witness? First, the works witness that the earth did not send Him, but Heaven; Second, that an angel did not send Him, but the Heavenly Father Himself; Third, that, for such works no one is sufficient except Him Who is as great as God, Who is as wise as God, as almighty as is God, as merciful as God; Yes, Who Himself is equal to God.
O, how all of our works are insignificant compared to the works of Christ! With only one kernel of Christ's goodness and zeal, diligence and truthfulness can we complete our work perfectly. Grant us that kernel, O Lord Jesus, for we cannot either find this kernel on earth nor deserve it.
To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
1. THE HOLY PRIESTLY-MARTYR POLYCARP, BISHOP OF SMYRNAPolycarp, this great apostolic man, was born a pagan. St. John the Theologian converted him to the Faith of Christ and baptized him. In his childhood, Polycarp became an orphan and according to a vision in a dream Callista, a noble widow, took him as her own son, raised and educated him. From his childhood Polycarp was devout and compassionate. He strove to emulate the life of St. Bucolus, then the Bishop of Smyrna, as well as the holy Apostles John and Paul, whom he knew and heard. St. Bucolus ordained him a presbyter and before his death, Bucolus designated him as his successor in Smyrna. The apostolic bishops, who gathered at the funeral of Bucolus, consecrated Polycarp as bishop. From the very beginning, Polycarp was gifted with the power of working miracles. He expelled an evil spirit from the servant of a prince and through prayer stopped a terrible fire in Smyrna. Upon seeing this, many pagans regarded Polycarp as one of the gods. He brought down rain in times of drought, healed illnesses, discerned, prophesized and so forth. He suffered during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Three days before his death, St. Polycarp prophesized: "In three days, I will be burned in fire for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ!" And on the third day when the soldiers arrested him and brought him to trial, he cried out: "Let this be the will of the Lord my God." When the judge counseled him to deny Christ and to acknowledge the Roman gods, Polycarp said: "I cannot exchange the better for the worse!" The Jews especially hated Polycarp and endeavored to have Polycarp burned alive. When they placed him bound at the stake, he prayed to God for a long while. He was very old, grey and radiant as an angel. The people witnessed how the flame encircled him but did not touch him. Frightened by such a phenomenon, the pagan judges ordered the executioner to pierce him with a lance through the fire. When he was pierced, so much blood flowed from him that the entire fire was extinguished, and his body remained whole and unburned. At the persuasion of the Jews, the judge ordered Polycarp's lifeless body be incinerated according to the custom of the Hellenes. So the evil ones burned the dead body of the lifeless one whom they could not burn while alive. St. Polycarp suffered on Great and Holy Saturday in the year 167 A.D.
2. THE VENERABLE DAMIAN
Damian, a monk of the Monastery of Esphigmenou on Mt. Athos, was a contemporary and companion of the great Cosmos of Zographou. He lived a life of asceticism on Mount Samareia between Esphigmenou and Hilendar. He died peacefully in the year 1280 A.D. When he died, a pleasant and sweet-smelling aroma emitted from his body for forty days.
HYMN OF PRAISE
SAINT POLYCARP
His holy ones, God preserves
That until their appointed time, they do not perish,
Until they complete their task, they perish not.
The Elder Polycarp and saint of God
With his deacon, journeyed,
In a road inn, spent the night.
The Elder prays while the deacon sleeps.
Until an angel of God appeared to the Elder
And commanded that they immediately arise,
And from this road inn to depart,
For the inn is soon to be destroyed.
The young deacon, the Elder awakes,
But the deacon fatigued, slept on.
In that, the angel appeared again,
And again, the same warning gave,
Again, the Elder, his deacon awakes,
But, a heavy sleep, the deacon, overpowered
One moment he awakes, the next moment he is drowned in sleep.
And a third time, the angel appeared,
And a warning he issues for the third time.
That this was not a deceit, the Elder perceived,
But a warning from God, verily.
The saint jumped and the deacon he lifted,
And from the road inn, walked out.
And as soon as they walked out from the inn,
To the foundation, the entire house was destroyed,
All who were in it perished
Because of certain kinds of secret transgressions.
With fright, the young deacon was filled,
But in prayer, the saint was silent.
To the Most High God, they offered thanks,
They continued their way, under the stars.
REFLECTION
St. Polycarp writes the following to the Philippians about a priest Valentine who fell into the sin of avarice and secretly hid money belonging to the church: "I was deeply saddened because of Valentine who, at one time, was a presbyter among us, who had forgotten the rank [the priesthood] bestowed upon him. That is why I beg you, beware of greed and remain pure and just. Restrain yourself from every vice. He who cannot restrain himself, how will he be able to teach others restraint. He who submits to avarice pollutes himself with idolatry and numbers himself among the ranks of pagans. Who is not aware of God's judgement? As Paul teaches: "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?" (1 Corinthians 6:2). In other words, I have not noticed anything similar among you neither have I heard anything among you; among those whom Blessed Paul lived a life of asceticism and about whom he speaks with praise at the beginning of his Epistle to the Philippians. He boasts of you throughout the churches, which, at that time, knew God, and we did not yet know him, i.e., Polycarp and the inhabitants of Smyrna. Brethren, that is why I am very saddened because of Valentine and his wife. May God grant them true repentance. "And you, be prudent in that and `not count him as an enemy' (2 Thessalonians 3:15), but endeavor to correct them as suffering and prodigal members, that your entire body be sound. Acting thusly, you build yourselves up." Thus, the saints dealt with sinners: cautiously and compassionately; cautiously to prevent others from a similar sin and compassionately in order to correct and save sinners.
CONTEMPLATION
To contemplate the Lord Jesus in conversation with the woman of Samaria (St. John, Chapter 4):
1. How at first, the mind of the woman was smothered completely by carnal sophistry;
2. How the meek Lord gradually leads her mind toward a loftier and spiritual reasoning;
3. How this encounter culminated in the conversion of many to Christ;
4. How the scattered seeds of the Lord, at first, seemingly decays in the physical mind, and how later it resurrects, grows, ripens and brings forth much spiritual fruit.
HOMILY
About the works of Christ
"For the works which the Father has given Me to finish - the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me" (St. John 5:36).
Brethren, what are those works of Christ? Those are the works of the Householder Who had returned from a journey and found the home robbed and desolate. Those are the works of the Physician Who entered into the most contaminated hospital and brought medicines and began to heal. Furthermore, those are the works of the King Who returned to his country and found it divided and ruined and his subjects as slaves in a strange land. Those are the works of the elder Brother who journeyed to a distant land to seek his younger brothers who, wandering and prodigal impoverished and became wild. Those are also the works of the Healer, Shepherd, Hero and Provider. Truly, these are not minor works! The average man with the greatest worldly knowledge, skill and courage would not be able to accomplish even in three-thousand years; those works which Christ completed in three years. Not only one man, but all men of all times, together, would not be able to complete the works of Christ for all eternity.
How did the Lord complete so many works? He completed them with the aid of five main miracles: Humility, Words, Deed, Blood and Resurrection.
What do the works of Christ witness? First, the works witness that the earth did not send Him, but Heaven; Second, that an angel did not send Him, but the Heavenly Father Himself; Third, that, for such works no one is sufficient except Him Who is as great as God, Who is as wise as God, as almighty as is God, as merciful as God; Yes, Who Himself is equal to God.
O, how all of our works are insignificant compared to the works of Christ! With only one kernel of Christ's goodness and zeal, diligence and truthfulness can we complete our work perfectly. Grant us that kernel, O Lord Jesus, for we cannot either find this kernel on earth nor deserve it.
To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
+ + +
Охридски пролог
Свети Николај Велимировић Жички.
Охридски пролог
Свети Николај Велимировић Жички.
23. ФЕБРУАР (стари) или 8. МАРТ (нови календар)
1. Свети свештеномученик Поликарп, епископ смирнски. Овај велики муж апостолски родио се беше као незнабожац. Свети Јован Богослов уведе га у веру Христову и крсти га. У раном детињству Поликарп оста сироче и, према неком сновиђењу, прими га једна племенита удова, Калиста, која га као сина подиже и васпита. Беше Поликарп од детињства благочестив и милосрдан. Старао се да подржава животом светог Вукола, тадашњег епископа у Смирни, а и свете апостоле Јована и Павла, које је познавао и слушао. Свети Вукол га рукоположи за презвитера, а пред смрт означи га за свога наследника у Смирни. Апостолски епископи, који се сабраше на погреб Вуколу, хиротонисаше Поликарпа за епископа. Од самога почетка би Поликарп обдарен силом чудотворства. Тако: изгна злог духа из слуге некога књаза, заустави молитвом страшни пожар у Смирни. Видећи ово многи незнабошци сматраху га једним од богова. Низвођаше кишу у сухо време, исцељиваше болести, прозираше, прорицаше и тако даље. Пострада за време цара Марка Аврелија. На три дана пред смрт прорече свети Поликарп: „Кроз три дана ћу бити сажежен на огњу ради Господа Исуса Христа!” И кад га трећи дан војници ухватише и поведоше на суд, он узвикну: „Нека буде воља Господа Бога мога!" А када га судија саветоваше да се одрече Христа и призна римске богове, рече Поликарп: „Не могу променити боље за горе!” Нарочито Јевреји мржаху Поликарпа, и настојаваху да се Поликарп спали. Када га везана ставише на ломачу, он се мољаше дуго Богу. И беше врло стар, и сед, и светао као ангел Божји. И видеше сви људи, како га пламен обавија, али њега не додирује. Устрашени таквом појавом незнабожне судије наредише джелату, да га копљем кроз пламен прободе. И када би прободен, из њега истече веома много крви, тако да се сав огањ погаси, а тело његово оста цело и неопаљено. По наговору Јевреја нареди судија, да се мртво тело Поликарпово спали по обичају јелинском. И тако спалише нечастиви мртвог онога кога живог нису могли спалити. Пострада свети Поликарп 167. године на Велику Суботу.
2. Преподобни Дамјан, монах манастира Есфигмена у Светој Гори. Био савременик и друг великог Козме Зографског. Подвизавао се на гори Самарији, између Еспигмена и Хилендара. Упокојио се мирно 1280. године. Када се упокојио из његовог гроба кроз 40 дана исходио је диван и благоухан мирис.
Чува Господ своје избранике
Да не згину до суђена дана,
Да не згину док пос’о не сврше.
Светац Божји и старац Поликарп
Са ђаконом својим путоваше,
Заноћише у друмскоме хану.
Ђакон спава а старац се моли.
Док се старцу ангел Божји јави
И нареди хитро да се дижу,
И излазе из друмскога хана,
Јер хан скоро има да се сруши.
Буди старац младога ђакона,
Али ђакон уморан па спава.
У том опет ангел се појави,
Опет исту опомену даје,
Опет старац свог ђакона буди,
Али ђакон тешким сном савладан
Час се тргне час у сан потоне.
И трећи пут ангел се појави,
И трећи пут опомену даје.
Виде светац да то није прелест,
Но истинска Божја опомена.
Скочи светац и ђакона диже,
Па из друмског хана искрочише.
Тек из хана што су искрочили,
Сва се кућа сруши до темеља,
Изгибоше сви што у њој беху
Због некаквих скритих безакоња.
Млади ђакон страхом се испуни,
А светитељ у молитви ћути.
Вишњем Богу хвалу одадоше
Испод звезда пут свој наставише.
РАСУЂИВАЊЕ
Свети Поликарп пише Филибљанима о неком свештенику Валенту, који је пао у грех среброљубља и утајио црквене новце, следеће: „Много сам се ожалостио због Валента, који је некада био код нас презвитер, што је тако заборавио дани му чин. Зато вас молим, чувајте се среброљубља, и будите чисти и праведни. Уздржавајте се од свакога порока. Ко се сам не може уздржати, како ће учити другога уздржању. Ко се предаје среброљубљу, скрнави себе идолослужењем и убраја себе у ред незнабожаца. Ко не зна суда Божијега? или зар не знамо, да ће свети судити свету (Прва Коринћанима 6, 2)? као што учи Павле. Ја у осталом нисам ништа сличнога приметио у вас, нити сам што чуо, — у вас, међу којима се подвизавао блажени Павле и о којима се он с похвалом одазива у почетку своје посланице (Филибљанима). Вама се он хвали по свима црквама, које су у то време познале Бога; а ми Га још не бесмо познали (тојест Поликарп и житељи Смирне). Зато се ја врло жалостим, браћо, због Валента и његове жене. Нека им да Бог, да се истински покају. А ви будите у томе благоразумни, и не сматрајте их за непријатеље (Друга Солуњанима 3, 15), но постарајте се да их исправите, као страдајуће и заблуделе чланове, да би све тело ваше било здраво. Поступајући тако ви сами себе назиђујете.” Тако су светитељи поступали с грешницима: обазриво и болећиво; обазриво, да би друге предупредили од сличнога греха, и болећиво, да би грешнике исправили и спасли.
СОЗЕРЦАЊЕ
Да созерцавам Господа Исуса у разговору са женом Самарјанком (По Јовану 4), и то:
1. како је ум женин најпре сав закоровљен телесним мудровањем;
2. како кротки Господ постепено узводи њен ум ка вишем и духовнијем умовању;
3. како се тај сусрет завршава обраћењем многих ка Христу;
4. како бачено семе Господње најпре као трули у телесном уму, па како после васкрсава, расте, сазрева и доноси многи плод духовни.
БЕСЕДА
о пословима Христовим
Послови које ми даде отац да их свршим, ови послови које ја радим свједоче за мене да ме отац посла (По Јовану 5, 36)
Какви су то послови Христови, браћо? То су послови Домаћина који се вратио с пута и нашао кућу опљачкану и опустошену. То су послови Лекара који је ушао у најкужнију болницу, и донео лекове и почео да лечи. То су, даље, послови Цара који се вратио у државу своју и нашао је подељену и разваљену и поданике своје као робље у туђини. То су послови старијега Брата који је отишао у даљину да потражи млађу браћу, одлуталу и заблуделу, осиромашелу и подивљалу. То су још послови Учитеља, и Пастира, и Јунака, и Хранитеља. Ваистину то нису мали послови! Обичан човек, са највећом светском ученошћу и умешношћу и храброшћу не би могао свршити ни за три хиљаде година оне послове које је Христос свршио за три године. Не један човек, него еви људи свију времена заједно не би могли посвршавати Христове послове ни за сву вечност.
Како је Господ посвршавао толике послове? Помоћу пет главних чуда: понижењем, речју, делом, крвљу и васкрсењем.
Шта сведоче послови Христови? Сведоче прво, да Га није земља послала него небо; друго, да Га није послао ангел, него Сам Отац небески; треће, да за такве послове нико није довољан осим Онога који је велики колико и Бог, мудар колико и Бог, моћан колико и Бог, милостив колико и Бог — да, који је сам раван Богу.
Како су сви наши послови незнатни према пословима Христовим! Само једно зрно Христове доброте и ревности, вредноће и истинитости, и ми наше послове можемо свршити савршено. Подари нам то зрно, Господе Исусе, јер га ми не можемо на земљи ни наћи нити заслужити. Теби слава и хвала вавек. Амин.
Свети Николај ВелимировићSaint Nikolai Velimirovič
