The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date March 15, and New Calendar date March 28.
1. THE HOLY MARTYR AGAPIUS AND THE SEVEN WITH HIM: PUBLIUS, TIMOLAUS, ROMULUS, ALEXANDER, ALEXANDER, DIONYSIUS AND DIONYSIUS
They all suffered in Caesarea in Palestine at the hand of Prince Urban during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. All seven were extremely young men, none of whom were Christians, except Agapius. Neither were they baptized with water, but theirs was a "baptism by blood." One day these seven young men were observing how Christians were being tortured; one in the fire, another on the gallows and a third before wild beasts. Seeing with what great forbearance these Christians endured all pain and sufferings, these seven became inflamed with a zeal for Christ. They tied their hands behind their backs and came before Urban saying, "We also are Christians." The flattery and threats of Urban remained, but in vain. These young men were joined by a distinguished citizen of this town, Agapius, who, until then, had suffered much for Christ. They became all the more enflamed in their faith and love for the Lord. All were beheaded in the year 303 A.D. and took up their abode in the mansions of the Heavenly King.
2. THE HOLY MARTYR ALEXANDER
Alexander was from the city of Side in Pamphylia. A deputy of the Emperor Aurelius asked Alexander, "Who are you and what are you?" To that, Alexander replied that, he is a shepherd of the flock of Christ." "And where is this flock of Christ?," further inquired the wicked and suspicious governor. Alexander replied, "Throughout the entire world where men live whom Christ the God created, and among those who believe in Him, they are His sheep. But all who are fallen away from their Creator and are slaves to creation, to man-made things and to dead idols, such as you, are estranged from His flock. At the dreadful judgment of God, they will be placed on the left with the goats." The wicked judge then ordered that Alexander, first of all, be beaten with oxen straps and then thrown into a fiery furnace. But the fire did not harm him in any way. After that, he was skinned and was thrown to the wild beasts, but the beasts would not touch him. Finally, the deputy ordered thatAlexander be beheaded. Just as soon as the judge pronounced the sentence, he became possessed by an evil spirit and went insane. Howling, the judge was led before his god-idol and on the way, his evil soul was wrenched from him. St. Alexander suffered between the years 270 - 275 A.D.
3. THE HOLY MARTYR NICANDER, THE EGYPTIAN
Nicander was skinned and then beheaded for his faith in Christ. As a physician, his crime was that he ministered to Christian martyrs and honorably buried their martyred bodies. He suffered honorable in the year 302 A.D.
HYMN OF PRAISE
THE HOLY MARTYRS AGAPIUS, ALEXANDER AND NICANDER
From every state, the Lord chooses His army,
Everyone in whom the flame of love and faith burns;
From among physicians, sages, peasants and laborers,
From among emperors and fishermen--an army of martyrs!
The sword beheaded, the Lord received the wise Alexander,
The sword beheaded, the Lord took the merciful Nicander,
The sword beheaded eight beautiful and young apples,
Beneath the sword, the All-sustaining Hand receives them.
Those whom the world from its sheepfold scoops up and discards
With His tender hand, the Lord gathers as the most beautiful blossoms.
Shoveled aside as a weed, the first citizen
Agapius, the Lord, as His son, received.
Ten martyrs and glorious men
Now, sing in eternity in the angelic choir.
It is not the same to die, to die, although for what:
Some of the dead are blessed and others cursed.
Who dies for Christ's sake, with him is blessing,
Who dies persecuting Christ, curse is with him.
RELECTION
Love for whomever or for whatever, even love for oneself can, in time, grow cold in man, can be lost altogether and can even be twisted into hatred. But the love of man for God, once gained and established, is more difficult to cool off, except if one loses his mind. In the first instance man diminishes or erases his love either out of change in himself or because of a change in the objects of his love. In the second instance man can diminish his love toward God only because of a change in him and never because of a change in God. All of this is neatly and clearly explained by St. Isaac the Syrian saying, "There is a kind of love that is similar to a brook following a rainfall which quickly ceases after the rain stops. But there is a love similar to a spring which erupts through the earth, which never ceases. The first love is human love, and the second love is Divine Love." St. Simeon the New Theologian, speaks about Divine Love, "O Holy Love! You are the end of the Law. You overcome me; You warm me; You inflame my heart to immeasurable love for God and my brothers. Out of love, God became man. Out of love, He endured all His life-giving suffering in order to deliver man from the throes of Hades and bring him to heaven. Out of love, the apostles completed their difficult course. Out of love, the martyrs shed their blood in order not to lose Christ."
CONTEMPLATION
To contemplate the Lord Jesus when Pilate brought Him out before the Jews:
1. How the Lord was flogged by the Roman soldiers;
2. How after flagellation, He was mocked by them; they placed a thorny crown upon His head and dressed Him in a purple robe;
3. How Pilate presents Him to the Jews saying, "Behold the man!" (St. John 19:5).
HOMILY
About the prophecy concerning the desolate house
"Behold, your house will be abandoned, desolate" (St. Matthew 23:38).
Why did our Lord remain silent at the judgment before the Jews and before Pilate? Because, prior to that, He had said everything that needed to be said. He said and foretold how the Jewish elders would hand him over to the unbelievers and how they would kill Him. Many times He had foretold what would personally befall Him. This, His apostles heard and carefully remembered. He also foretold His terrible punishment which the Jews will assume upon themselves by their evil abomination against the Son of God. Even the Jews heard this and forgot it. "Behold, your house will be abandoned, desolate." The Lord foretold this about the Jews. And this, the Jews heard and forgot. But much later, many remembered these prophetic words, many of whom had participated in the Great Evil when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, plundered it, set it on fire, dispersed its inhabitants and displaced them throughout the world. Many were killed either by suffocation, by starvation or by crucifixion on a cross. The Jews, out of fear and annoyance, forced Pilate to raise his hand against the Lord Jesus. Afterwards, the Roman Empire raised its hand against the Jews. On that day when the prophecy of the Lord was fulfilled, the Roman Empire, represented in Jerusalem at one time by Pilate, raised its hand against Jerusalem and their children with a very sharp sword. When Emperor Hadrian restored Jerusalem, he renamed it (Aelia Capitolina)(*) and forbade the Jews from settling in Jerusalem under penalty of death. "Behold, your house will be abandoned, desolate." From that time on, until today, Jerusalem was left deserted by the Jews as a people (nation). The children of the wicked ancestors who killed Christ were dispersed everywhere, even to this day, but in their own home.(**) Lord, Almighty and All-Seeing, forgive us our sins.
(*) Hadrian renamed Jerusalem Aelia after his name, for his was called Aelius.
(**)Nota Bene: The State of Israel was established May 14, 1948.
To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
1. THE HOLY MARTYR AGAPIUS AND THE SEVEN WITH HIM: PUBLIUS, TIMOLAUS, ROMULUS, ALEXANDER, ALEXANDER, DIONYSIUS AND DIONYSIUS
They all suffered in Caesarea in Palestine at the hand of Prince Urban during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. All seven were extremely young men, none of whom were Christians, except Agapius. Neither were they baptized with water, but theirs was a "baptism by blood." One day these seven young men were observing how Christians were being tortured; one in the fire, another on the gallows and a third before wild beasts. Seeing with what great forbearance these Christians endured all pain and sufferings, these seven became inflamed with a zeal for Christ. They tied their hands behind their backs and came before Urban saying, "We also are Christians." The flattery and threats of Urban remained, but in vain. These young men were joined by a distinguished citizen of this town, Agapius, who, until then, had suffered much for Christ. They became all the more enflamed in their faith and love for the Lord. All were beheaded in the year 303 A.D. and took up their abode in the mansions of the Heavenly King.
2. THE HOLY MARTYR ALEXANDER
Alexander was from the city of Side in Pamphylia. A deputy of the Emperor Aurelius asked Alexander, "Who are you and what are you?" To that, Alexander replied that, he is a shepherd of the flock of Christ." "And where is this flock of Christ?," further inquired the wicked and suspicious governor. Alexander replied, "Throughout the entire world where men live whom Christ the God created, and among those who believe in Him, they are His sheep. But all who are fallen away from their Creator and are slaves to creation, to man-made things and to dead idols, such as you, are estranged from His flock. At the dreadful judgment of God, they will be placed on the left with the goats." The wicked judge then ordered that Alexander, first of all, be beaten with oxen straps and then thrown into a fiery furnace. But the fire did not harm him in any way. After that, he was skinned and was thrown to the wild beasts, but the beasts would not touch him. Finally, the deputy ordered thatAlexander be beheaded. Just as soon as the judge pronounced the sentence, he became possessed by an evil spirit and went insane. Howling, the judge was led before his god-idol and on the way, his evil soul was wrenched from him. St. Alexander suffered between the years 270 - 275 A.D.
3. THE HOLY MARTYR NICANDER, THE EGYPTIAN
Nicander was skinned and then beheaded for his faith in Christ. As a physician, his crime was that he ministered to Christian martyrs and honorably buried their martyred bodies. He suffered honorable in the year 302 A.D.
HYMN OF PRAISE
THE HOLY MARTYRS AGAPIUS, ALEXANDER AND NICANDER
From every state, the Lord chooses His army,
Everyone in whom the flame of love and faith burns;
From among physicians, sages, peasants and laborers,
From among emperors and fishermen--an army of martyrs!
The sword beheaded, the Lord received the wise Alexander,
The sword beheaded, the Lord took the merciful Nicander,
The sword beheaded eight beautiful and young apples,
Beneath the sword, the All-sustaining Hand receives them.
Those whom the world from its sheepfold scoops up and discards
With His tender hand, the Lord gathers as the most beautiful blossoms.
Shoveled aside as a weed, the first citizen
Agapius, the Lord, as His son, received.
Ten martyrs and glorious men
Now, sing in eternity in the angelic choir.
It is not the same to die, to die, although for what:
Some of the dead are blessed and others cursed.
Who dies for Christ's sake, with him is blessing,
Who dies persecuting Christ, curse is with him.
RELECTION
Love for whomever or for whatever, even love for oneself can, in time, grow cold in man, can be lost altogether and can even be twisted into hatred. But the love of man for God, once gained and established, is more difficult to cool off, except if one loses his mind. In the first instance man diminishes or erases his love either out of change in himself or because of a change in the objects of his love. In the second instance man can diminish his love toward God only because of a change in him and never because of a change in God. All of this is neatly and clearly explained by St. Isaac the Syrian saying, "There is a kind of love that is similar to a brook following a rainfall which quickly ceases after the rain stops. But there is a love similar to a spring which erupts through the earth, which never ceases. The first love is human love, and the second love is Divine Love." St. Simeon the New Theologian, speaks about Divine Love, "O Holy Love! You are the end of the Law. You overcome me; You warm me; You inflame my heart to immeasurable love for God and my brothers. Out of love, God became man. Out of love, He endured all His life-giving suffering in order to deliver man from the throes of Hades and bring him to heaven. Out of love, the apostles completed their difficult course. Out of love, the martyrs shed their blood in order not to lose Christ."
CONTEMPLATION
To contemplate the Lord Jesus when Pilate brought Him out before the Jews:
1. How the Lord was flogged by the Roman soldiers;
2. How after flagellation, He was mocked by them; they placed a thorny crown upon His head and dressed Him in a purple robe;
3. How Pilate presents Him to the Jews saying, "Behold the man!" (St. John 19:5).
HOMILY
About the prophecy concerning the desolate house
"Behold, your house will be abandoned, desolate" (St. Matthew 23:38).
Why did our Lord remain silent at the judgment before the Jews and before Pilate? Because, prior to that, He had said everything that needed to be said. He said and foretold how the Jewish elders would hand him over to the unbelievers and how they would kill Him. Many times He had foretold what would personally befall Him. This, His apostles heard and carefully remembered. He also foretold His terrible punishment which the Jews will assume upon themselves by their evil abomination against the Son of God. Even the Jews heard this and forgot it. "Behold, your house will be abandoned, desolate." The Lord foretold this about the Jews. And this, the Jews heard and forgot. But much later, many remembered these prophetic words, many of whom had participated in the Great Evil when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, plundered it, set it on fire, dispersed its inhabitants and displaced them throughout the world. Many were killed either by suffocation, by starvation or by crucifixion on a cross. The Jews, out of fear and annoyance, forced Pilate to raise his hand against the Lord Jesus. Afterwards, the Roman Empire raised its hand against the Jews. On that day when the prophecy of the Lord was fulfilled, the Roman Empire, represented in Jerusalem at one time by Pilate, raised its hand against Jerusalem and their children with a very sharp sword. When Emperor Hadrian restored Jerusalem, he renamed it (Aelia Capitolina)(*) and forbade the Jews from settling in Jerusalem under penalty of death. "Behold, your house will be abandoned, desolate." From that time on, until today, Jerusalem was left deserted by the Jews as a people (nation). The children of the wicked ancestors who killed Christ were dispersed everywhere, even to this day, but in their own home.(**) Lord, Almighty and All-Seeing, forgive us our sins.
(*) Hadrian renamed Jerusalem Aelia after his name, for his was called Aelius.
(**)Nota Bene: The State of Israel was established May 14, 1948.
To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
+ + +
Охридски пролог
Свети Николај Велимировић Жички.
Охридски пролог
Свети Николај Велимировић Жички.
15. МАРТ (стари) или 28. МАРТ (нови календар)
1. Свети мученик Агапијеи седморица с њим:Публије, Тимолај, Ромил, два Александра и два Дионисија. Сви пострадаше у Кесарији Палестинској од кнеза Урбана, у време цара Диоклецијана. Сви седморица, осим Агапија, беху сасвим млади људи, а не беху још хришћани. Нити се икад крстише водом. Али њихово крштење би крвљу. Једног дана гледаху ових седам младића како муче хришћане, једне на огњу, друге на вешалима, треће пред зверовима, па видећи с каквим трпљењем хришћани подносе све муке, распалише се ревношћу за Христа, везаше сами себи руке наопако и тако везани дођоше пред Урбана говорећи: и ми смо хришћани! Ласке и претње Урбанове осташе узалудне. Младићима се придружи и угледни грађанин тога града, Агапије, који је и дотле доста страдао за Христа, и стане још већма распаљивати у њима веру и љубав ка Господу. Сви бише мачем посечени 303. године и преселише се у дворе Цара Небеснога.
2. Свети мученик Александар. Из града Сиде Памфилијске. Намесник цара Аврелијана упита га ко је он и шта је? на што Александар одговори, да је он пастир стада Христовог. А где је то стадо Христово? упита даље злобни и мрачни намесник. Одговори Александар: „По целом свету живе људи које Христос Бог сазда, од којих они који верују у Њега јесу овце Његове, а сви отпали од свога Створитеља, који робују створењима и направама руку људских, мртвим идолима, као ви, ти су отуђени од стада Његова, и на Страшном Суду Божјем поставиће се на лево, са козама.” — Нареди зли судија те га најпре бише воловским жилама, па га онда бацише у пећ огњену. Но огањ му ништа не нашкоди. По том би стругано месо с њега. По том бачен зверовима, но зверови га се не дотакнуше. Најзад нареди намесник те му главу одсекоше. Но тек што судија изрече пресуду, ухвати га зли дух и он побесни. Урличући би поведен његовоме богу, идолу, но уз пут изврже из себе своју злу душу. Пострада свети Александар између 270. и 275. године.
3. Свети мученик Никандар Мисирац. Кожа му одерана, па онда посечен за веру Христову. Кривица му је била та што је као лекар помагао хришћанским мученицима и тела погубљених чесно сахрањивао. Чесно пострада 302. године.
Из свакога сословија Господ војску бере,
Сваког у ком гори пламен љубави и вере;
Из лекара, и мудраца, тежака, радника,
Из царева и рибара — војску мученика!
Мач посече, Господ прими мудрог Александра,
Мач посече, Господ узе милосног Никандра,
Мач посече осам дивних и младих јабука,
Испод мача прихвати их сведржећа Рука.
Оне што свет из свог тора грће и измеће
Господ збира нежном руком ко најлепше цвеће.
Изгрнутог као коров првог грађанина
Агапија Господ прима као Свога сина.
Десетица мученика и славних мужева
Сад у хору ангелскоме у вечности пева.
Није свеједно макар за што умрети, умрети:
Једни мртви блажени су а други проклети.
Ко умире Христа ради, благослов је с њиме,
Ко гонећи Христа умре — проклетство је с тиме.
РАСУЂИВАЊЕ
Љубав према ма коме или ма чему, чак и према самоме себи, може код човека временом охладнети или са свим се изгубити, па и у мржњу се превратити. Но љубав човекова према Богу, једном задобијена и утврђена, тешко хладни сем ако неко већ не сиђе с памети. У оном првом случају човек умањује или брише своју љубав или због промена у њему или због промена у љубавним предметима. У овом другом случају човек може да умањи своју љубав, према Богу, само и једино због промена у себи, а никако због промена у Богу. Све је то лепше и јасније изразио свети Исак Сирин говорећи: „Има љубави сличне потоку од кише, који престаје убрзо по престанку кише. Али има љубави, сличне извору који избија из земље, и који никад не престаје. Прва је љубав човечанска, а друга божанска. — А свети Симеон Нови Богослов говори о тој божанској љубави: „О света љубави! Ти си конац закона. Ти мене обузимаш, ти ме загреваш, ти распламћујеш срце моје к неизмерном вољењу Бога и браће моје... Из љубави Бог се учинио човеком. Из љубави претрпео је Он сва животворна страдања, да би човека избавио од уза адових и узнео га на небо. Из љубави апостоли су свршили своју непреривну трку. Из љубави су мученици пролили крв, само да не изгубе Христа.”
СОЗЕРЦАЊЕ
Да созерцавам Господа Исуса кад Га Пилат изводи пред Јевреје, и то:
1. како Господ бива најпре шибан од римских војника;
2. како после бива од њих поруган: положише му трнов венац на главу и обукоше скерлетну хаљину;
3. како Га Пилат показује Јеврејима говорећи: ево човека!
БЕСЕДА
о пророчанству о кући опустелој
Ето ће вам се оставити ваша кућа пуста (По Матеју 23, 38).
Зашто је Господ ћутао на суду пред Јеврејима и пред Пилатом? Зато што је био пре тога све казао што је требао казати. Он је казао и предсказао, како ће га старешине јерејске предати незнабошцима, и како ће Га убити. Предсказао је више пута, шта ће се са Њим лично десити. То су апостоли Његови чули и добро запамтили. Но предсказао је Он и страшну казну, коју ће Јевреји навућ на себе својим злочином над Сином Божјим. И Јевреји су то чули, и — заборавили.
Ето ће вам се оставити ваша кућа пуста! То је Господ предсказа Јеврејима. И то су Јевреји чули и — заборавили. Но многи су се доцније сетили ових пророчких речи — многи и од оних који су учествовали у Злочину Великом — када су Римљани разорили Јерусалим, опљачкали га, попалили га, његове становнике разјурили и раселили по целоме свету, а многе посекли, угушили, глађу уморили, или на крст распели. Јевреји су застрашивањем и досађивањем приморали Пилата Римљанина да дигне своју руку на Господа Исуса. После се римско царство дигло на Јевреје. У онај дан, кад је Господње пророчанство требало да се испуни, римско царство, које је некад Пилат представљао у Јерусалиму, дигло је своју руку са преоштрим мачем на Јерусалим и децу његову. Када цар Адријан обнови Јерусалим, даде му друго име (Елија Капитолина – Елијом назва Адријан Јеруаслим по своме имену, јер он се зваше Елије.) и забрани Јеврејима под смртном казном насељавати се у Јерусалим.
Ето ће вам се оставити ваша кућа пуста! И Јерусалим је од онда до данас заиста био остављен пуст од Јевреја као народа. Деца злобних предака, који Христа убише, свуда су до сада била само не у кући својој.
Господе свемоћни и свевидећи, опрости нам грехе наше. Теби слава и хвала вавек. Амин.
Свети Николај ВелимировићSaint Nikolai Velimirovič
