The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date March 25, and New Calendar date April 7.
1. THE ANNUNCIATION
When the All-Holy Virgin completed the fourteenth year after her birth and was entering her fifteenth year, after having spent eleven years of living and serving in the Temple of Jerusalem, the priests informed her that, according to the Law, she could not remain in the Temple but was required to be betrothed and enter into marriage. What a great surprise to the priests was the answer of the All-Holy Virgin that she had dedicated her life to God and that she desired to remain a Virgin until death, not wanting to enter into marriage with anyone! Then, according to Divine Providence, Zacharias, the high priest and father of the Forerunner, under the inspiration of God, and in agreement with the other priests, gathered twelve unwed men from the Tribe of David to betroth the Virgin Mary to one of them to preserve her virginity and to care for her. She was betrothed to Joseph of Nazareth who was her kinsman. In the house of Joseph, the All-Holy Virgin continued to live as she did in the Temple of Solomon, occupying her time in the reading of Sacred Scripture, in prayer, in Godly-thoughts, in fasting and in handiwork. She rarely went anywhere outside the house nor was she interested in worldly things and events. She spoke very little to anyone, if at all, and never without special need. More frequently she communicated with both of Joseph's daughters. When the fullness of time had come, as prophesied by Daniel the Prophet, and when God was pleased to fulfill His promise to the banished Adam and to the Prophets, the great Archangel Gabriel appeared in the chamber of the All-Holy Virgin and, as some priestly writers wrote, precisely at that same moment when she held open the book of the Prophet Isaiah and was contemplating his great prophecy: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son!" (Isaiah 7:13). Gabriel appeared in all of his angelic brightness and saluted her: "Rejoice, highly favored one! The Lord is with you" (St. Luke 1:28), and the rest in order as it is written in the Gospel of the saintly Luke. With this angelic annunciation and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Virgin, the salvation of mankind and restoration of all creation began. The history of the New Testament was opened by the words of the Archangel Gabriel: "Rejoice, highly favored one" This is to imply that the New Testament was to signify joy to mankind and to all created things. It is from this that the Annunciation is considered not only a great feast, but a joyful feast as well.
2. THE HOLY FEMALE MARTYRS PELAGIA, THEODOSIA AND DULA
These three holy women suffered for the Lord. After imprisonment and sufferings both Pelagia and Theodosia were beheaded. St. Dula, who was a servant girl, suffered alone in the city of Nicomedia. These three white roses, watered by the blood of the martyrs, were transplanted by God into His heavenly garden.
HYMN OF PRAISE
THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
(The Theotokos)
O WHAT WONDERFUL NEWS: REJOICE, ALL-PURE ONE,
FOR US, YOU GAVE BIRTH TO
CHRIST!
O JOYFUL NEWS: REJOICE O VIRGIN,
RADIANT DOVE!
REJOICE O MARY, REJOICE, O ONE FULL OF GRACE,
YOU, THE GOLDEN GATE!
O BURNING BUSH, UNCONSUMED,
THE DAWN OF NEW SPLENDOR!
GABRIEL COMPOSES THE WORDS, AND HE HIMSELF REJOICES,
THE ANNUNCIATION HE PROCLAIMS!
PROCLAIMS THE ANNUNCIATION, ALL OF HEAVEN LISTENS,
YOUR SOUL TREMBLES!
IN THE TEMPLE YOU SERVED, TO GOD YOU CONSECRATED YOURSELF,
YOU BECAME THE TEMPLE!
REJOICE, O PURE ONE, HEAVENLY BRIDE,
YOU ARE THE ROYAL THRONE!
REJOICE, O HUMBLE ONE, TO THE HUMBLE ONE, YOU
WILL GIVE BIRTH,
AND REGENERATE THE WORLD!
REJOICE, O OBEDIENT ONE, GOD HEARD YOU
AND CROWNED YOU WITH GLORY!
REJOICE, O TEARFUL ONE, BY TEARS SOFTENED,
BY THE SPIRIT GLISTENING!
REJOICE, O POOR ONE, BUT THE WEALTHIEST ONE
AND BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN!
FOR US, PLEAD JOY, FROM CHRIST YOUR SON,
O VIRGIN, ALL-PURE ONE!
REFLECTION
Abba Athanasius was asked by some: "How is it that the Son is equal to the Father?" He answered, "Just as there are two eyes but one sight." The response is admirable. To this we can add: just as there are two ears but one hearing. The same is with all three Divine Hypostases: just as there are three candles but one and the same light.
CONTEMPLATION
To contemplate the All-Holy Virgin Mary:
1. How she served God for eleven years in the Temple humbly, obediently and devotedly;
2. How she served God in her chamber in Nazareth, humbly, obediently and devotedly;
3. How humbly, obediently and devotedly she received the Divine Annunciation from the Archangel Gabriel.
HOMILY
About the omnipotent Word of God
"For nothing will be impossible for God" (St. Luke 1:37).
"Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light" (Genesis 1:3).
Until God spoke, there was no light. Nor was there anyone who could know what light was, until God spoke, and light came into being. In the same manner, when God spoke, then water and the dry land came into existence, the firmament of the heavens, vegetation, animals and finally man. Until God spoke, none of this existed nor was there anyone, except God, Who could know that all of this could exist. By the power of His word, God created all that is created on earth and in the heavens. Whatever God wanted to exist and spoke that it be, must be and it cannot but be, for the word of God is irresistible and creative. The creation of the world is a great miracle of the word of God.
Having created all things, God again, by His word, established the order of creation and the manner of behavior and relationship of creatures one with another. This order and manner which God established is a great miracle of God's word. There exists an order and manner among created things, visible and comprehensible for us people; and there also exists an order and manner, invisible and incomprehensible. According to that invisible and incomprehensible order and manner, which is a mystery in the Holy Trinity, there have occurred and are occurring those manifestations which people call miracles. One such manifestation is the conception of the Lord Jesus Christ in the womb of the All-Holy Virgin Mary without a husband [The Virgin Birth]. This appears like an interruption in the visible and comprehensible order and manner but it is never an interruption for the invisible and incomprehensible order and manner. This birth, truly, is a great miracle; perhaps the greatest miracle that was ever revealed to us mortals. But the entire created world is a miracle, and all the visible and comprehensible order and manner is a miracle, and altogether these miracles came about by the word of God; therefore, much in the same way the Lord was conceived in the Virgin's womb. Both one and the other was all brought about by the power and word of God. That is why the wonderful Gabriel replied to the question of the All-Pure One which is the question of all generations: "How can this be?" (St. Luke 1:34), and he answered her: "For nothing will be impossible for God" (St. Luke 1:37).
O Lord God, our Creator, Immortal and Existing Miracle-Worker, enlighten our minds that we no longer doubt, but believe and enlighten our tongue that it not question You, but praise You.
To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
2. Свете мученице Пелагија, Теодосија и Дула. Ове три свете жене пострадаше за Господа, Пелагија и Теодосија после тамновања и мука бише заједно мачем посече. А света Дула, која беше служавка, пострада сама и сконча у граду Никомидији. Три беле руже, поливене крвљу мученичком пресади Бог у небесну градину Своју.
О да дивне вести: радуј се Пречиста,
Ти нам роди Христа!
О радосне вести: радуј се Девице,
Светла Голубице!
Радуј се Марије, радуј благодатна,
Ти капијо златна!
О купино сјајна, неопалимаја,
Зоро новог сјаја!
Гаврил речи снује, и сам се радује,
Благовест казује!
Благовест казује, цело небо слуша,
Твоја трепти Душа!
Храму си служила, Богу се предала,
Храмом си' постала!
Радуј се Пречиста, небесна невесто,
Ти си царски престо!
О радуј се кротка, Кроткога ћеш родит,
И свет препородит!
Радуј се Послушна, Бог те послушао,
Славом увенчао!
О радуј се Сузна, сузом омекшана,
Духом просијана!
О радуј се Нишча, но најбогатија,
Од сунца светлија!
Измоли нам радост у Твог сина Христа,
О Дево Пречиста!
РАСУЂИВАЊЕ
Питали авву Атанасија: „Како је то Син раван Оцу?” Он одговори: „Као што су два ока а један вид.” Одговор изврсан. Попут овога ми можемо додати: као што су два уха а један слух. Исто тако за све три божанске ипостаси: као што су три свеће а једна иста светлост.
СОЗЕРЦАЊЕ
Да созерцавам Пресвету Деву Марију, и то:
1. како смерно, послушно и предано служаше Богу 11 година у храму;
2. како смерно, послушно и предано служате Богу у одаји својој у Назарету;
3. како смерно, послушно и предано прими божанску благовест од архангела Гаврила.
БЕСЕДА
о свемогућству речи Божје
У Бога је све могуће што рече (По Луки 1,37).
И рече Бог да буде светлост, и би светлост: Док Бог не рече, светлости не би. Нити ма кога би ко би знао шта је то светлост, док Бог не рече и док светлост не поста. Исто тако, кад Бог рече онда поста вода и суха земља, и свод звездани, и биље, и животиње, најзад и човек. Док Бог не рече, ништа од свега тога не би, нити ма кога би осим Бога, ко би знао да све то може постојати. Силом речи своје Бог створи све што се створи на земљи и на небу. Што год Бог захоће да буде, и рекне да то буде, то мора да буде, и не може а да не буде, јер је реч Божја неодољива и стваралачка. Створење света велико је чудо речи Божје.
Створивши све твари Бог је опет речју Својом поставио ред и начин постојања свих твари и опхођења и одношаја твари према твари. И тај ред и начин што Бог постави велико је чудо речи Божје.
Но постоји ред и начин међу тварима, видљиви и докучиви за нас људе, постоји ред и начин невидљиви и недокучљиви. По томе невидљивом и недокучљивом реду и начину, који је тајна у Светој Тројици, десише се и дешавају се оне појаве, које људи називају нарочитим чудесима. Једна таква појава јесте безмужно зачеће Господа Исуса Христа у утроби Пресвете Деве Марије. То изгледа упадица у видљиви и докучљиви ред и начин, но то није никаква упадица за невидљиви и недокучљиви ред и начин. То рођење ваистину је велико чудо, ваљда највеће чудо које је нама смртним откривено. Но и сав створени свет је чудо и сав видљиви и докучљиви ред и начин је чудо, и свуколико то чудо постало је речју Божјом, дакле онако исто као што се и Господ зачео у девичкој утроби. И ово и оно збило се силом речи Божје. Зато дивни Гаврил и одговара Пречистој на њено питање, које је питање свих поколења: како то може бити, одговара јој: у Бога све је могуће што рече.
О Господе Боже, Створитељу наш, бесмртни и постојани Чудотворче, уразуми наш разум да више не сумња но да верује, и уразуми наш језик да више не пита него да Тебе прославља. Теби слава и хвала вавек. Амин.
Свети Николај Велимировић
Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
1. THE ANNUNCIATION
When the All-Holy Virgin completed the fourteenth year after her birth and was entering her fifteenth year, after having spent eleven years of living and serving in the Temple of Jerusalem, the priests informed her that, according to the Law, she could not remain in the Temple but was required to be betrothed and enter into marriage. What a great surprise to the priests was the answer of the All-Holy Virgin that she had dedicated her life to God and that she desired to remain a Virgin until death, not wanting to enter into marriage with anyone! Then, according to Divine Providence, Zacharias, the high priest and father of the Forerunner, under the inspiration of God, and in agreement with the other priests, gathered twelve unwed men from the Tribe of David to betroth the Virgin Mary to one of them to preserve her virginity and to care for her. She was betrothed to Joseph of Nazareth who was her kinsman. In the house of Joseph, the All-Holy Virgin continued to live as she did in the Temple of Solomon, occupying her time in the reading of Sacred Scripture, in prayer, in Godly-thoughts, in fasting and in handiwork. She rarely went anywhere outside the house nor was she interested in worldly things and events. She spoke very little to anyone, if at all, and never without special need. More frequently she communicated with both of Joseph's daughters. When the fullness of time had come, as prophesied by Daniel the Prophet, and when God was pleased to fulfill His promise to the banished Adam and to the Prophets, the great Archangel Gabriel appeared in the chamber of the All-Holy Virgin and, as some priestly writers wrote, precisely at that same moment when she held open the book of the Prophet Isaiah and was contemplating his great prophecy: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son!" (Isaiah 7:13). Gabriel appeared in all of his angelic brightness and saluted her: "Rejoice, highly favored one! The Lord is with you" (St. Luke 1:28), and the rest in order as it is written in the Gospel of the saintly Luke. With this angelic annunciation and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Virgin, the salvation of mankind and restoration of all creation began. The history of the New Testament was opened by the words of the Archangel Gabriel: "Rejoice, highly favored one" This is to imply that the New Testament was to signify joy to mankind and to all created things. It is from this that the Annunciation is considered not only a great feast, but a joyful feast as well.
2. THE HOLY FEMALE MARTYRS PELAGIA, THEODOSIA AND DULA
These three holy women suffered for the Lord. After imprisonment and sufferings both Pelagia and Theodosia were beheaded. St. Dula, who was a servant girl, suffered alone in the city of Nicomedia. These three white roses, watered by the blood of the martyrs, were transplanted by God into His heavenly garden.
HYMN OF PRAISE
THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
(The Theotokos)
O WHAT WONDERFUL NEWS: REJOICE, ALL-PURE ONE,
FOR US, YOU GAVE BIRTH TO
CHRIST!
O JOYFUL NEWS: REJOICE O VIRGIN,
RADIANT DOVE!
REJOICE O MARY, REJOICE, O ONE FULL OF GRACE,
YOU, THE GOLDEN GATE!
O BURNING BUSH, UNCONSUMED,
THE DAWN OF NEW SPLENDOR!
GABRIEL COMPOSES THE WORDS, AND HE HIMSELF REJOICES,
THE ANNUNCIATION HE PROCLAIMS!
PROCLAIMS THE ANNUNCIATION, ALL OF HEAVEN LISTENS,
YOUR SOUL TREMBLES!
IN THE TEMPLE YOU SERVED, TO GOD YOU CONSECRATED YOURSELF,
YOU BECAME THE TEMPLE!
REJOICE, O PURE ONE, HEAVENLY BRIDE,
YOU ARE THE ROYAL THRONE!
REJOICE, O HUMBLE ONE, TO THE HUMBLE ONE, YOU
WILL GIVE BIRTH,
AND REGENERATE THE WORLD!
REJOICE, O OBEDIENT ONE, GOD HEARD YOU
AND CROWNED YOU WITH GLORY!
REJOICE, O TEARFUL ONE, BY TEARS SOFTENED,
BY THE SPIRIT GLISTENING!
REJOICE, O POOR ONE, BUT THE WEALTHIEST ONE
AND BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN!
FOR US, PLEAD JOY, FROM CHRIST YOUR SON,
O VIRGIN, ALL-PURE ONE!
REFLECTION
Abba Athanasius was asked by some: "How is it that the Son is equal to the Father?" He answered, "Just as there are two eyes but one sight." The response is admirable. To this we can add: just as there are two ears but one hearing. The same is with all three Divine Hypostases: just as there are three candles but one and the same light.
CONTEMPLATION
To contemplate the All-Holy Virgin Mary:
1. How she served God for eleven years in the Temple humbly, obediently and devotedly;
2. How she served God in her chamber in Nazareth, humbly, obediently and devotedly;
3. How humbly, obediently and devotedly she received the Divine Annunciation from the Archangel Gabriel.
HOMILY
About the omnipotent Word of God
"For nothing will be impossible for God" (St. Luke 1:37).
"Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light" (Genesis 1:3).
Until God spoke, there was no light. Nor was there anyone who could know what light was, until God spoke, and light came into being. In the same manner, when God spoke, then water and the dry land came into existence, the firmament of the heavens, vegetation, animals and finally man. Until God spoke, none of this existed nor was there anyone, except God, Who could know that all of this could exist. By the power of His word, God created all that is created on earth and in the heavens. Whatever God wanted to exist and spoke that it be, must be and it cannot but be, for the word of God is irresistible and creative. The creation of the world is a great miracle of the word of God.
Having created all things, God again, by His word, established the order of creation and the manner of behavior and relationship of creatures one with another. This order and manner which God established is a great miracle of God's word. There exists an order and manner among created things, visible and comprehensible for us people; and there also exists an order and manner, invisible and incomprehensible. According to that invisible and incomprehensible order and manner, which is a mystery in the Holy Trinity, there have occurred and are occurring those manifestations which people call miracles. One such manifestation is the conception of the Lord Jesus Christ in the womb of the All-Holy Virgin Mary without a husband [The Virgin Birth]. This appears like an interruption in the visible and comprehensible order and manner but it is never an interruption for the invisible and incomprehensible order and manner. This birth, truly, is a great miracle; perhaps the greatest miracle that was ever revealed to us mortals. But the entire created world is a miracle, and all the visible and comprehensible order and manner is a miracle, and altogether these miracles came about by the word of God; therefore, much in the same way the Lord was conceived in the Virgin's womb. Both one and the other was all brought about by the power and word of God. That is why the wonderful Gabriel replied to the question of the All-Pure One which is the question of all generations: "How can this be?" (St. Luke 1:34), and he answered her: "For nothing will be impossible for God" (St. Luke 1:37).
O Lord God, our Creator, Immortal and Existing Miracle-Worker, enlighten our minds that we no longer doubt, but believe and enlighten our tongue that it not question You, but praise You.
To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
+ + +
Охридски пролог
Свети Николај Велимировић Жички.
1. Благовест. Када се Пресветој Деви наврши једанаест година пребивања и служења при храму Јерусалимском, и четрнаест година од рођења — када, дакле, ступи у 15–ту годину живота, саопштише јој свештеници, да по закону она не може више остати при храму, него треба да се обручи и ступи у брак. Но како велико изненађење за све свештенике би одговор Пресвете Деве, да је се она посветила Богу и да жели остати девојком до смрти не ступајући ни с ким у брак! Тада по Промислу и внушењу Божјем првосвештеник Захарија, отац Претечев, договорно са осталим свештеницима, сабра 12 безжених људи из племена Давидова, да би једноме од њих уручили Деву Марију на чување девојаштва њеног и старања о њој. И би уручена староме Јосифу из Назарета, који јој беше и сродник. У дому Јосифовом Пресвета Дева продужи живети исто као и у храму Соломоновом, проводећи време у читању Светог Писма, у молитвама, богоразмишљању, посту и ручном раду. Готово никад из куће не излазаше, нити се интересоваше светским стварима и догађајима. Мало је с ким у опште говорила, и никад без нарочите потребе. Најчешће је у кући општила са двема кћерима Јосифовим. Но када се наврши време проречено Данилом пророком, и када Бог благоволи испунити обећање Своје изгнаном Адаму и пророцима, јави се велики архангел Гаврил у одаји Пресвете Деве, и то, како неки свештени писци пишу, у тренутку баш када је она држала отвореног пророка Исаију и размишљала о његовом великом пророчанству: гле, девојка ће зачети и родиће сина! Јави јој се Гаврил у светлости архангелској и рече јој: радуј се, благодатна! Господ је стобом! и остало све редом како пише у Јеванђељу божанственог Луке. Са овом архангелском благорешћу, и са силаском Духа Светога на Деву Пречисту, отпочиње спасење људи и обновљење твари. Историју Новог Завета отворио је архангел Гаврил речју: Радуј се! да ознаменује тиме, да Нови Завет има да значи радост за људе и за сву створену твар. Отуда и Благовест се сматра колико великим толико и радосним празником.Охридски пролог
Свети Николај Велимировић Жички.
2. Свете мученице Пелагија, Теодосија и Дула. Ове три свете жене пострадаше за Господа, Пелагија и Теодосија после тамновања и мука бише заједно мачем посече. А света Дула, која беше служавка, пострада сама и сконча у граду Никомидији. Три беле руже, поливене крвљу мученичком пресади Бог у небесну градину Своју.
О да дивне вести: радуј се Пречиста,
Ти нам роди Христа!
О радосне вести: радуј се Девице,
Светла Голубице!
Радуј се Марије, радуј благодатна,
Ти капијо златна!
О купино сјајна, неопалимаја,
Зоро новог сјаја!
Гаврил речи снује, и сам се радује,
Благовест казује!
Благовест казује, цело небо слуша,
Твоја трепти Душа!
Храму си служила, Богу се предала,
Храмом си' постала!
Радуј се Пречиста, небесна невесто,
Ти си царски престо!
О радуј се кротка, Кроткога ћеш родит,
И свет препородит!
Радуј се Послушна, Бог те послушао,
Славом увенчао!
О радуј се Сузна, сузом омекшана,
Духом просијана!
О радуј се Нишча, но најбогатија,
Од сунца светлија!
Измоли нам радост у Твог сина Христа,
О Дево Пречиста!
РАСУЂИВАЊЕ
Питали авву Атанасија: „Како је то Син раван Оцу?” Он одговори: „Као што су два ока а један вид.” Одговор изврсан. Попут овога ми можемо додати: као што су два уха а један слух. Исто тако за све три божанске ипостаси: као што су три свеће а једна иста светлост.
СОЗЕРЦАЊЕ
Да созерцавам Пресвету Деву Марију, и то:
1. како смерно, послушно и предано служаше Богу 11 година у храму;
2. како смерно, послушно и предано служате Богу у одаји својој у Назарету;
3. како смерно, послушно и предано прими божанску благовест од архангела Гаврила.
БЕСЕДА
о свемогућству речи Божје
У Бога је све могуће што рече (По Луки 1,37).
И рече Бог да буде светлост, и би светлост: Док Бог не рече, светлости не би. Нити ма кога би ко би знао шта је то светлост, док Бог не рече и док светлост не поста. Исто тако, кад Бог рече онда поста вода и суха земља, и свод звездани, и биље, и животиње, најзад и човек. Док Бог не рече, ништа од свега тога не би, нити ма кога би осим Бога, ко би знао да све то може постојати. Силом речи своје Бог створи све што се створи на земљи и на небу. Што год Бог захоће да буде, и рекне да то буде, то мора да буде, и не може а да не буде, јер је реч Божја неодољива и стваралачка. Створење света велико је чудо речи Божје.
Створивши све твари Бог је опет речју Својом поставио ред и начин постојања свих твари и опхођења и одношаја твари према твари. И тај ред и начин што Бог постави велико је чудо речи Божје.
Но постоји ред и начин међу тварима, видљиви и докучиви за нас људе, постоји ред и начин невидљиви и недокучљиви. По томе невидљивом и недокучљивом реду и начину, који је тајна у Светој Тројици, десише се и дешавају се оне појаве, које људи називају нарочитим чудесима. Једна таква појава јесте безмужно зачеће Господа Исуса Христа у утроби Пресвете Деве Марије. То изгледа упадица у видљиви и докучљиви ред и начин, но то није никаква упадица за невидљиви и недокучљиви ред и начин. То рођење ваистину је велико чудо, ваљда највеће чудо које је нама смртним откривено. Но и сав створени свет је чудо и сав видљиви и докучљиви ред и начин је чудо, и свуколико то чудо постало је речју Божјом, дакле онако исто као што се и Господ зачео у девичкој утроби. И ово и оно збило се силом речи Божје. Зато дивни Гаврил и одговара Пречистој на њено питање, које је питање свих поколења: како то може бити, одговара јој: у Бога све је могуће што рече.
О Господе Боже, Створитељу наш, бесмртни и постојани Чудотворче, уразуми наш разум да више не сумња но да верује, и уразуми наш језик да више не пита него да Тебе прославља. Теби слава и хвала вавек. Амин.
Свети Николај ВелимировићSaint Nikolai Velimirovič
