tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3478226186663354542011-07-29T01:33:34.833-07:00"One Lord, one faith, one baptism" Ephesians 4:5<br> "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." 2 Thessalonians 2:15Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comBlogger4921100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-64013046966657155472010-04-25T01:56:00.000-07:002010-04-25T01:57:33.808-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 28, and New Calendar date December 11.<br /><br />The Venerable Martyr Stephen the New. The New Martyr Christos. The Venerable Anna. The Holy and Devout Emperor Maurice. Homily on how the faithful must grow.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Martyr Stephen the New</span><br /> <br /> As at one time Hannah, the mother of Samuel, prayed to God to give her a son, so did Anna, the mother of Stephen. Praying thus in the Church of Blachernae before the icon of the Most-holy Theotokos, a light sleep overcame her, and she saw the Most-holy Virgin as radiant as the sun, and heard a voice from the icon: ``Woman, depart in peace. In accordance with your prayer, you have a son in your womb.'' Anna indeed conceived and gave birth to a son, the holy Stephen. At sixteen, Stephen received the monastic tonsure on Mount Auxentius near Constantinople, from the elder John who also taught him divine wisdom and asceticism. When John entered into rest in the Lord, Stephen remained on the mountain in a life of strict asceticism, taking upon himself labor upon labor. His holiness attracted many disciples to him. When Emperor Constantine Copronymus was persecuting icons more ferociously than his foul father, Leo the Isaurian, Stephen showed himself a zealous defender of the veneration of holy icons. The demented emperor accepted various obscene slanders against Stephen and personally plotted intrigues to break Stephen and get him out of the way. Stephen was banished to the island of Proconnesus, then taken to Constantinople, chained and cast into prison, where he was met by 342 monks, brought from all over and imprisoned for their veneration of the icons. There, in prison, they carried out the whole church typicon as in a monastery. Then the wicked emperor condemned Stephen to death. The saint foresaw his death forty days in advance, and asked forgiveness of the brethren. The emperor's servants dragged him from prison and, beating and pulling him, dragged him through the streets of Constantinople calling upon all those loyal to the emperor to stone this ``enemy of the emperor.'' One of the heretics struck the saint on the head with a piece of wood, and the saint gave up his soul. As St. Stephen the Protomartyr suffered at the hands of the Jews, so this Stephen suffered at the hands of the iconoclastic heretics. This glorious soldier of Christ suffered in the year 767 at the age of fifty-three, and was crowned with unfading glory.<br /> <br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The New Martyr Christos</span><br /> <br /> Christos was an Albanian Christian living in Constantinople and a gardener by trade. As he was selling his vegetables one day, he offended a Turk, who then slandered him before a judge, saying that Christos had promised to become a Moslem and then recanted. After interrogation, he was chained and cast into prison. In prison, someone offered him food, which Christos refused, saying: ``It is better that I appear before my Christ hungry.'' After that, he pulled out some money he had concealed under his belt and gave it to one of his fellow prisoners, requesting that the money be used for several Liturgies to be celebrated for his soul. He was beheaded by the Turks in the year 1748, and was glorified forever in the Kingdom of Christ God.<br /> <br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Anna</span><br /> <br /> Anna was a woman of noble birth who, after her husband's death, was tonsured into monasticism by St. Stephen the New. Emperor Constantine Copronymus urged her to say that she had engaged in illicit physical relations with St. Stephen, in order to humiliate him before the people. However, this holy woman refused to join in the emperor's intrigue against the saint, whom she venerated as her spiritual father. For that, she was whipped and then cast into prison, where she gave up her holy soul to God.<br /> <br /> 4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy and Devout Emperor Maurice</span><br /> <br /> Maurice was murdered with his six sons by Emperor Phocas in the year 602 (see ``Reflection'' below).<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Venerable Martyr Stephen the New<br /> <br /> Of the same name as the first Stephen,<br /> Stephen the New gave his life in battle, too.<br /> The proud heretical emperor, coarse power incarnate,<br /> Was armed to the teeth with earthly weapons.<br /> Stephen's weapon was power not of a physical source,<br /> A spiritual weapon, heavenly truth.<br /> The emperor had soldiers, defenders of falsehood,<br /> While Stephen was set at ease by the invisible God.<br /> Serene as heaven, Stephen awaited torture,<br /> Death and eternal life beyond this age.<br /> While in his rage, the emperor roared<br /> And signed the order for death and torment for the righteous man.<br /> Stephen was not dismayed, though beaten and pressed,<br /> Bound as he was by spirit and prayer to the heavens.<br /> The emperor, stronger than the saint's body, crushed his body;<br /> Yet the saint was stronger in spirit, and finished in victory.<br /> O Saint Stephen, spiritual knight,<br /> Help us avoid the nets of the devil,<br /> And to venerate the holy icons with honor,<br /> And that we might always follow your wondrous example.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> Reading the examples of perseverance in the Faith and generosity of the saints of God, we also become persevering in the Faith and generous. When Copronymus's men urged St. Stephen to reject the veneration of icons to please the iconoclastic emperor, Stephen extended his hand, clenched his fist and said: ``If I had in myself only a fist full of blood, I would shed it for the icon of Christ.''<br /> Emperor Maurice had six sons of which the sixth and youngest was not yet weaned. For this youngest son, the emperor kept a special wet-nurse at court who fed it. A terrible fate came upon Emperor Maurice: Phocas ousted him from the throne and condemned him to death together with all of his six sons. Before Maurice's eyes, his sons were slain, one after the other. When the wet-nurse had to hand over the emperor's sixth son to be slain, she genuinely felt sorrow over the fate of the unfortunate emperor and his children, and in a moment, decided to save the life of at least one of the emperor's sons. So, when they sought the emperor's son from her breast, she gave them her own young son and he was beheaded. Finally, the Emperor Maurice was beheaded. The emperor's youngest son grew up believing his wet-nurse to be his mother. However, when the wet-nurse revealed the secret to him, he became very serious, then resolutely left the world and withdrew to Mount Sinai, where he was tonsured a monk and dedicated himself to God. He did this to requite that innocent young child who was put to death in his place.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate God's wonderful Paradise (Genesis 2):<br /> <br /> 1. How it was a kingdom of innocence, purity and righteousness;<br /> 2. How there was not a trace of sickness or death, for there was not even a thought of sin.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on how the faithful must grow</span><br /> <br /> But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ (Ephesians 4:15).<br /> <br /> Brethren, here is all that is asked of us on this earthly journey: that we hold to the truth and that we live in love. Truth is revealed by Christ the Lord, and the example of love is given in Christ the Lord. Neither can one come to the truth apart from Christ the Lord nor find an example of true love apart from Him. Seeing this only true path to light and salvation in the confusion of many false paths, the Apostle Paul reminds us beforehand: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). Only God can reveal the truth; only God can show true love. One man can know more than another man, but only God can reveal the truth. Thoughts come to man like the wind, and illusions can seem to be truth to him. Deluded by his own thoughts, one man deludes another; deceived by illusions, one man then deceives another; but truth is in God and of God. Brethren, Christ is our whole truth and our whole love. When we think of Christ, we think of truth; when we act according to Christ, we act correctly; when we love Christ, we love Love itself. By Christ we live, by Christ we grow, by Christ we become immortal and are glorified. He is our Head-not merely the titular head of a group, but the actual head of a living body, of which we are members. Adhering to truth and love, we are made worthy to dwell eternally in this Body of Christ.<br /> <br /> O Lord Christ, our most wonderful truth and our endearing love, enter into us and receive us into Thyself.<br /> <br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-6401304696665715547?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-59677916474009711052010-04-24T22:23:00.000-07:002010-04-24T22:24:13.732-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 27, and New Calendar date December 10.<br /><br />The Holy Martyr James the Persian. The Seventeen Venerable Martyrs of India. The Venerable Romanus the Wonderworker. The Venerable Pinuphrius. The Venerable Nathaniel. Homily on the perfect man.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr James the Persian</span><br /><br /> James was born of Christian parents in the Persian city of Elapa (or Vilat), brought up in the Christian Faith and married to a Christian woman. The Persian King Yezdegeherd took a liking to James for his talents and skillfulness, and made him a noble at his court. Flattered by the king, James was deluded and began offering sacrifices to the idols that the king worshiped. His mother and wife learned of this, and wrote him a letter of reproach in which they grieved over him as an apostate and one who was spiritually dead. Yet, at the end of the letter, they begged him to repent and return to Christ. Moved by this letter, James repented bitterly, and courageously confessed his faith in Christ the Lord to the king. Angered, the king condemned him to death by a special torture: his entire body was to be cut up, piece by piece, until he breathed his last. The executioners fulfilled this command of the wicked king to the letter, and cut off James's fingers, then his toes, his legs and arms, his shoulders, and finally his head. During every cutting, the repentant martyr gave thanks to God. A sweet-smelling fragrance, as of a cypress, emanated from the wounds. Thus, this wonderful man repented of his sin and presented his soul to Christ his God in the Kingdom of Heaven. James suffered in about the year 400. His head is to be found in Rome and a part of his relics in Portugal, where he is commemorated on May 22.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Seventeen Venerable Martyrs of India</span><br /> <br /> They were Christian monks who suffered at the hands of the Indian King Abenner. Enraged at Elder Barlaam because he baptized his son, Ioasaph, King Abenner sent men in pursuit of him. The pursuers did not capture Barlaam, but captured seventeen other monks and brought them to the king. The king condemned them to death and his men plucked out their eyes, severed their tongues, broke their arms and legs, and then beheaded them. Even so, the Christian Faith in the Kingdom of India was strengthened all the more by the blood of these knights of Christ.<br /><br /> 3.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Venerable Romanus the Wonderworker</span><br /><br /> Romanus lived a life of asceticism in the vicinity of Antioch. He never kindled a fire or lit a candle in his cell. He reposed peacefully, and was a miracle-worker both during his life and after his death. He intercedes for barren women when they offer prayer to him.<br /><br /> 4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Pinuphrius</span><br /> <br /> Pinuphrius was a contemporary of St. John Cassian (February 29) and a great Egyptian ascetic. He lived in the fourth century and carried out his life of asceticism in various places, always fleeing the praise of men. He had many disciples, who strove to imitate the lofty example of their teacher.<br /><br /> 5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Nathaniel</span><br /><br /> Nathaniel was a Nitrian monk. He prayed to God both day and night, and was enlightened by the contemplation of divine matters. He neither left his cell nor even crossed the threshold for a full thirty-eight years. He entered into rest in the Lord in the second half of the sixth century.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Holy Martyr James the Persian<br /><br /> The Creator does not lose repentant souls:<br /> He loves a true penitent the most.<br /> James denied Christ the Living God<br /> For the sake of the godless emperor, his flatterer.<br /> His mother reproached him as did his wife:<br /> ``All the riches of the earth are as transient as foam.''<br /> James repented, and bitterly repented,<br /> Then openly spoke about what he had kept secret:<br /> ``A Christian I was, and again I am a Christian:<br /> Foolish and weak are your idols!''<br /> This James said, as he stood before the emperor;<br /> This he said openly and remained true to it.<br /> The emperor took all his imperial gifts from him,<br /> And clothed the wondrous James with torture.<br /> James was reddened with wounds and blood,<br /> And like eagles on a carcass, men attacked him!<br /> They dismembered the body of Christ's hero,<br /> And cut St. James into bits.<br /> Now James prays before God in Paradise<br /> That all Christians overcome all attacks.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> When the executioners severed the thumb of St. James's right hand, he said: ``Even a vine is pruned in this manner, so that in time a young branch may grow.'' At the severing of his second finger, he said: ``Receive also, O Lord, the second branch of Thy sowing.'' At the severing of his third finger, he said: ``I bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.'' At the severing of his fourth finger, he said: ``O Thou who acceptest the praise of the four beasts [symbols of the four evangelists], accept the suffering of the fourth finger.'' At the severing of the fifth finger, he said: ``May my rejoicing be fulfilled as that of the five wise virgins at the wedding feast.'' During the severing of the sixth finger, he said: ``Thanks be to Thee, O Lord, Who at the sixth hour stretched out Thy most pure arms on the Cross, that Thou hast made me worthy to offer Thee my sixth finger.'' At the severing of the seventh finger, he said: ``Like David who praised Thee seven times daily, I praise Thee through the seventh finger severed for Thy sake.'' At the severing of the eighth finger, he said: ``On the eighth day Thou Thyself, O Lord, wast circumcised.'' At the severing of the ninth finger, he said: ``At the ninth hour, Thou didst commend Thy spirit into the hands of Thy Father, O my Christ, and I offer Thee thanks during the suffering of my ninth finger.'' At the severing of the tenth finger, he said: ``On a ten-stringed harp I sing to Thee, O God, and thank Thee that Thou hast made me worthy to endure the severing of the ten fingers of my two hands, for the Ten Commandments written on two tablets.'' Oh, what wonderful faith and love! Oh, the noble soul of this knight of Christ!<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the wonderful Paradise of God (Genesis 2):<br /><br /> 1. How most beautiful was Paradise, both within and without;<br /> 2. How all living things in Paradise were unconditionally submissive to man and man to God;<br /> 3. How most beautiful were the first man and woman in Paradise, conscious of God's presence and of God's authority.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on the perfect man</span><br /><br /> … Till we all come in the unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).<br /><br /> The unity of the Faith, brethren, and the knowledge of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ the Savior, unites two men into one man, a thousand people into one man, and many millions of people into one man. The unity of Faith in Christ the Lord, and the true Orthodox knowledge of Christ the Lord, unites men more strongly than blood, more strongly than language, more strongly than all external circumstances and material bonds. When many souls think as one and the same, will as one and the same, and desire as one and the same, then these many souls are as one soul, one great and mighty soul. Physical differences in this case mean little, and are hardly to be taken into consideration. Thus, the same souls are built up into a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. The parts of the perfect whole are themselves perfect. Every Christian soul is a part of the perfect man. Christ is the Perfect Man of Whom the Church is the Mystical Body. He fills everyone who believes in Him with Himself, according to the measure of the stature of each. He is the fullness beyond all fullness, the living fount that flows and fills every worthy space. Inasmuch as a man empties himself of everything that is not of Christ, Christ will enter into him and fill him accordingly.<br /><br /> O my brethren, deep humility is needed in addition to strong faith, so that the Living Water may be poured into us. Even in nature, we see that water easily irrigates the lowlands. So, the more lowly our humiliation is before the Lord Jesus, the more willingly He pours Himself into us, irrigates us with His life-giving Self, and fills us as His vessel with the fullness of His immortality.<br /><br /> O Lord Jesus, Thou fullness of life, wisdom, beauty and sweetness, help us to humble ourselves before Thy Divine Majesty, that we may be made worthy of Thy visitation.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-5967791647400971105?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-80793246597997067852010-04-24T13:21:00.000-07:002010-04-24T13:22:16.738-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 26, and New Calendar date December 9.<br /><br />The Venerable Alypius the Stylite. The Venerable James the Solitary. The Venerable Stylianus. The Venerable Nicon, the Preacher of Repentance. Saint Innocent of Irkutsk, the Wonderworker. Homily on the purpose of the apportionment of gifts, ministries and callings.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Alypius the Stylite</span><br /><br />Alypius was born in Hadrianopolis, a city in Paphlagonia. From childhood, he was dedicated to the service of God. He served as a deacon with Bishop Theodore in the church in that city. But, desirous of a life of solitude, prayer and meditation, Alypius withdrew to a Greek cemetery outside the city. This was a cemetery from which people fled in terror, because of frequent demonic visions seen there. Alypius set up a cross in the cemetery and built a church in honor of St. Euphemia, who had appeared to him in a dream. Beside the church, he built a tall pillar, climbed on top of it, and spent fifty-three years there in fasting and prayer. Neither the mockery of men nor the evil of the demons was able to drive him away or cause him to waver in his intention. Alypius especially endured countless assaults from demons. Not only did the demons try to terrorize him with apparitions, but stoned him as well, and gave him no peace, day or night, for a long time. The courageous Alypius protected himself from the power of the demons by the sign of the Cross and the name of Jesus. Finally the demons were defeated and fled from him. Men began to revere him and come to him for prayer, consolation, instruction and healing. Two monasteries were built beside his pillar, one on one side for men and one on the other for women. His mother and sister lived in the women's monastery. St. Alypius guided the monks and nuns from his pillar, by example and words. He shone like the sun in the heavens for everyone, showing them the way to salvation. This God-pleaser had so much grace that he was often illuminated in heavenly light, and a pillar of this light extended to the heavens above him. St. Alypius was a wonderful and mighty miracle-worker in life, and also after his repose. He lived for one hundred years and entered into rest in the year 640, during the reign of Emperor Heraclius. His head is preserved in the Monastery of Koutloumousiou on the Holy Mountain.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable James the Solitary</span><br /><br />James was from Syria. He was a disciple of St. Maron (February 14) and a contemporary of St. Simeon the Stylite. He lived a life of asceticism under the open sky and ate soaked lentils. He performed great miracles, even raising the dead in the name of Christ. Emperor Leo asked him for his thoughts on the Council of Chalcedon [451]. He entered peacefully into rest in the year 457.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Stylianus</span><br /><br />Stylianus was from Paphlagonia and a fellow countryman and contemporary of St. Alypius. He had a great love for the Lord Jesus, and because of this love gave himself up to great ascetic struggle. He renounced everything in order to have an undivided love for his Lord. Before his repose, angels came to take his soul, and his face shone like the sun. Stylianus was a great miracle-worker before and after his death. He especially helps sick children and childless couples.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Nicon, the Preacher of Repentance</span><br /><br />Nicon was born in Armenia. Awakened by the words of the Lord, Every one that hath forsaken … father or mother … shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life (Matthew 19:29), Nicon indeed forsook all for the sake of Christ, and went to a monastery, where he was tonsured a monk. When he was perfected in all virtues, he left the monastery and went to preach the Gospel among the people. He ceaselessly cried out, ``Repent!'' for which he was also called the ``the Preacher of Repentance.'' As a preacher, he visited all of Anatolia and the Peloponnese. He worked miracles by prayer in the name of Christ and peacefully went to his beloved Lord. He reposed in Sparta in the year 998.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Innocent of Irkutsk, the Wonderworker</span><br /><br />He reposed in the year 1731, and his miracle-working relics were uncovered in 1804.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Venerable Alypius the Stylite<br /><br />Loosed of all things, loosed from the world:<br />From life's concerns and from the oppression of the passions.<br />Complete devotion to prayer and divine contemplation<br />Brought glory to St. Alypius.<br /><br />On a pillar tall, he raised himself:<br />The farther from earth, the closer to God!<br />Complete devotion to prayer and divine contemplation<br />Brought glory to St. Alypius.<br /><br />Let thunders resound, they will not strike,<br />The Lord directs and moves the lightning.<br />Utter devotion to prayer and divine contemplation<br />Brought glory to St. Alypius.<br /><br />In prayer, he shone as the bright sun,<br />And his name, through the centuries, distinctly remains.<br />His meditations on God have made him immortal:<br />Wondrous Alypius the God-pleaser.<br /><br />Now in the heavens a great pillar shines,<br />Which is the radiant soul of St. Alypius.<br />And now he is wholly devoted to prayer for us-<br />Alypius the Stylite, both yesterday and today.<br /><br />Even now, evil spirits flee him,<br />And we rejoice in St. Alypius.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />Many learned pagans entered the Church of Christ and were baptized precisely because the Church preached immortal life as a proven fact and not as a speculation of human reason. St. Clement of Rome had studied all of Greek philosophy, yet his soul remained unsatisfied and empty. As a young man of twenty-four, he desired to know with all his soul if there were another, better life than this. Philosophy gave him only the thoughts of various men, but no real proof. He mourned for his lost parents and brothers and was tormented constantly by not knowing if he would be able to see them in some other life. The All-seeing God directed his footsteps and he met a man who spoke to him of Christians, and of their belief in life beyond the grave. This so stirred the young Clement that he immediately moved from Rome to Judea so that there, in the cradle of the Christian Faith itself, he might come to uncontestable knowledge regarding life beyond the grave. When he heard the preaching of the Apostle Peter, based entirely on Christ's Resurrection from the dead, Clement despised the conjectures of philosophy and sincerely adopted the Christian Faith. He was baptized, and dedicated himself totally to the service of the Church of God. As it was then, so it is today-he who has a strong faith in the resurrected Christ, and a clear knowledge of life beyond death and judgment, easily decides to pay the price for entry into that life; that is, the fulfilling of all God's commandments.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 2):<br /><br />1. How the Lord God created man, and woman from man;<br />2. How Adam and Eve were naked and were not ashamed, for they did not yet know sin.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the purpose of the apportionment of gifts, ministries and callings</span><br /><br />… For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).<br /><br />This is why the Holy Spirit apportioned the gifts, and made some apostles, others prophets, others evangelists, and others pastors and teachers: that the saints, the faithful Christians, become perfected. As in a household, honor and service are apportioned, and there is honor and service appropriate to parents, honor and service appropriate to adult sons and daughters, and honor and service appropriate to young children and servants-yet all serve together for the benefit of one another; so it is in God's house, the Holy Church: with every honor is a corresponding service, and the services of each are beneficial to all. Thus the body of Christ, God's Holy Church, is gradually and wisely built. Each of the faithful, assisted by the others, grows and develops as a member of this body; grows and develops in holiness and purity, and in a corresponding measure and proportion to the whole great body. The whole body, from the beginning to the end of time-especially from the Incarnation of God the Word on earth until the Dread Judgment-is the Holy Church of God. The body is worthy of immortality, the building is worthy of God. The eye of man cannot see it from end to end, nor can the mind of man comprehend it. The building is of chosen materials: living stones, eyes and hearts, without roughness or ugliness, without corruption or change. Everything is in its place, everything is most beautiful in its entirety and in its parts. Here, brethren, is the goal of our journey! Here is the meaning of our burning in the furnace of suffering! Here is our life, better than all our plans and lovelier than all our desires.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus, our man-loving Lord, do not cast us away as inferior material, but polish us and build us into Thine immortal body.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-8079324659799706785?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-15017614464740964772010-04-24T13:10:00.000-07:002010-04-24T13:11:11.243-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 25, and New Calendar date December 8.<br /><br />The Hieromartyr Clement, Bishop of Rome. The Hieromartyr Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria. The Venerable Paphnutius. Homily on the apportionment of functions and callings.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hieromartyr Clement, Bishop of Rome</span><br /><br /> Clement was born in Rome of royal lineage and was a contemporary of the holy apostles. His mother and two brothers, traveling on the sea, were carried by a storm to different places. His father then went to find his wife and two sons and he, too, became lost. Clement, being twenty-four years old, then set out for the east to seek his parents and brothers. In Alexandria, he made the acquaintance of the Apostle Barnabas and, afterward, joined the Apostle Peter whom his two brothers, Faustinus and Faustinian, were already following. By God's providence, the Apostle Peter came upon Clement's mother as an aged beggar woman, and then found his father as well. Thus, the whole family was united, and all returned to Rome as Christians. Clement did not separate himself from the great apostle, who appointed him as bishop before his death. After Peter's martyrdom, Linus was Bishop of Rome, then Cletus-both of them for a short time-and then Clement. Clement governed the Church of God with flaming zeal, and from day to day brought a great number of unbelievers to the Christian Faith. In addition, he ordered seven scribes to write the lives of the Christian martyrs who were suffering at that time for their Lord. The Emperor Trajan banished him to Cherson, where Clement found about two thousand exiled Christians. All were occupied with the difficult job of hewing stones in a waterless land. The Christians received Clement with great joy and he was a living source of comfort to them. By his prayer, he brought forth water from the ground and converted so many of the unbelieving natives to Christianity that, in one year, seventy-five churches were built there. To prevent his spreading the Christian Faith even more, the authorities condemned Clement to death, and drowned him in the sea with a stone around his neck in the year 101. His miracle-working relics were removed from the sea only in the time of Saints Cyril and Methodius.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hieromartyr Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria</span><br /><br /> Peter was a disciple and successor of St. Theonas, Archbishop of Alexandria, and was for a time a teacher at Origen's famous school of philosophy. He ascended the archiepiscopal throne in the year 299, and died a martyr's death in 311, beside the grave of the Holy Apostle Mark. He governed the Church in a most difficult era, when assaults were being made against the faithful by unbelievers from without, and by heretics from within. During his time, 670 Christians suffered in Alexandria. Often, whole families were led to the scaffold and executed. At the same time, the ungodly Arius was confusing the faithful with his false teaching. St. Peter cut him off from the Church and anathematized him, both in this world and in the next. The Lord Himself visited this great and wonderful saint in prison.<br /><br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Paphnutius</span><br /><br /> Paphnutius never drank wine. Once, bandits seized him, and their leader forced him to drink a cup of wine. Seeing Paphnutius's kind nature, the chief of the bandits repented, and abandoned his brigandage.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Hieromartyr Clement, Bishop of Rome<br /><br /> The aristocrat Clement, of noble birth,<br /> Became a zealous servant of the Living Lord.<br /> Scorning the vanity of opulent Rome,<br /> He elevated his spirit above all illusion.<br /> Spiritual kinship with Peter bound him,<br /> And loosened his fleshly kinship to the emperor.<br /> He shone in Rome as a radiant star,<br /> Dispelling dense darkness with the Honorable Cross;<br /> He adorned and strengthened the Apostolic Church,<br /> And embittered the weak powers of the demons.<br /> A tempest arose from demonic powers<br /> Seeking to slay the saint of God.<br /> His body they killed; his soul then fled to Paradise.<br /> At the bottom of the waters of the sea, his holy body remained.<br /> After eight centuries solid iron would have wasted away,<br /> But not the body of this knight of Christ.<br /> He gloriously manifested many miracles,<br /> And through Christ God Clement was glorified.<br /> O holy Clement, help even us<br /> By your prayers before the throne of God.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /><br /> It is said of St. Peter of Alexandria that he never climbed the steps and sat on the patriarchal throne in church, but rather stood or sat before the steps of the throne. When the faithful complained that their hierarch did not sit in his place, he replied: ``Whenever I approach the throne, I see a heavenly light and power upon it, and that is why I do not dare climb and sit on it.'' Beside this vision, St. Peter had another, yet more wondrous vision. While he was in prison, the impious heretic Arius hypocritically pretended that he had repented of his heresy, and sent word to the captive Peter that he had renounced his heresy, with an appeal to Peter to receive him into the Church again. Arius did this only because he thought that Peter would be martyred, and he could then acquire the patriarchal throne and disseminate and strengthen his heresy. Before he gave any reply, Peter prayed to God in the prison. During prayer, a mystical light illumined the prison, and the Lord Jesus appeared to him as a twelve-year-old boy, shining brighter than the sun, so that it was not possible to look at Him directly. The Lord was clothed in a white tunic, rent down the front from top to bottom. He clutched the garment around Himself with His hands, as though to hide His nakedness. At this, St. Peter was in great fear and horror. He cried out: ``Who, O Savior, has torn Thy garment?'' The Lord replied: ``The madman Arius. He tore it, for he alienated My people from Me, whom I acquired by My Blood. Be careful not to receive him in communion with the Church, for he has cunning and diabolical thoughts against Me and My people.'' At this, St. Peter sent word to his priests, Achilles and Alexander, that he could not receive Arius's petition, for it was false and cunning; and the saint pronounced a curse on Arius in both worlds. He also prophesied that Achilles, and then Alexander, would succeed him as patriarch, and so it was.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 2):<br /><br /> 1. How God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam and took one of his ribs;<br /> 2. How the Lord God made the woman Eve from Adam's rib and brought her to Adam;<br /> 3. How this is the foundation and reason for the mysterious attraction and unity of husband and wife.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> on the apportionment of functions and callings<br /><br /> And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11).<br /><br /> As the various organs in a man's body have different functions but all work in harmony for the good of the entire body, so the Lord instituted various organs with different functions in the Church, which is His Body. In the first place came the apostles, to whom was given not just one honor, but rather all honors; not one function, but rather all functions; not just one gift, but rather all the gifts of grace. The apostles were simultaneously apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The apostolic calling is not given anymore. Of the Great Apostles, there were twelve, the thirteenth being the Apostle Paul; and of the Lesser Apostles, there were seventy. The prophets are those who received the gift of prophecy from the Holy Spirit. Here, it is not the Old Testament prophets that are being discussed, but rather the New Testament prophets (Acts 11:27, 21:10, 13:1). The prophets were, and still are, prophets regardless of their class and position. The evangelists were firstly those who wrote the Gospels, and then missionaries who spread Christ's teaching among the unbelievers and, finally, the interpreters of Holy Scripture who in their writings presented the Christian truth for each and all. Pastors and teachers-these are actually one and the same calling, for it is difficult to imagine a pastor who is not a teacher at the same time. The pastors are limited to a certain place and a certain number of faithful whom they lead to salvation, and they govern the Church of God. So, the Lord ordained all of this through His holy apostles. Blessed is he who knows his function and gift received from the Spirit, and who serves according to his designation to the end. Just as the Holy Spirit now apportions His gifts, so the Lord, in His time, will apportion rewards.<br /><br /> O Lord, Holy Spirit, true God, help us to use Thy gifts to the end of our lives in humility, for the well-being of Christ's Church and for our eternal salvation.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-1501761446474096477?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-27265004091654732932010-04-24T11:31:00.001-07:002010-04-24T11:31:36.704-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 24, and New Calendar date December 7.<br /><br />The Holy Great-martyr Catherine. The Holy Great-martyr Mercurius. The Holy Virgin Mastridia. Homily on Him Who descended and ascended.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Great-martyr Catherine</span><br /><br /> Catherine was the daughter of King Constus. After the death of her father, she lived with her mother in Alexandria. Her mother was secretly a Christian who, through her spiritual father, brought Catherine to the Christian Faith. In a vision, St. Catherine received a ring from the Lord Jesus Himself as a sign of her betrothal to Him. This ring remains on her finger even today. Catherine was greatly gifted by God and was well educated in Greek philosophy, medicine, rhetoric and logic. In addition to that, she was of unusual physical beauty. When the iniquitous Emperor Maxentius offered sacrifices to the idols and ordered others to do the same, Catherine boldly confronted the emperor and denounced his idolatrous errors. The emperor, seeing that she was greater than he in wisdom and knowledge, summoned fifty of his wisest men to debate with her on matters of faith and to put her to shame. Catherine outwitted and shamed them. In a rage, the emperor ordered all fifty of those men burned. By St. Catherine's prayers, all fifty confessed the name of Christ and declared themselves Christians before their execution. After Catherine had been put in prison, she converted the emperor's commander, Porphyrius, and two hundred soldiers to the true Faith, as well as Empress Augusta-Vasilissa herself. They all suffered for Christ. During the torture of St. Catherine, an angel of God came to her and destroyed the wheel on which the holy virgin was being tortured. Afterward, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself appeared to her and comforted her. After many tortures, Catherine was beheaded at the age of eighteen, on November 24, 310. Milk, instead of blood, flowed from her body. Her miracle-working relics repose on Mount Sinai.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Great-martyr Mercurius</span><br /><br /> When Emperor Decius once waged war against the barbarians, there was in his army the commander of an Armenian regiment called the Martenesians. This commander was named Mercurius. In battle, an angel of the Lord appeared to Mercurius, placed a sword in his hand, and assured him of victory over his enemies. Indeed, Mercurius displayed wonderful courage, mowing down the enemy like grass. Following this glorious victory Emperor Decius made him chief commander of his army, but envious men reported Mercurius to the emperor for being a Christian, a fact which he did not hide but openly acknowledged before the emperor. Mercurius was tortured harshly and at length; he was cut into strips with knives and burned with fire. An angel of God appeared to him in prison and healed him. Finally, the emperor proclaimed that General Mercurius be beheaded in Cappadocia. When they beheaded him, his body became as white as snow and emitted a most wonderful incense-like fragrance. His miracle-working relics healed many of the sick. This most wonderful soldier of Christ suffered for the Faith sometime between the years 251 and 259 and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of his King and God.<br /><br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Virgin Mastridia</span><br /><br /> Mastridia lived in Alexandria and led a solitary life of prayer and handiwork. A young man, burning with bodily passion toward her, constantly harassed her. Not wanting to sin before God, and since she could not easily be rid of this unrestrained youth, St. Mastridia once asked him what attracted him most to her. He replied: ``Your eyes!'' Mastridia then took the needle with which she was sewing and put out her eyes. Thus, Mastridia preserved her peace and the young man's soul. The young man repented deeply, and became a monk.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Holy Great-martyr Catherine<br /><br /> The wise Catherine, an earthly princess,<br /> Became a martyr for Christ the Savior.<br /> Foolish Maxentius offered her life:<br /> If she would consent to become his wife!<br /> The holy Catherine, pure as gold,<br /> Replied to the emperor thus:<br /> ``My betrothed is the Risen Christ,<br /> And I desire not the love of a corrupt man.<br /> You seek my body: the rotten seeks corruption,<br /> Even as the incorrupt spirit seeks immortality.<br /> The physical covering must wither away,<br /> The true man takes care for his immortal soul.<br /> Do what you wish, and torture me-<br /> Burn me in the fire, turn me on a wheel;<br /> I cannot renounce my own soul,<br /> Nor worship any but Christ as God.<br /> Remember, O Emperor, soon you will die,<br /> And worms will erupt from your corpse-<br /> Worms will glorify you, worms will eat you,<br /> A curse will accompany you, and a curse will meet you:<br /> For you dare wage war against Christ, Who is mightier than death.<br /> You stand under the Rock, and He will crush you.''<br /> Holy Catherine, Christ's virgin,<br /> You despised the throne for eternal truth's sake;<br /> And thus now reign in the Kingdom without end,<br /> And sing with the angels, in the midst of sweet Paradise.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /><br /> A tale of Elder Barlaam to Ioasaph: The citizens in a certain town had a custom of choosing as king a stranger who did not know their laws and customs. After they had crowned him king, they clothed him in beautiful robes, fed him abundantly and surrounded him with every luxury. However, as soon as one year had elapsed, they deposed their king, stripped him of all his goods and his clothes, and drove him completely naked to a distant island, where he had neither bread nor roof nor companions, and where he would die in misery and humiliation. The citizens of this town would then choose another king, also a stranger and also for one year; then a third, then a fourth, then a fifth and so forth. But it once happened that they chose a very wise and cautious man. He learned from his servants what had happened to the kings of this town after their year. Therefore, over the course of the whole year he zealously gathered food and goods and daily sent them to that island. When the year had run out and when he was stripped of his clothing and cast onto the island, he found himself amidst an enormous quantity of food, silver, gold and precious stones, and continued to live there even better than he lived as king in that town. The interpretation is this: The town represents the world; the citizens represent the evil spirits; the kings are men, either foolish or wise. The foolish men think only of the pleasures of this life, as if it were eternal; but in the end, death cuts everything off and they, naked of all good works, go to hell. The wise, however, perform many good works, and send these good works ahead of them to the other world. At their repose, the wise kings-the good men-depart to that world where their accumulated riches await them, and where they reign in greater eternal glory and beauty than they reigned here on earth.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 2):<br /><br /> 1. How God brought all animals, birds and beasts before Adam, to see how he would name them;<br /> 2. How Adam gave a name to every animal and every bird and every beast.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on Him Who descended and ascended</span><br /><br /> He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things (Ephesians 4:10).<br /><br /> In His love for man, the Lord Jesus Christ lowered Himself so low that He could go no lower; and then raised Himself so high that, in truth, He could go no higher. He descended into the lower parts of the earth (Ephesians 4:9): into hades itself, where He freed the forefathers, prophets and righteous ones, and led them into the Kingdom of Heaven. Completing His work both on earth and in hades, He ascended far above all heavens. The same One Who ascended is the very same One Who descended without any change, except that He descended without a body, and ascended with a body. Therefore, there are not both a Son of God and a Son of Man as heretics have said, but Christ is both the Son of God and the Son of Man-one and the same Person-one and the same God-man, our Savior Jesus Christ. As He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, so He is the same in the depths and in the heights: on earth, in hades, and in the heavens. He abased Himself lower than all men, and raised Himself above all the angelic powers, to show by example the truthfulness of His words: And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted (Matthew 23:12). If we are not humbled by virtues, then sin will humble us. Virtue leads to voluntary and temporary abasement, but sin leads to irreversible and eternal abasement.<br /><br /> O Lord Jesus, Who fills all by Thy power, fill us with the spirit of true humility.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-2726500409165473293?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-70323965083631095082010-04-24T11:26:00.000-07:002010-04-24T11:27:38.806-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 23, and New Calendar date December 6.<br /><br />Saint Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium. Saint Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum. Saint Alexander Nevsky. Saint Mitrophan, Bishop of Voronezh. Homily on grace and gifts.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium</span><br /><br /> Amphilochius was a fellow countryman, companion and friend of St. Basil the Great and other great saints of the fourth century. Amphilochius left the uproar of the world early in life and withdrew to a cave where, as a hermit, he lived in asceticism for forty years. It then happened that the episcopal throne in Iconium was vacated, and Amphilochius, in a wondrous manner, was chosen and consecrated Bishop of Iconium. He was a splendid shepherd and a great defender of the purity of the Orthodox Faith. He took part in the Second Ecumenical Council in 381. He fought zealously against the impious Macedonius, the Arians and the Eunomians. He personally begged Theodosius the Great to expel all the Arians from every city in the empire, but the emperor did not heed him. A few days later, Amphilochius came before the emperor again. When the bishop was led into the reception chamber, the emperor was sitting on his throne, and on his right sat his son Arcadius, whom Theodosius had taken as his co-emperor. Entering the chamber, St. Amphilochius bowed to Emperor Theodosius but paid no attention to Arcadius, the emperor's son, as if he were not there. Greatly enraged at this, Emperor Theodosius ordered that Amphilochius be immediately expelled from the court. The saint then said to the emperor: ``Do you see, O Emperor, how you do not tolerate disrespect to your son? So too, God the Father does not tolerate disrespect to His Son, and is disgusted with the corruptness of those who blaspheme Him and is angered at all those adherents of that cursed (Arian) heresy.'' Hearing this, the emperor then understood why Amphilochius had not given honor to his son, and was amazed at his wisdom and daring. Among many other works, St. Amphilochius wrote several books on the Faith. He entered into rest in great old age in the year 395 and took up his habitation in eternal life.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum</span><br /><br /> Gregory was born of devout parents, Chariton and Theodota in Sicily near the town of Agrigentum, where he was later bishop,. His entire life was imbued with God's wonderful miracles. In a miraculous manner, he went to Jerusalem; in a miraculous manner, he was chosen as bishop; and in a miraculous manner, he was saved from slander. He himself was a great miracle-worker, for he was a great God-pleaser, a great spiritual father and an ascetic. He participated at the Fifth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in 553. After difficult trials he reposed peacefully near the end of the sixth century or the beginning of the seventh.<br /><br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Alexander Nevsky</span><br /><br /> Alexander was the son of Prince Yaroslav. From childhood, his heart was directed to God. He defeated the Swedes on the river Neva on July 15, 1240, for which he received the appellation ``Nevsky'' [``of the Neva'']. On that occasion, Saints Boris and Gleb appeared to one of Alexander's commanders and promised their help to the great prince, who was their kinsman. Once, among the Golden Horde of the Tartars, he refused to bow down to idols or to pass through fire. Because of his wisdom, physical strength and beauty, even the Tartar Khan respected him. He built many churches and performed countless works of mercy. He entered into rest on November 14, 1263 at the age of forty-three. On this day, November 23, the translation of his relics to the town of Vladimir is commemorated.<br /><br /> 4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Mitrophan, Bishop of Voronezh</span><br /><br /> Mitrophan was a glorious Russian hierarch, ascetic and patriot. He was a friend, and later a critic, of Peter the Great. He entered into rest on November 23, 1703. His wonderworking relics were uncovered in the year 1832.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> Saint Alexander Nevsky<br /><br /> A knight of Christ, St. Alexander,<br /> A prince of the people and servant of the Lord-<br /> Ruler on earth and slave of the Almighty-<br /> This was the life of Nevsky.<br /> On the outside opulence, on the inside weeping;<br /> On the outside struggle, on the inside serenity;<br /> On the outside illusion, on the inside truth.<br /> Christ was the prize of this hero,<br /> Both in war and deceptive peace.<br /> In torment, Christ was his joy,<br /> In suffering, Christ was his assurance,<br /> In victory, Christ was the victor,<br /> And in death, Christ was his Resurrector!<br /> To him, in both worlds, all was Christ!<br /> He was the end; He was the living goal.<br /> The pious prince was an exemplar to his people,<br /> Of how one should serve the Lord.<br /> O holy Prince, help us also,<br /> By your brilliant power, by your holy prayers!<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> God permits misfortune to befall the righteous, that He might glorify them more greatly. The overcoming of misfortune reveals both the glory of God and the glory of the righteous. St. Gregory of Agrigentum was, in all things, righteous and pleasing to God. But God permitted misfortune to befall him, similar to that misfortune that once overtook St. Athanasius and St. Macarius. Two priests, Sabinus and Crescens, for whom Gregory had done much good, could not at all tolerate Gregory's virtuousness. For such is the nature of vice, that it cannot tolerate virtue. Consequently, Sabinus and Crescens found a notorious prostitute and bribed her to malign Gregory by saying that he had had immoral relations with her. So it was that when Gregory was in church, the woman crept into his bedroom, and just as Gregory came out of church with the people, she emerged from his room. The two priests began to revile Gregory as a libertine. However, Gregory was composed and prepared for every suffering. They confined him in prison and then transferred him to Rome. The pope believed the slanderers and kept Gregory in prison for two and a half years, without a trial or a verdict. A council was then convened to try Gregory's case, but God judged before man could judge. The woman went insane and was brought mad before the council. She was unable to answer any questions. Gregory, the miracle-worker, prayed to God for her and she was healed, for the evil spirit came out of her. Then, through her tears, she confessed that she had been bribed to malign the man of God, and that immediately after she had committed the slander, the evil spirit had entered her and held her in its power. Sabinus and Crescens, along with the other maligners-more than a hundred in number-found their faces suddenly turned as black as coal, and they were punished with exile. St. Gregory was returned to his diocese and was received with great exultation by his people.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 2):<br /><br /> 1. How God gave the first people all the plants and all the fruitful trees for food;<br /> 2. How He forbade them to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, lest they die.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> on grace and gifts<br /><br /> But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Ephesians 4:7).<br /><br /> Here is the beginning of distinctions among Christians. At first, the Apostle enumerated that which unites us, that is, one Lord, one Faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:5-6). Nevertheless, here he emphasizes that which makes us unwillingly different. The measure of the gift of Christ makes us different, the measure according to which the grace of the Holy Spirit is given. Christ is the Head of the great body that is called the Church. He creates that body and, individually, every member of that body; He is the Builder and He is the only One who knows the plan of that building. He does not allow one member in this building to be disproportionally great or small. He gives the proper measure to everything and everyone. Thus, He gives one five talents, another two, and another, one. He measures, and the Holy Spirit pours out His grace accordingly. No one should be angry or envious. No one should be angry, for if he has received less, he will have less to answer for. No one should be envious, for if someone has received more, it is not his, but God's. If he has much, much will be asked of him, as it is said in the divine parable of the talents.<br /><br /> O my brethren, let every one of us be conscious of the measure of our gift and our responsibility. Let us respect our gift and the gift of our neighbor, for all gifts are from God and are God's.<br /><br /> O Lord Jesus, the great Giver of diverse gifts, to Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-7032396508363109508?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-69823129222076959982010-04-24T11:22:00.000-07:002010-04-24T11:23:39.307-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 22, and New Calendar date December 5.<br /><br />The Holy Martyr Cecilia. Saint Callistus, Patriarch of Constantinople. The Holy Martyr Menignus. The Holy Righteous Michael the Soldier. The Holy Apostles Philemon and Archippus, and the Holy Martyr Apphia. Homily on that which constitutes the unity of the faithful.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Cecilia</span><br /><br />Cecilia was born in Rome of wealthy and eminent parents. She had great faith in Christ the Lord and a great zeal for the Faith. Vowing life-long virginity to God, St. Cecilia wore a coarse hair shirt beneath the costly raiment that her parents gave her. When her parents coerced her into marriage with Valerian, a pagan, Cecilia counseled her bridegroom on their wedding night to go to Bishop Urban to be baptized, and then live in chastity. Accepting the Christian Faith, Valerian also converted his brother Tiburtius. Soon after, both brothers were condemned to death for their faith. But their faithfulness did not falter, even in the face of death. Led to the place of execution, these wonderful brothers also succeeded in converting the captain of the guard, Maximus, to the Faith. Then all three suffered together for Christ the Lord. St. Cecilia buried their bodies together. Cecilia was then brought to trial, for she tirelessly won pagans over to the Christian Faith. In only one evening, she won over four hundred souls. When the judge asked her from whence such boldness came, she answered: ``From a pure conscience and undoubting faith.'' After cruel torture, Cecilia was condemned to beheading. The executioner struck her three times on the neck with the sword, but he was unable to kill her. She was only wounded, and blood flowed from her wounds, which the faithful collected in handkerchiefs, sponges and bowls for the sake of healing. Three days after this, the martyr and virgin of Christ gave her soul to her Lord, with Whom she eternally rejoices. St. Cecilia suffered with the others in about the year 230. Her relics lie in Rome, in the church dedicated to her. In the Western Church, St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of church singing and music.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Callistus, Patriarch of Constantinople</span><br /><br />Callistus is called ``Xanthopoulos'' after the cell of that name on Mount Athos, where he lived for a long time in asceticism with his companion, Ignatius. With this same Ignatius, St. Callistus wrote in one hundred chapters of his personal experience of a life of stillness. This work occupies a very prominent place in ascetical literature. Callistus was greatly influenced by his teacher, St. Gregory of Sinai, and wrote his Life. Having become Patriarch of Constantinople, St. Callistus became ill and reposed while on a journey to Serbia. Before he undertook his journey this was prophesied to him by St. Maximus of Kapsokalyvia of the Holy Mountain.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Menignus</span><br /><br />Menignus was born on the Hellespont. He worked as a linen-bleacher, for which he was called ``the Fuller.'' At the time of Emperor Decius, he tore up the imperial decree declaring a persecution of Christians. For this, he was thrown into prison, where the Lord Himself appeared to him and encouraged him, saying: ``Be not afraid, I am with thee.'' At that moment his chains melted like wax, the prison opened of itself, and he went out. He was arrested again and tried. They tortured him inhumanly, severing his fingers and toes and beheading him. At night, his severed head glowed like a lamp.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Righteous Michael the Soldier</span><br /><br />Michael was a Bulgarian by birth. With his companions, he fought in the Greek army against the Hagarenes and Ethiopians, where he displayed marvelous fearlessness. He killed a terrible serpent and freed a maiden. Soon afterward, this righteous man took up his abode in eternal life. He lived and reposed in the ninth century. He was first buried somewhere in Thrace, but Emperor Kalo-John translated his relics to Trnovo in 1206.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Apostles Philemon and Archippus, and the Holy Martyr Apphia </span>(See February 19)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Holy Martyr Cecilia<br /><br />Cecilia-strong in faith, rich in faith-<br />Her faith is more beautiful than the stars, more precious than gold.<br />She nailed herself to the Lord, as to the Cross,<br />And sacrificed youth, joy, marriage and honor for Christ!<br />The cruel demon could steal nothing from her;<br />And when only her body remained, she gave it to Christ.<br />For the love of Christ, she gave the whole world-<br />Even two worlds: her body and her pure soul.<br />Thus does the flame of faith burn, and the flame of love,<br />And by that flame, Cecilia glorified herself.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />Every effort of learning is in vain without the effort of attaining purity of faith and life. The heavenly world is revealed not to the learned but to the pure. When St. Cecilia was led to the bridal chamber with her bridegroom Valerian on the first night, she said him: ``I want to tell you a mystery: standing here is an angel of God, the guardian of my virginity, whom you do not see. He stands ready to protect me, his handmaid, from assault. If you only touch me, he will kill you.'' Valerian begged Cecilia to show him the angel, so that he could see it, too. The virgin replied: ``You are a man who knows not the true God. You cannot see the angel of God until you cleanse yourself of the foulness of your unbelief.'' When Valerian was baptized, he saw the angel in great light and ineffable beauty. So, too, when Valerian's brother Tiburtius changed his life from impurity to purity in baptism, he saw holy angels and spoke with them. Maximus their fellow sufferer as well, when the two brothers were beheaded, vowed with a great oath before the executioners and the people, saying: ``I see angels of God shining like the sun, taking the souls of these martyrs from their bodies like beautiful virgins from the bridal chamber, and leading them to heaven with great glory.'' But that which he saw, none of the impure unbelievers were able to see.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 2):<br /><br />1. How God planted a paradisal garden in Eden and placed man there;<br />2. How God made trees in Paradise, beautiful to look at and good for food;<br />3. How God brought all the animals before man and he named them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br />on that which constitutes the unity of the faithful<br /><br />… One Lord, one Faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:5-6).<br /><br />Here is the all-important and extremely obvious reason for all Christians to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3) and be one body and one spirit (Ephesians 4:4). For the One Lord Jesus Christ is our Creator, Redeemer and Resurrector. There are not two true Christs, that there should be division among us. One and the same blood was shed upon the Cross for us all, just as one and the same mouth prayed for us all in Gethsemane. We have one Faith in the Holy Trinity, undivided and life-creating-the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one in Essence and three in Persons-the Unbegotten Father, the Begotten Son and the Spirit proceeding from the Father. We have one Baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This Baptism is by threefold immersion in water, for death to sin and the devil, and for the resurrection and life in Christ the Lord. One God and Father of all-the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, Who through Christ and because of Christ adopts us and gives us the right to say to Him, Our Father.<br /><br />Do you see, my brethren, how strong are the bonds that unite us? Not even the stars themselves are bound by stronger bonds, nor the water to the earth, nor fire to the air. Do you see the overwhelming reasons that we have for unity? Everything else that, from the left hand, would urge us to division is inconsequential compared to these reasons, like a grain of sand compared to the high mountains. The devil cannot destroy our unity if we do not help him. The devil can never conquer us if we do not surrender ourselves to him.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus, sweet and gracious, how firmly Thou hast bound us for eternal good! Keep us, we pray, in this bond.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-6982312922207695998?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-46927746332052449522010-04-24T11:01:00.000-07:002010-04-24T11:02:22.644-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 21, and New Calendar date December 4.<br /><br />The Entry into the Temple of the Most-holy Theotokos. Homily on the faithful as one body and one spirit.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> <br /><br /> 1.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Entry into the Temple of the Most-holy Theotokos</span><br /> <br /> When the Most-holy Virgin Mary reached the age of three, her holy parents Joachim and Anna took her from Nazareth to Jerusalem to dedicate her to the service of God according to their earlier promise. It was a three-day journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem but, traveling to do a God-pleasing work, this journey was not difficult for them. Many kinsmen of Joachim and Anna gathered in Jerusalem to take part in this event, at which the invisible angels of God were also present. Leading the procession into the Temple were virgins with lighted tapers in their hands, then the Most-holy Virgin, led on one side by her father and on the other side by her mother. The virgin was clad in vesture of royal magnificence and adornments as was befitting the ``King's daughter, the Bride of God'' (Psalm 45:13-15). Following them were many kinsmen and friends, all with lighted tapers. Fifteen steps led up to the Temple. Joachim and Anna lifted the Virgin onto the first step, then she ran quickly to the top herself, where she was met by the High Priest Zacharias, who was to be the father of St. John the Forerunner. Taking her by the hand, he led her not only into the Temple, but into the ``Holy of Holies,'' the holiest of holy places, into which no one but the high priest ever entered, and only once each year, at that. St. Theophylact of Ohrid says that Zacharias ``was outside himself and possessed by God'' when he led the Virgin into the holiest place in the Temple, beyond the second curtain-otherwise, his action could not be explained. Mary's parents then offered sacrifice to God according to the Law, received the priest's blessing and returned home. The Most-holy Virgin remained in the Temple and dwelt there for nine full years. While her parents were alive, they visited her often, especially Righteous Anna. When God called her parents from this world, the Most-holy Virgin was left an orphan and did not wish to leave the Temple until death or to enter into marriage. As that would have been against the Law and custom of Israel, she was given to St. Joseph, her kinsman in Nazareth, after reaching the age of twelve. Under the acceptable role of one betrothed, she could live in virginity and thus fulfill her desire and formally satisfy the Law, for it was then unknown in Israel for maidens to vow virginity to the end of their lives. The Most-holy Virgin Mary was the first of such life-vowed virgins, of the thousands and thousands of virgin men and women who would follow her in the Church of Christ.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> Saints Joachim and Anna<br /><br /> The parents of the Holy Virgin<br /> Lead her to the holy Temple,<br /> And according to their promise<br /> They give her to the Lord.<br /> They lead the Temple to the Temple,<br /> While angels chant,<br /> And chant with joy<br /> To the young Virgin in purest attire.<br /><br /> The virgins accompany our Virgin,<br /> With hymns and tapers;<br /> Zacharias leads her<br /> To the Holy of Holies;<br /> And into the Holy Place he takes her,<br /> Where the awesome mystery is hidden.<br /><br /> Where the Ark of the Covenant is,<br /> Where the golden lampstand is,<br /> Where the staff and the manna are,<br /> Into the guarding place of all mysteries;<br /> There the pure Virgin is led-<br /> The Mystical Ark of the Living Christ.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /><br /> Submit yourself to the will of God and do not pry too closely into God's judgments, for you can lose your mind. The judgments of God are innumerable and unfathomable. A monk in the wilderness, imagining that he had attained perfection, prayed to God that He would reveal to him His various judgments in the lives of men. God put the thought in his mind to go to a distant place to inquire of a spiritual elder concerning this. However, while the monk was on his way, an angel of God in the form of an ordinary man joined him, saying that he too wanted to go to that elder. Thus traveling together, they came upon the house of a God-fearing man, who treated them well, giving them to eat from a silver platter. When they had eaten, the angel took the platter and threw it into the sea. The monk found this both amazing and unjust, but he remained silent. The second day they came upon the house of another hospitable man who cordially received and treated them as kinsmen. Before leaving, that man brought out his only son for the travelers to bless. The angel of God then took the child by the throat and strangled him. The monk was greatly angered and asked the angel who he was, and why he had committed such misdeeds. The angel meekly replied to him: ``The first man was pleasing to God in all things and had nothing in his house that was attained by injustice except that silver platter. By God's judgment, I threw that stolen platter away, so that the man would be righteous before God in all things. The other man was pleasing to God and had nothing in his house that would bring down the wrath of God except his son, who-had he matured-would have become a great criminal and a demonic vessel. Therefore, by God's judgment, I strangled that child in time to save his soul, for the sake of his father's goodness, and to save the father from many miseries. Behold, such are the mysteries and the unfathomable judgments of God. And you, elder, should return to your cell and not strive vainly by inquiring into that which is in the authority of the One God.''<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 2):<br /><br /> 1. How God created man from the dust of the earth;<br /> 2. How He breathed the spirit of life into his nostrils;<br /> 3. How man became a living soul.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on the faithful as one body and one spirit</span><br /><br /> …There is one body and one spirit (Ephesians 4:4).<br /><br /> The Holy Apostle counsels the faithful to strive to be one body and one spirit. By one body is understood ``one Faith,'' without divisions, without heresies and without self-will: the whole Church is one body of which Christ is the Head. By one spirit is understood ``love,'' the ardent love of all the faithful for Christ, from which proceeds mutual love. The many become as one; many men become as one man. This is the miracle of the Christian Faith and Christian love. There is no power in the world which can be a stronger bond among men: not the same blood, or the same language, or the same hearth, or the same parents, or any type of common material interests. None of these is even nearly as powerful a bond as Christian faith and love. By this powerful, irresistible bond, all the members of the Church are bound to each other. The Church of God stands as one man, in time and in eternity-one body and one spirit. There is nothing more contradictory to this wondrous unity than the pride of individual men. Pride distorts faith, cools love, creates heresies, divides the Church, and sacrifices the good of the whole for individual satisfaction. Pride, in essence, is the absence of both faith and love. Brethren, may God save us from pride, the primal infirmity of the human race, that we may always be one body and one spirit in our Lord Jesus Christ.<br /><br /> To Thee, O Lord Jesus; to Thee, the Head of the Church, be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-4692774633205244952?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-21677949838873963912010-04-24T10:57:00.000-07:002010-04-24T11:03:12.133-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 20, and New Calendar date December 3.<br /><br />The Venerable Gregory of Decapolis. Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople. The Holy Martyrs Eustathius, Thespesius and Anatolius. Saint Isaac, Archbishop of Armenia. The Three Holy Virgins. Homily on behavior in accordance with one's calling.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Gregory of Decapolis</span><br /><br />Gregory was born in Isaurian Decapolis of prominent and devout parents, Sergius and Mary. After he had completed his schooling, his parents desired that he marry, but he fled to the wilderness and was tonsured a monk. He lived in various places: Byzantium, Rome and on Mount Olympus. Wherever he was, he amazed men by his asceticism and miracles. At times a heavenly light illumined him and angels of God appeared to him. He gazed upon the beauty of the angels and listened to their sweet chanting. He lived a long and God-pleasing life and died peacefully in the ninth century in Constantinople, his soul taking up its abode in the joy of his Lord.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople</span><br /><br />Proclus was a disciple of St. John Chrysostom. In the year 426 he was consecrated Bishop of Cyzicus, and in 435 was chosen Patriarch of Constantinople. He governed the Church of God as a prudent hierarch. During his tenure, two significant events occurred. The first was the translation of the relics of St. John Chrysostom from Comana to Constantinople, at the desire of both the emperor and the patriarch. Emperor Theodosius the Younger was then reigning with his sister, Pulcheria. The second event was the great earthquake in Constantinople and the surrounding countryside. Many of the largest and most beautiful buildings were destroyed by this terrible earthquake. Then the patriarch, with the emperor, many of the clergy, nobles and people, came out in a procession of supplication. As they were praying to God, a child was miraculously lifted high in the air, until he was out of sight. Then he returned and was lowered gently to the ground. Asked where he had been, the child replied that he had been lifted up to heaven among the angels and that he had heard the angels sing: ``Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!'' Upon hearing this, all the people in the procession began to sing it and the earthquake ceased immediately. From that time on, this beautiful hymn was adopted by the Church. The child soon reposed, and was interred in the Church of St. Irene. In all, St. Proclus served as a hierarch for twenty years and reposed peacefully in the Lord in the year 446.<br /><br />3.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Holy Martyrs Eustathius, Thespesius and Anatolius</span><br /><br />Eustathius, Thespesius and Anatolius were blood brothers from Nicomedia. Their parents, Philotheus and Eusebia, were pagans who received the true Faith from St. Anthimus, Bishop of Nicomedia, as did their sons. Philotheus was ordained a presbyter. When he and his wife reposed, a terrible persecution of Christians was perpetrated under the evil Emperor Maximian, and Philotheus's three sons were brought to trial. Accused, interrogated and tortured in various ways, they were finally condemned to death. Angels appeared to them many times in prison and gave them manna to eat, filling their young hearts with strength, courage and endurance. When they were led to the place of execution, two friends, Palladius and Acacius, approached them and spoke with them. While they were still speaking, the holy martyrs gave up their souls to God. The soldiers then severed their lifeless heads and took them to show to the judge. They suffered for Christ the Lord in about the year 313, and took up their habitation in the Immortal Kingdom of Christ.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Isaac, Archbishop of Armenia</span><br /><br />Isaac was born in Constantinople when his father was an envoy of the Armenian king to the Byzantine court. Isaac was the tenth Archbishop of Armenia, and in that calling, governed the Church for fifty years. His episcopacy was distinguished, among other things, by the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the Armenian language. He was told in a vision that the Armenians would eventually fall away from the pure Faith of Orthodoxy. This eminent hierarch entered peacefully into rest in the year 440 and reposed in the Lord.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Three Holy Virgins</span><br /><br />All three were Persians. At the time of King Sapor, these three virgins were persecuted as Christians, and were finally cut to pieces with knives. Three fig trees grew out of their graves that healed all manner of pains and illnesses.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople<br /><br />Glorious disciple of a glorious teacher,<br />O most-wise Proclus, servant of the Savior,<br />You strengthened the Faith and destroyed heresy,<br />For which the Holy Church praises you,<br />And the Church magnifies its giant,<br />Who, by glorifying God, glorified himself.<br />As a skilled helmsman, you guided the Church,<br />Beheld miracles and glorified God.<br />Clairvoyant of spirit, with a mind filled with grace,<br />You resonated with the Spirit like a finely tuned string.<br />Taught by the Spirit, you instructed the emperor<br />To transport the relics of the golden-mouthed Patriarch,<br />And with the emperor and the people you openly beheld<br />Glorious miracles manifest from the relics.<br />Now, in Paradise eternal, pray for us,<br />That the faithful endure in the Faith to the end!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /><br />No mortal has interpreted the Epistles of the Apostle Paul with greater love and depth than St. John Chrysostom. Had St. Paul himself interpreted them, he could not have interpreted them better. Behold, history tells us that it was Paul himself who interpreted them through the mind and the pen of Chrysostom. When St. Proclus was a novice under Chrysostom, during the time that he was patriarch, it was his duty to announce visitors. A certain nobleman was slandered before Emperor Arcadius and the emperor had expelled him from the court. This nobleman came to implore Chrysostom to intercede with the emperor on his behalf. Proclus went to announce him to the patriarch but, looking through the partly opened door, saw a man bent over the patriarch, whispering something in his ear while the patriarch wrote. This continued until dawn. Meanwhile, Proclus told the nobleman to come back the next evening, while he himself remained in amazement, wondering who the man with the patriarch was, and how he managed to enter the patriarch's chamber unannounced. The second night the same thing happened again, and Proclus was in still greater amazement. The third night the same thing happened again, and Proclus was in the greatest amazement. When Chrysostom asked him if the nobleman had come by, he replied that he had already been waiting for three nights, but that he couldn't announce him because of the elderly, balding stranger who had been whispering in the patriarch's ear for three nights. The astonished Chrysostom said that he did not remember anyone entering to see him during the previous three nights. He asked his novice what the stranger looked like, and Proclus pointed to the icon of the Holy Apostle Paul, saying that the man was like him. Therefore, it was the Apostle Paul himself who was directing the mind and pen of his greatest interpreter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 1):<br /><br />1. How the Holy Trinity took counsel together about the creation of man;<br />2. How God created man in His own image.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on behavior in accordance with one's calling</span><br /><br />… that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering (Ephesians 4:1-2).<br /><br />Be not proud, be not angry, be not faint-hearted; for these are unworthy of a Christian calling. This calling is so elevated and wonderful that it is difficult for a man to safeguard himself from pride; yet it is difficult to keep oneself above faint-heartedness when dangers and losses occur. Against these three unhealthy states, the Apostle emphasizes three healthy states: against pride, lowliness; against anger, meekness; against faint-heartedness, longsuffering. It must be said that these three virtues-lowliness, meekness and longsuffering-do not express in full measure the loftiness of the Christian calling. But then, nothing in this world can fully express the height of the Christian calling. The preciousness and richness of this calling cannot be seen here on earth: it is like a closed chest that a man carries through this world, but only opens it and avails himself of its riches in the other world. Only someone who could raise himself to the highest heavens and see Christ the Lord in glory with the angels and the saints could assess the loftiness of the Christian calling; for there is the victorious assembly of all God's chosen ones from earth who were made worthy of this exceedingly high honor.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Thy name is the name most dear to us.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-2167794983887396391?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-48634330332952640402010-04-24T10:54:00.001-07:002010-04-24T10:55:15.206-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 19, and New Calendar date December 2.<br /><br />The Holy Prophet Obadiah. The Holy Martyr Barlaam. The Venerable Barlaam and Ioasaph the Heir. The Holy Martyr Heliodorus. Homily on glorifying God because of Christ the Lord.<a name='more'></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Prophet Obadiah</span><br /><br />Obadiah was born in the village of Betharam in the region of Shechem. He lived at the court of King Ahab, but when the king turned away from true worship and bowed down to idols, Obadiah did not follow the king, but continued to serve the one, true God. When the evil Queen Jezebel, in her hatred of Elias, raised a persecution against all the prophets of God, Obadiah gathered a hundred of them, hid them in two caves, and fed them to the end of the persecution (I Kings 18:4). A contemporary of the great Prophet Elias, Obadiah revered him greatly and served him in all things, as his follower and disciple. He lived nine hundred years before Christ and entered peacefully into rest.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Barlaam</span><br /><br />Barlaam was born in Antioch. Because of his faith in Christ the Lord, the impious judge tortured him harshly. Finally, the judge decided to mock him by forcing him to offer sacrifice to the idols. For this he took him to the pagan temple and set a burning coal on his palm and incense on the coal. The judge thought that the pain would cause the martyr to shake the coal and incense off his hand before the idols, and thus involuntarily cense them. However, the soldier of Christ heroically held the burning coal on his palm with no thought of casting it before the idols, until his fingers were burned through and fell off and his palm was completely burnt. St. Basil the Great said: ``He had a right hand more powerful than fire: although the coal burned his hand, his hand still held the fire as if it were ash.'' Chrysostom writes: ``The angels looked from the heights. The archangels beheld-the scene was majestic, in truth transcending human nature. Behold, who would not wish to see a man who made such an ascetic endeavor, yet did not feel that which is characteristic of men to feel; a man who was himself both the altar of oblation and the sacrifice and the priest?'' When his hand burned off, elder Barlaam's whole body fell to the ground dead and his soul went to the eternal rest of our Lord the Savior. This glorious, heroic elder suffered in the year 304.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Barlaam and Ioasaph the Heir</span><br /><br />Barlaam and Ioasaph were Indian ascetics. Ioasaph was son and heir to King Abenner. By God's providence, elder Barlaam visited him, taught him the Christian Faith and baptized him. After that, the elder withdrew to a mountain to live a life of asceticism, but Ioasaph remained to struggle with many temptations in the world, and by God's grace, to overcome them. Ioasaph finally succeeded in bringing his father to Christ. After he was baptized, King Abenner lived four years in deep repentance-for he had committed grave sins in persecuting Christians-and then ended his earthly existence and went to the better life. The young Ioasaph turned over the rule of the kingdom to his friend Barachias, and entered the wilderness to live a life of asceticism for the sake of Christ. His one desire on earth was to see his spiritual father, elder Barlaam, once again. The merciful God fulfilled his desire, and one day Ioasaph stood before Barlaam's cave and cried out: ``Bless me, father!'' Elder Barlaam labored in asceticism in the wilderness for seventy years and lived one hundred years in all. St. Ioasaph himself left his kingdom at the age of twenty-five, and went into the wilderness where he lived for thirty-five years. They both had great love for the Lord Jesus, brought many to the true Faith and entered into the eternal joy of their Lord.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Heliodorus</span><br /><br />Heliodorus was from the town of Maggido in Pamphylia and suffered for the Christian Faith in the time of Emperor Aurelian. During his harsh tortures, he heard a voice from heaven: ``Be not afraid, I am with thee!'' Thrown into a glowing-hot brazen ox, he fervently prayed to God and God saved him. All at once, the glowing ox cooled, and Heliodorus emerged alive. The judge cried out to him that he had performed some magic. To this, the martyr replied: ``My magic is Christ!'' He was beheaded and went to the Lord.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Venerable Barlaam and Ioasaph the Heir<br /><br />When Ioasaph witnessed illness, old age and death,<br />He was sincerely ashamed of this life.<br />``Behold, even I can be ill like that,<br />And old age can make me stooped like this,<br />And death may come when I least expect it!<br />In the suffering of others I bitterly suffer.<br />Is there anyone living who knows the secret of the mystery<br />And can reveal a better life?''<br />Then, from the dense mountain, Barlaam descended,<br />And spoke truth to the young heir.<br />And the elder told him of the One God-<br />Of the Father Who reigns with the Spirit and the Son-<br />Of the creation of the world, and Paradise, most beautiful;<br />Of the first Adam, in the effulgence of Paradise;<br />Of cursed sin that brought us death;<br />Of Christ Who bore the heavy Cross for us;<br />Of life eternal, better than this;<br />Of the infinite glory of the Kingdom of Christ.<br />When Ioasaph had heard the all-wise Barlaam,<br />A bright day dawned for him, and the darkness of night passed away.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /><br />A tale of the Elder Barlaam to Ioasaph: A man was fleeing from a terrifying unicorn. Fleeing thus, he fell into a pit, but grabbed hold of a tree. Just when he thought that he was out of danger, he looked down below the tree and saw two mice, one black and one white, gnawing alternately but continuously at the roots of the tree, so as to gnaw through and bring the tree crashing down. Looking down even further, he saw a huge, terrifying serpent which, with its jaws wide open, was waiting to devour the man when the tree would fall down. He then saw four smaller poisonous snakes around his feet. Looking upward, the man saw a little bit of honey on a branch, and forgetting all the danger that surrounded him, extended his hand to reach that little bit of sweetness in the tree. The interpretation is this: The unicorn represents death, which from Adam to now pursues every man to kill him; the pit filled with all sorts of dangers is this world; the tree is the path of our life; the white and black mice are days and nights, that continue one after the other to shorten our life; the huge and horrible snake is hell; the four poisonous snakes are the four elements from which the body of man is composed; the little bit of honey on the branch of the tree is the little sweetness that this life offers to man. Oh, if only men would not be captivated by that inconsequential sweetness, forgetting the terrible dangers that surround them and draw them down to eternal ruin!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 1):<br /><br />1. How on the sixth day God created the cattle and the small creatures and the wild beasts after their own kind;<br />2. How God saw that it was good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on glorifying God because of Christ the Lord</span><br /><br />Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen (Ephesians 3:21).<br /><br />Glory be to God! Glory be to God in the Church! Glory be to Him because of Christ Jesus! Glory be to Him throughout all generations! Glory be to Him unto ages of ages! No one befits being glorified as does God, nor does anyone glorify God as does the Church of God. Christ is the revealer of God: hence, all the glory given to God must go through Christ the Lord. The Church will endure beyond all races and generations to the end of time; the Church is the most pure body of Christ, filled with might, wisdom and miracle-working; and hence the glory of God is proclaimed from the Church: from the holy place to the Holy One, from purity to the Pure One. Glorification from the Church is most pleasing to God also, because there are many souls and voices in the Church, but they are all of one accord and of one voice. Therefore, let no one separate himself from the common glorification of God, and let no one even think that his own glorification of God in isolation and separation is better than the glorification of God in the unity and fullness of all the faithful. It is not true that one member is lost in the multitude, that his voice is not heard before God. Does not the hand do its work only when it is inseparably bound to the body? And so it is with each member of the body, just as it is with each of the faithful. When he prays in and with the Church (and even if he is in the desert he can pray in and with the Church), not separating himself from the Church, he is better heard and seen by God. His soul finds a much repeated echo in the souls of the other faithful, and so he is greatly distinguished and recognized in his prayer within the unity of the body of the Church rather than outside of it.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus, only from Thee, in Thee, and through Thee can we glorify God.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-4863433033295264040?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-61409219603153091072010-04-24T10:46:00.001-07:002010-04-24T10:51:51.345-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 18, and New Calendar date December 1.<br /><br />The Holy Martyr Plato. The Holy Martyrs Romanus and Barulas. Homily on love that surpasses knowledge.<a name='more'></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Plato</span><br /><br />Plato was from the town of Ancyra in Galatia. He was a Christian by birth and upbringing. While in his youth, he showed great perfection in every virtue. Plato did not conceal his faith in Christ the Lord, but preached it openly, denouncing idolaters because of their worshiping lifeless objects in place of the Living Creator. For this, he was brought to trial before Governor Agrippinus, and was interrogated and harshly tortured by him. When the governor counseled him to avoid death and save his life by worshiping the idols, Plato said: ``There are two deaths, the one temporal and the other eternal; so also are there two lives, one of short duration and the other without end.'' Then Agrippinus subjected him to even harsher tortures. Among other tortures, red-hot cannon balls were set on the saint's naked body; then they cut strips from his skin. ``Torture me more harshly,'' the martyr cried out to the torturers, ``so that your inhumanity and my endurance may be seen more clearly.'' When the torturer reminded the martyr that his namesake, Plato the philosopher, was a pagan, the martyr replied: ``I am not like Plato, nor is Plato like me except in name. I learn and teach the wisdom of Christ, but Plato was a teacher of wisdom that is foolishness to God.'' After that, Plato was thrown into prison, where he remained for eighteen days without food and water. When the guards were amazed that Plato was able to live in hunger for so long, he told them: ``You are satisfied by meat, but I, by holy prayers. Wine gladdens you, but Christ the True Vine gladdens me.'' Plato was beheaded in about the year 266 and received his wreath of eternal glory.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyrs Romanus and Barulas</span><br /><br />St. Romanus was a deacon of the church in Caesarea and zealously preached the Gospel in Antioch. One day, there was an idolatrous feast. The Eparch of Antioch, Asclypiades, went to enter a pagan temple to offer sacrifices, but Romanus stood in the way and said: ``You sin, O Governor, when you go to the idols. The idols are not gods-Christ is the only true God.'' The enraged eparch subjected Romanus to tortures and had him flogged and scraped without mercy. During this, St. Romanus saw a child by the name of Barulas, and said to Asclypiades: ``Even this small child has more understanding than you, old man, for he knows the true God and you do not.'' The eparch questioned Barulas about his faith, and he confessed Christ the Lord as the One True God, contrary to false idolatry. Asclypiades commanded that young Barulas be beheaded, and St. Romanus be strangled in prison. Thus, both of these martyrs inherited the Kingdom of Christ in the year 303.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Holy Martyrs Romanus and Barulas<br /><br />Barulas beheld the tortures of St. Romanus,<br />And Romanus beheld Barulas, sad and tear-stained.<br />Barulas had a child's innocent soul;<br />Barulas had a heart purer than a lily.<br />And the wicked eparch asked Barulas:<br />``Come, my child, without bribery, speak the truth:<br />Is Christ better, or our gods?''<br />``Christ is far better than your idols!''<br />``Had I known, O Child, I would not have asked you!<br />How is Christ better? Come, tell me.''<br />``Christ is the Creator of the world,<br />Idols are fancies of the demon's kingdom.''<br />The governor, now furious, beat the child.<br />But this was pleasant to the child, and he spoke louder:<br />``O people, abandon the cursed demons,<br />Christ alone is God; He enlightens men.''<br />Barulas's mother stood by, and encouraged her son:<br />``Become worthy, O Son, of the rank of martyrdom.''<br />As a lamb beneath the sword, Barulas bent his neck,<br />And glorified Christ, himself and his mother.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />But whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matthew 5:39), commanded the Lord. This is the shortest and clearest teaching on humility. The evil demons fear nothing so much as a humble man fulfilling the Lord's commandments. There was a rich nobleman in Alexandria who had a young daughter into whom an evil spirit had entered, and the daughter had gone insane. Someone told the despairing father that none could heal his daughter except the monks who lived in the wilderness and came to Alexandria from time to time to sell baskets, their handiwork; but none of the monks would enter the rich nobleman's house if he told them why he was inviting them. It would be better for him to purchase baskets from the monks, then ask them to come to his house for payment. Then, when they entered the house, he could implore them to pray to God for all the members of the household, and thus obtain God's help to cure the maiden. The father obeyed and went to the marketplace on a certain day and met one of St. Macarius's disciples as he was selling baskets. The man agreed to buy the baskets, and invited the monk to his home to pay him. When the monk entered the home, the possessed daughter leaped at the monk and vigorously struck him on one cheek with her hand. The monk silently turned the other cheek. The evil spirit cried out in anguish and departed from the girl, and she became completely calm and rational. When the monk returned to the wilderness, he told the elders what had happened and they all glorified God, that He had given so much power to those who fulfill His commandments.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 1):<br /><br />1. How, on the fifth day, God created the living things that live in the waters and the fowls of the air;<br />2. How God blessed them and said: Be fruitful and multiply.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on love that surpasses knowledge</span><br /><br />… to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge (Ephesians 3:19).<br /><br />The love that surpasses knowledge, that exceeds our understanding, is the love of Christ. No one can have even an inkling of the quality or the greatness of this love until Christ enters into him. Can anyone who has never tasted honey have any idea of its taste? Only when Christ enters into the heart of man by faith, does man know the inexpressible taste of the love of Christ-its sweet and intoxicating fragrance and incomparable comprehensiveness. Just as a man who has Christ in his heart touches the breadth, length, depth and height of the knowledge of divine wisdom, so this man with Christ in his heart also touches the limitless open seas of the divine love of Christ. O my brethren, how feeble are words when one needs to speak of the love of Christ-words are never weaker than in this situation. Indeed, what can one say before such astounding proofs of His love? He created us out of love, He was incarnate out of love, and out of love He accepted mockery and death for our sake. He opened the heavens for us out of love, and He revealed to us the immortal glory prepared for us! Even all this is only a part of the inexhaustible wealth, glory, beauty and life-creating sustenance that is the love of Christ. Oh, if only we too would be made worthy by faith, so that the Lord Jesus would enter our hearts, and that we would taste of His ineffable love!<br /><br />O Lord Jesus Christ, our Life, our Wisdom and our Love, cleanse us and enter into us.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-6140921960315309107?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-64897885527731014882010-04-24T10:34:00.000-07:002010-04-24T10:38:23.948-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 17, and New Calendar date November 30.<br /><br />Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea. The Venerable Nikon of Radonezh. The Venerable Gennadius of Vatopedi. Homily <span>on the breadth, length, depth and height</span>.<a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea</span><br /><br />This man of God and powerful wonderworker was called a second Moses. Gregory was born of pagan, but eminent and wealthy, parents. He studied Hellenic and Egyptian philosophy and became aware of the meagerness and insufficiency of pagan philosophy. He then turned to Christian teachers, particularly Origen of Alexandria, with whom he studied for several years and from whom he received baptism. Pure in body and soul, he wanted to dedicate himself solely to Christ God, for which reason he withdrew to the wilderness, where he spent much time in rigorous asceticism. His fame spread everywhere. Bishop Phaedimus of Amasea wanted to consecrate him Bishop of Neocaesarea. The clairvoyant Gregory perceived Phaedimus's intention and hid from the bishop's emissaries in the wilderness. Finally, Phaedimus consecrated him in a strange way, and Gregory had to accept the office of bishop. The Most-holy Theotokos and St. John the Theologian appeared to him in a vision, and St. John, at the command of the Theotokos, gave him the Symbol of Faith that is known by Gregory's name. Who can enumerate all the miracles of this second Moses? He had power over evil spirits, and over mountains and waters, healed every pain and infirmity, could become invisible to his persecutors, and clairvoyantly perceived distant events and men's thoughts. He ended his earthly life in the year 270, in great old age. When he arrived in Neocaesarea as bishop, he found only seventeen Christians in that pagan city. When he departed this life, he left the city Christian, with only seventeen pagans, and received the wreath of glory from his Lord in the Heavenly Kingdom.<br /><br />2.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Venerable Nikon of Radonezh</span><br /><br />Nikon was a disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh, and his successor as abbot. When barbarians attacked Russia, Nikon prayed to God to remove this misfortune from the Russian people. Then St. Sergius appeared to him with St. Peter and St. Alexis (the reposed Metropolitans of Moscow) and told him not to grieve, for the assault was by God's permission and was for their good, but would pass and peace would reign once more. Nikon renovated the Monastery of the Holy Trinity and served as an example to many of asceticism. He entered into rest on November 17, 1426.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Gennadius of Vatopedi</span><br /><br />Gennadius was a monk of Vatopedi on Mount Athos, and had the obedience of being steward. During his time as steward an empty barrel was miraculously filled with oil. This miracle is ascribed to the Most-holy Theotokos, to whom the monastery is dedicated, and especially to her icon, which was nearby.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea<br /><br />St. Gregory, holy and glorious,<br />A shining light of the Church and an Orthodox hero,<br />Raised himself up to God by a very narrow path:<br />Through suffering and tears, he attained holiness.<br />He saved himself, and helped many.<br />By his exemplary life, words and miracles,<br />He helped the unbelievers to belief,<br />And believers to be pure and true to the Faith.<br />The heavens were open to him,<br />And he clearly penetrated the secrets of men.<br />He received mystical teachings from heaven;<br />As the heart of that teaching, he taught the Holy Trinity-<br />The Divine Trinity, one in Essence,<br />And Christ, the life-giving food and drink.<br />Just as pure dewdrops are full of sunlight,<br />Pure hearts are the dwelling place of the heavens.<br />With God's help, holy Gregory<br />Overcame the moonless night of idolatry,<br />And baptized pagans by the thousands;<br />Then he departed in peace, to stand with his King!<br />Holy Gregory, implore God<br />That the Orthodox Church overcome the adversary!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /><br />Let the following examples from the Life of St. Gregory show how God guards and saves the righteous from assaults. While he was still at the school of philosophy in Alexandria, St. Gregory preserved the purity of his soul and his body, as he preserved it to the end of his life. In this, he was an exception among the dissolute youth of that time. This evoked envy and hatred among his companions. In order to debase Gregory, they found a harlot to help them carry out an evil plan. Once, when Gregory was standing in the square with eminent teachers and philosophers, the foul woman approached him and loudly demanded that Gregory pay her the remainder due for impure relations with her. Some of the people present were scandalized, while others were angry at this shameless woman and began to chase her away; but she shouted even louder, demanding money. The innocent Gregory blushed, as any decent man would before such coarse slander, but he displayed neither anger nor hatred, and asked a friend to give her the amount that she sought so she would leave. The friend heeded Gregory, and gave her the money she wanted. But at that moment God let an evil spirit enter the woman and she fell to the ground and began writhing and convulsing, gnashing her teeth, and foaming at the mouth. Seeing this, everyone was terrified. But St. Gregory, innocent as a lamb, prayed to God for her, and the woman was healed and arose. Thus, instead of humiliation, Gregory acquired even greater glory.<br /><br />Another example: When a bitter persecution of Christians took place, St. Gregory counseled Christians to hide, and he and his deacon hid on a hill. But the imperial soldiers caught sight of them and pursued them. When they were almost upon them, Gregory prayed to God for help, and God rendered them invisible to their pursuers. The soldiers searched for them in vain, and finally left without them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the creation of the world (Genesis 1):<br /><br />1. How God created the greater and lesser lights on the fourth day;<br />2. How He created the sun to shine during the day, and the moon and the stars to shine at night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the breadth, length, depth and height</span><br /><br />That ye … may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height (Ephesians 3:17-18).<br /><br />Behold the fruits of faith and love! Behold the royal gifts that Christ the King confers when He dwells in a man's heart: the understanding of salvific mysteries and the understanding of all that is important to a man's life. This understanding is not personal or exceptional, and it is not individual or novel. It is in accordance with the understanding of the saints-for who are the saints, if not those that are rich in faith and love? They were given the understanding of the mysteries of God because of their faith and love. Therefore, test your understanding against their understanding, and if you see a difference, know that it is you who are not in the right. If, however, your understanding is in accordance with theirs, you have attained the measure of their faith and love, and that means that Christ dwells in your heart.<br /><br />If that is so, then you will comprehend the breadth of God's love, by which He embraced both Jews and pagans in the plan of salvation, and the length of God's providence by which, from time immemorial, He prepared and developed the plan of salvation through the Law, the Prophets and many miracles. You will also comprehend the depth of the humility of Christ, by which He personally descended into hades to save the souls of the righteous, and the height of the glory of Christ, which He received as a man after the completion of His saving work on earth. Breadth and length and depth and height stand like Christ's Cross: embracing all, explaining all, inviting all, showing mercy to all, and exalting all.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus Christ, our gracious Lord, have mercy on us and save us.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-6489788552773101488?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-69362677808570642932010-04-24T09:22:00.000-07:002010-04-24T09:25:28.367-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 16, and New Calendar date November 29.<br /><br />The Holy Apostle Matthew the Evangelist. The Venerable Sergius of Malopinega. Homily on Christ's dwelling in the hearts of the faithful.<a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Apostle Matthew the Evangelist</span><br /><br />Matthew, son of Alphaeus, was a tax collector when the Lord saw him in Capernaum and said: Follow Me. And he arose, and followed Him (Matthew 9:9). After that, Matthew prepared a reception for the Lord in his home and thus provided the occasion for the Lord to express several great truths about His coming to earth. After receiving the Holy Spirit, Matthew preached the Gospel to the Parthians, Medes and Ethiopians. In Ethiopia he appointed his follower Plato as bishop, and withdrew to prayerful solitude on a mountain, where the Lord appeared to him. Matthew baptized the wife and the son of the prince of Ethiopia, at which the prince became greatly enraged and dispatched a guard to bring Matthew to him for trial. The soldiers returned to the prince saying that they had heard Matthew's voice, but could not see him with their eyes. The prince then sent a second guard. When this guard approached the apostle, he shone with a heavenly light so powerful that the soldiers could not look at him; filled with fear, they threw down their weapons and returned. The prince then went himself. Matthew radiated such light that the prince was instantly blinded. However, the holy apostle had a compassionate heart; he prayed to God, and the prince was given back his sight. Unfortunately, he saw only with physical eyes and not spiritual eyes. He arrested Matthew and subjected him to cruel tortures. Twice, a large fire was lighted on his chest, but the power of God preserved him alive and unharmed. Then the apostle prayed to God and gave up his spirit. The prince commanded that the martyr's body be placed in a lead coffin and thrown into the sea. The saint appeared to Bishop Plato and told him where the coffin bearing his body could be found. The bishop retrieved the coffin with Matthew's body from the sea. Witnessing this new miracle, the prince was baptized and received the name Matthew. After that, the prince left all the vanity of the world and became a presbyter and served the Church in a God-pleasing way. When Plato died, the Apostle Matthew appeared to the presbyter Matthew and counseled him to accept the episcopacy. He accepted the bishopric and, for many years, was a good shepherd until the Lord called him to His Immortal Kingdom. St. Matthew the Apostle wrote his Gospel in the Aramaic language. It was soon after translated into Greek and the Greek text has come down to us, while the Aramaic text has been lost. It is said of this evangelist that he never ate meat, but only vegetables and fruit.<br /><br />2.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Venerable Sergius of Malopinega</span><br /><br />Sergius was a Russian parish priest who lived a God-pleasing life and served for sixty-two years in the province of Vologda. He peacefully entered into rest in the Lord on November 16, 1585, at the age of ninety-two.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Holy Apostle Matthew the Evangelist<br /><br />To His Holy Apostle Matthew,<br />The Lord appeared in the land of the blacks,<br />Giving great comfort to the tortured warrior,<br />And great strength to his heroic soul.<br />The Lord gave him a staff from His hand,<br />And told Matthew to plant it in front of the church.<br />He told him that it would grow green with life and blossom with various colors,<br />And bear sweet fruit for everyone to enjoy.<br />A spring would flow from beneath its roots-<br />A spring of cool water for those who thirst.<br />The face of whomever would partake of it with thanksgiving<br />Would shine with a wondrous light.<br />The apostle did as the Lord said,<br />And the wood budded forth, and was adorned with blossoms,<br />And living water flowed from its roots,<br />And the church was filled with a multitude of people.<br />Whoever was sick, was healed;<br />Whoever was healthy, became healthier still.<br />The blacks were blessed, their faces radiant,<br />And this fierce people became God's vineyard.<br />O wondrous tree, would that we could have it!<br />But we do have it, brethren; all of us have it!<br />It is Christ the Lord, the Lord of Hosts-<br />He is the Tree of Life; by Him we are saved.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />Does the Lord's command about ceaseless prayer that men ought always to pray (Luke 18:1), apply only to monks or to all Christians in general? If it applied only to monks, the Apostle Paul would not have written to the Christians in Thessalonica to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). The Apostle repeats the Lord's command, word for word, and issues it to all Christians without distinction, whether monks or laymen. St. Gregory Palamas lived a life of asceticism for some time as a young hieromonk in a monastery in Beroea. The elder Job, a well-known ascetic whom everyone respected, lived in that monastery. It happened that, in elder Job's presence, St. Gregory quoted the Apostle's words, asserting that ceaseless prayer is the obligation of every Christian and not just for monks. However, elder Job replied that ceaseless prayer is the obligation of the monk only, and not for every Christian. Gregory, as the younger of the two, yielded and withdrew in silence. When Job returned to his cell and stood at prayer, an angel in great heavenly glory appeared to him and said: ``O Elder, do not doubt the truthfulness of Gregory's words; he spoke correctly and you should think likewise and pass it on to others.'' Thus, both the Apostle and the angel confirmed the commandment that all Christians must pray to God without ceasing. Not only without ceasing in church, but also without ceasing in every place and at all times, and especially in your heart. For if God does not for a moment tire of giving us good things, how can we tire of thanking Him for these good things? When He thinks of us without ceasing, why do we not think of Him without ceasing?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the creation of the world (Genesis 1):<br /><br />1. How on the third day God divided the dry land from the water;<br />2. How He commanded the earth to bring forth grass and fruit-bearing trees;<br />3. How this was according to the Word of God, and it was good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on Christ's dwelling in the hearts of the faithful</span><br /><br />… that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye [may be] rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17).<br /><br />With faith, Christ comes into the heart, and with Christ comes love. Thus man is rooted and grounded in love. First then, there is faith; then with faith comes Christ's presence in the heart; then with Christ's presence, the presence of love; and with love, all ineffable goodness. In a few words, the Apostle delineates the whole ladder of perfection. The beginning is faith and the end is love; and faith and love are joined in a living, undivided unity by the Living Lord Jesus Christ's presence in the heart. By strengthening faith, we further abolish the distance between ourselves and the Lord Jesus Christ. The stronger one's faith, the closer one is to Christ. Ultimately, one's heart is filled with Christ and cannot be separated from Christ, just as one's lung cannot be separated from the air. Then a man may, with tears of joy, communicate with Christ by the prayer of the heart-``Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner''-and the heart is imperceptibly filled with light and ardent love. In this way, love is united with faith and hope; and when they are united, the boundaries between them are lost, so that man cannot even think of determining of how far faith goes, and where hope and love begin. When the living Christ dwells in a man, then he no longer perceives faith, hope or love in himself, nor does he name them. Instead, he sees only Christ and names only Him. This is just like a fruit-grower in autumn who considers the ripe fruit on the tree, and speaks no more of blossoms and leaves but of fruit, ripe fruit.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus Christ, supreme height of all our endeavors and the destination of all our travels, draw near to us and save us.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-6936267780857064293?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-26037443854841050802010-04-24T09:14:00.000-07:002010-04-24T09:24:57.824-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 15, and New Calendar date November 28.<br /><br />The Holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus. The Holy Martyrs Elpidius, Marcellus and Eustochius. The Feast of the Icon of the Holy Theotokos of Kupyatich. Homily on the revelation of the wisdom of God to the heavenly powers.<a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus</span><br /><br />Gurias and Samonas were prominent citizens of Edessa. During one of the persecutions of Christians, they hid outside the city and lived in fasting and prayer, encouraging true believers who came to them for counsel. However, they were captured and brought before the judge, who threatened them with death if they did not submit to the imperial decree demanding idol worship. These holy martyrs of Christ answered him: ``If we submit to the imperial decree, we will perish, even if you don't kill us.'' After cruel torture, they were thrown into prison, where they remained from August 1 to November 10, enduring hunger, darkness and pain. They were then led out and again tortured, but since they remained unwavering in the Christian Faith, they were condemned to death and beheaded in the year 322, during the reign of the wicked Emperor Licinius. Later Abibus, a deacon in Edessa, suffered tortures for Christ his Lord and gave his spirit to God while in the flames. His mother took his body, miraculously intact, from the fire and buried it in a grave with the relics of St. Gurias and St. Samonas. When the persecution ceased, Christians built a church in honor of the three martyrs, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, and placed their miracle-working relics in a common reliquary. Of the numerous miracles of these wonderful saints of God, the following is especially outstanding: A widow in Edessa had a young daughter who was to marry a Gothic soldier serving in the Greek army. As the mother feared for her daughter's safety if she were to live far away, the Goth swore on the grave of the holy three martyrs that he would do no evil to the maiden, but would take her as his lawful wife, as he had already sworn that he was not already married. In reality, he did have a wife, and when he took the young maiden to his country he kept her, not as his wife but as a slave, until his lawful wife died. He then agreed with his kinsmen to bury his living slave with his dead wife. The girl tearfully prayed to the three holy martyrs to save her, and they appeared to her in the grave, and took her in an instant from the land of the Goths to Edessa, to their church. The following day when the church was opened, they found the young maiden by the tomb of the saints of God, and learned of her miraculous deliverance.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyrs Elpidius, Marcellus and Eustochius</span><br /><br />They suffered for Christ at the time of Julian the Apostate. Elpidius was a senator. Witnessing the torture and miracles of Elpidius, six thousand pagans came to believe in Christ the Lord.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Feast of the Icon of the Holy Theotokos of Kupyatich</span><br /><br />This icon first appeared to a maiden named Anna in the village of Kupyatich, in the province of Minsk, in the year 1182. Tending her flock, Anna saw a light in the forest. When she approached this light she beheld a medium-size cross on a tree, bearing the image of the Most-holy Theotokos. Anna brought this cross home, then returned to her flock. However, to her great amazement, she saw the same cross on the tree in the same place. She took it, placed it in her bosom and brought it home. When she tried to show her father the cross, she reached into her bosom, but the cross was not there. She related everything to her father and went out with him, saw the cross in the forest, and took it home. The next day, the cross was not in the house. They alerted the whole village, and all the villagers went and beheld the cross and venerated it. The people soon built a church there, and numerous miracles were manifested by this cross bearing the image of the Theotokos. This icon is now to be found in the Church of Holy Wisdom in Kiev.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />To the Most-holy Theotokos<br /><br />O Most-holy Mother of God, Bride of God,<br />Thou wast the Bodily Throne of Christ God,<br />Thou didst bear the King of Glory in thy body,<br />Thou gavest birth to Him Who gavest life to a dead world.<br />By His Blood, His holy Blood, He redeemed the world,<br />Gloriously glorifying Himself and thee, O Virgin.<br />But thy true glory shines in heaven,<br />Where thou sittest on the right hand of Christ Himself.<br />And the rays of thy glory descend to earth,<br />And shine at night on the path of the sojourners.<br />Glory to thee, Mother of God, throughout the ages,<br />The first Temple, the wonderful Temple of the glory of Christ!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />God most often gives victory in battle to the peacemakers. One example of this is the great Emperor Justinian, and another example is the holy King Stefan of Decani. Following the death of his father King Milutin, Stefan removed the bandage from his eyes and was joyfully proclaimed as king both by the nobles and by the people. However, Constantine-son of Simonida and Stefan's younger brother on his father's side-raised up an army against Stefan. Stefan then wrote him in the following manner: ``You have heard what has happened to me (that is, how I received my sight) by God's providence, that works in all for the good. Shown mercy by God, I have inherited the throne of my parents, to rule over the people in the fear of God and with justice, according to the example of my forefathers. Abandon your undertaking, and come, let us meet with one another; assume the second place in the kingdom as the second son, and do not rise up with foreigners against your fatherland. Our spacious land is sufficient for both you and me. I am not Cain, the slayer of his brother, but a friend of Joseph, the lover of his brethren. In the words of the latter, I say to you: You intended evil against me but God intended it for good (Genesis 50:20).'' Thus wrote the holy king, but Constantine did not take heed and was defeated in battle by Stefan. Defeated also was Vladislav, Dragutin's son, another pretender to the Serbian throne. However, Michael Shishman, the Bulgarian king, fared worst of all. Stefan wrote to him: ``Reflect on the meaning of Christian love, calm your wrath, let there be love between us as there was between our parents. Cease to shed Christian blood. Turn your weapons against the enemies of the name of Christ and not on Christians. Remind yourself of how hard it will be to answer for innocent blood. Know this also, that he who takes what belongs to others loses what is his.'' Michael scoffed at this letter from the holy king and was utterly defeated at Velbuzd in 1330. ``God is with the righteous, not with the mighty.''<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 1):<br /><br />1. How God said: Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters;<br />2. How He divided the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament;<br />3. How He called the firmament heaven.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the revelation of the wisdom of God to the heavenly powers</span><br /><br />… To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10).<br /><br />Brethren, are the angels all-knowing? They are not; for if they were all-knowing, they would be gods. God is one, brethren, and the angels are God's beautiful servants. The mystery of the Incarnation was not known to the angels before it took place. And all the other mysteries connected with the mystery of the Incarnation were also unknown to the angels until they saw them revealed in the Church. Therefore the Church is a new revelation, even for the holy angels. The Church is a new revelation of the wisdom and power of God and of His love for man. On the other hand, it is also a new revelation of man's love for God, and man's struggle. Even the angels themselves did not foresee how much God would humble Himself or how much man would be uplifted. This was shown in the Church, and through the Church it was proclaimed to the angels. The Apostle speaks of this to the Ephesians in the words quoted above: the principalities and powers-in other words, not even to the chiefs of the angels was everything known beforehand. The manifold wisdom of God is that wisdom that was not revealed earlier, and was unknown to the angels and now, in the Church, is shown in countless forms, situations and circumstances.<br /><br />O my brethren, the two greatest works of God that have been revealed up to now are the creation of the world and the creation of the Church. In both works, brethren, man is the main object of God's love. Let us be thankful with our every breath to the Most-gracious God.<br /><br />O Gracious God, O Compassionate God, to Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-2603744385484105080?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-36467680339404659802010-04-24T09:02:00.001-07:002010-04-24T09:03:05.802-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 14, and New Calendar date November 27.<br /><br />The Holy Apostle Philip. Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica. Saint Justinian, Emperor of Byzantium. Homily on Paul, the prisoner.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Apostle Philip</span><br /><br />Philip was born in Bethsaida beside the Sea of Galilee, as were Peter and Andrew. Instructed in Holy Scripture from his youth, Philip immediately responded to the call of the Lord Jesus and followed Him (John 1:43). After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Philip zealously preached the Gospel throughout many regions in Asia and Greece. In Greece, the Jews wanted to kill him, but the Lord saved him by His mighty miracles. Thus, a Jewish high priest that rushed at Philip to beat him was suddenly blinded and turned completely black. Then there was a great earthquake, and the earth opened up and swallowed Philip's wicked persecutor. Many other miracles were manifested, especially the healing of the sick, by which many pagans believed in Christ. In the Phrygian town of Hierapolis, St. Philip found himself in common evangelical work with his sister Mariamna, St. John the Theologian, and the Apostle Bartholomew. In this town there was a dangerous snake that the pagans diligently fed and worshiped as a god. God's apostle killed the snake through prayer as though with a spear, but he also incurred the wrath of the unenlightened people. The wicked pagans seized Philip and crucified him upside-down on a tree, and then crucified Bartholomew as well. At that, the earth opened up and swallowed the judge and many other pagans with him. In great fear, the people rushed to rescue the crucified apostles, but only Bartholomew was still alive; Philip had already breathed his last. Bartholomew ordained Stachys as bishop for those whom he and Philip had baptized. Stachys had been blind for forty years, and Bartholomew and Philip had healed and baptized him. The relics of St. Philip were later translated to Rome. This wonderful apostle suffered in the year 86 in the time of Emperor Dometian.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica</span><br /><br />Gregory's father was an eminent official at the court of Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus. The gifted Gregory, completing his secular studies, did not want to enter the service of the imperial court, but withdrew to the Holy Mountain and was tonsured a monk. He lived a life of asceticism in the Monastery of Vatopedi and the Great Lavra. He led the struggle against the heretic Barlaam and finally defeated him. He was consecrated as Metropolitan of Thessalonica in the year 1347. He is glorified as an ascetic, a theologian, a hierarch and a miracle-worker. The Most-holy Theotokos, St. John the Theologian, St. Demetrius, St. Anthony the Great, St. John Chrysostom and angels of God appeared to him at different times. He governed the Church in Thessalonica for thirteen years, of which he spent one year in slavery under the Saracens in Asia. He entered peacefully into rest in the year 1360, and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Christ. His relics repose in Thessalonica, where a beautiful church is dedicated to him.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Justinian, Emperor of Byzantium</span><br /><br />Justinian was a Slav by birth, probably a Serb from the region of Skoplje. His Slavic name was Upravda, meaning ``truth, justice.'' He succeeded to the throne of his uncle Justin in 527. The greatness of this emperor is inseparably bound to his profound faith in Orthodoxy; he believed, and lived according to his faith. During Great Lent, he neither ate bread nor drank wine but ate only vegetables and drank water, and that, just every other day. He waged war against the barbarians of the Danube because they castrated their captives. This reveals his elevated feeling of love for his fellow man. Justinian was fortunate and successful both in wars and in his works. He built many great and beautiful churches, the most beautiful of which was Hagia Sophia [the Church of the Divine Wisdom] in Constantinople. He collected [and revised] and published the Laws of Rome and also personally issued many strict laws against immorality and licentiousness. He composed the Church hymn ``Only-begotten Son and Word of God,'' which has been sung during the Divine Liturgy since the year 536. He convened the Fifth Ecumenical Council (553). He died peacefully at the age of eighty, and took up his abode in the Kingdom of the Heavenly King.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />Saint Justinian, Emperor of Byzantium<br /><br />Justinian, great and glorious,<br />Knight of the Cross and Orthodox emperor,<br />Raised a church to the Wisdom of God,<br />A church to endure to the threshold of eternity:<br />Another sun to shine on earth,<br />To warm the generations;<br />A church in which to worship the Incarnate Word,<br />And in which to come to know the beauty of Christ,<br />And the measureless height of the Kingdom of God,<br />And as in height, measureless depth,<br />And as in depth, measureless width,<br />And as in width, measueless length.<br />Like the sun on a summer's day,<br />Shone the crown of Emperor Justinian-<br />Shone the crown of the servant of God-<br />In his wisdom, the wisest,<br />In his might, the most powerful,<br />And in his faith, the most faithful.<br />O great Orthodox Emperor,<br />Your churches never grow old,<br />Your faith still shines upon the world<br />With the brilliance of the Orthodox Christ.<br />O holy Emperor, pray to Christ<br />That this Faith withstand time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />St. Gregory Palamas learned much through heavenly revelations. After he had spent three years in stillness in a cell of the Great Lavra, it was necessary for him to go out among men and benefit them with his accumulated knowledge and experience. God revealed this necessity to him through an extraordinary vision: One day, as though in a light sleep, Gregory saw himself holding a vessel in his hand full to overflowing with milk. Gradually, the milk turned into wine which likewise spilled over the rim, and drenched his hands and garments. Then a radiant youth appeared and said: ``Why would you not give others of this wonderful drink that you are wasting so carelessly, or are you not aware that this is the gift of God's grace?'' To this Gregory replied: ``But if there is no one in our time who feels the need for such a drink, to whom shall I give it?'' Then the youth said: ``Whether there are some or whether there are none thirsty for such a drink, you are obligated to fulfill your debt and not neglect the gift of God.'' Gregory interpreted the milk as the common knowledge (of the masses) of moral life and conduct, and the wine as dogmatic teaching.<br />The second time Gregory secluded himself in a monastery he was writing his Principles of Orthodoxy. On the eve of the Feast of St. Anthony the Great, the monks summoned him to the all-night vigil service, but he remained at his work in the cell while all the brethren went to church. St. Anthony suddenly appeared to him and said: ``Perfect stillness is good, but sometimes it is necessary to be with the brethren.'' Convinced by this revelation, Gregory immediately went into church to the joy of all the monks.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the wondrous creation of light (Genesis 1):<br /><br />1. How there was darkness everywhere over the formless earth;<br />2. How God said, Let there be light: and there was light;<br />3. How God separated the light from the darkness, and there was day and there was night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on Paul, the prisoner</span><br /><br />… I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1).<br /><br />Brethren, this apostle of Christ calls himself the ``prisoner of Christ.'' How is it that an apostle can be a prisoner? Is not a prisoner bound? Yes, and the Apostle is bound-bound by love to the Lord Jesus so strongly that he feels that no comparable bond exists on earth. The Apostle is bound in his mind to the Lord Jesus so strongly that he cannot think of anything except Jesus Christ the Lord. The Apostle is so firmly bound by his will to the Lord Jesus that, in essence, he does not have a will of his own but has submitted his will completely to the Lord Jesus. And so, he loves that which Christ loves, thinks that which Christ thinks, and does that which Christ wills. Is this not imprisonment? O blessed imprisonment, which is not unto shame but glory, and is not unto destruction but salvation! Thus, Christ is the complete Lord of the Apostle's life, both outwardly and inwardly. For outwardly and inwardly, Christ permits him to be tempted; outwardly and inwardly, He reveals to him the wonders of His providence; outwardly and inwardly, He guides him to perfect good for the sake of his salvation, and for the sake of the salvation of many others.<br /><br />Brethren, let us also commit ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ as did His Apostle, and then we will be in the most secure hands and on the most secure path.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus Christ, great and wonderful Lord, bind us to Thee, imprison us in Thee forever and ever in both worlds.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-3646768033940465980?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-40539981969624824202010-04-24T08:59:00.000-07:002010-04-24T09:00:12.760-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 13, and New Calendar date November 26.<br /><br />Saint John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople. The Holy Martyrs Antoninus, Nicephorus, Germanus and Manetha. The Venerable Martyr Damascene. Homily on the foundation and the cornerstone.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople</span><br /><br /> John was born in Antioch in the year 354. His father, Secundus, was an imperial commander and his mother's name was Anthusa. Studying Greek philosophy, John became disgusted with Hellenic paganism and adopted the Christian Faith as the one and all-embracing truth. Meletius, Patriarch of Antioch, baptized John, and his parents also subsequently received baptism. Following his parents' repose, John was tonsured a monk and lived a strict life of asceticism. He then wrote a book, On the Priesthood, after which the Holy Apostles John and Peter appeared to him, and prophesied that he would have a life of great service, great grace and great suffering. When he was to be ordained a priest, an angel of God appeared simultaneously to John and to Patriarch Flavian (Meletius's successor). While the patriarch was ordaining John, a shining white dove was seen hovering over John's head. Glorified for his wisdom, asceticism and power of words, John was chosen as Patriarch of Constantinople at the behest of Emperor Arcadius. As patriarch, he governed the Church for six years with unequalled zeal and wisdom. He sent missionaries to the pagan Celts and Scythians and eradicated simony in the Church, deposing many bishops guilty of this vice. He extended the charitable works of the Church and wrote a special order of the Divine Liturgy. He shamed the heretics, denounced Empress Eudoxia, interpreted Holy Scripture with his golden mind and tongue, and bequeathed the Church many precious books of his homilies. The people glorified him, the envious loathed him, and the Empress, on two occasions, sent him into exile. John spent three years in exile, and reposed as an exile on the Feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, September 14, 407, in the town of Comana in Georgia. Before his repose, the Holy Apostles John and Peter appeared to him again, as did the Holy Martyr Basiliscus (May 22) in whose church he received Communion for the last time. His last words were, ``Glory be to God for all things,'' and with that, the soul of the golden-mouthed patriarch was taken into Paradise. Chrysostom's head reposes in the Church of the Dormition in Moscow, and his body reposes in the Vatican in Rome.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyrs Antoninus, Nicephorus, Germanus and Manetha</span><br /><br /> The first three were watching the pagans worshiping idols with shouts and dancing at one of their feasts. Fearlessly, they went before the crowd and preached the One God in Trinity. Firmilian-the eparch of Palestinian Caesarea, where this occurred-was so enraged at the action of these three Christians that he commanded their immediate beheading. Manetha was a Christian maiden who followed the martyrs as they were being led to the place of execution. She too was arrested, and after cruel tortures, was burned to death. They all suffered in the year 308 and entered into the eternal joy of the Eternal God.<br /><br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Martyr Damascene</span><br /><br /> Damascene was born in Galata in Constantinople and at first was called Diamantis. In his youth he lived immorally, and even became a Moslem. Then bitter repentance ensued, and he went to the Holy Mountain, where he lived a life of strict asceticism for twelve years, as a monk in the Lavra of St. Athanasius. But, desiring martyrdom to expiate his sins, Damascene went to Constantinople and visited the mosques, making the sign of the Cross and shouting that the Turks' faith was false and that Jesus Christ is God and Lord. He was beheaded before the gate of the Phanar on November 13, 1681. His relics repose on Halki, in the Monastery of the Holy Trinity.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> Saint John Chrysostom<br /><br /> The Church glorifies St. John<br /> The ``Golden-mouth,'' blessed by God,<br /> Christ's great soldier,<br /> Who is the adornment and boast of the Church:<br /> Profound of heart and mind,<br /> And a golden-stringed harp of words.<br /> He plumbed the depths of mysteries,<br /> And found the pearl that shines as the stars.<br /> Exalted in mind to heaven's height,<br /> He expounded divine truth;<br /> And his vision is true throughout history.<br /> He gave all to the Son of God.<br /> He revealed to us the horrors of sin,<br /> And the virtues that adorn a man;<br /> He showed us the most precious mysteries,<br /> And all the sweet richness of Paradise.<br /> Evangelist, interpreter of the Gospel<br /> And bearer of spiritual joy,<br /> Zealous for Christ like an apostle,<br /> He would accept no injustice.<br /> He was tormented like any martyr,<br /> And received his torment as a pledge of salvation.<br /> This servant of Christ showed himself true;<br /> Therefore, the Church glorifies Chrysostom.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> Punishment and reward! Both of these are in the hands of God. But, as this earthly life is only a shadow of the true life in the heavens, so punishment and reward here on earth are only a shadow of true punishment and reward in eternity. The principle persecutors of the saint of God Chrysostom were Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria and Empress Eudoxia. After Chrysostom's martyric death, bitter punishment befell them both. Theophilus went mad, and Eudoxia was banished from the imperial court by Emperor Arcadius. Eudoxia soon became ill with an incurable disease-wounds opened up all over her body, and worms came out of her wounds. Such was the stench that she gave off, that it was not easy for a person on the street to pass by her house. Physicians used all the most powerful perfumes and incense if only to overcome the stench from the wicked empress, but had little success. The empress finally died in corruption and agony. Even after death, the hand of God lay heavy on her. The coffin containing her body shook day and night for a full thirty-four years until Emperor Theodosius translated the relics of St. John Chrysostom to Constantinople. But what happened to Chrysostom after his repose? Reward-such reward as only God can give. Adeltius, the Arabian bishop who received the exiled Chrysostom into his home in Cucusus, prayed to God after Chrysostom's repose that He reveal to him where John's soul was to be found. Adeltius then had a vision while at prayer. It was as though he were out of himself, and was led through the heavens by a radiant youth who showed him the hierarchs, pastors and teachers of the Church in order, calling each of them by name-but he did not see John. Then that angel of God led him to the passage out of Paradise, and Adeltius was downcast. When the angel asked him why he was sad, Adeltius replied that he was sorry that he had not seen his beloved teacher, John Chrysostom. The angel replied: ``No man who is still in the flesh can see him, for he is at God's throne with the Cherubim and Seraphim.''<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the wondrous creation of the world (Genesis 1):<br /><br /> 1. How, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth;<br /> 2. How the earth was without form and void;<br /> 3. How the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on the foundation and the cornerstone</span><br /><br /> And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:20).<br /><br /> Brethren, the foundation of the apostles and prophets is their life and work: the Old and the New Testaments. Who unites the apostles and the prophets? Christ the Lord. Without Him, the prophets would not understand the apostles, nor would the apostles understand the prophets. Therefore, He is the fulfillment of the prophets and witness of the apostles. Thus, He is the Cornerstone that ties the prophets and the apostles together, as a cornerstone holds the walls together. The Old and New Testaments are united in Him, have their meaning in Him, revolve around Him, were inspired by Him and are upheld by Him, the Lord Jesus Christ. Where would the pagans and Jews meet, and where would they understand one another, if not in Jesus Christ the Lord? Nowhere, except in Him. In Him and through Him they are united in one new man, in one immortal body, in One, Holy and Catholic Church. Only through the Lord Jesus Christ are the body and the soul united in a loftier and holier friendship. The bonds between the soul and body were at enmity until His coming in the flesh, and that enmity led to the destruction of the soul. He reconciled and sanctified them both. Thus, He became the Cornerstone of every immortal and God-pleasing edifice-be that edifice an individual man or family or nation or the entire race of man-either in the present, in the past, or in the future; of the Old Covenant or the New Covenant. He is the Chief Cornerstone in every building, as He is the Head of the Body, God's Church.<br /><br /> O Lord Jesus Christ, our Cornerstone of salvation, have mercy on us and save us.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-4053998196962482420?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-55064677797991166552010-04-24T08:52:00.000-07:002010-04-24T08:53:26.553-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 12, and New Calendar date November 25.<br /><br />St. John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria. The Holy Prophet Ahijah of Shiloh. The Venerable Nilus of Sinai. The Venerable Nilus the Myrrh-gusher. Homily on how strangers become members of the household.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> 1.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> St. John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria</span><br /><br /> John was born on the island of Cyprus. His father was Prince Epiphanius. John was raised as a true Christian from childhood. At the insistence of his parents, he married and had children. However, by God's providence, his wife and children passed from this world into the next. Renowned for his compassion and piety, John was chosen as Patriarch of Alexandria in the time of Emperor Heraclius. He governed the Church of Alexandria for ten years as a true shepherd, safeguarding it from pagans and heretics. He was a model of meekness, charity and love for his fellow men. He said: ``If you desire nobility, seek it not in blood but in virtues, for this is true nobility.'' All the saints have been distinguished by mercifulness, but St. John was completely dedicated to this wonderful virtue. Once, while celebrating the Liturgy, the patriarch remembered the words of Christ, Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift (Matthew 5:23-24), and he remembered that one of the clergy in that church had a grievance against him. He quickly left the Holy Gifts, approached that priest, fell before his feet and begged for forgiveness. And only when he had made peace with this man did he return to the table of oblation. Another time, as he was on his way to the Church of Saints Cyrus and John, it happened that he met a needy and unfortunate widow who spoke to him at length about her misfortune. The patriarch's escorts became bored by the woman's lengthy complaint, and urged the bishop to hurry to the church for the service, intimating that he could hear the woman's story afterward. John said to them: ``And how will God listen to me, if I do not listen to her?'' He would not leave until he heard the widow's complaint to the end.<br /> When the Persians attacked Egypt, Patriarch John boarded a boat to escape from danger. Along the way he fell ill and, when he arrived in Cyprus, he reposed at his birthplace, in the year 620. After he entered the Immortal Kingdom of his Lord, his miracle-working relics were translated to Constantinople, then to Budapest, and finally to Presburg.<br /><br /> 2.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Holy Prophet Ahijah of Shiloh</span><br /><br /> Ahijah prophesied a thousand years before Christ. He prophesied to Jeroboam, Solomon's servant, that he would reign over ten of the tribes of Israel (I Kings 11:29-31).<br /><br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Nilus of Sinai</span><br /><br /> Nilus was at first a prefect in the capital city, Constantinople. As a married man, he had a son and a daughter. Seeing the sinful life of the capital, he agreed with his wife to withdraw from the world. This they did. His wife and daughter went to a convent in Egypt. Nilus and his son Theodulus went to Mount Sinai. Nilus lived a life of asceticism on Mount Sinai for a full sixty years. He wrote wonderful books on the spiritual life. He entered peacefully into rest in about the year 450, in the eightieth year of his earthly existence, and took up his habitation in the blessed heavenly life. These holy words are his: ``Physical passions have their origin in physical desires, and against them abstinence is necessary; but spiritual passions are born of spiritual desires, and against them, prayer is necessary.''<br /><br /> 4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Nilus the Myrrh-gusher</span><br /><br /> Nilus was born in the Morea. As a hieromonk he went with his uncle to the Holy Mountain and there lived a life of asceticism as a recluse in a deserted place called ``the Holy Rocks.'' When he entered into rest, myrrh flowed from his body in such abundance that it ran down from the top of the mountain into the sea. This miracle-working myrrh attracted ailing men from all over. A disciple of St. Nilus was so distracted by the many visitors that he complained in prayer to St. Nilus, and the flow of myrrh ceased at once. St. Nilus lived a life of asceticism in the fullest sense, like the saints of old. He entered into rest in the seventeenth century.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Venerable Nilus of Sinai<br /><br /> St. Nilus of Sinai spoke to the monks:<br /> ``Repeat the name of Jesus in your heart!<br /> Exercise your heart in innocence,<br /> And your body in purity and abstinence.<br /> If you are insulted, endure the insult,<br /> And thus the insulter will feel the injury.<br /> Weep for the sinner, even when he advances:<br /> He is on an eternal journey to meet justice.<br /> If you endure misfortunes, they will serve you-<br /> Misfortunes are thorns on which roses grow.<br /> Whenever you pray to God, ask not for pleasant things,<br /> But for that which brings benefit to the soul!<br /> Fear not death, but await the death of the body;<br /> Feel shame before the angels, before you feel the shame of men.<br /> Avoid temptation and do not seek it,<br /> But when it comes of its own accord, show yourself a hero.<br /> He who often partakes of Communion with the gracious Christ<br /> Is a temple in which Christ abides.<br /> Speak little and rarely with men,<br /> But speak more and more often with God.''<br /> Thus, did Nilus of Sinai teach the monks,<br /> And his deeds bore witness to his words.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> Their time of death and the necessity of preparation for it was revealed beforehand to many holy men and women. This is a great gift from heaven, but as we do not expect this gift, we unworthy ones need daily repentance to prepare for our departure. One can flee from men, but never from God. When St. John the Merciful fled Egypt from the Persians, a gloriously radiant man with a golden sceptre in his hand appeared to him on the boat and said: ``The King of kings is calling you to Himself.'' John understood these words and began to prepare for his repose, which came soon. The holy King Stefan of Deè< face="AGaramond">ani's beloved St. Nicholas often appeared to him, and did so before Stefan's repose, saying: ``Stefan, prepare for your departure, for soon you will appear before the Lord.'' Both saints were very similar in their compassion. Despite the immeasurable wealth that St. John had at his disposal as Patriarch of Alexandria, he personally had only one-third of a dinar at his repose, and he willed even that to the poor. When St. Stefan of Deè< face="AGaramond">ani was in the Monastery of the Pantocrator in Constantinople, a generous Serbian nobleman secretly sent him a substantial sum of money. ``I give thanks to the good gentleman for his love,'' replied Stefan to the bearer, ``but he would give me greater joy if he would distribute this money, intended for me, to the poor.''<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the courage of the Apostle Paul (Acts 28):<br /><br /> 1. How he sat in chains for two years in Rome;<br /> 2. How he freely preached the Gospel to the pagans and Jews, not fearing anyone;<br /> 3. How neither chains nor prison nor death could turn him away from preaching the Gospel.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on how strangers become members of the household</span><br /><br /> Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).<br /><br /> Before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, it seemed that only the Jews were close to God and that the pagans were farther away from God. But as a matter of fact, the Jews and the pagans were equally estranged from God, and from true reverence for Him. Then He came, Christ the Savior, and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh (Ephesians 2:17) and by that, brought both Jews and pagans by one Spirit unto the Father (Ephesians 2:18). In the new creation, or the new man, or the Church of God, the Spirit is one; and everyone who enters the Church of God receives this Spirit, so that no matter how much the Church increases in members, there always remains the one Spirit of God; and no matter how many nations or tribes or races enter the Church of God, the Spirit does not change, but remains forever and ever, one and the same Spirit. That is why pagans are not strangers and foreigners in the Church, but are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, as are all other members of the Church. For the Church is founded on holiness, and her cornerstone is the Saint above saints, and according to the plan, all of her members should be holy. All those who lived before Christ but expected Christ and hoped in Him, as well as those who lived after Christ, and who recognized Christ as Lord, Son of God, Savior, Redeemer, Resurrector and Judge, are also called saints. Sin separates and alienates from God, but through the Lord Jesus Christ, division and alienation have vanished, and all the faithful-whether former Jews or pagans-became members of the household of God, by and through the Lord Jesus Christ.<br /><br /> O my brethren, the Lord Jesus Christ gave us something greater and more precious than this life: He gave us peace and friendship with God, and this is greater and more precious than life in alienation from God.<br /><br /> O Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of Peace and Giver of Peace, sustain us to the end in peace with God.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-5506467779799116655?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-84685349651586870502010-04-24T08:37:00.000-07:002010-04-24T08:47:45.830-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 11, and New Calendar date November 24.<br /><br />The Holy Great-martyr Menas. The Holy Martyr Stefan of Decani, King of Serbia. The Holy Martyrs Victor and Stephanida. The Holy Martyr Vincent the Deacon. The Venerable Theodore the Studite. Saint Uro ica, Prince of Serbia. Homily on the Creator of the new man.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Great-martyr Menas</span><br /><br />Menas was an Egyptian by birth and a soldier by profession. As a true Christian, he was not able to witness the abominable sacrificial offerings to the idols and left the army, the town, the people and everything else, and went to a deserted mountain, for it was easier for him to live among the wild beasts than with pagans. One day Menas clairvoyantly discerned a pagan celebration in the town of Cotyaeus. He descended into the town and openly declared his faith in Christ the Living God. He denounced idolatry and paganism as falsehood and darkness. Pyrrhus, eparch of that town, asked Menas who he was and where he was from. The saint replied: ``My fatherland is Egypt, my name is Menas. I was an officer, but witnessing the worship of idols, I renounced your honors. I now come before you all to proclaim my Christ as the true God, that He may proclaim me as His servant in the Heavenly Kingdom.'' Hearing this, Pyrrhus subjected St. Menas to severe tortures. They flogged him, scraped him with iron claws, burned him with torches, and tortured him by various other means, and finally beheaded him with the sword. They threw his body into a fire so that Christians would not be able to retrieve it, but Christians recovered several parts of his body from the fire nevertheless. They reverently buried those remains, which were later transferred to Alexandria and buried there, where a church was built over them. St. Menas suffered in about the year 304 and went to the Kingdom of Christ. He was and remains a great miracle-worker, both on earth and in heaven. Whoever glorifies St. Menas and invokes his help with faith, receives his help. The saint has often appeared as a warrior on horseback, arriving to help the faithful or punish the unfaithful.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Stefan of Decani, King of Serbia</span><br /><br />Stefan was the son of King Milutin and father of Tsar Du an. By the command of his ill-informed father, Stefan was blinded, and at the command of his capricious son (Duan), was strangled in his old age. When he was blinded, St. Nicholas appeared to him in the church at Ovce Polje (Field of the Sheep) and showed him his eyes saying: ``Stefan, be not afraid: behold your eyes in my palm. In due time, I will return them to you.'' Stefan spent five years in Constantinople as a prisoner in the Monastery of the Pantocrator. By his wisdom and asceticism, his meekness and piety, his patience and benevolence, Stefan not only surpassed all the monks in his monastery, but all monks in Constantinople. When five years had passed, St. Nicholas again appeared to him and said: ``I came to fulfill my promise.'' He then traced the sign of the Cross on the blind king, and Stefan received his sight. In thanksgiving to God, Stefan built the Church of Decani, one of the most marvelous works of Byzantine artistic beauty, and one of the most famous monuments of Serbian piety. The holy King Stefan, with St. Sava and the holy Prince Lazar, constitute a most glorious trinity of holiness, nobility and self-sacrifice-the gift of the Serbian people. St. Stefan lived his earthly life as a martyr, and died as a martyr in the year 1336, receiving the wreath of immortal glory from the Almighty God Whom he had faithfully served.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyrs Victor and Stephanida</span><br /><br />Victor was a soldier of Roman birth. He was tortured for Christ during the reign of Emperor Antoninus. At the time of his torture a young woman, Stephanida, declared that she too was a Christian. Victor was beheaded and Stephanida was pulled apart by having her legs bound to the tops of two palm trees.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Vincent the Deacon</span><br /><br />Vincent was from the diocese of Saragossa in Spain. He was cruelly tortured for the Lord Jesus Christ, then burned on an iron grid. He gave up his soul to God in the year 304. His body reposes in Rome in the church bearing his name.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Theodore the Studite</span><br /><br />Theodore was the famous abbot of the Studite monastery (the Studium). He suffered greatly for the holy icons, and was a wise organizer of the monastic life, a divinely inspired teacher of Orthodoxy and a wonderful ascetic. He entered into rest in Constantinople, in the year 826 at the age of sixty-eight.<br /><br />6. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Uro ica, Prince of Serbia</span><br /><br />Uro ica was the son of King Dragutin. He preserved his purity and chastity in marriage. Myrrh flowed from his grave.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Holy Martyr Stefan of Decani, King of Serbia<br /><br />Tortured and persecuted, Holy King Stefan of Decani<br />Endured pains and persecutions as a true Christian.<br />And when it seemed he was defeated by all,<br />He was actually victorious, powerful and unscathed.<br />He defeated his father by patient endurance,<br />And Cantacuzene by profound wisdom.<br />With silence he overcame malicious Simonida,<br />And with trust in God he overcame King Shishman.<br />He was even more powerful than his mighty son-<br />For those who do not sin are always more powerful.<br />Earthly power always ends without a glimmer,<br />But there is no end to heavenly power.<br />King Stefan of Decani, meek and beloved,<br />Drew his strength from heavenly power:<br />His power and glory were from Christ,<br />And from Christ was his life, throne and sovereignty.<br />Stefan understood this, and this he confessed;<br />That is why he defeated all adversaries in the end.<br />Pray for us, O wondrous king,<br />That God may grant us salvation and mercy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />If ever there was a holy king who sat on the throne of an earthly kingdom, that was the holy King Stefan of Decani. The Greeks, who otherwise considered the Slavs barbarians, were amazed at the beauty of St. Stefan's soul as one of the rarest wonders of the time. When the Emperor Cantacuzene sent the abbot of the Monastery of the Pantocrator to Milutin on some official business, King Milutin inquired about his son Stefan. ``O King, are you asking me about the second Job?'' the abbot replied. ``Be assured that his poverty stands above your royal greatness.'' For his part, the Byzantine emperor acted very cruelly toward the blind Stefan: he confined him to one area of the court and forbade everyone access to him. After that, he sent him to the Monastery of the Pantocrator, hoping that the monastery would force him into strict monastic asceticism, and that he would become weak and perish there. But God preserved the Blessed Stefan and he endured the ascetic labor of fasting and prayer like the best of monks. They began to speak of his wisdom throughout all of Constantinople, and the emperor began to respect him and often sought advice from him. For example, St. Stefan contributed to the defeat of the infamous heresy of Barlaam, against which St. Gregory of Palamas fought. Barlaam then resided in Constantinople, and by skillful intrigue, had won over many high-ranking clerics and civil officials to his way of thinking. In perplexity, the emperor summoned Stefan and asked him what he should do. The wise Stefan replied with the words of the Psalmist: Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee? (Psalm 139:21), and also said: ``Dangerous men must be banished from society.'' Heeding this, Emperor Cantacuzene drove Barlaam from the capital with dishonor.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the wonderful healing power of the Apostle Paul (Acts 28):<br /><br />1. How Paul prayed and laid his hand on Publius's father and healed him of dysentery;<br />2. How he also healed many others in that place in the same manner.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the Creator of the new man</span><br /><br />… for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace (Ephesians 2:15).<br /><br />When He came to earth, the Lord, the Lover of Mankind, came to all men, not just to some. The Jews awaited a messiah; He came as the Messiah. The pagans awaited a redeemer; He came as the Redeemer. He came with equal love for both the Jews and the pagans. There was no other group on earth-only the Jews and the pagans. The Jews were the only ones in the world who believed in one God, whereas the pagans worshiped idols. But the Jews had obscured their faith by their transgressions and, therefore, knew nothing. Thus, both the Jews and the pagans had become equal in their ignorance and equal in the curse of sin with which Adam had burdened the benighted earth. As of old Adam did not belong to the Jews exclusively, but also to the pagans, for they both descended from him, so Christ, the new Adam, did not belong to one or the other, but to both, for He saved both. The Lord Jesus could not side with the Jewish kingdom of empty legal formalism, or the Hellenic kingdom (including paganism in general) of naturalistic fables and demonic divinations and sorcery. Rather, He healed them both. He took both of these sick ones and he created the new man. And this is the Church of God. Thus, the Lord annulled and cast out both Judaism and Hellenism, and created His Holy Church.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus, All-good and All-wise, everything Thou hast done is good and wise beyond words.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-8468534965158687050?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-55685512929348676172010-04-24T08:33:00.001-07:002010-04-24T08:33:46.971-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 10, and New Calendar date November 23.<br /><br />The Holy Apostles Olympas, Erastus, Quartus, Herodion, Sosipater and Tertius. The Holy Martyr Orestes. Saint Nonnus, Bishop of Heliopolis. Homily on the only Peace and the Peacemaker.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Apostles Olympas, Erastus, Quartus, Herodion, Sosipater and Tertius</span><br /><br />They were all among the Seventy. The latter three are also commemorated elsewhere: Herodion on April 8, Sosipater on April 28, and Tertius on October 30. Saints Olympas and Herodion were followers of the Apostle Peter and when Peter suffered, they also suffered. By the command of Nero, they were beheaded. Erastus had been the steward of the church in Jerusalem, and later became Bishop of Paneas in Palestine. Quartus was Bishop of Beirut. He suffered greatly, but converted many to the Christian Faith. Sosipater was a bishop in Iconium and Tertius was the second bishop in that city. They waged spiritual warfare and, as victors, received heavenly wreaths of glory.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Orestes</span><br /><br />Orestes was from the town of Tyana in Cappadocia. He was a Christian from birth and a physician by profession. He was harshly tortured by a certain wicked eparch Maximus during the reign of Diocletian. When the eparch at first advised him to deny Christ and worship idols, Orestes replied: ``If you knew the power of the Crucified One, you would reject idolatrous falsehoods and worship the true God.'' For this, he was savagely beaten, scraped, pulled apart on the rack, burned with a red-hot iron, and cast into prison to die of starvation. The young Orestes spent seven days without bread or water. On the eighth day, he was again brought before the eparch who threatened him with frightening tortures. Orestes answered: ``I am prepared to endure every pain, having the sign of my Lord Jesus Christ inscribed on my heart.'' The governor condemned him, and the torturers hammered twenty iron nails into his feet and tied him to a horse, dragging him over thorns and rocks until the martyr of God breathed his last. On the place where they discarded Orestes's body, a man bright as the sun appeared, gathered Orestes's relics, and carried them to a hill near the town of Tyana, honorably burying them there. This wonderful saint appeared to St. Dimitri of Rostov after his repose, and showed him all the wounds on his body.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Nonnus, Bishop of Heliopolis</span><br /><br />Nonnus was renowned as a great ascetic in the Tabennisiot monastery in Egypt. Because of this, he was chosen Bishop of the diocese of Edessa in 448. Later, he was translated to the diocese of Heliopolis, and there converted 30,000 Arabs to the Christian Faith. After the death of Bishop Ibo, St. Nonnus returned to Edessa, where he remained until his repose in 471. Through his prayers, the infamous sinner Pelagia (who was later glorified for her holiness of life), was converted to the Christian Faith (see October 8).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Holy Martyr Orestes<br /><br />The young Orestes did not spare his youth,<br />But boasted of Christ before the judge,<br />The Living God, One and Holy,<br />Crucified on the Cross for mankind.<br />They flogged St. Orestes's back,<br />As he mocked the lifeless idols;<br />And they burned wondrous Orestes in the fire,<br />Which was cooled by the dew of God's Spirit.<br />They drove nails into his feet,<br />And covered his whole body with wounds.<br />Strengthened by the Spirit, Orestes prayed,<br />And gave thanks to God<br />That he was made worthy of such sufferings,<br />That God had adopted him as a son.<br />O Orestes, the God-pleaser,<br />Courageous martyr for Christ,<br />Help us unto the last day-<br />By your prayers, come to our aid-<br />That we may honorably end our lives,<br />And be made worthy of Paradise with you.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />The all-wondrous ways of God's providence were shown in an exceptional and wondrous event in the Monastery of Dochiariou, in the time of the Blessed Neophytus, nephew of St. Euthymius. When, after Euthymius's repose, Neophytus began to build a new, larger church to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, his resources ran out and he prayed to God for help, and God helped him in a miraculous manner. A peninsula called Longos or Sika lay near the Monastery of Dochiariou. On this peninsula, Neophytus had a small metochion, close to which was a stone statue of a man, bearing the following inscription: ``He who strikes me on the head will find much gold.'' Many had struck the statue on the head, but had found nothing. It happened that Neophytus sent Basil, a novice of the monastery, on an errand. One day this Basil stood by the statue and wondered at the mysterious inscription. Just then the sun came out and cast the statue's shadow toward the west. Basil struck the head of the shadow with a stone, dug there, and found a kettle full of gold coins. He immediately ran to tell Abbot Neophytus. The abbot ordered three honorable monks to go with Basil in the monastery's boat and bring back the gold. These monks set off, loaded the gold into the boat and began the return trip. While they were on the sea, the devil tempted them to take the gold for themselves. Then those three honorable monks, deluded by the devil, bound Basil with a rope, tied a rock around his neck and threw him into the sea. As Basil fell to the bottom of the sea, the Archangels Michael and Gabriel suddenly appeared to him as two resplendent youths, took him and brought him to the church at Dochiariou, placing him before the Royal Doors in the locked church. The next day, when the monks entered the church, they found Basil lying bound before the sanctuary. The abbot questioned him and was told of the miraculous event. Then the three other monks arrived and, seeing Basil alive, were thunderstruck. The abbot punished them severely, took the gold and completed the church. However, he dedicated it to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, and not to St. Nicholas, as he had earlier planned. That is why Euthymius's old church at Dochiariou is called the Church of St. Nicholas, and the new one is called the Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate Paul's wondrous salvation from the snake (Acts 28):<br /><br />1. How Paul gathered sticks and put them on the fire;<br />2. How a venomous viper leaped from the fire and fastened on his hand;<br />3. How he shook the viper off, and no harm came to him.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the only Peace and the Peacemaker</span><br /><br />For He is our peace, Who hath made both one (Ephesians 2:14).<br /><br />Between the Israelites and the pagans there lay a wide abyss that no mortal could bridge, or fill in and level off. The Lord Jesus Christ alone was the one who could do that, and He did it. That which had been estranged, He brought closer and joined. By what? By His Blood. By His sacrifice, He replaced all other sacrifices. By this, He redeemed all of nature and by Himself replaced that which men brought and offered to God (or, to the gods) as sacrifice. One sacrifice is sufficient both for the Israelites and for the pagans: the sacrifice of Christ. Furthermore, the blood of animals separated the Israelites and the pagans-by the places where they were offered, by the divinity to whom they were offered, by the kind of animal that was offered and the manner in which it was offered. Now, Christ's Most-pure Blood has come in place of all that blood, and His Blood unites and makes brothers of the Israelites and the pagans. They became blood brothers, even as all of us faithful are blood-brothers-because of the Blood of Christ, by which we are redeemed from the curse, and by which we are now fed. He destroyed the middle wall of partition (Ephesians 2:14) that divided and separated, and He joined the hands and the hearts of the Israelites and the pagans. By what? By His Body. That is, by the living truth, by the truth incarnate in Himself. The shadow of the Law had replaced truth for the Israelites, and fables had replaced truth for the pagans. He removed both of them and revealed the living truth in His Body, and the world saw and rejoiced.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus Christ, our most blessed Redeemer, unite the hearts of us, Thy faithful.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-5568551292934867617?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-2494639457305528112010-04-24T08:23:00.001-07:002010-04-24T08:24:13.784-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 9, and New Calendar date November 22.<br /><br />The Holy Martyrs Onesiphorus and Porphyrius. The Venerable John the Dwarf [Kolobos]. The Venerable Matrona of Constantinople. The Venerable Euthymius of Dochiariou and his disciple Neophytus. Saint Simeon Metaphrastes [the Translator]. The Venerable Theoctista of Paros. Homily on saving grace.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyrs Onesiphorus and Porphyrius</span><br /><br />These two wonderful men were martyred for the name of Christ during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. They were severely beaten, then burned on an iron grid, then tied to horses' tails and dragged over rocks and thorns. They were thus torn to pieces and gave up their holy souls to God. Their relics are buried in Pentapolis.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable John the Dwarf [Kolobos]</span><br /><br />John is numbered among the greatest of the Egyptian ascetics. ``Kolobos'' means ``dwarf,'' for he was of little stature. He came to Scetis with his brother Daniel and, with the greatest zeal, devoted himself to such asceticism that Daniel had to urge him to moderation. John was a disciple of St. Pambo, and was later the teacher of St. Arsenius the Great. His fellow disciple under St. Pambo was St. Paisius the Great. Once, when he and Paisius were discussing what kind of asceticism to undertake, an angel of God appeared to them and commanded John to stay where he was and instruct others, and Paisius to enter the wilderness and live as a hermit. In order to test John's obedience, St. Pambo ordered him to water a dry stick planted in the ground until it turned green. Without hesitation or doubt, John watered this stick daily for three whole years until by the power of God, it grew green sprouts and brought forth fruit. Pambo then gathered the fruit from this tree, brought it to church and distributed it among the brethren saying: ``Draw near and taste of the fruit of obedience!'' John the Dwarf had many disciples. Some of his wise sayings have been preserved. He entered into rest peacefully and took up his habitation in the joy of his Lord.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Matrona of Constantinople</span><br /><br />Matrona was from Perga in Pamphylia. Matrona's marriage to Dometian, a nobleman of Constantinople, soon became unbearable to her. Disguised in men's clothing, she fled and adopted the name Babylas, then entered the Monastery of St. Bassian in Constantinople. Because her husband searched for her constantly, she was forced to move repeatedly. Altogether, she moved to Emesa, Sinai, Jerusalem and Beirut, and finally returned to Constantinople. Matrona was tonsured a nun at age twenty-five, and lived the ascetic life for seventy-five years. In all she lived a hundred years, and died peacefully in the year 492 as abbess of a monastery in Constantinople, taking up her abode in the joy of her Lord.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Euthymius of Dochiariou and his disciple Neophytus</span><br /><br />Euthymius and Neophytus were Serbs by birth and kinsmen of high-ranking aristocrats in Byzantium. Euthymius was a companion of St. Athanasius and the steward of his Lavra, after which he founded the Monastery of Dochiariou. He entered peacefully into rest in the year 990. His nephew Neophytus succeeded him as abbot of Dochiariou, increased the brotherhood and built a large church. He entered into rest at the beginning of the eleventh century.<br /><br />5.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Saint Simeon Metaphrastes [the Translator]</span><br /><br />Simeon was a gifted Constantinopolitan. He had both a secular and spiritual education. He attained the rank of imperial logothete [chancellor] and was first among the nobles at the imperial court, yet he lived a pure and blameless life as a true ascetic. He distinguished himself by great military bravery and statesmanly wisdom. For these qualities, Emperor Leo the Wise greatly respected him and sent him to Crete to negotiate a peace with the Arabs who then occupied the island. Successfully completing his mission, he returned to Constantinople and soon thereafter withdrew from the world and worldly affairs. He wrote many lives of saints, compiling 122 new biographies and correcting 539 biographies. He entered into rest in about the year 960, and a fragrant and healing myrrh flowed from his relics.<br /><br />6.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Venerable Theoctista of Paros</span><br /><br />Theoctista was born on the island of Lesbos and was tonsured a nun at the age of seventeen. The savage Saracens attacked the island and enslaved all who fell into their hands, including Theoctista and her sister. When the Saracens brought the slaves to the marketplace on the island of Paros, Theoctista escaped from the crowd and hid in an abandoned church in the middle of the island, where she lived a life of asceticism for thirty-five years. She entered into rest in the year 881.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />Saint Simeon Metaphrastes<br /><br />St. Simeon was called Metaphrastes-<br />He dedicated his God-given talent to the Church.<br />He loved the saints, the friends of God,<br />And wondrously described their struggles:<br />Struggles in spirit, struggles in the flesh,<br />Struggles in thought, and struggles in deeds.<br />He was a true friend to the friends of God,<br />Who are dearest to God of all the men in the world.<br />He loved those whom God loves,<br />And through them he deepened his love for God.<br />Simeon shone with love for God,<br />And wrote his Lives like a brilliant tapestry,<br />For new generations in the four corners of the world,<br />To nourish their souls with true spiritual integrity,<br />By having vivid examples of saintly nobility,<br />By which to follow in the footsteps of patristic teachings.<br />Wondrous is our God in His saints;<br />Wondrous is the Lord, the Creator of angels.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />After a long separation from his companion Paisius, John the Dwarf visited him. Each asked the other what virtue he had attained in the time they were apart. Paisius said: ``The sun has never seen me eat.'' John the Dwarf said: ``And it has never seen me angry.'' Instructing the brethren in Scetis, John used this story of a repentant human soul: ``In one town there lived a beautiful woman, a harlot who had many lovers. A certain prince told her that he would take her as his wife if she promised that she would live honorably and faithfully in marriage. She promised this and the prince took her to his court and married her. However, her former lovers decided to turn her back to her former ways, and reclaim her for themselves. They dared not face the prince, so they went around the back of the palace and began to whistle. The woman heard the whistling, recognized it, and quickly stopped her ears. She hid in an inner chamber of the palace and locked the door behind her. Thus, she was delivered from new temptations.'' St. John explained this story in the following manner: ``The harlot is the soul; her lovers are the passions; the prince is Christ; the inner chamber is the heavenly habitation; and the lovers who whistle and entice are the demons. If the soul would constantly turn from its passions and flee to God, then the passions and the demons would be frightened and flee from it.''<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the appearance to Paul of an angel in a tempest at night (Acts 27):<br /><br />1. How an angel of God appeared to Paul by night and told him to fear not, for he would be saved, and all those with him;<br />2. How Paul related this to the men on the boat, greatly encouraging them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on saving grace</span><br /><br />By grace ye are saved (Ephesians 2:5, 8).<br /><br />Who can comprehend and acknowledge that we are saved by grace-that we are saved by God's grace, and not by our merits and works? Who can comprehend and acknowledge that? Only he who has comprehended and seen the bottomless pit of death and corruption in which man is engulfed by sin, and has also comprehended and seen the height of honor and glory to which man is raised in the Heavenly Kingdom, in the realm of immortality, in the house of the Living God-only such a one can comprehend and acknowledge that we are saved by grace. A child was traveling by night. He stumbled and fell into hole after hole and pit after pit, until he finally fell into a very deep pit from which he could in no way escape by his own power. When the child gave himself over to the hands of fate and thought his end was near, there was suddenly someone standing over the pit, lowering a rope to him and telling him to grab the rope and hold firmly to it. This was the king's son, who then took the child home, bathed him, clothed him and brought him to his court and set him beside himself. Was this child saved by his own deed? By no means. All he did was to grab the end of the rope, and hold on. By what, then, was the child saved? By the mercy of the king's son. In God's relationship with men, this mercy is called grace. By grace ye are saved. The Apostle Paul repeats these words twice in a short span, that the faithful might recognize and remember them.<br /><br />Brethren, let us comprehend and remember that we are saved through grace by the Lord Jesus Christ. We were in the jaws of death, but have been given life in the courts of our God.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, by Thee are we saved.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-249463945730552811?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-7252255123450174042010-04-24T08:19:00.001-07:002010-04-24T08:19:54.314-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 8, and New Calendar date November 21.<br /><br />The Holy Archangel Michael and all the Bodiless Powers of heaven. Homily on how Christ brings to life men who are dead in sin.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Archangel Michael and all the Bodiless Powers of heaven</span><br /><br /> The angels of God were celebrated by men from earliest times but this celebration was often turned into the divinization of angels (II Kings 23:5). The heretics wove all sorts of fables concerning the angels. Some of them looked upon angels as gods; others, although they did not consider them gods, called them the creators of the whole visible world. The local Council of Laodicea (four or five years before the First Ecumenical Council) rejected the worship of angels as gods and established the proper veneration of angels in its Thirty-fifth Canon. In the fourth century, during the time of Sylvester, Pope of Rome, and Alexander, Patriarch of Alexandria, the present Feast of Archangel Michael and all the other heavenly powers was instituted for celebration in the month of November. Why precisely in November? Because November is the ninth month after March, and March is considered to be the month in which the world was created. Also, as the ninth month after March, November was chosen for the nine orders of angels who were created first. St. Dionysius the Areopagite, a disciple of the Apostle Paul (who was taken up into the third heaven), described these nine orders of angels in his book, On the Celestial Hierarchies, as follows: six-winged Seraphim, many-eyed Cherubim, God-bearing Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels. The leader of all the angelic hosts is the Archangel Michael. When Satan, Lucifer, fell away from God and drew a part of the angels with him to destruction, then Michael stood up and cried out before the faithful angels: ``Let us attend! Let us stand aright! Let us stand with fear!'' and all of the faithful angelic heavenly hosts cried out: ``Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God of Sabaoth! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory!'' Concerning the Archangel Michael, see Joshua 5:13-15 and Jude 1:9. Among the angels there reign perfect oneness of mind, oneness of soul, and love. The lower orders also show complete obedience to the higher orders, and all of them together to the holy will of God. Every nation has its guardian angel, as does every Christian. We must always remember that whatever we do, in open or in secret, we do in the presence of our guardian angel. On the day of the Dread Judgment, the multitude of the hosts of the holy angels of heaven will gather around the throne of Christ, and the deeds, words, and thoughts of every man will be revealed before all. May God have mercy on us and save us by the prayers of the Archangel Michael and all the bodiless heavenly powers. Amen.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Holy Archangel Michael and all the Bodiless Powers of Heaven<br /><br /> Heavenly Commanders,<br /> Who watch over us with great care,<br /> Cover us with your wings,<br /> And shield us with your power.<br /><br /> Armed with the power of God,<br /> Crowned by His glory,<br /> You wield flaming swords,<br /> To cut the demons down.<br /><br /> Swift, swift as rays of light<br /> You soar on the clouds-<br /> The clouds of the air-<br /> Where you do battle for God.<br /><br /> Without fatigue and without sleep<br /> You hover ceaselessly<br /> Over men and created things,<br /> And over countless worlds.<br /><br /> Behold, yours are mighty armies,<br /> Legions virtuous,<br /> And gentle battalions of angels:<br /> And, according to the Creator, our brothers.<br /><br /> Commanders of the might of heaven,<br /> Lead us where we need to go-<br /> To the throne of the Most High<br /> Who created us from nothing.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /><br /> Holy Scripture clearly and irrefutably witnesses that angels ceaselessly communicate with this world. The Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church teaches us the names of the seven leaders of the angelic powers: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salathiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel (an eighth, Jeremiel, is sometimes included).<br /><br /> ``Michael'' in the Hebrew language means ``Who is like unto God?'' or ``Who is equal to God?'' St. Michael has been depicted from earliest Christian times as a commander, who holds in his right hand a spear with which he attacks Lucifer, Satan, and in his left hand a green palm branch. At the top of the spear there is a linen ribbon with a red cross. The Archangel Michael is especially considered to be the Guardian of the Orthodox Faith and a fighter against heresies.<br /> ``Gabriel'' means ``Man of God'' or ``Might of God.'' He is the herald of the mysteries of God, especially the Incarnation of God and all other mysteries related to it. He is depicted as follows: In his right hand, he holds a lantern with a lighted taper inside, and in his left hand, a mirror of green jasper. The mirror signifies the wisdom of God as a hidden mystery.<br /> ``Raphael'' means ``God's healing'' or ``God the Healer.'' (Tobit 3:17, 12:15). Raphael is depicted leading Tobit (who is carrying a fish caught in the Tigris) with his right hand, and holding a physician's alabaster jar in his left hand.<br /> ``Uriel'' means ``Fire of God,'' or ``Light of God'' (III Esdras 3:1, 5:20). He is depicted holding a sword against the Persians in his right hand, and a fiery flame in his left.<br /> ``Salathiel'' means ``Intercessor of God'' (III Esdras 5:16). He is depicted with his face and eyes lowered, holding his hands on his bosom in prayer.<br /> ``Jegudiel'' means ``Glorifier of God.'' He is depicted bearing a golden wreath in his right hand and a triple-thonged whip in his left hand.<br /> ``Barachiel'' means ``Blessing of God.'' He is depicted holding a white rose in his hand against his breast.<br /> ``Jeremiel'' means ``God's exaltation.'' He is venerated as an inspirer and awakener of exalted thoughts that raise a man toward God (III Ezra 4:36).<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the Apostle Paul's miraculous resurrecting of Eutychus (Acts 20):<br /><br /> 1. How Paul preached in a house at Troas by night;<br /> 2. How the young man Eutychus drifted into a deep sleep, and fell from a third-story window to his death;<br /> 3. How Paul came down, embraced him and restored him to life.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on how Christ brings to life men who are dead in sin</span><br /><br /> Even when we were dead in sins, [God] hath quickened us together with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).<br /><br /> God first brought Christ to life: He first raised Him as a man from the grave. And Christ is our Head. Thus, in order to resurrect the whole generation of the faithful, it was necessary to resurrect the Head first. When the Head resurrected, then the resurrection of the whole body, with all its members, was assured. Therefore, the Apostle Paul speaks of our resurrection and glorification as a completed thing. So it is that God resurrected us also with Christ: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). God resurrected us-together with Christ as man-who once were dead in sins, slain by our sins. He not only makes us worthy of resurrection with the Lord Jesus Christ, but He also puts us on the same level with the resurrected Christ in the heights of heaven, above the whole realm of incorporeal spirits. Brethren, God did not come to earth for the sake of some petty, inconsequential thing, but for something completely unique, something greater than great. When an earthly king visits a place in his country, the benefit of his visit is felt long after. The Lord, the King, visited mankind on the earth and the benefit of that visit will be felt to the end of time. That visit means life instead of death for us, glory instead of shame, closeness to God instead of estrangement, and blessing instead of a curse. In other words, that visit means our resurrection from the dead, and our eternal reign in the heavens with Christ.<br /><br /> O Lord, thanks be to Thee; O Lord, glory be to Thee.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-725225512345017404?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-91475472736089401312010-04-24T08:16:00.001-07:002010-04-24T08:17:23.420-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 7, and New Calendar date November 20.<br /><br />The Holy Martyr Hieron and his companions. The Holy Martyr Thessalonica with Auctus and Taurion. The Venerable Lazarus of Galesius. Homily on the dark paths of mankind before and apart from Christ.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Hieron and his companions</span><br /><br />Hieron was born in Tyana in Cappadocia of a good and devout mother, Stratonika, who was blind. Hieron was a very zealous Christian and served his blind mother with great filial love. For two reasons he did not wish to join the army, and he resisted and drove off those who had been sent to take him. Hieron was loath to leave his helpless mother, and it was grievous for him even to consider that, as a soldier, he would be compelled to offer sacrifices to idols. Finally, Hieron was arrested along with other Christians, and they were all taken before the eparch of the town of Melitene. While they were still on the road, a man clad in a brilliant white garment appeared to Hieron one night and said: ``Behold, Hieron, I proclaim salvation to you: you shall not wage war for an earthly king, but for the Heavenly King you will complete your struggle, and you shall soon come to Him to receive honor and glory.'' At this, Hieron's heart was filled with inexpressible joy. In Melitene they were all thrown into prison and Hieron, with great zeal, strengthened all the prisoners in the Faith, urging that not even one of them fall away, but that all willingly offer their bodies to torture and death for Christ. All but one confessed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The exception was Hieron's kinsman Victor, who fell away from the Faith. The tormentors cut one of Hieron's hands off, then flogged and tortured him in various ways until they beheaded him and the others. Going to the place of execution, these thirty-three martyrs chanted the Psalm: Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord (Psalms 118:1). Here we will name the honorable martyrs whose names are written with his in the Book of Life: Hesychius, Nicander, Athanasius, Mamas, Barachius, Callinicus, Theogenes, Nikon, Longinus, Theodore, Valerius, Xanthius, Theodulus, Callimachus, Eugenius, Theodochus, Ostrichius, Epiphanius, Maximian, Ducitius, Claudian, Theophilus, Gigantius, Dorotheus, Theodotus, Castrichius, Anicletus, Themilius, Eutychius, Hilarion, Diodotus and Amonitus. A man named Chrysanthus purchased Hieron's severed head and honorably buried it, later building a church over it in the saint's name. The martyr's severed hand was brought to his blind mother. St. Hieron, with his companions, suffered in the year 298 and entered the glory of Christ.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Thessalonica with Auctus and Taurion</span><br /><br />This maiden was the daughter of a pagan priest, Cleon, a rich and arrogant man. Because of her faith in Christ, her father drove her from the house and city. Two honorable citizens, Auctus and Taurion, reproached Cleon for his inhuman treatment of his daughter, and he in turn denounced them as Christians. They were bitterly tortured and beheaded for Christ. Thessalonica was then tortured and slain as well. They suffered in the Macedonian city of Amphipolis near present day Kavala. Thus, these martyrs were made worthy of the Immortal Kingdom by their honorable suffering.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Lazarus of Galesius</span><br /><br />A pillar of light appeared above the house where he was born. Lazarus left his village of Magnesia and went to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage to the holy places. There, he was tonsured a monk in the Monastery of St. Sava the Sanctified. After ten years, he settled on Mount Galesius and lived a life of asceticism on a pillar as a stylite. Lazarus was a miracle-worker both during his life and after death. Emperor Constantine Monomachus had great respect for him. Attaining old age, St. Lazarus entered into eternity toward the end of the eleventh century.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Holy Martyr Hieron and his companions<br /><br />Prisons are peculiar palaces!<br />In prison, St. Hieron spoke:<br />``O my brethren, thirty companions,<br />Hold to God's word,<br />To God's word and His law.<br />Behold, from time immemorial, the serpent has risen up,<br />Seeking to ensnare you with a glance,<br />So that, one by one, you would follow it to hell.<br />Do not succumb, brethren, true believers,<br />Oh, hearken to humble Hieron!<br />Whatever the serpent promises you<br />Is as fleeting as the green grass.<br />Courageously endure your sufferings:<br />Do not trade the eternal for the temporal;<br />Today or tomorrow, death will arrive,<br />Then all must go to the judgment of God.<br />Blessed is he who is not ashamed<br />When he sees his Judge before him.<br />Even more so is he who can show the Judge<br />The blood he has shed for Him,<br />And the wounds he bears for His name.<br />Such a one will reign eternally with Him.''<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />There are decisive moments in life upon which a man's eternal life or eternal death depend. We do not know when this decisive moment will come for us-perhaps today-and because of this we must be unceasingly vigilant. Victor, a kinsman of St. Hieron, was arrested with him. On the day before their torture, Victor, in terror of the impending tortures, went to the prison warden and begged him to take his name off the list of the condemned and release him, promising to give him his land. The warden removed his name and released him. However, upon returning home, Victor died of natural causes in the same moment that St. Hieron and his companions died in torments for Christ. Thus Victor vainly missed the decisive moment: he lost his land, his friends and both his earthly and heavenly life. In that same decisive moment, Hieron gained all. No one vied for Victor's body, while many vied for Hieron's body. When Christians sought the head of Hieron from the eparch, he asked as much gold for it as it weighed. Chrysanthus, a wealthy and devout man, paid that much gold for the martyr's honorable head. Anthony and Matronian hid one of St. Hieron's severed hands and brought it to Hieron's mother, the blind Stratonika. She took her son's hand and wept bitterly: ``O my beloved son, I gave birth to you whole, and now I have only one part of you!''<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the malignant power of an evil spirit over those who serve him (Acts 19):<br /><br />1. How seven Jews tried to imitate Paul in driving out spirits from possessed people, attempting this for their own gain;<br />2. How the evil spirit answered them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?<br />3. How the man with the evil spirit leaped on them and overwhelmed them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the dark paths of mankind before and apart from Christ</span><br /><br />… in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2).<br /><br />This is all one and the same path-the path to destruction. According to the course of this world means inclination toward sinfulness; according to the prince of the power of the air means according to the will of those chiefs of the demons who inhabit the air; in the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience means that in the same way that the opponents and adversaries of God now live, all men lived before the advent of Christ, including those to whom the Apostle writes the epistle. What is this power of the air, brethren? This is the order of evil spirits who exist in constant movement in the air. They make the air lethal and they impede the souls of the departed as they make their way to heaven. They deceive the spirit of man to work every evil; they tempt it with every sin. Yet, they do not command the spirit to sin, for they lack the power to do that; they can only tempt and corrupt. They acted more strongly and directly on the pagans than on the Israelites. They fell upon the pagans as a swarm of flies on a carcass, but the Israelites they watched from a distance, corrupting and tempting them more subtlely. They stood at a distance from Israel because of the name of God, which was preserved and spoken among the Israelites. The Lord Jesus Christ scattered them all and plucked out their poisonous stings, so that they remained only as empty phantoms, as miserable, inconstant shadows that vanish instantly at the mention of the name of Christ or at the tracing of the sign of Christ's Cross.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus, our Commander and Deliverer, help us to live in Thy freedom.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-9147547273608940131?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-47112219943526109872010-04-24T08:09:00.001-07:002010-04-24T08:10:41.837-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 6, and New Calendar date November 19.<br /><br />Saint Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople; The Venerable Barlaam of Khutyn, the Miracle-worker; Commemoration of the falling of ash from the sky. Homily on the Head of the Church and the Body of Christ.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople</span><br /><br />When Blessed Patriarch Alexander lay on his deathbed, the sorrowing faithful asked him who he would have follow him as the chief shepherd of the spiritual flock of Christ. He said: ``If you desire a shepherd who will teach you and who will shine with virtues, choose Paul; but if you only want a suitable man, externally adorned, choose Macedonius.'' The people chose Paul. Unfortunately, this was not accepted by the Arian heretics, nor was it accepted by Emperor Constantius, who was then in Antioch. Paul was soon deposed, and fled to Rome with St. Athanasius the Great. In Rome, Pope Julian and Emperor Constans received them warmly and upheld them in their Orthodox Faith. Emperor Constans and Pope Julian saw to it that Paul was returned to his throne, but when Emperor Constans died the Arians raised their heads again, and Patriarch Paul was banished to Cucusus in Armenia. Once, as Paul was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in exile, he was attacked by the Arians and strangled with his omophorion, in the year 351. In 381, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius, Paul's relics were transferred to Constantinople, and in the year 1236 they were translated to Venice, where they still repose. His beloved priests and notaries, Marcian and Martyrius (October 25), suffered soon after their patriarch.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Barlaam of Khutyn, the Miracle-worker</span><br /><br />Barlaam was born and raised as a Christian in Novgorod the Great. After the death of his parents, he was tonsured a monk and devoted himself to a life of strict asceticism. He founded a monastery on the bank of the Volkhov River, at a place where a heavenly light appeared to him. Barlaam was a great miracle-worker both during his life and after his death: he saw into the secrets of men's hearts, expelled unclean spirits and healed all sicknesses. After his repose, a servant of Prince Vasili Vasilievich became gravely ill and begged to be taken to the saint's grave. He further instructed them that, if he should die on the way, they should carry his dead body to the saint. And thus it happened-he died on the way and they carried him dead to the monastery, where he returned to life, stood up and prostrated before the grave of the saint. In the year 1471, Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered that the saint's grave be dug up. As soon as they began to dig, a flame sprang from the grave and flared up along the walls of the church. The Tsar was so frightened that he ran out of the church and, in his haste, forgot his staff, which is still preserved beside the grave of the saint. The commemoration of this miracle is celebrated on the Friday after the Sunday of All Saints.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Commemoration of the falling of ash from the sky</span><br /><br />This took place in Constantinople in the year 472 during the reign of Emperor Leo the Great and Patriarch Gennadius. (See ``Reflection'' below.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Lord's mercy and goodness<br /><br />Our Lord is mercy and true goodness,<br />Yet He allows man to suffer for his sin:<br />Floods, sickness, earthquakes, droughts,<br />Horror and pains for body and soul.<br />He who does not see the Father when He offers gifts<br />Will see Him at the Judgment as the Righteous Judge.<br />The awesome Judge has many servants,<br />And employs them all for man's salvation-<br />The earth's thorns; serpents and beasts;<br />And floods, lightning, thunder from the sky;<br />And evil winds of illness; the sun, heat and darkness;<br />And the field, which gives either wheat or empty straw.<br />As many gifts await the faithful,<br />So many scourges are woven for the evil.<br />Adam's fields are watered with gentle dew,<br />But Sodom and Gomorrah are mowed with a flaming sword.<br />Above other created things, God loves man:<br />Therefore He forgives much; therefore He waits long.<br />But, when God's patience exceeds all bounds,<br />Then fire, not dew, does the work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /><br />If God can bring forth water from a rock as a comfort to men, He is also able to send down fire from the heavens as a punishment. The fate of Sodom and Gomorrah is a classic example of God's punishment upon incorrigible sinners. That God can repeat this punishment was demonstrated over Constantinople in the year 472, during the time of Emperor Leo the Great and Patriarch Gennadius. At noon on November 6 of that year, the sky became overcast with thick, dark clouds, causing darkness on the land. These clouds turned red as fire, then became dark, and alternated their appearance continuously. This phenomenon over Constantinople lasted for a full forty days. The frightened people turned to repentance and prayer. With the emperor and patriarch, they walked in procession through the streets from church to church and prayed to God with tears and lamentation. On the final day hot black ash fell like rain from evening until midnight, then stopped. The following day dawned clear and bright, but the sooty ash lay on the ground to a depth of nine inches. With great effort, the people cleaned their houses and streets of this sooty ash, but the crops in the field were utterly destroyed. All who had understanding, understood that this was God's punishment, and that it was God's gentle punishment because the people hastened to repent before Him. Had it not been for this profound repentance for their great and accumulated sins, who knows what would have happened to Constantinople in those days? But the timely repentance of sinners, and the prayers of the Most-holy Theotokos, as well as the prayers of the countless saints and martyrs of Constantinople, greatly lessened the punishment.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the wondrous power of healing that proceeded from the Apostle Paul (Acts 19):<br /><br />1. How the people took his aprons and handkerchiefs and placed them on the sick;<br />2. How all the sick were healed, and evil spirits fled from them;<br />3. How the words of the Savior came true, that he who believes in Him will perform greater miracles than He.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the Head of the Church and the Body of Christ</span><br /><br />And gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His body (Ephesians 1:22-23).<br /><br />Headless humanity is given a head in the Lord Jesus, risen from the dead. The body separated from the head is grafted to its head, part by part, member by member. Not all men are the body-only those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. All are called, but only those who respond are received under the Head. The ones who respond comprise the Body that is called the Church, whose Head is the Lord. But, as the risen and glorified man, Jesus is exalted within the Holy Trinity, above all and everything on earth and in heaven, so also will His Church, His Body, be exalted to its Head, above all and everything. The whole Church, together with its Head, will stand at the right hand of the Holy Trinity-for where the head is, there also is the body. The redeemed and repentant sinners, the erstwhile adversaries of God-wandering astray like the Prodigal Son and headless as a dead body, but now adopted through Christ and for Christ, and clothed in the beauty of divine life and splendor-will be exalted to such heights, greatness and glory. For it is a great thing, brethren: the Incarnation of the Son of God on earth, His suffering on the Cross and His death for our sake. His visit to earth brought about a great change in the destiny of men, and in the meaning of all things. He changed all things and made all things new. Therefore, brethren, let us not live and conduct ourselves as the old man, but rather as the new man; let us not live according to sin, but according to righteousness; let us not act according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. May we be made worthy of those heights, of the greatness and glory to which we are called by our Head.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus, the Holy Head of the Holy Church, make us worthy to be members forever of Thy Most-pure Body.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-4711221994352610987?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-1104519996591986442010-04-24T08:03:00.000-07:002010-04-24T08:04:38.653-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 5, and New Calendar date November 18.<br /><br />The Venerable Martyrs Galaction and Episteme; The Holy Apostles Patrobas, Hermes, Linus, Gaius and Philologus; Saint Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod. Homily on the elevation of man through the Risen Christ.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Martyrs Galaction and Episteme</span><br /><br /> Both Galaction and Episteme were born in the city of Edessa, in Phoenicia. Galaction's mother was barren until she was baptized. After her baptism, she converted her husband [Cleitophon] to the true Faith, baptized her son Galaction, and raised him in the Christian Faith. When Galaction was old enough to marry, his good mother, Leucippa, entered into rest, and his father betrothed him to a pagan-born maiden named Episteme. By no means did Galaction want to enter into marriage, and convinced Episteme to be baptized, then to be tonsured a nun at the same time that he became a monk. Both of them withdrew to Mount Publion-Galaction to a monastery and Episteme to a convent. They proved to be shining lights in their monasteries. They were first in labor, first in prayer, first in humility and obedience, and first in love. They neither left their monasteries nor did they see one another until just before their death. A fierce persecution began and both of them were brought before the tribunal. When the pagans mercilessly whipped Galaction, Episteme wept. Then they whipped her. After that, they cut off their hands, their feet and then their heads. Their friend Eutolius took their bodies and honorably buried them. Eutolius had been a slave of Episteme's parents, and then a monk with Galaction. He also wrote the life of these wonderful martyrs of Christ who suffered and received their wreaths in heaven in the year 253.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Apostles Patrobas, Hermes, Linus, Gaius and Philologus</span><br /> <br /> They were of the Seventy. Patrobas was Bishop of Neapolis, Hermes of Philipopolis (Romans 16:14), Linus of Rome (II Timothy 4:21), Gaius of Ephesus (Roman 16:23), and Philologus of Synope (Romans 16:15). All of them fulfilled the Law of Christ with love and took up their abode in the Kingdom of Christ.<br /><br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Jonah, Archbishop of Novgorod</span><br /><br /> Jonah was born in Novgorod and was orphaned early. A certain God-fearing widow took him and educated him. Seeing him as a child, Michael, the fool-for-Christ of Klops said to him prophetically: ``Ivanushka, study diligently, for you will become archbishop in Novgorod the Great.'' And indeed, following the death of Archbishop Euthymius, Jonah was chosen and consecrated in his place. Jonah was devout and merciful to a rare degree for a mortal man. He built churches and monasteries and cared for his flock as a true good shepherd. He was offered the throne of Moscow as Metropolitan but declined, excusing himself because of his age. He entered into rest peacefully on November 5, 1570, and settled in the joyful heavenly habitations. One hundred years following his death there was a great fire in Novgorod. The relics of this saint did not burn in the furious flames, but on the contrary, from then on manifested healing power and emitted a wonderful fragrance.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Venerable Martyrs Galaction and Episteme<br /><br /> Galaction, and Episteme with him,<br /> Abandoned the world of passing smoke,<br /> Crucified the passions of the body,<br /> And ascended to heaven in spirit.<br /> Their hearts remembered Christ with every beat,<br /> And were crucified with love for Him.<br /> Then the tormentors arrived.<br /> Galaction went to his torture,<br /> And Episteme hurried after:<br /> ``Slower, Brother,'' she said, ``do not hurry!<br /> I was baptized by your hand,<br /> Now take me with you to torture!<br /> Even though I am unworthy, Brother,<br /> I am willing to die for my Christ.''<br /> Galaction, and Episteme with him,<br /> Proclaimed Christ to the unbelievers,<br /> And in bitter tortures they breathed their last.<br /> They gave their souls to Christ:<br /> Now they live with angels in Paradise-<br /> Galaction and Episteme.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> Physical love, in comparison to spiritual love, is less than a shadow is to solid substance. Brotherhood and sisterhood of the blood and body is nothing compared to the brotherhood and sisterhood of the spirit. Galaction's father betrothed him to the maiden Episteme. Galaction baptized Episteme and, after that, both received the monastic tonsure. Their physical love was replaced by spiritual love, a love as strong as death. So great was Galaction's spiritual love for Episteme that he never desired to see her with his physical eyes. Neither physical contact nor closeness are necessary for spiritual love. So great was Episteme's spiritual love for Galaction that when she heard that he had been taken for torture she ran after him, begging him not to reject her, but to receive her as a fellow sufferer, as he was her spiritual father and brother. When the merciless torturers flogged holy Galaction's naked body, holy Episteme wept. However, when the torturers cut off their hands and feet for Christ, both rejoiced and glorified God. So great was the power of their love for our Lord Jesus Christ, and so great was the spiritual love with which they loved each other. Truly, physical love is like a colorful butterfly that quickly passes, but spiritual love is enduring.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the wondrous action of the Holy Spirit upon the baptized (Acts 19):<br /><br /> 1. How Paul, coming to Ephesus, saw men baptized with the baptism of John to repentance;<br /> 2. How he placed his hands on them and the Holy Spirit descended upon them;<br /> 3. How they were filled with power, and spoke in tongues and prophesied.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on the elevation of man through the Risen Christ</span><br /><br /> … Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come and hath put all things under His feet (Ephesians 1:21-22).<br /><br /> Behold, the heights to which God exalts the being of man! Here, Christ's Divine Nature is not the subject, but rather His human nature. This is not about the eternal Word of God, but rather about the man Jesus, whom God raised from the dead and exalted-not only above this whole visible and mortal world, but also above the invisible and immortal, far above all the orders of angels and the heavenly powers; far above all the known and unknown wondrous hierarchies of heaven; far above every created being, known and unknown; and far above every name in the material and the spiritual worlds. My brethren, do you see how our All-glorious Creator fulfilled the promise He gave to Adam when he banished him from Paradise, and repeated more clearly to Abraham, and repeated still more clearly through the prophets and David? Do you see how the Lord of Sabaoth began to glorify the human race by glorifying the man Jesus, the Son of God, in Whom was incarnate the divinity of God? As the first in glory, God first glorified Him, and then, in order, all those who are numbered with Him, and who by the grace of the Holy Spirit are named and written in the Book of Life for eternal glory. It is not without cause that the Church sings to the Mother of God: ``More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim.'' Where the Risen Lord is exalted, His Most-holy Mother is also exalted, as are also His holy apostles, in accordance with His words to His heavenly Father: Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am (John 17:24).<br /><br /> Such is the boundless consequence of God's descent to earth. Such are the ineffable fruits of His sufferings.<br /><br /> O Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, equal only to Thy Father and the Holy Spirit; help us to extricate ourselves from the depth of putrid sin and sensual foolishness before the end.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-110451999659198644?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-70788243115100816892010-04-24T04:56:00.000-07:002010-04-24T04:57:10.358-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 4, and New Calendar date November 17.<br /><br /> The Venerable Ioannicius the Great; The Hieromartyrs Nicander, Bishop of Myra, and Hermas the Presbyter. Homily on the heirs of the Kingdom through Christ the Lord.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Ioannicius the Great</span><br /><br /> The great spiritual light Ioannicius was born in the village of Marycata in the province of Bithynia, of his father Myritricius and his mother Anastasia. As a youth, he was a shepherd. While tending his sheep, he would often retreat into solitude and remain in prayer the whole day, encircling his flock with the sign of the Cross so that the flock would not stray and scatter. Later, he was taken into the army and displayed marvelous courage, particularly in the wars with the Bulgarians. Following his military service, Ioannicius withdrew to Mount Olympus in Asia Minor, where he was tonsured a monk and dedicated himself completely to asceticism until his repose in great old age. He lived in asceticism for over fifty years in various places, and received from God a truly abundant gift of wonderworking. He healed all sicknesses and pains, drove out demons, and tamed wild beasts. He especially had power over snakes, could cross over water as on dry land, could be invisible to men when he so desired, and could foretell future events. He was distinguished by overwhelming humility and meekness. His outward appearance was that of a giant-massive and powerful. He took an active part in the destiny of God's Church. During the iconoclast controversy, he was deceived at first, but later tore himself away from the iconoclast viewpoint and became an ardent champion of the veneration of icons. He had a great friendship with Patriarch Methodius of Constantinople. Ioannicius lived for ninety-four years and entered peacefully into rest in the Lord in the year 846. He was a great miracle-worker both during his life and after his death.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hieromartyrs Nicander, Bishop of Myra, and Hermas the Presbyter</span><br /><br /> Nicander and Hermas were both ordained by Apostle Titus. They were both distinguished by their great zeal for the Faith and their great labors in winning pagans for Christ the Lord. Because of this, they were accused before a certain judge, Libanus, who subjected them to bitter tortures. They were stoned and dragged over stones; they were imprisoned, suffered hunger and endured many other tortures that no mortal man could endure without God's special help. The Lord appeared to them in various ways, and when they were thrown into a fiery furnace, the Lord sent His angel to cool the flames for them. Finally, they were buried alive by their cruel torturers. But in vain do men kill those whom the Lord gives life, and in vain do men dishonor those whom the Lord glorifies.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Venerable Ioannicius the Great<br /><br /> Ioannicius served the people,<br /> The people and the prince, with great zeal,<br /> And then withdrew from all and everything<br /> To serve the glory of the Heavenly King.<br /><br /> Ioannicius was a great soldier<br /> For the holy Faith and for pure justice;<br /> With tears and labors for half a century<br /> He prayed and prayed to Christ.<br /><br /> Glorious Ioannicius was a rich man,<br /> Rich and more than abundant with the power of heaven,<br /> Leading the struggle, and chanting Psalms,<br /> Against every dark and deceitful power.<br /><br /> The wondrous saint, Ioannicius,<br /> Worked many wonderful miracles<br /> In the name of Christ and by the power of the Cross,<br /> Mightily destroying the demons' schemes.<br /><br /> O Saint of God, Ioannicius,<br /> You found mercy in the Lord Jesus Christ:<br /> Beg mercy also for us sinners,<br /> And from the Holy Spirit, holy grace.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> Mercy is the fruit of faith. Where there is true faith, there also is true mercy. St. Ioannicius was walking past a monastery one day. Among the many nuns, there were a mother and daughter. Evil spirits continually assaulted the young daughter with bodily temptations, and inflamed the passion of lust in her to such a degree that she wanted to leave the convent to marry. In vain did her mother counsel her to stay. Her daughter would not even hear of it. When the mother saw St. Ioannicius, she begged him to counsel her daughter to remain in the monastery and not expose her soul to perdition in the world. Ioannicius summoned the maiden and said: ``Daughter, place your hand on my shoulder!'' She did so. Then the compassionate saint prayed to God with a fervent heart that He deliver her from temptation, and that her bodily lust be transferred to him. Thus, it happened. The maiden was completely calmed and remained in the monastery, and the saint of God went on his way. But as he went, the passion of lust was inflamed in him, and his blood began to boil as though on fire. He desired to die rather than to give the passion its way and, seeing a large poisonous snake, ran to it so as to be bitten and to die. But the snake would not bite him. He provoked it to make it bite him, but as soon as he touched it the snake died. At that moment the flame of lust disappeared from Ioannicius.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the Lord's coming to Paul in a vision at night (Acts 18):<br /><br /> 1. How the Lord came to Paul at Corinth, in a nighttime vision;<br /> 2. How He told him to fear not and to preach, for He said: I have much people in this city;<br /> 3. How Paul obeyed and remained there for a year and a half.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on the heirs of the Kingdom through Christ the Lord</span><br /><br /> In whom also we have obtained an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11).<br /><br /> All is from the Lord Jesus Christ, all is through the Lord Jesus Christ, and all is of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without Him, we have no proper ties or normal relationships with God, with men or with other created beings. He is our head and our mind, and through Him we have obtained an inheritance. What do we inherit? The Kingdom of God. Why are Christians often called heirs in the New Testament? Inheritance is always associated with someone's passing from this earth. One must die for his heir to inherit. Christians even become heirs while still in this life, for the old man in them dies and the new man comes in his place as heir. The one who outlives the other is the one who inherits. When the body dies, the soul outlives it; the soul therefore inherits all that a man has gathered while in the body, be it good works for salvation or evil works for condemnation. Through the Lord Jesus Christ the inheritance that the Lord Himself rejoiced in is opened to us: the Immortal Kingdom of God. We inherit that Kingdom when we leave the earthly kingdom-when we die to this earth, we will inherit heaven; when we break off the alliance with Satan, we will become fellow heirs in Christ. O my brethren, just think what a rich inheritance awaits us! But let us not sell it cheaply, as Esau sold his birthright!<br /><br /> O Lord Jesus Christ, our God and our Savior, have mercy on us to the end, and save us.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-7078824311510081689?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-10731277637625091672010-04-24T04:47:00.001-07:002010-04-24T04:47:19.426-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 3, and New Calendar date November 16.<br /><br />The Hieromartyr Acepsimas, Bishop of Naeson, and others with him; The Holy Great-martyr George; The Venerable Elias the Egyptian. Homily on Christ as the Head of all the saints.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br /> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hieromartyr Acepsimas, Bishop of Naeson, and others with him</span><br /><br /> The eighty-year-old Acepsimas, filled with every Christian virtue, was sitting one day in his home with guests. Just then a child, filled with the Spirit of God, ran up to the aged bishop, kissed him on the head and said: ``Blessed is this head, for it will receive suffering for Christ.'' This prophecy was soon fulfilled. King Sapor raised a bitter persecution of Christians throughout Persia, and St. Acepsimas was apprehended. He was brought before a prince who was also a pagan priest. As the bishop was arrested and bound, a member of his household asked him what should be done with his home if he were martyred. The saint replied: ``It is no longer my home. I am going to a home on high and will not return.'' After prolonged interrogation he was thrown into prison. The following day Joseph, a seventy-year-old presbyter, and Aithalas, a deacon, were also imprisoned. After three years of imprisonment and many tortures, Acepsimas was beheaded. Joseph and Aithalas were buried up to their waists in the ground, and the soulless pagans forced Christians to stone them. That night, by God's providence, Joseph's body disappeared, and a myrtle tree grew over Aithalas's body that healed every kind of disease and pain of men. This tree stood for five years before the wicked and envious pagans cut it down. These soldiers of Christ suffered in Persia in the fourth century, during the time of the pagan King Sapor.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Great-martyr George</span><br /><br /> On this day we commemorate the translation of the relics of St. George, from Nicomedia, where he suffered at the time of Emperor Diocletian, to the city of Lydda in Palestine. The suffering of this wonderful saint is described on April 23. Anticipating his martyrdom, St. George begged his servant to take his relics to Palestine, where his mother had been born, and where he had distributed his large estate to the poor. The servant did so. During the reign of Emperor Constantine, pious Christians built a beautiful church to St. George in Lydda and, upon the consecration of that church, the relics of the saint were interred there. Innumerable miracles have occurred from these miracle-working relics of St. George, the great-martyr of Christ.<br /><br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Elias the Egyptian</span><br /><br /> Elias labored in asceticism near Antinoe, the principle city of the Thebaid. For seventy years, he lived among the arid and inaccessible rocks of the desert. He ate only bread and dates and, in his youth, fasted for weeks at a time. He healed all manner of pains and ailments of the people. He eventually became very shaky in his old age, and entered into the joy of his Lord at the age of 110. Elias said: ``Guard your mind from evil thoughts concerning your neighbors, knowing that the demons put them there, aiming to blind you to your own sins and prevent you from directing yourself toward God.''<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Holy Great-martyr George<br /><br /> O George the martyr,<br /> O George the victor:<br /> Through suffering, you conquered,<br /> And through death you have been glorified.<br /> You held all things to be of less value<br /> Than truth, O George.<br /> You gave up earthly power and honor,<br /> And stood beside the Living Christ.<br /> O George the martyr,<br /> O George the victor:<br /> Pierced and broken with horrible tortures,<br /> You were sustained by God's hand.<br /> All your pains were as nothing-<br /> By the power of God's mighty hand.<br /> We all bow down before you<br /> And glorify your name.<br /> O Martyr George,<br /> O Victor George:<br /> Have mercy on us now,<br /> By your prayers, protect us<br /> Before the throne of Christ God,<br /> Our Almighty Savior;<br /> And pray that we not fear torture,<br /> And that, by patience, we conquer!<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> Among the countless miracles of St. George, this one is recorded: On the island of Mytilene there was a church dedicated to St. George the Great-martyr and Trophy-bearer. All the inhabitants of the island would come to this church on the annual feast of their patron saint. Knowing of this, the Saracens of Crete once attacked this island on its feast day, pillaged the island, and enslaved its inhabitants, taking many of them back to Crete. Among the enslaved was a handsome young man, whom the pirates gave to their prince. The prince made him his servant. The young man's parents were overwhelmed with great sorrow for their son. After a year had passed and St. George's day came again, the grieving parents, following the ancient custom, prepared a table and entertained many guests. Remembering her son, the poor mother went to the icon of the saint, fell to the ground and began to pray that he somehow deliver her son from slavery. The mother then returned to her guests at the table. The host raised a glass and drank a toast to the honor of St. George. Just then their son appeared among them, holding a decanter of wine in his hand. In amazement and fear, they asked him how he had managed to come to them. He replied that as he was about to serve his master wine in Crete, a knight on horseback appeared before him, pulled him up onto the horse and carried him instantly to his parents' home. All were amazed, and glorified God and His wonderful saint, George the Commander and Victory-bearer.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the wondrous deliverance of Paul and Silas from prison (Acts 16):<br /><br /> 1. How these holy apostles were cast into the inner prison and their feet were placed in stocks;<br /> 2. How they were at prayer, praising God at midnight;<br /> 3. How the earth quaked, the chains fell off those who were bound, and the doors of the prison were opened.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on Christ as the Head of all the saints</span><br /><br /> That … He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth (Ephesians 1:10).<br /><br /> Sin causes panic and confusion. A man drowning in sin and vice is like a chicken with its head cut off which, dying, thrashes about convulsively and rushes to and fro. Before Christ's Incarnation, the whole pagan world was a confused, headless body, dying in convulsions. Christ joined the severed head with the benighted trunk and brought the body of the human race back to life. He is the Head of the heavenly host, and He has always been. And, as the Creating Word of God, He was from the beginning the Head of everything created in the visible world, especially the human race. But sin, like a sword, separated the sinful trunk of Adam from his Head. However, the Lord reconciled heaven and earth in His Incarnation, bringing heaven to earth, and raising earth to heaven, and establishing all of it under His mind, under His headship. Through Christ we are reconciled with the Holy Trinity and the angels of God, with one another, and with the created nature around us. The lost Head has been found and all has been harmoniously arranged beneath it. The Apostle says: We have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16). As the head is to the physical man, so the mind is to the spiritual inner man. Therefore, if we are Christ's, we must think and judge in all things according to our Head, Jesus Christ, and Him alone. Thinking and judging by Him, we will perceive ourselves as organs of one body that includes other men and the angels: one body, whose Head is Christ. Hence, our love for God is enkindled, and our faith strengthened, and our hope enlightened. Only a sleeping body feels no link with its head. Let us awaken, my brethren, let us awaken while we have time.<br /><br /> O Lord Jesus Christ, our All-wise Head, unite us with Thyself.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-1073127763762509167?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-14410863668976442922010-04-24T04:38:00.000-07:002010-04-24T04:39:10.665-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 2, and New Calendar date November 15.<br /><br />The Holy Martyrs Acyndinus, Pegasius, Anempodistus, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus and others with them; The Venerable Marcian of Cyrus; The Hieromartyr Victorinus, Bishop of Patav.<br /> Homily on the will of God that all Christians should be holy.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br /> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyrs Acyndinus, Pegasius, Anempodistus, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus and others with them</span><br /><br /> They were all Christians from Persia and suffered during the reign of King Sapor in the year 355. The first three were servants at the court of this same king but secretly served Christ their Lord. When they were accused and brought to trial before the king, he asked them where they came from. To this they replied: ``Our fatherland and our life is the Most-holy Trinity, one in Essence and undivided, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God.'' The king subjected them to cruel tortures but they endured all heroically, with psalmody and prayer on their lips. During the time of their torture and imprisonment angels of God appeared to them many times, and one time the Lord Christ Himself appeared to them as a man ``with a face radiant as the sun.'' When one of the torturers, Aphthonius, beheld a miracle, when boiling lead did no harm to the martyrs, he believed in Christ and cried out: ``Great is the Christian God!'' For this, he was immediately beheaded, and many others saw and believed. Then the king ordered that Acyndinus, Pegasius and Anempodistus be sewn into animal skins and cast into the sea. But St. Aphthonius appeared from the other world with three shining angels, and led the holy martyrs to dry land and set them free. Elpidephorus was one of the king's nobles. When he revealed that he was a Christian and denounced the king for his slaughter of innocent Christians, the king condemned him to death and Elpidephorus was beheaded along with seven thousand other Christians. Then those first three martyrs [Acyndinus, Pegasius and Anempodistus] were finally thrown into a burning furnace along with twenty-eight soldiers and the king's mother, since they also believed in Christ-and thus, in the flames, they gave up their righteous souls into the hands of the Lord.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Marcian of Cyrus</span><br /><br /> Marcian was from the town of Cyrus in Syria. He was distinguished by his noble ancestry as well as by his physical beauty. He left all for the sake of Christ and withdrew into the wilderness of Halkis to live as a hermit. He was a contemporary of Patriarch Flavian of Antioch and the Emperors Constantius and Valens. A heavenly light shone in his cell at night by which he read the Holy Scriptures, and he never had need of any other light. He was a great miracle-worker both during his life and after death. Before his death, he ordered his disciple Eusebius to conceal his body and bury it secretly because of his many admirers. He entered into rest in the Lord in 387.<br /><br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hieromartyr Victorinus, Bishop of Patav</span><br /> <br /> Many maintain that he was a Slovene by ancestry. Blessed Jerome points him out as a learned and devout man. He knew Greek better than Latin. He wrote the interpretations of several books of the New and Old Testaments. He suffered for the Christian Faith in about the year 303.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /><br /> The Holy Martyrs Acyndinus, Pegasius, Anempodistus, Aphthonius and Elipidephorus<br /><br /> The martyr Acyndinus and with him Pegasius,<br /> Courageous Anempodistus and with him Aphthonius,<br /> And the gentle Elipidephorus, a royal dignitary:<br /> All-sacrificial lambs, snow-white lambs.<br /> They showed themselves servants of the Most-holy Trinity,<br /> And declared Christ to Sapor, face to face.<br /> For them, martyrdom was a celebration.<br /> Christ was dearer to them than youth and health;<br /> Christ was dearer to them than royal delights;<br /> Christ was dearer to them than royal honors.<br /> Whatever the world gave them, they gave away for Christ;<br /> They fell as noble sacrifices for Christ;<br /> They fell in disgrace and rose in radiance;<br /> They fell on earth and rose in Paradise.<br /> For the Church on earth, they shed their blood;<br /> In the heavenly Church they completed the edifice of their souls.<br /> Filled with love for the Christian race,<br /> They now pray to the risen Christ<br /> That He preserve the Church on earth from misfortune,<br /> And lead it to the final victory.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> How will one who transgresses love toward his parents raise himself toward love for his enemies? Love for one's parents-this is the main and fundamental school of love. Without this school, one can go no further. The Serbian King Dragutin rose up against his father with an army in order to sit on his father's throne. But it so happened that he later broke his leg, and this awakened in him pangs of conscience which did not leave him in peace until his death. Dragutin withdrew from the throne and relinquished his authority to his younger brother Milutin, and began to widely distribute alms, build churches, and perform other good works. In addition to this, he lived a strict life of asceticism in secret. He girded himself with a belt of reeds around his naked body, dressed in coarse sackcloth, and prayed to God at night in a secretly dug grave. This penitent king did all this only that God would forgive him the sin of lack of love toward his parents, and God forgave him. Many holy martyrs joyfully received their executioners who were seeking them, and treated them hospitably in their homes while they themselves prepared for death. To entertain one's mortal enemies-is this not an expression of great love toward one's enemies? When King Sapor harshly tortured Acyndinus, Pegasius and others with them, he suddenly went mad, became dumb and unable to speak, and began to claw his face with great fury. Seeing his tormentor in such despair, St. Acyndinus wept and prayed to God for the king and said, ``In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord, speak!'' and the king's tongue was loosed and he began to speak. Here is an example of true love for one's enemies!<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the wondrous power of the apostles' words (Acts 16):<br /><br /> 1. How a certain slave girl with an unclean spirit of divination cried out after Paul and Silas;<br /> 2. How Paul turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her;<br /> 3. How the unclean spirit at that same hour came out of the slave girl.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on the will of God that all Christians should be holy</span><br /><br /> According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4).<br /><br /> Only the Church teaches and demonstrates that first there was a plan for the world and then the world was created. That plan was in the wisdom and will and power of God. And we Christians, as the Church of God, are in this plan. According to this plan, God chose us before the foundation of the world for holiness and righteousness and love. God chose us beforehand and adopted us through Him-through Whom? Through the Lord Jesus Christ. For all that we are to God, we are to Him through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ man has no other bond, no other relationship, no other kinship with God, and therefore our choosing and adoption was through our Lord Jesus Christ. He chose us, His Holy Church, according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5), as He had once chosen Israel from among all the nations on earth. Let no one say that this choosing of God destroys man's free will, so that neither does a Christian have merit because he is a Christian, nor is a pagan condemned because he is a pagan. No, this is a totally erroneous interpretation. For at one time God also chose Israel and some in Israel perished while some were saved. He also chose His Holy Church, calling all nations and peoples to it. But the salvation of those among the chosen does not depend on God's choice alone, but also on man's will and effort.<br /><br /> O eternal God, our Creator, Who chose us for salvation before Thou hadst even created us, have mercy on us and save us.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-1441086366897644292?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-65365476421599702262010-04-24T04:33:00.001-07:002010-04-24T04:34:16.178-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date November 1, and New Calendar date November 14.<br /><br />Saints Cosmas and Damian; The Holy Martyr Hermenegild the Heir; The Venerable Martyr James with his disciples James and Dionysius. Homily on the call to all Christians to become saints.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saints Cosmas and Damian</span><br /><br />Cosmas and Damian were unmercenaries and miracle-workers. They were brothers both in the flesh and in the spirit, born somewhere in Asia Minor of a pagan father and a Christian mother. After their father's death, their mother Theodotia devoted all her time and effort to educating her sons and raising them as true Christians. God helped her, and her sons matured as sweet fruit and luminaries of the world. They were learned in the art of medicine and ministered to the sick without payment, not so much with medicine as by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were called ``unmercenary physicians,'' that is, unpaid physicians, for they healed freely and thus fulfilled the commandment of Christ: Freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8). So careful were they in healing men free of charge that Cosmas became very angry with his brother Damian because he accepted three eggs from a woman, Palladia, and ordered that he not be buried alongside his brother Damian after his death. In fact, St. Damian did not accept these three eggs as a reward for healing the ailing Palladia, but rather because she adjured him in the name of the Most-holy Trinity to accept these three eggs. Nevertheless, after their death in the town of Fereman, they were buried together according to a revelation from God. The holy brothers were great miracle-workers both during their life and after their death. A snake crawled through the mouth and into the stomach of a certain farm laborer during his sleep, and the unfortunate man would have died in the greatest pain had he not, in the last moment, invoked the help of Saints Cosmas and Damian. Thus, the Lord glorified forever the miracle-working of those who glorified Him on earth by their faith, purity and mercy.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Hermenegild the Heir</span><br /><br />Hermenegild was the son of the Gothic King Leovigild who adhered to the Arian heresy. However, Hermenegild did not turn away from Orthodoxy in spite of all the flatteries and threats of his cruel heretical father. His father cast him into prison and, early on Pascha, sent a heretical bishop to administer Communion to him. But the God-pleaser refused to receive Communion at the hands of a heretic, and the heretical bishop informed the king about this. The king became angry and ordered the executioner to behead Hermenegild in the year 586. Leovigild later repented that he had killed his son; he renounced his heresy and returned to Orthodoxy.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Martyr James with his disciples James and Dionysius</span><br /><br />James was born in the Diocese of Castoria of parents named Martin and Parasceva. Working as a shepherd James became wealthy, and by this incurred the envy of his brother, who maligned him to the Turks as having found some treasure in the ground. James fled to Constantinople where he again became very wealthy. Once, James was the guest of a Turkish Bey. The Turks ate meat and James fasted. Then the Bey said: ``Great is your Christian Faith!'' And he related how his wife had been mentally ill and how he, after all the physicians and cures had failed, took her to the patriarch for prayers to be read over her. As soon as the patriarch opened the book to read, a heavenly light shone forth in the church. After the completion of the prayer, his wife was made whole. Hearing how the Turk extolled the Christian Faith, James distributed all his goods and went to the Holy Mountain, where he was tonsured a monk in the Monastery of Iveron. He lived a life of asceticism on the Holy Mountain and suffered for the Faith at the hands of the Turks in Jedrene on November 1, 1520. His miracle-working relics and those of his disciples, James and Dionysius, repose in the Monastery of St. Anastasia in Galakistou near Thessalonica.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />Saints Cosmas and Damian<br /><br />The Church glorifies the miracle-working physicians,<br />Shining stars that shine with the Lord,<br />St. Cosmas and St. Damian,<br />Two Christians, wondrous giants.<br />Theodotia was the mother of these sons;<br />She nourished these giants.<br />The glorious brothers fulfilled the law,<br />And by their mercy pleased Christ.<br />They pleased Christ, the Merciful One,<br />The greatest Unmercenary Physician.<br />They received the gift, and became physicians;<br />They received the gift, but did not sell it.<br />They gave the gifts of God to the poor,<br />And in the name of Christ healed them.<br />Time has not covered God's saints with darkness;<br />Thus it has always been, and thus it is now.<br />Nor has it covered the wonderworking physicians;<br />They shine today as they once did,<br />And help the infirm and the unfortunate<br />By mighty and willing prayers<br />Before Christ's heavenly throne.<br />Honor and glory to the wondrous physicians!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />St. Hilarion of Meglin fought a great battle against the Bogomils. At one time, the leaders of the Bogomils met with Hilarion and began to debate with him about faith. The Bogomils taught that God created the spiritual world and that the devil created the material world. To this, Hilarion replied to them that in Holy Scripture it is written: For God is the King of all the earth (Psalm 47:7) and also: The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness (Psalm 24:1). The Bogomils claimed that the Old Testament is of the devil. To them, the saint replied: ``If the Old Testament indeed proceeded from the devil would Christ have said, Search the Scriptures … and they are they which testify of Me (John 5:39), and would He have acknowledged as the greatest commandments those about love toward God and one's neighbor which, at one time, were given through Moses?'' The Bogomils also claimed that the body of Christ was brought from heaven. To this, St. Hilarion replied to them that had it been so, then the body of Christ would have felt neither hunger nor thirst, nor weariness nor suffering, nor would it have been susceptible to death. The Bogomils then expressed their disapproval of the sign of the Cross which Orthodox Christians use. The saint replied to them: ``And what will you do when the sign of the Son of Man, His Cross, appears in the heavens, and when all nations of the earth who do not believe in the Cross will weep?'' And he also said to them: ``How is it that you say that all evil is from evil material, and meanwhile you do not reverence that Wood by which the whole material world was sanctified?''<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the wondrous power of the apostles' words (Acts 16):<br /><br />1. How Paul and Silas spoke to the assembled women alongside the water at Philippi;<br />2. How the Lord opened the heart of the woman Lydia, and she and her household were baptized.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the call to all Christians to become saints</span><br /><br />To the saints which are at Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1).<br /><br />The Apostle calls the Christians in Ephesus saints. He does not call one or two of them saints, nor one group of them, but all of them. Is this not a wondrous miracle of God for people, not in the wilderness but in a city-and an idolatrous and corrupt city-to become saints? That married men who sire children, who trade and work, become saints! Indeed, such were the first Christians. Their dedication, fidelity and zeal in the Faith as well as their holiness and purity of life, completely justified their being called saints. If in latter times saints have become the exception, in those earlier times the unholy were the exception. Saints were the rule. Therefore, we must not wonder that the Apostle calls all baptized souls in Ephesus ``saints'' and that he has an even loftier name for all Christians, i.e., ``sons,'' the sons of God (Galatians 4:6). Christ the Lord Himself gave us the right to call ourselves such when He taught us to address God as Our Father (Matthew 6:9).<br /><br />O my brethren, do we not say to God every day: ``Holy God?'' Do we not call the angels holy? Do we not call the Mother of God holy? And the prophets, apostles, martyrs and the righteous? Do we not call heaven holy and the Kingdom of Heaven holy? Who then is able to enter into the holy Kingdom but the saints? Therefore, if we have hope for salvation, we also have hope for holiness.<br /><br />O Holy God, Who dwellest in the holy place and resteth among the saints and callest the holy to Thyself and showest mercy to them, help us also that we may become holy-in words, in thoughts and in deeds-to Thy glory and our salvation.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-6536547642159970226?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-40888861293761122582010-04-24T04:26:00.001-07:002010-04-24T04:26:23.945-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 31, and New Calendar date November 13.<br /><br />The Holy Apostles Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles and Aristobulus;<span> </span>The Holy Martyr Epimachus; The Holy Martyr Nicholas of Chios; The Venerable Spyridon and Nicodemus. Homily on the certainty of the righteous one that he shall not die.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Apostles Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles and Aristobulus</span><br /> <br /> They were all of the Seventy. Stachys was an assistant to St. Andrew the First-called. St. Andrew appointed him Bishop of Byzantium. He established the church in Argyropolis and governed his flock faithfully and zealously. After sixteen years as bishop, he entered peacefully into rest in the Lord. Amplias and Urban worked likewise with St. Andrew, and were ordained bishops by him-Amplias in Lydda of Odyssopolis in Judea, and Urban in Macedonia. Both died as martyrs for Christ the Lord. Narcissus was appointed Bishop of Athens by the Apostle Philip. St. Apelles was Bishop of Heraclea in Trachis. Aristobulus, brother of the Apostle Barnabas, preached the Christian Faith in Britain and reposed peacefully there.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Epimachus</span><br /><br /> He was born in Egypt and labored there in asceticism, ending his earthly life as a martyr. Imitating St. John the Baptist, he withdrew to the wilderness while still a youth. Because of his great love for God, the Spirit of God led him to every truth and, with no other teacher, taught him how to live a life of asceticism. Then, Epimachus learned that the unbelievers were torturing and killing Christians in Alexandria for the sake of Christ. All aflame with zeal for the Faith, he went to the city and smashed the idols. When the pagans tortured him for this, he cried out: ``Smite me, spit on me, put a crown of thorns on my head, put a reed in my hand, give me gall to drink, crucify me on a cross, and pierce me with a spear! This is what my Lord endured, and I too want to endure it.'' In the crowd of people who witnessed the torturing of St. Epimachus, there was a woman who was blind in one eye. She wept bitterly, watching the heartless torture of this God-pleaser. When the tormentors scraped the body of the holy martyr of Christ, blood spurted from him, and one drop of blood touched the blind eye of that woman. Suddenly, her blind eye regained vision, and was as whole as the other. Then she cried out: ``Great is the God in whom this sufferer believes!'' After this they beheaded St. Epimachus and his soul took up habitation in eternal joy, in about the year 250.<br /><br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Nicholas of Chios</span><br /><br /> Nicholas was a pious youth and a great zealot for the Christian Faith. He was born in the village of Karyes on the island of Chios, where he was tortured and beheaded by the Turks in the year 1754, and gave his righteous soul to God.<br /><br /> 4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Spyridon and Nicodemus</span><br /><br /> They were monks and prosphora-bakers in the Monastery of the Kiev Caves. Though illiterate, Spyridon knew the entire Psalter by heart and worked many miracles during his lifetime. He entered into rest in the year 1148.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Holy Martyr Epimachus<br /><br /> Epimachus, the saint of God,<br /> Felt no fear in his heart,<br /> Either of men or of devils,<br /> And even less of dead idols.<br /> Epimachus rejoiced in his torture;<br /> With his smile he whipped the judge.<br /> His body in torment, his mind in heaven,<br /> Epimachus was adorned with wounds.<br /> He wanted to suffer like Christ,<br /> To stand as a martyr before Christ-<br /> And what he desired, God gave him,<br /> And endowed him with wondrous power<br /> To heal the infirmities of the people,<br /> And to gladden men with grace.<br /> A knight of Christ with the sign of the Cross,<br /> A precious stone among precious stones,<br /> Epimachus shines like a star-<br /> A soul such as only Christ can raise.<br /> O Epimachus, wondrous martyr<br /> And glorious prisoner of the true Faith:<br /> Defend us from evil by your prayers,<br /> And protect the Church of God unto the end.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me, said the Lord (Matthew 10:38). The holy and venerable Martyr Timothy of Esphigmenou (October 29) was at first a married man and had two daughters. Later, as a monk, he decided to suffer for the sake of Christ. Already prepared for the path of suffering, he begged the abbot for a blessing to stop by his village of Kessana to say farewell to his daughters. The abbot would not allow him to do that out of fear that a meeting with his two daughters would soften him, and turn him away from martyrdom for the Faith. But Kessana lay on the road to Propontis, where Timothy was headed. When he got to his village, he met a former neighbor, conversed with him and gave him a farewell message for his daughters. In vain, the neighbor begged him to stay and see his daughters, and rest. Timothy went hurriedly on his way. The daughters heard about their father from the neighbor and ran to see him. And now was seen a rare and majestic sight. The daughters raced to overtake and embrace their father, while the father fled from his daughters, so as not to transgress the command of his abbot. The daughters ran quickly but their father ran even faster. The daughters hurried to embrace their father, and Timothy, fleeing from them, hurried to embrace death. The daughters became weary and turned back in despair, and their father disappeared. Before his death Timothy begged his spiritual father, Germanus, to stop by his village and inform his daughters of his end by martyrdom. The Turks then beheaded Timothy and threw his body into a river. Germanus succeeded in retrieving just one garment from the martyr. He brought it to Kessana, found Timothy's daughters and related their father's heroic death to them, and showed them his garment.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the miraculous guidance of the apostles by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16):<br /><br /> 1. How Paul and Silas wanted to go from Mysia to Bithynia;<br /> 2. How the Spirit would not allow it;<br /> 3. How, in a vision at midnight, a Macedonian man appeared to Paul and summoned him to come to Macedonia.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on the certainty of the righteous one that he shall not die</span><br /><br /> I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord (Psalm 117:17).<br /><br /> Who can say: I shall not die? He who cleaves to the Living Lord. Who can confirm with confidence: but [I shall] live? He who sees the Living Lord before him. Enoch and Elias did not die, but were taken into eternal life. The Lord took them in His mercy, and as proof to mankind of immortal life. Jesus Christ the Lord died and resurrected in accordance with His power, and as proof to mankind of the resurrection from the dead. The apostles and saints were slain, but many of them appeared from the other world in their love for mankind, and as proof to mankind of eternal life. Thus, those who were taken up to heaven in the flesh and those whose bodies reposed, live with the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ in the Immortal Kingdom. I shall not die, but live, said King David with great certainty, even though he lived on earth before the Resurrection of the Lord, and before the announcement of the General Resurrection of the righteous. With still more certainty, each of us Christians must speak this too: I shall not die, but live, for the resurrected Lord is the foundation of our Faith, and our eyes have seen and our ears have heard more-much more-than the eyes and ears of King David. After the Cross of Christ, the devil became as smoke; and after His Resurrection, death became like a mere fog through which one passes to the sunlit field of immortality. Blessed is he, brethren, who becomes worthy to live, and declare the works of the Lord.<br /><br /> O Living Lord, enliven us and save us.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-4088886129376112258?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-23060905524408243692010-04-24T04:21:00.001-07:002010-04-24T04:21:55.662-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 30, and New Calendar date November 12.<br /><br />The Hieromartyr Zenobius and his sister Zenobia; The Holy Apostles Cleopas, Tertius, Mark, Justus and Artemas; The Holy King Milutin. Homily on the desire for God-the only desire of the righteous.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hieromartyr Zenobius and his sister Zenobia</span><br /><br />They were from the town of Aegea in Cilicia. They inherited the true Faith and great material wealth from their parents. Working zealously for the Faith and with great love, they distributed all their wealth to the poor. Because their hands were so generous, the hand of God shielded them from every evil intent of men and demons. The generous hands of Zenobius, which gave to the poor, were endowed by God with the gift of miracle-working, and Zenobius healed the sick of every kind of infirmity merely by touching them. Zenobius was appointed Bishop of Aegea. During a persecution, the Prefect Lysias arrested him and said: ``I offer you two choices: life or death; life if you worship the gods, or death if you do not.'' St. Zenobius replied: ``Life without Christ is not life but death, whereas death for the sake of Christ is not death but life.'' When Zenobius was subjected to cruel tortures, Zenobia came to the judge and said: ``I also want to drink from this cup of suffering, and be crowned with that wreath.'' After being tortured in fire and in boiling pitch, both were beheaded with the sword in about the year 285. Thus this brother and sister took up their habitation in the Kingdom of the Immortal Christ the King.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Apostles Cleopas, Tertius, Mark, Justus and Artemas</span><br /><br />They were all numbered among the Seventy. The risen Lord appeared to Cleopas on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-33). Tertius wrote down the Epistle to the Romans for Paul (Romans 16:22), and died a martyr as Bishop of Iconium after the Apostle Sosipater (November 10). St. Mark (or John) was the son of the devout Mary (whose home was a refuge for the apostles and the first Christians), and a kinsman of Barnabas (Acts 12:12). He became the bishop of the Samaritan town of Apollonia. Justus was a son of Joseph the Betrothed. Together with Matthias, he was one of those selected as a possible replacement for Judas the traitor, but he was not chosen. He suffered for the Gospel as a bishop in Eleutheropolis. St. Artemas was Bishop of Lystra in Lycaonia, and reposed peacefully.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy King Milutin</span><br /><br />Milutin was the son of Uro I and Queen Helena and brother of Dragutin. He fought many battles defending his Faith and his people. He fought against Emperor Michael Palaeologus because Palaeologus accepted union with Rome and tried to force the Balkan peoples and the monks of Athos to recognize the pope. He fought against Shishman, King of Bulgaria, and Nogai, King of the Tartars, in order to defend his lands. All his wars were successful, for he constantly prayed to God and hoped in God. He built more than forty churches: beside those that he built in his own land-Treskavac, Graèanica, St. George in Nagoriè, the Church of the Holy Theotokos in Skoplje, Banjska and so forth-he also built churches outside of his land, in Thessalonica, Sofia, Constantinople, Jerusalem and the Holy Mountain. He entered into rest in the Lord on October 29, 1320. His body was soon shown to be incorrupt and miracle-working; and as such, it reposes even today in the Church of the Holy King in Sofia, Bulgaria.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Holy King Milutin<br /><br />The saint of God, Milutin the gallant,<br />Had a great and difficult task:<br />To defend the Faith against evil schismatics,<br />And the people against many cruel tyrants.<br />He was a scourge to Palaeologus, and a scourge to the Latins-<br />Milutin triumphed over all the unbelievers.<br />The Orthodox Faith was his great treasure,<br />As it was Justinian's crown of pearls!<br />And, like Justinian, he built many churches,<br />And raised up glory to the glorious Christ throughout the world.<br />Royally he attended to matters imperial,<br />But his mind was not parted from Christ God.<br />Thus, pure and innocent in heart was he,<br />A venerable mind in the whirlpool of the world.<br />God, Who looks at the heart and judges accordingly,<br />Granted King Milutin immortality-<br />Immortality of soul, and an incorrupt body.<br />And lo, our holy king, even now, is intact!<br />As you fear no man, O wondrous King,<br />Be our defender before the Living God,<br />That he forgive our sinful monstrosities,<br />And vouchsafe us, with you, the Heavenly Kingdom.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />A great son of the Orthodox Church, King Milutin saved the Balkans from Uniatism. At that time in history when the Byzantine emperor's conscience was weakened, this noble and God-bearing Slavic king rose up decisively and, with God's help, saved Orthodoxy-not only in his own land, but also in all the lands of the Balkans. He who closely examines the life of the holy King Milutin will understand why God gave him success after success in all his works throughout his life. When Milutin ascended the throne, he immediately vowed to God that he would build a church for each year that he would reign. He reigned forty-two years and built forty-two churches. Next to some of the churches-for example, in Thessalonica and Constantinople-he also built hospitals for the indigent, where the poor would receive everything free of charge. Beyond that, he especially loved to give alms to the needy from his own enormous wealth. Oftentimes, this powerful and wealthy king dressed in the clothes of a poor man and, with two or three of his servants, walked among the people at night and asked about their misfortunes, and gave to them abundantly. He lived a very simple, familial life, even in the midst of his great wealth-though he never seemed that way to foreigners. He had become accustomed to a simple life while still at the home of his father, King Uro I. It is told how Emperor Michael Palaeologus sent his daughter Anna with a retinue to the court of King Uro , as an offering to Milutin, in order to lure the Serbian king into union with Rome. But King Uro , seeing the foolish extravagance of the princess and her retinue, said: ``What is this, and what is it for? We are not used to such a life.'' And pointing to a Serbian princess with a distaff in her hand, he said: ``Behold, this is the kind of clothing we expect our daughter-in-law to wear.''<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the miraculous healing of the crippled man (Acts 14):<br /><br />1. How there was a man in Lystra who had never stood on his feet;<br />2. How he beheld Paul and believed in the Gospel;<br />3. How Paul, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, healed the man-who leaped and walked.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the desire for God-the only desire of the righteous</span><br /><br />Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee (Psalm 73:25).<br /><br />In heaven and on earth, there is one supreme good for the soul of an awakened man. That good is God. There is countless good in heaven, but the King of heaven is the greatest good. There is countless good on earth, but the Creator of all of this good is incomparable. That is why the soul of the awakened man asks: ``What could I have or what could I desire, either in heaven or on earth, beside Thee?'' Is the river necessary to the one who is brought to drink at its source? Does one who sits at the king's table desire the shepherd's dinner? God alone is sufficient in Himself to satisfy all of men's hunger and thirst. The heavens are God's, the earth is God's. The Lord of all good is the greatest good; the Creator of all sweetness is the greatest sweetness; the Bearer of all wisdom is the greatest wisdom; the Source of all power and mercy is the greatest power and mercy; the Creator of every kind of beauty in heaven and on earth is the greatest beauty. No kind of good can enter the heart of man-whether openly or in a dream-that is not already in God to the highest degree.<br /><br />Therefore, my brethren, let us ask God that we may receive all; let us seek God that we may find all; let us become rich in God that we may be rich in all.<br /><br />O Lord our God, come near us when our souls seek Thee.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-2306090552440824369?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-19712757431866827172010-04-24T04:16:00.000-07:002010-04-24T04:17:23.725-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 29, and New Calendar date November 11.<br /><br />The Venerable Martyr Anastasia the Roman; The Venerable Abramius the Recluse and his niece Mary; The Venerable Martyr Timothy of Esphigmenou. Homily on the glory of the name of God.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Martyr Anastasia the Roman</span><br /> <br /> She was born in Rome of noble parents, and was left an orphan at the age of three. As an orphan, she was taken to a convent near Rome where the abbess was Sophia, a nun of the highest level of perfection. After seventeen years, Anastasia was well known-among the Christians as a great ascetic, and among the pagans as a rare beauty. Probus, the pagan governor, heard of Anastasia and sent his soldiers to bring her to him. For two hours, the good Abbess Sophia counseled Anastasia how to keep the Faith, how to resist flattering deceits, and how to endure torture. Anastasia said to her: ``My heart is ready to suffer for Christ; my soul is ready to die for my Sweet Jesus.'' Brought before the governor, Anastasia openly expressed her faith in Christ the Lord, and when the governor tried to turn her away from the Faith-first by promises and then by threats-the martyr said to him: ``I am ready to die for my Lord not only once, but-oh, if it were only possible-a hundred times!'' When they stripped her naked to humiliate her, she cried out to the servants: ``Whip me, cut me up and tear me apart, cover my naked body with wounds and cover my shame with blood!'' She was beaten, torn and cut up. On two occasions she felt a great thirst and asked for water, and a Christian, Cyril, gave her a drink, for which he was blessed by the martyr of Christ and beheaded by the pagans. Anastasia's breasts and tongue were severed, but an angel of God appeared and sustained her. Finally, she was beheaded outside the city. Blessed Sophia found her body and buried it honorably. Anastasia was crowned with the wreath of martyrdom during the reign of Decius.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Abramius the Recluse and his niece Mary</span><br /><br /> Forced to do so by his parents, he married, but on the very day of his wedding he left his bride, his parents' home and all that he possessed, and withdrew into solitude to live a life of strict asceticism. He labored thus for fifty years, and left his cell only twice during that time. The first time, he left at the order of his bishop to convert a pagan village to the Christian Faith. The second time he came out to save his licentious niece Mary. He entered peacefully into rest in the year 360, at the age of seventy. (See ``Reflection'' below.)<br /><br /> 3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Martyr Timothy of Esphigmenou</span><br /><br /> He was from the village of Kessana in Thrace. He was married and had two daughters. His wife was seized by the Turks and became a Moslem. In order to save his wife from the harem, he pretended to become a Moslem. After rescuing his wife, he conducted her to a convent, while he went to the Great Lavra on Mount Athos and then to the Monastery of Esphigmenou. He desired martyrdom for Christ, like Agathangelus of Esphigmenou, and was beheaded in Jedrene on October 29, 1820. His body was thrown into a river, but his clothing was retrieved by Elder Germanus, the spiritual father of Esphigmenou.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> The Venerable Abramius the Recluse<br /><br /> St. Abramius left his bride<br /> And dedicated his life to strict asceticism.<br /> By asceticism he worked out his salvation,<br /> And wisely directed others to salvation.<br /> Demonic power attacked the saint,<br /> But in the name of Christ he crushed it.<br /> The demon took on various, horrible guises,<br /> To scare and hinder the man of God.<br /> This man of God did not allow himself to fear,<br /> Or separate his mind from God,<br /> But shone on the world like a candle,<br /> Glorifying the One God, the Most-holy Trinity.<br /> Imprisoned, alone and not wanted by the world,<br /> Abramius became a prisoner for the sake of Christ<br /> For fifty years-fifty years!<br /> Of tears, fasting and struggle-all for the Son of God:<br /> For fifty years-fifty years!<br /> Established on Christ, the firm Foundation.<br /> Glory to Abramius, Christ's soldier,<br /> That, on the mortal earth, he has shown us immortality!<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> But he that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matthew 10:22), said the Lord. Faith is the only light of endurance, for endurance in and of itself implies unbearable darkness. Faith is the shining star in this darkness; faith eases the sharpness of suffering; it bears on its wings all the weight of endurance. St. Abramius gives us a beautiful example of perseverance in endurance. The vexation that the devil caused him by a multitude of temptations and terrors would have driven lesser men to leave one place for another. But Abramius did not want to move, so as not to give the evil demon a cause to rejoice; he remained in his place and defeated the devil. The bishop of that region sent Abramius to a pagan village to convert the villagers to the Christian Faith. After long hesitation, Abramius set out, saying: ``Let it be as God wills-I will go out of obedience.'' He first built a church in that village. Then he smashed all the idols in plain sight of the villagers. They beat him and whipped him half to death, and drove him from their village. But he prayed to God with tears for them, that the Lord would open the eyes of their hearts to know the truth of Christ. And so the pagans continually beat and abused him over the course of three years, but he constantly prayed to God for them, and was not angered with them, enduring in the Faith as a firm rock. And only after three years of labor, tears, forgiveness and faith, was he rewarded. Suddenly, the consciences of the villagers were awakened and they all came together to Abramius, bowing before him, and receiving the Christian Faith from him.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate the terrible punishment by which Paul punished the magician (Acts 13):<br /><br /> 1. How a certain Jewish magician held Sergius the deputy under his dark power;<br /> 2. How Paul, by a word, blinded that magician;<br /> 3. How the deputy saw that miracle, believed in Christ and was baptized.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on the glory of the name of God</span><br /><br /> And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen (Psalm 72:19).<br /><br /> From the grace-filled heart of the prophet flow words full of grace. The prophet speaks of the King and the King's Son, the most unusual King Who has ever appeared on earth. May His name be blessed forever (Psalm 72:17), the prophet said, and then, as if that were not enough, he said it again and added: His glorious name. The Church of Christ is the glory of Christ. Blessed is His Holy Church-the fruit of His labors, the wreath of His humiliation, the work of His hands, and the flower of His blood! Blessed is the very name of His Church-holy and salvific! And with His Church, that is, with His work and with His glory, the whole earth shall be filled. By the words, Forever and ever, the prophet foretold the immortal work of Christ, that is, His Church. She will be built in time and will be revealed in eternity. She will be built until the end of time, and will be revealed whole in eternity.<br /><br /> O my brethren, let us strive that our souls may be built into Christ's Church, into that living and immortal body whose life has no end, and whose beauty is indescribable. Let us strive that we are not rejected as unsuitable and useless stones, to be cast into the abyss of eternal darkness.<br /><br /> O Lord Jesus Christ, King and Son of the King, write us also in the book of immortality, and remember us in Thy Heavenly Kingdom.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-1971275743186682717?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-9933873225679908712010-04-24T04:09:00.001-07:002010-04-24T04:10:05.047-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 28, and New Calendar date November 10.<br /><br />The Holy Martyr Parasceva; Saint Arsenije, Archbishop of Peæ; The Holy Martyr Terence; Saint Stephen of St. Sava's; Saint Athanasius, Patriarch of Constantinople; Saint Dimitri, Bishop of Rostov. Homily on prayer to God to save a soul from the dust.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Parasceva</span><br /><br />She was born in the city of Iconium of wealthy and Christ-loving parents. After the death of her parents, the maiden Parasceva began to distribute her possessions to the poor and the less fortunate, all in the name of Christ the Lord. When a persecution began under Diocletian, Parasceva was brought to trial before the governor of that land. When the governor asked her for her name, she replied that she was called a Christian. The governor rebuked her because she did not give her usual name and Parasceva said to him: ``First, I had to tell you my name in eternal life, and then my name in this temporal life.'' After flogging her, the governor cast Parasceva into prison where an angel of God appeared to her, healed her of her wounds, and comforted her. By prayer, Parasceva destroyed all the idols in the pagan temple. After prolonged and harsh tortures, Parasceva was beheaded with the sword and took up her abode in eternal life.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Arsenije, Archbishop of Peæ</span><br /><br />Arsenije was a great hierarch of the Serbian Church and the successor of St. Sava. Arsenije was born in Srem. While still in his youth, he was tonsured a monk and devoted himself sincerely and whole-heartedly to asceticism for the salvation of his soul. Hearing of the wonderful person and work of St. Sava, Arsenije went to him in i èa, where St. Sava received him cordially and included him among the brotherhood of ièa. Seeing the rare virtues in Arsenije, Sava soon appointed him abbot of the ièa monastery. When the Hungarians attacked the Serbian lands, Sava sent Arsenije to the south to look for a place more secluded than i èa for the archiepiscopal see. Arsenije chose Peæ, and built a monastery there and a church dedicated to the Holy Apostles (which was later renamed the Church of the Ascension of the Lord). Before his second departure for Jerusalem, Sava designated Arsenije as his successor to the archiepiscopal throne, and when Sava reposed in Trnovo on his way back from Jerusalem, Arsenije urged King Vladislav to translate the body of St. Sava to the Serbian land. He governed the Church prudently for thirty years and reposed in the Lord on October 28, 1266. On the wall of the altar in the church of Peæ is written: ``O Lord our God, hearken: visit and bless this church … and remember also me, the sinful Arsenije.'' Arsenije is buried in the church at Peæ.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Terence</span><br /><br />He was from Syria and suffered for the Christian Faith with his wife Neonilla and their seven children. After many tortures, during which the power of God was manifested, they were all beheaded with the sword.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Stephen of St. Sava's</span><br /><br />He was the composer of many beautiful canons. He lived the ascetic life in the community of St. Sava the Sanctified. He was later ordained a bishop and peacefully entered into rest in the year 807.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Athanasius, Patriarch of Constantinople</span><br /><br />He was an opponent of union with Rome, in contrast to his predecessor John Beccus (1275-1282). He was an ascetic and a prayerful person from his childhood. Beloved by his people, Athanasius provoked the displeasure of certain priests by his moral strictness. He withdrew to his monastery on Mount Ganos, where he labored even more austerely than before. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself appeared to him and scolded him gently for leaving his flock to the wolves. When he foretold the day of the earthquake in Constantinople, Emperor Andronicus reinstated him to the patriarchal throne against his will. After that, he again secretly withdrew to the ascetic life. He entered into rest at the age of one hundred. He was clairvoyant and a miracle-worker.<br /><br />6. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Dimitri, Bishop of Rostov</span><br /><br />Dimitri was a great hierarch, preacher, author and ascetic. He was born near Kiev in the year 1651, and reposed in the year 1709. Among his many glorious works of instruction, he was known especially for his translation and publication of The Lives of the Saints. He foresaw his own death three days in advance, and died while at prayer. Dimitri was a great light of the Russian Church and of Orthodoxy in general. He had heavenly visions during his life. He served the Lord zealously and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of Heaven.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /><br />Saint Arsenije, Archbishop of Peæ<br /><br />The wise hierarch St. Arsenije<br />Does not hide his wondrous power, even today.<br />He hastens to God with gentle prayers,<br />And helps the faithful servants of Christ;<br />He has close access to God Most-high,<br />For he was made worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.<br />When cruel Shishman, ruler of the Bulgarians,<br />Sought to plunder the Monastery of Peæ,<br />His soldiers encamped near there,<br />But that black night he had no peace.<br />From the heavens, a fiery pillar appeared,<br />And Shishman's army was overcome by fear,<br />And fled, without a backward glance,<br />From the shrine of Peæ, where the saint reposes.<br />God gave a wreath of power and glory<br />To the wonderful successor of St. Sava.<br />He continued the work of his glorious predecessor,<br />And thus, with St. Sava, became the pride of his people.<br />To St. Arsenije we now pray<br />That his grace might shine forth upon us.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /><br />St. Dimitri of Rostov was a saint in the ancient and true model of the early Fathers. Not only did he write beautiful and instructive books, but also shone forth as an example to his flock. He was a great ascetic and man of prayer. So humble was he that he even begged the seminarians in his seminary to pray to God for him. Whenever the clock struck the hour, he stood for prayer and recited: ``O Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice!'' When he was ill-which, for him, was often-he begged each of the seminarians to recite ``Our Father'' five times on his behalf while meditating on the five wounds of the Lord Jesus Christ. On one occasion, St. Barbara appeared to him with a smile and said, ``Why do you pray in the Latin manner?''-meaning, why do you pray to God with such brief prayers? At this reproach, even though it was gentle, he became despondent, but she encouraged him, saying: ``Do not be afraid!'' On another occasion, St. Orestes the Martyr (November 10) appeared to him, just as St. Dimitri had finished writing the saint's life, and said: ``I endured greater tortures for Christ than those you have written.'' He then showed him his left side and said: ``This was pierced with a red-hot iron.'' He then showed him his left hand and said: ``There I was slashed.'' Finally, he showed him his leg above the knee and said: ``And this was cut off by a scythe.'' When St. Dimitri wondered if this Orestes visiting him was one of the Five Companions (December 13), the saint discerned his thought and said: ``I am not the one of the Five Companions but rather the one whose life you have just written.''<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate God's terrible punishment of Herod (Acts 12):<br /><br />1. How, in his pride, Herod elevated himself, and the people glorified him as a god;<br />2. How an angel of God struck him at once, because he gave not God the glory;<br />3. How he was consumed by worms and died.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on prayer to God to save a soul from the dust</span><br /><br />Deliver me out of the dust that I sink not (Psalm 69:14).<br /><br />Brethren, our souls are clothed in dust, and our bodies of dust are given us for the service of our soul. May our souls not drown in dust! May our souls not be enslaved by dust! May the living spark not be extinguished in the grave of dust! Very spacious is the field of earthly dust that draws us to itself; but even more spacious is the immeasurable Kingdom of the Spirit that calls our soul its kin. Truly, we are related to the earth through physical dust; but we are related to heaven through the soul. We are dwellers in temporary huts and soldiers in temporary tents. O Lord, Deliver me out of the dust! Thus prayed the repentant king who initially had given himself over to dust, until he saw how dust pulls us into the abyss of destruction. Dust is the body of man with its fantasies; dust is also all wicked men who wage war against the righteous; dust is the demons with their terrors. May the Lord save us from all this dust, for He alone is able to do that. We should strive first of all to see the enemy within ourselves-the enemy who attracts other enemies. Hence, the greatest misfortune of the sinner is that he, unconsciously and unwillingly, is an ally of his own enemies! However, the righteous man has strengthened his soul in God and in the Kingdom of God, and is not afraid. He is not afraid of himself, and therefore is not afraid of his other enemies. He is not afraid, because he is neither an ally nor an accomplice of the enemies of his soul. Hence, neither men nor demons can do him any harm. God is his ally and the angels of God are his protectors-what can man do to him? What can demons do to him? What can dust do to him?<br /><br />O Lord our God, Three Persons and One Being, Who breathed living souls into the dust of our bodies, save us according to Thy mercy that we sink not.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-993387322567990871?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-5476798942250350412010-04-24T02:43:00.000-07:002010-04-24T02:46:36.357-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 27, and New Calendar date November 9.<br /><br />The Holy Martyr Nestor, The Venerable Nestor the Chronicler, Saint Andrew, Prince of Smolensk. Homily on zeal for the house of God.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Nestor</span><br /><br />In the time of the suffering of St. Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher, there was a young man of Thessalonica, Nestor, who learned the Christian Faith from St. Demetrius himself. At that time Christ's enemy, Emperor Maximian, organized various games and amusements for the people. The emperor's favorite in these games was a Vandal by the name of Lyaeus, a man of Goliath-like size and strength. As the emperor's gladiator, Lyaeus challenged men every day to single combat and slew them. Thus, the bloodthirsty Lyaeus amused the bloodthirsty, idolatrous Maximian. The emperor built a special stage for Lyaeus's battles, similar to a threshing floor on pillars. Spears, points upward, were planted beneath this platform. When Lyaeus defeated someone in wrestling, he would throw him from the platform onto the forest of spears. The emperor and his pagan subjects cheered as some poor wretch writhed in torment on the spears until he died. Among Lyaeus's innocent victims were many Christians: when no one volunteered to duel with Lyaeus, by the emperor's orders Christians were arrested and forced to duel with him. Seeing this horrifying amusement of the pagan world, Nestor's heart was torn with pain, and he decided to come forward for a duel with the gigantic Lyaeus. But first, he went to prison to see St. Demetrius and sought a blessing from him to do this. St. Demetrius blessed him, signed him with the sign of the Cross on the forehead and on the chest and prophesied to him: ``You will defeat Lyaeus, but you will suffer for Christ.'' Thus, young Nestor went to duel with Lyaeus. Maximian was present with a multitude of people; everyone felt pity for the young Nestor, who would surely die, and tried to dissuade him from dueling with Lyaeus. Nestor crossed himself and said: ``O God of Demetrius, help me!'' and with God's help, he overcame Lyaeus, knocked him down, and threw him onto the sharp spears, where the heavy giant soon found death. Then all the people cried out: ``Great is the God of Demetrius!'' But the emperor, shamed before the people and sorrowing for his favorite Lyaeus, was greatly angered at Nestor and Demetrius, and commanded that Nestor be beheaded and Demetrius run through with lances. Thus, the Christian hero Nestor ended his earthly life and took up his habitation in the Kingdom of his Lord in the year 306.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Nestor the Chronicler</span><br /><br />At the age of seventeen, Nestor entered the Monastery of the Kiev Caves while St. Theodosius was still abbot. He wrote the first history of the Russian people, in which he intertwined the history of Russian asceticism. He was distinguished by unusual humility and meekness. In his literary work, he often referred to himself as unworthy, coarse, ignorant and full of every kind of sin. But God, Who knows the hearts of men, glorified this wonderful saint of His. When Nestor entered into rest on October 27, 1114, his relics performed many miracles.<br /><br />3.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Saint Andrew, Prince of Smolensk</span><br /><br />Out of love for Christ, Andrew abandoned the glory and honor of the world, hid himself in a monastery and there, disguised and unknown, served as a sacristan for thirty years. He peacefully entered into rest in the Lord in 1390; his miracle-working relics were found in 1540.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Holy Martyr Nestor<br /><br />St. Nestor was outraged at evil<br />And was zealous for the Christian Faith.<br />The young disciple of St. Demetrius<br />Seemed young and weak against the terrible Lyaeus,<br />But he traced the sign of the Cross on himself<br />And impaled the powerful Lyaeus on a spear.<br />He had been given power from above,<br />Like David against Goliath.<br />``You will conquer, but you will be tortured,<br />And will lay down your life for Christ.''<br />Thus Demetrius prophesied to him,<br />And as he said, so it came to pass.<br />Nestor jubilantly went to torture,<br />And wonderfully magnified the wondrous Christ<br />With sweet words and sweet hymns,<br />And fervent prayers for the Church.<br />Great in spirit, small in years,<br />He did not grieve over his young life;<br />His blood strengthened the Church,<br />And Nestor was eternally glorified.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />A miracle of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica: That the saints of God live, clothed in great glory and might in the heavens, Orthodox Christians know, not by their own reasoning, but by the true help and visitations of the saints. At times the saints appear so that men may see and hear them; at times, only to be either seen or heard; at times, though unseen and unheard, they influence our thoughts, our dispositions and our actions. Among the many miracles of St. Demetrius in Thessalonica the following is recorded: A young man named Onesiphorus was appointed to the service of sacristan in the Church of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica. His primary task was to keep an account of the candles and lampadas. This young man began to steal candles, take them home, and then resell them. St. Demetrius appeared to him and said: ``Brother Onesiphorus, your action is not pleasing to me, for you are stealing candles. By this, you bring harm to others and especially to yourself. Cease doing this and repent!'' Onesiphorus was frightened and ashamed and, for a time, stopped stealing candles. But he eventually forgot himself, and again began to steal candles. One morning, a distinguished man brought some large candles to the tomb of the saint, lit them, prayed and left. Onesiphorus approached the candles and stretched forth his hand with the intention of taking them, but at that moment a voice like thunder roared: ``Are you doing that again?!'' As though struck by lightning, Onesiphorus fell to the ground, unconscious. When someone came into the church he found him and lifted him up off the floor; he gradually came to himself and related all that had happened. Everyone was astonished, and glorified God.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate Peter's wondrous journey with the angel of God (Acts 12):<br /><br />1. How the angel led Peter out of prison and brought him to the city;<br />2. How they invisibly passed by the first and second guards;<br />3. How the locked gates of the city opened to them of their own accord.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on zeal for the house of God</span><br /><br />For the zeal of Thy house has eaten me up and the reproaches of those who reproach Thee have fallen on me (Psalm 69:9).<br /><br />The heavens are the house of God. The Church of God is the house of God. The bodies of believing people are the house of God. Wherever God is, there is the house of God; and where the house of God is, there is holiness. Men dishonor the holiness of God's house, and the royal prophet is provoked and burns with zeal. He takes upon himself all the offenses against the holy things of God, and they fall upon him like a fire that enkindles him with even more zeal. Men desecrate the heavens when they do not believe that which God Himself revealed to mankind for the sake of their salvation. When men oppose or pervert the truth, as do the heretics, or when, of their own free will, they conceive of Christ according to their corporeal understanding, or when they have doubts about angels and saints, the Judgment, and the Eternal Kingdom of Christ, and refuse to consider the eternal punishment of unrepentant sinners-in all this and more, men attack the house of God and desecrate its holiness like savage animals. This causes zeal against the opponents and the blasphemers of God to rise in the hearts of the righteous. In the same manner, men attack the house of God's holiness when they behave unworthily toward the Church of God, when they are negligent concerning the Church's ordinances, when they are slothful toward ecclesiastical commandments and malicious toward the servants of the Church. Again, zeal for the holiness of the house of God is inflamed in the hearts of the righteous and the devout. Finally, the corrupting of the human body, the surrendering to passions, the service of sin, abduction, murder, brutality, drunkenness and other wicked actions, are all attacks on the holiness of God's house. It is all blasphemy against God and against man. Again, the fervor of the zealots of holiness rises up and shines as a heavenly flame before men. O my brethren, let us look at Christ's zeal for the holiness of God's house, and the zeal of the apostles and the Holy Fathers of our Orthodox Church. Let us have more zeal for our salvation than the devil has, day and night, for our destruction.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus Christ, the Model of our zeal for holiness, grant us a spark of Thy zeal that we may be like Thee in zeal, and be saved by Thee.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-547679894225035041?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-68918629037979194512010-04-24T02:36:00.000-07:002010-04-24T02:47:48.445-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 26, and New Calendar date November 8.<br /><br />The Holy Great-martyr Demetrius, The Venerable Martyr Ioasaph, The Commemoration of the Great Earthquake of Constantinople. Homily on the heart ready for God.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Great-martyr Demetrius</span><br /><br />This glorious and wonderworking saint was born in Thessalonica of noble and devout parents. Implored of God by childless parents, Demetrius was their only son, and so was raised and educated with great care. Demetrius's father was a commander in Thessalonica. When his father died, Emperor Maximian appointed Demetrius as commander in his place. As he appointed him, Maximian, an opponent of Christ, particularly recommended that he persecute and exterminate the Christians in Thessalonica. Demetrius not only disobeyed the emperor but openly confessed and preached the Lord Jesus Christ in the city of Thessalonica. When the emperor heard of this he became furious with Demetrius. Then, when he was returning from battle against the Sarmatians, Maximian stopped at Thessalonica to investigate the matter. The emperor summoned Demetrius and questioned him about his faith. Demetrius openly acknowledged his Christian Faith to the emperor and also denounced the emperor's idolatry. Maximian cast Demetrius into prison. Knowing what was awaiting him, Demetrius gave all his goods to his faithful servant Lupus to distribute to the poor, and joyfully awaited his imminent suffering for Christ the Lord. An angel of God appeared to him in prison, saying: ``Peace be to you, O sufferer of Christ; be brave and be strong!'' After several days, the emperor sent soldiers to the prison to kill Demetrius. The soldiers found the saint of God at prayer and ran him through with lances. Christians secretly took his body and honorably buried it. Healing myrrh flowed from the body of the martyr of Christ, curing many of the sick. Soon, a small church was built over his relics.<br /><br />An Illyrian nobleman, Leontius, was afflicted with an incurable illness. He hastened, with prayer, to the relics of St. Demetrius and was completely healed. In thanksgiving, Leontius erected a much larger church on the site of the old church. The saint appeared to him on two occasions. When Emperor Justinian wanted to translate the relics of the saint from Thessalonica to Constantinople, flaming sparks sprang from the tomb and a voice was heard: ``Stop, and do not touch!'' And thus, the relics of St. Demetrius have remained for all time in Thessalonica. As the protector of Thessalonica, St. Demetrius has appeared many times, and on many occasions has saved Thessalonica from great calamity. His miracles are without number. The Russians considered St. Demetrius to be the protector of Siberia, which was conquered and annexed to Russia on October 26, 1581.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Martyr Ioasaph</span><br /><br />Ioasaph was a disciple of St. Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople, and labored in asceticism on the Holy Mountain. He had so great a love for Christ that all of his ascetic works seemed inadequate, and from love he desired to suffer for his Lord. For that reason he went to Constantinople, where he openly confessed to the Turks his faith in the Holy Trinity and the Son of God. The enraged Turks beheaded him on October 26, 1536.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Commemoration of the Great Earthquake of Constantinople</span><br /><br />In the year 740, during the reign of Emperor Leo the Isaurian, there was a terrifying and prolonged earthquake in Constantinople. The people considered this a punishment from God for their sins, and prayed with great repentance to the Most-holy Theotokos and St. Demetrius, until God showed mercy and the earthquake ceased.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Holy Great-martyr Demetrius<br /><br />Thessalonica glorifies its wonderful saint-<br />St. Demetrius, servant of the Most-high God.<br /> Demetrius, the commander,<br /> Servant of the Creator and Lord.<br /><br />St. Paul bedewed Thessalonica with tears,<br />Demetrius watered it with his blood.<br /> Demetrius, the commander,<br /> Servant of the Creator and Lord.<br /><br />The tears of the apostle and the blood of the martyr<br />Are the glory, salvation and pride of Thessalonica.<br /> Demetrius, the commander,<br /> Servant of the Creator and Lord.<br /><br />Let us also glorify Christ's soldier,<br />The myrrh-gushing saint and courageous martyr.<br /> Demetrius, the commander,<br /> Servant of the Creator and Lord.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />A miracle of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica: Demetrius was a commander of Thessalonica during his life and remained so after his repose. People have felt his presence in Thessalonica, especially in times of great calamities. He protects the city, wards off misfortunes, repels invaders, and helps all who invoke his name. Here is a wonderful example of his unusual aid to people in need. Once, the barbarians attacked Thessalonica and were unable to overtake it. Infuriated at this, they pillaged the countryside and bound and carried off two beautiful maidens whom they gave as a gift to their prince. These maidens knew how to embroider well. When the prince saw their handiwork, he said to them: ``I hear that there is a great god in your land, Demetrius, and that he works great miracles. Embroider his face on this linen.'' The maidens told him that St. Demetrius was not a god but rather God's servant and the helper of Christians. At first, they refused to embroider the face of the saint, but when the prince threatened them with death, they carried out the command and completed the task by St. Demetrius's Day. On the eve of the feast, they looked at their embroidery and wept sorrowfully, as they had to spend the feast day in slavery and had to give that embroidered image of their beloved saint to an impious barbarian. Both maidens prayed to St. Demetrius to forgive them. Then St. Demetrius appeared to them and took them both away, as an angel had once taken the Prophet Habakkuk. He brought them to Thessalonica and set them in his church. A solemn all-night vigil was being celebrated, and many people were there. When they learned of the miraculous rescue of these Christian maidens, all glorified God and St. Demetrius, His great servant and commander.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the miraculous deliverance of Peter from prison (Acts 12):<br /><br />1. How Peter was sleeping in the prison bound with two chains;<br />2. How the faithful prayed to God for Peter;<br />3. How a radiant angel appeared in the prison, freed the shackled Peter, and led him out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the heart ready for God</span><br /><br />My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready (Psalm 57:7).<br /><br />Brethren, blessed is he who is able to speak like this to his Lord! Blessed is he whose heart is completely ready to follow the will of God. The readiness of the heart of man lies in this: to joyfully follow the will of God and not be confused by one's own thoughts and desires. At first, the repentant King David had followed his own sinful thoughts and desires, and was like a boat on a stormy sea. However, when he realized that the storm was going to drown him, he turned to God with great repentance and tears, and turned the boat of his life entirely over to God. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready! he cried out with great peace of soul, for he knew that he had given his boat into the hands of the Most-skilled Helmsman. The storm still raged and the winds and waves still assaulted him, but he was not afraid, convinced that nothing could smash his boat, and that his boat would sail safely to a calm harbor. A ``ready heart'' means a heart cleansed of pride and humbled before the majestic power and wisdom of God. A ``ready heart'' means a heart emptied of all worldly desires and illusions, and filled with nothing but aspirations toward God and love for God. A ``ready heart'' means a heart that is healed of all restlessness, cares and fears, and is quieted and encouraged by the presence of God's grace. I will sing and give praise in my glory (Psalm 57:7), continues the Psalmist. This shows that his heart is truly ready-he is not proud of his royal glory but ascribes it to God. He humbled himself before God as nothing, and now his sole pleasure is to magnify and glorify God. His personal glory only gives him a reason for glorifying His All-glorious God.<br /><br />O my brethren, let us endeavor that our hearts be ready soon before God: ready to hear the word of God, ready to follow the will of God, ready to glorify the Living God.<br /><br />O Lord God, our immortal Creator, help us to ready our hearts, that they may be vessels of Thy life-giving grace.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-6891862903797919451?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-79059408623629642772010-04-24T02:25:00.000-07:002010-04-24T02:26:06.696-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 25, and New Calendar date November 7.<br /><br />The Holy Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius; The Holy Martyr Anastasius; Saint Tabitha. Homily on fleeing the world and dwelling in the wilderness.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br /> 1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius</span><br /><br /> These saints of God were clergymen under Paul, the Patriarch of Constantinople, during the reign of Emperor Constantius. With the death of the great Emperor Constantine, the Arian heresy, which until then had been suppressed, revived and gained momentum. Even Emperor Constantius himself leaned toward this heresy. There were two influential noblemen at the emperor's court, Eusebius and Philip, both of whom were ardent Arians. Under their influence, Patriarch Paul was ousted from the patriarchal throne and banished to Armenia, where the Arians strangled him. Then the dishonorable Macedonius seized the patriarchal throne. At that time Orthodoxy had two bitter struggles: against the pagans and against the heretics. Marcian and Martyrius interceded with all their strength and determination on the side of Orthodoxy. Marcian was a reader and Martyrius was a subdeacon at the cathedral church of Hagia Sophia; under Patriarch Paul they had been patriarchal notaries (secretaries). The Arians at first tried to bribe them, but when these holy men rejected this with scorn, the heretics condemned them to death. When they were brought to the executioner, they raised their hands and prayed to God, giving Him thanks for a martyr's end to their lives: ``Lord, we rejoice that we depart from this life by such a death. Make us worthy to be partakers of eternal life. Thou art our life!'' They placed their necks beneath the sword and were beheaded in the year 355. Later, St. John Chrysostom built a church in their name over their miracle-working relics.<br /><br /> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Anastasius</span><br /><br /> He was a cloth-maker and a zealous Christian. During Diocletian's persecution of Christians, this man of God appeared before the judge in the Dalmatian town of Solin, and confessed his faith in Christ. He was inhumanly tortured and slain, and his body was thrown into the sea but was later found and honorably buried.<br /><br /> 3.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Saint Tabitha</span><br /><br /> St. Tabitha (which means ``gazelle'') was a disciple of the apostles and lived in Joppa. She was full of good works and almsdeeds (Acts 9:36), but suddenly became weak and died. The Apostle Peter was then in the town of Lydda, and the grieving disciples sent for him, imploring him to comfort her kinsmen. Upon his arrival, the great Apostle of Christ told everyone to leave the room where the corpse lay, then knelt in prayer. Then, turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, arise (Acts 9:40) and Tabitha opened her eyes and stood up. Many believed in the Lord Jesus Christ because of this wonderful miracle.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br /> Saint Tabitha<br /><br /> Tabitha died, not that she might no longer live,<br /> But that the world might be astonished at the miracle which came to pass.<br /> Beside her deathbed Peter humbly knelt,<br /> And uttered fervent prayer unto the Lord.<br /> She was resurrected in body! And the unbelievers heard<br /> How the Lord hearkened to the apostle's prayer<br /> And returned the living soul to the dead body.<br /> And Peter turned the unbelievers to the Faith.<br /> O wondrous miracle, of a kind unknown in the world!<br /> By the name of Christ, death was conquered.<br /> Death was conquered, and life rejoices.<br /> The young Tabitha rejoices in life;<br /> And, more than in her own life,<br /> She rejoices that she served as a wonder to the unbelieving world.<br /> She was resurrected in body! The unbelievers heard,<br /> And their own souls were raised from the dead.<br /> O great Peter, servant of Christ,<br /> Pray to our Savior for us;<br /> Resurrect our souls, buried in the mud-<br /> You, who revived Tabitha by the power of God.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /> Among other mysterious perceptions from the world of spirits, the saints also had perceptions of sweet fragrances from good spirits and foul stenches from impure spirits. During every appearance of luminous, pure spirits, a life-giving and sweet fragrance wafted about; and during every appearance of dark and impure spirits, a suffocating, unbearable stench filled the air. The saints were able to discern which passion possessed a man by the kind of stench he emanated. Thus it was that St. Euthymius the Great recognized the stench of the passion of adultery in the monk Emilian of the Lavra of St. Theoctistus. Going to Matins one morning, Euthymius passed by Emilian's cell and smelled the stench of the demon of adultery. Emilian had not committed any physical sin, but had adulterous thoughts that were being forced into his heart by the demon, and the saint already sensed it by its smell. The power of this perception once revealed itself even more wondrously in St. Hilarion the Great. A certain avaricious miser had sent some of his vegetables to Hilarion. When they were brought to Hilarion for a meal, the saint said: ``Take these away from here. I cannot stand the stench that comes from these vegetables! Do you not smell how they reek of avarice?'' When the brethren were amazed by these words, Hilarion told them to take the vegetables to the oxen, and they would see that not even the oxen would eat them. Indeed, the oxen merely sniffed at them, and turned their heads away in disgust.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br /> Contemplate God's miraculous revelation to the Apostle Peter (Acts 11):<br /><br /> 1. How Peter saw the heavens open and a sheet full of all kinds of animals, beasts, creeping things and birds, being lowered to him;<br /> 2. How he heard a voice: Arise, Peter; slay and eat! (Acts 11:7);<br /> 3. How this admonished him to attend even to the pagans and preach the Gospel to them.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">on fleeing the world and dwelling in the wilderness</span><br /><br /> Lo, then would I flee afar off, and remain in the wilderness (Psalm 55:7).<br /><br /> Brethren, from whom did the prophet flee into the wilderness? From evil adversaries, from passions, and from vanity. Why did he flee into the wilderness? Because that is the way of victory over wicked adversaries, passions, and the vanity of the world. Very few choose the wilderness: that is why he fled into the wilderness. Men fight over cities and lands, over authority and wealth, but not over the wilderness. In the cities, the inner adversaries of man-the passions and diverse vanities-constantly are aroused with new fire, while in the wilderness they fade and vanish. Before he spoke of fleeing, the prophet said, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me (Psalm 55:4); this is the reason to flee into the wilderness. One should prepare his soul for the other world, for the encounter with God. Not even a king can save himself from death or avoid judgment. Living in constant luxury and merriment, man is indeed as if lulled to sleep by the strong drink of this world. But then, in the midst of luxury and merriment, the thought of death tugs at him and awakens him. Oh, I must die! I must leave this world! I must come before God and before the angels! Where is my soul? Where are my deeds? With what shall I leave this world, and with what shall I enter into the next world? Thousands upon thousands of those who have been awakened from sinful sleep by such questions have fled to the wilderness and, day and night, they amend their souls and purify their hearts by repentance, prayer, fasting, vigils, labor and other proven means by which man kills the fear of death, and becomes adopted by God.<br /><br /> O Lord Jesus Christ, our Most-wise and Most-gracious Teacher, Who Thyself at times withdrew from men into solitude, help us to be collected in soul and prepare ourselves for Thy Most-glorious Kingdom.<br /><br /> To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-7905940862362964277?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-44238632310570107902010-04-24T02:17:00.000-07:002010-04-24T02:23:18.046-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 24, and New Calendar date November 6.<br /><br />The Holy Martyr Arethas; Saint Elesbaan, King of Ethiopia; The Icon of the Holy Theotokos, ``Joy of All Who Sorrow''; The Venerable Arethas of the Monastery of the Kiev Caves. Homily on the clear coming of God.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr Arethas</span><br /><br />This holy martyr suffered for the Christian Faith with over four thousand Christians-priests, monks and nuns, men, women and children. Arethas was the eparch in the town of Nagran, in the southern Arabian land of Omir. He was ninety-five years old when he suffered. Dunaan, a cruel Jewish persecutor of Christians, then governed Omir. Determined to eradicate all Christians from his land, he surrounded the Christian town of Nagran, and sent a message to the people saying he would put them all to death unless they renounced Christ. The citizens closed the gates, and Dunaan attacked the city wall for a long time without success. Then the iniquitous governor swore to the citizens that he would do nothing to them, if only they would open the gate for him to enter and receive the tribute that they owed him-and that he would take it and immediately withdraw. The Christians believed him and opened the gate. Then the oath-breaking Jew summoned the aged Arethas, the clergy and other distinguished citizens and beheaded them all with the sword. He then perpetrated a horrible slaughter in the town. Learning of this, the Byzantine Emperor Justin was greatly grieved, and wrote a letter to the Ethiopian Emperor, Elesbaan, requesting him to set out with an army against Dunaan to avenge the innocent blood of the Christians. Elesbaan obeyed Justin, attacked the governor of Omir with his army, defeated him, slew his entire army, and beheaded him. By a revelation from God, a certain devout man named Abramius was installed as governor of Omir, and again by God's revelation, St. Gregory of Omir (December 19) was installed as archbishop. Christians rebuilt the Church of the Holy Trinity in Nagran that Dunaan had burned, and also built a church to the Holy Martyr Arethas and the other martyrs of Nagran. St. Arethas and the others suffered and received martyr's wreaths from the Lord in the year 523.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Elesbaan, King of Ethiopia</span><br /><br />Inflamed with zeal for the Christian Faith, this pious king raised an army against the governor Dunaan, the wicked persecutor of Christians in the land of Omir. However, at the battle's outset, Elesbaan had little success and much of his army perished in the arid desert. He then wept bitterly before God, and vowed to become a monk if God would help him conquer the mortal enemy of Christianity. Defeating Dunaan, Elesbaan returned to Ethiopia, immediately left the imperial court and entered a monastery, where he lived a strict life of asceticism as a true monk for fifteen full years. God endowed him with the grace of miracle-working before and after his death. He entered into rest in the year 555.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Icon of the Holy Theotokos, ``Joy of All Who Sorrow''</span><br /><br />This name is given to one of the wonderworking icons of the Most-holy Theotokos. On this day the icon is celebrated for the miraculous healing in Moscow, of Euphemia, the sister of Patriarch Joachim, in the year 1688. Euphemia had a serious wound in the side and as the doctors failed in their treatments, she prayed with tears to the Most-holy Theotokos. Then, she heard a voice: ``Euphemia, go to the Church of the Transfiguration of my Son; there you will find the icon, `Joy of All Who Sorrow.' Have the priest pray for you before this icon and you will be healed.'' Euphemia did so, and was immediately made well.<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Arethas of the Monastery of the Kiev Caves</span><br /><br />He reposed in the year 1190. (See ``Reflection'' below.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />to the Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos, ``Joy of All Who Sorrow''<br /><br />O Most-holy Mother of God, ``Joy of All Who Sorrow,''<br />Grant thy mercy to us sinners.<br />Thy Son now sits on the throne of the Eternal Kingdom,<br />And all our troubles thou seest; thou knowest them as they occur.<br />Thou hast always prayed to Christ God for the faithful,<br />And hast relieved much pain and misery of the sorrowful.<br />O Holy Virgin, never cease, to the end of time,<br />To pray for the salvation of our race.<br />God hast made thee even more glorious than the Seraphim:<br />O hasten to us, O Joy of all who sorrow!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />When a consecrated person commits a transgression, a greater punishment awaits him than awaits a layman, less enlightened in the mystery of the will of God than he, who commits the same sin. St. Arethas was a monk in the Monastery of the Kiev Caves, and was very avaricious. He would give nothing to anyone of the piles of possessions in his cell, not even a kopeck. But once, he became very seriously ill and saw, as if in a vision, devils snatching his soul from the angels, screaming, ``He is ours, he is ours!'' and citing as their proof Arethas's greed and miserliness. Upon his recovery Arethas amended his life, and from then on counted all earthly goods as nothing. Our benevolent God forgave him, and later endowed him with abundant grace.<br /><br />Again, in the monastery where the blessed Emperor Elesbaan reposed, a monk developed the habit of visiting a tavern often, getting drunk there, and even committing immoral acts with women. One day, returning from the tavern, a terrifyingly huge snake began chasing him and gained on him rapidly. In great torment and anguish, the monk cried out: ``Depart from me, as you would from the holy and righteous Elesbaan!'' Suddenly, the snake stopped. And the monk heard as it were a human voice from the serpent: ``An angel of God commanded me to consume you because of your impurity and foulness, for you vowed to serve God in purity, but now you soil your body and anger the Holy Spirit.'' The monk vowed never to sin again, returned to the monastery, and sinned no more up to his death. Thus, God rebuked, and showed mercy, by the prayers of the Holy Emperor Elesbaan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate Cornelius the Centurion's wondrous visitation by the angel of God (Acts 10):<br /><br />1. How, though it was daytime, Cornelius saw in a vision an angel of God who called him by name;<br />2. How Cornelius was afraid and replied, What is it, Lord?<br />3. How the angel instructed him to send to Joppa for the Apostle Peter, who would speak to him the words of salvation.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the clear coming of God</span><br /><br />Our God shall come and shall not keep silent (Psalm 50:3).<br /><br />The vocation of a commander is different than the vocation of a judge. The commander does not show himself to his enemy immediately, but allows his enemy to think whatever he wants about him; for the main purpose of the commander is to conquer. The judge, however, immediately shows himself to those whom he has to judge.<br /><br />Then, too, the vocation of a teacher is different than the vocation of a judge. For the teacher, the main purpose is to teach his pupils. That is why he often lowers himself to the level of his students and speaks to them as their friend. A judge, however, from beginning to end, is bound to show himself as nothing other than a judge.<br /><br />The vocation of a physician is different than the vocation of a judge, and the difference in these two vocations can be compared as in the first two instances cited above.<br /><br />Brethren, God appeared to the world in the body of a man. He appeared as a Commander, as a Teacher and as a Physician, but He has not yet appeared as a Judge. In the first instance, He chose to remain silent, and not to openly express His greatest dignity, but rather left His enemies, His pupils and His patients to make their judgments about Him from what they knew. Those who had sound judgment would know Him as God in the flesh by the evidence of His words and by His deeds, by His love for mankind and by the heavenly signs at His birth, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. However, those whose minds were darkened by evil passion would not recognize Him or acknowledge Him as God. But when He comes as Judge, then no one will ask ``Art Thou He?'' or ``Who art Thou?'' because everyone will know, without any doubt, Who He is. The angels will blow their trumpets before Him; His Cross will shine in the heavens before Him: A fire goes before Him and burns up His enemies round about (Psalm 97:3). Then both the believers and the unbelievers, the righteous and the unrighteous, will recognize the Judge. Then, only they who recognized Him beforehand as God, in the cave and on the Cross, will rejoice. Truly, they will rejoice: for they shall recognize in the Judge Him for Whom they waged war, Him from Whom they learned, and Him by Whom they were healed.<br /><br />O Most-glorious Savior, have mercy on us and set us aright before Thy Second Coming.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-4423863231057010790?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-15347370443183932872010-04-24T02:04:00.000-07:002010-04-24T02:05:06.441-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 23, and New Calendar date November 5.<br /><br />The Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord; Saint Ignatius, Patriarch of Constantinople; The Holy Martyr James of Borovichi. Homily on the beauty of the king's daughter.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord</span><br /><br />James is called the Lord's brother because he was the son of the righteous Joseph, the betrothed of the Most-holy Theotokos. When the righteous Joseph was near death, he divided his estate among his sons, and wanted to leave a portion to the Lord Jesus, the son of the Most-holy Virgin, but all the other brothers opposed this, not regarding Jesus as their brother. James greatly loved Jesus and declared that he would include Jesus in his share. That is why he is called the Lord's brother. From the beginning, James was devoted to the Lord Jesus. According to tradition, he traveled to Egypt with the Most-holy Virgin and Joseph, when Herod sought to slay the newborn King. Later, as soon as he heard Christ's teaching, James lived by it. It is said of him that he never ate fat or oil, but lived on just bread and water, and was a virgin to the end of his life on earth. He often kept vigil at night and prayed to God. The Lord numbered him among His Seventy Apostles. Following His glorious Resurrection, the Lord appeared to him especially, as the Apostle Paul testifies (I Corinthians 15:7). He was Bishop of Jerusalem for thirty years and zealously governed the Church of God. At the instruction of the Lord, James compiled the first Liturgy, which seemed very long for later Christians, and St. Basil and St. John Chrysostom shortened it. He converted many Jews and Greeks to the Christian Faith, and even the unbelieving Jews were amazed at his righteousness, referring to him as ``James the Just.'' When Ananias became High Priest, he and other Jewish elders determined to kill James for being a preacher of Christ. Once, during the feast of Passover, when many people had gathered in Jerusalem, the elders forced James to climb onto the roof of the Temple, and tried to make him speak against Christ. He climbed up and spoke to the people of Christ as the Son of God and the true Messiah, of His Resurrection and His eternal glory in the heavens. The infuriated priests and elders pushed him off the roof; he fell and was severely injured, but was still alive. Then, one man ran up and struck him on the head with a fuller's club with such force that his brains spilled out. Thus, this most glorious apostle of Christ died a martyr's death, and went to live eternally in the Kingdom of his Lord. James was sixty-six years old when he suffered for Christ.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Ignatius, Patriarch of Constantinople</span><br /><br />Ignatius was the son of Emperor Michael Rangabe. He became patriarch after St. Methodius in 846. Then Ignatius was deposed in 858 and exiled. Photius, the chief secretary to the emperor, was made patriarch in his place. However, when Emperor Basil the Macedonian ascended the throne, he re-instated Ignatius to the patriarchal throne. St. Ignatius governed the Church with great zeal and wisdom. He built the Monastery of the Holy Archangels in which he reposed in the Lord in the eighty-ninth year of his life.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holy Martyr James of Borovichi</span><br /><br />All that is known of this saint is what he revealed in a vision to people from the town of Borovichi after his repose. One day in 1540, his body floated down the river Meta, and washed ashore near Borovichi. Many miracles took place from his relics.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />The Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord<br /><br />James, the Brother of the Lord, a most beautiful righteous one,<br />Explained the teaching of Christ with his life,<br />And when they tortured him, he meekly knelt,<br />And prayed to God for his enemies.<br />In a most difficult place, at a most difficult time,<br />He patiently bore the episcopal yoke.<br />He governed the Church as a good shepherd,<br />And glorified the Lord in word and deed.<br />He taught men to love Jesus,<br />And taught the faithful to pray to God.<br />``Vainglorious man, what is faith alone?<br />Faith without works is as empty straw.<br />Whoever has hearing, let him hear the teaching:<br />Faith without works is a body without spirit.<br />Whence come wars, abhorrent to all?<br />From the impure passions of your body.<br />Men always war and have no peace,<br />For their hearts desire evil, then shed blood.<br />Whoever turns a sinner away from error<br />Will receive the Lord's gift of eternal life in reward.''<br />The Jews slew the righteous James-<br />But they have murdered themselves, and glorified him!<br />O wonderful James, holy apostle,<br />Help the faithful who pray to you.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br />From God comes grace, but from us comes labor. Therefore, let no one even think that the holy apostles relied solely on the God-given grace, or that it was easy for them, or that they performed their great work in the world without effort. Does not the Apostle Paul say: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (I Corinthians 9:27)? And still, in another place, does he not say that he spent his life in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness (II Corinthians 11:26-27)? St. James fed only on bread and that not to satisfaction. He slept very little, and spent his nights in prayer. He knelt so much in prayer that the skin on his knees became as hard as the skin on the knees of a camel. This brother of the Lord prayed with tears and sighs not only for the Church, which he governed, but also for the whole world. Even when he was pushed from the temple roof by the malicious Jews, and thus was completely broken, the holy apostle never forgot his debt to God and to men. Gathering his last strength, he raised himself to his knees, stretched forth his hands toward heaven and fervently prayed to God saying: ``Lord, forgive them this sin, for they know not what they are doing.'' While he was praying thus, wicked men struck him with stones from all sides. Seeing this, one of the sons of Rechab cried out: ``Stop! What are you doing? The righteous one is praying to God for you, and you are killing him!'' However, that shout of a compassionate soul could not deter the murderers, accustomed to evildoing, from killing the saint of God. So it was that the apostles did not rely on grace alone, but also put forth nearly superhuman effort to show themselves worthy of God's grace.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the miraculous resurrection of Tabitha (Acts 9):<br /><br />1. How Tabitha lay dead on her bed;<br />2. How the Apostle Peter prayed to God for her and said: Tabitha, arise;<br />3. How Tabitha regained life, and arose.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">on the beauty of the king's daughter</span><br /><br />The king's daughter is all glorious within (Psalm 45:13).<br /><br />The Church of God is the daughter of the King. However poor and unattractive to the physical eye it may seem on the outside, no matter how persecuted and humiliated, it is filled with royal radiance and beauty from within. The King, He Who is fairer than the sons of men (Psalm 45:2), imparts beauty to His royal daughter. The Church of God is like a vesture for Christ; Christ lives in her. No outer beauty can be compared with inner beauty, that is, the beauty of Christ.<br /><br />The Most-holy Theotokos is the daughter of the King: Her vesture is woven with gold (Psalm 45:13). This vesture is the virtue of her soul. That we understand ``vesture'' as virtue is clear in the parable of the marriage of the king's son. The man who was not clothed in a wedding garment was driven from the king's table and punished (cf. Matthew 22:11-13). True faith in God was the golden vesture of the Most-holy Virgin. Virginity, meekness, compassion, sanctity, piety, devotion to God's will, and all other virtues, were like embroideries on this golden garment. However, her beauty was the work of the Lord Christ, hidden within her and born of her.<br /><br />The soul of every faithful Christian is like the daughter of the King. All the beauty of that soul is in Christ and of Christ, Who is within the soul. A soul without Christ the Sun of Righteousness is in darkness, without form and comeliness, as the universe would be without form and comeliness without the material sun.<br /><br />O great and gracious Lord, our true God and our man-loving Provider, help us to clothe ourselves in the garment of the virtues, that we may not be found naked at Thy Dread Judgment.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-1534737044318393287?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-33570611388118776102010-04-24T01:45:00.000-07:002010-04-24T01:46:08.589-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 22, and New Calendar date November 4.<br /><br />Saint Abercius, Equal to the Apostles; The Venerable Lot; Commemoration of the Miraculous Deliverance of Moscow from the Lithuanians with the help of the Most-holy Theotokos. Homily on the beauty of Christ above all other beauty.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Abercius, Equal to the Apostles</span><br /><br />During the reigns of Emperor Antoninus and his son, Marcus Aurelius, St. Abercius was the bishop of the city of Hierapolis in Phrygia. The great majority in this city were pagans, and St. Abercius governed his sparse flock, sorrowing in his heart because of the great number of pagans and idolaters, and diligently praying to God that He would bring them to the light of truth. During a boisterous idolatrous festival, Abercius became inflamed with God's zeal and entered the idolatrous temple, smashing all the idols. When the enraged pagans sought to kill him, three young madmen, foaming at the mouth and howling, fell down before this man of God, and he drove the demons from them. The young men became sane and calm. This turned the pagans' anger into amazement at the wonderworker of Christ, and five hundred of them immediately desired baptism. Little by little, all of Hierapolis came to believe in Christ and were baptized. The proconsul of the province, Publius, had a mother who was blind. Abercius restored her sight by prayer, and Publius, his mother and many others believed in Christ. In old age, Abercius was summoned to Rome, where he healed the emperor's daughter of insanity. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared several times to His faithful follower. People from near and far came to him for miraculous help when they suffered from incurable illnesses. The demons not only feared him, but also served him at his command. At the guidance of the Lord Himself, Abercius preached the Gospel throughout Syria and Mesopotamia. In great old age, St. Abercius presented himself to his beloved Lord in Hierapolis, at the end of the second century.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Venerable Lot</span><br /><br />Lot was a great Egyptian ascetic and a contemporary of St. Arsenius the Great and St. Agathon. He lived a life of asceticism in his monastery near a lake at the town of Arsinoe, and directed many brethren on the path to salvation. His close friend and advisor was Abba Joseph. Lot once said to Joseph: ``Abba, I fast as much as I can, hold fast to prayer, keep silence and contemplate, and also, through abstinence, guard myself from impure thoughts. Therefore, what else can I do?'' The elder stood up, raised his hands to heaven, and his ten fingers shone like ten flaming candles. He then replied: ``If you desire, you can be all aflame!'' Having pleased God and set many on the path to salvation, St. Lot entered peacefully into rest in the fifth century.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Commemoration of the Miraculous Deliverance of Moscow from the Lithuanians with the help of the Most-holy Theotokos</span><br /><br />During the reign of Prince Basil Ivanovich, the Lithuanians occupied Moscow and the Russians were in great despair. Then St. Sergius of Radonezh appeared in a vision to the captured Bishop Arsenius, and promised him that Moscow would be cleansed of the Lithuanians the very next day, by the power and prayer of the Holy Most-pure One. Indeed, the Lithuanians fled the city, and the Russian army re-entered Moscow. The entire populace glorified God and the Most-holy Theotokos with tears of joy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HYMN OF PRAISE</span><br />Saint Abercius, Equal to the Apostles<br /><br />St. Abercius, a model of meekness,<br />Is a most beautiful example of Christian zeal.<br />He zealously toppled the dumb idols<br />And joyfully exposed himself to death.<br />But God protects the servant who strives for Him,<br />And shields him from evil with His right hand.<br />Against the saint, demons and men rose up,<br />But became shamefully silent before the power of the Cross.<br />What the saint desired, the Lord granted,<br />And though he was in much sorrow, he gladdened many.<br />St. Abercius was as a fiery pillar,<br />A light and an enlightener of men.<br />He preached Christ to many peoples-<br />From powerful emperors to the poor-<br />And witnessed Christ through many miracles.<br />He poured miracles out like living water;<br />By the life-creating word he assuaged the thirsty,<br />And with the teaching of Christ he fed the hungry.<br />St. Abercius, a model of meekness,<br />Gave himself to God in honorable old age,<br />And was crowned with eternal youth in Paradise,<br />Surrounded by the joy and glory of heaven.<br />O wonderful holy one, strive yet a little more:<br />Protect the remaining flock on earth,<br />Implore Christ's mercy on us through prayer,<br />That the Church will boast in you to the end.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">REFLECTION</span><br /><br />As much as the strictness of holy men toward themselves is a cause for amazement, so also is their compassion toward others. They have disinterest for themselves, and concern for others. St. Hilarion the Great, unable to pay his fare to Sicily, offered the owner of the ship his Gospel (which he, in his youth, had copied with his own hands). When he had cured a certain prince of an unclean spirit, the prince wanted to present him with ten liters of gold. The saint would not accept the gold, but showed him barley bread and said: ``Those who feed on this kind of bread look upon gold as mud!'' When men begged him to pray to God for rain, or to save them from floods or poisonous snakes, St. Hilarion helped them by his prayer. This is how St. Abercius acted as well. Seeing many people in pain and sickness, he knelt in a certain place and prayed to God that He would open up a spring of warm, healing water there, that the infirm might be healed and glorify God. God then opened a spring of warm water on that spot. When Abercius healed the emperor's daughter of insanity, the emperor offered him gold, silver and other gifts, but St. Abercius said: ``Riches are not needed for one who considers bread and water a royal meal.'' Not seeking anything for himself, Abercius nevertheless begged the emperor to do two favors for his flock in Hierapolis: to build a bath over those healing waters, and to give sufficient wheat each year to the poor of Hierapolis. The emperor agreed and did according to the saint's request.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CONTEMPLATION</span><br />Contemplate the miraculous healing of Aeneas of Lydda (Acts 9):<br /><br />1. How Aeneas had lain paralyzed for eight years;<br />2. How the Apostle Peter healed him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ;<br />3. How Aeneas arose healthy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOMILY</span><br />on the beauty of Christ above all other beauty<br /><br />Thou art fairer than the sons of men (Psalm 45:2).<br /><br />Holy Scripture does not ascribe any particular value to physical beauty, and in general to anything transient. That is why everyone who reads Holy Scripture should take care to be sufficiently attentive and wise to transfer the praise of physical beauty to the soul and to spiritual values. Without a doubt, spiritual beauty gives a wondrous attractiveness to the most unattractive body, just as an ugly soul makes even the most attractive body repulsive. The Prophet David, pouring forth good words (Psalm 45:1), says to his King, the Lord Jesus Christ: Thou art fairer than the sons of men. The Lord Himself created His bodily cloak as He wanted. Had He wanted to appear in the world as the physically fairest of men, He could have done so. But there is nothing in the Gospel to indicate that He drew followers to Himself or influenced men by His appearance. He Himself said: the flesh profiteth nothing (John 6:63). Therefore, it is clear that David was not speaking of the physical beauty of Christ, but of His spiritual, divine beauty. This is clearly seen in the following words of the Psalmist: Grace is poured forth upon thy lips (Psalm 45:2). So it is that the unsurpassed beauty of the Son of God is not in the form and shape of His lips, but rather in the stream of grace that flows from His mouth. Again, the Prophet Isaiah speaks of Christ: He had no form or comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him (Isaiah 53:2-3). Do Isaiah and David agree? Perfectly well. David speaks of Christ's inward beauty, and Isaiah speaks of Christ's external abasement. Isaiah said that He would not be seen as a king or a rich man, but as a servant and sufferer.<br /><br />O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art fairer to us than all men and angels: glory to Thine immortal and unending beauty. O gracious Lord, correct the ugliness of our souls, which are disfigured by sin, we pray Thee.<br /><br />To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note:</span> Daily Troparion, Kontakion, Bible readings and lives of Saints are conveniently available via the free <a style="color: blue;" href="http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com/2009/11/menologion-free-software.html" target="_blank">Menologion software.</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s1600-h/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 175px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SzVK-Iq7SbI/AAAAAAAAATE/cifQCQ-WExc/s400/ThePrologFromOhrid.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419320157950134706" border="0" /></a></div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/my.html" target="_blank">English source</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">+ + +<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s1600-h/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/SziJfvGJ7LI/AAAAAAAAATc/nFWdzh3SHRE/s320/StNikolaiVelimirovich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420233329851624626" border="0" /></a>Свети Николај Велимировић<br />Saint Nikolai Velimirovič<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/347822618666335454-3357061138811877610?l=livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Orthodox Christianityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084602413203983507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347822618666335454.post-76090337008854265882010-04-24T01:35:00.000-07:002010-04-24T01:37:17.905-07:00<div style="text-align: justify;"> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date October 21, and New Calendar date November 3.<br /><br />1. The Venerable Hilarion the Great. 2. Saint Hilarion, Bishop of Meglin. 3. The Venerable Philotheus. Homily on the God-inspired heart and tongue.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s1600/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 297px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e-LrWN5THFQ/S8hQRfey86I/AAAAAAAAAVc/XbKCQ8muuus/s400/The_Prologue_of_Ohrid_volume2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460702809625392034" border="0" /></a><br />1.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Venerable Hilarion the Great</span><br /><br />Like a rose growing among thorns, this great saint was born of pagan parents in the village of Tabatha near Gaza in Palestine. His parents sent him to study in Alexandria, where the gifted youngster quickly assimilated both secular learning and spiritual wisdom. Coming to know the Lord Christ, he was baptized, and desired to dedicate himself completely to the service of the Lord. With this desire in his heart, Hilarion visited St. Anthony in the desert and became his disciple. Then he returned to his homeland and lived a life of asceticism near Maiuma, at Gaza. Demons tried to terrify him in various ways, but by prayer to God and the sign of the Cross he always overcame them and drove them away. Many lovers of the spiritual life gathered around him. Hilarion became for Palestine what St. Anthony was for Egypt. A divine teacher, a strict ascetic and a wonderful miracle-worker, Hilarion was revered not only by Christians but also by pagans. However, fearing the praise of men and tearfully lamenting, ``Woe is me, I have received my reward on earth!'' he fled from place to place, to hide from men and remain alone with his soul and with God. Thus, he traveled and lived in Egypt, Sicily, Dalmatia and finally in Cyprus, where his life of great labor came to an end in about the year 372, at the age of eighty. The miracle-working relics of St. Hilarion were translated to Palestine by his disciple Hesychius, and were placed in the monastery founded by him.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Saint Hilarion, Bishop of Meglin</span><br /><br />He was born of eminent and devout parents. His childless mother had long prayed to God that He grant her a child, and in accordance with her prayer, the Most-holy Theotokos appeared to her and comforted her with the words: ``Do not grieve, you will give birth to a son and he will turn many to the light of truth.'' When Hilarion was three years old, the hymn, ``Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth!'' was constantly on his lips. He was well-educated, was tonsured a monk at age eighteen, and founded a monastery based on the Rule of St. Pachomius. In 1134, he was consecrated Bishop of Meglin by Eustathiu