The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič for Old Calendar date February 3, and New Calendar date February 16.
1. SAINT SIMEON, THE GOD-RECEIVER
During the reign of the Egyptian Emperor Ptolemy Philadelphus, Simeon was chosen as one of the prominent Seventy to whom was entrusted the task of translating the Bible from the Hebrew language into the Greek language [The Septuagint]. Simeon was performing his task conscientiously but when he was translating the book of the Prophet Isaiah and came upon the prophecy: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and will give birth to a son" (Isaiah 7:14), he became confused and took a knife to remove the word "virgin" and to replace it with the words, "young woman," and as such to translate it into Greek. At that moment, however, an angel of God appeared to Simeon and restrained him from his intention, explaining to him that the prophecy is true; that the prophecy is correctly written: that it is true and correct. The messenger of God also said that Simeon would be convinced of it personally for, according to the Will of God, he will not die until he sees the Messiah born of the Virgin. The righteous Simeon rejoiced to hear such a voice from heaven, left the prophecy unchanged and thanked God Who is making him worthy to live and to see the Promised One. When the young Child Jesus was presented in the Temple in Jerusalem by the Virgin Mary, the Spirit of God appeared to Simeon who was very old and as "white as a swan." Simeon quickly entered the Temple and there recognized both the Virgin and the young Child by the light that shone around their heads as an aureal. The joyful Simeon took Christ into his hands and prayed to God to release him from this life: "Now, Master, You may let Your servant go in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation" (St. Luke 2: 29-30). Anna the Prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, was also there, who recognized the Messiah and proclaimed Him to the people. "And coming forward at that very moment, she gave thanks to God, and spoke about the Child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem" (St. Luke 2:38). At that time, Anna was eighty-four years old. St. Simeon died shortly after that. This righteous Elder Simeon is considered to be the Protector of young children.
2. THE HOLY MARTYRS ADRIAN AND EUBULUS
These two holy souls arrived from their place of Baneas in Caesarea of Cappadocia to attend the imprisoned Christians in the dungeon and to console and encourage them. However they, too, were arrested and sentenced to death. Adrian was beheaded and Eubulus was thrown before wild beasts in the year 309 A.D. Thus, not grieving over this life, they honorably and joyfully entered into life eternal.
HYMN OF PRAISE
A PRAYER FOR A SMALL CHILD
O Powerful Lord, have mercy and save,
Do not extinguish this small flame with death!
This child is like the small flame of a candle,
And the winds of the world are terrible, even to the stars;
A weak fire is banked beneath the ashes
And beneath Your hand, the soul of man.
When the water rises and reaches the throat,
And the flame becomes smaller and the fire becomes damp,
O Lord, save, have mercy and alleviate!
Thus, David the Prophet, prayed to You
Even though he was a huge torch.
And a weak child at the base of heaven
And from sinful thoughts his head began to ache.
Every wind of malice weakened him.
It would be extinguished quickly from the tumultuous winds,
If you do not save, O Helper, hurry,
O Lord, have mercy and save us even now,
And this small flame do not extinguish with death!
Through the prayers, O God, of Your favorite Elder,
Holy Saint Simeon, the wonderful receiver of God.
REFLECTION
How great a glory in heaven befitted St. Simeon the Receiver of God, who held the Savior of the world in his hands, which the following incident clearly shows as, related in the hagiography of St. Peter the Athonite (June 12). As a commander during a battle, Peter was enslaved, chained and cast into prison in the town of Samara on the shores of the Euphrates River. Languishing in prison for along time Peter, in tears, prayed to St. Nicholas to beseech God on his behalf to liberate him from prison, promising that he will completely dedicate himself to God. St. Nicholas appeared to him in a dream and told him that although he [St. Nicholas] prays to God on his behalf, God delays his deliverance because he [Peter] earlier made a similar vow to God and did not keep it. And further, St. Nicholas counseled Peter that he ought to pray to St. Simeon the God-receiver "who is very mighty before God and stands close to the Throne of God together with the All-Holy Virgin and St. John the Forerunner." Peter heeded the counsel of St. Nicholas and proceeded to pray to St. Simeon. Again St. Nicholas appeared to him, together with St. Simeon, not in a dream but in reality. Peter saw Simeon glorious in appearance, face glowing, and attired in the vestments of an Old Testament priest with a golden staff in his hand. St. Simeon said to Peter: "Do you want to fulfill the vow and become a monk?" To that, Peter replied: "Yes master, with God's help." Simeon then touched Peter's chains with his staff and the chains melted like wax. Opening the doors of the dungeon, the saint led Peter from prison.
CONTEMPLATION
To contemplate the Lord Jesus as the Cornerstone:
1. As the Cornerstone in building personal character;
2. As the Cornerstone in building the family and a nation;
3. As the Cornerstone of every good intentioned social transformation and inspiration of mankind.
HOMILY
About the Spirit of God Who speaks through the Spirit-bearers
"Do not worry about how you are to speak --- but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (St. Matthew 10: 19-20).
These are the words of Him Who knows all and Who declared to the world knowledge which no one knew before His visit to mankind. If someone is filled with the Spirit of God, he does not speak from the spirit of man but the Spirit of God speaks from him and through him. He is only an instrument or a lyre of God's Spirit through which God the Spirit speaks. When that kind of man speaks, he speaks infallibly and no one can find falsehood in his speech except those, who because of the perversion of their minds, consider truth as falsehood. How men speak, filled with the Spirit of God, was clearly shown by the example of the prophets and more clearly shown by the example of the apostles. Miraculous and unbelievable did the words of the apostles seem to strangers, i.e., those who did not have the Spirit of God in themselves and who knew how to speak only of the earth, considered the apostles as intoxicated. In reality, to the ignorant, all those people who first began to speak about the hidden miracles of this physical world, about the power of steam, about magnetism, about electricity, about wireless telegraphy, and conversation at a distance [the telephone] appeared intoxicated and foolish. How then do spiritual men not seem intoxicated and foolish who, led by the Spirit of God, speak about countless hidden mysteries of the spiritual kingdom? Whoever humbles himself before God, God makes him powerful. The Spirit of God settles in a contrite heart and from there speaks through the mouth of man. This is confirmed not only on the prophets and apostles but also on the countless number of God's sons and daughters
O Good Lord, do not refuse us Your Holy Spirit.
To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
1. SAINT SIMEON, THE GOD-RECEIVER
During the reign of the Egyptian Emperor Ptolemy Philadelphus, Simeon was chosen as one of the prominent Seventy to whom was entrusted the task of translating the Bible from the Hebrew language into the Greek language [The Septuagint]. Simeon was performing his task conscientiously but when he was translating the book of the Prophet Isaiah and came upon the prophecy: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and will give birth to a son" (Isaiah 7:14), he became confused and took a knife to remove the word "virgin" and to replace it with the words, "young woman," and as such to translate it into Greek. At that moment, however, an angel of God appeared to Simeon and restrained him from his intention, explaining to him that the prophecy is true; that the prophecy is correctly written: that it is true and correct. The messenger of God also said that Simeon would be convinced of it personally for, according to the Will of God, he will not die until he sees the Messiah born of the Virgin. The righteous Simeon rejoiced to hear such a voice from heaven, left the prophecy unchanged and thanked God Who is making him worthy to live and to see the Promised One. When the young Child Jesus was presented in the Temple in Jerusalem by the Virgin Mary, the Spirit of God appeared to Simeon who was very old and as "white as a swan." Simeon quickly entered the Temple and there recognized both the Virgin and the young Child by the light that shone around their heads as an aureal. The joyful Simeon took Christ into his hands and prayed to God to release him from this life: "Now, Master, You may let Your servant go in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation" (St. Luke 2: 29-30). Anna the Prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, was also there, who recognized the Messiah and proclaimed Him to the people. "And coming forward at that very moment, she gave thanks to God, and spoke about the Child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem" (St. Luke 2:38). At that time, Anna was eighty-four years old. St. Simeon died shortly after that. This righteous Elder Simeon is considered to be the Protector of young children.
2. THE HOLY MARTYRS ADRIAN AND EUBULUS
These two holy souls arrived from their place of Baneas in Caesarea of Cappadocia to attend the imprisoned Christians in the dungeon and to console and encourage them. However they, too, were arrested and sentenced to death. Adrian was beheaded and Eubulus was thrown before wild beasts in the year 309 A.D. Thus, not grieving over this life, they honorably and joyfully entered into life eternal.
HYMN OF PRAISE
A PRAYER FOR A SMALL CHILD
O Powerful Lord, have mercy and save,
Do not extinguish this small flame with death!
This child is like the small flame of a candle,
And the winds of the world are terrible, even to the stars;
A weak fire is banked beneath the ashes
And beneath Your hand, the soul of man.
When the water rises and reaches the throat,
And the flame becomes smaller and the fire becomes damp,
O Lord, save, have mercy and alleviate!
Thus, David the Prophet, prayed to You
Even though he was a huge torch.
And a weak child at the base of heaven
And from sinful thoughts his head began to ache.
Every wind of malice weakened him.
It would be extinguished quickly from the tumultuous winds,
If you do not save, O Helper, hurry,
O Lord, have mercy and save us even now,
And this small flame do not extinguish with death!
Through the prayers, O God, of Your favorite Elder,
Holy Saint Simeon, the wonderful receiver of God.
REFLECTION
How great a glory in heaven befitted St. Simeon the Receiver of God, who held the Savior of the world in his hands, which the following incident clearly shows as, related in the hagiography of St. Peter the Athonite (June 12). As a commander during a battle, Peter was enslaved, chained and cast into prison in the town of Samara on the shores of the Euphrates River. Languishing in prison for along time Peter, in tears, prayed to St. Nicholas to beseech God on his behalf to liberate him from prison, promising that he will completely dedicate himself to God. St. Nicholas appeared to him in a dream and told him that although he [St. Nicholas] prays to God on his behalf, God delays his deliverance because he [Peter] earlier made a similar vow to God and did not keep it. And further, St. Nicholas counseled Peter that he ought to pray to St. Simeon the God-receiver "who is very mighty before God and stands close to the Throne of God together with the All-Holy Virgin and St. John the Forerunner." Peter heeded the counsel of St. Nicholas and proceeded to pray to St. Simeon. Again St. Nicholas appeared to him, together with St. Simeon, not in a dream but in reality. Peter saw Simeon glorious in appearance, face glowing, and attired in the vestments of an Old Testament priest with a golden staff in his hand. St. Simeon said to Peter: "Do you want to fulfill the vow and become a monk?" To that, Peter replied: "Yes master, with God's help." Simeon then touched Peter's chains with his staff and the chains melted like wax. Opening the doors of the dungeon, the saint led Peter from prison.
CONTEMPLATION
To contemplate the Lord Jesus as the Cornerstone:
1. As the Cornerstone in building personal character;
2. As the Cornerstone in building the family and a nation;
3. As the Cornerstone of every good intentioned social transformation and inspiration of mankind.
HOMILY
About the Spirit of God Who speaks through the Spirit-bearers
"Do not worry about how you are to speak --- but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (St. Matthew 10: 19-20).
These are the words of Him Who knows all and Who declared to the world knowledge which no one knew before His visit to mankind. If someone is filled with the Spirit of God, he does not speak from the spirit of man but the Spirit of God speaks from him and through him. He is only an instrument or a lyre of God's Spirit through which God the Spirit speaks. When that kind of man speaks, he speaks infallibly and no one can find falsehood in his speech except those, who because of the perversion of their minds, consider truth as falsehood. How men speak, filled with the Spirit of God, was clearly shown by the example of the prophets and more clearly shown by the example of the apostles. Miraculous and unbelievable did the words of the apostles seem to strangers, i.e., those who did not have the Spirit of God in themselves and who knew how to speak only of the earth, considered the apostles as intoxicated. In reality, to the ignorant, all those people who first began to speak about the hidden miracles of this physical world, about the power of steam, about magnetism, about electricity, about wireless telegraphy, and conversation at a distance [the telephone] appeared intoxicated and foolish. How then do spiritual men not seem intoxicated and foolish who, led by the Spirit of God, speak about countless hidden mysteries of the spiritual kingdom? Whoever humbles himself before God, God makes him powerful. The Spirit of God settles in a contrite heart and from there speaks through the mouth of man. This is confirmed not only on the prophets and apostles but also on the countless number of God's sons and daughters
O Good Lord, do not refuse us Your Holy Spirit.
To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
+ + +
Охридски пролог
Свети Николај Велимировић Жички.
Охридски пролог
Свети Николај Велимировић Жички.
3. ФЕБРУАР (стари) 16.ФЕБРУАР (нови календар)
1. Свети Симеон Богопримац. У време цара мисирског Птоломеја Филаделфа изабран би и овај Симеон као један од знамените Седамдесеторице, којима би поверен посао превођења Библије са јеврејског на грчки језик. Симеон рађаше свој посао савесно, но када превођаше пророка Исаију, па дође до оног пророчанства: ево дјева ће затрудњети и родиће сина, он се збуни, па узе нож да избрише реч дјева и замени је са речју „млада жена”, и да тако и преведе на грчки. Ади у том тренутку јави се Симеону ангел Божји и задржа га од његове намере, објаснивши му, да је пророчанство истинито, и да је тачно записано. А да је истинито и тачно, рече му још весник Божји, увериће се и он сам лично, јер по Божјој вољи не ће умрети док не види Месију рођенога од девојке. Обрадова се праведни Симеон таквоме гласу с неба, остави пророчанство неизмењено, и захвали Богу, што га удостојава да доживи и види Обећанога. Када Младенац Исус би донесен Девом Маријом у храм јерусалимски, Дух Божји то јави Симеону, који беше веома стар и бео као лабуд. Симеон брзо оде у храм, и у храму познаде и Деву и Младенца по светлости, што зрачаше око глава њихових као ореол. Радостан старац узе Христа на руке своје, и замоли Бога, да га сад отпусти из овог живота: сад отпусти слугу Твојега, Господе, према ријечи Твојој, јер видјеше очи моје спасеније Твоје. Ту се десила и Ана пророчица, кћи Фануилова, која и сама познаде Месију и објави Га народу. Ани је тада било 84 године. Ускоро по том престави се свети Симеон. Овај праведни старац Симеон сматра се заштитником мале деце.
2. Свети мученици Адријан и Евула. Ове две свете душе беху дошле из свога места Ванеје у Кесарију Кападокијску, да посете у тамници затворене хришћане, те да их утеше и охрабре. Али и они буду ухваћени и на смрт осуђени. Адријана посеку мачем а Евулу баце пред зверове, 309. године. И тако не жалећи за овим животом они чесно и радосно пређу у живот вечни.
Молитва за мало дете
О Господе силни, помилуј и спаси,
И пламичак овај смрћу не угаси!
Детенце је ово ко пламичак свеће,
А буре су светске и по звезде страшне;
Слабачак се огањ под пепео преће
А под Твоју руку човечије душе.
Кад се воде дигну и дођу до гуше,
И пламен се смањи, и огањ овлажи,
О Господе спаси, смилуј се, ублажи!
Тако Давид пророк Теби се мољаше
Мада он буктиња голема бејаше.
А нејако дете у подножју неба
И од злобне жеље болно се колеба,
И од злобне мисли заболи га глава,
Сваки ветрић злобе њега раслабљава.
Угасло би брзо од ветрова бурни’,
Да ти не спасаваш, Помагачу журни.
О Господе, и сад помилуј и спаси,
И пламичак овај смрћу не угаси!
Молитвама, Боже, Твог старог љубимца,
Симеоиа светог, дивног Богопримца.
РАСУЂИВАЊЕ
Колике се славе на небу удостојио свети Симеон Богопримац, који је држао Спаситеља света на својим рукама, показује јасно овај случај, испричан у житију светог Петра Атонског (12. јуна). Као војвода Петар би у једном боју заробљен, окован и у тамницу бачен, у некоме граду Самари на обали реке Еуфрата. Тамнујући дуго Петар се са сузама мољаше светом Николају, да умоли Бога за њега, те да се ослободи тамнице, заветујући се уз то, да ће се сав посветити Богу. Јави му се свети Николај на сну и рече му да се он молио Богу за њ, но да Бог одлаже његово ослобођење зато што је он, Петар, и раније давао сличан завет Богу, па није одржао. И још му посаветова свети Николај, да се моли светом Симеону Богопримцу, „који је много моћан пред Богом, и стоји близу престола Божјег заједно с Пресветом Девом и светим Јованом Претечом”. Петар послуша савет светитеља Николаја, и почне се молити светом Симеону. Тада му се опет јави свети Николај заједно са светим Симеоном, и то не у сну него на јави. Виде Петар Симеона, дивна по изгледу, светла у лицу, одевена у одежде старозаветног свештеника, са златним жезлом у руци. Свети Симеон рече Петру: „Хоћеш ли испунити завет и бити иноком?” На што Петар одговори: „Да, господару, с Божјом помоћу.” Тада Симеон дотаче се својим жезлом окова Петрових, и окови се растопише као од воска. И отворише се тамничка врата, и светитељи изведоше Петра из тамнице.
СОЗЕРЦАЊЕ
Да созерцавам Господа Исуса као камен темељац, и то:
1. као камен темељац у зидању личнога карактера;
2. као камен темељац у зидању породице и народа;
3. као камен темељац сваког добронамерног друштвеног преображаја и човечанског подузећа.
БЕСЕДА
о Духу Божјем који говори кроз духоносце
Не брините шта ћете говорити... јер Дух Оца вашега говориће из вас (По Матеју 10, 19–20)
Ово су речи Онога, који све зна, и који је објавио свету знања, која нико пре Његове посете људима није знао. Ако је неко испуњен Духом Божјим, онда не говори он од духа човечјег него Дух Божји говори из њега и кроз њега. Онда је он само справа или лира Духа Божјега, кроз коју Бог Дух говори. И кад говори такав човек, говори непогрешно, и нико не може наћи лажи у говору његовом осим оних који по сувраћености ума свога сматрају истину за лаж. Како говоре људи, испуњени Духом Божјим, то се показало јасно на примеру пророка, и још јасније на примеру апостола. Толико су изгледале чудне и невероватне речи апостолске туђинцима, тојест онима, који нису имали Духа Божјега у себи и који су знали да говоре само од земље, да су сматрали апостоле пијаним. У осталом, пијаним и смешним изгледали су незналицама и сви они људи, који су први почели говорити о скривеним чудесима овога физичког света, о снази паре, магнетизма, електрике, безжичне телеграфије, разговора на даљину. Како тек да не изгледају пијаним и смешним духовни људи, који Духом Божјим говоре о безбројним скривеним тајнама царства духовнога? Ко год се скруши пред Богом, Бог га чини силним. У скрушено срце Дух Божји се усељава, и одатле говори кроз уста човечја. То је потврђено не само на пророцима и апостолима него и на многобројним Божјим синовима и кћерима.
Господе благи, не ускрати нам Духа Твог Светог. Теби слава и хвала вавек. Амин.
2. Свети мученици Адријан и Евула. Ове две свете душе беху дошле из свога места Ванеје у Кесарију Кападокијску, да посете у тамници затворене хришћане, те да их утеше и охрабре. Али и они буду ухваћени и на смрт осуђени. Адријана посеку мачем а Евулу баце пред зверове, 309. године. И тако не жалећи за овим животом они чесно и радосно пређу у живот вечни.
Молитва за мало дете
О Господе силни, помилуј и спаси,
И пламичак овај смрћу не угаси!
Детенце је ово ко пламичак свеће,
А буре су светске и по звезде страшне;
Слабачак се огањ под пепео преће
А под Твоју руку човечије душе.
Кад се воде дигну и дођу до гуше,
И пламен се смањи, и огањ овлажи,
О Господе спаси, смилуј се, ублажи!
Тако Давид пророк Теби се мољаше
Мада он буктиња голема бејаше.
А нејако дете у подножју неба
И од злобне жеље болно се колеба,
И од злобне мисли заболи га глава,
Сваки ветрић злобе њега раслабљава.
Угасло би брзо од ветрова бурни’,
Да ти не спасаваш, Помагачу журни.
О Господе, и сад помилуј и спаси,
И пламичак овај смрћу не угаси!
Молитвама, Боже, Твог старог љубимца,
Симеоиа светог, дивног Богопримца.
РАСУЂИВАЊЕ
Колике се славе на небу удостојио свети Симеон Богопримац, који је држао Спаситеља света на својим рукама, показује јасно овај случај, испричан у житију светог Петра Атонског (12. јуна). Као војвода Петар би у једном боју заробљен, окован и у тамницу бачен, у некоме граду Самари на обали реке Еуфрата. Тамнујући дуго Петар се са сузама мољаше светом Николају, да умоли Бога за њега, те да се ослободи тамнице, заветујући се уз то, да ће се сав посветити Богу. Јави му се свети Николај на сну и рече му да се он молио Богу за њ, но да Бог одлаже његово ослобођење зато што је он, Петар, и раније давао сличан завет Богу, па није одржао. И још му посаветова свети Николај, да се моли светом Симеону Богопримцу, „који је много моћан пред Богом, и стоји близу престола Божјег заједно с Пресветом Девом и светим Јованом Претечом”. Петар послуша савет светитеља Николаја, и почне се молити светом Симеону. Тада му се опет јави свети Николај заједно са светим Симеоном, и то не у сну него на јави. Виде Петар Симеона, дивна по изгледу, светла у лицу, одевена у одежде старозаветног свештеника, са златним жезлом у руци. Свети Симеон рече Петру: „Хоћеш ли испунити завет и бити иноком?” На што Петар одговори: „Да, господару, с Божјом помоћу.” Тада Симеон дотаче се својим жезлом окова Петрових, и окови се растопише као од воска. И отворише се тамничка врата, и светитељи изведоше Петра из тамнице.
СОЗЕРЦАЊЕ
Да созерцавам Господа Исуса као камен темељац, и то:
1. као камен темељац у зидању личнога карактера;
2. као камен темељац у зидању породице и народа;
3. као камен темељац сваког добронамерног друштвеног преображаја и човечанског подузећа.
БЕСЕДА
о Духу Божјем који говори кроз духоносце
Не брините шта ћете говорити... јер Дух Оца вашега говориће из вас (По Матеју 10, 19–20)
Ово су речи Онога, који све зна, и који је објавио свету знања, која нико пре Његове посете људима није знао. Ако је неко испуњен Духом Божјим, онда не говори он од духа човечјег него Дух Божји говори из њега и кроз њега. Онда је он само справа или лира Духа Божјега, кроз коју Бог Дух говори. И кад говори такав човек, говори непогрешно, и нико не може наћи лажи у говору његовом осим оних који по сувраћености ума свога сматрају истину за лаж. Како говоре људи, испуњени Духом Божјим, то се показало јасно на примеру пророка, и још јасније на примеру апостола. Толико су изгледале чудне и невероватне речи апостолске туђинцима, тојест онима, који нису имали Духа Божјега у себи и који су знали да говоре само од земље, да су сматрали апостоле пијаним. У осталом, пијаним и смешним изгледали су незналицама и сви они људи, који су први почели говорити о скривеним чудесима овога физичког света, о снази паре, магнетизма, електрике, безжичне телеграфије, разговора на даљину. Како тек да не изгледају пијаним и смешним духовни људи, који Духом Божјим говоре о безбројним скривеним тајнама царства духовнога? Ко год се скруши пред Богом, Бог га чини силним. У скрушено срце Дух Божји се усељава, и одатле говори кроз уста човечја. То је потврђено не само на пророцима и апостолима него и на многобројним Божјим синовима и кћерима.
Господе благи, не ускрати нам Духа Твог Светог. Теби слава и хвала вавек. Амин.
Свети Николај ВелимировићSaint Nikolai Velimirovič
