Saint Chrysostomos of Smyrna: An Ecclesiastical and National Martyr

St. Chrysostomos of Smyrna and those with him, the hierarch Sts. Gregorios Kydonion, Amvrosios Moschonision, Prokopios Ikoniou, Euthymios Zilon, as well as the clergy and laity of the Asia Minor Catastrophe are commemorated on the Sunday before the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross (Sep. 14) according to the Encyclical of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (2556) dated July 5th 1993.

English:

St. Chrysostom Metropolitan of Smyrna the New Ethno-Hieromartyr, and those with him

Chrysostomos of Smyrna: Wikipedia

The Slaying of Metropolitan Chrysostomos: Testimonies of Chrysostomos' Death

Remembering Chrysostomos: A Modern Day Martyr

Slain Archbishop Foresaw Massacre: Chrysostomos Sent Letters To Foreign Officials Predicting Smyrna Disaster (New York Times article from September 24, 1922)

CITY A MASS OF WRECKAGE; Foreign Quarter Leveled but Turkish Section Untouched. STREETS STREWN WITH DEAD 900 Armenians Were Driven Aboard a Lighter and Killed by Fusillade From Shore. OUR BLUEJACKETS POLICING But the Host of Homeless Christians Are in a State of Terror. (New York Times article from September 15, 1922)

The Whispering Voices of Smyrna

SMYRNA 1922 - PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE


My Sons, sons of Hellenism! Today you see the miracle of God. The time for Liberty and religious freedom has arrived! Please rejoice but also be respectful to our Muslim and Jewish brothers.

- Metropolitan Chrysostomos in 1919 in a speech welcoming the Greek army

I seek a great Cross, upon which I will put my pleasure to trial, I am called and I don’t have anything else of my own to give towards the salvation of our worshiping homeland, other than to give my blood. Thus I perceive of my life and the arch-priesthood...and the miter, which your holy hands placed upon my head, if it is called for, may the radiance of its stones never be destroyed; it will be converted to the crown of thorns of martyrdom of a hierarch.

- St. Chrysostom's prophetic statement at his consecration as Metropolitan of Drama in 1902





Greek:

Μνήμη Νεομαρτύρων Μικράς Ασίας Κληρικών τε Μοναχών και Λαϊκών τελειωθέντων τω 1922

Άγιος Χρυσόστομος Σμύρνης

Η Αγιότητα του Χρυσοστόμου Σμύρνης

Χρυσόστομος Σμύρνης μάρτυρας της Εκκλησίας και του Έθνους

Ο ΕΘΝΟΜΑΡΤΥΣ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΤΗΣ ΣΜΥΡΝΗΣ ΧΡΥΣΟΣΤΟΜΟΣ ΚΑΙ Η ΜΙΚΡΑΣΙΑΤΙΚΗ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΡΟΦΗ

Εισήγησις του Μητροπολίτου Πατρών Νικοδήμου προς την Ιερά Σύνοδο της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος περί αναγνωρίσεως του Μητροπολίτου Σμύρνης Χρυσοστόμου ως Ιερομάρτυρος

Το Mαρτύριο του Σμύρνης Χρυσόστομου

Ο Μητροπολίτης Κυδωνιών Γρηγόριος (1864-1922)

Η μνήμη των Ιερομαρτύρων της Μικρασιατικής Καταστροφής

Νέας Σμύρνης Συμεών "Ο Μικρασιατικός Ελληνισμός έδωσε εκατόμβες μαρτύρων και ηρώων"

Η Δράμα τιμά τον ‘Αγιο Χρυσόστομο Σμύρνης

Ιερός Ναός Αγίου Χρυσοστόμου Μητρ. Δράμας-Σμύρνης


Η Θεία Πρόνοια, δοκιμάζει την πίστιν μας και το θάρρος μας και την υπομονή μας την ώραν αυτήν. Αλλ’ ο Θεός δεν εγκαταλείπει τους χριστιανούς. Εις τας τρικυμίας αναφαίνεται ο καλός ναυτικός και εις τας δοκιμασίας ο καλός Χριστιανός. Προσεύχεσθε και θα παρέλθη το ποτήριον τούτο. Θα ίδωμεν πάλιν καλάς ημέρας και θα ευλογήσωμεν τον Θεόν. Θαρρείτε ως εμπρέπει εις καλούς χριστιανούς.

- Από τελευταίο κήρυγμά του Μητροπολίτου Σμύρνης Χρυσοστόμου

Ζητώ μεγάλον Σταυρόν, επί του οποίου θα δοκιμάσω την ευχαρίστησιν, καθηλούμενος και μη έχω έτερον τι να δώσω προς σωτηρίαν της ημετέρας λατρευτής πατρίδος, να δώσω το αίμα μου. Ούτως εννοώ το έπ’ εμοί την ζωήν και την αρχιερωσίνην”… “…και η μίτρα, την οποίαν αι άγιαι χείρες σου εναπέθεσαν επί της κεφαλής μου, εάν πέπρωται, να απολέση ποτέ την λαμπηδόνα των λίθων της θα μεταβληθεί εις ακάνθινον στέφανον μάρτυρος ιεράρχου.

- Χρυσόστομος Σμύρνης

Ο Ελληνισμός της Μ. Ασίας, το Ελληνικόν κράτος, αλλά και σύμπαν το Ελληνικόν Έθνος καταβαίνει εις τον Άδην, από του οποίου καμμία πλέον δύναμις δεν θα δυνηθή να το αναβιβάση και το σώση . Της αφαντάστου ταύτης καταστροφής, βεβαίως αίτιοι είναι οι πολιτικοί και προσωπικοί Σας εχθροί, πλην και Υμείς φέρετε μέγιστον της ευθύνης βάρος, διά δύο πράξεις σας.

Πρώτον, διότι απεστείλατε εις Μ. Ασίαν ως Ύπατον Αρμοστήν ένα τουτ' αυτό παράφρονα και εγωιστήν, φλύαρον, απερροφημένον εν τω αυτοθαυμασμώ και καταφρονούντα και υβρίζοντα και δέροντα και εξορίζοντα και φυλακίζοντα όλα τα υγιή και σώφρονα στοιχεία του τόπου, διότι εν τω φρενοκομείω του βεβαίως δεν είχον τόπον, και εις το τέλος αποδώσαντα αυτούς τους αγλαούς καρπούς της τελείας του Μικρασιαστικού λαού καταστροφής, τους οποίους νυν θερίζομεν.

Και δεύτερον, διότι πριν αποπερατώσητε το έργον Σας και θέσητε την κορωνίδα και το επιστέγασμα επί του αναγερθέντος αφαντάστως ωραίου και μεγαλοπρεπούς δημιουργήματός Σας, της καταθέσεως των θεμελίων της περικλεεστάτης ποτέ Βυζαντινης μας Αυτοκρατορίας, είχατε την ατυχή και ένοχον έμπνευσιν να διατάξητε εκλογάς κατ' αυτάς ακριβώς τας παραμονάς της εισόδου Σας εις Κωνσταντινούπολιν και της καταλήψεως αυτής υπό του Ελληνικού Στρατού προς εκτέλεσιν των όρων της -οίμοι- δια παντός καταστραφείσης συνθήκης των Σεβρών.

- Επιστολή του Χρυσοστόμου Σμύρνης προς τον Ελευθέριο Βενιζέλο δύο ημέρες προ του μαρτυρικού του θανάτου.


Απολυτίκιο του Αγίου Χρυσοστόμου Σμύρνης
υπό Μητροπολίτου Πατρών ΝΙΚΟΔΗΜΟΥ (Βαλληνδρά)

Μέγαν μάρτυρα η Εκκλησία, μέγαν ήρωα το έθνος σύμπαν, τον της Σμύρνης υμνούμεν Χρυσόστομον. Kαι γάρ γενναίως αθλήσας υπέμεινεν υπέρ πατρίδος και πίστεως θάνατον. Ιεράρχου τε υπόδειγμα εαυτον ανέδειξε τον στέφανον λαβών τον αμαράντινον.

Apolytikion of St. Chrysostom of Smyrna in the Third Tone

A great martyr of the Church, a great hero to the whole nation, let us hymn Chrysostomos of Smyrna. Bravely struggling patiently for homeland and faith until death, he showed himself a model hierarch, receiving the unfading crown.

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Panagia Tsambikas: Sacred Shrines Which Honor the Nativity of the Theotokos (3)

Centuries ago the icon of Panagia Tsambika was located at the Holy Monastery Panagia Kykkos in Cyprus. In a miraculous manner, the icon would leave Cyprus and go to the mountain Zambiki of the Archangel in Rhodes. This would upset the monks of Kykkos and they went to all lengths within their power to confine the icon.

On Mount Zambiki the icon hid in a cypress tree. In the opposite region near the spring of Aimahiou a humble shepherd lived and he saw a strange light coming from Zambiki. At first he ignored it, but after three days of seeing the light he decided to climb the mountain to see what it was. Afraid that it might be thieves, he first notified the men of the village who grabbed their guns and went with him.

When they reached the top of the mountain they saw to their amazement that the light came from the icon of the Virgin Mary on the cypress tree, and it lit the icon like a vigil light. It was from this that the icon received its name, as the word tsamba in the local dialect of Rhodes means "spark" or " small fire"; the word has Turkish origins. The villagers brought the icon to the village, but the icon would leave and go to the spot it was found. After three repeated attempts it was figured that it was the will of the Panagia to have a church built on that spot.

This cypress tree is still there and can be viewed by the faithful. On its root there is a hole which sometimes releases warm or cold air, depending on the weather.

It should be underlined that the miraculous icon of Panagia Tsambika came from Cyprus three times. The monks of Kykkou Monastery located the icon in Rhodes and they took it back to Cyprus, but the icon returned to the same spot in Rhodes. In order to verify that the icon really left Cyprus the monks burned the back of the icon. This burned part can be seen very clearly till today.

From that time the icon has never left Rhodes. There were attempts to bring it to other parts of Greece for it to be venerated by the faithful, but each time in a miraculous manner the icon would return back to Rhodes. However in 2002 a chapel was built in honor of Panagia Tsambikas in Pera Horio of Cyprus, and the faithful asked for the consecration to take place in July 24th. The icon of Panagia Tsambikas was brought from Rhodes by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes with three priests. For three days the icon remained in Cyprus and was returned back to Rhodes by the Metropolitan.

The Holy Monastery of Panagia Tsambikas celebrates its feast day on September 8th to honor the Nativity of the Theotokos, and on the Third Sunday of the Great Fast when we also commemorate the Holy Cross.

One of the oldest miracles associated with Panagia Tsambika is tied around the buildings which surround the Monastery. These buildings belonged to a Turkish Pasha whose wife was unable to bear children. Learning of Panagia Tsambika, the wife of the Pasha prayed to her and ate the wick which burned the fire of the vigil lamp before the holy icon. Soon thereafter she found out she was pregnant, though the Pasha did not believe it and even believed the child was from another man. When the child was born, however, it held within its hand the wick the mother had eaten. As a thank offering, the Pasha gave all his property surrounding the Monastery to the Monastery.


Lower Panagia Tsambika

Panagia Tsambika is unique but she is honored and venerated in two places. The one monastery is high on the Sacred Hill, where the Higher Panagia, or the Lady (Kyra) is venerated. The other monastery, which is also a center of religious joy and consolation for the believers, is by the highway and it is called Panagia of Lower Tsambika.

In the region that the well-known and old Panagia Tsambika monastery lies today, there was a temple of the goddess Artemis in the classical period, as it is stated in an Epigram, that is a Sacred Law, where sacrifices and oblations to the goddess Artemis, the patron of hunting, are mentioned. An ancient necropolis has been located, with tombs dating from the Mycenaean and the Hellenistic periods. An ancient inscription was also found, which describes the offering of sacrifices by a woman to the goddess Artemis.

On the 8th of September every year thousands of believers come from all over the island to honor Virgin Mary. The church itself is of the Dodecanese type and it is covered externally with concave tiles. The floor of the church is covered with pebbles, as it was common in older times to cover the yards and the floors of houses and churches with black and white sea pebbles in various religious patterns. This fine church has an excellent wooden icon screen. The icons date from the 19th century, while the icon screen is older.


Higher Panagia Tsambika

Whilst sunning yourself on a sunbed at Tsambika you may notice a tiny white building atop the hill on the left hand side of the bay (as you face the sea). This is Panagia Tsambika Monastery, sometimes also known as Kyra (Our Lady). To visit it and admire the tremendous views there from the top, then you have to navigate a concrete road that twists and turns steeply up from the main road. The rest of the journey has to be made on foot - 307 stony stairs. The Monastery itself is tiny but has a reputation for helping women conceive - on its feast day barren women climb on their knees or barefoot up here to pray for children and when the happy event occurs the child is often called Tsambiko (boy) or Tsambika (girl). This name is unique on Rhodes. If you doubt this habit, just call this name out on a busy street in Rhodes, and you will see how successful the Monastery is. For a contemporary and detailed account of this miracle, read here.


Ἀπολυτίκιον (Σύνθεση του Μητροπολίτου Ρόδου κ.κ. Κυρίλλου)
Κρήνην έχουσα των δωρεών σου την εικόνα σου, η νήσος Ρόδος, Θεοτόκε Τσαμπίκα γεραίρει σε, και καυχωμένη ενθέως σοις θαύμασι, τον ασπασμόν του Αγγέλου προσάδοι σοι, Χαίρε κράζουσα, Παρθένε θεοχαρίτωτε, λαού του χριστωνύμου το διάσωσμα.

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Saint John, the Honorable Foreunner of the Lord

HYMN OF PRAISE: SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

by St. Nikolai Velimirovich

O Saint John, wonderful Baptizer,
Of the Savior, you were the glorious Forerunner,
You, with your purity, touched human souls
And, as an awesome trumpet, from the Jordan resounded
From sleep and idle vices, awakening men,
When the axe was near to the root.
To you I bow, to you I pray:
Every temptation, help me to resist.
Prophet most powerful, to you I bow,
And before you kneel and before you I weep:
From your heart, grant me the strength of a lion,
From your spirit, grant me angelic whiteness.
Grant me your strength that by practice to attain
To God be submissive and to rule over myself,
To baptize by fasting, to purify by all-night vigils,
To sweeten by prayer and heavenly vision,
And to every martyrdom, walk without fear
With your courage and with a strong faith.
O Saint John, God's chosen one,
And glorious martyr for supreme justice,
You, of whom the godless armies are afraid
To my prayers, do not turn a deaf ear,
But, strengthen me by your prayers,
That as a true candle before the Lord, I stand.

Apolytikion of St. John the Forerunner in the Second Tone

The memory of the just is observed with hymns of praise; for you however suffices the testimony of the Lord, O Forerunner. You have proved to be truly more venʹrable than the Prophets, since you were granted to baptize in the river the One whom they proclaimed. Therefore, when for the truth you had contested, rejoicing, to those in Hades you preached the Gospel, that God was manifested in the flesh, and takes away the sin of the world, and grants to us the great mercy.

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Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, Wonderworker of Siberia

Translation of the relics of Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye (Feast Day - September 12)

Saint Simeon of Verkhoturye was a nobleman, but he concealed his origin and led the life of a beggar. He walked through the villages and for free sewed half-coats and other clothes, primarily for the poor. While doing this he deliberately failed to sew something, either a glove, or a scarf, for which he endured abuse from his customers.

The ascetic wandered much, but most often he lived at a churchyard of the village of Merkushinsk not far from the city of Verkhoturye (on the outskirts of Perm). St Simeon loved nature in the Urals, and while joyfully contemplated its majestic beauty, he would raise up a thoughtful glance towards the Creator of the world. In his free time, the saint loved to go fishing in the tranquility of solitude. This reminded him of the disciples of Christ, whose work he continued, guiding the local people in the true Faith. His conversations were a seed of grace, from which gradually grew the abundant fruits of the Spirit in the Urals and in Siberia, where the saint is especially revered.

St Simeon of Verkhoturye died in 1642, when he was 35 years of age. He was buried in the Merkushinsk graveyard by the church of the Archangel Michael.

On September 12, 1704, with the blessing of Metropolitan Philotheus of Tobolsk, the holy relics of St Simeon were transferred from the church of the Archangel Michael to the Verkhoturye monastery in the name of St Nicholas.

St Simeon worked many miracles after his death. He frequently appeared to the sick in dreams and healed them, and he brought to their senses those fallen into the disease of drunkenness. A peculiarity of the saint's appearances was that with the healing of bodily infirmities, he also gave instruction and guidance for the soul.

The memory of St Simeon of Verkhoturye is celebrated also on December 18, on the day of his glorification (1694).

Source

Read also:

The Land of St. Simeon

The Relics of St. Simeon

Intersting Fact: According to Rasputin, St. Simeon healed him of his torturous insomnia after visiting the monastery where his relics lie. This event helped inspire him to embark on a pilgrimage and dedicate his life to God. When he visited the Tsar Nicholas II and his family, the Tsar wrote in his diary: "At 6:15 Grigory came. He brought an icon of St. Simeon of Verkhoturye, saw the children, and chatted with us until 7:15."

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The Ideal Bond Between Man and God

by St. Nikolai Velimirovich

What kind of bond should there be between man and God? An unbreakable and continual bond. `"Adhere to God as a son adheres to his father," counseled St. Anthony. And St. Alonius said: "If a man is not set in his heart that there is no one else in the world but himself and God, he cannot find peace in his soul." The one God is enough, and more than enough, for all that the heart of man can desire.

Without a single protest, Blessed Theodora received a stranger's child, given to her by slanderers, as if it were her own. Theodora raised this child with love, and reared it in the fear of God. Before her death, this is how she counseled the child:

"What is more necessary for man than God and His divine love? He is our refuge, He is our treasure, He is our food and drink, He is our raiment and shelter, He is our health and strength, He is our happiness and joy, He is our hope and our trust. Strive then, my son, to gain Him. If you succeed in gaining the One God, it will be sufficient for you; you will rejoice more in Him than if you had gained the entire world."

In saying this, St. Theodora did not speak from a book or from someone else's words, but on the basis of her own personal experience. She lived for seven years, driven out and scorned by all men, and during that time she learned by experience that God was everything to her, and that the One God was sufficient for all that the heart of man desires.

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All Living Creation Yearns For the Love of God

Every living thing seeks love: man, animals and plants. All people seek God and long for Him, regardless of whether they are believers or unbelievers. Some people call themselves atheists, but they do not know that their hearts long after God. For when someone yearns for justice, love and truth, he is really yearning after God. All people long for love that never changes, and for justice that is always the same.... The only difference is that: some oppose Him and others don't; some yearn after Him consciously, while others are not aware that their yearning is really after God.

- Elder Thaddeus of Serbia (+2002)

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The "Secret" Sin of Saint Theodora of Alexandria

St. Theodora of Alexandria (Feast Day - September 11)

Notice, as you read the excerpt from the Life of St. Theodora below, the five stages that lead to the sin of St. Theodora and which are the same five stages we all go through when we sin against the Lord:

1. Assault - When a thought/temptation knocks on the door of our mind; at this point there is no sin.

2. Interaction - This is the stage when we open our mind to the thought; at this point things become dangerous.

3. Consent - At this point you consent to do what the thought is urging you to do; the decision is made and it has taken root, becoming extremely difficult to escape.

4. Captivity - When you finally give in to your consent, you have been defeated; you are now the captive of your thought and have lost your true freedom over yourself.

5. Passion - Being a captive of your thought you are now spiritually sick; this sickness will become worse and worse throughout your life unless you repent and purify your mind of the germ which you allowed to enter your heart.

Below is the tale of St. Theodora, as written by St. Dimitri of Rostov:

"The eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, beholding all the ways of men, and considering the most secret parts. He knew all things before they were ever created" (Eccles. 23).

There once lived in the city of Alexandria a noblewoman named Theodora who did not know this truth. She hearkened rather unto the enemy, who whispered to her, saying, "The sin committed secretly, which the sun does not see, is likewise unknown to God." When she learned later that nothing can be concealed from God, great was her repentance!

Abiding with her husband in honorable wedlock, she was tempted in the following way. A wealthy man, young and childish of mind, moved by the devil, was wounded with lust for her, and he tried by every means to lead her into adultery. He sent her costly presents and promised her yet greater gifts, seeking to seduce her by his words. Unable to achieve his wish with these devices, he employed a certain sorceress to bewitch the chaste Theodora, hoping thus to ensnare her in his evil designs. Having Satan as her helper, the sorceress found a convenient time to speak to Theodora concerning the youth.

However, Theodora replied, "Oh, that I could be delivered from that man, who has vexed me for so long! If I hearken unto him, the very sun will be the witness of my sin before God!"

The temptress responded, "Then when the sun sets and the darkness of night falls, do what the youth desires in some secret place, and no one, not even God, shall know of your deed, for the deep darkness of night hides all."

"Oh, how good it would be," said Theodora, "were it true that God did not know the sin which is committed in the night!"

The seductress answered, "It is true; God sees only those sins upon which the sun shines. As for those committed in the dark, how can He see them?"

With such words the temptress ensnared Theodora, who was a young woman, guileless and inexperienced. In this the sorceress was assisted much by the temptations of the demons, whose power is strong, whereas ours is feeble. Theodora consented to the counsel of the evil one, and in the depth of night she committed the sin of adultery. However, with the rising of the sun, the light of the ready mercy of God shone in her heart, for she acknowledged her sin and repented of it, striking herself on the face, reviling herself, and tearing her hair in shame. Thus, the mercy of God, Who desires not the death of a sinner, roused her to repentance and amendment because of her former chastity. Indeed, God sometimes permits man to fall so that, amending himself and rising up, he may labor more earnestly and display more zeal for God, Who has forgiven his sin.

Weeping and grieving over the sin she had committed, Theodora consoled herself somewhat and said, "God does not know of my sin. Nevertheless, it shames me and causes me anguish." Seeking to lighten her sorrow, she went to a convent to visit the abbess, with whom she was acquainted. The abbess, seeing her sorrowful face, questioned her, saying, "What is wrong, my daughter? Have you offended your husband?"

Theodora answered, "No, my lady. I do not know why my heart is so heavy."

The abbess, moved by the Spirit of God and wishing to comfort Theodora, began to speak in an edifying manner and to read to her from the writings of the Fathers. As she was reading a certain homily, she came to this citation from the Gospel: "For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore, whatsoever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed from the housetops" (Matt. 10; Lk. 12).

When Theodora heard these words from the Gospel, she beat herself on the breast and said, "Woe is me, the wretched one! Now I have perished! I have been deceived, thinking that God did not know my sin!" and she struck herself, crying and weeping.

The abbess then discerned the nature of her fall, and she began to ask her exactly what she had done. Because of her weeping, Theodora could scarcely speak, but she succeeded in telling the abbess all in detail, and she fell at her feet, crying, "Forgive me, for I am perishing, and tell me what I should do! Is it possible for me to be saved, or am I lost for all eternity? Can I hope for God's mercy, or must I only despair?"

The abbess said to her, "In hearkening to the enemy you have not done well, my daughter. You were mistaken, thinking that you could hide from God, Who searches the hearts and reins, Who knows the thoughts of men from afar, Whose eye sees even that which has not yet been done. No night, no dark place, is able to conceal the sinner from His all-seeing eye. You have angered God and not kept faith with your husband, my daughter. You have defiled your body and done harm to your soul. Why did you not tell me this when you were being tempted? Then I could have helped you and taught you how to guard yourself from the snares of the enemy. But since the deed is already done, fall down in repentance before God's mercy, pray that He will forgive you, and correct yourself. Do not despair, my daughter, for although you have committed a great sin, God's mercy is yet greater. There is no sin which defeats His love for mankind. Now arise and you will be saved."

The abbess reproved and instructed Theodora, and she guided her onto the path of repentance. She comforted her by speaking of God's compassion, of His unutterable goodness, of His quickness to accept those who repent, and His readiness to forgive those who have transgressed. She reminded Theodora of the sinful woman in the Gospel who washed Christ's feet with her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head, thereby receiving forgiveness of her sins from God.

Theodora gave heed to her good instructress, and having stored these things in her heart, she said, "I trust in my God that I shall never commit such sins again, and I shall do whatever I am able to make amends for the sin itself."

Her heart somewhat comforted, Theodora returned to her home. But she was ashamed to look her husband in the face, for her conscience upbraided her, and she considered by what means she might incline God to mercy. Although she wished to enter a convent, she knew that her husband would forbid this, so to hide herself from her husband and from all her acquaintances, she devised the following plan.

When her husband left home on some task, she, in the dark of night, cut her hair and dressed herself in men's clothing. Committing herself to God, she hid herself, and quietly forsaking her home, she fled like a bird taking flight from a trapper's net. Arriving at a desert monastery named Oktokedeka, located eighteen miles from the city, she knocked at the door, and when the doorkeeper came, she said, "Be so kind, Father, as to ask the abbot to receive me, a sinner, into the monastery, for I wish to repent of my evil deeds. I have come to wash the feet of holy men such as you, and to serve you day and night in whatever manner you direct."

The rest of the story of St. Theodora covers eighteen more pages in the Life written by St. Dimitri, but he goes on to give details about how St. Theodora overcame her captivity and entered into true freedom in Christ, suffering much yet attaining greater glory in Christ.

St. Nikoalai Velimirovich summarizes her life in his Prologue with the following words:

Theodora was from Alexandria and the wife of a young man. Persuaded by a fortune-teller, she committed adultery with another man and immediately felt the bitter pangs of conscience. She cut her hair, dressed in men's clothing and entered the Monastery of Octodecatos, under the male name of Theodore. Her labor, fasting, vigilance, humbleness and tearful repentance amazed the entire brotherhood. When a promiscuous young woman slandered her, saying that Theodore had made her pregnant, Theodora did not want to justify herself, but considered this slander as a punishment from God for her earlier sin. Banished from the monastery, she spent seven years living in the forest and wilderness and, in addition, caring for the child of that promiscuous girl. She overcame all diabolical temptations: she refused to worship Satan, refused to accept food from the hands of a soldier, and refused to heed the pleas of her husband to return to him - for all of this was only a diabolical illusion, and as soon as Theodora made the sign of the Cross everything vanished as smoke. After seven years, the abbot received her back into the monastery, where she lived for two more years, and reposed in the Lord. Only then did the monks learn that she was a woman; an angel appeared to the abbot and explained everything to him. Her husband came to the burial, and then remained in the cell of his former wife until his repose. St. Theodora possessed much grace from God: she tamed wild beasts, healed infirmities, and brought forth water from a dry well. Thus, God glorified a true penitent, who with heroic patience repented nine years for just one sin. She reposed in the year 490.

St. Nikolai goes on to offer the following reflection about how St. Theodora went to live in a convent following her sin without telling her husband. It should be noted that the Holy Fathers in a later Canon ruled that husbands or wives are no longer permitted to do such a thing without mutual consent, yet St. Nikolai offers the following advice if the desire comes up in at least one spouse:

One must not hinder anyone on the path of perfect devotion and service to God. Many saintly women who wanted to flee from marriage and devote themselves to God were pursued and hindered in this by their husbands. These women were usually victorious in the end, remaining steadfast in their intention, and often awakened the consciences of their husbands by their example, and directed them on the path of salvation. St. Theodora, dressed in men's clothing, had to carefully hide from her husband, and she retreated to a men's monastery. However, there were prudent husbands who approved their wives' intentions, permitting their withdrawal from the world to devote their lives completely to God. King Frederick was betrothed to a Czech maiden, Agnes. But she never agreed to enter into marriage, and broke her betrothal, fleeing to a monastery. Then the prudent king said: "Had she left me for a mortal man, I would have sought revenge; but I must not find myself insulted that she chose the Heavenly King in place of me."

Lastly I would like to offer a hymn also written by St. Nikolai in honor of the Venerable Theodora of Alexandria:

Wretched Theodora was tangled in sin;
Glorious Theodora was forgiven her sin.
One sin she ransomed with a hundred virtues
And the eternal mercy of the Son of God.

She thrust from herself into diabolical suggestions,
And meekly endured the slanders of men.
Her mind immersed in her Lord,
Her thoughts were freed from earthly dust.

To the end, she submitted to God's will,
And thus was worthy of God's Paradise.
St. Theodora, citizen of Paradise,
Now help us, O God-pleaser!

That we sinners also be delivered from sin
And live with you as inhabitants of Paradise.
You were given power, before and after death,
To destroy all the snares of the enemy.

Because of your love, God gave you power,
And even the demons fear your power.
Now you worship Christ with all the saints,
And protect us from bitter attacks.

Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Theodora, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
With fasting didst thou consume thy body utterly; with vigilant prayer didst thou entreat thy Fashioner, that thou shouldst receive the complete forgiveness of the sin thou hadst wrought; which receiving in truth, thou didst mark out the path of repentance for us all.

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Top Ten Reasons 'Burn a Qur'an Day' is Anti-Biblical

James N. Watkins
September 10, 2010
The Christian Post

The Dove World Outreach Center, a non-denominational church in Gainesville, Florida, announced in July that it would host a Qur'an burning event on its church property in observance of the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks "to warn Americans about the dangers of Islam."

While the church's pastor, Terry Jones, may not burn Qur'ans after all, Fred "God Hates Fags" Phelps is promising to do so if Jones is a "sissy" and doesn't.

Also, another character is promising to burn Qur'ans on the Wyoming Capitol steps. (The crazy meter is spiking!)

So, I have in my right hand, direct from my home office in Corn Borer, Indiana, today's category:

Top Ten Reasons "Burn a Qur'an Day" is Anti-Biblical

10. It goes against the Bible's teaching to "let your conversation always be full of grace." (Colossians 4:6)

9. It goes against the Bible's teaching to "love your neighbor." (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39)

8. It goes against the Bible's teaching to "love your enemies." (Matthew 5:43)

7. It goes against the Bible's teaching to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (Matthew 22:39, Luke 6:31)

6. It goes against the Bible's teaching of "overcoming evil with good." ((Romans 12:21)

5. It goes against the Bible's teaching of "vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Romans 12:19)

4. It goes against the Bible's teaching to be "full of truth and grace." (John 1:14)

3. It goes against the Bible's teaching to "live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18)

2. It goes against the Bible's teaching to "be wise as a serpent, gentle as a dove" (Matthew 10:16)

1. It goes against the Bible's teaching that "whoever spreads slander is a fool" (Proverbs 10:18)

Read also: Taking Christianity Back From Creepy "Christian" Churches

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The Chapel of Saint Theodora of Vasta In Nauplion

The Venerable Martyr Theodora of Vasta is most well-known for the amazing chapel which stands in her honor in Vasta of Arkadia with 17 trees growing miraculously on its roof and a river flowing beneath it. However, there is another chapel dedicated to this same St. Theodora in Argos in the region of Makrovouni Leukakion which is about 3 km away from the city of Nauplion. This chapel was built on the exact spot where four years ago the owner of that particular field named Sotiris Tzinieris saw St. Theodora in a vision multiple times. In her honor he built this chapel with his own hands. Fr. Dionysios Tampakis celebrated the Great Vespers on September 10, 2010 for its feast on September 11th.





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New Charter Makes Cypriot Church "Truly Autocephalous"

Elias Hazou
September 10, 2010
Cyprus Mail

In a move hailed as ‘historic,’ the Holy Synod yesterday approved the text of a new charter rendering the Church of Cyprus truly autocephalous.

The new charter will be endorsed by the body Monday at the Archbishopric, during a ceremony to be attended by the President, political leaders and VIPs.

An autocephalous church is one that enjoys total canonical and administrative independence and elects its own prelates and bishops. The Cypriot Orthodox Church was granted autocephaly by the Council of Ephesus of 431 and is ruled by the Archbishop of Cyprus, who is not subject to any higher ecclesiastical authority, although his church remains in full communion with the other Eastern Orthodox churches.

Under the new charter, the Holy Synod will comprise of 17 members (16 metropolitans and the Archbishop), a number sufficient to allow it to regulate all internal matters, without the need to call a ‘Greater Synod’ involving the participation of bishops from affiliated Orthodox churches.

It is also empowered to put on trial, and pronounce sentence on, bishops and even the Prelate. Bishops will have the right to appeal such decisions with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

In addition, by a three-quarters majority vote the Synod will have the right to remove the Archbishop or a metropolitan on the grounds of incapacity due to ill health.

In 2006 it took a Greater Synod decision to call for elections to replace the then ailing Prelate, Archbishop Chrysostomos, who for years had been incapacitated from Alzheimer’s disease.

The new charter provides for a new method of electing bishops and the Archbishop. A list of qualified candidates will be drawn up and the public will be asked to vote. The top three candidates will then make it to a short-list, and the winner will be chosen via secret ballot by the Holy Synod.

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Saint Euphrosynos the Cook

St. Euphrosynos the Cook (Feast Day - September 11)

By St. Dimitri of Rostov

Our holy monastic father Euphrosynos was born of simple parents although he surpassed even those of noble lineage in good works. For there are many who are devoid of good works, despite their noble birth, and so are cast down into Hades while the simple in their humility are lifted up to paradise by God as was the godly Euphrosynos. Because of his virtuous life he was translated to paradise, as we will see, and was shown to be an inhabitant there.

Euphrosynos lived in a monastery where he served the brethren, laboring in the kitchen and serving them with great humility and submissiveness as though they were not men but God Himself. He labored in obedience day and night, but he never left off praying and fasting. His patience was inexpressible. He bore much abuse and disparagement and suffered frequent vexations. Scorched by the material fire of the cookstove, he was warmed by the spiritual fire of the love of God, and his heart burned with longing for the Lord. While passing his days preparing food for the brethren, he at the same time prepared a table for himself in the kingdom of God by his virtuous life, where he would eat his fill with those of whom it is said, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. He served the Lord secretly so that he might be rewarded by Him openly, even as it came to pass.

The Lord’s reward to His servant was made manifest in the following manner. A certain priest who lived in the same monastery prayed fervently to the Lord that He reveal to him the things which are prepared for them that love Him. One night he had a vision. It seemed to him that he was standing in a garden, and as he considered the unutterable beauty of this garden, he saw Euphrosynos, the monastery’s cook, walking by. The priest approached him and asked, "Brother Euphrosynos, what is this place? Can this be paradise?"

"It is paradise, Father," answered Euphrosynos.

Again the priest inquired, "How is that you are here?"

Euphrosynos the cook replied, "This is the dwelling place of God’s elect, and by God’s great goodness I have made my abode here as well."

The priest asked, "Do you have authority over all these beautiful things?"

Euphrosynos replied, "As far as I am able, I distribute to others the things you see here."

The priest inquired, "Can you give me some portion of these things?"

"By the grace of my God, take what you desire," Euphrosynos said.

The priest then pointed to some apples and asked for them. Euphrosynos took three apples, placed them in a kerchief, and gave them to the priest, saying, "Take what you have requested and delight therein."

At that moment, the semantron was struck for Matins, and the priest awoke and came to himself. He thought that he had been dreaming, but when he stretched out his hand to pick up his handkerchief, he found in it the three apples that he had received from Euphrosynos in the vision. They gave off an ineffable fragrance. Amazed, he arose from his couch, placed the apples on the bed, and went to church where he found Euphrosynos standing together with the brethren at the morning service. Approaching Euphrosynos, the priest implored him to reveal where he had been that night.

Euphrosynos replied, "Forgive me, Father; I have been in that place where we saw one another."

The priest said, "You must reveal God’s greatness, so that the truth is not concealed!"

But the wise Euphrosynos humbly answered, "You, Father, implored the Lord to reveal to you the reward given to His chosen. The Lord was pleased to make this known to your godliness through me, wretched and unworthy as I am, and thus, we found ourselves together in paradise."

The priest inquired, "What did you give me, Father, in paradise when I spoke with you?"

"I gave you the three fragrant apples which you have placed on your bed in your cell," answered Euphrosynos. "But forgive me, Father, for I am a worm and not a man."

When Matins had finished, the priest summoned the brethren and showed them the three apples from paradise, and he told them exactly what had occurred. All smelled the ineffable fragrance emitted by those apples and discerned their spiritual sweetness, and they marvelled at what they were told by the priest. They hurried to the kitchen to reverence the servant of God, but they could not find him. When Euphrosynos left the church, he hid from the glory of men, and no one knew where he had gone. It is pointless to inquire into his whereabouts, for if he had access to paradise, where could he not have hidden himself?

The brethren divided the apples among themselves and distributed pieces of them as a blessing to many, especially to those who were in need of healing. Whoever ate of these apples was healed of his infirmities, and thus, all received great benefit from the holy and venerable Euphrosynos. The account of the vision was written down not only on scrolls but also in the hearts of those who were told of it, and all who heard thereof strove to increase their labors and please God.

By the prayers of the venerable Euphrosynos, may the Lord deem us also worthy to dwell in paradise. Amen.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
You lived in great humility, in labors of asceticism and in purity of soul, O righteous Euphrosynos. By a mystical vision you demonstrated the Heavenly joy which you had found. Therefore make us worthy to be partakers of your intercessions.

Source: The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints, Volume 1: September

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Papa Fotis On Alms and the Priesthood

One day the Elder was liturgizing in the Church of Saint Marina. As was usual, he stayed after the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Altar. The rest of the priests went to their offices to drink some coffee. There they began to discuss almsgiving, on whether or not it should be given without discrimination to everyone who asks or only after putting the matter into consideration. The discussion turned into an argument. One priest upheld the opinion of the Divine Chrysostom how alms should sweat from one's hand until it is given, and the other priest upheld the opposite view of Saint Basil. In the end, both priests decided to wait for Papa Fotis to give his argument. After a little time Papa Foti came and one of the priests tried to ask him about the matter. Papa Foti then stopped him immediately, before he said a word, saying: "Be quiet, I am going to drink coffee now." He drank his coffee, got up, and began talking about almsgiving and specifically about the matter the two priests disagreed over. His advice was to give alms without over-analyzing if there is or isn't a need from our fellow man.

He would say to me that in the olden days the memorable Metropolitan Iakovos II of Mytlini was liturgizing and a scorpian fell in the Holy Cup. Everyone became frightened. The Bishop removed the scorpian from the Holy Cup and was about to give it to his deacon in order to throw it in the melting pot. Astonished, Papa Foti said: "Bring him here". Taking the half-dead/half-living scorpian he ate it. "Since it was baptized in the Blood of Christ", he said. The Metropolitan told him: "I am amazed, Elder, at your faith".

The Elder would say: "The ethos and pure life of a priest is the salt of our life. If the priest, deacon or bishop do not have a pure life, then they are for the garbage".

From ΠΑΠΑ ΦΩΤΗΣ Ο ΔΙΑ "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΝ ΣΑΛΟΣ" by Π. ΑΘΑΝΑΣΙΟΥ ΓΙΟΥΣΜΑ

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The Concept of God In Islam and Christianity: A Debate (Video)

The rest of the debate can be seen at the following links: Video 2, Video 3, Video 4, Video 5, Video 6, Video 7, Video 8, Video 9, Video 10, Video 11.

"What is God like? The Concept of God in Islam and in Christianity"

A Debate between Dr. William Craig and Dr. Jamal Badawi, February 27, 1997 at the University of Illinois.

Dr. William Lane Craig:
Ph.D. Philosophy, University of Birmingham, England
D. Theol. Theology, Universität München, Germany


Dr. Jamal Badawi:
Ph.D. Economics, Indiana University, United States

THE DEBATE: THE CONCEPT OF GOD IN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY

OPENING STATEMENTS: 20 minutes
Part 1-3: Dr. Craig's Opening Remarks
Part 4-6: Dr. Badawi's Opening Remarks

REBUTTALS: 12 minutes
Part 7: Dr. Craig Responds
Part 8: Dr. Craig concludes/Dr. Badawi begins Response
Part 9: Dr. Badawi Concludes Response

CLOSING REMARKS: 5 minutes
Part 10: Dr. Craig's Closing Comments
Part 11: Dr. Badawi's Closing Comments

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How A Crazy Preacher Who Wants To Burn The Koran Became An International Story

10 September 2010
Guardian.co.uk

Is the media responsible for having turned an obscure Florida pastor with a flock of no more than 50 people into an international figure by publicising his threat to burn the Qur'an?

Up to a point, Lord Copper. To blame the media for the message is easy enough. It was certainly the view of many callers from across the globe to a BBC World Service phone-in yesterday evening.

But once we see how the story emerged, bit by bit, it becomes less tenable - and much sillier – to accuse "the media" of giving Terry Jones a public stage for his absurd stunt.

Jones, who runs a church called the Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville (population 115,000; home of the University of Florida), originally announced his plan for "International Burn a Koran Day" back in July.

In trying to trace the story's exact origins, I came across several references on the web in late July.

Read the rest of the story here.

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The Discovery of Three Holy Female Ascetics

Three Holy Women Female Ascetics (Feast Day - September 10)

by St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Examples of courage and patience displayed by martyred Christian women - thousands upon thousands of them - have shone with radiant glory on all the pages of the history of the Christian Church. However, as amazing as these examples of voluntary martyrs are, the examples of ascetics, known and unknown, are not a bit less amazing, for asceticism is nothing less than prolonged martyrdom.

Paul, the Bishop of Monemvasia, has given to posterity an instructive example of women ascetics. While he was still a layman and a collector of the royal tax, it happened that he stayed in a certain monastery. Seeing ravens landing on the fruit trees, breaking off branches with fruit and carrying them away, Paul wondered at this, and followed them with the monks to see where they were taking the fruit.

Going thus, they came upon an impassable forest. The ravens landed at the bottom, deposited the broken fruit branches, and quickly returned. Paul and the monks investigated, and discovered a cave in which three women ascetics were living.

The oldest one related their life story to them: She was of noble birth, from Constantinople. When her husband died, another nobleman wanted to take her as his wife by force. However, she decided that after the death of her first husband she would spend the remainder of her life in chastity. Therefore she distributed her wealth to the poor and fled to this deserted place with two of her maidservants. They lived there for eleven years in fasting and prayer, seeing no one and seen by no one but God. God the Provider arranged for the birds to bring them fruit for nourishment. Then they asked the abbot to bring them Holy Communion. Three days after they had received Holy Communion, all three of these holy women reposed after eleven years of asceticism, and the monks honorably buried them.

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A Monk Musician Plays the Semantron

To read about the Semantron, se here.

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The Holy Monastery of the Holy Infants in Thebes

The Holy Monastery of the Holy Infants was founded in 2000 with the blessing of Metropolitan Ieronymos of Thebes and is dedicated to the Holy Infants slaughtered by Herod soon after the birth of Christ. When Herod had heard that the Magi did not return to inform him of the location of the new-born King, and an Angel revealed to them to return to their homeland by another route, he became very angry and ordered his soldiers to slaughter every infant in Bethlehem and the surrounding villages under the age of two in order to kill the infant Christ. His plan failed however according to God's will, but the slaughter left many Infants dead, and the Church considers them martyrs who gained the Kingdom of Heaven. Tradition says that the number of Infants slaughtered were 14,000.

This Holy Monastery, the only one in the world dedicated to the Holy Infants, is found in the village of Oinoi (Οινόη) before Villia (Βίλλια) near the 11th century Monastery of Saint Meletios Kithairinos.

It celebrates its feast day on December 29, which is the feast of the Holy Infants.

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On Bearing a Child Through the Aid of Saint Anna

The incorrupt left foot of Saint Anna rests in the Holy Skete of Saint Anna before her holy icon. Surrounding her icon are offerings of vows (tamata) by the faithful from throughout the world for the many miracles she has performed, specifically for couples who are unable to have children. Many stories are told where 3 or 5 or 10 doctors would tell a woman that she would be unable to have children, but when they prayed to Saint Anna they would conceive leaving their physicians in amazement. To fulfill their vow, husbands will come and make their offering to Saint Anna together with a photograph of their newborn healthy and happy child.

For those who wish to appeal to the grandmother of Christ our Lord for the bearing of fruit within the barren womb, the fathers of Saint Anna Skete distribute the following pamphlet titled "Explanation on Bearing a Child" which explains the proper and ideal way to go about their petition to Saint Anna. The pamphlet says the following:


Explanation on Bearing a Child

by the Holy Skete of Saint Anna, Mount Athos

Whoever wishes to acquire a child by inheritance must first Confess sincerely with contrition for all sins from birth. Then, if you wronged anyone, as is human, the iniquity must be rectified; if you have hatred towards anyone or enemies, let there be reconciliation and love. Towards such you must feel the presence of the Almighty and All-Good God with them; you must pray unceasingly and glorify the Triune God asking for strength; you must find help from the Church and give alms according to your strength.

When one performs all of the above Christian duties, you must invite your parish priest to your home to chant a house blessing, within which ought to be sprinkled holy water from the Service chanted before the relics of Saint Anna. Then a forty day fast must begin, except Saturdays and Sundays, on which you are allowed oil and wine, and for these forty days for the couple to sleep apart and for each to perform fifty prostrations a day. Each morning throughout the days of such diet and abstinence, each should drink a little holy water and eat a piece of holy bread which we will send out, and to cross themselves with holy oil on the forehead with holy oil from the vigil lamp of Saint Anna, which we will also send out.

Please inform us of the days in which you plan to undertake the fast, so that we may daily pray in the Church of Saint Anna for forty days during the Divine Liturgy for you. Also, BE CAREFUL that as Christians you do not have any association with magic, spells, mantilikia, cards and other tricks of the devil. The devil never wants good for humanity.

When the forty days of fasting and prayer are complete you must Confess once again, to invite three priests to your home to chant a Holy Unction service, and with the permision of your Spiritual Father you must Commune of the Spotless Mysteries [Holy Communion] and after three days to come together as people do.

We hope that the Fore-Mother Saint Anna, and her sure rock and All-Spotless Daughter the Theotokos, pray fervently for you to our Savior Jesus Christ and Much-Compassionate Lord to hear all of our prayers to grant you with all humility and repentance the inheritance of a child for which you ask according to your desire and interest. Amen.


Ερμηνεία Τεκνογονίας

Όσοι επιθυμούν να αποκτήσουν τέκνα κληρονομίας πρέπει πρώτον να εξομολογηθούν έν ειλικρινεί μετανοία και συντριβή τα από της γεννήσεως των αμαρτήματα. Έπειτα εάν ως άνθρωποι αδίκησαν κανένα, να επανορθώσουν την αδικίαν, εάν έχουν με κάποιον μίσος ή έχθρα, να κάμουν συνδιαλλαγήν και αγάπην. Προς τούτοις πρέπει να αισθάνωνται την παρουσίαν του Παντοδυνάμου και Πανάγαθου Θεού πλησίον των ,να προσεύχονται συνεχώς και να δοξάζουν τον Τριαδικόν Θεόν και να ζητούν την ενίσχυσίν Του, να συντρέχουν είς την Εκκλησίαν και να ποιούν ελεημοσύνας το κατά δύναμιν. Όταν κάμουν πάντα τα ανωτέρω χριστιανικά χρέη, να προσκαλέσουν είς τον οίκον των τον ιερέα της ενορίας των να ψάλη αγιασμόν ,εντός του οποίου να ρίψουν και τον αγιασμόν, που είναι με το λείψανον της Αγίας Άννης τελεσμένος. Τότε πρέπει να αρχίσουν νηστείαν 40 ημερών, εκτός Σαββάτου και Κυριακής, κατά τας οποίας θα καταλύουν έλαιον και οίνον, να κοιμώνται και τας 40 αυτός ημέρας χωριστά και να κάνουν από 50 μετανοίας την ημέραν ο καθείς. Κάθε πρωί των ημερών αυτών της διαίτης και της εγκρατείας, να πίνουν έκαστος ολίγον αγιασμόν, να τρώγουν από ένα ύψωμα, που θα τους στείλωμεν και να χρίωνται σταυροειδώς είς το μέτωπον με το άγιον έλαιον από την ακοίμητον κανδήλαν της Αγίας Άννης, που επίσης θα τους στείλωμεν.

Παράκλησίς όπως γνωσθή και είς ημάς εγκαίρως η ημερομηνία ενάρξεως των ημερών της νηστείας, δια να τελούμεν είς την Εκκλησίαν της Αγίας Άννης ή το Παρεκκλήσιον καθημερινώς τας 40 αυτάς ημέρας την Θείαν Λειτουργίαν υπέρ αυτών. Επίσης ΠΡΟΣΟΧΗ όπως οι Χριστιανοί μή έχουν ποτέ καμμίαν σχέσιν με την μαγείαν, τα ξόρκια, τα μαντηλίκια, τα χαρτιά και τα λοιπά τεχνάσματα του πονηρού. Ο διάβολος ποτέ δεν θέλει το καλόν των ανθρώπων. Μετά το τέλος των 40 ημερών της νηστείας και της προσευχής να εξομολογηθούν και πάλιν, να προσκαλέσουν 3 ιερείς είς τον οίκον των να ψάλουν Ευχέλαιον ,εάν έχουν την άδειαν του Πνευματικού των να κοινωνήσουν των Αχράντων Μυστηρίων κα μετά 3 ημέρας ας συνέλθουν κατά το ανθρώπινον. Ελπίζομεν ότι η Προμήτωρ Αγία Άννα ,η πρώην στείρα και η Πανάχραντος Κόρη της, η Θεοτόκος, θα πρεσβεύουν θερμά υπέρ αυτών προς τον Σωτήρα ημών Ίησούν Χριστόν και Πολυεύσπλαγχνον Κύριον να εισακούση τας προσευχάς όλων μας και χαρίση είς τους εν ταπεινώσει και μετανοία παρακαλούντες τέκνα κληρονομίας κατά τον πόθον και το συμφέρον των. ΑΜΗΝ.

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St. John the Damascene: On the Chaste Couple Joachim and Anna

Anna was to be the mother of the Virgin Mother of God, and hence nature did not dare to anticipate the flowering of grace. Thus nature remained sterile, until grace produced its fruit. For she who was to be born had to be a first born daughter, since she would be the mother of the first-born of all creation, in whom all things are held together.

Joachim and Anna, how blessed a couple! All creation is indebted to you. For at your hands the Creator was offered a gift excelling all other gifts: a chaste mother, who alone was worthy of him.

And so rejoice, Anna, that you were sterile and have not borne children; break forth into shouts, you who have not given birth. Rejoice, Joachim, because from your daughter a child is born for us, a son is given us, whose name is Messenger of great counsel and universal salvation, mighty God. For this child is God.

Joachim and Anna, how blessed and spotless a couple! You will be known by the fruit you have born, as the Lord says: By their fruits you will know them. The conduct of your life pleased God and was worthy of your daughter. For by the chaste and holy life you led together, you have fashioned a jewel of virginity: she who remained a virgin before, during and after giving birth. She alone for all time would maintain her virginity in mind and soul as well as in body.

Joachim and Anna, how chaste a couple! While safeguarding the chastity prescribed by the law of nature, you achieved with God’s help something which transcends nature in giving the world the Virgin Mother of God as your daughter. While leading a devout and holy life in your human nature, you gave birth to a daughter nobler than the angels, whose queen she now is. Girl of utter beauty and delight, daughter of Adam and mother of God, blessed the loins and blessed the womb from which you come! Blessed the arms that carried you, and blessed your parents’ lips, which you were allowed to cover with chaste kisses, ever maintaining your virginity. Rejoice in God, all the earth. Sing, exult and sing hymns. Raise your voice, raise it and do not be afraid.

Source: Homily on the Nativity of the Theotokos (PG 96:663)

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Homily: The Reversal of the Barrenness of Saint Anna

A Homily Preached by V. Rev. Fr. Cherubim Apostolou, Elder of the Skete of Saint Anna, Mount Athos (Feast of St. Anna, 2005)

"She who was barren bore the Theotokos, nurturer of our life." (Kontakion on the Birth of the Theotokos)

Saint Anna, the ancestor of God, is the precious vessel chosen by the Holy Spirit. The good and blessed tree that is the standard of natural development, which our Lord Himself confirmed, saying: “Are grapes harvested from thorns, or figs from thistles?" (Matt. 7.16) Every good tree brings forth good fruit, but the bad tree brings forth bad fruit. “A sound tree cannot bear unsound fruit, nor can an unsound tree bear sound fruit” (Matt. 7.18). Saint Anna is the good tree and her lovely and most sweet fruit is our Panagia. The most beautiful fruit of human production. What the Evangelist Luke says of the parents of St. John the Forerunner pertains also to Saint Anna and her husband Joachim: “They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless” (Luke 1.6). Saint Anna was virtuous in the eyes of God, and, of course, her life was pure. She walked always in accordance with the will of the Almighty, in accordance with His soul-nurturing commandments. Saint Anna, who bore the all-holy Theotokos, she who was barren and without creative power, whose womb was opened in advanced age by the Lord, to transform the disgrace of barrenness to the joy of a unique fertility, was a descendant of the tribe of David. Her parents, the priest Mathan and Anna, were pious and god-fearing and lived in Bethlehem. Mathan was a priest at the time of Cleopatra and the Persian King Soporus, before Herod Antipater, and had three daughters, Maria, Sovi, and Anna. Of these, Maria married in Bethlehem and bore the midwife Salome, Sovi also married in Bethlehem and bore Elisabeth. Anna was married in Galilee and bore the Lady Theotokos. This honor was bestowed upon her by the gift-granting Lord as a reward for her piety and her charitable works toward orphans and the poor.

But what does the name Anna mean? It means “grace.” When the Archangel Gabriel greeted the Virgin Mary in the Annunciation, he gave her the epithet “full of grace:” “Hail, you who are full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1.28). As a daughter of grace, the Virgin Mary had bestowed upon her that element which is lacking in the Old Testament: grace. The Old Testament represents the age of law. The New Testament represents the era of grace, since it is the “Gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20.24) and all of the faithful “are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6.15). That is why when our Panagia reacted to the words of the archangel with modesty and simplicity, the great Archangel Gabriel hastened to explain to her: “Do not fear, Mary, for you have found grace with God” (Luke 1.30).

And so this maiden, full of grace, was born of a mother whose name means “grace.” That name was not granted to Anna by accident, nor was it by chance that Anna bore the Theotokos. We know that Saint Anna was elderly and barren. She could not conceive. The field of her female nature was barren, dry and infertile. No seed could take root and grow within it. The field of the barren Anna resembles the field of the pre-Christian world. The world had grown old in sinfulness and the law of God was not observed. A solution had to come from heaven. And the solution was the rightful reward of evil works and eternal death or forbearance and grace—salvation and liberation. But there was no salvation in the ancient world. Men lived in the shadow of original sin, in the darkness of curse, the dark threat of disintegration and death. They could not enjoy grace and the joy which that grace brings generously to all of us. Saint Anna, by the grace of God, dispelled the disgrace of her barrenness, and also the disgrace of the curse upon those living before Christ. That is why the Kontakion on the feast of the birth of our Theotokos says: “Joachim and Anna were freed of the disgrace of childlessness, while Adam and Eve were freed of the corruption of death through your holy birth.”

My dear brethren, the blessing of God caused the barren Anna to bear fruit, in order to open the path for the grace of God to bear fruit and for the fragrant flower of salvation to blossom in the field of His creature made of dust, which was poisoned by sin. That connection between the fertility of the barren Saint Anna, and the pre-Christian world which was barren of grace is also made by the sacred hymnographer in a troparion of the Vesper Service: “Today barren gates are opened and a sacred virgin gate comes forth. Today grace begins to bear fruit.”

Anna and her husband Joachim lived a godly life and strictly observed the divine commandments. Yet, unfortunately, for many years the couple remained childless and accepted the shame of childlessness with patience and faith, having placed their hope in God, to whom, despite their advanced age, they continued to pray for offspring. And God heard their prayers and sent to Saint Anna an angel who announced to her the will of God, which was precisely to answer her desire for a child. She was then 58 years of age and Joachim was 69. Excited and joyful, Saint Anna shouted: “The Lord my God lives! Whether the child I bear be a girl or a boy, I will bring it as an offering to my God, to serve Him all its life.

And indeed she conceived, and when our Lady Theotokos reached the age of three, her mother brought her—like a three-year-old heifer—to the temple of God, “to be nourished by the angels,” as the sacred hymnographer tells us.

The reversal of the barrenness of Saint Anna was the fruit of prayer. It was impossible for her to conceive and give birth at such an advanced age. But “what is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18.27). In our own lives, as well, many things seem impossible to us. We find ourselves in a state of powerlessness from which only prayer can remove us. Our unique armament in all difficult moments is prayer and humility before the Lord. And I say with certainty that the miracle will occur. The barren earth will bear fruit, and God will send down the rain of His grace, to soften our hearts so that the seeds of soul-saving success in Christ may take root.

Let us therefore invoke Saint Anna, who experienced the disgrace and sadness of childlessness and be certain that she will transform our worries into joy, our indolence into cheerfulness, our sadness into unending joyfulness and exultation.

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On Giving Alms With Humility: The Example of St. Theophanes the Confessor

St. Theophanes the Confessor (Feast Day - September 9)

by St. Nikolai Velimirovich

One should not give alms with pride but rather with humility, considering the one to whom the alms are given to be better than oneself. Did not the Lord Himself say: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me" (Matthew 25:40)?

Theophanes the Confessor possessed a mind illumined by the light of Christ, even as a child. Once, while walking along the street, he saw a naked child freezing. He quickly removed his clothes, clothed the child and thus warmed him and brought him back to life. He then returned home naked. His startled parents asked him: ``Where are your clothes?'' To this Theophanes replied: "I clothed Christ." This is why he was given the grace of Christ, and was later a great ascetic, a sufferer for the Christian Faith and a miracle-worker. After a God-pleasing life and much suffering, Theophanes reposed peacefully in the year 299.

Often, when we give alms, either in someone else's name or in our own name, we cannot avoid pride which, as soon as it appears in the heart, destroys all the good deeds performed. When we give to the beggar as to a beggar and not as to Christ, we cannot avoid pride or disdain. What value is there in performing an act of mercy, while taking pride in ourselves and disdaining the man? Virtue is not a virtue when it is mixed with sin, just as milk is not milk when it is mixed with gasoline or vinegar.

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