The Chapel of Saint Ioannikios on the Island of Hydra

Every year, on November 4, our Church celebrates the memory of our Venerable Father Ioannikios the Great of Olympus.

He was born in Bithynia in the year 740 AD, excelled in the Byzantine army, was led into the error of iconoclasm, but repented and returned to the Orthodox faith, climbed Mount Olympus in Bithynia and lived as an ascetic there, as well as in other areas.

He learned and memorized thirty of the Psalms of David and together he sang a prayer of his own, which the Church still preserves, slightly modified: "God is my hope, Christ is my refuge, the Holy Spirit is my shelter."

When Elder Theophylaktos of New Skete Was Visited by the Holy Unmercenary Saints

Elder Theophylaktos with an icon of the Holy Unmercenaries

Once again I had the same war [as Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi reports, his war was: "a kind of sadness, almost like melancholy"] and despair plagued me terribly.

Of course I knew it was a war, but I couldn't get rid of it.

Because of my inexperience I did not fight it from the beginning, when this passion first appeared to me, and it became a permanent cross for me.

After I sat down to rest I saw a group of people of different ages coming up from the street of Kyriakos [of New Skete] upwards, towards my Hut, and they were talking among themselves.

I watched who they were and where they were going.

Homily Four on the Holy Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

 By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and All Crimea

(Delivered in 1958)

Many times the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to a separate great saint, usually accompanied by one or two apostles of Christ, and she appeared to Saint Seraphim of Sarov alone. But she never appeared to anyone in such glory as in the Blachernae Church in Constantinople, on this great feast, named after her Protection.

There were many people in the temple, and among them were blessed Andrew, a holy fool for Christ's sake, with his disciple Epiphanios.

There was an all-night vigil. The people fervently prayed for deliverance from the invasion of the barbarians, who had already approached Constantinople itself.

Venerable Eudokia the Fool for Christ of Ryazan (+ 1890)

St. Eudokia the Fool for Christ (Feast Day - October 24)

Eldress Eudokia (Plyakhanova) was born in 1830 in the city of Tula.

Throughout her earthly life she was unceasingly aflame with the Spirit of God. All her mind and thoughts were in heaven.

At the age of twenty, Eudokia decided to enter the path of monastic life. Her parents blessed her and she went to consult a Christian priest who lived in Tula. He turned his head in the direction of the Holy Protection Monastery in MIkhailova of Ryazan, and said to her: "Darling, you are for there." After this advice, the young girl with a bag on her shoulders went to the Holy Protection Monastery, where she was received by the Eldress Elpidophora (Afanasova).

Saint Laura of Cordoba (+ 864)

St. Laura of Cordoba (Feast Day - October 19)

The Iberian peninsula was invaded by the Muslims at the beginning of the 8th century. Between the years 756 and 929, the Emirate of Córdoba was established in the south. The Visigoths who lived in these lands are known as Mozarabs and it was among this group of Christians who lived in the Umayyad lands that a movement arose that led them to voluntary martyrdom. Apparently, the Muslims and the Mozarabic ecclesiastical authorities had reached an agreement and, as long as a series of rules were respected, they did not prevent the Christians from continuing with their beliefs. However, due to the influence of Eulogio de Córdoba, a group of almost 50 Mozarabic Christians volunteered for martyrdom, afflicted by the Arabization of the population. Among them was Saint Laura of Cordoba.

On the Illustrious Holy Martyr Lucian (St. Jerome)

 By St. Jerome

(On Illustrious Men, ch. 77)

Lucian, a man of great talent, presbyter of the Church at Antioch, was so diligent in the study of the Scriptures, that even now certain copies of the Scriptures bear the name of Lucian. Works of his, On Faith, and short Epistles to various people are extant. He was put to death at Nicomedia for his confession of Christ in the persecution of Maximinus,* and was buried at Helenopolis in Bithynia.**

Homily on the Holy Martyrs Juventinus and Maximinus (St. John Chrysostom)

St. Juventinus and Maximinus (Feast Day - October 12)

 

 

 

 

The Holy Ninety-Nine Fathers of Crete including Venerable John the Hermit

 

MEMORY OF THE VENERABLE NINETY-NINE FATHERS,
who practiced asceticism on the island of Crete
including JOHN THE HERMIT

Commemorated on October 7th

By St. Justin Popovich

 

THESE ninety-nine venerable fathers, among whom the most famous was John the Hermit, practiced asceticism and perfected themselves on the island of Crete, but their origin was from various regions. Venerable John was from Egypt and with him thirty-five other fathers; thirty-nine fathers were from the island of Cyprus, and the other twenty-four from Attaleia. Traveling by ship to the island of Crete, they were miraculously saved from a storm and landed on the neighboring island of Gavdos, and from there they came to Crete. But John the Hermit lagged behind them, who then came across the sea standing on his tunic, which, after praying to God, he spread on the water and thus by the power of God he also sailed to Crete.

The Relics of Saint Methodia of Kimolos

Saint Methodia of Kimolos, after living as a recluse for several years, reposed in the Lord at the age of 47 on October 5, 1908. The day after her repose, it was noticed that her limbs were still flexible. She was then initially buried in the Church of Saint Spyridon on the island of Kimolos.

On August 15th 1946 she was locally recognized as the "patron and guardian of the island and its great benefactor."

By 1962 her monastic cell had fallen into ruin. For this reason a small church was built over the ruins dedicated to the Panagia Eleousa and Venerable Methodia. Her relics were then transferred from the Church of Saint Spyridon to a crypt in the new church.

Saints Domnina, Bernike and Prosdoke as Models for our Lives

 

 By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Domnina came from Antioch and lived in the years of Emperor Diocletian. She embraced the Christian faith together with her two daughters, Bernike and Prosdoke. After their baptism, their way of life changed, since their hearts overflowed with love, joy, peace, and in general with all the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which resided in their hearts. This change in their way of life and behavior did not take long for Domnina's idolatrous husband to understand, who tried to convince his wife and daughters to sacrifice to the idols. And because they refused to do so, then, full of hatred, he wanted his own daughters to be dishonored. Domnina, however, self-sacrificingly protected them, and they all preferred to suffer martyrdom by drowning in a river, rather than lose their faith, their inner purity and the peace of their souls, these precious and priceless goods.

The Appearance of Saint Hierotheos to a Greek Nun During World War 2

The presence of Saint Hierotheos in the Monastery of Panagia Kyparisiotissa and Saint Hierotheos in Megara of West Attica is noticeable.

At the time of the Second World War, one of the nuns, Sister Salome Adamakis, was overcome by human weakness and feared the danger of the Germans who went to the Sacred Monastery every now and then, as they were looking for English soldiers. So she decided to secretly leave the Monastery of Panagia Kyparisiotissa and Saint Hierotheos.

Homily Two on the Holy Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

 By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol

(Delivered on October 1/14, 1954)

Do not think that I will speak only about the great feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos: I will not explain the meaning of this feast, for I have already explained it more than once.

I will talk about something completely different, I will talk about the little flock of Christ.

Why then, why on the day of the Protection will I speak of the little flock? This is why: I know that most of you are very alarmed by the sudden increase in anti-religious propaganda, and you mourn ... Do not worry, do not worry! It's none of your business.

Homily One on the Holy Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 

By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and All Crimea

Lutherans, Protestants and all other heretics do not honor the Most Holy Virgin Mary. They consider her only a pious woman and certainly do not pray to her. How do we Orthodox Christians see the earthly Mother of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, who served in the great mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God? Are we reprehensible for calling her "more honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim"?  For addressing our fervent prayers to her, who is "the salvation of the Christian race"?

Homily on the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Dimitri of Rostov)

By St. Dimitri of Rostov

 

During the last, difficult times, when with the increase of our sins our perils have also increased, in fulfillment of the words of the holy apostle Paul: 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 (2 Cor. 11:26), when in fulfillment of the words of the Lord Himself, nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places (Matt. 24:7), when we are pressed with invasions by foreign nations, civil wars, and fatal diseases, the Most Holy and Most blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Lord, gives us her protection as our shield, in order to free us from all disasters; in order to protect us from famines, floods, and earthquakes, to save us from wars and diseases, and preserve us unharmed under her protection. A sign of this protection appeared in the royal city of Constantinople during the reign of the pious King Leo the Wise in the glorious church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Blachernae. There during the All-Night Vigil for Sunday, on the first day of the month of October, in the fourth hour of the night, in the presence of many people, St. Andrew the fool for Christ lifted up his eyes and saw the Heavenly Queen, the Protectress of the whole world, the Most Holy Virgin Theotokos, standing in the air and praying, shining with the light of the sun and covering the people with her honorable omophorion. Seeing this, St. Andrew said to his disciple Blessed Ephiphanios:

 

Saint Nestor of Thessaloniki Resource Page

St. Nestor the Martyr (Feast Day - October 27)

 

Verses

In decapitating both Lyaios and the brutal indignity of error,

Nestor is decapitated by the sword.

On the twenty-seventh diligent Nestor was beheaded.

 

Synaxarion of Saint Nestor the Martyr of Thessaloniki 

 

Saint Nestor the Martyr

 

Saint Nestor the Martyr of Thessaloniki  

 

Saint Nestor as a Model for our Lives

 

Saint Nestor the Martyr in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

 

Saint Nestor, the Daring Disciple

 

Goliath and Lyaios

The Chapel of Saint Nestor, Patron Saint of Athletes, Next to the Kaftanzoglio Stadium in Thessaloniki

 

The Chapel of Saint Nestor at the National Sports Center of Larissa
 

Saint Demetrios of Thessaloniki Resource Page

 

Saint Nestor the Martyr

 By Archimandrite Demetrios Kavvadias

The Victorious Martyr of Christ Nestor is known to us from the life of Saint Demetrios. Thessaloniki is the place of origin of Saint Nestor.

The age at which he appears is young, in fact according to Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite it was "when the hairs of the beard begin to grow", while Saint Damaskinos the Studite mentions he was "around twenty years old". Dionysios from Fourna says he was "young and without a beard" and Photios Kontoglou says he was "young without a mustache and just beginning to grow a beard". The teacher of the Gospel, Michael Galanos, identifies his form as beautiful: "He therefore bent his blonde and beautiful head and gave his last breathe with the striking of the sword, in order that he may ascend even more beautiful, to be with the ruler of life, the source of immortal beauty." Scholars of his life therefore determine his age and form as directly related to his story, since the hagiography and the iconography around his person coincide.

Translation of the Relics of the Holy New Martyr George of Ioannina

 

The Holy New Martyr George of Ioannina was hanged to death on January 17, 1838. One hundred and thirty-three years later, on October 26, 1971 his sacred relics were translated to the newly-built Church of the Holy New Martyr George of Ioannina in the city square.

"A deep emotion continues in my heart and fills my soul with awe and sacred fear, because the Most High has reserved for me this great honor, that I should at least search for him and that His unworthy servant should deposit the Sacred Relics from the grave to his household position."

"You have supported me, my children in the Lord, my dear ones, and you have strengthened me in the great dare, which I attempt, of the exhumation of our Patron Saint, through your fervent prayers."

Testimony of a Miracle of the Panagia Prousiotissa During the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918

Retired teacher Lambros Moutsos, who once served in the village of Demi of Agrinio, narrates for us the following miracle from October 25, 1918 (one of many such testimonies):

"In 1918 my wife Spyridoula had contracted a severe form of the flu. My friends who are doctors, Selimas and Sakkas, had assured me that my wife was in the last moments of her life. My wife's brother Nikos Panouklias, from Messolonghi, had arrived at my house that morning to see his sister for the last time. Everyone in my house was discussing the funeral. After a few hours, the sacred procession of the Holy Icon of Panagia Prousiotissa passed outside my house. My nearly-departed wife begged us to take her to the window, which we did. As soon as the sick woman saw the Icon and prayed, she fell asleep, but after an hour we noticed in amazement that the wreck of a human began to move, to come to life and after a few days to become completely well. My wife is still alive and in excellent health, thanks to the miracle of Panagia Prousiotissa."

 

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

 

Saint Tabitha the Merciful as a Model for our Lives

St. Tabitha the Merciful (Feast Day - October 25)

 

By Protopresbyter George Papavarnavas

Saint Tabitha was from Joppa and lived during Apostolic times. What we know from her life is what the evangelist Luke mentions in the ninth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, where he emphasizes that "she was full of good works and almsgiving". The name Tabitha is Syrian and in Greek it is Dorcas which is interpreted as "gazelle". She was a weaver and made tunics and garments, which she gave to poor people, widows and orphans. And while she was working hard, she suddenly fell ill and died. Her death, of course, caused deep pain, especially to those who experienced her beneficial presence and offering. And while they were all ready for her funeral, the faithful were informed that the Apostle Peter, as part of his apostolic journey for the preaching of the gospel, was in Lydda, which was near Joppa.

Saints Barnabas and Hilarion the Wonderworkers

Sts. Barnabas and Hilarion (Feast Day - October 21)

Unfortunately, we know very little about Saints Barnabas and Hilarion. Leontios Machairas in his Chronicle, as well as Kyprianos in his History rank the Saints among the 300 so-called Alamanni, who went to Cyprus after the Second Crusade and practiced asceticism in various places. However, this opinion, with that given to us both by tradition and by the synaxarion of the Saints, conflicts. There it explicitly mentions that the Saints came from Cappadocia and even lived in the years of the reign of Emperor Theodosius the Younger (408-456 AD). Both Saints were from noble families and served in the emperor's army, in which they were distinguished for their stature, their bravery and their whole life in general.