Homily for the Eleventh Sunday of Matthew - The Consequences of Debt (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Homily for the Eleventh Sunday of Matthew (18:23-35)

The Consequences of Debt

Today's Gospel reading refers to the debtor of a myriad of talents, who could not repay his debt and his master ordered that he himself, his wife, his children, and his belongings be sold to pay off the debt. But he asked for forgiveness, which was granted to him. While he repaid his debt with repentance, he was cruel to his companion, and he did not forgive him, despite him asking, and put him in prison. His master found out about this, he who had previously forgiven him, so it was returned to him and he handed him over to the torturers.

This parable refers to the Kingdom of God, into which those who repent and ask God for forgiveness will enter, but in return they also forgive all those who have wronged them.

Saint Onesimus the Apostle Resource Page

 

St. Onesimus (Feast Day - February 15)

Verses

Onesimus laid out his legs to be broken,
Legs which bravely ran on roads to Paul.
On the fifteenth the legs of Onesimus were crushed.

 

Synaxarion of the Holy Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy

 

The Life and Passion of the Holy Apostle Onesimus, One of the Seventy (St. Justin Popovich)

 
Holy Apostle Onesimus as a Model for our Lives

 

February: Day 15: Holy Apostle Onesimus

Slavery and Saint Onesimus

The Church of the Holy Apostle Onesimos in the Exokionion Quarter of Constantinople

The Mystery of the Apostle Onesimus

 

Homily for the Epistle Reading on the Feast of Saint Paraskevi (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos

(Homily for Galatians 3:23-4:5)

On the occasion of the feast of Saint Paraskevi, the Church has established to be read today as an apostolic reading a passage from the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Christians of Galatia, which is known as the epistle to the Galatians.

Studying today's apostolic reading, one assumes that it was chosen by the Church because it includes the phrase: “Those who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:27-28).

Saint Hypatios of Rufinianes and the Runaway Slaves Who Took Refuge in his Monastery

One time, the slaves of the former consul of Rufinianes (located on the Sea of Marmara southeast of Chalcedon) took flight and sought refuge in the monastery of Saint Hypatios (June 17), where they requested not only sanctuary but also admittance into the brotherhood. Hypatios received the runaway slaves and tonsured them as monks. The consul, meanwhile, dispatched men to search for the slaves. One of those sent on horseback was his kinsman upon whom the proconsul bestowed many favors. This kinsman, when he arrived at the monastery, instead of capturing the runaway slaves, he was instead captured by the way of life of the monks in the monastery. He was eventually tonsured a monk, became a distinguished ascetic, and was accounted worthy of the priesthood. As for the slaves, one of them, whose name was Paul, was caught by one of the men of the consul. Paul was subjected to torture and clapped in irons. He was then placed under a soldier's guard. In the middle of the night, an Angel of the Lord released Paul from his chains, bid him to rise, then dismissed him, saying: "Go and save yourself." Once Paul was free of the prison, he, too, went to Hypatios' monastery.

Holy Two Martyrs, a Mistress and her Servant

Holy Mistress and Servant the Martyrs (Feast Day - April 5)

Verses

It befits the Servant to follow the Mistress,
From the earth they went to God by the sword.

The Holy Two Martyrs, a Mistress and her Servant, met their end by the sword.

Saint Bathild, Queen of France and Nun of Chelles (+ 680)

St. Bathild of Chelles (Feast Day - January 30)

Saint Bathild was an Anglo-Saxon slave-girl who was sold by Danish raiders into the household of the chief officer of the Frankish imperial palace, Erchinoald, in the first half of the seventh century. Being physically beautiful and humble and obedient in soul, she quickly won the favor of the prince, and was nearly always in his presence, even bringing him drinks in his bedroom. She also served the older women in the household, washing their feet, dressing them and helping them in every way.

Holy New Martyr Anthony of Athens (+ 1774)

St. Anthony of Athens (Feast Day - February 5)

Verses

Anthony was slaughtered like a lamb,
He stands before Christ following Him as a lamb.

By St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite

*

Saint Anthony was born in the renowned city of Athens. His parents, Demetrios and Kalomoira, were poor and obscure. The Saint was reared by them to fear God. At the age of twelve, he was taught sacred letters. Because he could not bear to witness the impoverished state of his parents, though being unskilled in labor, he hired himself out to a certain Albanian Muslim who was in Athens at the time. All his earnings went to assist his parents. When he was sixteen years of age, in 1773, the Russian navy came to Peloponnesos to fight the Ottoman Turks. When Anthony's masters went to plunder and capture the Morean Christians, Anthony followed them.

Holy Martyr John of Kazan (+ 1529)

St. John of Kazan (Feast Day - January 24)

During the reign of Great Prince Basil, the Tatars swooped down upon Nizhni Novgorod. Many of the inhabitants were taken into captivity and brought to Kazan. Also among their number was the fearless John.

When the captives were distributed to their new owners, he was given to Alei-Shnur (in other sources Alei-Shpur, Alei-Shkur), who was related to the Khan. Being young John was well instructed in Christian teaching and received a wonderful home education. He was accustomed to the strict fulfillment of the requirements of the Christian faith - he observed fasts, did not like idleness, and spent all his time in work and prayers. For such diligence, Alei-Shnur made John his personal servant. John diligently fulfilled the duties assigned to him and patiently endured the enslavement, despite all the ridicule that the Muslims showered him with. Hoping in God's mercy, he spent nights in prayer.

Holy Martyrs Agricola and Vitalis of Bologna

Sts. Agricola and Vitalis of Bologna

Saint Ambrose of Milan informs us that Agricola was a man of Bologna, whose behavior in the world had engaged the affection of the idolaters amongst whom he lived. Vitalis, his slave, learned from him the Christian faith, and first received the crown; for the servant and the freeman are one and the same thing in Christ, nor is there any difference from their condition in their reward.

They were both seized, probably in the year 304 during the reign of Diocletian, and Vitalis first put to the torture. He ceased not to praise God so long as he had the use of his tongue; and seeing no part of his body left which was not covered with wounds and blood, he prayed Jesus Christ to receive his soul, and to bestow on him that crown which his angel had shown him. His prayer was no sooner ended than he delivered his soul to God.

Saint Moses the Ethiopian According to Sozomen

By Sozomen

Ecclesiastical History (Bk. 4, Ch. 29)

Moses was originally a slave, but was driven from his master's house on account of his immorality. He joined some robbers, and became leader of the band. After having perpetrated many evil deeds and dared some murders, by some sudden conversion he embraced the monastic life, and attained the highest point of philosophy.

Saint Nilus the Ascetic of Mount Sinai

St. Nilus the Ascetic (Feast Day - November 12)

Verses

Nilus refreshes Egypt as well as creation,

For the great Nilus refreshed with his words and died.

Saint Nilus had been the Prefect of Constantinople in the late fourth or early fifth century. Having found a modest woman he married and had two children, one son and one daughter. Desiring to flee the glory of this world, they decided to leave Constantinople in order to live monastic lives in Egypt, each taking with them one of their children. From Alexandria therefore Nilus went to Mount Sinai with his son Theodoulos and became a monk, while his wife and daughter retired into a convent. Nilus and Theodoulos lived there in quietude and prayer, until one day the defenseless ascetics were attacked by marauding Saracens, and were slaughtered. Saint Nilus managed to flee, while his son Theodoulos was captured together with another young monk, and they were dragged away by force.

Saint John the Russian as a Model for our Lives

By Protpresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint John was from Ukraine. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1711 he was enslaved by the Tartars, allies of the Turks, who sold him as a slave to a Turkish official in Prokopi of Asia Minor. The life of slavery was very hard for young John, especially in the beginning. The pressure to change his faith was unbearable and his torments indescribable. He lived in miserable conditions, but he found solace in unceasing prayer, through which he drew strength, courage and inspiration in his struggles. Willingly he performed the commands of his master, working diligently and tirelessly, while quietly and unceasingly whispering, sometimes with his lips and sometimes with his nous and heart, the "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me."

With the passage of time the Aga began to "soften" seeing John constantly praying, working diligently, and serving him in the best way. Sympathy became admiration when he discovered that through faith and prayer young John worked miracles, not only for the benefit of others, but also for his master's benefit.

Germanos of Old Patras: The Hierarch of Freedom

We are publishing here a homily of Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos on Germanos of Old Patras (Palaion Patron Germanos), which was delivered in Patras at the "Protokliteion 2006" organized by the Sacred Metropolis of Patras and it was dedicated to the Hierarch of the Revolution.

By His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos

of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Today's eucharistic gathering takes place on the occasion of events organized by the Sacred Metropolis of Patras with the inspiration and guidance of the Prelate of this Sacred Metropolis of Patras, Chrysostomos, for the great Hierarch of this Metropolis, Metropolitan Germanos of Old Patras, who brightened this hierarchical throne and loved the Church and people. And through the supplications of your Prelate and my beloved brother in Christ, Chrysostomos, I will refer to this wonderful personality, and we will especially see him through the perspective of the Hierarch of Freedom.

Slavery and Saint Onesimus

Holy Apostle Onesimus (Feast Day - February 15 and November 22)

By Panagiotis Melikidis

On February 15th our Church celebrates the memory of the Apostle Onesimus, who became a Christian through the Apostle Paul when he was a prisoner either in Rome or Ephesus (probably Ephesus, according to modern research).

This brief note will deal with the subject of slavery and its correlation with the case of Onesimus.

First let us note that in the era of Emperor Augustus, half the population of the Roman Empire were slaves. Furthermore, based on the testimonies we have, the living conditions of the slaves were harsher in the West than in the East. For this reason, for example, in 1 B.C. we have the revolt of the slaves in Italy.

Holy Apostle Onesimus as a Model for our Lives

St. Onesimus the Apostle (Feast Day - February 15)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

The Apostle Onesimus was originally a servant of the Apostle Philemon, who was a man of love and treated his servants with kindness. It turned out, however, that he was a useless servant, because he abused the kindness of his master, stealing from him and fleeing secretly to Colossae. In Rome, where he fled, he was catechized by the Apostle Paul in the "faith of Christ", he was baptized and he became "wonderful in virtue". From a useless servant he became an Apostle of Jesus Christ, and he became truly useful and truly free.

Saint Apollinaria the Syncletike as a Model for our Lives

St. Apollinaria the Syncletike (Feast Day - January 4)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Venerable Apollinaria was from an illustrious family and lived in the 5th century AD. The daughter of a supreme administrative ruler of Rome, she was renowned for her beauty and in particular her strong faith in Christ. On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land she was accompanied by several slaves, men and women, whom, however, after the pilgrimage, she set free, after having given them plenty of money. She herself did not return to Rome, but went to Alexandria where she embraced the monastic life and was distinguished by her wisdom and virtue. After a sufficient period of time she learned that her sister was tormented by an unclean spirit. She went to Rome and after God-persuading prayers her sister was healed. Her relatives and friends wanted to keep her close, but she, despite the fact that she loved them very much, returned to her hermitage, where she "was perfected in peace".

Her life and deeds give us the opportunity to emphasize the following:

First, man was created by God in His image and according to His likeness and endowed with the gift of free will, or freedom of choice. God did not create masters and slaves, rulers and subjects, rich and poor, higher and lower people, but these distinctions are the result of the misuse of the freedom of man and disobedience to the commands of God. The first-formed in Paradise had communion with God, and between each other there was genuine love which is why they truly enjoyed life. Their relationship with their Creator and between themselves, as well as with creation, disintegrated after their fall into sin. They then lost communion with God, the love between them "became frozen", and creation rebelled against them.

When man, by the Grace of God and his personal struggle, is regenerated spiritually, or is even in the prospect of spiritual regeneration, he cannot accept inequalities and discrimination, and for this reason, depending on himself, he condemns them.

The first Christians, as we see them in the Acts of the Apostles, abolished economic inequality that existed between them, since those who had money gave it to the Apostles in order to distribute it to those in need, so that no one was deprived of anything. Even those who owned property sold them and offered the profit so that all could equally enjoy the good things of God, since all things were common to all. "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need " (Acts 2:44-45).

Equality and common giving existed among the early Christians and it is preserved today in coenobitic monasteries. There all things are held in common and there is no appearance of the phenomenon that one has material goods and another is deprived of what is necessary, as it often happens in human communities where there are many rich and many poor, even those who are completely deprived of that which is necessary for their survival. The accumulation of material goods and their exploitation for selfish purposes reveals spiritual nakedness, insecurity and a lack of meaning of life. Wherever there are people who take seriously the issue of salvation and struggle to know Christ and have fellowship with Him, there inequalities and discriminations are blunted and over time cease to exist. And this is because by the Grace of God and their own personal struggle they are freed from selfishness and gain inner freedom and unconditional love, and so they do not wish to have slaves, but only friends.

Unfortunately, however, the slave trade still exists today in various forms. And the worst is that consciences are sold and bought. Fortunately, however, today there are those, even a few, who neither buy nor sell and prefer to be penalize rather than be unjust. This is a comforting fact and indeed these people are an oasis in the desert of modern individualism and a friendless society.

Second, the situation of those people who exist with the entrance of demons within themselves is tragic, because not only do they suffer, but their relatives as well. The entrance of demons within a person is due to various causes. But what is certain is that the devil has no power over the creations of God, reasonable or unreasonable, unless a man himself, making poor use of his freedom, gives him the right. Even when the demons entered the swine in the city of the Gerasenes, it happened because it was allowed by Christ.

The expulsion of demons takes place by prayer and fasting, as Christ Himself says: "This kind cannot come out except by prayer and fasting" (Matt. 13:22). And where there are people who have made prayer and fasting their way of life, then the race of demons is expelled and the demon possessed are freed.

Prayer sweetens the heart more than honey and fasting strengthens the will, and in this way man rejoices, and becomes strong like a lion which does not fear anything and is thus free. Besides, according to the riddle of Sampson the Judge in the Old Testament, what is sweeter than the honey of prayer, and what is stronger than a lion, namely a man of God?

In other words, by his state in Christ man acquires internal completeness and spiritual courage, which is why he is able to confront as a conqueror temptations, the sorrows of this life, the fear of death and the tricks of the devil, and in this way he truly rejoices in his life.

Source: Ekklesiastiki Paremvasi, "ΟΣΙΑ ΑΠΟΛΛΙΝΑΡΙΑ Η ΣΥΓΚΛΗΤΙΚΗ", December 2010. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

Saint Andrew the Fool and the Homosexual Eunuch

The following dialogue consists of a chapter in the Life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ (May 28). It is a complex passage dealing with sensitive issues with unexpected twists and turns and paradoxes, as real life situations usually are, and for this reason it should be studied carefully, completely and within context. Saint Andrew was a holy man, specifically with the gift of being clairvoyant and a fool for Christ, who knew the secrets of people's hearts, and he spoke the truth as it was revealed to him and in the appropriate way for a particular moment. The story begins with Andrew, who wore very little clothing even in the winter, sitting in front of the gateway of the house of his disciple Epiphanios, who in the purity of his heart recognized the holiness of Andrew and kept the secret of his foolish behavior.

As he [Andrew] sat on the ground in front of the gateway there came a young eunuch who was the chamberlain of one of the nobles. His face was like a rose, the skin of his body white as snow, he was well shaped, fair-haired, possessing an unusual softness, and smelling of musk from afar. As Epiphanios had been brought up together with him and was his friend they loved each other dearly.

Now this eunuch carried with him dates, about thirty in number. When he saw the naked body of the holy man he was alarmed and asked Epiphanios, "My dearest and beloved Epiphanios, who is this man and why does he go naked, although it is winter and unbearably cold, being like those who have been shipwrecked at sea?"

Epiphanios answered, "My dearest brother, I do not know what I shall say about his appearance, since his mind has been taken prisoner by the Evil One and he wanders about like one possessed and confused. All such people tear their clothes and run about without feeling anything." This he said because he did not want to reveal the holy man's virtue.

When the eunuch heard this he fell silent and, having pity on the blessed man as one of the poor, gave him all his dates. "Take these just for now," he said, "for I have nothing else with me."

But the holy man, who with the eyes of his spirit already knew the works of his soul, looked at him sternly and said, "Fools do not eat a gift of colophonia."

The eunuch, who did not understand what he said, replied, "You truly crazy man, when you see dates, do you think they are fruit from Colophon?"*

The blessed man said to him, "You deceiver, go into your master's bed-chamber and perform with him the sick practice of the sodomites, that he may give you other dates too. You wretch, you do not see the rays of the kingdom of heaven, who do not know the cruelty and bitterness of hell, do you not even feel shame before the angel who accompanies you as a Christian? What should be done with you, impure that you are, because you frequent the corners and do what should not be done, things which neither dogs nor swine, nor reptiles nor serpents do? You accursed fellow, why do you do this? Woe to your youth, which Satan has wounded and thrown down headlong into the terrible depth of hell and vehemence and boundless vigor! See that you do not go further, lest the Godhead treat you as you deserve, here burning you whole with flashes of lightning, there with the hell of fire."

When the eunuch heard this he trembled with fear, his face turned red like fire and his shame was great.

Epiphanios said to the eunuch, "Sir, what happened to you? Why were you ashamed? Did I not tell you that he is crazy and says whatever occurs to him? However, my dear friend in the Lord, if you are aware that you are guilty of something of what he said to you, go at once and reform yourself and do not be angry at him for his words! You are young, dear friend, and Satan is wicked, deceiving us to commit sin for no other reason than to have us too for a consolation in the fires of hell."

When the eunuch heard this he went away, whereas the honorable Epiphanios helped the holy man to his feet and showed him to his room. There they found a table laid and sat down, enjoying the gifts of God.

After they finished their feast Epiphanios said to the blessed man, "Venerable sir, why did you rebuke my friend so bluntly?"

The blessed man answered, "Because he is dear to you and beloved, for this reason I did give to him this lecture, for had he not been your friend, he would not heard a single word from me. This is not my vocation, to rebuke sinners, but to run the straight road which leads to a better life."

Epiphanios said again, "I know that too, you servant of God, but this young man is a slave, and when he is forced by his master what can he do?"

The holy man replied, "Yes, I know, I am not ignorant of that. However, a slave should serve the man who bought him with regard to his physical needs, not with regard to the works of the devil, specifically not when it comes to this cursed and disgusting abnormality in which not even animals engage."

Epiphanios said, "If a master enjoins a slave to minister to his needs, be they physical, or spiritual, or sinful, and the slave fails to obey, you surely know, my Lord, how much he will suffer, being maltreated, beaten, threatened and receiving all sorts of punishments."

The holy man answered, "This, my son, is the martyrdom of Jesus Christ at which he hinted when he said: 'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' Thus if the slaves do not bow to the abominable sodomitic passion of their masters they are blessed and thrice blessed, for thanks to the torments you mention they will be reckoned with the martyrs."

* The eunuch thinks the holy man is speaking of the city of Colophon in Ionia, but the word colophonia implies a slaughter or abuse of the colon or anus.

Translation from The Perfect Servant: Eunuchs and the Social Construction of Gender in Byzantium by Kathryn M. Ringrose, University of Chicago Press, 2003, pp. 45-47.

The Story of Nelson Mandela Begins in Byzantium

With the passing of Nelson Mandela, we are reminded once again to what extent the Fall of Constantinople influenced world history. The text below was written by General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the current President of Uganda, showing how the story of colonization and apartheid in South Africa begins in 1453.

It is with sadness that I heard of the news of Mzee Nelson Mandela’s death.

The sad and heroic story of Mzee Mandela starts in 1453 AD when the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople (Istanbul as it is called today) from the Byzantine empire.

That capture blocked the overland route from Europe to Asia that had been established by Marco Polo many centuries before.

That route was important to Europe especially for spices and silk trade.

With that blockage, the Europeans started looking for an alternative sea route to the east, around the massive African continent.

Prince Henry, the navigator, of Portugal established a naval school at Cadiz to improve on the construction of ships and on navigation techniques so that they could have ships that could withstand long ocean voyages to Asia, around Africa.

This is not the time and place to go into the details of that European effort of circumventing the Moslem blockade.

Suffice it to say that by 1498, a mere 45 years after the fall of Constantinople, the Portuguese, Vasco Da Gama, had rounded the Cape of Good Hope (Cape Town) and spent the Christmas of that year at Natal, that is why that area was so named, remembering the birth of Christ.

With the discovery of the sea route to the Far East by the Europeans, that is where the sad but also heroic story of Nelson Mandela and Africa begins. Initially, the Europeans came as traders, establishing refuelling and replenishment stations for their ships on the way to the Far East.

Within a few centuries, however, the traders had become the colonisers. The sad thing is that while all this was unfolding, the African chiefs and other leaders never made serious efforts to co-ordinate in order to guarantee our future as free people. Yes, various tribes fought the colonialists. However, the co-ordination was either not there or too late.

On account of internal weaknesses within Africa, therefore, by the birth of Mzee Mandela in 1918, the whole of African continent, except for Ethiopia, had been colonized. Therefore, Mandela had the misfortune of being born under colonialism like many of us were.

Various individuals reacted differently to this situation. Many acquiesced and accepted colonialism or even collaborated with it. However, a few others like Mandela, Albert Luthuli, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, etc., chose the difficult, hard route of resistance to colonialism.

That resistance invited reprisals from the oppressors. The African National Congress (ANC) people are more qualified to go into the details of that resistance by the party and the individuals that were involved. On account of our Pan-Africanist orientation, we linked up with the ANC in 1967 in Dar esSalaam.

Ever since that time, the NRM, or its precursors, have been working closely with the liberation movements of southern Africa – ZANU, ZAPU, FRELIMO, ANC, SWAPO, MPLA, etc, etc.

The resistance of all the colonized peoples in the world had benefitted from three factors: the continued resistance of those colonised peoples, the fratricidal fighting among the imperialists (the first and second World Wars); and the solidarity from the socialist countries (Soviet Union, China, etc, ever since 1917).

That resistance had led to some of the cleverer imperialists giving back the freedom of the people peacefully, examples being India and many of the African countries, including Uganda. However, those who were not so clever, such as Portugal and the Boers of South Africa and Rhodesia, thought they could maintain their colonial or minority and racist regimes.

It was the lot of freedom fighters like Mzee Mandela and his colleagues to sacrifice and fight those regimes. Mzee Mandela spent almost the whole of his adult life fighting for freedom, starting as a youth in the 1940s.

Eventually, he went to jail where he spent 27 years. Out of his 95 years on earth, given to him by God, it is only in the last 22 years, since 1991, that he has lived as a free man. What a sacrifice!!

Even those 22 last years of his life, he was not out of danger. Did I not recently hear of South African racists that were plotting to kill him for fighting for freedom?

Didn’t Chris Hani die, shot dead, when South Africa was preparing for the first democratic elections? Chris Hani had been at Rwakitura to visit me where I tried to prevail on him not to go back to South Africa yet, but in vain.

Mzee Mandela and his colleagues in the ANC have fulfilled their mission of throwing out the oppressors. It is the duty of the present generation to immunize Africa against future colonization.

Salutations to the sacrifices and achievements of Mzee Mandela and his colleagues.

Source: Observer.ug, December 8, 2013.

The First Recorded Stand Against Slavery

As also mentioned by Kirby Page in Jesus or Christianity, Charles Loring Brace tells us in Gesta Christ, or, A History of Humane Progress under Christianity (1888) that it was not until the 9th century that the first recorded stand against slavery itself was taken by St. Theodore the Studite:

No direct word against slavery, however, came forth from the great Teacher [Jesus Christ]. It was not until the ninth century after, that one of his humble followers, Saint Theodore of Studium (Constantinople), ventured to put forth the command "Thou shalt possess no slave, neither for domestic service nor for the labor of the fields, for man is made in the image of God."

This quote is taken from the Testament (PG 99:1816D; 1817, ch. d) of St. Theodore, where he says that monasteries must not own slaves or female animals. He takes these prohibitions from his uncle St. Plato, the abbot of Sakkudion (Oration 11, PG 99:824-825, ch. 4.23). St. Theodore also mentions the subject of slavery in a letter to his student Nicholas (Epistle 10) and in his Catechesis (13). And in both of his recorded Lives, St. Theodore frees his slaves.

It should be noted that other Church Fathers before St. Theodore denounced slavery, though tolerated it at the secular level. For example, St. John Chrysostom examines the passions behind slavery, but explains that a faithful and godly slave is essentially free while those who are led by their passions and desires to sin are the true slaves. He writes: "Covetousness begat slavery, and an evil temper, and insatiable greediness. For Noah had no servant, neither had Abel, nor Seth, no, nor they who came after them. The thing was the fruit of sin, of rebellion against parents" (Homily on Ephesians 22). What differentiates St. Theodore's denunciation is that he does not tolerate it on the grounds that "man is made in the image of God", which would become the slogan for all later denunciations against slavery.

Read also: The Church Fathers and Slavery