The Feast of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos

The Feast of the Holy Protection ("Agia Skepi") of the Theotokos - Commemorated on October 1st (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

   

"From time immemorial, the Church has celebrated the Most-holy Theotokos as the patroness and protectress of the Christian people, who, by her intercessory prayers, implores God's mercy for us sinners. The help of the Most-holy Mother of God has been clearly shown numerous times, to individuals and to nations, in peace and in war, in monastic deserts and in densely populated cities. The event that the Church commemorates and celebrates today confirms the Theotokos' consistent protection of Christian people. On October 1, 911, during the reign of Emperor Leo the Wise, there was an All-night Vigil in the Blachernae Church of the Mother of God in Constantinople. The church was full of people. St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ was standing in the rear of the church with his disciple Epiphanius.

Icon of St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ (taken from: http://christopherklitou.com/icon_28_may_andrew_fool_for_christ.htm)

At four o'clock in the morning, the Most-holy Theotokos appeared above the people, holding her omophorion outstretched as a protective covering for the faithful. She was clothed in gold-encrusted purple, and shone with an ineffable radiance, surrounded by apostles, saints, martyrs and virgins. St. Andrew said to Blessed Epiphanius: ``Do you see, brother, the Queen and Lady of all praying for the whole world?'' Epiphanius replied: ``I see, Father, and am struck with amazement!'' The Feast of the Protection was instituted to commemorate this event, and to remind us that we can prayerfully receive the unceasing protection of the Most-holy Theotokos in any time of difficulty." (taken from: http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/prolog.htm)

Icon of the Theotokos of Blacherna (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission; For more information on the Church of the Theotokos of Blachernae, see: http://www.ec-patr.org/afieroma/churches/show.php?lang=en&id=02, http://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_the_Virgin_of_Blachernae_(Istanbul), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blachernae, http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2008/12/most-holy-robe-of-theotokos.html and http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/06/holy-belt-zoni-of-theotokos-and.html.)

Some additional information about this feast and the Russian Church:

"In the PROLOGUE, a Russian book of the twelfth century, a description of the establishment of the special Feast marking this event states, "For when we heard, we realized how wondrous and merciful was the vision... and it transpired that Your holy Protection should not remain without festal celebration, O Ever-Blessed One!"

Therefore, in the festal celebration of the Protection of the Mother of God, the Russian Church sings, "With the choirs of the Angels, O Sovereign Lady, with the venerable and glorious prophets, with the First-Ranked Apostles and with the Hieromartyrs and Hierarchs, pray for us sinners, glorifying the Feast of your Protection in the Russian Land." Moreover, it would seem that St Andrew, contemplating the miraculous vision was a Slav, was taken captive, and became the slave of the local inhabitant of Constantinople named Theognostus.

St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqqA00YEfAhjqGcdaa9peINe51qgnchLUImpbSR30na1R4NIhU8Nv8pbKbudIJQgZyAJkncwWk8hs1t2zsnOg9quFun_CoJBBY9j1-LFseUJDYZep82Tz4CkxHpgNFBvr3dZTSj9xJJBj/s1600/ag-Andreas-dXR-Salos-2011.png)

  
Churches in honor of the Protection of the Mother of God began to appear in Russia in the twelfth century. Widely known for its architectural merit is the temple of the Protection at Nerl, which was built in the year 1165 by holy Prince Andrew Bogoliubsky. The efforts of this holy prince also established in the Russian Church the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, about the year 1164.
At Novgorod in the twelfth century there was a monastery of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos (the so-called Zverin monastery) In Moscow also under Tsar Ivan the Terrible the cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God was built at the church of the Holy Trinity (known as the church of St Basil the Blessed).

On the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos we implore the defense and assistance of the Queen of Heaven, "Remember us in your prayers, O Lady Virgin Mother of God, that we not perish by the increase of our sins. Protect us from every evil and from grievous woes, for in you do we hope, and venerating the Feast of your Protection, we magnify you." (taken from: http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102824)

Icon of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

Note: the Church of Greece has moved the celebration of Agia Skepi to the 28th of October ("Oxi Day": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohi_Day) in commemoration of the great help and protection of the Theotokos to the Greek nation throughout its history, and especially during World War II:

"The role of faith in Virgin Mary in Epirus is also outstanding during the Second World War. Her role was catalytic not only because she constituted the basis of people’s faith, but also because, with her miraculous interventions, she proved to have been the greatest ally of the Greek army on the snowy and rough mountains of Epirus.

Of course, miracles and apparitions were reported in many regions of Greece during the war, but at the front, at the Greek – Albanian borders and on Pindus, Virgin Mary was the protector and the leader of those who fought for their country under difficult circumstances. Their faith was so strong that they could see her encouraging them and “covering” them protectively, while they were fighting on the snowy mountains of Pindus and Albania.

The account given by Vassililki Bouri, niece of Spyridon Houliaras, who fought at the borders, is characteristic. According to it, Spyridon Houliaras used to narrate incidents of the war to his relatives before he died. The one that affected him the most, however, was a miracle of Virgin Mary. While the soldiers were fighting under really adverse conditions, Virgin Mary appeared in front of them and as a protector “covered” them with her mantle and led them towards their enemy, ready to confront them.

This miracle is also corroborated by the accounts of other soldiers of that time who fought on the mountains of Pindus. At the front, Greek soldiers saw the same vision everywhere: at nights, they could see a tall, slim woman figure walking with her kerchief resting on her shoulders. For the soldiers she was no other than Virgin Mary, the defender general of Greeks.

Tasos Rigopoulos, a soldier in 1940, reports from the front: I’m writing from an eagle’s nest 400 metres higher than the top of Parnitha. Everything around me is snowwhite. The reason I’m writing […] is to share with you what I’ve experienced, what I saw with my own eyes; something that I’m afraid you won’t believe if you hear it from others. A few moments before dashing against the blockhouses of Morova we saw a tall woman dressed in black standing still some 13 metres away. The guard yelled: “Identify yourself”. There was no answer. He yelled angrily once more. At that moment, as if struck by electricity, we all whispered: “Panaghia!”. She hurled herself at the enemy as if she had eagle wings. We followed her. We could constantly sense the bravery she was transmitting to us. We fought hard for a whole week until we finally took the Ivan-Morova blockhouses. […] She was always dashing forth. And when, victorious at last, we were advancing to defenseless Koritsa, our Defender turned into steam, smooth smoke, and vanished into thin air”. [11] On the mountain ridge of Ronteni, the soldiers of the 51st independent battalion, under the commands of major Petrakis also witnessed a miracle. From the 22nd of January and on, every evening at half past nine the enemy’s heavy artillery commenced fire against the battalion and the road that was used by transport vehicles. There was a lot of nervousness and heavy casualties. The daring scouts were unable to locate the enemy’s artillery. Apparently, the enemy was changing its position every evening. The situation was really desperate. It was an evening in February when the enemy artillery was heard firing once again. “Panaghia, help us, save us”, shouted the major spontaneously. Suddenly, a bright cloud came into sight from a distance, something like a halo was formed and the image of Virgin Mary appeared. She started bending towards the ground and stopped right over a ravine. Everybody in the battalion shivered as they witnessed the miracle. “Miracle!”, they shouted and they prayed. Immediately, they sent a message to the Greek artillery, the Greek canons fired, and right after that there was a silence. The Greek bombs had achieved a perfect strike. [11]

“No matter how faith is expressed during war, it is certain that it offers assistance to the soldier who is tested. And the image of the protector makes him hopeful and optimistic. …People from Arta, fighting at the front, were afraid neither of mortars nor of enemy bullets, as long as they had the image of Panaghia in front of them…”. [12] Yiannis Tsarouchis, after having painted “The Virgin of Victory” on the cap of a box of herring, having in mind a badly painted picture of the Virgin that was going around the camp, he was on his way to the commander of the battalion in order to present his work. The painting had already acquired a fame of being miraculous and on his way to the commander some soldiers from Arta “being in a state of religious excitement, demanded that the miraculous icon spend at least one night at their camp. All the soldiers were shouting: “The Virgin, the Virgin. Leave it here for one night”. Suddenly, the alarm sounded. […] we lied down, according to the orders we had. None of the soldiers from Arta did the same. “Hey! Comrade! How can you be scared when you hold the Virgin in your hands?”, one said”. [12]

It was also characteristic that on the military identification cards, right next to the personal details there was a picture of Virgin Mary. And just moments before they attacked, they would pray, shout “Panaghia mou!” (my Virgin) three times, and dash forth9.

The importance of Virgin Mary’s miraculous interventions was acknowledged right after the end of the Second World War. For this reason, the celebration of Agias Skepis, which in 626 A.D., when Her miraculous intervention saved Constantinople from the Avaroi (Turkish-Mongolian Nomads), was officially established to be celebrated on October 1st, was transferred in 1952 on the 28th of October to remind them of her miraculous intervention during the most difficult period for Greek people." (taken from: http://www.womanway.eu/studies/files/panaghia_teiep_en.pdf)

Another icon of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos (taken from: http://www.rel.gr/photo/displayimage.php?album=34&pos=58%29)

Apolytikion in the First Tone

O Virgin, we extol the great grace of thy Protection, which thou didst spread out like a bright cloud beyond all understanding; for thou dost invisibly protect thy people from the foe's every assault. Since we have thee as our shelter and certain help, we cry to thee with our whole soul: Glory to thy great deeds, O most pure Maid. Glory to thy shelter most divine. Glory to thy care and providence for us, O spotless one.

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

Let us the faithful hasten to the Theotokos now and venerate her sacred veil, as we chant unto her, singing hymns to praise and honour her, as is fitting; for she shelt'reth with her shelter and all her faithful flock and preserveth them unharmed from all calamities, as they cry to her: Rejoice, Protection most radiant.

(taken from: http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=738)

   

Most-Holy Theotokos, save us!

St. Chariton the Confessor of Palestine

St. Chariton the Confessor of Palestine - Commemorated on September 28th (icon taken from: http://christopherklitou.com/icon_28_sept_chariton.htm)

"Chariton was a distinguished and devout citizen of the city of Iconium. Imbued with the spirit of his compatriot, St. Thecla, Chariton openly confessed the name of Christ. When a bitter persecution of Christians began during the reign of Emperor Aurelian, Chariton was immediately brought to trial before the eparch. The judge ordered him to worship the gods, but Chariton replied: ``All your gods are demons, and were cast from the heavens into the nethermost hell.'' Chariton clearly proclaimed his faith in the One Living God, the Creator of all, and the Lord Jesus, the Savior of mankind. The eparch ordered that he be tortured and beaten, until his whole body was like one great wound. When Aurelian's evil deeds caught up with him and he died an evil death, Chariton was freed from torture and prison. He then set out for Jerusalem. On the way he was seized by robbers, but escaped from them by God's providence. Chariton, not wanting to return to Iconium again, withdrew to the wilderness of Pharan, where he founded a monastery and gathered monks. He established a rule for the monastery and then, to avoid the praise of men, withdrew to another wilderness near Jericho. There he founded another monastery called the Monastery of Chariton. Finally, he founded a third monastery, Souka, which the Greeks called the Old Lavra. Chariton died at a great old age, and took up his abode in the glory of his Lord on September 28, 350. His relics repose in his first monastery. The composition of the rite of monastic tonsure is attributed to St. Chariton.

REFLECTION
In guiding the dispensation of this world, and especially of His Holy Church, God often makes unexpected moves, and changes the evil destiny of His servants to the good. This occurred many times in the life of St. Chariton. Following cruel tortures, Chariton was thrown into prison and was promised certain death. Then, Emperor Aurelian died unexpectedly, and the new emperor freed the Christian captives. Thus, Chariton escaped death. Then, when he was traveling to Jerusalem, robbers seized him and took him to their cave. They left him there, and went off to rob and plunder, with the intention of killing him when they came back. In this cave there was a wine cask into which a poisonous snake had crawled, drunk of the wine, and vomited its venom into the cask. When the robbers returned, tired and thirsty from the heat, they drank the venomous wine and, one by one, fell dead. And thus, St. Chariton was saved from death by yet another unexpected event. The Lord heaped misfortunes upon His servant, in order that by these misfortunes He would temper and purify him as gold is tempered and purified by fire, and that He might bind him even more securely to Himself. He delivered him from death, because Chariton had yet to establish several monasteries where, by his ascetic example, he would direct many human souls on the path of salvation." (taken from: http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/prolog.htm)

St. Chariton the Righteous Confessor of Palestine (icon taken from: http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102742)

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
With the rivers of your tears, you have made the barren desert fertile. Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne fruit a hundred-fold. By your miracles you have become a light, shining upon the world. O Chariton, our Holy Father, pray to Christ our God, to save our souls.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
Delighting in abstinence, O godly-minded one, and reining in the desires of thy flesh, thou wast seen to be increasing in faith. And thou didst blossom forth like the tree of life in the midst of Eden, O all-blessed and most sacred Chariton.

(taken from: http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=220)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Patron Saints - September

Here are some common Patron Saints for the month of September (and again, this is by no means a comprehensive list). The sources are http://oasigr.5.forumer.com/a/_post1688.html and http://orthodoxwiki.org/Patron_saint primarily.

Menaion Icon of the Saints and Feasts of the Month of August (icon taken from Holy Transfiguration Monastery: http://www.thehtm.org/catalog/popup_image.php?pID=342&osCsid=0104522e66805e6335e6e6a27e039eff)

September


2 – St. Mamas the Child Martyr – the protector of adopted children, protector of border guards, guardian of shepherds and animals and livestock

3 – St. Phoebe, the Deaconess - protector of nurses

5 – St. Elizabeth, Mother of the Forerunner – to have a child

7 – St. Sozon the Martyr - rescues from suffering and disasters

9 – Sts. Joachim and Anna, the Ancestors of God - patrons of childless couples and children, protectors against marital disputes

11 – St. Euphrosinos the Righteous - the patron saint of cooks, kitchens and homes

11 – St. Evanthia the Martyr - protector of breast-feeding mothers

15 – St. Bessarion Archbishop of Larissa – protector against the plague

20 – St. Eustathius the Great Martyr and his family – for patient endurance of affliction

23 – St. Polyxena the Righteous - protector of pregnant women that they not [loose or abort? Αποβάλλουν] them, protector against nausea, protector of workers on scaffolding

23 – St. Nicholas the New Martyr, the Karpenisiotis - the patron of grocers

24 – St. Silouan the Righteous, the Athonite - helps in times of weakness of faith and despair

25 – St. Sergius of Radonezh – for help in studies, for baking

26 - St. John the Theologian, the Beloved Disciple – protector against diseases of the tongue and heart, protector against drawl and [τραυλότητας?], swelling, insomnia, burns, hail, and protector of the cultivation of roses

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Patron Saints - August

Here are some common Patron Saints for the month of August (and again, this is by no means a comprehensive list). The sources are http://oasigr.5.forumer.com/a/_post1688.html and http://orthodoxwiki.org/Patron_saint primarily.

Menaion Icon of the Saints and Feasts of the Month of August (icon taken from Holy Transfiguration Monastery: http://www.thehtm.org/catalog/popup_image.php?pID=353&osCsid=cfad69bca463b66fae9c5bf77fda9ed9)

August

1 - The Seven Maccabees Children, their mother Solomone, and Eleazar their teacher – protectors of those with many children  

1 – St. Timothy, bishop of Proikonisios - protector against witchcraft

7 – St. Nicanor the Righteous of Grevenois – protector of shepherds and animals

7 – St. Mitrophan of Voronezh – protector against demons and witchcraft

7 – St. Pimen the Much-Ailing of Kievo-Pechersk – for patient endurance of affliction

11 – St. Nephon Patriarch of Constantinople – for safety at sea

12 – Sts. Aniketos and Photios the Unmercenaries - protectors against all disease and soul-corrupting passions, especially St. Aniketos helps in times of weakness of faith, and for meeting a difficult situation

13 – St. Tikhon of Zadonsk – for help against quick-temper and despondency

14 – St. Simeon the New Martyr - the patron of goldsmiths

16 – St. Diomedes the Martyr, the Physician, one of the Holy Unmercenaries - protector against all disease and soul-corrupting passions, and for meeting a difficult situation

16 – St. Gerasimos of Cephalonia – protector against magic and unclean spirits, deliverer of the possessed, protector against all bodily illnesses, and protector of crops against pests

17 – St. Alypius of Kievo-Pechersk – patron of iconographers

18 – Sts. Florus and Laurus the Martyrs – patrons of stone workers and horses

24 – St. Kosmas Aitolos the Hieromartyr – patron of many missionaries

27 – St. Phanourios the Great Martyr - helps to find lost objects, protector of children

28 - Ezekias king, the righteous - protector of hydraulics? [υδραυλικών]

29 – St. John the Forerunner [Beheading] – for chastity and help in carnal warfare

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

The Translation of St. John the Theologian

Icon of St. John the Theologian (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

The Translation of the Holy glorious Apostle and Evangelist, beloved John the Theologian - Commemorated on September 26th

"The Holy, Glorious All-laudable Apostle and Evangelist, Virgin, and Beloved Friend of Christ, John the Theologian was the son of Zebedee and Salome, a daughter of St Joseph the Betrothed. He was called by our Lord Jesus Christ to be one of His Apostles at the same time as his elder brother James. This took place at Lake Gennesareth (i.e. the Sea of Galilee). Leaving behind their father, both brothers followed the Lord.

The Apostle John was especially loved by the Savior for his sacrificial love and his virginal purity. After his calling, the Apostle John did not part from the Lord, and he was one of the three apostles who were particularly close to Him. St John the Theologian was present when the Lord restored the daughter of Jairus to life, and he was a witness to the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor.

Detail from the icon of the Mystical Supper from Vatopedi: St. John reclining on Christ's breast (taken from: http://vatopaidi.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/275-232.jpg; another beautiful depiction  is available here: http://www.antiochianarch.org.au/Resources/icons/Jesus/n626737541_345214_3972.jpg)

During the Last Supper, he reclined next to the Lord, and laid his head upon His breast. He also asked the name of the Savior's betrayer. The Apostle John followed after the Lord when they led Him bound from the Garden of Gethsemane to the court of the iniquitous High Priests Annas and Caiphas. He was there in the courtyard of the High Priest during the interrogations of his Teacher and he resolutely followed after him on the way to Golgotha, grieving with all his heart.

St. John and the Theotokos at the Crucifixion (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

At the foot of the Cross he stood with the Mother of God and heard the words of the Crucified Lord addressed to Her from the Cross: "Woman, behold Thy son." Then the Lord said to him, "Behold thy Mother" (John 19:26-27). From that moment the Apostle John, like a loving son, concerned himself over the Most Holy Virgin Mary, and he served Her until Her Dormition.

Panagia and Christ enthroned, with St. John the Theologian supplicating (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

After the Dormition of the Mother of God the Apostle John went to Ephesus and other cities of Asia Minor to preach the Gospel, taking with him his own disciple Prochorus. They boarded a ship, which floundered during a terrible tempest. All the travellers were cast up upon dry ground, and only the Apostle John remained in the depths of the sea. Prochorus wept bitterly, bereft of his spiritual father and guide, and he went on towards Ephesus alone.

St. John being washed ashore near St. Prochoros (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

On the fourteenth day of his journey he stood at the shore of the sea and saw that the waves had cast a man ashore. Going up to him, he recognized the Apostle John, whom the Lord had preserved alive for fourteen days in the sea. Teacher and disciple went to Ephesus, where the Apostle John preached incessantly to the pagans about Christ. His preaching was accompanied by such numerous and great miracles, that the number of believers increased with each day.

During this time there had begun a persecution of Christians under the emperor Nero (56-68). They took the Apostle John for trial at Rome. St John was sentenced to death for his confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but the Lord preserved His chosen one. The apostle drank a cup of deadly poison, but he remained alive. Later, he emerged unharmed from a cauldron of boiling oil into which he had been thrown on orders from the torturer.

Sts John and Prochoros exiled to Patmos (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

After this, they sent the Apostle John off to imprisonment to the island of Patmos, where he spent many years. Proceeding along on his way to the place of exile, St John worked many miracles. On the island of Patmos, his preaching and miracles attracted to him all the inhabitants of the island, and he enlightened them with the light of the Gospel. He cast out many devils from the pagan temples, and he healed a great multitude of the sick.

Fresco from the exonarthex of the Monastery of St. John, Patmos (most likely depicting the magician Kinops sending demons to attack Sts. John and Prochoros, and the demons being driven away through prayer) (http://www.patmosmonastery.gr/eksona1.html)
  

Sorcerers with demonic powers showed great hostility to the preaching of the holy apostle. He especially frightened the chief sorcerer of them all, named Kinops, who boasted that they would destroy the apostle. But the great John, by the grace of God acting through him, destroyed all the demonic artifices to which Kinops resorted, and the haughty sorcerer perished in the depths of the sea.

Fresco from the exonarthex of the Monastery of St. John, Patmos (most likely depicting Kinops perishing in the sea, and St. John with the people of Patmos) (http://www.patmosmonastery.gr/eksona1.html)

The Apostle John withdrew with his disciple Prochorus to a desolate height, where he imposed upon himself a three-day fast. As St John prayed the earth quaked and thunder rumbled. Prochorus fell to the ground in fright. The Apostle John lifted him up and told him to write down what he was about to say. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty" (Rev 1:8), proclaimed the Spirit of God through the Apostle John. Thus in about the year 67 the Book of Revelation was written, known also as the "Apocalypse," of the holy Apostle John the Theologian. In this Book were predictions of the tribulations of the Church and of the end of the world.

Icon of Sts. John and Prochoros on Patmos (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

A picture from the Cave of the Apocalypse on Patmos (taken and altered from: http://www.patmosmonastery.gr/Apokalipsi.html; for a 360 Panoramic view of the Cave of the Apocalypse, see: http://www.360cities.net/image/cave-of-the-apocalypse-patmos-greece)

After his prolonged exile, the Apostle John received his freedom and returned to Ephesus, where he continued with his activity, instructing Christians to guard against false teachers and their erroneous teachings. In the year 95, the Apostle John wrote his Gospel at Ephesus. He called for all Christians to love the Lord and one another, and by this to fulfill the commands of Christ. The Church calls St John the "Apostle of Love", since he constantly taught that without love man cannot come near to God.

In his three Epistles, St John speaks of the significance of love for God and for neighbor. Already in his old age, he learned of a youth who had strayed from the true path to follow the leader of a band of robbers, so St John went out into the wilderness to seek him. Seeing the holy Elder, the guilty one tried to hide himself, but the Apostle John ran after him and besought him to stop. He promised to take the sins of the youth upon himself, if only he would repent and not bring ruin upon his soul. Shaken by the intense love of the holy Elder, the youth actually did repent and turn his life around.

St. John the Theologian riding a horse to find and save the troubled youth (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZw4RLJhAK8/TdeWpAyRLVI/AAAAAAAAKiE/RsCrD735RBY/s1600/Ioann_bog0.jpg)

   

St John when he was more than a hundred years old. he far outlived the other eyewitnesses of the Lord, and for a long time he remained the only remaining eyewitness of the earthly life of the Savior.

The burial of St. John the Theologian (taken from: http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102731)

When it was time for the departure of the Apostle John, he went out beyond the city limits of Ephesus with the families of his disciples. He bade them prepare for him a cross-shaped grave, in which he lay, telling his disciples that they should cover him over with the soil. The disciples tearfully kissed their beloved teacher, but not wanting to be disobedient, they fulfilled his bidding. They covered the face of the saint with a cloth and filled in the grave. Learning of this, other disciples of St John came to the place of his burial. When they opened the grave, they found it empty.

Fresco depicting the repose of St. John the Theologian, and his disciples returning to find his tomb empty, from Decani Monastery (taken from: http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Menologion/September/CX4K3481_l.html)

The translation of St. John the Theologian (http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Gracanica/exhibits/digital/s4-e4e5/large/s4-e4e5-6.jpg)

Another icon depicting the burial and translation of St. John the Theologian (http://www.byzantinemuseum.gr/el/permanentexhibition/from_Byzantium_to_Modern_Era/from_anthibolon_to_icon/?bxm=13012)

The burial and translation of St. John the Theologian (http://pravicon.com/images/sv/s0929/s0929010.jpg)

 
Each year from the grave of the holy Apostle John on May 8 came forth a fine dust, which believers gathered up and were healed of sicknesses by it. Therefore, the Church also celebrates the memory of the holy Apostle John the Theologian on May 8. [See previous post for more information: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/05/st-john-theologian-and-miraculous-manna.html]

The Lord bestowed on His beloved disciple John and John's brother James the name "Sons of Thunder" as an awesome messenger in its cleansing power of the heavenly fire. And precisely by this the Savior pointed out the flaming, fiery, sacrificial character of Christian love, the preacher of which was the Apostle John the Theologian. The eagle, symbol of the lofty heights of his theological thought, is the iconographic symbol of the Evangelist John the Theologian. The appellation "Theologian" is bestown by Holy Church only to St John among the immediate disciples and Apostles of Christ, as being the seer of the mysterious Judgments of God."

Icon of the Apocalypse (Christ as the "Ancient of Days", Angels with the Seven Churches, the Seven Lampstands, etc.) - the Vision of St. John the Theologian, from the iconostasis in the Cave of the Apocalypse, Patmos (taken from: http://www.arxaiologia.gr/assets/media/PDF/migrated/1182.pdf)

The following are some additional details from another account of St. John's life:

"While he was on Patmos, John received a letter from the Bishop of Athens, Dionysius the Areopagite (October 3) who was then ninety-nine years old. He praised John as the daystar of the Gospel and prophesied that he would soon be freed. Indeed when Trajan succeeded Nerva (AD 98), he recalled Saint John to Ephesus, to the great sorrow of the people of Patmos whom he had converted. John did not want to leave them unconsoled. Strengthened by a sign from heaven, he fasted with them for three days; then, accompanied by Prochorus, he went up into a mountain where he directed all the powers of his soul towards the Lord. Suddenly the sky was rent by fearful flashes of lightening and claps of thunder. Prochorus was overwhelmed and fell to the ground while John remained impassible in contemplation. He heard a voice like thunder proclaiming from the height of heaven: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Prochorus transcribed this message of salvation, revealed to John as was once the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai, but this time not for the Jews alone, but for all even to the ends of the earth.

It was also on Patmos that John wrote the New Testament book known as the Apocalypse or Revelation. John saw Christ, having the appearance of a young man whose “face was like the sun shining in full strength.” Reassuring John, who “fell at his feet as though dead,” the Lord said: “Fear not; I am the First and the Last; I am He that Lives and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore and have the keys of Death and of Hell. Write the things that you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter” (Revelation 1:17ff). Then in successive revelations John was shown what will happen at the end of time: the gathering strength of iniquity, the coming of the Antichrist, his warfare against the faithful and his final struggle against Christ who, in the end, will cast him forever into Hell with the Devil and his angels. It was also given him to see in his vision the violent upheavals that will take place in the world, the fiery end of all things, and the final triumph of the Son of man, the general Resurrection and the Last Judgment." (taken from: http://www.goarch.org/special/johntheapostle)
  

Picture of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, Patmos (taken from: http://www.patmosmonastery.gr/)

On Patmos and the Monastery of St. John the Theologian

"Patmos is the northernmost island of the Dodecanese and is populated with churches and communities of Orthodox Christians. During the period of Roman rule, the island fell into a decline. The population decreased, and the island became a place for banishing criminals or political and religious troublemakers.

In 95 AD, St. John the Theologian was sent into exile on the island as a religious troublemaker. He remained on the island for eighteen months during which he lived in a cave below a known temple, at the time, dedicated to Diana. In this cave, he narrated a vision he was having of Jesus that is the Book of Revelation...In 313 AD, Christianity was recognised by the Roman Empire and this also spread to the Dodecanesse. The empire of the Byzantium exercised control of Patmos and the other islands and by the 4th century the temple to Diana had been removed. Directly over this temple a church dedicated to St. John the Theologian was built but this was destroyed later between the 6th and 9th centuries during a series of raids by various Arab groups.

The island remained deserted until 1088, when the Emperor granted Patmos to the monk Christodoulos. His intention was to establish a monastery and build this monastery over the remains of the little church built over the remains of a temple dedicated to Diana. The monastery has since been in continuous operation for over 900 years. [see the following link for more information of St. Christodoulos: http://home.iprimus.com.au/xenos/christodoulos.html]

During the 11th and 12th centuries, the island of Patmos was also subject to raids by Saracen and Norman pirates, which were the catalyst for building the fortified walls surrounding the monastery, giving it the modern day castle-like appearance. The small town (Chora) within the "castle" was probably established during the middle of the 17th century and has a labyrinth style street arrangement. [3]

During the Turco-Italian War of 1912, Patmos was captured and controlled by the Italians. The island remained under their control until the end of World War II, when it was returned to Greece.

The whole island is dominated by the two monasteries, built in his honour and memory, and Chora, the island’s historic center, are all declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO in 2006.

Icon of Sts. John the Theologian and Christodoulos the Wonderworker, holding the Monastery of St. John, Patmos (http://vatopaidi.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/cf83ceaccf81cf89cf83ceb70021.jpg)

The God-Trodden island

The tradition of the church holds, that the Lord himself stepped foot on the island of Patmos using the following account as reference:

In the Book of the Revelation (Apocalypse, Chapter 1:12-18) a detailed description of the appearance of Christ in His glory is given by the Apostle ... "His countenance was as the sun shineth in its strength" (Rev. 1, 16). St. John continutes by describing his actions to this ... "he fell at His feet as dead" (Rev. 1, 17)

For the church [tradition], this proves that Christ's feet were touching the floor of the cave for if it had been a vision in heaven, he would not have been able to fall at His feet. This wondrous bodily presence of the Lord in the cave is reason ascribed to the great earthquake that made the rock in the Cave of the Apocalypse split in three forming a witness to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

[According to this church tradition], this is the only location in Europe that God has walked making it the most sacred destination in Europe, followed by Mount Athos.

Icon depicting the Burial and Translation of St. John the Theologian (top right), St. John and St. Prochoros on Patmos (bottom right), and St. Christodoulos, founder of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos (http://ia301509.us.archive.org/3/items/Icoane/0630IoanEvProhorDiaconul_AdormireaLuiIoanEv_Hristodul.JPG)

The ship that turned to stone

According to popular belief, if one looks across the water from the Monastery of St. John on a clear day, it is possible to see a rock standing alone in the middle of the sea. The rock looks like an overturned ship with its keel facing up towards the sky.

During the time that the righteous Christodoulos was building the monastery, a pirate ship approached the island with evil intentions. Christodoulos prayed to God to save the island from the pirates, since they had no place to hide to protect themselves. God answered his prayers by capsizing the ship and turning it to stone. The island was saved, and the ship that turned to stone is still around to remind us of this miracle." (taken from: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Exarchate_of_Patmos)

The Rock of Kynops

"The Rock of Kynops refers to a strange looking rock jutting out of the sea in Petra Bay believed to be the petrified body of a satanical wizard by the name of Kynops destroyed during spiritual combat between Kynops and St. John the Theologian. The story of this combat is attributed to the saint's disciple, Prochorus, and contained in an ancient manuscript still kept hidden in the monastery on Patmos island.

Today some 200-300 metres from the point where the big ships now dock at Skala. In the dock itself, there exists a red (or orange) buoy to mark the spot where, just beneath the surface, is a submerged rock that, some people say, is man-shaped and represents the petrified magician.

The locals share the story that during World War II, the Italians sent divers down to dynamite the rock. After several attempts with an extraordinary amount of explosives nothing would have any affect. Fisherman say that any octopus that is caught near the rock are completely inedible." (taken from: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Rock_of_Kynops_%28Patmos%29)

Panagia and Christ, St. John the Theologian, and Hieromonk Amphilochios, founder of Evangelismos Monastery, Patmos (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission; but altered)

The island of Patmos is a home to a great number of monasteries and churches, most of which are listed at the following site from the Ecumenical Patriarch: http://www.ec-patr.org/patrdisplay.php?lang=en&id=8. One of the great Elders of our times, Elder Amphilochios Makris, was the Abbot of the Monastery of St. John for many years. See the following for more information: http://www.agrino.org/cyberdesert/makris.htm, http://orthodoxwiki.org/Amphilochios_(Makris).


May St. John the Theologian, the Beloved Apostle of Christ, intercede for us and help us all!

Fresco of St. John the Theologian, from Gracanica Monastery (http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Gracanica/exhibits/digital/little-se/large/little-se-1.jpg)

Apolytikion. Tone 2.

Beloved Apostle of Christ our God, hasten, deliver a people without defense. As he accepted that you lean upon his breast, he accepts you as you fall before him. Implore him, O Theologian, and scatter the persistent cloud of nations, asking for us peace and his great mercy.

Kontakion. Tone 2.

Who will recount your mighty works, O Virgin, for you pour out wonders and are a source of healings, and you intercede on behalf of our souls, as Theologian and friend of Christ.

The Ikos.

To learn wholly the high secrets of heaven, to investigate the depths of the sea is rash and beyond comprehension; as therefore it is wholly impossible to number all the stars and the sand on the sea shore, so it is to tell the graces of the Theologian, with so many crowns Christ has garlanded the one he loved; the one who leant on his breast and feasted with him at the mystical supper, as Theologian and friend of Christ.

Icon of St. John the Theologian from his Monastery on Patmos. According to tradition this icon was a gift from Emperor Alexios Comnenos o St. Christodoulos, the founder of the Monastery of St. John, Patmos. (taken from: http://www.patmosmonastery.gr/theol.html)

9th Ode of the Canon of the Saint. Glory. Tone 8.
Now not dimly, but face to face, you have been granted to see the flood of delight, the river of peace, and the fount of immortality; drawing from which you divine life.

You asked to receive an earthly seat from Christ; but he himself gave you his breast, O Theologian, leaning on which, the only sure stay, you were enriched with goodness, O ornament of Apostles.

You quenched the godlessness of Greek wisdom, wise Apostle, when you proclaimed: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was truly God, though whom all things came to be, both visible and invisible.

Theotokion.

Like early dawn you were found, blazing in the night of life with the rays of virginity, revealing to us the dawn of the spiritual Sun of justice, O all-honoured Mother of God.

Another. It is impossible for mortals.

Sovereign Lord of times and seasons, the Redeemer was hanged upon the tree in the middle of the day and entrusted to you, blessed Apostle, as a virgin, the Ever-Virgin, giving an irremovable glory to magnify you.

Even as you join with the divine Powers above and with them cry aloud the divine song, save by your mediations, those who chant and praise in your holy house the One who is supremely good, O Apostle of Christ.

Save from every danger, blessed Theologian, us who with faith call on you for help, in spirit direct our paths towards the Lord and guide us to the way of peace, the commandments of the Almighty.

Theotokion.

Let us now bring to God's Mother an outstanding prayer of thanks, and let us now cry out: Hail, most high throne of God; hail cloud of light; hail, paradise, through whom may we be worthy of the delight of Paradise.

Doxastikon of the Praises - Glory. Tone 8.

Evangelist John, Virgin equal to the Angels, Theologian taught by God, with right belief you proclaimed to the world the immaculate side which poured forth blood and water, by which we procure eternal life for our souls.

(hymns taken from the English service text by Fr. Ephraim Lash here: http://www.anastasis.org.uk/26_september.htm)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

The miraculous icon of Panagia Myrtidiotissa ("of the Myrtle Tree"), Kythera

The miraculous icon of Panagia Myrtidiotissa ("of the Myrtle Tree"), Kythera - Commemorated on September 24 (icon taken from: http://www.rel.gr/photo/displayimage.php?album=34&pos=152)

"The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Of the Myrtle Tree" (Myrtidiotissa) is in the monastery church of Myrtides on the Greek island of Kythera. It derives its name from the fact that it was found in a myrtle bush in the fourteenth century.

At that time, a shepherd was tending his sheep in a deserted valley which was filled with myrtle bushes. On September 24, forty days after the Dormition, the Mother of God appeared to him and told him to seek her icon which had been brought to that place many years before.

The shepherd fell to the ground in amazement, praying to the Theotokos. As soon as he got up and turned around, he saw the icon in the branches of a myrtle bush. Weeping for joy, he brought the icon home and told his friends and relatives about how he had found it.

When he awoke the next morning, the shepherd found the icon missing, and thought that perhaps someone had stolen it during the night. With a heavy heart, he led his sheep back to the spot where he had found the icon. To his amazement, he saw the icon once again in the branches of the myrtle bush. Glorifying God, the man took the icon home with him once more. The next morning, it had disappeared just as it had before. When this happened a third time, the shepherd realized that the Mother of God wanted her icon to remain where it had first appeared.

Picture of the original icon of Panagia Myrtidiotissa, Kythera (taken from: http://www.imkythiron.gr/)

A small church was built to house the icon, and was called "Of the Myrtle Tree," after the icon. The building was replaced and enlarged over the years, and many miracles took place there.

At the end of the sixteenth century Theodore Koumprianos, a descendant of the shepherd who found the icon, lived in the village of Kousoumari. He was a paralytic, and had an unshakeable faith that the Mother of God would heal him. Each year on September 24 he sent a family member to the church to light candles for him. One year he asked to be carried there by his family so that he might venerate the icon himself. During the Vigil, a great noise was heard coming from the direction of the sea. People fled the church, thinking that pirates were attacking. The paralytic remained in the church by himself, entreating the Mother of God for protection. Suddenly, he heard a voice from the icon telling him to get up and flee. He stood up, and then walked out of the church. Soon he was able to run and catch up with his relatives, who rejoiced upon seeing this miracle. As it turned out, there was no pirate attack, and the noise was regarded as a sign of God's providence so that the paralytic could remain alone in church with the icon. Since that time the Koumprianos family has celebrated the icon's Feast Day with a special reverence, since Theodore had been healed on that day.

Some of the other miracles associated with the Most Holy Theotokos and her icon "Of the Myrtle Tree" include protection of the island from the plague, ending the barrenness of a Jewish woman from Alexandria, saving people from death, and many other great wonders.

Pilgrims come to venerate the icon on the Feast of the Dormition (August 15), and also on the day of its discovery (September 24)." (taken from: http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102724)

Another icon of Panagia Myrtidiotissa (taken from: http://www.thehtm.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=27_49&products_id=119&osCsid=825b0b3b538951e106dd50e35dd38de0)

A miracle of Panagia Myrtidiotissa (amateur translation)
(http://www.agiooros.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=9144&start=0&hilit=%CE%9C%CF%85%CF%81%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%B9%CF%8E%CF%84%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B1)

A ship was traveling at sea, when there began a terrible storm. Frigid fear seized the captain and crew. It was not like today. Then the boats were wooden. And they had sails! And the old boat started leaking. The pump worked continuously, but it didn’t do any good, and the boat started to sink. If the ship were lost what good were lifeboats and life jackets? All felt that every hope was lost. And then their minds turned to the Virgin Mary, who is the "hope of the hopeless”.

-Come, Panagia Myrtidiotissa, patroness and protector of our island. Save us. Pity our children and our elderly parents, who are waiting for us! ...

Just before the boat sank, suddenly appeared among them an all-illumined woman who said:

"I’ve come! Don’t be afraid! Your ship will be saved!

And she plunged into the sea with a sponge in hand and closed the hole that had opened on board! In a few minutes, the boat went quiet on his way. They went at the first port they reached for repair. And what a miracle they saw! They saw the hole, which was opened on board, blocked by the sponge that was held in the hands of the Panagia when she appeared in the boat! Everyone saw this miracle. Full of emotion, the captain bought clean wax and made a candle like the mast of the boat. He also brought the sponge that the Panagia had in a box. He also made a small silver boat. And he returned to his homeland, the island of Chios. All went to the monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissa. And when he went to venerate the miraculous icon, filled with emotion he cried out:

- That's her! We saw her! My Panagia! My Panagia! ...

All of them knelt in front of the Panagia. They did their cross in reverence. They thanked her from the depth of their souls, and offered their small gifts, which are kept up till the present day.

Another icon of Panagia Myrtidiotissa (taken from: http://www.e-mporion.com/catalog/item/3506833/3334347.htm)

Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἦχος δ' Ταχὺ προκατάλαβε

Λαοί νῦν κροτήσωμεν,δεῦτε τάς χεῖρας πιστῶς καί ἄσωμεν ἄσμασι τῇ Θεομήτορι ἐν πόθῳ κραυγάζοντες˙ Χαῖρε ἡ προστασία πάντων τῶν δεομένων Χαῖρε ἡ σωτηρία τῶν τιμώντων σε πόθῳ, Χαῖρε ἡ τῷ παραλύτῳ τήν ἴασιν βραβεύσασα.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone (Amateur translation)

O people now let us clap our hands in faith and sing songs to the Mother of God crying out with fervor, Hail the protection of all those in danger, Hail the salvation of those who honor you with longing, Hail you who granted healing to the paralytic.

Ρᾶνον θείοις μύροις τόν σόν λαόν, ἡ ἐν μυρτιδίοις ἀνατείλασα θαυμαστῶς, ἁγίᾳ Εἰκόνι, θαυματουργῷ καί θείᾳ, καί δίδου τήν σήν χάριν, Μυρτιδιώτισσα.

Megalynarion (Amateur translation)

Sprinkle your people with divine myrrh, who in the myrtles shown forth wondrously, holy Icon, wondrous and divine, and grant your grace, Myrtidiotissa.

Another icon of Panagia Myrtidiotissa (taken from: http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102724)

Additional Megalynaria below in Greek taken from: http://www.imkythiron.gr/content/view/85/75/lang,el/. The service to Panagia Myrtidiotissa, along with a full account of the finding of the Holy Icon and many miracles, is available (in Greek; edition from 1909) here: http://anemi.lib.uoc.gr/search/?dtab=m&search_type=simple&search_help=&display_mode=&wf_step=init&show_hidden=0&number=10&keep_number=&cclterm1=%CE%94%CE%B5%CF%83%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%82&cclterm2=&cclterm3=&cclterm4=&cclterm5=&cclterm6=&cclterm7=&cclterm8=&cclfield1=term&cclfield2=&cclfield3=&cclfield4=&cclfield5=&cclfield6=&cclfield7=&cclfield8=&cclop1=&cclop2=&cclop3=&cclop4=&cclop5=&cclop6=&cclop7=&isp=&search_coll[metadata]=1&&stored_cclquery=&skin=&rss=0&display_mode=detail&ioffset=1&offset=7&number=1&keep_number=10&old_offset=1&search_help=detail

Panagia Myrtidiotissa (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwCgxQgdi5zUt2D6T-wU7JH-e8aGP5y2D12OMBmlmcjJ8bNr2kX94vEBcLXR7zJ8U0kAAv7P9YWwR3jtaMMoXOynvOnga9kJdY9vM6JhmsROskuMSJMtfokuEXRVyzv5FBVyjs3OX2Zs/s1600/P4060001.JPG)

Most-Holy Theotokos save us!