The Hymnal of Sion: Hymns for Pilgrims to the Holy Sepulcher

Greetings! The following is an in-progress translation of a text published by the Orthodox Press of the All-Holy Tomb of Christ in Jerusalem in 1859 from the original Greek (http://voutsinasilias.blogspot.com/2010/02/blog-post_28.html). I believe these are sets of hymns that can be used by pilgrims for prayer as they venerate the various chapels and sites within the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Hopefully it will be useful for pilgrims to the Holy Land, but as we all approach Christ's Divine Passion, we can also ponder the very great things that our Savior Jesus Christ endured for us all as He "worked our salvation".

Note, many of the hymns have been translated previously into English, and so I began with them citing where I found them. If you see a set of hymns below without a link following, note that they are most likely amateur translations from myself, and so it might be advisable to confirm those translations before use.

The Hymnal of Sion [Hymns for Pilgrims to the Holy Sepulcher]

The Melodies and Divine Hymns that one chants while going around to all-holy Church of the Resurrection and the all-sacred Pilgrimages and divine Chapels

In Jerusalem. From the Press of the All-holy Tomb [of Christ], 1859.

The Myrrhbearers and the Angel at the Holy and Life-giving Tomb of Christ (http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Collections/AfterResurrection/CX4K3244_l.html)

I. At the holy Kouvouklion and the All-holy Tomb [of Christ]

The order of the holy litany.
The most-pious pilgrims gather in the all-holy Church of the Resurrection, and embrace the Life-giving Tomb of our Lord...while the choirs standing before the holy Kouvouklion chant the following resurrectional troparia.

First Tone

Go around Sion, you peoples, and encompass her, and give glory in her to him who rose from the dead; for he is our God, who has redeemed us from our iniquities.

As we the unworthy stand at your tomb which received life, we offer a hymn of glory to your ineffable compassion, Christ our God; because you accepted Cross and death, O sinless one, that you might give resurrection to the world, as you love mankind.

(http://www.anastasis.org.uk/sat1ec.htm)

The soldiers watching your grave became as dead men at the lightning flash of the Angel who appeared and proclaimed to the Women the Resurrection. We glorify you, the destroyer of corruption; we fall down before you, risen from the grave and alone our God.

(http://www.anastasis.org.uk/sun1mc.htm)

Second Tone

Rejoice you peoples and be glad: An Angel sat upon the grave stone; he gave us good tidings saying: Christ has risen from the dead and filled the universe with sweet fragrance. Rejoice you peoples and be glad!

The women sprinkled sweet spices with their tears upon your grave, and their mouths were filled with joy as they said, ‘The Lord has risen!’

Let nations and peoples praise Christ our God, who willingly endured the Cross for us and spent three days in hell; and let them worship his Resurrection from the dead, through which all the ends of the world have been filled with light.

(http://www.anastasis.org.uk/sun2mc.htm)

Fourth Tone

How life-giving, how much more beautiful than Paradise, and truly more resplendent than any royal palace was Thy tomb shown to be, O Christ, the source of our resurrection.

(http://www.orthodox.net/pascha/paschalhours.html)

Plagal of the Second Tone

O happy tomb! For having received in itself the Creator as one asleep, it has been revealed as a treasure house of life for the salvation of us who sing, ‘God, our Redeemer, blessed are you!’

(http://www.anastasis.org.uk/HWSat-M.htm)

On the third day you rose from the tomb, O Christ, as it is written, and you raised our Forefather with you; therefore the human race both glorifies you and hymns your Resurrection.

(http://www.anastasis.org.uk/sun6m.htm)

Grave Tone

Christ has risen from the dead, loosing the bonds of death; earth proclaim the good tidings of great joy; heavens sing out the glory of God.

Having seen the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless one.

We do not cease to worship Christ's Resurrection, for he has saved us from our iniquities, holy is Lord Jesus who showed forth the Resurrection.

(http://www.anastasis.org.uk/sun7mat.htm)

Plagal of the Fourth Tone

Hail holy Sion, Mother of the Churches, dwelling-place of God; for it was you who first received forgiveness of sins through the Resurrection.

(http://www.anastasis.org.uk/sat8e.htm)

When you had truly risen from the tomb you ordered the holy women to proclaim the Resurrection to the Apostles, as it is written; and Peter, coming at full speed, stood by the grave and seeing the light in the tomb was struck with amazement. And so he both saw the grave clothes lying there alone, without the divine body, and he believed and cried out: Glory to you Christ God, because you save us all, our Saviour, for you are the brightness of the Father.

(http://www.anastasis.org.uk/sun8m.htm)

Christ appearing to St. Mary Magdalene after His Resurrection, and telling her: "Do not hold Me" (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

II. The Chapel: "Do not touch Me"
With the Priest and Deacon going before with the priestly stole, we go to the Holy Pilgrimage named “Do not touch Me”, chanting the following Megalynarion.

Megalynarion

Mary Magdalene, approached the tomb, and seeing Christ as a gardener, questioned [Him].

Exapostilarion

Beholding two angels within the tomb, Mary was amazed; and not recognizing Christ, she questioned Him, assuming that He was the gardener, saying: “Sir, where have thy laid the body of my Jesus?” But recognizing Him as the Savior Himself from the sound of His voice, she heard Him say: “Touch me not, for I shall depart unto the Father! Tell this to My brethren.”

(http://www.saintjonah.org/services/matinsgospel.doc)

Christ being scourged (http://www.rel.gr/photo/displayimage.php?album=33&pos=153)

III. The Chapel of the Scourging of Christ
And going out we reach the Chapel of the flogging of our Lord

Troparia in Plagal of the Second

Above are You enthroned with the Father, and below You are scourged on a pillar in the flesh, creation seeing this was struck with fear, glorifying Your divine condescension.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

O the depth of Your judgments, O Savior, having given Your back to be scourged O Good One, Adam and Eve as You delivered from scourging, in fear hymning Your compassion.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Naked on the pillar, You Who filled the whole earth with flowers, You are scourged Who before, scourged the land of Egypt, O Savior. We glorify Your divine forbearance.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

He Who led the nation of the Hebrews before by a pillar of fire and a cloud, is bound upon the pillar, and is flogged upon the back. Glory O Christ to Your utter love for man.

And the Priest censes, while the Deacon says the following litany of supplication.

Have mercy on us O God according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hearken and have mercy.

Lord have mercy (x3 after every petition)

Again we pray for the pious and orthodox Christians.

Again we pray for our Father and Patriarch...(name)

Again we pray for our brothers, Hierarchs, Priests, Hieromonks, Hierodeacons and Monks, and all of our brotherhood in Christ.

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation and pardon of the sins of the servants of God..., all the pious and orthodox pilgrims, members and trustees of the all-holy and life-giving Tomb...

[Ἔτι δεόμεθα καὶ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν, τῶν ἐν ταῖς διακονίαις καὶ ἐν ἀποδημίαις ὄντων, καὶ ὑπὲρ πάντων τῶν ἐλεούντων, ἐλεησάντων, διακονούντων τε καὶ διακονησάντων ἡμῖν ἐν τῇ Ἁγίᾳ Μονῇ ταύτῃ.]

Priest: For You are a merciful God Who loves mankind...

Amen.

Priest: Peace be unto you.

And to your spirit.

Deacon: Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

To you O Lord.

And the priest entones the following hymn:
Lord Jesus Christ, only-begotten Son and Word of God, beyond all goodness, most-compassionate, glory to Your condescension that surpasses the mind, glory to Your utter compassion, glory to Your unspeakable love for man, glory to Your ineffable forbearance, for while we were the apostates, and you the sinless One, You were judged by Pilate, while we were the fallen, and You the righteous one were condemned, we were the scoffers, and You Who were not at fault accepted to be scourged on the pillar. O the unspeakable goodness, O the incomprehensible love for man, He Who sits upon the cherubim, is flogged on the back, He Who scourged Egypt with plagues, accepts scourging. But O Lord beyond all goodness, send Your compassions, You Who were wounded for us, heal the wounds of our souls, You Who suffered for us, free us from soul-corrupting passions, that we may in thanksgiving glorify You the dispassionate in Godhead unto the ages. Amen.

Icon of Christ in the Klapes, and the Prison of Christ (http://impantokratoros.gr/8299EA31.el.aspx#)

IV.The Chapel of the Klapon
[To the north-west of the chapel of St. Logginus, there is "the chapel of the Klapes" which belongs to the Greek orthodox. Klapes is a (hinged double) board with two holes used as an instrument of torture. The erection of the chapel is due to a very ancient tradition, according which Christ's torturers before the Crucifixion, immobilized His feet in the holes of the klapes. The board of klapes was earlier in the council room, but the Christians transported it to this chapel after the capture of Jerusalem by the Ottoman. The board was placed under a small Holy Altar and is protected with a railing. In the rear wall of the chapel, an icon was mounted depicting the event. (http://www.jerusalem-patriarchate.info/en/pareklisia.htm)]

Next, as approach the Chapel of the Klapon, and of the Theotokos, we chant the following Troparia:

Plagal of the Second Tone

Willingly long-suffering Jesus, You accepted the passion, that dispassion may be granted to mortals, my Son, to those who with faith venerate, and with fervor hymn Your compassion.

Venomously gazing with dangerous wrath, the Hebrew nation hastens to deprive of life You Who are the life of the world, my forbearing Son, but I hymn your condescension with fervor.

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

At the Fainting of the Theotokos:

Plagal of the Second Tone

You willingly approached the passion my Son, to deliver from the passions Adam and those from Adam, and with the lawless You were numbered O merciful one, that You might save man from sin.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

The Pure One was struck wailing, Your Mother seeing You, Who willingly approached the passion O Redeemer, as an innocent lamb, through her intercessions deliver me from the passions.

The priest censes, and the Deacon entones the entreaty and the Priest entones the following prayer:
O Spotless, undefiled, incorrupt, most-pure, blameless, all-holy, bride of God, Theotokos, Ever-virgin Mariam [Mary], Lady of the world, our hope, look down upon us sinners at this hour, and may Jesus Christ Who was born from your pure blood without man, be merciful to us hearkening to your motherly intercessions, and you beholding Him condemned, and you whose heart was pierced with the sword of sorrow, pierce our souls with divine fervor, you who wept bitterly on behalf of His bonds and being made a spectable, grant to us tears of compunction, you who upon His imprisonment towards death was greatly embittered in soul, deliver us from the bitterness of our inglorious passions, that we may glorify you who are truly glorified unto the ages. Amen.

St. Longinos the Centurion at the Crucifixion confessing: "Truly this was the Son of God" (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

V.The Chapel of St. Longinos
As we approach the Chapel of St. Longinos, we chant the following Troparia:

Plagal of the Second Tone

Longinos, beholding the awesome and wondrous events of Your passion, came to know You as the Son of God in truth, and clearly confessed and proclaimed You.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Hanging on the Cross, O Son of glory, the sun beholding You hid its light, and all were illumined with the light of divine knowledge, Longinos came to know You God and man.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

The skull of Longinos, which was cut off for You, the deceitful Hebrews formerly hid in the ding, but that blind woman, having found it could see and glorified You.

Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O forbearing Savior Son of God, the divine Longinos, beholding You on the cross, was illumined O Merciful One, towards Your godly knowledge, and by his prayers may we be enlightened.

The Priest censes, and the Deacon says the entreaty prayers, and then the Priest entones the following prayer:
Christ our God, the sweetest love of mankind, our light, our way, our life and our salvation, we thank Your unspeakable mercy, and Your inexpressible compassion and goodness, for by Your death by being nailed to the Cross, You wished to give life to us who were dead O Immortal One. And now most-compassionate Lord, receive the hymns of us Your unworthy servants entreating Your goodness, Who while upon the Cross was confessed by the righteous Longinos, we offer You this, saying: Truly, You are the Son of God. You, Lord, are the Son and Logos of God and God, You are the King of all. You are the King of kings, and Lord of lords. You are the Good Shepherd, Who sought out and found the lost sheep, and placed it upon Your shoulders, and brought it back again to Your beginningless Father. You, Lord, Who are glorified by all and in all, make us lowly and unworthy ones worthy to praise and glorify You always. You, the only pure and all-holy Lord, cleanse us from every filth of flesh and spirit. You, Who for the incorruptibility of men willingly drank the cup of death, water us with the wine of compunction, and grant to us remission of our offenses, through the intercessions of Your Ever-virgin Mother, of the Holy Great Martyr Longinos the Centurion, and all of Your Saints. Amen.

The Crucifixion of Christ; in the bottom right the soldiers are depicted casting lots for Christ's garments (http://www.eikastikon.gr/xristianika/kris/index.html)

VI. Chapel of the Dividing of the Garments of Christ
Proceeding to the Chapel of the dividing of the garments of Christ, we chant the following Troparia:

Plagal of the Second Tone

The veil of the Temple, O Jesus, was divided in two, soldiers divided your garments, revealing to the whole world, that the Hebrews are divided as lawless ones.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

Strangely the soldiers, O Savior, Your seamless robe and that was woven above, did not split totally, but took it, O Compassionate One, that through this the Prophets of the Scriptures might be fulfilled.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Those who before inherited, O Redeemer, the promise of this earth, the thankless and wretched ones divided Your garment, and cast lots for Your vesture.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The lawless ones worked every surpassing evil, O Savior, behaving unseemly instead of desiring You, and dividing Your garments.

The Priest censes, and the Deacon entones the entreaty, and the Priest entones the following prayer:
Holy King, compassionate and greatly-merciful, Son and Word of the living God, our Lord Jesus Christ, glory to Your dispensation for us, glory to Your utter compassion. You, Lord, choosing to suffer for the world, were stripped naked by the soldiers, Who clothes the whole earth with flowers, and Your garments were divided there by the soldiers, Who before set aside the land of promise for the Hebrews. And those who had been the inheritors of Your great gifts and graces, cast lots for Your garment woven above, the ungrateful and thankless ones. But You, O long-suffering Lord, Who for us was stripped naked and accepted to transfixed naked upon the Cross, cloth us with the garment of salvation, vest us with the garment woven above of Your divine grace, and show us worthy to be inheritors of Your kingdom, that we may praise You in gratitude, and glorify You in thanksgiving unto the ages. Amen.

St. Helen finding the Precious Cross of Christ (http://www.ekklisiastikos.com/2009/06/blog-post_1819.html)

VII. The Cave and Chapel of the Finding of the Precious Cross, and Sts. Constantine and Helen
Going out to the church of the God-crowned Kings, or the Holy Cave of the finding of the Precious Cross, we chant the following Troparia:

Plagal of the Second Tone

Receiving Rome from on high, Constantine before, the God-crowned King, asked his Mother with fervor, to hasten to seek out the Cross of the Lord.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

You, O life-giving Cross of Christ, which before the Hebrews in wrath hid in the earth, were found by the divine queen Helen, in this cave, and she embraced it with fervor.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

This cave, O Savior Christ, was shone to be blessed, for in it was received Your divine Cross, which before the lawless nation of Hebrews hid in it out of wrath.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Your Cross was hid below the earth, as the sun, but shone clearly through the Rising, from this cave, which we the faithful standing by magnify.

The Priest censes, and the Deacon entones the entreaty, and the Priest entones the following prayer:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son and Word of Your pre-beginningless [προανάρχου] and co-eternal Father, Holy King, All-compassionate and Greatly-merciful One, at Whose name every knee bends in heaven, on earth and below the earth, and Who is confessed by every tongue, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. You, O Lord, became like us, with the exception of sin, and through Your Precious Cross tore asunder the handwriting of our sins, look down upon us who are standing in this Holy and venerated cave, where Your Life-giving and precious Cross, which your crucifiers hid in wrath, was found by the divine queen Helen, who was seeking it with fervor, and which she venerated in fear, look down upon us and be gracious to us, O Lord. Guide our lives, make good our ways, direct our actions, and strengthen us against visible and invisible foes by Your precious Cross. And though the prince of this world, seeing You raised upon the Cross, was driven out, deliver us from his traps, and make us worthy of that joy, which the blessed Helen had when she found Your Precious and Life-giving Cross. Grant, O Lord, Your church harmony and unity, kings rule and peace, rulers unity-of-mind, and all Your people an untroubled and peaceful life. Those who take up the light weight of Your Cross, O Lord, make worthy to follow You in a good and pure life. And for those who follow You the Way and the Truth in obedience and to be crucified with You, deaden the pleasures of life. Through the intercessions of Your All-spotless Mother, by the power of Your Precious and Life-giving Cross, through the intercessions of the glorious and Godly-crowned great rulers Constantine and Helen, and all Your Saints. Amen.

Christ being mocked, accepting the Crown of Thorns (http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Collections/PassionChrist/CX4K1929_l.html)

VIII. The Chapel of the Crown of Thorns
We proceed then to the Chapel of the crown of Thorns, chanting the following Troparia:

Plagal of the Second Tone

You wore the crimson robe in shame, O Jesus, which You were willingly arrayed in, O Savior, King of the Angels. We glorify Your utter condescension.

Glory to You our God, glory to You.

The scarlet robe and the crown of thorns, my Savor, You were arrayed with, mocked as a king, O Word, by the lawless, You Who are the Most-high King of kings.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

The crimson robe You accepted, O Jesus, and endured spittings and blows, the reed as a scepter, slaps and wretchedness, willingly bearing shame, for man.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Your acceptance and forbearance, Son of God, for You suffered the terrible passion, My Savior, for those who hymn You; transform all our inglorious passions.

And the Priest censes.

Deacon: And that we may be deemed worthy to hear the Holy Gospel [let us entreat the Lord our God.

Lord have mercy. (x3)

Deacon: Wisdom, arise, let us hear the Holy Gospel...]
Priest: Peace be unto all. The reading is from the Gospel of St. Matthew (27:27-32).

Deacon: Let us be attentive.

Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.
(http://www.biblegateway.com/)

Glory to Your forbearance, O Lord, glory to You.

And the Deacon entones the entreaty, and the Priest entones the following prayer:
Lover of man, lover of goodness, All-holy, Most-compassionate Lord Jesus Christ our God, our ransom and mercy, our salvation and re-creation, Who passively accepted the passion, Who are dispassionate in Godhead, deliver us from the influences of the enemy, and drive away from us the wrath of Your anger, You Who forbore for us the ridicule of wearing the scarlet robe, cloth us in the stole of incorruption, You Who accepted the crown of thorns upon Your all-holy head, the head of the body of the Church, crown us with Your compassions, and bless the crown of the year, You Who took the reed in Your right hand as a scepter, the King of all, raise us from the vanity of the world with the reed of Your grace, You Who endured spittings and slaps for us, show us worthy to endure every influence and the evil one. Through the intercessions of Your All-holy and Most-pure Mother, and all Your Saints. Amen.
  

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

"This was from me", by St. Seraphim of Viritsa (+1949)

Christ the Light-giver (http://www.rel.gr/photo/displayimage.php?album=33&pos=142)

"This was from me" is a famous letter written by saint Seraphim of Viritsa that he sent to his spiritual child, a bishop who was in a Soviet prison at that time; this homily "This was from me" is written as a consolation and counsel to the bishop to let him know that God the Creator addresses to the soul of man.

"Have you ever thought that everything that concerns you, concerns Me, also? You are precious in my eyes and I love you; for this reason, it is a special joy for Me to train you. When temptations and the opponent [the Evil One] come upon you like a river, I want you to know that This was from Me.

I want you to know that your weakness has need of My strength, and your safety lies in allowing Me to protect you. I want you to know that when you are in difficult conditions, among people who do not understand you, and cast you away, This was from Me.

I am your God, the circumstances of your life are in My hands; you did not end up in your position by chance; this is precisely the position I have appointed for you. Weren't you asking Me to teach you humility? And there - I placed you precisely in the "school" where they teach this lesson. Your environment, and those who are around you, are performing My will. Do you have financial difficulties and can just barely survive? Know that This was from Me.

I want you to know that I dispose of your money, so take refuge in Me and depend upon Me. I want you to know that My storehouses are inexhaustible, and I am faithful in My promises. Let it never happen that they tell you in your need, "Do not believe in your Lord and God." Have you ever spent the night in suffering? Are you separated from your relatives, from those you love? I allowed this that you would turn to Me, and in Me find consolation and comfort. Did your friend or someone to whom you opened your heart, deceive you? This was from Me.

I allowed this frustration to touch you so that you would learn that your best friend is the Lord. I want you to bring everything to Me and tell Me everything. Did someone slander you? Leave it to Me; be attached to Me so that you can hide from the "contradiction of the nations." I will make your righteousness shine like light and your life like midday noon. Your plans were destroyed? Your soul yielded and you are exhausted? This was from Me.

You made plans and have your own goals; you brought them to Me to bless them. But I want you to leave it all to Me, to direct and guide the circumstances of your life by My hand, because you are the orphan, not the protagonist. Unexpected failures found you and despair overcame your heart, but know That this was from Me.

With tiredness and anxiety I am testing how strong your faith is in My promises and your boldness in prayer for your relatives. Why is it not you who entrusted their cares to My providential love? You must leave them to the protection of My All Pure Mother. Serious illness found you, which may be healed or may be incurable, and has nailed you to your bed. This was from Me.

Because I want you to know Me more deeply, through physical ailment, do not murmur against this trial I have sent you. And do not try to understand My plans for the salvation of people's souls, but unmurmuringly and humbly bow your head before My goodness. You were dreaming about doing something special for Me and, instead of doing it, you fell into a bed of pain. This was from Me.

Because then you were sunk in your own works and plans and I wouldn't have been able to draw your thoughts to Me. But I want to teach you the most deep thoughts and My lessons, so that you may serve Me. I want to teach you that you are nothing without Me. Some of my best children are those who, cut off from an active life, learn to use the weapon of ceaseless prayer. You were called unexpectedly to undertake a difficult and responsible position, supported by Me. I have given you these difficulties and as the Lord God I will bless all your works, in all your paths. In everything I, your Lord, will be your guide and teacher. Remember always that every difficulty you come across, every offensive word, every slander and criticism, every obstacle to your works, which could cause frustration and disappointment, This is from Me.

Know and remember always, no matter where you are, That whatsoever hurts will be dulled as soon as you learn In all things, to look at Me. Everything has been sent to you by Me, for the perfection of your soul. All these things were from Me."
(http://quotes.orthodoxwiki.org/This_was_from_me)
 
For excerpts from the life and counsels of St. Seraphim of Viritsa, see: http://quotes.orthodoxwiki.org/Seraphim_of_Viritsa and http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/stseraphimofviritsa.aspx.

St. Seraphim of Viritsa (+1949) (http://www.rel.gr/photo/displayimage.php?album=26&pos=328)

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

Revelations on the Calendar to Elders Joseph the Hesychast and Ephraim of Katounakia

Christ the True Vine with the Holy Apostles (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

"When you want to learn the will of God, abandon your own will completely along with every other thought or plan; and, with much humility, ask God in prayer for His understanding."

-Blessed Elder Joseph the Hesychast (+1959)

Revelations on the Calendar to Elders Joseph the Hesychast and Ephraim of Katounakia
"When the New Calendar entered into the life of the Church after 1924, the entire Holy Mountain, for reasons of tradition, maintained the use of the Old Calendar, without severing communion with and maintaining dependency upon the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and consequently, with the other Orthodox Churches.

Because of this calendar change, some Athonite Monks -the self-titled "Zealots"- broke their spiritual communion with the Patriarchate and the rest of the Holy Mountain. They would participate neither in Liturgies, nor in festal celebrations, nor even communicate with the rest of the fathers.

Katounakia was one of the centers of the Zealots and Papa Ephraim was one of them. Moved by spiritual zeal, both he and Elder Joseph the Hesychast initially joined the extremist party of the so-called "Matthewites". When an issue arises concerning the faith, naturally fanaticism will rise up.

The grandiose Matthew, who so occupied Athonite monasticism, proceeded from another Matthew, a Cretan monk. Matthew had obvious rebellious tendencies, and thus they readily induced him to take hold of some authority on account of the calendar disorder.

Increasingly the degree of fanaticism surrounding the calendar change, and depicting the Church as lapsed, Matthew created that which pleased him. He became "super-orthodox" and worked up his followers with sermons and demonstrations. This still occurs today with some of his followers - a Fresh wound to the bosom of the Church.

As always, every source of scandal creates fanaticism and unrest - mostly from ignorance - until the true state of affairs is revealed. It was natural for the fathers in the desert areas to be found among the fanatics, since anxiety and ignorance were prevalent, and because they had an acute fear that perhaps they would betray their faith.

Then, in opposition to the Matthewite harshness, the Florinite moderation appeared. The Florinites avoided the severity of the Matthewites, maintaining a milder stance, even though they were still "zealots". The fathers then turned towards this faction. They chose the "lesser of two evils" as the better even though they were still not at peace with this.

The living Church, unjustly cast aside, was protesting with their consciences, causing them unrest. The solution for them was prayer.

Elder Joseph [the Hesychast] turned with insistence to his sure refuge of prayer, seeking an answer from on high. "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me" (Ps. 48:15 LXX), something that the blessed Elder knew well from his ascetic life.

Falling to his face with tears, pain of heart, and deep humility, he pleaded:

"We have sinned and trespassed against You, O Lord, and we have betrayed Your Most Holy will. Justly You have turned Your face from us, for we have confused and mocked the light of Your Truth. We have closed our eyes to the bedrock of the Truth, Your unswerving and unshakable Church, Your All-Holy Body, which You established amongst us through Your own presence, and which we have handed over to the conjectures of human thoughts and speculation. Remember, All-Good One, Your compassion and mercy towards us, for they are from the ages unto ages."

With pain and persistence, he continued knocking on the doors of God's compassion and mercy, and the All-Good One did not turn away from his humble supplication. As our blessed Elder Joseph related to us:

"During this intense petition, I was overcome by sleep. I discovered myself suddenly alone on one piece of the mountain of Athos that was separated from the rest. It stood in the oceans trembling from moment to moment, in danger of sinking into the sea. I was frightened and thought to myself, ‘Since this has broken off from the whole and is trembling, in a little while it'll sink and I'll be lost.’ Then, with one mighty leap, I found myself on the stable part of the mountain. Sure enough, the small section of rock that I had been standing on was swallowed up by the sea, and I glorified God Who had saved me from destruction! Immediately, I tied in the dream with the issue that had been occupying me and about which I had been petitioning the Lord not to allow me to be deceived in my judgment."

Similarly, while he was praying, Papa Ephraim [of Katounakia] heard a voice that told him, "In the person of the Florinites, you have renounced the entire Church."

The fathers found peace with this revelation that the Church had not ceased in its living presence. Afterwards, Elder Joseph also heard a divine voice inform him that, "the Church is found in the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople."

When, at the suggestion of Elder Joseph, they left the zealots and returned to communion with the rest of the Athonite Fathers, they truly came to know the power of Grace in the Mysteries they celebrated.

Papa Ephraim always used to see Divine Grace consecrating the venerable gifts into the body and blood of Christ during the Divine Liturgy. For the entire time he was with the zealots, he saw something like a veil in front of him, hindering him from seeing this Divine Grace distinctly. This veil was withdrawn when he returned to the living Church.

In speaking about this, Elder Ephraim said, "First I, then Old Joseph, received revelations spiritually regarding the calendar scandal; that is, that the living Church is in Constantinople and not in the faction of the so-called zealots. We returned then to the living Church, where the rest of the Holy Mountain also is."

After being reconciled with the Church once again under the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in 1952 they went to the neighbouring brotherhood of Danielaioi to celebrate Pascha. The fathers welcomed them with much love: "Welcome, welcome. Elder Joseph, please take the stasidion [chair in church reserved for the elders]. Father Ephraim, please come and celebrate the Liturgy for us."

"The Danielaioi chanted the hymn 'Theotoke Parthene' (O Virgin Theotokos) on the soleas and I, standing in the sanctuary, could almost see the Mother of God; so great and so tangible was the grace I was feeling,' the Elder confessed with nostalgia.

But Father Nikephoros (a companion of the elders), accustomed to their zealot neighbours, started grumbling and getting very upset. The Elder found himself in a difficult position. While praying, he felt that the will of God opposed him. He was frightened then. He consulted Elder Gabriel, the Abbot at the Monastery of Dionysiou, as well as Father Gerasimos, the Hymnographer. They told him: "My brother, obey your spiritual father." In prayer it was even harder. He felt that God had imposed a penance on him. The dilemma was whether to maintain obedience or follow the Church. He was forced to choose the first option, which made us realise that obedience is fundamental to the Church; for the divine founder of the Church "humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil. 2:8).

Then, he went through a crisis of conscience of another kind. He, who had been informed that he was subject to the Patriarchate, and that the word "Church" means love, which he found in the warm behaviour of Danielaioi; he whose heart leapt for joy when he said the word "Church" like a child's heart leaps when it needs its mother's hug; he who considered Elder Joseph and his brotherhood his own beloved family; how could he now abandon them? Fortunately, these doubts lasted only a few days. He then thought: "In spirit I will always be with the Church, but with my body I will be with the Zealots for a while, as long as my elder is alive."

Thus he made peace with himself. He waited patiently until 1975, i.e. for 23 years. He never gave anyone the right to criticise him. When he finally established his own brotherhood, he left the Zealots forever with great humility."
(Elder Ephraim of Katounakia, by Holy Hesychasterion "St. Ephraim", Katounakia, Mount Athos; p.56, English edition; http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/02/two-holy-fathers-on-calendar-issue.html)

Elders Joseph the Hesychast (+1959) and Ephraim of Katounakia (+1998) (http://solzemli.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/elder-joseph-the-hesychast-on-prayer/, http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Orthodox_Elders/Greek/Fr._Ephraim_of_Katounakia/1.shtml)

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

Miracle of St. Photida for an Aga

Saints celebrated February 26th; St. Photini and her sister St. Photis (or Photida) are in the front row right and center, respectively (http://christopherklitou.com/icon_26_feb_porphyrius_photo_photis_photini_sebastianus.htm)

Miracle of St. Photida for an Aga (amateur translation)
Elder Gregory of the Holy Monastery of the Precious Forerunner Metamorphoseos relates: “One of the many times we went along with the priest of my village, Fr. Aleko, to assist the settlement of Amphipoleos [East Macedonia near Strymona], we met an older man who helped in the church of Amphipoleos. During our conversation he related an event which occurred during the Turkish occupation, when he was 12 years old:

“The Aga [Turkish leader] fell gravely ill, and he ran to doctors in every place, reaching even Thessaloniki, but none could make him well and his health deteriorated. He laid on his bed. One day loosing all hope he thought of St. Photida, for the chapel of the Saint who was the sister of St. Photini [celebrated the same day, February 26th] which was about one kilometer from the village and in it up till today flows a spring of holy water. “The Holy Water of St. Photida”. “St. Photida will make me well”, the Aga said. He ordered the caretaker of the church of Amphipoleos to go bring him holy water from St. Photida.

“The caretaker could not do otherwise. However, leaving the Aga's house he whispered: “Pig, do you think that I will bring you, holy water from our Saint for you to sell?” He left, counted the time that it would have taken to return from the chapel, and so that the Aga wouldn't drink it and to punish him, he took common water and gave it to him instead of the holy water.

“The Aga, when the supposed holy water of St. Photida had arrived, ordered those near him to raise him up from his bed, and with reverence and crying with tears in his eyes he said twice: “St. Photida, help me. St. Photida, help me.” He took the “holy water”, as he thought it was, drank it, and the next day he was well. All remained astonished, especially the caretaker who knew what he did. The faith, the desire and the trust of the Aga in St. Photida, along with the intercessions of the Saint, made him well.”
(http://theologoi-kritis.sch.gr/docs/arthrografia/riginiot8.doc)
 
For more on St. Photini the Great Martyr and those with her, see: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/02/st-photini-great-martyr-and-those-with.html.
 

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

St. Nilus the Ascetic on Prayer

Christ praying in Gethsemane (http://stage.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Decani/exhibits/Collections/PassionChrist/CX4K2065_l.html)

St. Nilus (Neilos) the Ascetic on Prayer

"Prayer is the ascent of the mind towards God. It is a spiritual labour that befits the human mind more than any other preoccupation.

Prayer is born from meekness and the lack of anger that brings to the soul joy and pleasure; it protects man from sorrow and depression.

Just as bread is food for the body and virtue is food for the soul, so the food for the mind (nous) is spiritual prayer.

Just as vision is superior to all the other senses, so is prayer more divine and sacred than all virtues.

He who loves God, always converses with Him like son to father and is averse to every impassioned thought.

Since prayer is an association of the mind with God, then in what state must the mind possibly be, in order to be able, without turning elsewhere, to approach its Lord and converse with Him without the mediation of something else?

If Moses in his attempt to approach the burning bush was hindered until he had removed the sandals from his feet, then shouldn't you who desires to see God and converse with Him, remove and cast out of you every sinful thought?

The entire war between us and the unclean demons does not occur for any other reason but for spiritual prayer, because prayer is extremely hostile and obtrusive to them, whereas for us it is a cause for our salvation, enjoyable and pleasant.

What do demons seek to arouse inside us? Gluttony, prostitution, avarice, anger, resentfulness and all the other passions that fatten the mind so that it will be unable to pray properly; because when irrational passions prevail, they do not allow the mind to move logically.

Do not think that you have acquired virtue if you have not previously struggled for it, even unto blood. Because, according to the apostle Paul (Eph 6:11) we must resist sin to the death, with a fighting spirit and an irreproachable manner.

A bound person cannot run. Nor can the mind, which works like a slave for a certain passion, be able to offer a true prayer, because it is dragged around and wanders here and there on account of impassioned thoughts and cannot remain undisturbed.

You will not be able to pray clearly if you are preoccupied with material things and are agitated by incessant cares, because prayer implies riddance of every care.

If you wish to pray, you are in need of God, Who grants true prayer to whoever persists tirelessly in the struggle of prayer. Invoke Him therefore by saying: "Blessed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come" (Matt 6:9); in other words, may the Holy Spirit and Your only begotten Son come, because this is what Christ taught us, when telling us that we must adore and worship God the Father "with the power of the Spirit, Who reveals the Truth" (John 4:24).

First of all, pray to acquire tears, in order to soften with mourning the savageness of your soul. You will then easily confess with honesty before the Lord all the sins that you have committed and you shall receive forgiveness from Him.

Use your tears to succeed in every request of yours. For the Lord is greatly pleased when you pray with tears.

If during your prayer you shed fountains of tears, do not pride yourself that you are above many others. This is not your accomplishment; it is assistance for your prayer from the Lord, so that you will be able to thus confess your sins willingly and appease Him.

When you believe that you do not need tears in your prayer for your sins, consider how far you have drifted away from God, when "you should constantly be near Him" and then you will weep more fervently.

Indeed, if you have an awareness of your condition, you will mourn gladly, deploring yourself and saying like the prophet Isaiah "How is it that while I am unclean and full of passions, I dare to appear before the Almighty Lord? (Isaiah 6:5).

If you wish to pray in praiseworthy way, deny yourself at every moment; and if you suffer many hardships, reflect on the relief you will find when you take refuge in prayer.

If you long to pray as you should, do not sorrow any person. Otherwise your prayer is futile.

Whatever you do against your brother who has wronged you, will all become obstacles during your prayer.

"Leave your offering" says Christ, "in front of the altar and go first and be reconciled with your brother and then come to pray without any agitation" (Matt 5:24), because resentfulness dulls the logic of man who prays and darkens his prayers.

Those who pray but accumulate sorrows and grudges inside them are likened to people who draw water from the well and empty it into a leaking container.

Do not be fond of chattering and human glory. Otherwise, the demons will conspire against you, not behind your back, but in front of your very eyes and they will rejoice with you during prayer time, as they will easily distract you and entice you with uncanny thoughts.

If you wish to pray clearly, do not give in to any carnal demands and you will not have any cloud overshadowing you during prayer.

Do not avoid poverty and sorrow, because they make prayer seem lighter.

Be careful! Are you truly standing before God during the time of prayer, or are you perhaps conquered by human praise and you seek it, by saying many and lengthy prayers?

Do not pray like the Pharisee but rather like the tax collector, so that you too may be vindicated by the Lord.

The praiseworthiness of prayer does not lie in its quantity but its quality. This becomes apparent in the parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee and the words of Christ: "When you pray, do not ramble like the idolaters; for they think that with their chatter they will be hearkened" (Matt 6:7).

Do not pray only with external gestures; instead exhort your mind to be aware of the task of prayer with immense fear.

Whether praying alone or together with your brothers, struggle to pray, not out of habit but with awareness.

Awareness of prayer means the gathering of the mind (Nous) with piety, with devout concentration, with secret sighs and the soul's pain that accompanies the confession of our sins.

You should remain standing and endure the exertion, praying with intensity and perseverance and scorn the cares and the thoughts that come to you. For they agitate and upset you, in order to paralyze your strength and intensity.

If you are patient, you will always pray with joy.

Strive to keep your mind deaf and mute during the hour of prayer. Only thus will you be able to pray.

Chanting quells the passions and pacifies the disorderly movements of your body. Therefore chant with awareness and seemliness and you will thus resemble an eaglet soaring high.

If you have not yet received the gift of prayer or chanting, ask for it persistently and you shall receive it.

The devil greatly envies the person who prays, and he uses every possible trick with the intent to hinder his purpose. Thus, when demons see that you are willing to pray sincerely, they will intentionally remind you of certain supposedly necessary things. Soon after, however, they make you forget them, then they force you to look for them. And because you do not remember them, you become worried and sad. When you resume your prayer, they again remind you of the things you were looking for, so that your mind turns back to those things again, and eventually lose that fruitful prayer.

During prayer, your memory will bring you either fantasies of past things or recent cares or the face of the one who had grieved you. Therefore, guard your memory well, so that it does not present you with its own cares. And continuously urge yourself to remain aware in Whose presence it is standing, because it is very natural for the mind to be easily carried away by memory during the time of prayer.

The attention paid by the mind that seeks prayer will find prayer, because prayer follows attention more than anything else. Let us therefore ensure that we willingly strive to acquire attention.

At times, by remaining standing during prayer, you can immediately concentrate and pray well; at other times, you may strive very hard, but not achieve your purpose. This occurs, so that you may ask for prayer with greater zeal; and after acquiring it, to have it as your inalienable achievement.

Know that the holy angels prompt us to pray and stand alongside us and rejoice and pray for us. If we therefore become negligent and accept the thoughts that the demons subject us to, we greatly dismay the angels, because, while they strive so much for our sake, we do not want to beseech God - not even for our own sake; instead, by ignoring their services and abandoning their Lord and God, we converse with unclean demons.

A true prayer is said by the one who always offers his first thought as a sacrifice to God.

Do not pray for your desires to be realized, because they certainly do not agree with the will of God; but rather, as you were taught, say in your prayer: "Let Your Will be done" (Matt 6:10), and for every single thing, you should likewise ask God that His Will be done, because He wants whatever is best and beneficial for your soul.

I have often asked God through prayer for something I thought to be good. And I insisted illogically on asking for it, thus violating the divine will. I would not let God provide whatever He knew would be to my benefit. And so, having received what I had asked for, I afterwards felt very sorry that I had not asked that His Will be done, because things did not turn out as I had thought they would.

What is benevolent, if not God? Let us therefore entrust all our needs with Him and everything will go well, as the benevolent One definitely also bestows beneficial gifts.

In your prayer, ask only for the justice and the Kingdom of God - in other words, virtue and divine knowledge - and all the rest will then be added to you.

Entrust the needs of your body to God, and that will reveal to Him that you also entrust the needs of your spirit.

Strive in your prayer to never seek any evil to befall anyone, so that you do not destroy whatever you have built by making your prayer abhorrent.

Let the debtor of the ten thousand talents in the Gospel be an example to you. If you do not forgive the person who has harmed you, neither will you attain the absolution of your sins; because the Gospel says of the debtor of the ten thousand talents who did not forgive his debtor, that "he was delivered to his torturers" (Matt 18:24-35).

It is appropriate that you do not pray only for yourself, but also for every fellow-man, so that in this way, you will be emulating the angelic manner of praying.

Do not be sorrowed if you do not immediately receive from God that which you asked for, because He desires to benefit you even more, through your patient perseverance in prayer. What is there indeed more superior to associating with God and conversing with Him?

In wishing to teach His disciples that they must always pray and not be discouraged, the Lord narrated an appropriate parable (Luke 18:1-8). In this parable a certain unfair judge said the following about a widow who was persistently demanding to be vindicated: "Even if I neither fear God nor feel any shame before people, however, because this woman continuously bothers me and demands to be vindicated, I shall do so". And the Lord then concluded: "So also shall God soon fulfill the wish of those who beseech Him day and night". That is therefore why you should not be discouraged or worried because you did not receive it, because you will receive it later. Be happy and persist, enduring the toil of holy prayer.

Overlook the needs of the body when you pray, so that you do not lose the greater gain of your prayer from the sting of a mosquito or the buzzing of a fly.

If you have diligence in prayer, be prepared for attacks by demons and endure their blows with bravery, because they shall charge at you like wild beasts, to torment you.

He who suffers sorrowful things, will also attain joyful ones. He who perseveres during unpleasant things, will also enjoy pleasant ones.

Do not imagine any form for God when you pray, or allow any shape to imprint itself in your mind; only approach in an incorporeal manner the incorporeal God.

Do not desire to see with your bodily eyes the angels or powers or Christ, in case you might lose your mind completely and thus accept a wolf instead of a shepherd and worship the demon enemies.

Guard yourself from the traps of the demons. For it happens that as you pray in peace and quiet, they may suddenly present you with a strange form, in order to lead you to pride, as you might suppose that it where the divine is. But the divine is incorporeal and without form.

Take care to have plenty of humility and bravery, and no demonic influence will touch your soul. The angels will invisibly drive away the entire influence of the demons.

When the cunning demon uses numerous means and cannot hinder the prayer of the righteous, he withdraws for a while. But then he revenges him later, by pushing him to anger, in order to disperse the exceptional inner state that was created through prayer, or by arousing him with carnal desires in order to pollute his soul.

When you pray the way you should, expect temptations. Stand therefore courageously, to preserve the fruit of your prayer. Because from the very beginning that is what you committed yourself to - working the prayer and guarding its fruits. (Gen 2:15). Having worked therefore, do not leave unguarded what you earned, otherwise you will not have benefited at all from your prayer.

If you pray in a God pleasing way, you will meet such trials, that you will think it is only fair that you become angry. However, no anger against your neighbour is justified. If you study the situation carefully, you will find that it is also possible to resolve the case without anger. Resort therefore to every means, so that you do not become angered.

By co-suffering with our ailment, the Holy Spirit comes to us even though we are unclean because of passions and sins. And if He finds the mind praying sincerely only to Him, He will prevail over him, scatter all the legions of evil thoughts and reflections that surround him and exhorts him towards the love of spiritual prayer.

Do you have a passion for praying? Make yourself dead to this earth. Always have Heaven as your homeland - not with words, but with an angelic life and divine knowledge. Forsake all things, so that you may inherit everything.

If you are a true theologian, you will pray truly. And if you pray truly, you are a true theologian.

Blessed is the mind that during prayer does not form any shape whatsoever inside it. Blessed is the mind that prays without being distracted and continuously acquires an increased desire for God. Blessed is the mind which during the time of prayer becomes incorporeal and free from everything. Blessed is the mind which during the time of prayer remains uninfluenced by anything.

If during prayer you feel greater joy than any other joy, then you have indeed found the true prayer."
(The Voice of the Fathers. "Prayer" by Saint Nilus the ascetic; Holy Monastery of Parakletou; Oropos, Attica 2009; http://www.impantokratoros.gr/713DCA2A.en.aspx)

  

St. Nilus the Ascetic of Sinai - Commemorated on November 12th(http://christopherklitou.com/icon_12_nov_nilas_the_sinaite.htm)

  

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

St. Polycarp the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Smyrna, and his Epistle to the Philippians

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Revelation 2:8-11)

St. Polycarp the Hieromartyr of Smyrna - Commemorated on February 23 (http://christopherklitou.com/icon_23_feb_polycarp_of_smyrna.htm)

Life of the Saint (Note: Quotes from the first-hand account of the Saint's Martyrdom are interspersed below)

"Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who was "fruitful in every good work" (Col. 1:10), was born in the first century, and lived in Smyrna in Asia Minor. He was orphaned at an early age, but at the direction of an angel, he was raised by the pious widow Kallista. After the death of his adoptive mother, Polycarp gave away his possessions and began to lead a chaste life, caring for the sick and the infirm. He was very fond of and close to St Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna (February 6). He ordained Polycarp as deacon, entrusting to him to preach the Word of God in church. He also ordained him to the holy priesthood.
  
 The holy Apostle John the Theologian was still alive at this time. St Polycarp was especially close to St John, and sometimes accompanied him on his apostolic journeys.
  
 Shortly before his death, St Bucolus expressed his wish that Polycarp be made Bishop of Smyrna. When St Polycarp was consecrated as a bishop, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him. St Polycarp guided his flock with apostolic zeal, and he was also greatly loved by the clergy. St Ignatius the God-Bearer of Antioch (December 20) also had a high regard for him. Setting out for Rome where execution awaited him, he wrote to St Polycarp, "This age is in need of you if it is to reach God, just as pilots need winds, and as a storm-tossed sailor needs a port."
  
 The emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) came to the Roman throne and started up a most fierce persecution against Christians. The pagans demanded that the judge search for St Polycarp, "the father of all the Christians" and "the seducer of all Asia."
  
 During this time St Polycarp, at the persistent urging of his flock, stayed in a small village not far from Smyrna. When the soldiers came for him, he went out to them and invited them in to eat. He asked for time to pray, in order to prepare himself for martyrdom. His suffering and death are recorded in the "Epistle of the Christians of the Church of Smyrna to the Other Churches," one of the most ancient memorials of Christian literature.

[...and as he prayed he fell into a trance three days before he was taken, and saw his pillow burning with fire, and he turned and said prophetically to those who were with him, I must be burned alive...
  
But to Polycarp, as he entered the arena, there came a voice from heaven, saying, Be strong, and play the man, O Polycarp. And the speaker no man saw; but the voice those of our people who were present heard. And when he was brought in there was a great tumult, when men heard that Polycarp was apprehended.
  
Then, when he had been brought in, the proconsul asked him if he was Polycarp. And when he confessed, he would have persuaded him to deny, saying, Have respect unto thine age, and other things like these, as is their custom to say: Swear by the fortunes of Caesar; Repent; Say, Away with the Atheists. But Polycarp, when he had looked with a grave face at all the multitude of lawless heathen in the arena, having beckoned unto them with his hand, sighed, and looking up unto heaven, said, Away with the Atheists!
  
And when the proconsul pressed him, and said, Swear, and I will release thee, revile Christ; Polycarp said, Eighty and six years have I served him, and in nothing hath he wronged me; and how, then, can I blaspheme my King, who saved me?
  
...While he was saying these and more things, he was filled with courage and joy, and his face was filled with grace; so that he not only was not troubled and confused by the things said unto him, but, on the contrary, the proconsul was astonished, and sent his herald into the midst of the arena to proclaim a third time: Polycarp has confessed himself to be a Christian. (http://www.voskrese.info/spl/polycarp.martyr.html)]
  

Having been brought to trial, St Polycarp firmly confessed his faith in Christ, and was condemned to be burned alive. The executioners wanted to nail him to a post, but he declared that God would give him the strength to endure the flames, so they could merely tie him with ropes.
  
[But he, having placed his hands behind him, and being bound, like a notable ram appointed for offering out of a great flock, prepared as a whole burnt-offering acceptable unto God, having looked up unto heaven, said, O Lord God Almighty, Father of thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we have received our knowledge concerning thee, the God of angels and powers, and of the whole creation, and of all the race of the just who lived before thee, I thank thee that thou hast deemed me worthy of this day and hour, that I should have my portion in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, unto the resurrection of eternal life, both of the soul and body, in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit. Among these may I be received before thee this day as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, even as thou hast prepared and made manifest beforehand, and hast fulfilled, thou who art the unerring and true God. On this account, and concerning all things, I praise thee, I bless thee, I glorify thee, together with the eternal and heavenly Jesus Christ thy beloved Son, with whom to thee and the Holy Spirit be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (http://www.voskrese.info/spl/polycarp.martyr.html)]

The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, by Kontoglou (http://vatopaidi.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/the-martyrdom-of-st-polycarp.jpg)

  
The flames encircled the saint but did not touch him, coming together over his head in the shape of a vault. Seeing that the fire did him no harm, the pagans stabbed him with a dagger. So much blood flowed from this wound that it extinguished the flames. The body of the hieromartyr Polycarp was then cremated. The Christians of Smyrna reverently gathered up what remained of his holy relics, and each year they celebrated the day of his martyrdom.
  
 A story has been preserved about St Polycarp by his disciple, St Irenaeus of Lyons, which Eusebius cites in his ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY (V, 20):
  
 "I was still very young when I saw you in Asia Minor at Polycarp's," writes St Irenaeus to his friend Florinus, "but I would still be able to point out the place where Blessed Polycarp sat and conversed, and be able to depict his walk, his mannerisms in life, his outward appearance, his speaking to people, his companionable wandering with John, and how he himself related, together with other eyewitnesses of the Lord, those things that he remembered from the words of others. He also told what he heard from them about the Lord, His teachings and miracles....

The martyrdom of St. Polycarp (http://pravicon.com/images/sv/s1737/s1737004.jpg)

  
 Through the mercy of God to me, I then already listened attentively to Polycarp and wrote down his words, not on tablets, but in the depths of my heart. Therefore, I am able to bear witness before God, that if this blessed and apostolic Elder heard something similar to your fallacy, he would immediately stop up his ears and express his indignation with his usual phrase: 'Good God! That Thou hast permitted me to be alive at such a time!'"
  
 During his life the holy bishop wrote several Epistles to the flock and letters to various individuals. The only one that has survived to the present day is his Epistle to the Philippians which, St Jerome testifies, was read in the churches of Asia Minor at divine services. It was written by the saint in response to the request of the Philippians to send them some letters of the hieromartyr Ignatius (December 20) which St Polycarp had in his possession.
  
 The composer H.I.F. Bibier (1644-1704) has written a Sonata "Scti Polycarpi" for eight trumpets in honor of the holy martyr."
(http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100589, http://www.voskrese.info/spl/polycarp.martyr.html; the Greek text is available here: http://www.ccel.org/l/lake/fathers/martyrdom.htm)

St. Polycarp the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Smyrna (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)

  

The Epistle of St. Polycarp to the Philippians (Translated by J.B. Lightfoot)

"Polycarp and the presbyters that are with him unto the Church of God which sojourneth at Philippi; mercy unto you and peace from God Almighty and Jesus Christ our Savior be multiplied.

I

   I rejoiced with you greatly in our Lord Jesus Christ, for that ye received the followers of the true Love and escorted them on their way, as befitted you--those men encircled in saintly bonds which are the diadems of them that be truly chosen of God and our Lord;  (2) and that the steadfast root of your faith which was famed from primitive times abideth until now and beareth fruit unto our Lord Jesus Christ, who endured to face even death for our sins, whom God raised, having loosed the pangs of Hades; on whom, (3) though ye saw Him not, ye believe with joy unutterable and full of glory; unto which joy many desire to enter in; forasmuch as ye know that it is by grace ye are saved, not of works, but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.

II

   Wherefore gird up your loins and serve God in fear and truth, forsaking the vain and empty talking and the error of the many, for that ye have believed on Him that raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave unto him glory and a throne on His right hand; unto whom all things were made subject that are in heaven and that are on the earth; to whom every creature that hath breath doeth service; who cometh as judge of quick and dead; whose blood God will require of them that are disobedient unto Him. (2) Now He that raised Him from the dead will raise us also; if we do His will and walk in His commandments and love the things which He loved, abstaining from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing or blow for blow or cursing for cursing; (3) but remembering the words which the Lord spake, as He taught; Judge not that ye be not judged. Forgive, and it shall be forgiven to you. Have mercy that ye may receive mercy. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again; and again Blessed are the poor and they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

III

   These things, brethren, I write unto you concerning righteousness, not because I laid this charge upon myself, but because ye invited me. (2) For neither am I, nor is any other like unto me, able to follow the wisdom of the blessed and glorious Paul, who when he came among you taught face to face with the men of that day the word which concerneth truth carefully and surely; who also, when he was absent, wrote a letter unto you, into the which if ye look diligently, ye shall be able to be builded up unto the faith given to you, (3) which is the mother of us all, while hope followeth after and love goeth before--love toward God and Christ and toward our neighbor. For if any man be occupied with these, he hath fulfilled the commandment of righteousness; for he that hath love is far from all sin.

IV

   But the love of money is the beginning of all troubles. Knowing therefore that we brought nothing into the world neither can we carry anything out, let us arm ourselves with the armor of righteousness, and let us teach ourselves first to walk in the commandment of the Lord; (2) and then our wives also, to walk in the faith that hath been given unto them and in love and purity, cherishing their own husbands in all truth and loving all men equally in all chastity, and to train their children in the training of the fear of God. (3) Our widows must be sober-minded as touching the faith of the Lord, making intercession without ceasing for all men, abstaining from all calumny, evil speaking, false witness, love of money, and every evil thing, knowing that they are God's altar, and that all sacrifices are carefully inspected, and nothing escapeth Him either of their thoughts or intents or any of the secret things of the heart.

V

   Knowing then that God is not mocked, we ought to walk worthily of His commandment and His glory. (2) In like manner deacons should be blameless in the presence of His righteousness, as deacons of God and Christ and not of men; not calumniators, not double-tongued, not lovers of money, temperate in all things, compassionate, diligent, walking according to the truth of the Lord who became a minister (deacon) of all. For if we be well pleasing unto Him in this present world, we shall receive the future world also, according as He promised us to raise us from the dead, and that if we conduct ourselves worthily of Him we shall also reign with Him, if indeed we have faith. (3) In like manner also the younger men must be blameless in all things, caring for purity before everything and curbing themselves from every evil. For it is a good thing to refrain from lusts in the world, for every lust warreth against the Spirit, and neither whoremongers nor effeminate persons nor defilers of themselves with men shall inherit the kingdom of God, neither they that do untoward things. Wherefore it is right to abstain from all these things, submitting yourselves to the presbyters and deacons as to God and Christ. The virgins must walk in a blameless and pure conscience.

VI

   And the presbyters also must be compassionate, merciful towards all men, turning back the sheep that are gone astray, visiting all the infirm, not neglecting a widow or an orphan or a poor man: but providing always for that which is honorable in the sight of God and of men, abstaining from all anger, respect of persons, unrighteous judgment, being far from all love of money, not quick to believe anything against any man, not hasty in judgment, knowing that we all are debtors of sin. (2) If then we entreat the Lord that He would forgive us, we also ought to forgive: for we are before the eyes of our Lord and God, and we must all stand at the judgment-seat of Christ, and each man must give an account of himself. (3) Let us therefore so serve Him with fear and all reverence, as He himself gave commandment and the Apostles who preached the Gospel to us and the prophets who proclaimed beforehand the coming of our Lord; being zealous as touching that which is good, abstaining from offenses and from the false brethren and from them that bear the name of the Lord in hypocrisy, who lead foolish men astray.

VII

   For every one who shall not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is antichrist: and whosoever shall not confess the testimony of the Cross, is of the devil; and whosoever shall pervert the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts and say that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, that man is the firstborn of Satan. (2) Wherefore let us forsake the vain doing of the many and their false teachings, and turn unto the word which was delivered unto us from the beginning, being sober unto prayer and constant in fastings, entreating the all-seeing God with supplications that He bring us not into temptation, according as the Lord said, The Spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.

VIII

   Let us therefore without ceasing hold fast by our hope and by the earnest of our righteousness, which is Jesus Christ who took up our sins in His own body upon the tree, who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth, but for our sakes He endured all things, that we might live in Him. (2) Let us therefore become imitators of His endurance; and if we should suffer for His name's sake, let us glorify Him. For He gave this example to us in His own person, and we believed this.

IX

   I exhort you all therefore to be obedient unto the word of righteousness and to practice all endurance, which also ye saw with your own eyes in the blessed Ignatius and Zosimus and Rufus, yea and in others also who came from among yourselves, as well as in Paul himself and the rest of the Apostles; (2) being persuaded that all these ran not in vain but in faith and righteousness, and that they are in their due place in the presence of the Lord, with whom also they suffered. For they loved not the present world, but Him that died for our sakes and was raised by God for us.

X

   Stand fast therefore in these things and follow the example of the Lord, being firm in the faith and immovable, in love of the brotherhood kindly affectioned one to another, partners with the truth, forestalling one another in the gentleness of the Lord, despising no man. (2) When ye are able to do good, defer it not, for Pitifulness delivereth from death. Be ye all subject one to another, having your conversation unblamable among the gentiles, that your good works both ye may receive praise and the Lord may not be blasphemed in you. (3) But woe to him through whom the name of the Lord be blasphemed. Therefore teach all men soberness, in which ye yourselves also walk.

XI

   I was exceedingly grieved for Valens, who aforetime was a presbyter among you, because he is so ignorant of the office which was given unto him. I warn you therefore that ye refrain from covetousness, and that ye be pure and truthful. Refrain from all evil. (2) But he who cannot govern himself in these things, how doth he enjoin this upon another? If a man refrain not from covetousness, he shall be defiled by idolatry, and shall be judged as one of the Gentiles who know not the judgment of the Lord, Nay, know we not, that the saints shall judge the world, as Paul teacheth? (3) But I have not found any such thing in you, neither have heard thereof, among whom the blessed Paul labored, who were his letters in the beginning. For he boasteth of you in all those churches which alone at that time knew God; for we knew Him not as yet. (4) Therefore I am exceedingly grieved for him and for his wife, unto whom may the Lord grant true repentance. Be ye therefore yourselves also sober herein, and hold not such as enemies but restore them as frail and erring members, that ye may save the whole body of you. For so doing, ye do edify one another.

XII

   For I am persuaded that ye are well trained in the sacred writings, and nothing is hidden from you. But to myself this is not granted. Only, as it is said in these scriptures, Be ye angry and sin not, and Let not the sun set on your wrath. Blessed is he that remembereth this; and I trust that this is in you. (2) Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal High-priest Himself the [Son of God Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and truth, and in all gentleness and in all avoidance of wrath and in forbearance and long suffering and in patient endurance and in purity; and may He grant unto you a lot and portion among His saints, and to us with you, and to all that are under heaven, who shall believe on our Lord and God Jesus Christ and on His Father that raised him from the dead. (3) Pray for all the saints. Pray also for kings and powers and princes and for them that persecute and hate you and for the enemies of the cross, that your fruit may be manifest among all men, that ye may be perfect in Him.

XIII

Ye wrote to me, both ye yourselves and Ignatius, asking that if any one should go to Syria he might carry thither the letters from you. And this I will do, if I get a fit opportunity, either I myself, or he whom I shall send to be ambassador on your behalf also. (2) The letters of Ignatius which were sent to us by him, and others as many as we had by us, we send unto you, according as ye gave charge; the which are subjoined to this letter; from which ye will be able to gain great advantage. For they comprise faith and endurance and every kind of edification, which pertaineth unto our Lord. Moreover concerning Ignatius himself and those that were with him, if ye have any sure tidings, certify us.

XIV

I write these things to you by Crescens, whom I commended to you recently and now commend unto you: for he hath walked blamelessly with us; and I believe also with you in like manner. But ye shall have his sister commended, when she shall come to you. Fare ye well in the Lord Jesus Christ in grace, ye and all yours. Amen." (http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/polycarp-lightfoot.html)

   

St. Polycarp the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Smyrna (http://clubs.pathfinder.gr/agiospanteleimonas/380907)

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Polycarp. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.
  
Kontakion in the First Tone

Through godly virtues, thou broughtest forth for the Lord God much spiritual fruit, O thou most blessed Hierarch, and so didst prove worthy of God thy Lord, O wise Polycarp. Wherefore, on this day we who have all been enlightened through thy holy words extol thy praiseworthy mem'ry and glorify Christ the Lord.

(http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=439)
  

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