Excerpt from the Encomium on St. John the Theologian by St. Theodore the Studite

Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!

   

The following is an excerpt from an encomium by St. Theodore the Studite on St. John the Theologian. It is a truly beautiful homily, and I have yet to find it translated, so I have started by translating a small piece. May the Theologian (along with St. Theodore) intercede for us all!

St. John the Theologian, and his disciple, St. Prochoros (http://ia600102.us.archive.org/13/items/Icoane/IoanEvanghelistul06.jpg)

   

Θεοδώρου Στουδίτου, “Εγκώµιον εις τον µέγαν Ιωάννην τον απόστολον και ευαγγελιστήν του Χριστού.” Migne J.P. Patrologia Graeca, 99, 771-788

   

The Theotokos "Kataphygi" ("Refuge"), and St. John the Theologian (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Avers_Poganovo_Icon.JPG)

   

Excerpt from an Encomium on St. John the Theologian, by St. Theodore the Studite (Amateur translation)

And do you wish to learn who was this great man? John, O men, the very early apostle, the pronounced of the evangelists, the great and golden-winged eagle of God, the one who studied the unapproachable depths of heaven, the man who was beyond the cherubim and unequalled in theoria, the presence of the beginningless Word, and angel among angels, the most greatly-worded preacher of truth, the most highly-seen nous, the fiery tongue, the godly-phrased mouth, the endless gulf of wisdom, the unapproachable in depth of dogmas, the great container of knowledge, the lightning of the Spirit that appears to the world, the thunder of grace of the universe, the firm pillar of the Church, the confirming foundation of God, the net capturing the wildness of the human nature, the fisher of souls with the heavenly-lengthed rod, the one who ever moves to saw apart heresies, the one who cuts the weeds of impiety with a sharp knife, the one who locks out the armies of atheism with a heavenly key, the one who removes the teeth of the noetic beasts that corrupt the mind, the one who sails the waves of the river of the wisdom of God, the most-pure temple of virginity, the very early beloved one and recliner-on-the-boosm of the [One Who] is desired, the great and beautiful-roaded sun on the Gospel, and what else could you say? For this dusky catalogue of a thousand [praises] cannot do justice even if the abyss were filled with encomiums. Bring them, bring all that can be said, for though this is poor, and I have no tongue to speak, a power from above will work the greatness of a miracle, for the height of heaven cannot be counted. And if we be granted to praise him, let us as a foundation take from the honey-like flowers of his evangelical words, and beholding this,  from this honey let us rationally make wax, and as those called to the apostolic feast as to a king, as an assistant where the word is received, approach himself and take courage.

St. John the Theologian (http://www.kostoviconography.com/work.php?type=icons&number=10)

  

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, bestowing life!
Truly the Lord is risen!

Selected hymns for St. Ephraim of Nea Makri

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Ephraim the New Righteous Martyr of Nea Makri, the Wonderworker - Commemorated May 5th and January 3rd (http://www.romiosini.org.gr/DA9A0DD2.el.aspx)

   

Selected hymns from the service to St. Ephraim the New Righteous Martyr of Nea Makri (all hymns below for the Saint are amateur translations from the Greek) available here: http://analogion.gr/glt/texts/May/05c.uni.htm.
   
Idiomelon of the Litia in the First Tone

Beholding you, O righteous-martyr Ephraim, the words of David are fulfilled*, and we brightly praise you, for on the Amomon mountain, working virtue, as on the mountain of the Lord, innocent you were shown in hands and pure in heart, arrayed in righteousness, and you watered the flowers of dispassion with the streams of your martyrical blood, and bore fruit in struggles, and you pour forth the sweetness of wonders, by which the bitter passions are withered, and leading towards salvation those who cry: O Lord, glory be to You. [*Psalm 24:3-4]
  
Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Shining with the light of grace, O Father, your soul manfully endured the attacks of the princes of darkness, as if another were suffering, and you approached Christ totally, not at all lamenting having your members eviscerated by murderous hands, but you cried to the Lord: receive my spirit, O Savior, Who for me voluntarily endured the passion, and poured forth to me eternal life. And therefore, O blessed Ephraim, ceaselessly pray, that those who bless you may be saved.

  

Apolytikion in the First Tone

On Amomon Mountain, you shown forth like the sun, and O God-bearer, you left for God by martyrdom, you endured barbarians’ attacks, Ephraim O righteous-martyr of Christ, because of this you ever pour forth grace, to those who piously cry out to you, glory to Him who gave you strength, glory to Him you made you wondrous, glory to Him who grants through you, healings for all!

  

St. Ephraim of Nea Makri (http://vatopaidi.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/osios-efraiceb9m.jpg)

   

Kontakion in the Third Tone.

You struggled on Amomon mountain in asceticism, O godly-one, and there you completed the road of martyrdom. Therefore, the Giver-of-life has rightly crowned you with dual crowns, O righteous-martyr Ephraim, fervently entreat Him to have mercy on those who praise you.

  

Oikos

O Father, you followed Christ from youth, and in all ways you denied the wordly way and the pleasures of the flesh, and were filled with divine love, shining with an angelic life on mount Amomon, and you became a dwelling-place of divine energy, purifying your body and soul from the soul-corrupting passions with ascetical sweat, and were seized by the murderous hands of barbarians, and showed forth steadfastness in martyrdom, enduring many forms of injuries and tortures, and were violently put to death for Christ. Therefore, the Giver-of-life has crowned you with dual crowns, O righteous-martyr Ephraim, fervently entreat Him to have mercy on those who praise you.

  

Synaxarion

On the fifth of this month (May), we celebrate the memory of the struggle of the holy, glorious, righteous-martyr Ephraim, the newly-revealed and wonderworker, who struggled in asceticism on the mount of Amomon and struggled in martyrdom in the 15th century.

  

Verses

Seized by the struggle of asceticism, Ephraim

you were rightly glorified by the Lord.

On the fifth, Ephraim was horribly found on a mulberry tree by murderous hands.





  Megalynarion

Shining with an ascetical life, on mount Amomon, you struggled martyrically and were granted the grace of wonders by God, O Righteous-martyr Ephraim, who dwell with the Angels.

  
For the life of St. Ephraim, see: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/05/st-ephraim-great-martyr-of-nea-makri.html.

   

Icon of St. Ephraim of Nea Makri, and the spring of holy water in his monastery (http://www.romiosini.org.gr/DA9A0DD2.el.aspx)

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, bestowing life!


Truly the Lord is risen!