Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene the Newly-revealed (source)
A “Resurrection” by St. Raphael
On June 21st 1995, 46 year
old Katerina N. T., an inhabitant of Kalamarias, Thessaloniki, after
a terrible car accident, was transferred to the Hospital
“Papanikolaou” with a serious cranioencephalic condition: her
skull on her forehead was traumatized, and her meninges, blood and
soil were mixed together on her forehead. After five hours in the
operating room, they took her to the ICU. Objectively, the doctors
did not give her any hope of living, not even one in a million, and
they said that if she would live, she would be a “vegetable”. Her
relatives, full of agony regarding her state, but also with deep
faith, all night entreated St. Raphael.
The next day they learned that there
would be a vigil at the Holy Hesychasterion of the Precious
Forerunner, Metamorphosi, Chalkidiki, where they took part and gave
her name to be commemorated in the Holy Proskomidi [Oblation]. They left with
souls less burdened, full of hope in God, even though the medical
state of the sick woman was hopeless.
The next evening, the medical
information was disheartening. Some doctor told them that the
cranioencephalic damage was so severe that he could not leave them
any hope, other than if she could get a “head transplant”! The
mother, when she returned to the ICU after a few days, could not
recognize her daughter if the nurse had not pointed her out to her!
Sunday June 25th, they went
in the morning to the Monastery of St. Raphael in Griva of
Goumenissa. The Metropolitan of Goumenissa, Demetrios, was serving
Divine Liturgy, and he told them not to loose hope, but to entreat
the Saint, and he will work his miracle, as so many unbelievable
miracles had occurred up to that point. They kneeled with tears and
prayed in the Paraklesis which they asked to be served after the
Divine Liturgy. They took holy oil and water. They then descended to
the Holy Monastery of Panagia in Goumenissa, and were received with
pain of soul before the wonderworking icon that this miracle might
occur.
Daily they served Paraklesis to St.
Raphael and to other saints in Thessaloniki. In the daily Divine
Liturgies and holy Paraklesis services at the Monastery, they would
continuously remember the name of the sick woman.
On July 2nd and 9th,
both Sundays, at dawn all her relatives again ascended to the Holy
Monastery for Divine Liturgy, and gave a prosphoro with the name of
the sick woman, praying with deep faith and hope, kneeling with tears
in the Paraklesis after the Divine Liturgy.
On July 9th, there happened to
also be a busload of pilgrims from Kozani who also prayed with them
fervently, chanting along with them “Lord have mercy” in the
Paraklesis.
The next day, after 18 days in the ICU,
the sick woman recovered! The miracle had occurred. The objectively
negative scientific prognostications were reversed! And while the
previous days there was a significant risk of meningitis or stroke,
ultimately, the Grace of God prevented these dangers. They
transferred her to the Neurosurgical Clinic, from which she was
discharged. When she recovered somewhat, they ascended as a family to
the Monastery and had Divine Liturgy served.
She entered the Hospital again for
plastic surgical repair of the bone of her forehead on September
20th, and again, on October 10th for another
procedure on her eye and on her jaw. All of the surgeries were
successful. After the most recent test, Professor F. confirmed that
there was no more problem, despite her near death adventure.
In August, the woman who was healed,
one night in her sleep saw that someone was knocking on her door, and
opening it, she saw St. Raphael. She entreated him to come into her
home to help her, but the Saint told her: “You don't have any more
need, you are no longer in danger.” She awoke full of joy for the
protection of the Saint.
And her husband was made worthy to see
the Saint once in his dream fully alive in their house, for the first
time. In the beginning, he did not understand who he was, and he was
afraid of this unexpected visitor. The Saint blessed him, telling him
to not be afraid, because he came for their good.
The whole family confesses the great
miracle which St. Raphael worked for Katerina. They visit the
Monastery routinely, to express their deep thanks to this
wonderworking Saint of God.
Several times, it happened that the
policeman Demetrios T. was also present as a pilgrim together with
his family. He was the policeman who first raced with his car to meet
the scene of the accident. Seeing her state, he could not believe
that she could be saved, and however, with deep faith, he crossed her
with holy oil of St. Raphael, which he always keeps with him in his
car, and he entreated for his intercessions for her.
It is true that this event was a
“resurrection”. Our brother and friend who is a surgeon in that
Hospital ICU said clearly: “I remember at that time three
'corpses'; one of them was raised!”
(amateur translation of text from source)
The Holy Monastery of St. Raphael, Griva, Goumenissa (source)
The Monastery of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, Griva, Goumenissa, Greece
The Holy Monastery of St. Raphael is
found on the verdant slope of the Paikou Mountain, at a height of 600
meters, with a view of the valley of Axiou, in the area of Griva, 7km
from Goumenissa, Kilkis [about 1 hour from Thessaloniki].
It is a men's monastery. It was founded
in 1992 by the Metropolitan of Goumenissa Demetrios and his synodeia,
and it is the fruit of a special reverence towards the newly-revealed
martyred Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, who appeared during our
era (1959-1962), 500 years after their martyrdom.
It celebrates on the Tuesday of Bright
Week (Monday evening to Tuesday morning after Pascha), on the day
when the Saints were perfected in martyrdom in Thermi of Lesvos,
1463. Furthermore, they also especially celebrate the feasts of the
Holy Myrrhbearers, and St. Basil the Great, to whom are offered
chapels in their honor in the original building complex of the
Monastery.
The Katholikon of the Monastery (source)
The main church of the Monastery (the
“Katholikon”) is dedicated to Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene.
There are also two chapels dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul, and to
the Apostle Andrew.
Special care was given to the
architecture of the church which joins the Athonite form with designs
from Constantinople (a central dome, four surrounding domes, a dome
above the Holy Altar, choirs, chapels, a dome in the narthex, and an
external patio).
Due to the complex and costly
construction, the church is still not fully finished. For the
completion of the church, donations can be sent to the Ethniki
Trapeza 250/601365-19.
In the Monastery are preserved portions
of the Holy Relics of: Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, St. Mary
Magdalene the Myrrhbearer, and a small portion of the Precious Cross,
given by the Blessed Patriarch Diodoros of Jerusalem to Metropolitan
Demetrios.
The Holy Relics of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene treasured by the Monastery (source)
Liturgical program:
Divine Liturgy daily until 9AM, Sundays
until 10AM.
Vespers and Paraklesis: 5PM.
Holy Unction: The first Sunday of every
month, after Vespers.
Feasts:
St. Raphael: Tuesday after Pascha
St. Basil (Divine Liturgy on January
1st)
Finding of the Relic of St. Nicholas
(Divine Liturgy on June 13th)
Sts. Peter and Paul the Apostles
(Divine Liturgy on June 29th)
The Veneration of the Precious Cross
(September 14th)
St. Andrew the Apostle (Divine Liturgy
on November 30th)
Vigils (8PM-2AM):
The Finding of the Relic of St. Raphael
(June 22-23)
St. Mary Magdalene (July 21-22)
The Finding of the icon of the Christ
Pantocrator (August 1-2)
St. Catherine (November 24-25)
The Monastery remains open from 7AM
until sunset.
Fervent request to pilgrims:
The Monastery is a place of Divine
Worship, honor of the Holy Martyrs, and prayer and ascesis of the
monks. Because of this, please respect the holiness of the place, and
the religious consciences of the other pilgrims.
Do not come to the Monastery with
improper clothing (e.g. women with low-necked garments, short skirts,
pants, and any provocative outfits, and men with shorts).
The Monastery has many publications (including many miracles of the Saints) and many recordings of services. See the link below for some of the titles.
Address:
The Holy Monastery of St. Raphael,
Griva, 613 00 Goumenissa
Telephone: 23.430-20.270
Fax: 23.430-20.271
Email: agiosrafailgriva [at] gmail.com
(source)
Litany with the icon and holy relics of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene (source)
Christ is risen from the dead, by dead, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs, He has granted life! Truly the Lord is risen!
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Proseuxitheite na mas lutrosei o theosTapo tis ereunes euxaristoume tis farmakeutikes
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