Saturday, December 13, 2008

The Complaint of Christ

Icon of Christ "Extreme Humility" and Panagia (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)


Τὸ Παράπονο τοῦ ΧριστοῦΜὲ ὀνομάζετε Κύριον ἀλλὰ δὲν μὲ Ὑπακούετε.
Μὲ ὀνομάζετε Φῶς, ἀλλὰ δὲν μὲ Βλέπετε.
Μὲ ὀνομάζετε Ὁδὸν ἀλλὰ δὲν μὲ Ἀκολουθεῖτε.
Μὲ ὀνομάζετε Ζωὴν ἀλλὰ δὲν μὲ Ἐπιθυμεῖτε.
Μὲ ὀνομάζετε Σοφία, ἀλλὰ δὲν μὲ Συμβουλεύεσθε.
Μὲ ὀνομάζετε Ἀλήθεια, ἀλλὰ δὲν μὲ Πιστεύετε.
Μὲ ὀνομάζετε Παντοδύναμον, ἀλλὰ δὲν μὲ Ἐμπιστεύεσθε.
Μὲ ὀνομάζετε Δίκαιο, ἀλλὰ δὲν μὲ Φοβεῖσθε.
Μὲ ὀνομάζετε Πατέρα, ἀλλὰ δὲν γίνεσθε Παιδιά μου.
Μὲ ὀνομάζετε Σωτῆρα ἀλλὰ δὲν θέλετε τὴν Σωτηρία Σας
.





The Complaint of Christ
(author unknown)
You call me Lord, but don't Obey me.
You call me Light, but you don't See me.
You call me Way, but you don't Follow me.
You call me Life, but you don't Desire me.
You call me Wisdom, but you don't Agree with me.
You call me Truth, but you don't Believe me.
You call me All-powerful, but you don't Trust in me.
You call me Just, but you don't Fear me [or Respect me].
You call me Father, but you don't become my Children.
You call me Savior, but you don't want Your Salvation.

(taken from: http://www.phys.uoa.gr/~nektar/orthodoxy/prayers/proseyxai.htm)

Sts. Herman of Alaska, Peter the Aleut and Juvenaly

Greetings!

Yesterday and today are celebrated (for those in the New Calendar) the first Orthodox Saints of North America. Yesterday (December 12th) was the Feast of the Synaxis of the First Martyrs of the American Land, which includes St. Juvenaly and St. Peter the Aleut. Today (December 13th) is one of the feasts of St. Herman of Alaska the Wonderworker. Also, the Synaxis of All Saints of North America is celebrated the Sunday after Pentecost I believe. Their full lives are included elsewhere, but I thought I would post some links to their lives, etc.


Icon of All Saints who have shown forth in North America (taken from: http://ocaphoto.oca.org/MiscEventViewer.asp?EID=894 )
December 12th - The Synaxis of the First Martyrs of the American Land (Sts. Juvenaly and Peter the Aleut)
Thy martyr, O Lord, Holy Hieromartyr St. Juvenaly of Alaska, through his suffering, an incorruptible crown did obtain from Thee, our God; for, rejoicing in Thy strength, he laid low his tormentors and did beat off impotent affronts of the demons also; at his intercessions save our souls.
Troparion to St. Peter the Aleut (from: http://www.allsaintsofamerica.org/orthodoxy/peter.html):
Thy martyr, O Lord, St. Peter the Aleut, through his suffering, an incorruptible crown did obtain from Thee, our God; for, rejoicing in Thy strength, he laid low his tormentors and did beat off impotent affronts of the demons also; at his intercessions save our souls.
-Introduction to the Protomartyrs of America, Sts. Juvenaly and Peter: http://www.roca.org/OA/7/7a.htm
-For the life of St. Juvenaly, see: http://www.oca.org/FS.NA-Saint.asp?SID=4&Saint=Juvenaly , http://www.allsaintsofamerica.org/orthodoxy/juvenaly.html
-For the life of St. Peter the Aleut, see: http://www.oca.org/FS.NA-Saint.asp?SID=4&Saint=Peter , http://www.allsaintsofamerica.org/orthodoxy/peter.html

December 13th - St. Herman the Wonderworker of Alaska
Troparion of St. Herman in Tone IV (taken from: http://www.allsaintsofamerica.org/orthodoxy/herman.html):
O venerable Herman, ascetic of the northern wilderness and gracious advocate for all the world, teacher of the Orthodox Faith and good instructor of piety, adornment of Alaska and joy of all America: entreat Christ God, that He save our souls.
-For the life, writings, hymns, etc. of St. Herman, see: http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/herman.htm#n2 , http://www.oca.org/FS.NA-Saint.asp?SID=4&Saint=Herman , and http://www.allsaintsofamerica.org/orthodoxy/herman.html


We are truly blessed by God to be in the same land where, only after a few hundred years of Orthodoxy, many Saints and miracles have shown forth. May God bless our Land as well as every Land, and may all the Holy Saints of America intercede for us all and help us!

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

Friday, December 12, 2008

The Veneration of St. Spyridon on Kerkyra [Corfu]

The Bell-tower of St. Spyridon, Kerkyra (taken from: http://www.imcorfu.gr/agios%20foto/agios%20foto.htm)

Greetings!

Today (December 12th) was the feast of St. Spyridon, and I thought to include some information gathered from various places about how the Saint is venerated on Kerkyra, where his Holy Relics came to rest. For a very through account of his life that I just came across, see: http://www.saint-spyridon.com/archive_spyridon.htm. The first excerpt, on how he came to Kerkyra, is from (http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=332&type=saints):

"By the divine grace which dwelt in him, [St. Spyridon] wrought such great wonders that he received the surname 'Wonderworker." So it is that, having tended his flock piously and in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord about the year 350, leaving to his country his sacred relics as a consolation and source of healing for the faithful. About the middle of the seventh century, because of the incursions made by the barbarians at that time, his sacred relics were taken to Constantinople, where they remained, being honoured by the emperors themselves. But before the fall of Constantinople, which took place on May 29, 1453, a certain priest named George Kalokhairetes, the parish priest of the church where the Saint's sacred relics, as well as those of Saint Theodora the Empress, were kept, took them away on account of the impending peril. Travelling by way of Serbia, he came as far as Arta in Epirus, a region in Western Greece opposite to the isle of Corfu. From there, while the misfortunes of the Christian people were increasing with every day, he passed over to Corfu about the year 1460. The relics of Saint Theodora were given to the people of Corfu; but those of Saint Spyridon remain to this day, according to the rights of inheritance, the most precious treasure of the priest's own descendants, and they continue to be a staff for the faithful in Orthodoxy, and a supernatural wonder for those that behold him; for even after the passage of 1,500 years, they have remained incorrupt, and even the flexibility of his flesh has been preserved. Truly wondrous is God in His Saints! (Ps. 67:3 5)"
   
The Holy Reliquary of St. Spyridon, Kerkyra (taken from: http://www.imcorfu.gr/agios%20foto/agios%20foto.htm)

St. Spyridon, as was mentioned, is beloved throughout the whole world, however, the people of the island of Kerkyra are especially devoted to him. Four times a year, I believe, they have a procession of his holy and incorrupt Relics, in commemoration of the numerous miracles of his to save the island. The following info on those feasts is taken from: http://www.corfunext.com/saint_spyridon.htm.

"The Religious Processions of Saint Spyridon
Drawing of the Litany of St. Spyridon (taken from: http://oldkerkyraphoto.blogspot.com/2007_07_08_archive.html)
   
On Palm Sunday, Easter Saturday, August 11th and the first Sunday in November the body of St. Spyridon, is carried in solemn procession along the streets of Corfu on routes prescribed by tradition.

The great Palm Sunday procession commemorates the miraculous deliverance of the island from a deadly plague. The windows of most houses along the route of the procession are decorated with purple, gold-fringed draperies in honor of the Saint; the custom dates back to Venetian times and has its origin in Byzantium. The procession is attended by the clergy, headed by the Metropolitan, by representatives of the secondary schools and Boy Scouts, the three brass bands of Corfu town, and others from the villages. All the civic and state authorities, as well as detachments of the armed forces, take part in the procession. We must return to the seventeenth century to learn the origin of the procession. Large crowds gathered in despair in St. Spyridon’s Church and prayed to the Saint for salvation from the plague, which had already taken the lives of sixty citizens. From that day the number of death was gradually reduced and at the same time a light like that of a small lamp was seen at night on the top of the Saint’s belfry and was observed by the night sentinels of the Old Fortress. By Palm Sunday the epidemic was over and this was ascribed to the miraculous intervention of the Saint. The whole of the rejoicing population, in a show of gratitude, carried their Patron Saint in procession. The Venetian Governor, at the request of the people of Corfu, decreed on the 21st of June 1630 that henceforth a procession would be held on Palm Sunday every year.

St. Spyridon working a miracle (taken from: http://www.imcorfu.gr/litanies.htm)
   
The Easter Saturday procession commemorates the relief of the island from famine, and is the oldest of the four processions and the most solemn, since it is combined with the Orthodox ritual carrying the ‘Epitaph’, a gilt bier representing the body of Jesus Christ being borne to the grave. On this occasion the canopy is not held over the Saint but over the Epitaph. This custom dates back to 1574, when the Venetian Senate prohibited the Greek Orthodox processions of the Epitaph taking place on Good Friday. Local custom and tradition has for this reason moved the Epitaph procession from Good Friday to Easter Saturday exclusively for the Church of St. Spyridon. The Saint’s body is not replaced in its permanent silver casket when the procession is over, but is exposed day and night for general [veneration] by the faithful until the afternoon of Easter Tuesday. The story of this procession reaches back to the middle of the sixteenth century. According to the legend of the Saint, the inhabitants of Corfu were suffering from famine since no grain ships could sail owing contrary winds. Unexpectedly, on Easter Saturday, ships loaded with flour sailed into Corfu harbor. They were sailing past the island and had been diverted thither by St. Spyridon who appeared in a dream to the captains and induced them to change their course and sail at once to Corfu because the population was starving. The flour was unloaded and distributed to the inhabitants who thus satisfied their hunger and celebrated Easter joyfully. According to historical evidence Easter Saturday procession was probably first held in the second half of the sixteenth century.

The Litany of St. Spyridon on Pascha (taken from: http://www.bellavistahotel.gr/gr/kerkira-hotel-gr-easter.htm)
   
The third procession of St. Spyridon is held on 11th of August, in remembrance of the Saint’s deliverance of the island from the Turkish siege of 1716. The legend of the Saint mentions that there appeared to the enemy Saint Spyridon surrounded by a glorious heavenly host, holding in his right hand flashing sword, and furiously pursuing them. On its return to the church the Saint’s body is exposed for general [veneration] for three days and two nights.
   
See the following links for more information on the great miracles of St. Spyridon in driving back the Turks from the island of Corfu, and defending his church from the Latins.
 
St. Spyridon working a miracle (taken from: http://www.imcorfu.gr/litanies.htm)
   
The last in the calendar of the processions of St. Spyridon is that on the first Sunday in November in commemoration of the miraculous intercession of the Saint in saving Corfu from deadly plague, which twice visited the island in the seventeenth century. The history of the procession goes back to 1673. The pestilence was first identified in one of the suburbs and soon spread all over the town; the entire population was gripped by terror of death. For three nights a light was seen by the local inhabitants on the bell-tower of his Church and the figure of Saint Spyridon, carrying cross in one hand, appeared driving the pestilence away. The Venetian Governor, at request of the people of Corfu, sanctioned by decree on the 29th of October 1673 that the procession be held every year on the first Sunday in November.Bibliography: STAMATOPOULOS, N.: Old Corfu, History and Culture"

Some of the faithful refer to St. Spyridon as "The Walking Saint", because his slippers must be replaced every year because they are worn out from his various miraculous travels to heal and help people (http://orthodoxwiki.org/Spyridon_of_Trimythous).
 
"One of the pairs of St. Spyridon's slippers, housed at the cathedral dedicated to him in Worcester, Massachusetts" (taken from: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Spyridon_of_Trimythous)
   
May St. Spyridon intercede for all of us and help us!
   

Kontakion of St. Spyridon in the Second Tone
Wounded by your love for Christ, O holy One, your mind given wings by the radiance of the Spirit, you put the practice of theory into deeds, becoming a sacred altar, O Chosen by God, and praying for the divine illumination of all.
(http://www.imcorfu.gr/agios%20spiridon.htm, http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=332&type=saints)
   
St. Spyridon the Wonderworker (source)
   
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Leontios the Righteous of Monemvasia, and Relics of the Lord's Sacred Passion

The Silver Covering of the Holy Relics of Christ's Passion, treasured in the Monastery of the Pammegiston Taxiarchon (the All-Great Taxiarchs, the Holy Archangels) in Achaia, Greece. (picture taken from: http://www.phys.uoa.gr/~nektar/orthodoxy/tributes/osios-leontios/index.htm)
 
Greetings!

Yesterday (December 11th) was celebrated our Father among the Saints, St. Leontios the Righteous, who was born in Movemvasia and lived in asceticism in Aigialias in Achaia. Pigi Zois had an interesting account of his life, and how the monastery he founded came to protect many relics from Christ's Holy Passion, including parts of the Precious Cross, the Crown of Thorns, the Sponge, the Purple Robe of the Lord, and also part of the ascetical garment of St. John the Forerunner. The account is translated and summarized from both http://www.pigizois.net/agiologio/axranta_pathoi.htm, http://www.synaxaristis.googlepages.com/11δεκεμβριου, and http://www.phys.uoa.gr/~nektar/orthodoxy/tributes/osios-leontios/index.htm.
 

Icon of Sts. Daniel the Stylite and Leontios the Righteous (who celebrate on December 11th) (icon taken from: http://www.christopherklitou.com/icon_11_dec_daniel_the_stylite_leontius_of%20achaia.htm)
   
St. Leontios the Righteous of Monemvasia and Achaia
Slightly above the monastery of the Taxiarchs is found St. Leontios' place of asceticism. He was born around 1377 in Monemvasia of Laconia, and was a descendant of an aristocratic family, family of the Paleologos emperors of Byzantium. His name (before becoming a monk) was Leo [or Leon]. His parents were eminent and God-loving people. His mother seems to have been Theodora, the daughter of the Emperor Andronikos, and his father, Andreas, was had the office of Governor General throughout the Peloponnese.

Leo was nurtured carefully and quickly managed to distinguish himself for his sharp mind and pure life. Along with the acquisition of knowledge, he worked towards spiritual cultivation, being nurtured on the Scriptures and the texts of the holy fathers.

Later he was sent by his parents to Constantinople for more advanced studies. With youthful enthusiasm and remarkable dedication he studied science, and more so philosophy. Within a short time he showed such progress that even his teachers were in awe. But his father's death soon forced Leon to return from Constantinople to his birthplace of Monemvasia to help and comfort his mother.

Theodora, when she saw that her son had lonesome tendencies [or yearnings for the monastic life], urged her son to get married and take care of a large home of inheritance. And when it would be possible, he could leave all worldly things, clothe himself in the monastic garb, and according to tradition, pass onto the left bank of the river Selinounta, where the monastery of of Panagia the "Hope of the Hopeless" was (and today is the Monastery of Pepelenitsas). In Leon's heart burned the overwhelming desire to dedicate himself to God. Nothing on earth could quench it. And later as it was agreed to by wife, who agreed to take care of family matters and raise their three children, around 1410, he entered the chorus of ascetics under the guidance of Fr. Mennidis the monk, and took the name Leontios at his monastic tonsure. [Note: Another account says that his wife and three children died before he sought the monastic life.]

  
His life was prayer, and his daily care to seek God. He stayed with Fr. Mennidis for a long time, and later left for Mount Athos to seek other venerable elders.

Having lived there for some time and becoming manly in virtue, he returned to the Peloponnese and sought a place of solitary asceticism. He prayed day and night for God to reveal to him were he should live. The author of his synaxarion notes: "It was revealed to him that he should head north, to the mountain known as Klokon the Elder, above Aigio."
   
Picture of the stairs leading to the Cave of St. Leontios' Asceticism (taken from: http://www.phys.uoa.gr/~nektar/orthodoxy/tributes/osios-leontios/index.htm)
   
Following this vision, around 1415-1420, Leontios came to Kloko, namely to the place which is now known as the "Old-Monastery". At the base of the rock there was a natural cavity, which became inhabited by the newly-arrived monk. His presence and his teaching of the Divine Word changed the appearance of the region, and his reputation attracted many students (many of whom later entered the Holy service).

In this craggy space he built a small church dedicated to the Archangel Michael, which became known not only in the immediate area, but all over Greece, and even reached Thomas and Demetrios Palaeologus, who in his honor, offered the means to establish a majestic monastery in Leontios' place of asceticism, Kloko.

Picture of the Monastery of the Holy Taxiarchs, today. (taken from: http://www.phys.uoa.gr/~nektar/orthodoxy/tributes/osios-leontios/index.htm)
   
The Palaeologos family gave the monastery many farms and built reservoir. They also donated Relics of the Saints, especially ones from the Awesome and Holy Passion of the Lord, including parts of the Precious Cross, the Crown of Thorns, the Sponge, the Purple Robe of the Lord, and also part of the ascetical garment of St. John the Forerunner, the first monastic.
 
 Modern Picture of the Holy Relics of Christ's Sacred Passion (Portions of the Precious Cross, the Crown of Thorns, the Sponge, the Purple Robe of the Lord, and also part of the ascetical garment of St. John the Forerunner) endowed to St. Leontios, and the Monastery of the Pammegiston Taxiarchon (the All-Great Taxiarchs, the Archangels) Aigialeias, Peloponnese. Also note that according to tradition, the marble container which holds these relics is made from stone from the tomb of Christ, and dates to 180AD. (http://www.romfea.gr/ekklisia-tis-kiproy/11926-axranta-pathoi-ipodoxi-kipros)
   
St. Leontios, who as a man, monastic, and Abbot worked wonders and enlightened all those who asked of him, fell asleep in the Lord on December 11th, 1452, at the age of 75. His Precious Body, in which he struggled in life, was placed in his cave, and forever pours forth healings to those who approach them with faith.
  

Icon of St. Leontios the Righteous (taken from: http://www.phys.uoa.gr/~nektar/orthodoxy/tributes/osios-leontios/index.htm)
   
Απολυτίκιο. Ήχος α’. Τον τάφον σου Σωτήρ.
Ασκήσει λαμπρυνθείς, ως χρυσός εν χωνεία, λαμπρύνεις Μοναστών, τους χορούς επομένους, τοις θείοις σου διδάγμασι, θεοφόρε Λεόντιε, όθεν σήμερον, την φωτοφόρον σου μνήμην, εορτάζοντες, υπέρ ημών σε πρεσβεύειν, αιτούμεν προς Κύριoν.

Apolytikion of St. Leontios the Righteous of Monemvasia and Achaia - 1st Mode (amateur translation)
In asceticism you shined, as gold in the furnace, you illuminated Monks, the choirs who followed, with your divine teachings, O God-bearer Leontios, and today, celebrating your light-bearing memory, intercede for us, entreat the Lord.

St. Leontios of Monemvasia (http://www.immspartis.gr/?p=8826)
  
St. Leontios, intercede for us!
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers , Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

The Life of St. Spyridon the Wonderworker

Icon depicting the Dormition of St. Spyridon with numerous scenes from his life (http://194.177.217.107/gr/showpic.asp?picpath=56_8bit_PE-IC9bis-DS2-Q2&curtable=icons&currecord=56&vorder=1&vmode=first)

Greetings!

Tomorrow (December 12th) if the feast of St. Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous, the Wonderworker. He is one of the most beloved Saints of the Orthodox Church, the Protector of Kerkyra (Corfu), Cyprus, Piraeus, potters, and many who bear his name. His life is filled with love, humility, and the Grace of Christ, and is worth reading. The OCA website has an excellent and thorough account of his life: http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103526.
  
For another very thorough account of his life that I just came across, see: http://www.saint-spyridon.com/archive_spyridon.htm.
  
Below I'll include a few miracles from the life of St. Spyridon that (at first I thought) weren't included above version (amateurly translated and summarized from: http://www.synaxaristis.googlepages.com/12δεκεμβριου)
  

St. Spyridon Bishop of Trimythous, the Wonderworker (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)
  
"Once, the bishop, [St. Spyridon] after a long journey teaching his people, he became tired, and went to rest in the home of one of the faithful. Hearing this, many people from neighboring houses at first, and later from the whole community ran out to meet and to get the blessing of the Saint. Among the crowds was a woman who was sinner, who also came to see the saint. Some even fell down below, to embrace his feet. With the Grace of the Holy Spirit, as soon as the Saint looked at her, he immediately understood her sin. Without anyone else hearing, in a sweet and humble manner, he whispered to the woman: «Lady, don't touch me.»

She insisted, however. And then the Saint with austerity revealed the face of the sin of all. The woman was in awe, and with a broken heart and tears she began to seek the mercy of God. Before this repentance, the loving father said with emotion those words once said by the Lord to such a sinner: «Take heart, o daughter. Your sins are forgiven you.» Go forth and be careful in the future. With his way, the Saint helped the woman who was a sinner to repent. He also gave a lesson to all. Only sincere repentance cleanses and restores the soul of man its honored position, to be a child of God."
  
St. Spyridon the Wonderworker, depicted as a shepherd (source)
  
"Once the saint, accompanied by his friend and pupil of Trifyllio, the first bishop of Nicosia (then Lidras), set out for Kyrenia for some task. The road passed by Kythrea, and at the time it was spring and nature around was more beautiful than a painting. The trees were putting forth flowers. The lovely birds sung sweetly and flew from branch to branch. Mountain flocks were grazing on the rich grass with so many flowers, with the aroma that if seemed to glorify the Creator. They were traveling along the way slowly, because it was an uphill path, and at some juncture Trifyllios was admiring the verdant panoramic plain, which stretched beneath their feet, began to have certain thoughts:

What good, he was thinking mentally, to have for my bishopric some of the buildings located in this place. They would give me a good income to face so many needs.

St. Spyridon the Wonderworker (http://bizantinum.livejournal.com/68782.html)
  
-What are you thinking, my brother? St. Spyridon said. Why let your mind be occupied with such vain things at this time?

-My Geronta [Elder], were you reading my thoughts?

-My Brother, «For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come» (Hebrews 13:14). We don't have here on earth a permanent and lasting home and city, with deep longing we desire the future, the celestial Jerusalem. Vain are all earthly goods. In your heart always have one desire. To aquire the heavens, the eternal good things. All the earthly goods are provisional and deceptive. Today is ours. Tomorrow will be owned by someone else. And never desire? [Και ουδέποτε τίνος.?]

-My Father, forgive me. I was defeated by visions. Prayer to our Lord to forgive me.

-Yes, my son, be careful. The devil uses the most innocent things, to tempt us and scandalize us. Instead of visions, leave our minds to glorify the Creator, Who made everything for our love and happiness, instead of yearning forcefully to seek vain things and to seek to obtain, to make our buildings? [να τα κάμει κτήμα του?]

How much wisdom is in the words of the Divinely-illumined Bishop. Instead of man thinking to hymn and glorify his Maker and Fashioner before the majesty of the Almighty Creator, as one generally does, one yearns to acquire and enjoy the goods of the earth."

Two other miracles I think are worth mentioning from his life, also because they are mentioned in his apolytikion below.
  

St. Spyridon Bishop of Trimythous, the Wonderworker (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)
  
"One day, another poor family knocked at the door of the Bishop. They approached the Saint with tears and asked for a loan. He wanted to pay a debt to a rich man who threatened to sell their home. But where would the Saint find that much to give? The pain that gave rise to bitter tears of the poor family, torn by grief, struck the loving bishop, and he went for a walk. Suddenly there was in front of them a snake slithering through the green. Like lightning, the rod of Aaron struck the mind of the Saint, which at the palace of Pharaoh fell to earth and became a snake. «As it is, Lord, may this snake become gold for this poor family, he said slowly. Yes, Lord. Let it become gold to help this miserable creature of Yours», and again lifted his hand. The snake stopped, and the Saint bent down and picked it up. In his hands the disgusting serpent was transformed and now show forth as gold.

-Take it, son, said the Saint with kindness. Take it and do your work. And the poor man full of joy took the gold and ran to give it to the rich creditor. When the man, with the help of God, paid the debt, the lender returned the golden pledge. The poor man took it back with tears of gratitude and returned it to the Saint. Once he received it in his hands, he turned his eyes towards to heaven, glorified God for His infinite charity, and then threw it to the earth. And miracle of miracles! The gold became a snake again and and left ahead of them."

"When the saint returned to Cyprus [after the 1st Eccumenical Council], he learned with great sadness that his daughter Irene had died. The faithful bishop accepted this trial with exemplary patience and endurance. A few days later a woman came to him with tears and asked for a precious thing, a jewel. It was given to his daughter to watch shortly before she died. The saint arose and carefully searched throughout the house to find the missing object. Unfortunately, it was not found anywhere. Then without any hesitation he went to the grave of his daughter. When he arrived, he offered a fervent prayer, and then, after he bowed over the grave, he asked the dead daughter, as if she were alive, to tell him where she had put the object. Immediately a voice from the depths of the tomb was heard to say:

-My Father, I have it hidden in that certain place. Then the Saint said: -Sleep, my daughter, in peace. Sleep until the day when the Lord will raise us all in the General Resurrection. Those who were there were shaken and were left speechless. They reflected on the strength with which the All-good God endowed this simple but holy bishop. The good shepherd, who would do everything for the benefit and service of Christians."
  

St. Spyridon Bishop of Trimythous, the Wonderworker (Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com used with permission)
   
Apolytikion of St. Spyridon - Mode 1. The stone had been secured.
At the first of the Synods, you emerged as the champion, * and wonder-worker, our God-bearing Father Spyridon. * Wherefore, you addressed the dead one in the grave, * and a serpent you changed to gold. * And while chanting* in service your sacred prayers,* you had angels concelebrating, O most Holy One.* Glory to Christ who glorified you,* glory to Him who crowned you,* glory to the One who works through you,* healings for everyone.
(taken from Fr. Seraphim Dedes: http://sgpm.goarch.org/ematins/bilingual/Dec12.pdf)
St. Spyridon, intercede for us!
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Simple but Profound Miracles of our Living Orthodox Faith

St. Paisios the Athonite (source)
   
"Today, increased knowledge and trust in logic has, unfortunately, shaken our faith to its foundfations and filled our souls with question marks and doubts. This is why we don't have miracles anymore, because a miracle cannot be explained logically, it can only be experienced. But faith in God will bring down divine power and overturn all human expectations. It will perform miracles, resurrect the dead and astonish science. From the outside, all things pertaining to the spiritual life seem upside down. Indeed, the mysteries of God will be impossible to know and will appear strange and contrary to nature as long as we don't overturn our secular mindset and see everything with spiritual eyes. Those who believe that they can come to know God's mysteries through mere scientific theory, without a spiritual life, resemble a fool who thinks he can look through a telescope and see Paradise."

-St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain

(from pg. 244-255 of With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man, Published by the Holy Monastery of St. John the Theologian, Souroti, Greece)


Greetings!

I found this short list of some miracles that happen continuously, and are a constant witness of the Grace of the Holy Spirit in the Holy Orthodox Faith and traditions. You may have heard of some or all of them, but if not, may these help renew our zeal for the Faith, if only in a small way. They are translated and re-worded from http://agiooros.freeforums.org/topic-t828.html , from Nicholas Zachariades from the book: «Εμπειρίες από τον αμίλητο κόσμου του Άθω» Τόμος Β’ Πύργος Ηλείας.

"1. Did you know that the flowers and basil from the Holy Cross that we get from the priest on the feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross can catch yeast, and because it makes the dough rise wonderfully, we can make bread [prosforo] for the Divine Liturgy?

[I've never done this, but I think what the author is saying is that the blessed basil from church is sufficient to cause bread to rise to be used for church]

The Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem (taken from: http://christian-feasts.com/len/agalleries/c1397-i13.php)

2. Did you know that holy water that is blessed in church by the Orthodox priest for the Holy Feast of Theophany or any other feast, as long as you keep it, will not spoil?

3. Did you know that in Jerusalem at the All-Holy Tomb of Christ, every year on Holy Saturday a Holy Fire miraculously comes only to the Orthodox Patriarch? A pilgrimage will convince you
.

[The fire is a visible symbol of the real presence of the Uncreated Light of Christ's Holy Resurrection. I've heard that for the first few minutes after the Patriarch comes out of the Holy Tomb, the fire does not burn anything that it touches. For more info, see: http://www.holyfire.org/eng/index.htm]

Picture of the Holy Sepulcher, the Tomb of Christ (from Wikipedia)

4. Did you know that at Mount Sinai where the God-seer Moses saw the Burning Bush that was not consumed, when a stone is broken open, on the walls are depicted the Bush of the Prophet Moses?

5. Did you know that when monks die in the monastery of St. Savas in Jerusalem, their bodies do not freeze or dry-out or smell and they do not bury them in the soil but put them in a room?

6. Did you know that on the head (the bone) of the fish «Goulianos» which lives in Lake Gennisaret is depicted the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River?

7. Did you know that every year on Mount Tabor in Jerusalem on Aug. 6, the Day of the Transfiguration of our Savior, a light-bearing Cloud appears, which covers the site of the monastery and illuminates the perimeter all night?

[Another summary by Archbishop Seraphim of Canada (http://www.archdiocese.ca/e_bishop/desk/2008/2008.08.19Sermon.htm): " Some of you will remember Archbishop Nikolai of the Patriarchal Jurisdiction who was bishop in this area a long time ago. When I was visiting him one time, he told me how it was when he was an archimandrite in the Middle East a very long time ago. In those days, he always had to go to Mount Tabor to serve the Liturgy on this feast-day. Always on the feast of the Transfiguration (and I didn’t realise it, but I learned this year that it happens on both old and new calendars), at night-time, at the time of the vigil...there are clouds already gathering around the top of Mount Tabor. (At this time of year in Palestine there are no clouds at all – just sun, sun, sun.) The people go into the church on the top of Mount Tabor, and they are praying in the middle of the night. During this time, this cloud, which is not exactly like ordinary clouds (they say it has a different quality of some sort), comes down on top of the mountain. Archbishop Nikolai says that instead of bringing all their fruit into the church, the people leave it outside. The cloud comes down, and when they come out of the church in the early morning, everything is all wet. The people understand that God, Himself, has blessed their fruit. This happens every year. I heard from somebody who just came back from there who was there on August sixth on the new calendar, and it happened then, too. It is happening on both feasts. The LORD doesn’t care too much about the calendar; He cares about us, and reassuring us with His love..."

Also, if I'm not mistaken, I believe that something similar occurs every year at the Orthodox Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem.]

8. Did you know that when celebrating the Holy Martyr Markella in Chios, when the priest and the people visit the place of her martyrdom near the coast, and chant her Paraklesis [Supplication service], the sea water becomes heated and boils with bubbles, and as soon as the Paraklesis finishes, all these phenomena stop?
[For more info see: http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5212 , http://www.stdgocunion.org/saintmarkella.html ]


The site of the martyrdom of St. Markella in Chios, and apparently the red color in the water in the foreground of the picture is the blood of St. Markella which also appears on her feast (taken from: http://www.stdgocunion.org/saintmarkella.html)

9. Did you know that in the Monastery of Panagia near Malevis in Tripoli is an ancient icon of the Theotokos which mysteriously makes myrrh that is highly fragrant?

[There are many such miraculous icons of the Theotokos throughout the world as a testement to the Grace of Christ and Panagia. The icon of Panagia Malevi here is a wonderful example, and for forty years this icon of the Dormition of the Theotokos puts forth holy myrrh which creates a fragrance that is perceivable from miles away from the Monastery and through which Panagia has healed many, many people. Here is an account in Greek: http://www.ecclesia.gr/greek/monshrines/malevi.html , and here is a later post with this site translated/summarized: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/01/miraculous-myrrh-flowing-icon-of.html]

10. Did you know that on the Holy Mountain [Mount Athos] the Virgin Mary has spoken many times with the monks to protect them from dangerous pirates, such as happened in the Monastery Vatopedi with the Holy Icon of the Panagia "Paramythia" [of Consolation?]?

[The Panagia has helped and saved countless numbers of the faithful throughout the centuries. This specific story may be provided here another time, but is a link to it: http://www.mountathos.gr/active.aspx?mode=en{1cd9d117-cfde-4050-948a-df212f28fdb2}View]


The Miraculous Icon of the Theotokos "Paramythia" (Vatopedi Monastery, Mount Athos) (taken from: http://www.mountathos.gr/active.aspx?mode=en{1cd9d117-cfde-4050-948a-df212f28fdb2}View)

11. Did you know that every year during the feast of the Theotokos [from August 6th to the 15th] in Markopoulo of Cephalonia [an island in Greece] snakes appear on the icon of the Virgin Mary and do not bite the pilgrims?"
[This is a very real miracle that happens every year. A multitude of small snakes fill the holy church of the Theotokos only from August 6th-15th, they have small white crosses on them, they never harm anyone, they climb all over the icons in the church, and immediately after the feast, they disappear and are not seen for another year. For more info see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Za9-uX4b8&feature=related , http://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Snakes, http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2009/08/holy-snakes-of-virgin-examining.html].

Additional Miracles:

-The Jordan River reverses its flow - Every year when the Orthodox celebrate the Great Feast of Theophany, and during the Blessing of the Waters, the Jordan River, in which Christ was baptized, turns back and reverses its flow. Here is more information and a video: http://frmilovan.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/the-jordan-reversed-its-flow/, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1t5CFClsBk.

-St. Nicholas the New and the flowing blood - Every year at the feast of St. Nicholas, the new Righteous Martyr of Vounena, Greece, a miraculous and wonderworking liquid like blood flows from the place of his martyrdom. See the following post for more details: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2009/05/st-nicholas-new-righteous-martyr-of.html.

-The Flowers of St. John the Theologian - Marmaketos, Lasthiou, Crete - Every year, the people of the small village of Marmaketos in Crete (50 inhabitants), gather local wild flowers to decorate the Epitaphio of Christ on Holy Friday. On Holy Saturday, they gather the flowers and hang them throughout the church on string, where they dry out. On May 8th, the feast of St. John the Theologian, during the reading of the Gospel in the Divine Liturgy, these dead flowers miraculously show new flowers and green shoots. They are gathered by the people and placed near their icons for a time of need. When someone is sick, the weather is troublesome, etc., they place these flowers in the censer instead of incense and this works many miracles. This happens every year as a testament to Christ's Resurrection and the grace of Christ's Beloved Disciple. The following link shows two (Greek) video clips of the villagers explaining the miracle, recording of the service, and showing the miraculous flowers after the service: http://apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com/2009/05/blog-post_17.html
   

St. Paisios the Athonite (source)


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

A Miracle and the Life of St. Patapios of Thebes

Greetings!

The following story comes from the book: Apostle to Zaire: The Life and Legacy of Blessed Cosmas of Grigoriou, an excellent book about a Grace-filled ascetic and missionary of our times. The book includes the biography of Fr. Cosmas, along with many miracles that have occurred among the faithful there.

"We want the Apolytikion of St. Patapios

One evening a pious Zairian couple arrived at our Mission Center. I knew them very well because they are assiduous followers of our liturgical Services and catechetical teaching. They said to me: 'Father, will you give us the Apolytikion and the Kontakion of St. Patapios?'

'Why is that? And how do you know about St. Patapios?' I [Fr. Cosmas] asked.
The husband replied as follows: 'Recently we have been through a lot of difficulties in our house. We prayed hard at night for God's help. One night I had this vision in a dream. I could see that I was holding tightly onto a rope and walking towards one of our churches without touching the ground, and my wife was walking behind me in exactly the same way. At that moment, a monk came out of the church and said to us: 'Do not be downcast about your problems. Take this Gospel and this prayer-rope, read, pray and call upon my name and I will help you. I am St. Patapios.'

They felt they received these gifts from his hands, and that the Bible was open to the Gospel of St. John. To be sure, with the help of a Zairian, I translated the chants in honour of St. Patapios into Swahili and gave them to the couple, with an icon of the Saint."
   

Icon of St. Patapios the Righteous of Thebes (taken from http://www.analogion.net/IeresMones/IM_OsiouPatapiouLoutrakiou.htm)
 
On the life of St. Patapios (or Patapius) of Thebes:

"Our Holy Father Patapius was born and brought up in the Faith and in the fear of God by pious parents in the Egyptian city of Thebes [in the 7th Century] He perceived and rejected the empty vanity of the world early in life and went into the Egyptian desert, where he devoted himself to cleansing his heart from every worldly thought and desire for the sake of divine love. When his virtues became known among the people, they began to come to him and seek relief from their troubles. Afraid of human glory, which darkens a man's mind and separates it from God, Patapius fled from the desert to Constantinople, for this wonderful saint thought that he could more easily hide himself from men in the heart of a city than in the desert. He built himself a hut close to the Blachernae church and there, enclosed and unknown, took up again his interrupted life of asceticism. But the light cannot be hidden. A child, blind from birth, was led by divine Providence to St Patapius and begged him to offer a prayer that he might be given his sight and look upon God's creation, and praise God all the more. Patapius had pity on the suffering child and prayed to God, and the child saw. Through this miracle, Patapius's godly life became known throughout the entire capital, and people began to turn to him for healing, comfort and teaching. Patapius healed one eminent man of dropsy [edema] after blessing him with a cross and anointing him with oil. Making the sign of the Cross in the air, he freed a youth from an unclean spirit which had cruelly tormented him, and the evil spirit went out of God's creature like smoke, uttering a great cry. He made the sign of the Cross over a woman who had sores on her breasts all filled with worms, and she was healed. St Patapius worked many other miracles, all through prayer in the name or Christ and by the power of the Cross."
(taken from: www.saintjonah.org/bltn/pent27.pdf)
 

Picture from the Monastery of St. Patapios near Loutraki (The church where the Relics of St. Ypomoni (Patience) are kept, and the Cave of St. Patapios is to the left (according to the directions of an informed poster)) (taken from: http://www.analogion.net/IeresMones/IM_OsiouPatapiouLoutrakiou.htm)
 
Some accounts say that he passed away in Constantinople, and his disciples later brought his Holy Remains to a cave near Loutraki, Corinth, Greece, and others say that he moved to this cave in life and there reposed. For centuries his Holy Relics remained in obscurity, but were found miraculous and incorrupt 1400 years later by the Grace of God:

"In early 1904, in grooves in the west of a cave located 18 kilometers above the Loutraki, in Geraneia Mountains, the Grace-flowing Relics of St. Patapios were revealed intact and incorrupt. It was discovered as a result of the efforts of a priest from Loutraki named Father Konstantinos Sousani. He would visit this ascetical cave and Church often, and when he liturgized, he constantly had to stoop down because the cave was low. [At this point, I believe that it was unknown that St. Patapios was buried in this cave] Fr. Kostas Sousanis instructed the marble-worker Vasilios Protopapa to excavate and broaden the cave on all sides. While he was digging, in front of stunned eyes of the bystanders in the crypt, they uncovered the Holy Relic and sof the Saint, sweet-smelling, incorrupt, with the flesh and skin still intact and dry. «The body was found on on a cedar wood base by the head and marble by the legs and covered with a series of tiles» (Proskynitarion of the Monastery of Saint Patapios. Sot. Kapsaski, Mousoyrgoy)

On the leather belt that [the Saint] wore was written the name of Saint Patapios, and he held a small wooden cross...The Holy Relic of Saint Patapios, which constantely «has a sweet-smelling, spiritual fragrance» provides the healing Grace of the Holy Spirit to those who come with faith and devotion." (amateur translation/summary of text from: http://www.servitoros.gr/dirfi/view.php/39/660/)
 
For another account with more miracles of St. Patapios, see: http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2009/12/saint-patapios-of-thebes-and-his.html.
 
For another miracle of the Saint, see: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2010/01/miraculous-healing-by-st-patapios.html.
 
For an incredible 360 degree panorama view from the balcony of the Monastery, see: http://www.360visits.gr/panorama_id49.


Another picture from the Monastery of St. Patapios, with its beautiful view of the sea and the beach at Loutraki (taken from http://www.analogion.net/IeresMones/IM_OsiouPatapiouLoutrakiou.htm)

Today there is a convent with about forty nuns at the Monastery of St. Patapios (which is 14km from Loutraki, near Corinth, Greece), and many miracles continue to occur for those who call upon the Saint with faith in Christ. Tomorrow (December 8th) is a main feastday of St. Patapios (another feast is the Tuesday after Pascha, when the Finding of his Holy Relics is commemorated), so may we have his blessings.

For audio recordings of Orthros and Divine Liturgy from the Holy Monastery of St. Patapios, Loutraki (from 12/8/09), see: http://apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com/2009/12/8-12-2009.html.

Another icon of St. Patapios (taken from: http://www.rel.gr/photo/displayimage.php?album=26&pos=46)

Apolytikion of St. Patapios in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
The image of God, was faithfully preserved in you, O Father. For you took up the Cross and followed Christ. By Your actions you taught us to look beyond the flesh for it passes, rather to be concerned about the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy Patapius, your soul rejoices with the angels.
   
Kontakion of the Saint in the Third Tone
Having found thy Church to be a place of spiritual healing, all the people flock with haste thereto, O Saint, and they ask thee to bestow the ready healing of their diseases and forgiveness of the sins they wrought in their lifetime; O Patapius most righteous, in every need, thou art the protector of all.
 
St. Patapios of Thebes (source)
    
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!