"Let us honor the memory of the Apostle, O faithful..."

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. John the Theologian (source)

  
Let us honor the memory of the Apostle, O faithful, for today it has come, shining upon everyone to the ends of the earth, for he was the true Theologian of the Lord, and in the Gospel was shown to be His true friend, and therefore, for those who honor him, he pours forth healings.
-Kathisma from the Feast of St. John the Theologian

(source)
  

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

Truly, the Lord is risen!

"I am Saint Efraim..."

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Ephraim of Nea Makri (source)

   

I am Saint Efraim
(Written by a Pilgrim to the Monastery on June 17, 1971)
"Venerable Mother, I will tell you about a dream I had today. I dreamt that I was in the Church and we had the prayer after Supper. When it was over, as we were leaving I turned my head back and I saw Saint Efraim in front of the Altar. With fear, I went to Him and I heard Him telling me, "I am Saint Efraim. Light the oil candles of the Holy Altar." I was very scared and I called one of the Sisters. Saint Efraim approached me and once again told me, "I am Saint Efraim and He started chanting with His sweet voice, "Restrained by many temptations..." (from the Small Paraklesis to the Theotokos). 

Sts. Ephraim of Nea Makri and Nektarios of Aegina, two great Wonderworkers of the 20th Century (source)

   

He signaled us to stop, He sat down and started to tell us all about His sufferings; how much those bloodthirsty wolves, those infidel Ottomen had tortured Him. And he kept talking, "They were torturing me even after I had died. You don't know how much I have suffered. They put in my head big sharp nails and nailed it to the tree. He did His cross and said, "I suffered a lot", and did his cross again.

I wanted to cry, my Saint. To cry for your terrible ordeal, but I don't have this kind of tears that can reach you. My Saint, with your intercessions, purify my tears and accept them as a supplication of love to your Saintly martyr holiness.

My Saint, we most devoutly [venerate] your sufferings.
Don't stop mediating to the Lord to have mercy on us.

Sts. Ephraim of Nea Makri and Nektarios of Aegina, the Wonderworkers (source)

  
It is true that the Saint's grace has gotten outside our boundaries. A young woman from Kalamata told us that she had gone to Zakynthos to a Monastery and the Mother Superior had told her, "We are expecting a Saint to pass by here." When the young woman asked who that Saint was, she was told it was Saint Efraim, in glory and grandeur. Before Saint Efraim, a Nun with a lit candle was marching in solemnity.

It was September 14, 1971 that I was planning to come to the Monastery for my offering. A few days earlier, I saw the following dream: It was noon time and I was resting when Saint Nectarios along with some other Saint that I didn't know, appeared in front of me. That other Saint was dressed in an ascetic cassock. He was tall and very thin and had a calm ascetic and serious expression. When I asked them who they were, the Saint told me, "Efraim" and started telling me something about the 14th of September, the day of the Holy Cross..., but before I could understand what He wants, I woke up. Later I learned that the Saint was born on that day and on that day His sufferings started and ended on May 5, 1426."

Excerpt from the Book Visions and Miracles of the Great Martyr and Miracle-Worker Ephraim Neophanous
 

Sts. Nektarios of Aegina and Ephraim of Nea Makri, two great Wonderworkers and Healers of Christ in our days (source)

 

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

Truly, the Lord is risen!

"When you have this love, you don't have to worry about anything, not even death..."

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Ephraim of Nea Makri (source)

   

"Mrs. Christina M. from Athens wrote: I was suffering with pain in my spine. One night, the pain got so bad and it reached my neck. I went to my room and crying I begged God to help me through Saint Efraim. The pain of my soul was very strong and for a moment, I felt the presence of the Saint and His sacred little hand to pet my forehead softly. I was like a 4 year old child. Crying I said, "My Saint, help." He started to comfort me, not for my physical pain, but for the pain of my soul."

"Why are you crying, my child? Stop crying and listen to me. I am Saint Efraim. The love you are looking for, my child, the real love only God has it and He gives it to those creatures who love Him and He loves them. I have come now to announce to you God's Love for you. When you have this love, you don't have to worry about anything, not even death. Because God's love can save you and protect you from any illness and misfortune and guard you soul with an impenetrable wall so that no one will be able to violate it. Watch out though that until the end of your life, you will not lose the love of God and of the search for people." He said that and He left.

I cried, "My Saint, don't go. Please stay a little longer. In this world, I have no one else, but God and you. Protect me from ingratitude. Protect me from sin. Protect me so I will be able to safeguard the love of God."

From that moment, my suffering was gone like a thread that was cut. My grievance was also gone..."
 
Excerpt from the book: Visions and Miracles of the Great Martyr and Miracle-Worker Ephraim Neophanous
 

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

Truly, the Lord is risen!

The Tree on which St. Ephraim was Martyred

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Ephraim being put to death for Christ on a mulberry tree, at the end of his long martyrdom (source)

"It was Good Friday, April 4, 1980. The priest came for the divine service of Holy and Great Friday evening. The orthros divine service started and it was time for the Epitaphios to exit the church. At that time, it was raining heavily and we were walking from the northern small gate. There was a very long lived berry tree that I always respected, even though there were many times I was asked to cut the tree down; the most recent time being the morning of Good Friday. I was told, "You have to cut the tree down. It is impossible for the Epitaphios to go through that area." "You push it aside carefully and we'll go through," I answered.

"When the procession was near the tree, a very bright light came and guided my eyes toward the tree and at the same time, I heard a voice saying, "This is the tree on which the Saint suffered martyrdom. Don't think about anything else."

"I salute the most holy tree that held the Glorious Martyr Efraim, God's Courageous Athlete."
-Blessed Makaria, from Visions and Miracles of the Great Martyr and Miracle-Worker Ephraim Neophanous
 

The Tree on which St. Ephraim of New Makri was martyred, still seen in a special chapel in his monastery (source)

 
You proceeded steadily on the path of the virtues, and put to death the carnal mindset through the pains of self-control, O all-blessed Ephraim, making your soul and most-pure body to be a dwelling-place of the All-Holy Trinity, as full of divine light, and through the Prince of Darkness, the barbarians schemed to sway you, but you swatted them away steadfastly, having been strengthened by Christ, and as hold in the furnace, you were tried by many forms of tortures, and were put to death on a tree of life, having been made worthy of martyrical glory, and you entreat that we all be granted peace, and divine mercy.
-Idiomelon of the Litia in the Second Tone

(source)
 

St. Ephraim of Nea Makri, before the tree of his martyrdom (source)

 

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

Truly, the Lord is risen!

"Where are the seals on the grave? Where are Pilate's guard of soldiers, closely guarding?"

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

The Holy Myrrhbearers seeing the Angel at the empty Tomb of Christ (source)

 
The Myrrhbearing Women went in early morning to bring spices to the tomb of the Lord, and when they saw the stone was rolled away, their hope was shaken, and they said to one another: "Where are the seals on the grave? Where are Pilate's guard of soldiers, closely guarding?" But a shining Angel became the messenger of hidden things to the women, and he said to them: "Why do you seek the Living among the dead, Who gave life to the race of men? Christ our God has risen from the dead, as the Almighty One, granting to all of you incorruption and life, illumination, and the great mercy.
-Idiomelon of the Stichera from the feast of the Holy Myrrhbearers, by Anatolios

(source)

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

Truly, the Lord is risen!

Selected hymns from the Service to St. Matrona of Moscow

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

St. Matrona of Moscow (source)

  
Selected hymns from the Service to St. Matrona of Moscow,
Translations of the Greek text written by Dr. Charalampos Bousias, Hymnographer of the Patriarchate of Alexandria
  
Prosomoia of the Stichera from Great Vespers in the Fourth Tone. As the brave one among martyrs.
Come, all you who love feasts, let us place a crown of our hymns upon the head of the sacred Matrona, the Spirit-bearer, the inspired treasury of Russia and new adornment of the Church of Christ, who was born blind according to the judgments of God, that the radiance of her wisdom might shine forth to the multitudes of people bearing the name of Christ.

Full of desire, let us now honor the godly Matrona, who was blind from her mother's womb, and from infancy tasted poverty and scorn from those her age, along with taunting and terrible abandonment, as we cry out to her: Rejoice, newly-shining star of Russia, whose virtuous life has illumined all.

O adornment from God and spiritual beauty, with humility and discernment, who beautified the multitudes of the faithful through your reverence, your surpassing life and God-given grace and chastity, O God-bearer Matrona, do not cease to entreat the Creator on behalf of those who honor you.
   

Sts. Xenia of St. Petersburg and Matrona of Moscow (source)

   

Doxastikon of the Stichera in the Plagal of the Second Tone.
The Lady Theotokos, who is the salvation of sinners, you prayed to ceaselessly, and you glorified her Son every day, O Matrona, as you lived your earthly life like an Angel. For you had the eyes of your soul turned towards the Lord, though your bodily eyes were closed from birth, and you thus were shown to be higher than the things of this earth. And you entered into the joy of your Lord, and partake of His beauty. Do not cease to intercede on behalf of us who honor your ever-memorable memory.

Idiomelon of the Litia in the First Tone.
Rejoice, today, all those who love the ranks of the Venerable Saints, honoring the newly-shining memory of Matrona, and straightaway let us cry out to her with rejoicing: O newly-planed shoot of Russia, and newly-founded support of the Church, who lived a life of asceticism in the world in these latter days, and who shown forth with great feats, ceaselessly entreat the Lord on behalf of our souls.

Doxastikon of the Aposticha in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone.
O spotless lamb of Christ the Chief Shepherd, the all-praised Matrona, let us hymn in contrition, for she dispersed the darkness of her bodily eyes through the unapproachable light of grace and illumined with the lightning of her virtue all of those bearing the ethos of Christ. And now, in the unspeakable beauty of her desired Bridegroom [Christ], she beholds with wide-open eyes in the heavenly bridal chamber, and she ceaselessly intercedes on behalf of our souls.
  

St. Matrona of Moscow, depicted (as is most correct iconographically) as she is in Paradise, with her eyes open (source)

  
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone
Unassailable eighth pillar of Russia, who was blind from birth, we reverently praise Matrona the ever-memorable, as a treasury of divine gifts and fervent love towards all those in danger, crying out scatter the darkness of our passions with the light of Your grace.

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone. O Champion General.
O most-radiant vessel of the uncreated Light, and most-straight canon of foreknowledge, let us now hymn Matrona the Blind, offering up mellifluous encomiums as rays of light at her endurance, humility and divine grace, crying out: Rejoice, O all-praised Mother.

Oikos
You appeared lately to us as a light-bearing Angel, O blind Matrona, the boast of Russia, for with humility and patience along with endurance of many pains and trials of life, you pleased the Lord, and you incite the faithful to cry out to you:
Rejoice, the flower of endurance,
Rejoice, the crown of incorruption.
Rejoice, driver away of dangerous atheism,
Rejoice, light-bearer of the graces of the Spirit.
Rejoice, lighthouse of foreknowledge and prayer of the heart,
Rejoice, lamp of humility and the godly life.
Rejoice, greatly-shining ray of the wisdom of God,
Rejoice, torch of consolation for those in trials.
Rejoice, shield of wisdom and nepsis,
Rejoice, fruit of the love of Christ.
Rejoice, blind nightingale of Russia,
Rejoice, nourishment of those far of and those close.
Rejoice, O all-praised Mother.

Synaxarion

On this day (May 2nd), the memory of our Venerable and God-bearing Mother Matrona, the Blind and Wonderworker, who lived in our days as an ascetic in the world.
 

Verses

Though you were blind, you foresaw everything

Beforehand, O ascetic of Russia, Matrona.

 

Exaposteilarion in the Second Tone. O Women hearken.

Your blessing, was heard before the rule of the godless in Russia by the city of those who love Christ, and in those terrible days, they took refuge in your grace, O Matrona, for you became the consolation of those in pains, O sweetness of all people of Russia.

Prosomoia of the Praises in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone.

O new adornment of Russia, Matrona, who lived your life unseen upon the earth, as something that is passing, and you reached the height of dispassion and perfection in Lord Pantocrator, O you who appeared as one called by God, intercede on behalf of us who celebrate your all-spotless memory.

O true Mother illumined by God, in these latter days, you surpassed the bodily blindness of your eyes, and reached the wisdom of God and came to dwell with Him, having been made worthy to behold the Pantocrator with incorrupt eyes, in the divine mansions. Ever entreat Him on behalf of us, O chaste one, that His spotless grace and great mercy may be sent down upon us.

The God-bearing multitudes of Russia now rejoice at your divine memory, O glorious and chaste ascetic, who lately shown forth with the rays of wisdom and foreknowledge, along with the ethos of Christ and humility. Therefore, she is now roused to honor your holy memory, and glorify the Lord, Who glorified you.

Doxastikon of the Praises in the Plagal of the First Tone.

With an astonishing heart, you endured martyrdom of blindness and paralysis upon the earth, which we, blind and paralyzed, have brought upon us by our sin, O Matrona, the adornment of venerable mothers. For you received the reward of glory on high and the fruit reaped from your spotless life by the Savior of all, Whom you entreat on behalf of those who honor your ever-memorable memory.

Megalynarion

You who were deprived of the light of your eyes from birth, O Matrona, let us praise you with reverence, as a Spirit-bearing ascetic of Russia, and new pride and vessel of grace.
(source)
  

St. Matrona of Moscow (source)

  

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

Truly, the Lord is risen!

The Holy Prophet Jeremiah

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

The Holy Prophet Jeremiah - Commemorated May 1st (source)

  
The Holy Prophet Jeremiah, one of the four great Old Testament prophets, was son of the priest Helkiah from the city of Anathoth near Jerusalem, and he lived 600 years before the Birth of Christ, under the Israelite king Josiah and four of his successors. He was called to prophetic service at the age of fifteen, when the Lord revealed to him that even before his birth the Lord had chosen him to be a prophet. Jeremiah refused, citing his youth and lack of skill at speaking, but the Lord promised to be always with him and to watch over him.  He touched the mouth of the chosen one and said, “Behold, I have put My words into your mouth. Behold, I have appointed you this day over nations and kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to rebuild, and to plant” (Jer. 1:9-10).

The Holy Prophet Jeremiah (source)

  
From that time Jeremiah prophesied for twenty-three years, denouncing the Jews for abandoning the true God and worshipping idols, predicting sorrows and devastating wars. He stood by the gates of the city, and at the entrance to the Temple, everywhere where the people gathered, and he exhorted them with imprecations and often with tears. The people, however, mocked and abused him, and they even tried to kill him. Depicting for the Jews their impending enslavement to the king of Babylon, Jeremiah first placed on his own neck a wooden, and then an iron yoke, and thus he went about among the people. Enraged at the dire predictions of the prophet, the Jewish elders threw the Prophet Jeremiah into a pit filled with horrid, slimy creatures, where he almost died. Through the intercession of the God-fearing royal official Habdemelek, the prophet was pulled out of the pit, but he did not cease his prophecies, and for this he was carted off to prison. Under the Jewish king Zedekiah his prophecy was fulfilled.   

The Holy Prophet Jeremiah (source)

  

Nebuchadnezzar came, slaughtered many people, carried off a remnant into captivity, and Jerusalem was pillaged and destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar released the prophet from prison and permitted him to live where he wanted. The prophet remained at the ruins of Jerusalem and bewailed his nation’s misfortune. According to Tradition, the Prophet Jeremiah took the Ark of the Covenant with the Tablets of the Law and hid it in one of the caves of Mount Nabath (Nebo), so that the Jews could no longer find it (2 Mac. 2). Afterwards, a new Ark of the Covenant was fashioned, but it lacked the glory of the first. Among the Jews remaining in their fatherland there soon arose internecine clashes: Hodoliah, Nebuchadnezzar’s viceroy, was murdered. The Jews, fearing the wrath of Babylon, decided to flee into Egypt. The Prophet Jeremiah disagreed with their intention, predicting that the punishment which they feared would befall them in Egypt. The Jews would not listen to the prophet, however, and taking him along by force, they went into Egypt and settled in the city of Tathnis. There the prophet lived for four years and was respected by the Egyptians, because by his prayers he killed crocodiles and other creatures infesting these parts. When Jeremiah prophesied that the King of Babylon would invade Egypt and annihilate the Jews living there, the Jews murdered him. In that very same year the saint’s prophecy was fulfilled. There is a tradition that 250 years later, Alexander the Great transported the relics of the holy Prophet Jeremiah to Alexandria.

  

The Holy Prophet Jeremiah (source)

  

The Prophet Jeremiah wrote his Book of Prophecies and also the Book of Lamentations about the desolation of Jerusalem and the Exile. The times in which he lived and prophesied are described in 4/2 Kings (Ch. 23-25) and in the Second Book of Chronicles (36:12) and in 2 Maccabbees (Ch. 2).In the Gospel of Matthew it is said that the betrayal of Judas was foretold by the Prophet Jeremiah, “And they took thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom the sons of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me” (Mt. 27:9-10). Perhaps Jeremiah 32:6-15 is meant. Even after his death, the Prophet Jeremiah was regarded as a wonderworker. Dust from his tomb was believed to cure snake-bite, and many Christians pray to him for this purpose.
(source)
  

The Holy Prophet Jeremiah (source)

  
An Encomium on the Holy Prophet Jeremiah, written by St. Sophronios of Jerusalem, is available here in the original Greek "Νόμος είναι μεταξύ των ευγενεστέρων και δικαιοτέρων ανθρώπων ..."
  

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

Truly, the Lord is risen!