By Fr. George Dorbarakis
These Saints labored under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Hieron was valiant in body and pious in soul, a farmer by profession. The servants of the idols met him in a certain place. And wanting to rob him, they were unable. For after he had taken out the iron from the handle of his agricultural tool, he used the wood as a weapon against them, with the result that he sent them all fleeing, covered in blood and sweat. But he himself afterwards went on his own to the ruler and after being asked by him about the incident and whether he was a Christian, he confessed Christ, whereupon his right hand was cut off from the elbow. The rest of the Saints were thrown to the ground and beaten with whips. And the next day, after their beating had continued for many hours, they were led outside the city of Melitene and their heads were cut off.
It has been repeatedly emphasized that the tortures suffered by the Holy Martyrs of our Church at the hands of the enemies of the faith reveal two things. First, the demonic energy of their persecutors: the devil and his servants are those who rejoice in the suffering of people. Second, the great love of the saints for Christ, such that it made them lead themselves to death with joy, because in this way they would gain the Kingdom of God. And it has also been emphasized that the sufferings of the Martyrs for the sake of Christ constitute in essence their participation in the First and Great Passion of the Lord Himself, literally participation in His sacrifice on the Cross, and therefore participation in His Resurrection. Precisely, then, today's Service of the Thirty-Three Holy Martyrs, a poem by John the Monk, never ceases to emphasize this crucifixion character of their martyrdom, which led them to the better life of the Kingdom of God. "The athletes, O Lord, imitated your divine passion." "You gave the Cross to the athletes as a rod of strength, and you made them conquer their enemies."
The understanding of the martyrdom of the Saints as an event of participation in the Cross of the Lord, constitutes, according to the Hymnographer, the greatest strength of the Saints. While they appear defeated, they accomplish great things. And the image that the poet John uses to show this truth is truly unique: the Cross is likened to a bow held by Christ, which is stretched in order to pierce the heart of the devil and his servants by shooting sharp arrows, that is, the martyrs. “The heart of the adversaries is pierced with fear; for Christ, stretching the Cross like a bow, sent out the martyrs as sharp arrows.” In other words, both the Passion of the Lord, and the passions of His believers, constitute His greatest power for the extermination of evil in the world.
This is the “other” logic of Christ and the Church, which those who are not familiar with the faith certainly do not understand. Those outside the Church or nominal Christians believe that power lies in the possession of human means and capabilities. And they do not hesitate, in order to dominate, to use these means to subjugate those considered weak. Without understanding that they are putting themselves in the same position as the enemies of Christ who believed that they had “defeated” Him because they nailed Him to the Cross. But the reality is different. He who climbs up to the Cross, having faith in Him of course, is ultimately the strong one: he becomes the arrow of God Himself that “pierces,” that wounds the heart of the oppressors. Is this how we should also see the current situation in which we have fallen? Is it possible that, being on the cross, we too can emerge victorious, like arrows from the bow of the Cross? Are the strong who crush us, because all they care about is their own interests, ultimately like the “strong” who “defeated” Christ? But these “strong” fell with a great crash! The only thing required is our own faith. That we not be discouraged, but that we constantly keep our gaze fixed "on the One who is able to save," our almighty God. Then our resurrection will be a matter of a short time.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
It has been repeatedly emphasized that the tortures suffered by the Holy Martyrs of our Church at the hands of the enemies of the faith reveal two things. First, the demonic energy of their persecutors: the devil and his servants are those who rejoice in the suffering of people. Second, the great love of the saints for Christ, such that it made them lead themselves to death with joy, because in this way they would gain the Kingdom of God. And it has also been emphasized that the sufferings of the Martyrs for the sake of Christ constitute in essence their participation in the First and Great Passion of the Lord Himself, literally participation in His sacrifice on the Cross, and therefore participation in His Resurrection. Precisely, then, today's Service of the Thirty-Three Holy Martyrs, a poem by John the Monk, never ceases to emphasize this crucifixion character of their martyrdom, which led them to the better life of the Kingdom of God. "The athletes, O Lord, imitated your divine passion." "You gave the Cross to the athletes as a rod of strength, and you made them conquer their enemies."
The understanding of the martyrdom of the Saints as an event of participation in the Cross of the Lord, constitutes, according to the Hymnographer, the greatest strength of the Saints. While they appear defeated, they accomplish great things. And the image that the poet John uses to show this truth is truly unique: the Cross is likened to a bow held by Christ, which is stretched in order to pierce the heart of the devil and his servants by shooting sharp arrows, that is, the martyrs. “The heart of the adversaries is pierced with fear; for Christ, stretching the Cross like a bow, sent out the martyrs as sharp arrows.” In other words, both the Passion of the Lord, and the passions of His believers, constitute His greatest power for the extermination of evil in the world.
This is the “other” logic of Christ and the Church, which those who are not familiar with the faith certainly do not understand. Those outside the Church or nominal Christians believe that power lies in the possession of human means and capabilities. And they do not hesitate, in order to dominate, to use these means to subjugate those considered weak. Without understanding that they are putting themselves in the same position as the enemies of Christ who believed that they had “defeated” Him because they nailed Him to the Cross. But the reality is different. He who climbs up to the Cross, having faith in Him of course, is ultimately the strong one: he becomes the arrow of God Himself that “pierces,” that wounds the heart of the oppressors. Is this how we should also see the current situation in which we have fallen? Is it possible that, being on the cross, we too can emerge victorious, like arrows from the bow of the Cross? Are the strong who crush us, because all they care about is their own interests, ultimately like the “strong” who “defeated” Christ? But these “strong” fell with a great crash! The only thing required is our own faith. That we not be discouraged, but that we constantly keep our gaze fixed "on the One who is able to save," our almighty God. Then our resurrection will be a matter of a short time.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
