Saint Dionysios the Areopagite in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

1. Saint Dionysios, who surpassed all others in wealth, glory, prudence, and wisdom, was one of the members of the Council of the Areopagus in Athens. He heard the Apostle Paul preaching when he came to Athens and through him believed in Christ, was baptized, and afterward was ordained bishop of the city, having first been initiated into the mysteries of the faith by the wise Hierotheos. He left us writings that are extraordinary, wondrous, and of the highest order.

After the Saint had interpreted the form of the ecclesiastical order, he then went to the West, when Domitian was emperor. In the city of Paris, in particular, he performed many miracles, and there he was beheaded. One miracle that many witnessed was that, after his martyrdom, he walked for a distance of two miles while holding his severed head in his hands. He did not stop until he encountered, certainly by divine providence, a woman named Catula, into whose palms he placed his head as though it were a treasure. Two of his disciples, Rusticus and Eleutherius, were beheaded together with him, whereupon the bodies of these Saints, together with the martyred body of the sacred preacher, were thrown as prey to the beasts and birds. Some of the faithful then took the relics of the Saints and deposited them in a hidden place, because of the fear that existed on account of the persecutors. When the fear of the persecutions had ceased, the blessed Catula deposited the relics of the martyrs in a building, on the third day of the month of October.

Prologue in Sermons: October 3

 

The Benefit of Reflecting on Death

October 3

(From a discourse of Saint John Climacus on Blessed Hesychios the Chorebite and Hesychast)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Because we live as though we would never have to die, and almost never think about death, for the most part it catches us completely unprepared, and then our terror is boundless. “How can I part with my possessions, title, and honors? How can I appear in the next world with my sins? How shall I give an account of them before God?” This is how we think, but we think so only when it is already too late. This would not be the case if we were constantly thinking about death. Constant reflection upon it would draw us away from sins and kindle in us zeal for virtue, and through this it would teach us to meet death not with terror, but with joy.

Blessed Hesychios the Chorebite, who at first lived in negligence and laziness, resolved to reform himself after a severe illness and, in order to establish himself in his new life, made it a rule to think constantly about death. Such reflection not only drew him away from sins, but also raised him to a high degree of virtue. For twelve years he remained continuously in his cell in silence, partaking only of bread and water and weeping day and night over his sins. When the hour of his death came, the brethren entered and began to entreat him to say something to them for their edification, at least before his death. Convinced by experience of the benefit that remembrance of death brings to a person, Hesychios, instead of giving them any instruction, exclaimed: “Forgive me, brethren! Whoever has remembrance of death can never sin.” And with these words he gave up his spirit to the Lord. And truly, brethren, he cannot sin! “Remember your end, and you will never sin,” teaches the wise son of Sirach (Sirach 7:39).

Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: October 3

The Month of October

Day 3

34. The Lord Is Infinitely Merciful Even toward Sinners

(The Story of Saint Dionysius about Saint Carpos and the Two Sinners)

The Lord says: “I do not desire the death of a sinner” (Ezekiel 33:11). How are we to understand this? In our opinion, it should be understood in this way: the mercy of God is infinitely great; it is great both toward all people in general and, in particular, toward sinners. How, then, can this latter truth be proven, and how can we become convinced of it? It can easily be proven and understood through the following example.

Saint Carpos, a disciple of the Apostle Paul, was once greatly angered by a pagan who had led a Christian astray into his ungodliness. He rose at midnight to pray, but at first he could not even turn his mind to prayer. Carpos thought: “Can it really be in accordance with the justice of God that ungodly people live peacefully on the earth and corrupt the ways of the Lord?” Then he began to ask God to send fire from heaven that would consume both the pagan and the Christian whom he had led astray. 

 

Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian and Martyr Justina in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

1. Saint Cyprian was from Antioch of Syria, during the reign of the emperor Decius. He was noble and wealthy, a philosopher and a great magician. But he was led to the faith of Christ by Justina, a virgin and Christian, who was also from Antioch and who dissolved like a spider’s web all his demonic efforts against her. For a certain pagan named Aglaias, having fallen in love with her because of her beauty and being unable to achieve his purpose, went to Cyprian. But when he sent demons against the girl three times without accomplishing anything, he realized that his art was powerless. Therefore, he converted to the faith of Christ, was baptized, and burned all his magical books. Finally, he also became a bishop of the Church. And after leading many to Christianity, he was arrested together with Justina by the Count of Damascus, and they endured cruel tortures: their sides were flayed, they were placed in an iron pan, and finally, after being sent to Nicomedia, they were beheaded.

2. From the nadir to the zenith, from the lowest depth to the highest height, would be the title of Saint Cyprian’s life, if we wanted to characterize it in a single phrase, as the Church’s service also guides us to do: “You descended to the deepest depths of wickedness; yet again, O Father, you ascended wondrously to the height of the highest virtue.” The reason for this is that the Saint, from the madness and frenzy of magic — that is, from his complete submission to the wicked devil — came to dwell with the highest spiritual angelic powers. “Having come to your senses, O God-proclaiming one, from your former madness, you utterly triumphed over demonic deception and soul-destroying delusion.” There is something analogous in his life to what we also see in the life of the Holy Apostle Paul: he too, having been a persecutor of Christianity, and indeed the worst of all, came to serve the Lord Jesus, to such an extent that he is characterized as the greatest of the Apostles. Therefore, it is not by chance that our Church calls Saint Cyprian “a companion of Paul and a sharer in his works.”

Prologue in Sermons: October 2

The Christian Who Fights the Devil Awaits Crowns

October 2

(A Discourse on Saint Andrew, How He Became a Fool for Christ’s Sake.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Concerning the disposition in which we should find ourselves toward the enemies of our salvation—the evil spirits—the word of God teaches us as follows: “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11–12). And in another place: “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). From these passages it is evident that the word of God commands us to maintain a hostile disposition toward the enemies of our salvation; it commands us to vigilantly guard ourselves against the wiles of the devil, to fight against the evil spirits, and to strive to conquer them. To fight, to strive to conquer them... But will there be any benefit for us from this? Can we expect any reward for this difficult struggle? Can the victor in this struggle expect crowns? Yes, brethren, do not doubt: there will truly be benefit for us from fighting the evil spirits, there is a reward for fighting them, and there is no doubt that crowns await the victor in this struggle. All this is evident from the following.

Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: October 2

The Month of October

Day 2

33. Will We Be Rewarded for Fighting the Demons?

(From the Life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ*)

The word of God says: “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). And in another place: “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). By these words, as you see, the word of God teaches us to fight against the demons. But here is the question: will there be any benefit for us from this? Will we receive some reward for it? Will we receive crowns for our struggle? Do not doubt, brethren: we will receive a reward for fighting the demons, and crowns will be given to us for this struggle.

180 Years Since the Birth of Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis

By His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden

On the occasion of today’s 180th anniversary of the birth of Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis, on October 1, 1846, in Selymbria of Eastern Thrace, I have composed and am publishing this article, which is dedicated to the Saint’s relationship with his particular homeland.

Selymbria of Eastern Thrace was the birthplace of Saint Nektarios, Metropolitan of Pentapolis in Libya, known in the world as Anastasios Kephalas. It was the city in which he first saw the light of life on October 1, 1846, received his initial education, and spent the first fourteen years of his earthly life.

Selymbria, which occupies a prominent place in ecclesiastical history, is situated on the Thracian coast of the Propontis, near Constantinople. As early as the eighteenth century, it had a marketplace, inns, workshops, coffeehouses, numerous shops, and old churches. The greater part of its population consisted of Greek Christians, with a few Jews and only a very small number of Turks scattered among them.

As early as the seventeenth century, there were two schools: one clerical school, founded at the expense of Metropolitan Kallinikos, and a general school, funded by the ruler of Wallachia, Alexander Mourouzis. In 1849, a girls’ school and a library were built, establishing Selymbria as a center of intellectual influence.

October: Day 1: Teaching 4: Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos

October: Day 1: Teaching 4:
Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos
 
(On the necessity of protecting those in need of our help.)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Several centuries ago, on this very day, Blessed Andrew, brethren, was granted a wondrous and at the same time consoling vision. When he was in the Blachernae Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Constantinople, together with the other inhabitants of Constantinople imploring the Lord to avert the calamity from the Greek capital, which at that time was threatened with an invasion by the terrible Saracens, it appeared to him that the vault of the church was opened, and he saw in the air the Mother of God with a host of Angels, Prophets, Apostles, and other heavenly beings. The Most Holy Virgin knelt in prayer before God and covered the Christian world with Her honorable omophorion. Seeing this, Blessed Andrew said to his disciple Epiphanios: “Do you see, brother, the Queen and Lady of all, praying for the whole world?” “I see Her,” Epiphanios replied, “and I am filled with awe.” This vision was accompanied by the deliverance of Constantinople and all of Greece from the invasion of the barbarians; therefore, the Holy Church established that it be celebrated annually on this day, for the remembrance and edification of the faithful.

Prologue in Sermons: October 1

One Should Not Have Scandalous Books and Pictures in One’s Home
 

October 1

(From the Lemonarion, concerning why the Most Holy Theotokos did not enter the church of Kyriakos the priest.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

In your homes one sometimes encounters very unpleasant things. On the walls, beside the holy icons, one sometimes sees pictures of the most scandalous kind, while in the homes of literate people, on the shelves among the sacred books, there are often songbooks or immoral books. How sinful and destructive to the soul this is, you can see from the following account.

The Presbyter Kyriakos, who served in the Kalamon Monastery near the Jordan, relates:

“I saw in a dream a woman, reverent in appearance, dressed in purple, and with her two men. They were all standing near my cell. In the woman I recognized the Most Holy Theotokos, and in those accompanying Her, John the Baptist and the Evangelist John. Rejoicing at such a visitation, I rushed to the feet of the Intercessor for the world and began asking Her to enter my cell and offer prayer there to God on my behalf. But She would not agree. When I continued without ceasing to entreat Her with tears, She said to me: ‘You keep My enemy in your cell; how then do you want Me to enter your cell?’ With these words She departed, and the vision ended.