August: Day 5: Holy Martyr Eusignios

August: Day 5:
Holy Martyr Eusignios
 
(On the Love for One's Rank)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. On this day the holy Church celebrates the memory of the Holy Martyr Eusignios. The Holy Martyr Eusigniosn was a native of the once famous city of Antioch in Syria, served in the military under several Roman emperors, and while in the regiment, together with Saint Constantine the Great, he saw in the sky a holy cross made of stars, with an inscription on it in Greek letters made of stars: "By this, conquer." 

He served in the military for 60 years. After that, returning to his homeland, he occupied himself with preparing himself for eternity, spent his life in prayer and fasting, and lived until the reign of Julian the Apostate. 

Once, Emperor Julian, surveying his empire, arrived in Antioch, where Eusignios resided. At that time, Eusignios was on his way to the church. On the road, he encountered two pagans who were quarreling and disputing amongst themselves. They stopped Eusebius and, as a man of experience who had already grown gray, asked him to resolve their dispute. The saint resolved the argument in accordance with his conscience; then, the one who remained at fault became angry with Eusebius, went to the king, and reported that Eusebius was a Christian. King Julian, as an apostate, hated and persecuted Christians. Eusebius was summoned before the king, who condemned him to death.

One day, Emperor Julian, surveying his empire, arrived in Antioch, where Eusignios lived. It happened at that time that Eusignios was passing to church; on the road he met two pagans quarreling and arguing with each other. They stopped Eusignios and, as an experienced and already gray-haired man, asked him to resolve their dispute. The Saint resolved the dispute according to his conscience; then the one who remained guilty became angry with Eusignios, went to the emperor and denounced Eusignios as a Christian. Emperor Julian, as an apostate, hated and persecuted Christians. Eusignios was summoned to the emperor, who condemned him to death.

II. Eusignios served in his military rank for sixty years. What patience! How much love for his rank! Only then does he finally leave it when his strength leaves him. What an instructive lesson for us in this! Many of us do not like their rank, run from it, slander it. Such people are greatly mistaken.

a) Every rank is honorable. It is not the rank that elevates or humiliates us, but we either elevate or humiliate the rank, depending on how we behave in it. You are of a simple rank, but if you are honest, noble, sober and reasonable, compassionate and God-fearing, who will allow themselves to treat you with disdain? On the contrary, will not both your own and others honor you, and will they not honor you sincerely and more than someone who belongs to a higher rank, but is far inferior to you in moral qualities? We know the names of Minin, Susanin, Lomonosov and others, they were from the common people, but for their socially useful deeds all of Russia bows before them, honors them. The rank did not prevent them from being great, they constitute the glory, the beauty of the rank to which they belonged.

b) Many complain about the difficulty of the duties in their calling. But where, in what calling, can one manage without labors, without sorrows, if one wishes to properly fulfill the duty to which one is called? "Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God." And wherever you may serve, to whatever calling you may belong, and whatever you may do, you may encounter disappointments, troubles, labors, and sorrows.

c) "But I am dependent on others, I am subordinate, I am constantly in fear, I must only work and serve others." But is all this really humiliation? Not everyone can or is meant to be a leader, yet everyone should serve one another with the gifts they have received from the Lord. Not selfishness, but above all, Christian love demands this. Is it humiliating to serve? How did the apostles devote their whole lives to serving others? Did they burden themselves with it? Did they consider their service to humanity a humiliation? The world despised them; in its eyes they were the scum of the earth; yet, they did not despair, but instead fulfilled their mission with great joy. Did the Savior come into the world to rule? No, the Son of Man, as He Himself said, "did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). After this, who could find serving others humiliating?

d) It is often difficult and beyond one's strength to perform one's duties. However, turn your service into a ministry to the Lord; do not serve people, but serve the Lord in their person. Fulfill your task as one appointed to it by the Lord Himself, and your labor will become easier; you will serve with love, without complaint. Is it possible to serve without love to Him Who has loved us above all, Who gave His soul, His life, for us?

e) People are not appreciative, some might say. Let it be. May the Lord repay you, before whose eyes you serve. He is omniscient; He reads our thoughts and intentions deep within our hearts. He shows no partiality. For the work of love, He will repay with love. "He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21).

f) One may say that strength is lacking. Let us ask the same Lord for strength. He is the Almighty, He is the Source and Giver of strength. He is the Helper of the weary and burdened. And will He not assist those who labor for Him, in His name, out of love for Him? "I am with you always, even to the end of the age," He said, as He ascended to heaven.

III. Therefore, brethren, do not be ashamed of your calling, in which you were born, in which you labor. God has appointed you to be in this calling, in this position. And God knows better than we do what is needed, what is beneficial, and where each can be most helpful to others. Let us not be burdened by the labors we perform. Instead, let us transform them into labors for the Kingdom of God, viewing them as efforts through which our salvation must be accomplished. And we shall turn all to the benefit of our souls. Then every honest labor of ours will be easy, pleasing, and salvific.

So, brethren, do not be ashamed of your calling, in which you were born, in which you labor. God has indicated to you to be in this calling, in this position. And God knows better than we do who needs what, and what is useful, and who himself can be most useful to others where. Let us not be burdened by the labors that we perform. Let us rather turn them into labors for the Kingdom of God, let us look at them as labors through which our salvation must be accomplished. And let us turn everything to the benefit of our soul. Then every honest labor of ours will be easy, and pleasant, and salvific. 

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.