In Support of the Shelter for Destitute Girls
January 10
(A Discourse from the Life of Saint Markianos, How He Took Off his Garment and Gave It To a Poor Man)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
January 10
(A Discourse from the Life of Saint Markianos, How He Took Off his Garment and Gave It To a Poor Man)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
One of the works of bodily mercy is to clothe the naked, or those who lack what is necessary and proper clothing. How precious this good deed is in the eyes of God is evident already from this alone: the Lord refers it to Himself, and at the Last Judgment He will say to those who clothed the naked, “I was naked and you clothed Me” (Matt. 25:36), and He will call them into His Kingdom with the words: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34). But even apart from this it is clear that this is especially pleasing to God, because even in this life He sometimes wondrously glorifies merciful people who do not spare, for the poor, clothing necessary for themselves, as though as a pledge of the future reward promised by Him in the kingdom of glory.
The Venerable Markianos the presbyter had a special reverence for the Holy Martyr Anastasia. He built a church in her honor and desired to transfer her holy relics there. For this purpose Patriarch Gennadios was invited, much clergy assembled, and a great multitude of people gathered. When the procession with the relics of the Martyr began, and Markianos was walking before them, one of the poor began to ask him for alms. Markianos had no money, but he did not hesitate. Hiding himself for a moment from the people, he took off his clothing, gave it to the one who asked, and himself remained in only his priestly vestment. No one noticed his deed.
The relics were then brought in and placed in their proper place, and the Divine Liturgy began. Markianos joined the serving clergy. After the communion of the Holy Mysteries, the servers went to wash their hands, and Markianos with them. Trying to conceal his lack of clothing, he kept adjusting his vestment on himself, glancing around at those surrounding him; but those around him — O, the wonder! — saw that under his vestment he was wearing a wondrous royal garment. This scandalized them, and they reported it to the Patriarch.
“I myself saw the same thing you saw on him!” the hierarch replied to them. After the complete conclusion of the service he deliberately summoned the Venerable One to himself and said to him: “You are acting contrary to the rule, brother! Is it fitting for you to celebrate the Liturgy in royal garments?” Markianos humbly fell at the feet of the hierarch and cried out: “Forgive me, master, I am not guilty of this!” “But we all saw you in royal clothing,” the Patriarch continued, “why do you deny it?”
At that moment, however, someone among those present opened the vestment of the Venerable One, and all saw his body without any clothing at all. Then they learned of his deed toward the poor man, and everyone understood that the royal garment seen upon him had been a special miraculous sign of God’s mercy toward him. All glorified God.
For his love of the poor Markianos was afterward deemed worthy of other mercies from God as well: he received the gift of wonderworking and cast out demons, healed the sick, and raised the dead.
Brethren! As many in former times suffered from lack of clothing, so many do even now, and because of this they endure cold and heat; there are even some who have nothing at all with which to cover their nakedness. Therefore do not forget these unfortunate ones, and help them as much as you can. For a perishable garment given to them, you yourselves may receive from God an imperishable garment.
But you may say: “Who nowadays goes about unclothed? Only drunkards, perhaps?” — That is not true. For example, near Moscow, in the village of Bolshevo, kind people have organized a shelter for destitute girls and gather them there. These unfortunate ones, as you know, what sort of clothing do they have! Thus their benefactors ask kind people to give even cast-off garments to these poor girls. Anything at all, even mere scraps, will be of use to them. So would you not be willing to help them? — May the Lord bless you for a good deed. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
