Service of the Holy Glorious Neomartyr Argyri (Prologue to the 1912 Edition)

The 1912 work titled "Service of the Holy Glorious Neomartyr Argyri, who was born in Proussa and martyred in Hasköy of Constantinople" served as the definitive liturgical text for the Saint's veneration until the late 20th century. The Service was first published in Constantinople at the expense of the prominent lawyer Philippos Philippidis of Constantinople. Modern reprints, such as the 1997 and 2007 editions, often combine Philippidis’s original compilation with newer hymns composed by Saint Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis.

PROLOGUE

Having before our eyes the very great spiritual benefit which we offer to every Christian, and on the other hand having been urged by various venerable men, we proceeded to the publication of the preserved and, with much labor, collected information, as well as of the traditions maintained through living voice, concerning the life of the Venerable Martyr Argyri of Hasköy, whose sacred relic is found there within a reliquary.

The first words of the present work were written around the year 1907, when we were studying at the Great School of the Nation in Phanar, dedicating the few moments of our student life to writing historical descriptions of my homeland Hasköy; but their publication was then hindered, on the one hand by their incompleteness, and on the other by other reasons independent of my will. And we rejoice for this, because, although in itself perhaps imperfect, it has now in any case become more complete, having absorbed the studies and research of ours during this short interval.

Two are chiefly the causes that impelled us to the writing of the present religious reading: both the complete lack of a specific historiography of the life of the Venerable Martyr Argyri, and the fear lest every historical tradition concerning her life should, with time, be erased, just as, unfortunately, so many other inscriptions together with other relics were lost, which had been found in the precinct of the holy Church.

The whole work we based upon the writings of the renowned Ecumenical Patriarch of the city of Byzantium, Constantine I, and upon other authentic sources on parchment, as well as published works by the tireless researcher in medieval studies, Mr. Manuel Gedeon, which, unfortunately, until now lay in the showcases of the Patriarchal Library, lifeless and entirely unknown to every Christian and indeed — what is even more grievous — to those directly concerned, the people of Pikridion. No one was willing nor took the initiative to read the life of the Neomartyr Argyri and to publish it, thus becoming a cause of moral benefit on the one hand and material benefit on the other, providing a sufficiently good resource for the parish.

Not wishing to prolong the discourse, I hand over to history the fact that in April of 1910, taking advantage of my appointment as editor to the esteemed newspaper Agon, I attempted to publish in its columns the life of the Saint, but unfortunately the cessation of that newspaper by the august Government postponed this initiative of mine.

From then on, unfortunately, nothing was heard concerning her life, nor was any movement or activity observed. The absence of such a work harmed our community greatly, especially on the day of the feast of the Saint, that is, the 30th of April.

Now, having been elected by the general assembly on the 15th of January of the year 1912 as General Secretary of the Philoptochos and Philokalos Brotherhood of Hasköy, “Saint Nicholas,” I again received the opportunity to remedy this lack, having donated this work to the Brotherhood, whose presidency, by decision of February 21 (Minutes no. 19), undertook its publication.

And at first we intended, under the title “Pikridian Matters,” to describe the whole of Hasköy (Pikridion) from a historical and topographical perspective together with the life of Saint Argyri. But since we did not have the time for this, because of the shortness of time until the feast, we postponed it, being content for the present with the publication only of the life together with certain notes concerning Hasköy, promising, however, that soon we shall also publish this book, in which we shall relate many things about Hasköy — its historical and archaeological monuments and inscriptions, and those Orthodox dignitaries buried from time to time: prime ministers, ministers, Serbian rulers, patriarchs, hierarchs, and others within the precinct of the holy Church of Saint Paraskevi, where also is the tomb of the Neomartyr Argyri. But since we did not have the time for this, because of the short interval until the feast, we postponed it, being content for the present with the publication only of the life together with certain notes.

In conclusion, I am bound, as a duty, to acknowledge gratitude and benefaction toward the tireless and most noble Patriarch, who for years has worthily steered the helm of the Ecumenical Vessel of the Orthodox Church of Christ, the true father of the Nation, His All-Holiness Lord Joachim III, who undertook with great effort to set all things in order in the Patriarchate, making the once inaccessible Library now accessible and rich, transforming it into a true delight in every respect.

The activity of this man on behalf of the Library and the Museum is beyond dispute. The excellent condition of the Patriarchal Library, the preservation of an exact catalogue of all the books and manuscripts in it, are owed entirely to the scholarly and devoted spirit of Joachim III.

And finally, we consider it a necessary duty to express publicly our boundless thanks to all those in the Patriarchate, and especially to the Grand Librarian, the most honorable Mr. Joachim; to the Most God-beloved Archivist of the Patriarchate, Mr. Chr. Knetis; to the tireless librarian of the Hellenic Philological Society, Mr. K. Kritsides; to the chief chanter of the holy Church in Hasköy, Mr. V. Georgiadis, who preserved until our days the Service of the Saint, which he most willingly gave to us; and in general to all who kindly provided any information whatsoever.

Confessing the imperfection of our work, since nothing in this world is perfect, we invoke the indulgence of the public and pray that another, having greater time at his disposal, may complete this deficiency, not judging it harshly, remembering that the fulfillment of duty belongs to each according to his ability and in proportion to his willingness.

Written in Hasköy, March 1, 1912.

The publisher
Philippos Stephanos Philippidis
(Lawyer)

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.