Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: September 15

The Month of September

Day 15

16. To Soldiers Going into Battle

(From the Life of the Holy Martyr Niketas. Menaion, September 15.)

You are now, God-loving soldiers, stationed in a place of military action, and perhaps today or tomorrow you will enter into battle with the enemies of our homeland. What, then, should you do now? First of all, look and see whether each of you has the Cross of Christ upon his breast. Whoever has one, let him say, “Glory to God”; and whoever does not, let him put one on himself immediately. Then, as you enter into battle, let each of you reverently make the sign of the Cross and, with firm faith, call upon the invincible power of the Cross of Christ for help.

Why do I advise you so earnestly to do this? Because I know that the Cross of Christ is a great weapon for a warrior in his struggle against the enemy, and I will prove this by actual events. Thus, in the Life of the holy martyr Niketas, we read:

“When the Gothic commander Fritigern went to war against Prince Athanaric, he made an image of the Cross of the Lord and, during the battle, ordered the cross to be carried before his ranks. And by the power of the Cross, it is said, the entire army of Athanaric was utterly defeated: some of the soldiers were killed, others were taken captive, and Athanaric himself barely escaped by fleeing.”

Another instance: Once, the Roman Emperor [Constantine the Great] was going to war against the Emperor Maxentius when he saw in the heavens a cross formed from the stars, and above the cross were written the words: “By this conquer.” Constantine, who was still a pagan at that time, and his soldiers were frightened by this apparition, for in those days seeing a cross was considered an evil omen. But that very night the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Constantine, commanded him to make crosses upon all the weapons, and said that he would conquer Maxentius. Constantine did so and likewise ordered that crosses be carried before his ranks during the battle.

“And when,” it says in the homily on the Exaltation of the Cross, “they engaged Maxentius, then by the power of the Honorable Cross Maxentius was defeated, and a great multitude of his soldiers were cut down, while Maxentius himself fled.”

Thus, truly, in battle the Cross is the great weapon of Christ and, as it is said in the Canon to the Cross, “the invincible and all-powerful victory.” Therefore, as you enter into battle, I repeat: call upon the invincible power of the Cross of Christ for help, and pray in this manner:

“O Cross, be my strength, my might and power, my deliverer and champion against those who war against me, my shield and guardian, my victory and steadfastness!”

Also read the prayer to the Cross:

“Save, O Lord, Your people, and bless Your inheritance.”

Then surrender yourself entirely to the will of God and, advancing against the enemy, say:

“I am Yours, O Lord, wholly Yours, and I shall remain Yours. If I remain alive, glory to You! If I die, again glory to You, for by taking my life from me on the field of battle, You grant me a glorious death. May Your holy and all-perfect will be done with regard to me.”

And when you enter into battle with such sentiments, then you may confidently hope that your hope will not put you to shame. Amen.

Questions for Discussion 16

1. What should we call upon for help when entering into battle with the enemies of our homeland?

2. Where did the Gothic commander Fritigern order the cross to be carried during the battle against Prince Athanaric?

3. What did the Lord Jesus Christ command Emperor Constantine to do in the war against Emperor Maxentius?

4. Whom do we ask the Lord to save and bless in the prayer to the Cross?

5. What will of the Lord should be with us when entering into battle?

 

Source: The Cheti-Minei: Homilies for Every Day of the Year (Book 1: September, October, November) by Archpriest Viktor Guryev. Publication of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, 1896. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.