Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: October 28

The Month of October

The 28th Day

59. How Children Who Are Left Without Parents and Receive Large Inheritances from Them Should Conduct Themselves

(From the Life of Holy Great Martyr Paraskevi)

Unfortunately, especially in recent times, we often see children who have been left without parents and have received large estates from them behaving very badly. Again and again, we see such wealthy children, as soon as they reach adulthood, and sometimes even before they attain it, forgetting God, associating with bad people, beginning to indulge in every kind of vice, squandering the wealth their parents may have gathered through hard labor, and ultimately meeting their ruin amid great commotion. What, then, remains for us to do? We can at least turn other children, who have not yet perished, away from a sinful life and toward virtue. But how can we do this? It seems to us that the best way is to show our wealthy orphans how other wealthy orphans of ancient times, who were saints, conducted themselves, and how they used and managed the wealth their parents had left them. Let our own heirs, therefore, hear about such children and learn from them.

Here is the first example: Holy Great Martyr Paraskevi. She was from the city of Iconium, the daughter of noble parents, and very beautiful in appearance. Her parents, being pious people, raised her with the greatest care, taught her the holy faith and the keeping of the Lord’s commandments, and departed to eternal life, leaving their young daughter their great wealth. How, then, did Paraskevi conduct herself after being left an orphan? Upon reaching adulthood, she began to imitate the faith and deeds of her parents. She began to use all her possessions, as stated in her Life, “not for the adornment and indulgence of her youth, but for clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and showing hospitality to strangers.” Many young men sought her hand in marriage, but she became betrothed to the Heavenly Bridegroom, the Only-Begotten Son of God. She lived in holiness and righteousness and continually, every day, confessed the name of God before the people, leading them to the knowledge of the truth. She boldly preached the word of God to them, exposed before them the vanity of idols, and led them to faith in the Son of God.

Here is another example. When the parents of the Venerable Abraham the Recluse died, leaving him many estates, he, unwilling to abandon the prayer and stillness he loved, persuaded one of his friends to distribute everything he possessed among the poor. When this had been done, he considered himself happy. His entire concern was to detach his mind from attachment to earthly possessions. For this reason, he abandoned everything, keeping only an outer garment and a hair shirt, together with a vessel for drinking and a mat on which he slept. And thus he lived for fifty years, serving God with great zeal and love.

Therefore, children who have been left wealth by their parents, learn from these examples how you should order your lives. Learn from Paraskevi: if your parents were pious, imitate their faith and good deeds; use the wealth they have left you to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and show hospitality to strangers; be chaste; and teach your neighbors the knowledge of the truth. Then learn from Abraham to regard everything earthly as refuse and to direct your thoughts solely toward what is heavenly, eternal, and divine. When you conduct yourselves in this way, good people will rejoice over you, and the Lord Himself will bless you in all things. And when He blesses you, then, through His all-working blessing, you will be preserved from every evil even though your parents are no longer with you, grow in everything good and beautiful, and serve as intercessors before God for your parents through your prayers. Finally, the time will come when, because of your holy life on earth, you will bring them indescribable joy when you meet one another in the heavenly realm. Amen.

Questions for Discussion 59:

1. What did Holy Great Martyr Paraskevi begin to use the possessions she had inherited from her parents for after she was left an orphan and reached adulthood?

2. How often did Paraskevi confess the name of God before the people, leading them to the knowledge of the truth?

3. To what did Paraskevi lead the people by preaching the word of God to them?

4. What did the Venerable Abraham do after the death of his parents in order to become happy?

5. What was Abraham’s entire concern? 

 

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.