Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: October 4

The Month of October

Day 4

35. What Is the Main Cause of Our Troubles, and By What Means Can We Most Likely Be Rid of Them?

(From the Life of Venerable Ammoun)

When Adam and Eve lived in Paradise before their fall, they knew no illnesses, experienced no troubles or afflictions, and were happy. But as soon as they sinned, illnesses, troubles, and afflictions came upon them. From this, it seems, we ought to become convinced of the truth that the main cause of our misfortunes lies in our sinfulness and that, therefore, when afflicted by calamity, we ought first of all to think about our sins and about correcting our lives. But unfortunately, in practice, the opposite happens with us. When trouble befalls us, we do not even think about our sins; instead, we rush about in every direction, despair, or finally seek help from people. And because of this, our affliction does not leave us, our grief grows greater, and we are tormented more and more. If only we would come to our senses during our misfortunes, attribute them first of all to our sinfulness, regard them as punishment for our sins, and concern ourselves with correcting our lives, then things would be different. Then we would also be reconciled with God, and our misfortunes would leave us.

The Sacred Relics of Venerable Onouphrios of Koronisia Have Been Found and Translated

A significant event took place at Koronisia in Arta on Thursday, October 1, 2026, with the finding and translation of the sacred relics of Venerable Onouphrios, who practiced asceticism at Koronisia. The event was announced by the Holy Metropolis of Nikopolis and Preveza as a moment of spiritual joy for the local Church and faithful. The relics, recovered from the tomb of the Venerable Onouphrios in his namesake chapel, were prepared by the Metropolitans of Nikopolis and Preveza, Chrysostomos, and of Arta, Kallinikos, placed in a special reliquary, and transferred in procession to the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, where they are now kept and offered for veneration.

The tomb of Venerable Onouphrios is located in the small chapel dedicated to him, immediately beside the katholikon of the former Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos at Koronisia, which today serves as the parish church of the island. Before the opening of the tomb, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated there. Following the Liturgy, the tomb was opened and the sacred relics were collected. After their preparation by the two Metropolitans, they were placed in a special larnax and carried in procession to the main church.

The life of Venerable Onouphrios is only sparsely documented. The Metropolis of Nikopolis and Preveza states that the time of his birth, his place of origin, and the precise date of his repose are unknown. He was a monk of the once-renowned Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos at Koronisia, and his ascetic life eventually established him in the local consciousness as the protector of Koronisia. The Metropolis further notes that popular piety has preserved numerous signs and miracles associated with him, which it intends to publish in due course.

El País: From Challenging the Ban on Women to Funding Mount Athos

By Aimilios Polygenis

A report by the Spanish newspaper El País features a proposal by Lina Gálvez to open a discussion about European subsidies to the Monastic State of Mount Athos.

The issue of European funding for Mount Athos, in connection with the preservation of the prohibition on the entry of women (what is known as the "avaton"), is highlighted in a report by the Spanish newspaper El País, which presents positions questioning the compatibility of the Athonite tradition with the principles of the European Union.

In an article entitled “Mount Athos, the fiefdom of Europe’s monks that prohibits the entry of women,” the Spanish newspaper makes its approach clear from the outset.

The main interest of the report, however, lies in the proposal by Spanish MEP Lina Gálvez that the funding of Mount Athos be brought up for discussion, on the grounds that the European Union should not subsidize places where fundamental values are violated.

Gálvez, whom the article presents as chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, argues that the prohibition on women’s entry is incompatible with equality and the prohibition of discrimination.

“Obviously, it is not compatible,” she states, going so far as to argue that the prohibition on entry amounts to an admission that all women are “impure.”

Archimandrite Justin Mamalos, Guardian of Jacob’s Well, Has Fallen Asleep in the Lord

On Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced with deep sorrow the repose in the Lord of Archimandrite Justin Mamalos, the longtime Abbot and guardian of the Monastery of Jacob’s Well in Nablus, Samaria. He fell asleep in the Lord after a prolonged illness while receiving treatment at the General Hospital of Patras. He was eighty-five years old.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem remembered him as the renovator of the Holy Shrine of Jacob’s Well and the founder and renovator of the Church of Saint Photini the Samaritan, whose life and many years of service had become inseparably connected with the complete restoration and preservation of the monastery. In its official announcement, the Patriarchate emphasized that Fr. Justin devoted his strength, his labors, and a great part of his life to the restoration, dignity, and protection of the sacred monastery, leaving behind an honorable legacy through which the memory of his offering would remain alive.

Saint Dionysios the Areopagite in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

1. Saint Dionysios, who surpassed all others in wealth, glory, prudence, and wisdom, was one of the members of the Council of the Areopagus in Athens. He heard the Apostle Paul preaching when he came to Athens and through him believed in Christ, was baptized, and afterward was ordained bishop of the city, having first been initiated into the mysteries of the faith by the wise Hierotheos. He left us writings that are extraordinary, wondrous, and of the highest order.

After the Saint had interpreted the form of the ecclesiastical order, he then went to the West, when Domitian was emperor. In the city of Paris, in particular, he performed many miracles, and there he was beheaded. One miracle that many witnessed was that, after his martyrdom, he walked for a distance of two miles while holding his severed head in his hands. He did not stop until he encountered, certainly by divine providence, a woman named Catula, into whose palms he placed his head as though it were a treasure. Two of his disciples, Rusticus and Eleutherius, were beheaded together with him, whereupon the bodies of these Saints, together with the martyred body of the sacred preacher, were thrown as prey to the beasts and birds. Some of the faithful then took the relics of the Saints and deposited them in a hidden place, because of the fear that existed on account of the persecutors. When the fear of the persecutions had ceased, the blessed Catula deposited the relics of the martyrs in a building, on the third day of the month of October.

Prologue in Sermons: October 3

 

The Benefit of Reflecting on Death

October 3

(From a discourse of Saint John Climacus on Blessed Hesychios the Chorebite and Hesychast)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Because we live as though we would never have to die, and almost never think about death, for the most part it catches us completely unprepared, and then our terror is boundless. “How can I part with my possessions, title, and honors? How can I appear in the next world with my sins? How shall I give an account of them before God?” This is how we think, but we think so only when it is already too late. This would not be the case if we were constantly thinking about death. Constant reflection upon it would draw us away from sins and kindle in us zeal for virtue, and through this it would teach us to meet death not with terror, but with joy.

Blessed Hesychios the Chorebite, who at first lived in negligence and laziness, resolved to reform himself after a severe illness and, in order to establish himself in his new life, made it a rule to think constantly about death. Such reflection not only drew him away from sins, but also raised him to a high degree of virtue. For twelve years he remained continuously in his cell in silence, partaking only of bread and water and weeping day and night over his sins. When the hour of his death came, the brethren entered and began to entreat him to say something to them for their edification, at least before his death. Convinced by experience of the benefit that remembrance of death brings to a person, Hesychios, instead of giving them any instruction, exclaimed: “Forgive me, brethren! Whoever has remembrance of death can never sin.” And with these words he gave up his spirit to the Lord. And truly, brethren, he cannot sin! “Remember your end, and you will never sin,” teaches the wise son of Sirach (Sirach 7:39).

Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: October 3

The Month of October

Day 3

34. The Lord Is Infinitely Merciful Even toward Sinners

(The Story of Saint Dionysius about Saint Carpos and the Two Sinners)

The Lord says: “I do not desire the death of a sinner” (Ezekiel 33:11). How are we to understand this? In our opinion, it should be understood in this way: the mercy of God is infinitely great; it is great both toward all people in general and, in particular, toward sinners. How, then, can this latter truth be proven, and how can we become convinced of it? It can easily be proven and understood through the following example.

Saint Carpos, a disciple of the Apostle Paul, was once greatly angered by a pagan who had led a Christian astray into his ungodliness. He rose at midnight to pray, but at first he could not even turn his mind to prayer. Carpos thought: “Can it really be in accordance with the justice of God that ungodly people live peacefully on the earth and corrupt the ways of the Lord?” Then he began to ask God to send fire from heaven that would consume both the pagan and the Christian whom he had led astray. 

 

Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian and Martyr Justina in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

1. Saint Cyprian was from Antioch of Syria, during the reign of the emperor Decius. He was noble and wealthy, a philosopher and a great magician. But he was led to the faith of Christ by Justina, a virgin and Christian, who was also from Antioch and who dissolved like a spider’s web all his demonic efforts against her. For a certain pagan named Aglaias, having fallen in love with her because of her beauty and being unable to achieve his purpose, went to Cyprian. But when he sent demons against the girl three times without accomplishing anything, he realized that his art was powerless. Therefore, he converted to the faith of Christ, was baptized, and burned all his magical books. Finally, he also became a bishop of the Church. And after leading many to Christianity, he was arrested together with Justina by the Count of Damascus, and they endured cruel tortures: their sides were flayed, they were placed in an iron pan, and finally, after being sent to Nicomedia, they were beheaded.

2. From the nadir to the zenith, from the lowest depth to the highest height, would be the title of Saint Cyprian’s life, if we wanted to characterize it in a single phrase, as the Church’s service also guides us to do: “You descended to the deepest depths of wickedness; yet again, O Father, you ascended wondrously to the height of the highest virtue.” The reason for this is that the Saint, from the madness and frenzy of magic — that is, from his complete submission to the wicked devil — came to dwell with the highest spiritual angelic powers. “Having come to your senses, O God-proclaiming one, from your former madness, you utterly triumphed over demonic deception and soul-destroying delusion.” There is something analogous in his life to what we also see in the life of the Holy Apostle Paul: he too, having been a persecutor of Christianity, and indeed the worst of all, came to serve the Lord Jesus, to such an extent that he is characterized as the greatest of the Apostles. Therefore, it is not by chance that our Church calls Saint Cyprian “a companion of Paul and a sharer in his works.”

Prologue in Sermons: October 2

The Christian Who Fights the Devil Awaits Crowns

October 2

(A Discourse on Saint Andrew, How He Became a Fool for Christ’s Sake.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Concerning the disposition in which we should find ourselves toward the enemies of our salvation—the evil spirits—the word of God teaches us as follows: “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11–12). And in another place: “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). From these passages it is evident that the word of God commands us to maintain a hostile disposition toward the enemies of our salvation; it commands us to vigilantly guard ourselves against the wiles of the devil, to fight against the evil spirits, and to strive to conquer them. To fight, to strive to conquer them... But will there be any benefit for us from this? Can we expect any reward for this difficult struggle? Can the victor in this struggle expect crowns? Yes, brethren, do not doubt: there will truly be benefit for us from fighting the evil spirits, there is a reward for fighting them, and there is no doubt that crowns await the victor in this struggle. All this is evident from the following.