Prologue in Sermons: February 26

Joseph interpreting the dreams of the chief cupbearer and baker.

 

Belief in Dreams is Dangerous

February 26

(From the discourse of Saint Antiochus: “That One Ought Not to Believe in Dreams”)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Many Christians have grown accustomed to placing faith in dreams. As soon as they rise from their beds, they immediately begin to reason: that they saw this or that, and that this means some particular matter awaits them; that another dream signifies some joy or misfortune that will happen to them; that another means that someone will come or will not come; and so on. The speculations of such people often have no end.

And thus, instead of beginning the day with prayer and undertaking some good work, they begin it with sin: they spend the whole morning interpreting dreams, telling fortunes with cards, troubling their household and infecting them with superstition, depriving both themselves and others of peace.

What, brethren, shall we say to such people? Much could be said against belief in dream-fantasies. For the present, let us limit ourselves to one observation: they stand in danger of falling into the nets of the devil if they do not abandon their irrational faith in dreams.

April: Day 16: Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene and Chionia

 

April: Day 16:
Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene and Chionia
 
(How Should a Christian Relate to Dreams?)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. In the life of the Holy Martyrs Agape, Chionia and Irene who are celebrated today there is the following story. During the persecution raised by Diocletian, when all the Roman prisons were overflowing with Christians, the elder Chrysogonos was their comforter and mentor. He tirelessly watched over those who faced a difficult trial, preparing them for the feat of martyrdom. Such influential opposition to their efforts to exterminate Christians could not be hidden from the persecutors. Chrysogonos was taken and put to death (commemorated on December 22). His beheaded body was thrown on the seashore. Near this place lived the Christian priest Zoilos, and in his neighborhood three sisters – virgins – lived a solitary, pious life: Agape, Chionia and Irene.