Saint Therapon of Cyprus as a Model for our Lives

 

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

The Holy Hieromartyr Therapon came from the land of the Alemanni (a duchy in the region of Germany), from noble and pious parents. He lived during the 7th or the beginning of the 8th century A.D. From childhood he loved Christ and learned “the sacred writings, which are able to make one wise unto salvation.” For a period of time he lived in Jerusalem and afterwards went to Cyprus, where he lived in asceticism and prayer, and was later ordained a bishop.

According to tradition and Orthodox hagiography, he ended his life as a martyr when Arab pirates slaughtered him before the Holy Altar while he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy. After this tragic event, heavenly melodies were heard in the holy church, and a powerful Light surrounded the area of the Holy Altar, with the result that fear and turmoil fled from the faithful and their souls were filled with peace, joy, and spiritual courage. At the place where the body of the Saint was buried, a holy church was built in his honor.

Saint Anastasia the Patrician as a Model for our Lives

 

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Anastasia the Patrician was born in Constantinople to noble and wealthy parents, and she lived in the years of the Emperor Justinian. She was in the palace as the first lady of honors and was distinguished for her true faith in God, her modesty, and her humility. She was endowed with many gifts, such as courage, gentleness, nobility, and natural goodness, and this made the Emperor rejoice and praise her. However, the Empress envied her; for this reason Anastasia, as soon as she understood it, said to herself: “Now, precisely, the suitable opportunity has presented itself to you. Hasten and save your soul. With your prayer you will also free the Empress from her envy, and you will prepare yourself for the Heavenly Kingdom.”

Thus she left the palace and went to Alexandria, where she built a monastery and lived in asceticism and prayer, and she had as her obedience the task of weaving. After the repose of Theodora, Justinian sought her, but she did not desire to return. By the counsel of her spiritual father, the Elder Daniel, she put on male clothing and went to a cave, in which she remained enclosed for 28 years, until her holy repose. During all this time Elder Daniel sent her food and water by means of one of his disciples, who left them outside the door of the cave.

Saint Nikolai Velimirovich as a Model for our Lives

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Nikolai, Bishop of Ochrid, was born on 23 December 1880 in the village of Lelić in Serbia to pious parents. He learned his first letters at the Monastery of Ćelije and afterwards entered the Clerical School of Saint Sava in Belgrade. Later, with a scholarship from the Church, he continued his studies in Switzerland, Germany, and England, and subsequently was elected professor at the Clerical School of Saint Sava.

During the First World War he supported the suffering and the poor. After the end of the war he was elected Bishop of Žhicha in 1919, and two years later he was transferred to Ochrid. He frequently visited Mount Athos and stayed mainly at the Sacred Monastery of Saint Panteleimon. There he met Saint Silouan, whose holiness he immediately recognized and made known. He also met Saint Sophrony, whom he ordained a deacon.

Saint Perpetua as a Model for our Lives

St. Perpetua of Carthage (Feast Day - February 1)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Perpetua was born in Carthage of Africa toward the end of the 2nd century AD. She came from a noble family and had two brothers. She received an excellent education and made a good marriage. At the age of twenty-two, when she was martyred for Christ, she had a small child whom she was nursing. She was imprisoned because she was a Christian, and while she was in the dungeon-like prison her father visited her and tried, at first with gentle words, to persuade her to deny Christ in order to save her life, so that she might remain with her husband and child. But later, when he saw that she would not deny Christ and remained firm in her faith, he attacked her with savage fury.

While in prison she was baptized together with her fellow prisoners: Saturus, Revocatus, Saturninus, Secundulus, and Eutychia (Felicitas). After her baptism she experienced temptations, but also many blessings. One of these blessings was that two deacons “interceded” with the prison authorities, and when the latter received the money offered to them, they transferred her to a cell with better conditions and allowed her to nurse her child.

Saint Nina as a Model for our Lives

St. Nina (Feast Day - January 14)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Nina was born in the 3rd century A.D. in Cappadocia to pious parents: Zebulon, who was a relative of the Holy Great Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer, and Susanna. Her father was a renowned general of the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Maximian. However, out of great love for Christ, he abandoned the army and, with the consent of his wife, became a monk in the desert of the Jordan. Her mother was the sister of Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, and after her husband’s departure to the desert of the Jordan, she was appointed — by the bishop’s blessing — as a deaconess at the Holy Church of the Resurrection of Christ, having first entrusted their daughter Nina to the most devout Eldress Nikephora, who raised her “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” That is, she taught her prayer, participation in the worship of the Church, and the study of the God-inspired Scriptures. For this reason Nina’s heart was filled with love for God and for human beings, and she desired to preach the gospel, like the Apostles.

When she reached adulthood, following an exhortation of the Most Holy Theotokos, she journeyed to what is now Georgia. There, through her inspired preaching, her radiant example, and the miracles that God worked through her, she succeeded in drawing people away from lifeless idols and leading them to the true faith — first the rulers of Georgia, King Mirian and Queen Nana, and then the people, that is, the simple folk as well as those of the so-called higher social classes. To this day the people of Georgia honor Saint Nina and regard her as the patroness of their country, after Saint George. She reposed in peace, and her holy relic remained incorrupt.

Holy Prophet Daniel as a Model for our Lives

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

The Prophet Daniel is one of the four great Prophets. He lived at the end of the 7th and the beginning of the 6th century B.C. He belonged to the tribe of Judah, was of royal lineage, and was born in Upper Beth-horon. He was taken captive to Babylon when he was about sixteen years old, and there he grew up and was educated. The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, renamed him Belteshazzar and distinguished him among the children of the Hebrews, just as he also singled out three other youths — Ananias, Azarias, and Mishael — whom he kept at the imperial court and had educated. Indeed, because they excelled in their studies, he granted them high positions in the State.

When Nebuchadnezzar, out of arrogance, constructed a golden image of himself and demanded that all his subjects worship it, Daniel was absent on a mission. Ananias, Azarias, and Mishael refused to worship it, because they had learned to worship and serve only the true God of their Fathers and not lifeless idols; according to the word of God in the Old Testament: “You shall not make for yourself an idol, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.” For this reason “they were cast into the burning fiery furnace.” Yet, instead of being burned, they were refreshed as by dew, for the Son and Word of God, “the Angel of Great Counsel,” descended into the furnace and transformed the fire into coolness.

Saint Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis as a Model for our Lives

 

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Gerasimos the Mikragiannanitis was born in Droviani of Epirus in 1903 to pious parents. He was diligent, intelligent, and possessed a strong memory, which helped him progress in his studies and develop his gift for hymnography. He received his basic education in Piraeus and Athens, where he also met Saint Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis.

On August 15, 1923, he went to the Holy Mountain, specifically to the Cell of the Honorable Forerunner (Timiou Prodromou) in Little Saint Anna’s, where he submitted himself to Elder Meletios Ioannidis. On October 20, 1924, he was tonsured a monk. However, after five years his Elder left the Holy Mountain, and he remained alone. At that time, the presence of God became more palpable in his life. His only consolation was prayer and study. After about twenty years, he gained a small brotherhood of good fathers. Of course, during all the years he lived alone, he visited and sought counsel from experienced Elders, especially Elder Kallinikos the Spiritual Father, who lived in Katounakia. To him he showed the first Canon he had composed, and the Elder told him: “The Canon is excellent, but I tell you one thing: humility, humble-mindedness. Be careful, lest the devil wage war against you.”

Holy New Martyr John the Former Hagarene as a Model for our Lives

St. John of Konitsa (Feast Day - September 23)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

The Holy New Martyr John lived in the 18th and early 19th centuries AD. He was born in Konitsa, Epirus, to Muslim parents. His father was a Dervish and held the rank of Sheikh. At the age of twenty, he also entered the religious order of the Dervishes. After living for several years in Ioannina, he then went to Vrachori in Aetolia, today's Agrinio, and lived in a house called the Musallim Serai.

We do not know the processes that took place in his inner world and contributed to his life being completely transformed and changed. That is, he suddenly threw off the garments of a Dervish, dressed like a Christian and went to Ithaca, where he was baptized and took the name John. Then he returned to Aetolia, and specifically to the village of Mahalas. There he married and practiced the profession of a field guard. His father, when he learned of these events, sent people to convince him to return to Islam. John chased them away and was then arrested by Muselimi of Vrachori. He confessed his faith in Christ with boldness and courage and, despite the inhuman torture, remained steadfast and unwavering. Then, because they could not bend his brave spirit, they beheaded him on September 23, 1814, and thus he delivered his holy soul into the hands of Christ, whom he loved deeply. The Christians buried his sacred tabernacle on a farm in Vrachori. Later, his sacred relics were brought back, which were deposited in the crypt of the Sacred Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos Prousos in Evrytania, and were discovered on January 4, 1974.

Saint Veronica as a Model for our Lives

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Veronica is the bleeding woman whom Christ healed, or rather was healed when she touched the garment of Christ. This miracle is described by the Evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke. Christ was walking with His Disciples - along with the synagogue leader Jairus, who begged Him to go to his house to heal his sick daughter - and many people followed. Then a bleeding woman, who could not be healed by the doctors, approached Christ and touched the hem of His garment and was immediately healed, because she believed and said that “if I only touch His garment I will be healed.” Christ asked who touched Him and His Disciples told Him that "the people have surrounded You and are crushing You and You are asking who touched You!" Christ again said “someone touched Me, for I felt that power has gone out from Me.” Then the healed woman confessed the reason for which she touched Him and that she was immediately healed. Christ comforted her, told her to be courageous, and assured her that her faith had saved her.

Saint Boukolos of Smyrna as a Model for our Lives

St. Boukolos of Smyrna (Feast Day - February 6)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Boukolos was ordained Bishop and established in Smyrna by Saint John the Theologian and Evangelist, who had the care and guardianship of the Churches of Asia Minor. Therefore, he is an Apostolic Father of the Church and is honored as the first Bishop of Smyrna. He had godly zeal and a martyr's spirit and served the people of God with great self-denial and sacrificial love. He fought against the heresies that corrupted the faith, but he loved people, because what he wanted was the preservation of the unadulterated faith, but also the salvation of heretics, as well as idolaters, through repentance. And as the sacred Synaxarist notes, this revered Hierarch treated the idolaters with cheerfulness, love, discernment, approachability and kindness. He was careful not to irritate them, because what he wanted was to attract them to the faith, and, indeed, with his behavior and his bright example he attracted many.

Saint Philon of Karpasia as a Model for our Lives

St. Philon, Bishop of Karpasia (Feast Day - January 24)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Philon was born in Karpasia, Cyprus, in the 4th century AD and was the spiritual child of Saint Epiphanios, Archbishop of Constantia, Cyprus, who, appreciating his many gifts, ordained him Bishop of Karpasia. In fact, he esteemed him so much that, when he needed to be absent, he appointed him as his replacement on the Archbishopric throne. For example, when he traveled to Rome in 382 AD for ecclesiastical matters and later in Constantinople in 401 AD, shortly before his death, he assigned him the administration of the Archbishopric and, moreover, with the right to ordain Clergy.

The Karpasia region is the peninsula located at the northeastern tip of Cyprus, in which valuable Sacred Temples dedicated to the memory of Saint Philon were built at times, with characteristic frescoes, which, unfortunately, were removed after the Turkish invasion of 1974, and the Sacred Temples remain looted and abandoned.

Saint Telemachus as a Model for our Lives

St. Telemachus (Feast Day - January 1)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Telemachus came from Asia, lived in the late 4th and early 5th centuries AD and was a man completely dedicated to God. He had a brave spirit, spiritual leventia and great love for God and people. He had perfect love, which is expressed as a sacrifice for everyone, even for his enemies, and for this reason he sacrificed himself in order to protect people from being killed unjustly in gladiator combat. Gladiator combat were a barbaric pagan custom that began before the incarnation of the Son and Word of God and continued until the days of the Saint. This, then, his great love for people, and especially for the weak and despised, motivated him to travel to Rome, in order to stop the gladiator combats, which were held in the amphitheaters, and especially in the Colosseum, and many people were unjustly killed, especially young people.

Saint Longinus the Centurion as a Model for our Lives

St. Longinus the Centurion (Feast Day - October 16)

Protopresbyter Father George Papavarnavas

Saint Longinos came from Cappadocia and lived in the years of Christ. He was a centurion under Pilate, the ruler of Judea, and received an order from him to be present at the crucifixion and burial of Christ. When he saw the way in which Christ "expired" on the Cross, as well as the earthquake, the change of the sun into darkness and the stones that split, because he was a good-willed man, the Grace of God overshadowed him, changed him, and then with faith he cried out: "Truly this was the Son of God." That is why he did not accept the silver given to him by the Jews, in order to lie about the Resurrection of Christ. He returned to his homeland, together with two of his soldiers who believed in Christ, and preached the gospel with pride. Pilate, when informed of this, reported him to Tiberius, who ordered his beheading, as well as his two soldiers.

Saint Daniel of Katounakia as a Model for our Lives

St. Daniel of Katounakia (Feast Day - September 7)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Daniel of Katounakia was born in Smyrna in 1844 to pious parents. He was an excellent student and graduate of the Evangelical School of Smyrna and from his youth he longed for his complete dedication to God. Following the advice of his spiritual father, he visited various monasteries in the Peloponnese and Greek islands. In Paros, he met and became spiritually connected with Saint Arsenios of Paros, who advised him to go to the Sacred Monastery of Saint Panteleimon on the Holy Mountain, where he became a monk in 1866, and from Demetrios he was named Daniel. However, due to the conflicts between the Greek and Russian monks, the Greek monks were forced to leave the Monastery. Daniel went to the Sacred Monastery of Saint Anastasia the Pharmakolytria, in Vasilika of Thessaloniki. His arrival at this Sacred Monastery turned out to be a real blessing, since he helped in its spiritual recovery by introducing the Hagiorite typikon.

Saint Joseph the Hesychast as a Model for our Lives

By Protopresbyter Father George Papavarnavas

Saint Joseph the Hesychast was born in 1897 in Lefkes of Paros to pious parents, George and Maria. He was the third in order of the seven children of his parents, and was orphaned very early of his father while his mother took over the protection of the whole family. Until his teenage years he remained in the village, where he worked and financially helped his mother and his siblings. He attended school until the 2nd grade. After serving his term in the Navy, at the age of about 23 he went to Piraeus and Athens, where he worked as a peddler. He liked to read the lives of the Saints, with the result that he wanted to imitate them, so he kept vigils and prayed. In 1921, he went to Katounakia of the Holy Mountain, specifically to the Brotherhood of the Danielites, under the spiritual guidance of Saint Daniel of Katounakia, the founder of this synodia. Then, with the blessing of Saint Daniel, he withdrew, because he desired the hesychast life in the wilderness.

Saint Paisios the Athonite as a Model for our Lives

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Paisios the Athonite was born in Farasa of Cappadocia on July 25, 1924. At his baptism, he received the name Arsenios, which was given to him by Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian, because he wanted, as he said, to leave "a monk at his feet." From a young age he had a great love for Christ and for His love he "endured difficult paths." In the army he served as a radio operator, but throughout his earthly life he was "God's radio operator", as he was aptly called. He often cited examples from his life as a radio operator in the army, in order to teach prayer, which is the spiritual wireless communication with Christ, the Panagia and the Saints.

In 1954 he became a monk with the name Averkios and later he was named Paisios. He became a monk at first in the Sacred Monastery of Esphigmenou and then in the Sacred Monastery of Philotheou. Later he went to the Sacred Monastery of Stomiou, in Konitsa, which he restored, and then he lived in asceticism in the Sinai desert, in the Cell of Saints Galaktion and Episteme. In 1964 he returned to the Holy Mountain, specifically to Katounakia, then later to the Cell of the Honorable Cross, near the Sacred Monastery of Stavronikita, and from 1979 until the end of his life (July 12, 1994) he lived in asceticism in the Cell of Panagouda, which is located nearby the capital of the Holy Mountain, Karyes. Despite the illnesses he faced from time to time, and which he endured with amazing calmness and patience, he gave himself to excessive asceticism. He used to say that patience in diseases and temptations is "savings in the Bank of heaven." However, where his patience was tested the most, was in the disease of cancer, from which he experienced horrible pains.

Saint Plutarch of Cyprus as a Model for our Lives

St. Plutarch, Archbishop of Cyprus (Feast Day - June 5)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Plutarch was the Archbishop of Constantia in Cyprus and lived at the end of the 6th and the beginning of the 7th century. He is included among the Orthodox Archbishops of Cyprus, since Constantia was then the "Metropolis" of the Great Island (Megalonisos). He is number thirteen in the list of Archbishops, and is listed among the Saints of Cyprus. He is not mentioned in the Synaxaria, but is mentioned in the "Chronicle" of the medieval chronicler Leontios Machairas, as well as in the chronicles handed down by Strambaldi and Florio Bustron.

Saint Plutarch occupied the see of Constantia from 590 to 625/6 A.D. and he is also known from the epigraphic evidences that have survived, those related to the construction of parts of the aqueduct of Constantia, which mention him as a builder. Specifically, he is mentioned as the builder of three arches of the aqueduct in 620, and other arches of an unspecified number in 621, and fifteen arches in 625. This fact, among others, shows that the Saint was interested not only in the spiritual needs of his rational flock, but also for the material ones, since, after all, man is a psychosomatic being.

Saint Nephon of Chios as a Model for our Lives

 By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Nephon was born in Chios in 1736. When he was still in his infancy, a plague epidemic loomed over the island and because of it many people departed this vain world, including his parents. Thus, Nicholas, this was his baptismal name, was orphaned of both of his parents, but God, Who "relieves orphans and widows", never left him, but was always with him and helped him in all circumstances of his life. The difficulties he faced helped him mature quickly. When he grew up, he went to Constantinople, where he worked for a short time as a merchant, however, after the death of his beloved friend at the hands of the Turks, he left for the Holy Mountain, where he became a monk under Elder Dionysios Stavroudas, with the name Nephon. Later he also received the grace of the priesthood.

Saints Eulampios and Eulampia as Models for our Lives

Sts. Eulampios and Eulampia (Feast Day - October 10)

 By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

The Holy Martyrs Eulampios and Eulampia were siblings according to the flesh and came from Nicomedia in Asia Minor. They lived in the 3rd century AD in the years of the Emperor Maximian, who ordered a severe persecution against the Christians, because of which many Christians left Nicomedia and fled to the mountains. Among them was the family of the sibling Martyrs Eulampios and Eulampia. On the mountain they lived in asceticism, prayer and study of the Holy Scriptures.

One day Eulampios was sent by his parents to Nicomedia to buy food. There the idolaters recognized him and handed him over to the ruler, in front of whom he boldly confessed his faith in Christ. After his courageous confession, he was led to a pagan temple and ordered to sacrifice to the idol of the "god" Ares. As was natural, he refused, and in fact, with his prayer he crushed the idol. After this event he was subjected to horrible torture. While they began to flog him, his sister Eulampia rushed and embraced him, at the same time she begged Christ to find her worthy of martyrdom as well. Then they put both of them in a large cauldron of hot water, but instead of burning, they cooled, like the three children of the Old Testament in the burning furnace, because the Son and Word of God descended into the furnace and turned it into dew. Thus, these fellow Martyrs also remained unharmed by the power of Christ, the incarnate Son and Word of God. And because of this miracle, 200 idolaters believed in Christ, who confessed their faith in the true God, and were "came to an end by the sword" and are honored as Martyrs of the Church.

Saint Titus the Apostle as a Model for our Lives

Holy Apostle Titus (Feast Day - August 25)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

 

The Apostle Titus was a Greek, apparently from Antioch, who, it seems, had studied Greek philosophy and poetry in the early years of his life. He had been drawn to the true faith by the Apostle Paul, whom he accompanied to Jerusalem in 49 AD, to participate in the Apostolic Synod.

Afterwards, the Apostle Titus was charged with the responsible mission of going to Corinth to examine the situation of the Church there. Indeed, he went and gave solutions to the problems that arose, and he arranged them in the best way. After the success of this mission, he went to Macedonia, where he met the Apostle Paul, who, pleased with the successful outcome of the events, wrote his second letter to the Corinthians.

Later, the Apostle Titus returned again to Corinth with a larger escort, he also had two Corinthians with him. Then, the Apostle Paul sent him to organize the alms collections for the Christians of Jerusalem.