Holy Martyrs Timothy and Mavra in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

Saint Joseph the Hymnographer once again makes use of the names of the Saints in order to characterize, by means of them, the quality of their holiness. Timothy and Mavra thus "honored God" and "darkened error”: “Having honored God, they darkened error, namely Timothy and the glorious Mavra” (Kathisma of Matins). Repeatedly he employs figures of speech, especially the contrast between light and darkness, to show that although the Saint is called Mavra (“dark”), she is full of the light of God. “With a flashing form, O modest and all-blessed Mavra, and by the light of your grace you darkened the faces of the dreadful tyrant” (Sticheron of Vespers). “Having cast off the dark evil-mindedness, you became light through martyrdom, O God-blessed one” (Ode 5).

Saint Anastasia Şaguna, Mother of the Holy Hierarch Andrei Şaguna (+ 1836)

 

Anastasia Şaguna (1785–1836) was the mother of the Holy Hierarch Andrei Şaguna, one of the most illustrious figures of Romanian Orthodoxy.

Born in 1785, she received a select education from her parents, in the spirit of fear of God, honor and steadfastness in the ancestral faith.

She married young, and at the age of 18 she became a mother, giving birth to Evreta, the brother of the later Metropolitan, followed by a little girl, Ecaterina, in 1806 and the infant Anastasios (the future Metropolitan Andrei Şaguna) on December 20, 1808, in Miscolts.

Anastasia's life took a dramatic turn when her husband, Naum Şaguna, for material reasons and forced by circumstances, converted to Catholicism. This choice generated an intense internal and external struggle for Anastasia, who decided to defend her faith and, above all, the souls of her children with all her might. Convinced that the holiest religion was the one in which her parents and ancestors worshipped, Anastasia chose to fight for her little ones to remain Orthodox.

Saints Galaktion and Episteme in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

The Saints celebrated today are both spouses and monastics, who belong to that group of Christians who followed the so-called white marriage: which means that while they are spouses, they do not have carnal relations. The Hymnographer even expresses this double paradoxical relationship with a very beautiful phrase - and not only with this: the Saints are "renowned in marriage, a great wonder of the unmarried." Our Church does not promote white marriage as an example to be imitated. White marriage is a choice of certain spouses, who, appreciating their strengths and the entire purpose of their lives, decide that maintaining their virginity, even within marriage, constitutes a choice that facilitates the interests of their souls. The Hymnographer notes this: "Both interests being in harmony." Something similar perhaps happens with the gift of foolishness: while it is a gift from God, it is not proposed as a way of life by our Church. And this is something that shows how down-to-earth and sympathetic the Church is towards the faithful: each time it emphasizes the middle path, without however excluding those who wish for something different as a transcendence. Because what is sought by Her is not the path, any path, but the relationship with Christ. This constitutes the end and She does not interfere much with the means to achieve the end.

Saints Andronikos and Athanasia Resource Page

Sts. Andronikos and Athanasia (Feast Day - October 9)

Verses

Andronikos and Athanasia are co-dwellers,
In the world in asceticism as well as in the heavens.

 

Synaxarion of our Venerable Father Andronikos and his Venerable Wife Athanasia

 

Saint Andronikos and His Wife Athanasia

 

October: Day 9: Saints Andronikos and Athanasia 

 

Prologue in Sermons: October 9 

 

Second Teaching of Saint Kosmas the Aitolos 

 

Fifth Teaching of Saint Kosmas the Aitolos 

 

The Church of Saints Andronikos and Athanasia in Frenaros

 

Prologue in Sermons: October 9

What Should the Life of Christian Spouses Be Like?

October 9

(From the Story of the Venerable Father Daniel About Andronikos and His Wife)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Throughout the year, the Holy Church frequently commemorates Christian spouses, that is, husbands and wives who, living their lives together, strove with one another in virtue and were together granted crowns for it. Since the lives of these saints offer valuable lessons regarding how to attain salvation within the context of family life, they should be particularly instructive for us, laypeople.

As an example, I will point you to something from the life of Saints Andronikos and his wife Athanasia.

The Sacred Couple Aquila and Priscilla: The Protectors of Loving Spouses

By Lambros Skontzos

On February 13, our Church celebrates the holy memory of two important saints of the apostolic era, Aquila and Priscilla. These two sacred spouses constitute for our Orthodox Church the true version of what the commercialized “Saint Valentine” is said to offer on February 14. The late Archbishop Christodoulos had proposed to replace Valentine's Day as a “festival of lovers” brought from the cacodox “Christian” West with the feast of Saints Aquila and Priscilla.

This sacred couple is mentioned many times in the epistles of the Apostle Paul, who contributed greatly to the missionary work of the Apostle to the Gentiles. They were of Jewish origin and initially lived in Rome. They practiced the profession of tentmaker, manufacturing special fabrics for tents. However, in 49 AD Emperor Claudius (41-54 AD) expelled the Jews from Rome on the grounds that they were arguing about a certain “Christ.” This testimony, which is important for the early Church, clearly shows the persecution that the Jews had proclaimed against the Christians. It also seems that Aquila and Priscilla had heard about the new faith, which they liked. From Rome they found themselves in Corinth, the great multinational city of Achaia, which rivaled Rome in moral corruption, practicing the lucrative profession of tentmaker.

January: Day 8: Teaching 2: Holy Martyrs Julian and Basilissa

January: Day 8: Teaching 2:
Holy Martyrs Julian and Basilissa
 
(On Marital Chastity)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Today the Holy Church celebrates the memory of the holy martyrs Juliana and Basilissa.

Saint Julian, who loved Christ with all his heart from an early age, wanted to remain a virgin for the rest of his life. But his parents were determined for their son to be married, and they urged him to enter into married life. The Saint asked them for seven days to think it over, and he spent these seven days in fasting and prayer, begging the Lord to preserve him in virginity and purity. The Lord heeded his prayer, appeared to him in a dream and said that He would send him a bride who would fully sympathize with him in his good intentions. After this vision, Julian expressed his desire to marry to his parents. The parents were very happy and found him a bride, a kind and exemplary Christian woman named Basilissa. The wedding feast ended, and the newlyweds were taken to their room. But as soon as the bride entered it, she felt a wondrous, unusual fragrance. "What does this mean?" said the bride to her groom, "now it is winter, and here in the room I sense with delight the sweet smell of fragrant spring flowers." - "This is the fragrance of heavenly paradise," answered Julian, "it occurs through the action of the Lord Himself. If we love God and preserve our virginity, then we too will be worthy of the blessedness of paradise." - "What could be more precious than eternal salvation?" said Basilissa, and she decided to remain a virgin. Then Julian fell to the ground to pray, and they saw a wondrous vision: on one side the Lord Himself with a multitude of virgins in white robes, and on the other the Most Holy Theotokos with a multitude of virgins, and from both sides marvelous singing was heard. Then the holy elders showed them a book in which the names of Julian and Basilissa were written between the names of the virgins. When Julian’s parents died, they used the rich funds they left behind to build two monasteries – one for men and one for women – and separated from each other for the Lord forever, each struggling in his own monastery in the hope of eternal heavenly joys prepared for those who love the Lord.

October: Day 9: Saints Andronikos and Athanasia

October: Day 9:
Saints Andronikos and Athanasia
 
(Do Not Complain to God When You Lose Those Close To Your Heart)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. During the reign of Theodosius, there lived in Antioch a goldsmith named Andronikos. His wife was called Athanasia. Their memory is celebrated today. Both spouses led a pious life, dividing all their income into three parts. One part they distributed to the poor, another they used to decorate the church, and the third for their own maintenance. For their gentle and affectionate behavior, all the citizens loved and honored them. They had two young children: a twelve-year-old son John and a ten-year-old daughter Maria. Andronikos and Athanasia rejoiced and praised God for the happiness bestowed upon them. But one day Athanasia, returning from church, found her children sick and groaning. Soon her husband returned, but he no longer found the children alive. The loss of her children greatly saddened Athanasia, she did not leave them and cried all the time. When the children were buried, she did not want to return to the house and remained in the cemetery; she wept and asked God for death. At midnight the martyr Julian appeared to her and said: “Why do you disturb those who rest here with your weeping for your children? It would be better if you wept for your sins. Your children enjoy heavenly blessings; they say to the righteous Judge: 'You have deprived us of earthly blessings, do not take away from us the heavenly ones.'” Hearing this, Athanasia stopped grieving and soon entered a monastery. Andronikos followed her example.