Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: September 22

The Month of September
 

Day 22

23. A New Form of Charity

(From the Life of Saint Phocas, Called the Gardener)

“Varied is the manner of showing mercy,” says Saint John Chrysostom, “and broad is this commandment.” How are we to understand these words? It seems to us that they can be understood in the sense that there may be countless kinds of charity and many ways of putting it into practice. Let us consider the latter. In order to show charity to others, some simply give their own money or possessions; others establish charitable societies; others collect offerings in churches; others make collections at public gatherings; others invite the wealthy to practice charity; still others do something else altogether; and some even practice charity in particularly original ways. Hearing this last point, you will surely be surprised and ask: can there really be special ways of practicing charity? Yes, brethren, there can, and we shall now present you with an example.

Saint Phocas, called the Gardener, whose memory the Holy Church commemorates on September 22, revealed himself after his martyrdom as a great wonderworker. Some received healing from illnesses through him, others consolation in their sorrows, and still others help in their troubles. But above all, Saint Phocas revealed himself as a wonderworker at sea. Seafarers turned to him with particular faith, asking for his help, and he always granted it to them. Many times he appeared to them visibly at sea. Sometimes, at night during a storm, he would awaken the sleeping helmsman; at other times they saw him unfurling the sails; sometimes they saw him standing at the stern of the ship; at times he pointed out dangerous shoals to the seafarers; and sometimes they even saw him walking upon the sea. Because of such mercies, the seafarers especially venerated him, and his name was renowned not only among those who sailed upon the Red Sea and the Adriatic, but even among those who sailed upon the ocean. The seafarers composed hymns of praise in honor of Saint Phocas, and his name, it is said, was continually “on the lips of those who go out to sea in ships and work upon many waters.”

June: Day 1: Teaching 3: Venerable Dionysius of Glushetsk

 

June: Day 1: Teaching 3:
Venerable Dionysius of Glushetsk
 
(According to the Gospel, what should our charity be like?)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Today the memory of the Venerable Dionysius of Glushetsk is celebrated. The Venerable Dionysius, known in the world as Dmitri, was born in the vicinity of Vologda in the year 1362. Who his parents were and how the first years of his life passed are unknown. Information about the Saint begins from the time of his monastic tonsure by Dionysius of the Holy Mountain, abbot of the Monastery of the Savior on Kamenny Island in Lake Kubenskoye. Dionysius remained in that monastery for nine years, and afterward sought a more secluded place and withdrew to the Glushitsa River. After some time, other ascetics began to gather around him and settled near his cell.

Seeing the increase of the brotherhood, Dionysius asked Bishop Gregory of Rostov for a blessing to establish a monastery. “Your desire is praiseworthy,” said the bishop, “for the Lord Himself taught: ‘Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20).”

Prologue in Sermons: May 14

The Great Lover of the Poor

May 14

(Word concerning the Elder Serapion.) 
 
By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The Lord says: “Sell your possessions and give alms” (Luke 12:33). Sell your possessions and give everything to the poor — but then, you will say, what will remain for us? How shall we ourselves live? This is very difficult, even impossible.

What, brothers, should I answer you? I will answer that it is difficult — that is true. But that it is impossible — that cannot be said.

Once, during winter, the Venerable Serapion came to Alexandria. Seeing a beggar without clothing, trembling from the cold, he said to himself:

“Here you are, a faster and a doer of Christ’s commandments, and yet you wear clothing, while this poor man is dying from the cold. Cover him, otherwise you will be condemned as a murderer.”

With these words Serapion removed his last cloak and gave it to the beggar.

May: Day 9: Teaching 2: Translation of the Honorable Relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

May: Day 9: Teaching 2:
Translation of the Honorable Relics of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
 
(On Mercy Toward the Poor)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. From the great host of God’s holy servants glorified by the Church, Saint Nicholas enjoys a special love among the Russian people. Many churches have been built in his honor throughout Holy Rus’; his memory is celebrated twice a year, on December 6 and May 9, and besides this, throughout the year, together with the apostles, he is commemorated in the church services every Thursday. His very name is dear to the Orthodox Russian people and therefore is often found in Christian families — not only in the humble hut, but even upon the royal throne. Which of his many virtues attracts Orthodox Christians to him? Knowing that we turn to God and His saints for help in our spiritual and bodily needs, and especially often direct our prayers to those saints who showed many works of mercy toward the suffering, we must acknowledge that the outstanding virtue of Saint Nicholas was “his mercy toward the needy.” The Holy Church, in her hymns, glorifies him as the feeder of the hungry, the excellent guide of those storm-tossed at sea, and the swift helper of all who are in troubles and sorrows. And indeed, the whole life of Saint Nicholas presents an unbroken series of benefactions rendered by him to suffering humanity. But not only during his life — even after death he did not cease to do good to those who turn to him with prayers. His very tomb became a source of healings for those suffering in soul and body. The many wonderworking icons of him found in different places throughout our vast homeland are nothing other than visible and indestructible memorials of his mercy toward the Christian race. In this respect Saint Nicholas appears as the good and faithful servant of our Lord, fulfilling one of the chief commandments of the Master and Lord concerning mercy toward one’s neighbors.

Prologue in Sermons: April 30

To Bury the Dead in Poverty is a Deed Pleasing to God

April 30

(A discourse about Magisterian, who covered a dead man lying naked with his shirt.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

One of the works of bodily mercy consists in this: to bury the dead in poverty or to render assistance toward this, according to one’s means. I do not know how it is with others, but among you, to your honor it must be said, brethren, this good deed until now has always found sympathy. Many poor who died that were in our parish or were found dead, always you came to their body to pray for them and left your small contributions for their burial. And many, I repeat, poor dead there were among us, it was always possible to see near them a sufficient amount of money gathered, and with this money, as you yourselves know, for the unattended dead there was arranged both a proper burial, and a coffin was bought for them, and there was means to clothe them, and candles were set by the coffin, and the grave without difficulty was dug. Praising you for this, I desire that also in future time you remain just as compassionate toward your dead poor brethren as you have shown yourselves until now: I desire this because to bury the dead in poverty is a deed pleasing to God, and, consequently, it will never remain without reward.

Prologue in Sermons: April 11

What We Give to the Poor, God Returns To Us

April 11

(A Word about Evagrius the Philosopher, whom Synesius the Bishop baptized and gave him a written pledge for the sake of almsgiving.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The Word of God says: “He who has mercy on the poor lends to God” (Proverbs 19:17). From this it follows that through the hands of the poor we entrust our goods to God. It is clear that He Himself must return what we have given. But will He return it? And if He returns it, how can one be convinced of this?

Listen, brethren, to the following account; one may think that it will be convincing for you.

Synesius, Bishop of Cyrene, after a long time and many exhortations, converted to Christ a pagan, the philosopher Evagrius, and baptized him with all his household. A year after his baptism, Evagrius — apparently still wavering with doubts about certain truths of Christian teaching — once came to Synesius, entrusted to him a rather large sum of gold, and said that Synesius should distribute it all to the poor, and give him a written receipt in his own hand that the Lord would return to him what was given away in the future life. The Bishop gave Evagrius the receipt and distributed the gold to the poor. After this, Evagrius lived for several years and then fell onto his deathbed. Before his death he called his children and, giving them the receipt of Synesius, instructed them to place it with him in the grave. The children promised to fulfill the command, and when Evagrius died, they placed the receipt with him. Two days passed after Evagrius had been buried, and on the third day he appeared in a dream to Synesius and said: “Come to my grave and take your receipt; the debt, as you assured me, I have received, and now, as proof on my part, I leave you my own written acknowledgment of receipt.” Awakening, Synesius called the sons of Evagrius and asked them whether they had placed anything in the grave with their father. They answered: “Nothing, master, except some document which our father asked to be placed with him.” Then Synesius, recounting to them his dream, invited some of the clergy and many noble persons of the city and went with them to the grave of Evagrius. When the grave was opened, they found in the hands of the dead Evagrius a writing, and when they unfolded it, they saw that in it, written by the hand of the deceased, were the following words: “I, Evagrius the philosopher, greet you, venerable bishop Synesius. I have received the debt which through you I gave to Christ God the Savior, and now I will no longer require from you any account concerning the gold which I once gave to you and through you to Christ God, our Savior.” “And immediately,” the account concludes, “all marveled greatly at the most glorious miracle, and glorified God, crying out for a long time: ‘Lord, have mercy!’”

Prologue in Sermons: January 31

On Compassion for the Unfortunate

January 31

(A Discourse of Saint Antiochus on Suffering for a Friend)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

We all know that we ought to have compassion for the unfortunate and help them; but, unfortunately, not all of us know what true compassion consists in, or how we should act toward those in distress, so that from our compassion toward them there may arise both real benefit for them, glory to God, and the salvation of our own souls. In what, then, should true compassion for the unfortunate consist, and in what manner should our help to them be manifested? Let us learn this from one of the Holy Fathers, who gives all of us in this matter a good and saving lesson.

Prologue in Sermons: January 11

The Lord is Especially Merciful to Merciful People

January 11

(From the Life of Venerable Theodosios)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Both the word of God and the Holy Fathers teach us to remember that God is especially merciful to merciful people. "He who gives to the poor," says Solomon, "will not lack" (Proverbs 28:27). "He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully," teaches the Holy Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 9:6). "What you have given to the hungry, you will receive back in abundance," adds Saint Basil the Great ("On the Rich"). All this, brethren, is completely true; for the truth of what both the word of God and the Holy Fathers say regarding God's special mercies to the merciful can be demonstrated by deeds themselves. And today, for your edification, we will demonstrate it by deeds.

Venerable Theodosios, abbot of the Monastery of the Theotokos near Jerusalem, was, as the author of his life tells us, an eye for the blind, a guide for the lame, a shelter for the defenseless, and clothing for the naked. He visited the sick, providing clothing for some who came to him, feeding others, and addressing the needs of still others. It should be noted that he established the custom of feeding a hundred people daily at the monastery. 

Prologue in Sermons: January 10

In Support of the Shelter for Destitute Girls

January 10

(A Discourse from the Life of Saint Markianos, How He Took Off his Garment and Gave It To a Poor Man)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

One of the works of bodily mercy is to clothe the naked, or those who lack what is necessary and proper clothing. How precious this good deed is in the eyes of God is evident already from this alone: the Lord refers it to Himself, and at the Last Judgment He will say to those who clothed the naked, “I was naked and you clothed Me” (Matt. 25:36), and He will call them into His Kingdom with the words: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34). But even apart from this it is clear that this is especially pleasing to God, because even in this life He sometimes wondrously glorifies merciful people who do not spare, for the poor, clothing necessary for themselves, as though as a pledge of the future reward promised by Him in the kingdom of glory.

The Hunger of the Poor and the Greediness of the Rich, According to Saint Basil the Great

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

(Address of His Eminence to the Educators of the Metropolis, delivered at the event of the Metropolis for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs in 2011.)

Saint Basil the Great was a great personality and exercised a profound influence not only on his contemporaries but also on later generations, down to our own time. Many people, when they wish to engage with theological, pastoral, ascetical, as well as scientific matters — namely medical, astronomical, and educational issues — turn to Saint Basil and refer to his texts, which are remarkable and possess a timeless relevance.

From an ecclesiastical perspective, Saint Basil was truly great. The title “the Great” was first bestowed upon him by his friend Saint Gregory the Theologian, with whom he studied in Athens and with whom he maintained a friendship and shared path in the years that followed. It is significant that this lofty eagle of theology — Saint Gregory the Theologian — recognized Saint Basil and called him “Great.” One can imagine what an extraordinary personality St. Basil was.

Sermon 4 on the Fast of Advent (St. Leo the Great)

By St. Leo the Great

(Sermon 15: On the Fast of The Tenth Month, IV)

CHAPTER I - The threefold remedy of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving against the temptations of the devil and the wounds of sin.

We confidently exhort you, beloved, to works of piety, because experience has taught us that you willingly embrace what we urge. For you know, and by God’s instruction you understand, that the observance of the divine commandments will bring you profit toward eternal joy. Yet in fulfilling them, human frailty often grows weary, and in many ways, through the slippery weakness of our nature, it falls. Therefore the merciful and compassionate Lord has given us remedies and aids by which we may obtain pardon.

For who could escape so many enticements of the world, so many snares of the devil, and finally so many dangers arising from his own instability, unless the mercy of the eternal King preferred to restore us rather than to lose us? Even those who have already been redeemed, already reborn, and made sons of light, so long as they are detained in this world — which lies entirely in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19) — and so long as corruptible and temporal things entice the weakness of the flesh, cannot pass these days without temptation. Nor does anyone easily attain such a bloodless victory that amid many enemies and frequent conflicts he is free not only from death but also from wounds.

Prologue in Sermons: December 7

Against Those Who Reject God's Providence

December 7
 
(About Almsgiving, For He Who Gives Alms to the Poor, Gives to Christ and Will Receive a Hundredfold)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

There are people who, no matter how they receive miraculous help from God, always try to attribute it not to God, but to chance alone. "I was in a desperate situation," says someone, "misfortune threatened me, but then such an extraordinary chance came along and saved me." What can we say about such people? I think the same as the word of God says about them: a sinner, when he reaches the depths of evil, is negligent. Indeed, negligent! For he does not notice how unbelief has overtaken him, how much ingratitude to God, coldness, and, perhaps, hard-heartedness lie within him. Should Christians have this attitude toward God's acts of mercy? No; not only should we ourselves always firmly believe that all help to us comes from the Lord, who created heaven and earth, but we must also constantly instill in others that the Lord is the constant helper and protector of all who believe in Him, and through this, he should also bring unbelievers to their senses.

Prologue in Sermons: December 3

The Redemption from the Prisons of Debtors Holds Great Value in the Eyes of God

December 3

(Commemoration of the Venerable Theodoulos the Eparch)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Among other works of physical mercy, one can also include the redemption of insolvent debtors from prison or the general easing of their lot. The value of this deed in the eyes of God can be seen in the following incident, which occurred in the life of Venerable Theodoulus, whose memory the Holy Church celebrates on the third day of December.

December: Day 1: Teaching 2: Holy Righteous Philaret the Merciful

December: Day 1: Teaching 2:
Holy Righteous Philaret the Merciful
 
(Lessons of Philanthropy from the Life of Saint Philaret the Merciful)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Philaret the Merciful, whose memory is celebrated today, belonged to a wealthy and noble family. His parents instilled in him a love of God from an early age, and he lived in a contentment and happiness rarely enjoyed by people. But Philaret remembered his duties. "God did not give me wealth," he told his wife Theosevo, "for me to enjoy it alone, but for me to share it with the poor." And indeed, Philaret shared his last with the poor not only when he was rich, but even when he became poor. By helping the poor, Philaret himself reached such poverty that he needed daily food for himself and his family. Sometimes, neighbors, out of pity, sent him bread or flour, but even then Philaret shared his share with the poor. "Accept it, and thank God," he said, often giving his last to the beggar and refusing any gratitude to himself. God was pleased to once again bestow wealth upon the kind and meek Philaret. His granddaughter became the wife of the emperor himself; Philaret was honored and given rich estates. But Philaret remained as merciful, meek, and humble as ever, rejoicing in the opportunity to further help the poor.

Prologue in Sermons: November 30

Reflecting on the Fire of Gehenna and How the Virtues of Chastity and Mercy Confer Great Benefit Upon a Person

November 30*

(The Tale of Zacharias and John is Very Beneficial for the Soul)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Know, brethren, that contemplation of the eternal torment of sinners, their removal from the blessed contemplation of God's face, and the eternal darkness in which they will languish, as well as the two greatest virtues — chastity and mercy — bring significant benefit to a person. They make such a Christian a vessel of Divine Grace, make him a Saint, even make him a Wonderworker. We will now convince you of all this.

Homily for the Commemoration of Saint John the Merciful (Fr. Daniel Sysoev)

Homily for the Commemoration of Saint John the Merciful

By Fr. Daniel Sysoev

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

I congratulate you all on the feast day of John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria! Mercy, co-eternal with the nature of God, was embodied in this great Saint, who shone forth in our Church in the sixth century. He was married and had children, but then both his wife and children died. After their death, he decided to dedicate his life to God. At the time, he was still quite young, about forty years old. One night, he saw a beautiful maiden come to him, dressed in a sparkling white tunic and wearing a wreath of olive branches on her head, a sign of mercy. This maiden told John that if he wished to receive a great reward, he must become her beloved. He asked, "Who are you?" The maiden replied that she was the eldest daughter of a great king: "My power is so great that I brought the Son of God to earth." John asked, "What is your name?" She replied that her name was Mercy. And the maiden became invisible.

Prologue in Sermons: October 25

The Vanity of Earthly Acquisitions

October 25*

(On John the Gardner)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

We all know very well that hope for earthly blessings is futile and that we should be more concerned with acquiring heavenly and eternal blessings than temporal and perishable ones. Yet, many of us are not free from a passion for the latter and place all our hope in them alone. Thus, without even mentioning the notorious money-lovers, how many people we see in this world, even those who are kind at heart, who say: "When illness and old age come, what will I do without money? Who will need me?" and so on. Many say this, and it turns out that only money can alleviate our illness or old age. But in reality, it turns out quite differently. It is not money, brethren, but something else that we need and benefit from during illness and old age.

Prologue in Sermons: October 8

The Giving Hand Never Fails

October 8

(From the Discourse on the Merciful Scholastic)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

"Do not harden your heart," says Scripture, "nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs...  You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand" (Deut. 15:7-10). "He who gives to the poor will not lack" (Proverbs 28:27). "I am old," says David, "and have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Ps. 37:25). These are immutable truths, for they are confirmed by countless examples of miraculous replenishment for the merciful, distributed by them. I offer you the following one of them.

Prologue in Sermons: September 18

The Alms We Give to the Poor Are Accepted by Christ Himself

September 18

(On Almsgiving: That By Giving to the Poor One Gives to Christ)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The Holy Fathers teach this about almsgiving: Chrysostom says: "A man is a great thing, and a merciful man is precious. For far greater is it to feed Christ when hungry than to raise the dead by the name of Jesus: for in the former case you do good to Christ, in the latter He to you" (Homily 16 on I Cor.). And Saint Basil the Great teaches: "Mercy is a great thing: for Christ Himself, who sits in heaven, receives what the poor, lying on earth, receives from your hands" (On the Rich). Is this true? Is it true that by giving alms we do good to Christ? And is it fair that Christ Himself, who sits in heaven, receives from us what the poor, lying on earth, receives from us? Know that all this is absolutely true, brethren, for the deeds themselves speak for the truth of the words of the ecumenical teachers. 

Homily on the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon (St. John of Kronstadt)

Homily on the Feast of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon and on the Birthday of Her Imperial Majesty Empress Maria Alexandrovna

By St. John of Kronstadt

"Go therefore and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice?" (Matthew 9:13).

Celebrating the memory of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon and the birthday of the Most Pious Empress, what would be more appropriate and edifying to offer a conversation about from the church pulpit than about the mercy for which the Holy Great Martyr was famous during his life and which he miraculously shows to this day to all who resort to him with faith and zeal. A word about mercy is all the more appropriate now that we see this Christian virtue as if embodied in the Empress, this true mother of the Russian people.

So, a brief word about mercy. What virtue is most characteristic of a Christian and constitutes a primary obligation? Mercy. The Only Begotten Son of God, who came down from heaven to earth due to unfathomable mercy toward perishing sinners, and shed His blood for them in the redemptive suffering on the cross, Himself persuades us to be merciful to one another: "Be therefore merciful, as your Heavenly Father also is merciful" (Luke 6:36). "Go therefore and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice?" You know that the entire life of Jesus Christ was a continuous manifestation of the greatest benefactions to suffering humanity: He healed all kinds of diseases, cast out evil spirits from people, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute, the ability to walk to the lame, restoring uprightness to the hunchbacked. He raised the dead and provided unspeakable joy to those who mourned for them. He preached to the people daily, enlightening their minds and hearts with salvific truths. He healed the souls of sinners oppressed by sins and forgave their transgressions. He called out to all sinners: "Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). To His Disciples and Apostles, He bestowed the grace to perform similar acts of mercy: "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). All these deeds they performed before the eyes of many witnesses. After the Apostles, this same gift was also received by many believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in fulfillment of His promise: "These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:17-18). Or: "He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do" (John 14:12). Thus, the Saints performed numerous miraculous deeds of mercy.