July: Day 5: Teaching 1: The Discovery of the Honorable Relics of our Venerable Father Sergius, the Wonderworker of Radonezh

July: Day 5: Teaching 1:
The Discovery of the Honorable Relics of our Venerable Father Sergius, the Wonderworker of Radonezh

(On Love for the Fatherland)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Sergius, the discovery of whose much-healing relics is celebrated today, among the many virtues with which he was adorned, was distinguished by his extraordinary love for his fatherland, for which he was ready for any labors and sacrifices.

Thus, he repeatedly went on behalf of Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, to various princes neighboring Moscow, who did not want to recognize the authority of the Grand Prince and were stirring up troubles, and he always fulfilled his difficult assignments with great success; very often and zealously he offered up his ardent prayers for the well-being of the Russian kingdom and ardently sympathized with its misfortunes, which arose mainly from Russia's dependence on the Tatars.

June: Day 22: Holy Hieromartyr Eusebius of Samosata

 

June: Day 22:
Holy Hieromartyr Eusebius of Samosata
 
(On Obedience To Civil Authority)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Eusebius, whose memory is celebrated today, lived in the 4th century and was bishop in the city of Samosata (on the Euphrates River) in the Antiochian metropolis. He waged a long and tireless struggle against heretics and suffered much under Constantius, who patronized the Arians. Under Emperor Julian, Eusebius, hiding his bishopric, went around various regions to confirm Christians in the faith and support them. At this time, he also restored several churches and ordained many priests and deacons.

Upon the ascension of Jovian, Eusebius and other holy figures were restored to their thrones. The pious emperor respected them, while the heretics feared them. However, the Church did not enjoy peace for long, as Jovian soon passed away; after him, Valens ascended to the throne and once again instigated persecution against the Orthodox faith, exiling shepherds into banishment. Eusebius was imprisoned in Thrace, and in his stead an Arian was appointed. Eusebius learned of his exile while in Samosata; preparing to leave the city, he asked the messenger to keep this matter confidential, so that the people would not harm the messenger bringing news of their separation from the bishop. Under the cover of night, he left the episcopal residence, but upon crossing the Euphrates, he was halted by the townsfolk who had learned of his departure, and they wept, beseeching him to return. Eusebius persuaded them not to resist royal authority and to return to their homes, and, having blessed everyone, continued his journey to Thrace, from where he returned during the time of Gratian, who summoned the exiled bishops back to their flocks. However, he soon died from a wound inflicted upon him by an Arian woman who had thrown a vessel from the roof, which struck the bishop on the head... As he was dying, he bequeathed that the woman should not be punished.

June: Day 8: Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates

June: Day 8:
Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates
 
(On Obedience to Authorities)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Today is the commemoration of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates. Saint Theodore was a "stratelate" (military commander) in the city of Heraclea (on the Black Sea) and converted many pagans to Christ. Hearing that Theodore was converting many to Christ, Emperor Licinius, accompanied by dignitaries of his court and numerous soldiers, set off for Heraclea and ordered that gold and silver idols be carried with them.

That very night a miraculous phenomenon foreshadowed to Theodore that the time of his contest was near. During prayer a heavenly light suddenly shone upon him and he heard a voice saying to him: "Be bold, Theodore, I am with you!" Theodore understood that he would soon have to suffer for the name of Christ, and his heart was filled with joy.

Homily on the Anniversary of the Accession to the Throne of Tsar Nicholas II (St. John of Kronstadt)

A Homily on the Beneficence of the Tsarist Autocracy, Delivered on the Anniversary of the Accession to the Throne of the Most Pious Sovereign Emperor NICHOLAS ALEXANDROVICH, October 21, 1896, in Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, in Kronstadt

By St. John of Kronstadt

“For the kingdom is the Lord's; and He shall have dominion over the nations” (Ps. 21:29).

In the entire universe - in all worlds, visible and invisible to us, no matter how great and countless they are - in all this wondrous, wise, beautiful, living world mechanism, one wise, omnipotent, personal, beginningless, all-good, and all-unifying Power is clearly noticeable, which gave to all this infinite and varied mechanism unity, order, wonderful harmony and beauty, generally the same everywhere, constant and unchanging. On the earth we inhabit, in all animate and inanimate creations, the diversity and unity of genera and species in animals and plants, the unity and harmony of actions, customs, morals, instincts and general manifestations of life are also noticeable. For example, with the onset of autumn, migratory birds in long lines, under the control of their foremost leader, like a column leader, stretch into the air heights to warm countries. With the onset of spring, they again fly in the same lines, also under the control of the advanced ones, to us for their livelihood and their trade and for the breeding of others like themselves. Bees and ants work together, under the control and guidance of the queen or king, preparing food and shelter for the winter; annual plants wither and disappear, but their species in the seed and embryonic state remain unchanged and, at a favorable, warm temperature, send out their shoots again and develop into the same beautiful and living forms as last year. In everything - small and great - in the flow of the stars and the actions of the elements, in all plants and animals, one all-creating, all-life-giving, all-decorating, all-ruling Hand of the Invisible Creator and Provider is noticeable. This same all-ruling Hand rules over all nations, the entire human race; appointing kings and deposing, and in the place of some raises others. This also elevated the New Tsar to the throne of the Russian Kingdom, the branch of the recently deceased Tsar-Parent. “By me," says God, "kings reign and rulers decree justice” (Prov. 8:15). The king is the image of God on earth, the Ruler of the universe. “Listen, kings, and understand; learn, judges of the ends of the earth; take heed, you who have multitudes and are proud before the nations: Dominion has been given to you from the Lord, and strength from the Most High, who will examine your deeds and test your intentions” (Prov. 7:1–3), cries the wise one, a king to those like him.

Homily for the Second Sunday of Great Lent: The Teachings of Christ and the Teachings of Men (St. Luke of Simferopol)

 Homily for the Second Week of Great Lent:
The Teachings of Christ and the Teachings of Men

By St. Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and All Crimea

If on the first Sunday of Great Lent, as you remember, the Holy Church triumphed at the affirmation of Orthodoxy by Seven Ecumenical Synods, then on the second Sunday she honors the memory of Saint Gregory Palamas, the great defender of Orthodoxy.

He lived in the 14th century, almost six centuries after the last Ecumenical Synod. He received a comprehensive education, was close to the Byzantine Emperor and served with him, but then left court life and retired to Mount Athos, for his soul strove for constant and inseparable communion with God. In his days, blasphemy arose against monasticism, and especially against the monks of Athos, who were reviled for devoting their entire lives only to serving God, contemplating God and praying.