Holy Prophetess Hannah Resource Page

Holy Prophetess Hannah, Mother of the Prophet Samuel (Feast Day - December 9)

Verses

 

For what shall you be praised more Hannah?

Your steadfast mind? or you blessed child? 

 

Holy Prophetess Hannah, Mother of the Prophet Samuel

  

Holy Prophetess Hannah as a Model for our Lives

 

December: Day 9: Teaching 2: Righteous Hannah, Mother of the Prophet Samuel

 

Prologue in Sermons: December 9 

 

The Prophetess Hannah and Noetic Prayer of the Heart

  

The Song of Righteous Hannah

  

Prophet Samuel Resource Page

 

August: Day 20: Teaching 1: Holy Prophet Samuel

August: Day 20: Teaching 1:
Holy Prophet Samuel
 
(The Lord Calls Us All to Salvation Through Various Means: Natural and Supernatural)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Prophet Samuel, whose memory is celebrated today, grew up at the Tabernacle, that is, the portable temple of the people of God, and was the only consolation of the High Priest Eli. It soon became evident that he was pleasing to God, and that God had sent him His grace, and through him would proclaim His will. One day as a twelve-year-old boy, who slept every night in the Temple of God, was awakened by a voice calling him. Thinking that Eli was calling him, he quickly got up and went to the vestibule where the High Priest slept at the door of the Temple. “Did you call me, my father?” he said to Eli. “No, my child,” he answered, “I did not call you, go and sleep.” But as soon as the boy fell asleep, the same voice called out again: “Samuel, Samuel!” The boy got up, again went to the High Priest; and so on three times. Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy, and said to him: "If you hear the voice calling you again, then answer: Speak, Lord; your servant is listening to you." Indeed, Samuel heard the same voice for the fourth time and answered: "Speak, Lord; your servant is listening to you;" and the Lord began to speak to Samuel, and announced to him that He would punish Eli for not restraining his sons, knowing their iniquities.

December: Day 9: Teaching 2: Righteous Hannah, Mother of the Prophet Samuel

December: Day 9: Teaching 2:
Righteous Hannah, Mother of the Prophet Samuel
 
(On the Importance of Spiritual, Heartfelt Prayer)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. How powerful before God is the inner prayer of the heart, we see from the life of the Righteous Hannah, the mother of the Prophet Samuel, whose memory is celebrated today. The father of the Prophet Samuel, whose name was Elkanah, had two wives: Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Despite her barrenness, Hannah was more beloved by her husband than Peninnah. For this reason, the latter greatly grieved Hannah, prompting her to complain that the Lord had closed her womb. And so, when they were in Shiloh to offer a sacrifice, Hannah in the sorrow of her soul prayed to God for the resolution of her barrenness, promising to give the child when born as a gift to God for all the days of his life. Hannah's prayer was inner, heartfelt - her voice was not heard - and her lips only moved. The high priest who was in the tabernacle thought that the woman was drunk and rebuked her. Hannah answered him: "No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I pour out my soul before the Lord." The high priest, realizing his mistake, said to her: "Go in peace, and the God of Israel will grant your request that you have asked of Him." And, indeed, God granted Hannah, through her prayer, a son named Samuel, which means: "Asked of God."

Homily Two on the Prophet Samuel, the Seer of the Israelites (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

The Prophet Samuel, whom our Church celebrates today (Aug. 20), lived in Old Testament times, specifically in the 12th century BC, and found himself in an intermediate period between Judges, i.e. political lords, and Kings. He was the last of the period of the Judges, as a wonderful Prophet, and the one who anointed the first King, Saul, and when he fell into serious errors, he anointed David the Prophet-King as King.

The presence of the Prophet Samuel and his activity among the Jews was truly wonderful. I will limit myself to two main points of his life.

The first point is that his birth was miraculous. His parents, Elkanah and Anna, had no children, because Anna was barren and she herself went to the Temple and prayed from the heart, prayed noetically, and asked God for His intervention to give birth. Thus, God blessed her and she gave birth to Samuel.