Translation of the Sacred Relic of Saint Ignatius the God-Bearer in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

 

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

Saint Ignatius was a successor of the Holy Apostles and served as Bishop of Antioch. Together with Saint Polycarp, the president of the Church of the Smyrnaeans, he was a disciple of the Evangelist John the Theologian. He was therefore brought before Emperor Trajan, and after enduring every kind of torture without yielding, he was sent to Rome to be thrown to the beasts. When this took place, certain Christian men gathered his holy relics and brought them from Rome to Antioch, offering them to the Antiochene brethren who desired them with great longing. They then placed them beneath the earth with all honor and reverence. For this reason the Church celebrates a joyful feast.

We encountered Saint Ignatius the God-bearer — indeed, in considerable detail — on the day of his commemoration, the 20th of December. At that time, we had the opportunity to emphasize, on the one hand, the theological stature of the letters he left us — a truly significant contribution to overcoming ecclesiastical distortions — and, on the other hand, his deep love and fervor for the Lord Jesus Christ. It is precisely this love that the hymns of our Church also highlight today, on the occasion of the translation of his honorable relics. Indeed, it is impossible to speak of Saint Ignatius on any occasion without being moved by the furnace of his heart, which burned for the sake of Christ.

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.

January: Day 24: Venerable Xenia of Rome

January: Day 24:
Venerable Xenia of Rome
 
(The Feat of Virginity)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable Xenia, now being glorified, in the world known as Eusebia, was the daughter of noble and wealthy parents who lived in Rome, and from her very childhood loved Christ and wished to devote her whole life to serving Him. But when she learned that her parents were arranging her marriage with a young man equal to her in wealth and nobility, and learned that they would not allow her to refuse a union with him, Eusebia judged according to the word of the Apostle, that "it is not right in the sight of God to listen to men more than to God" (Acts 4:19), and on the eve of the wedding celebration, when everything in the house was prepared for her entry into a new, even more brilliant than before life, she, at night, with two slaves devoted to her, hid from her parents' house, taking with her some valuable things that belonged to her.

January: Day 13: Saint James, Bishop of Nisibis

 

January: Day 13:
Saint James, Bishop of Nisibis
 
(Every Lie Is Contrary To God)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. One day Saint James of Nisibis, whose memory is celebrated today, went to a certain village. Three beggars, seeing him walking, thought of deceiving him, hoping through this lie and cunning to beg more of something from the Saint. One of them pretended to be dead. When Saint James approached them, they, pointing to their supposedly dead companion, asked him for alms for his burial. James gave them as much as he could, prayed to God for the soul of the dead man, and went his way. Seeing that the elder had already gone far, the beggars ordered their companion to get up, but he did not get up; they looked closely, and he really was dead. The beggars were afraid that their invention had ended very badly, and began to run after Saint James. Having caught up with him, they revealed to him the real truth, asking forgiveness. The holy elder was merciful: he returned to the dead man, resurrected him with his prayer and advised them not to joke like that in the future.

December: Day 31: Teaching 5: On the Eve of the Feast in Honor of Saint Basil the Great

December: Day 31: Teaching 5:
On the Eve of the Feast in Honor of Saint Basil the Great
 
(For the All-Night Vigil - Lessons From His Life:
a. Modesty in Clothing,
b. Unanimity With the Holy Church, and
c. Preparation for Departure From This Life)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The entire Christian Church has from ancient times adopted the title of "Great" for Saint Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, who is glorified in today's ecclesiastical hymns and readings. How did he acquire this title? What is the greatness of Saint Basil? His life will show us this.

Saint Basil was born in Caesarea in Cappadocia in the year 329, at the end of the pious reign of Saint Constantine, Equal to the Apostles. His parents were named: Basil, distinguished not only by his virtues, but also by his education, and Emmelia, whom Saint Gregory the Theologian calls "the nurse of the poor." Saint Basil received his initial understanding of the sciences from his father, and his first instructions in faith and good morals from his pious mother. Even in his youth, Saint Basil was distinguished by his extraordinary success in the sciences and his sedate disposition; he was eloquent, not yet learning the rules of rhetoric, and was a sage or philosopher, when he had not yet attended philosophy lessons. However, the young sage was not deceived by his successes, but desired to achieve greater perfection. With this purpose he went first to Constantinople, and then to Athens, where famous rhetoricians and philosophers lived at that time. Here he found his second self, the most sincere, faithful, unchanging and worthy friend in the person of Saint Gregory, later Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Theologian. Basil and Gregory were a model of true sacred friendship. Equally gifted by God with spiritual talents, they both equally strove to perfect themselves in virtue, strengthening and encouraging each other in this holy striving. Throughout their lives they preserved the most ardent love and the deepest respect for each other. Living in Athens, a city still half inhabited by pagans, Basil and Gregory kept themselves pure from pagan superstitions and vices, avoided the vain pleasures and noisy amusements to which their fellow students indulged. The holy friends knew only two roads in Athens: one to the church, the other to the teachers. Their success in the sciences was amazing. After a few years, Saint Basil had to leave Athens and with deep sorrow part with his friend Gregory, whom the Athenians begged to remain in their city to teach the rules of eloquence.

December: Day 31: Teaching 4: On the Eve of the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord

 

December: Day 31: Teaching 4:
On the Eve of the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord
 
(The Old Testament Circumcision Was Replaced in the New Testament by the Mystery of Baptism)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Circumcision was the most important mystery of the Old Testament Church. It was established from above, before all the mysteries. The circumcised entered into a covenant with God, became members of the Church and had the right to receive earthly and heavenly blessings. On the contrary, the uncircumcised were threatened with disaster and destruction. "The soul of the uncircumcised," said God, "shall be cut off from his people, for he has broken My covenant" (Gen. 17:14).

In establishing this great mystery, God confirmed that Abraham's children should be circumcised forever, as long as it pleased God. "And my covenant," said God, "shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant" (Gen. 7:13).

December: Day 31: Teaching 2: On the Eve of the New Year

 

December: Day 31: Teaching 2:
On the Eve of the New Year
 
(For the All-Night Vigil: 

On the Prayer and Feelings of a Christian at the Arrival of the New Year)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Today we solemnly welcome the New Year, and we welcome it as we should, in a Christian way – with prayer in the temple of God.

II. a) Yes, there is something to pray about now to the Almighty Creator and our God, with special zeal.

First, we must thank Him through the lips of the Church for all the blessings we have received from Him in the past year.

Secondly, we must give Him praise for the fact that He, “not desiring the death of the wicked, but that he should turn and live” (Ezek. 33:11), did not destroy us for our iniquities, “the evil we have done in the past year,” but still gives us time to correct our sinful life.

And finally, to pray to Him earnestly with tears that He would extend His mercies to us in this coming year, strengthening us in the Orthodox faith, giving us peace and quiet, firm, sincere love and virtuous living.

Hieromonk Christophoros Papoulakos Has Been Canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Hieromonk Christophoros (Papoulakos) was numbered among the Saints of the Orthodox Church with an official proclamation of his canonization by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople on August 30th 2024, during a meeting of the Holy and Sacred Synod.

Christophoros Panagiotopoulos, known as Papoulakos (born in Armpounas of Achaia in 1770 and died in Andros on January 18th 1861), was a Greek Orthodox monk, missionary and preacher.

It should be noted that in May 2023, the Synodal Committee on Nomocanonical and Dogmatic Issues of the Church of Greece, in its meeting, gave a positive recommendation for the canonization of Papoulakos.

The suggestion went to the Permanent Holy Synod who in turn recorded Saint Papoulakos in the Hagiologion of the Church and a little while ago it was approved by the Patriarchate.

Saints Cyrus and John Resource Page

Sts. Cyrus and John the Wonderworker (Feast Days - January 31st and June 28th)

 

 Verses

Cyrus and his fellow athlete John go towards the sword,
Working miracles together even after the sword.

 

Saints Cyrus and John the Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries

 

The Discovery of the Relics of the Holy Unmercenaries Cyrus and John

 

The Holy Martyrs Cyrus and John in the "Life of Saint John the Merciful"  

 

January: Day 31: Teaching 2: Holy and Wonderworking Unmercenaries Cyrus and John

 

June: Day 28: Teaching 1: Translation of the Relics of the Holy Unmercenaries Cyrus and John

 

Holy Unmercenaries Cyrus and John in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

Miracles 1 - 4 of Saints Cyrus and John as Recorded by Saint Sophronios of Jerusalem 

 

Miracles of Saints Cyrus and John for Theodora Who Had an Eye Disease and for her Husband Christodoros Who Was Shipwrecked 

 

A Miracle of Saints Cyrus and John for Theopompos Who Was Demon Possessed 

 

A Miracle of Saints Cyrus and John for the Physician Gesios

 

A Miracle of Saints Cyrus and John for Kosmiana Who Had a Back Injury

 

 

Saint Timothy the Apostle Resource Page

 

St. Timothy the Apostle (Feast Day - January 22)

Verses

Adorned with a wreath of divine eros Timothy,
You were beaten with clubs that painted the earth with your blood.
On the twenty-second your spirit was raised Timothy.

 

Holy Apostle Timothy of the Seventy 

 

Holy Apostle Timothy as a Model for our Lives

 

Holy Apostle Timothy in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church 

 

Introductory Homily on First Timothy (St. John Chrysostom)

 

Why Did Saint Paul Write a Second Epistle to Timothy? (St. John Chrysostom) 

 

Skull of the Apostle Timothy To Travel To Russia From Italy

 

 

Saint Anastasios the Persian Resource Page

St. Anastasios the Persian (Feast Day - January 22)

Verses

Anastasios is strangled by the throat,

The cord becoming beautified with brilliance.

On the twenty-second Anastasios underwent strangling.

 

Holy Martyr Anastasios the Persian (+ 628)

 

The Veneration of Saint Anastasios the Persian in Zakynthos

 

Church of Saint Anastasios the Persian on the Panagiotopoulos Estate of Salamis

 

Papa-Fotis from Mytilene and Saint Anastasios the Persian

 

Saint Bessarion of Agathonos Revered Saint Anastasios the Persian 

 

 

January 15, 1889 - The Day Saint Nektarios Was Ordained Metropolitan of Pentapolis

Photo of St. Nektarios taken on the day of his ordination as Metropolitan of Pentapolis.

 

Saint Nektarios was ordained to the priesthood by Patriarch Sophronios IV on March 23rd 1886 in the Patriarchal Church of Saint Savvas. The same year he was awarded with the office of Archimandrite by the Metropolitan of Nubia as mandated by Patriarch Sophronios IV. On the 15th of January in 1889, the titular Metropolitan Neilos of Pentapolis having reposed, the Patriarch of Alexandria Sophronios IV (1798-1899) elevated Archimandrite Nektarios to Metropolitan of Pentapolis.

The Ordination of Saint Nektarios as Metropolitan
 

In Codex 66 of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and specifically on page 394, there is a handwritten record of the Act of election of the new Metropolitan of Pentapolis, in calligraphic letters according to the custom of the time, covering almost the entire said page. Among other things, we read the following: "At the prompting and with the permission of His All-Holiness and Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of the great city of Alexandria and all of Africa" there gathered in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Cairo, besides himself, the former Archbishop of Kerkyra Antonios Hariatis and the Archbishop of Sinai Porphyrios Maroudas, and they proceeded to the election of the new Metropolitan of Pentapolis. Three names made up the so-called Triprosopos, i.e. the three candidates from which the new Metropolitan of Pentapolis would be chosen. The aforementioned codex describes the process as follows:

The Canonization of Saint Antipas of Calapodesti

Saint Antipas of Calapodesti (also known as Saint Antipas the Athonite or Saint Antipas the Hesychast or Saint Antipas of Valaam), reposed at Valaam Monastery on January 10, 1882. Having previously been a monk of Mount Athos, those who first honored him as a saint were the Russian monks of the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, who of their own accord listed his name "Cuviosul ieroschimonah Antipa Atonitul" (Venerable Hieroschemamonk Antipas the Athonite) in the Russian Menaion for the month of January (p. 46) under January 10th. This unofficial canonization took place in 1906, a mere 24 years after his repose. This was done because he had a reputation for holiness among the Athonite Russians, especially because of his miracles which took place among the Athonite monks during his lifetime. Many were still alive who knew of his virtues and holiness and miracles, including his disciples. Furthermore, a disciple of Saint Antipas, Hieromonk Pimen (later archimandrite and abbot of the Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery), wrote a biography of Saint Antipas in Russian right after his repose and which was first printed in 1883, in Saint Petersburg (and republished ten years later, in the same place). No doubt this publication, which was circulated in Russia and Finland, as well as on Mount Athos, added to Saint Antipas' reputation for holiness spreading.

Saint Antipas of Calapodesti, the Romanian Ascetic and Hesychast in Tsarist Russia

By Ionuț-Daniel Barbu

Saint Antipas (1816-1882), first canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1906, was then included in the calendars of the Romanian and Russian Orthodox Churches in 1992 and 2000. He appears in the three synaxaristes - Greek, Romanian and Russian - named after the places where he was born (St. Antipas of Calapodesti) or after the monasteries where he lived (St. Antipas the Athonite, St. Antipas of Valaam).

The first biography of the Saint was compiled by the Russian hieromonk Pimen and published in 1893 by the Valaam Monastery (cf. Lidia Meșkova, Taina veacului ce va sa bi: Viata si nevointele Cuviosului Parintelui nostru Antipa de la Calapodesti).

Completely desirous of the sheltering peace that only unceasing prayer can offer, the conditions on the Russian island of Valaam, favorable to its acquisition, led the pious Romanian from the Holy Mountain to settle permanently in Russia, in November 1865, in a land evangelized, according to tradition, by Saint Andrew the Apostle. That is why, as a sign of the apostolic preaching, the great bell of the monastery on the island, which rang as far as Finland and Karelia, was called "Andreevskiy Kolokol" (Andrew's Bell). Within the famous Valaam Monastery, probably not by chance, he chose the All Saints Hermitage or the "Great Hermitage", as it was also known, as the place of his repentance, since in exactly the same place, at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries, there came to live monks who had known Saint Paisius Velichkovsky of Neamț, such as the Hieroschemamonks Cleopas and Teofan (1739-1819), the latter the bearer of the Paisian hesychastic tradition in the northern parts of Russia.

Saint Bessarion of Agathonos Resource Page

St. Bessarion of Agathonos (Feast Day - January 22)

 Verses

Sacrificer of the Master Christ Bessarion,
Cover those who sing your hymns in their prayers.

 

Synaxarion of our Venerable Father Bessarion of Agathonos

 

Brief Life of Saint Bessarion of Agathonos

 

Incidents from the Life of Saint Bessarion of Agathonos
 

Saint Bessarion of Agathonos Remembers the Christmas of 1941

 

Saint Bessarion of Agathonos Revered Saint Anastasios the Persian

 

When Saint Bessarion of Agathonos Met Saint Paisios the Athonite

 

"Saint Bessarion, I Can't Reach To Kiss You": A Miracle Before the Relics of our Venerable Father Bessarion

Prayer of Saint Bessarion of Agathonos to Saint Mary of Egypt

 

Elder Bessarion: A Saint in the People's Consciousness 

 

Fr. Bessarion Korkoliacos Still Showing Signs of Holiness

 

Elder Bessarion of Agathonos Has Been Canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate

 

Agathonos Monastery Receives a Rare Gift Before the First Celebration of the Feast of Saint Besasarion of Agathonos

The Three Day Feast of the Newly-Canonized Saint Bessarion of Agathonos Begins With a Procession of His Incorrupt Relic

 

A Homily on the Sainthood of Saint Bessarion of Agathonos Before His First Feast

 

Saint Zosimos of Syracuse as a Model for our Lives

 

 

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Zosimos came from Sicily. When exactly he lived is not recorded in the Synaxaria. What we know is that his parents were pious and raised him "in the education and admonition of the Lord." And also, because they had an estate near a Holy Monastery called Saint Lucia and they took him to this Monastery from a young age, little Zosimos had the blessing of associating with those monks, who, as evidenced by the way of life they inspired in him, had the right faith and were pious and service-loving monks. The abbot made sure that Zosimos learned letters and especially theological letters. Then he became a monk in this Holy Monastery and after the death of its Abbot he was elected Abbot. Later, when the Bishop of Syracuse reposed, God through the Church made him the Bishop of Syracuse. He sacrificially loved the rational sheep of Christ's flock and spent his life in shepherding them.

The Three Day Feast of the Newly-Canonized Saint Bessarion of Agathonos Begins With a Procession of His Incorrupt Relic

On June 14th 2022, Saint Bessarion of Agathonos (+ January 22, 1991) was canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and on January 22nd 2023 it will be his first official festal celebration in his honor. In the Greek city of Lamia, festivities have already begun on January 20th, marking the beginning of a three day celebration. Today, for the first time, the incorrupt relics of Saint Bessarion left the Monastery of Agathonos, which were discovered to be incorrupt and miraculous on March 3rd 2006, and were brought into the heart of Roumeli, to the Cathedral of the Metropolis of Lamia.

After the morning Divine Liturgy, the Sacred Relic was placed by the monks and nuns from Fthiotida and elsewhere on a military vehicle and led by the Chancellor of the Metropolis, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Fr. Ephraim Triantafyllopoulos, the Abbot of the Monastery Archimandrite Fr. Germanos and a number of fathers, to the Nursing Home of the Metropolis, outside of Spercheiada, where the sick from all the institutions of the Metropolis were blessed by the Saint, and then a second stop was held at the Lianokladi Square, at the focal point of the Spercheiada valley, through which the Saint passed every day either going out to minister from the Monastery or returning to it.

Saint Theodosios the Cenobiarch Resource Page

St. Theodosios the Cenobiarch (Feast Day - January 11)

Verses

Theodosios abbot of the common life,
As a common monastic you lost your life.
On the eleventh the Cenobiarch departed this life.

 

Synaxarion of Saint Theodosios the Cenobiarch

January: Day 11: Venerable Theodosios the Great

 

Prologue in Sermons: January 11 

 

Saint Theodosios the Great, Teacher of the Desert

St. Theodosios the Coenobiarch: "Behold, the Grave Is Ready!"

 

History of the Monastery of Saint Theodosios in Palestine

The Appearance of Saint Theodosios the Cenobiarch in Rakantzi of Kefallonia

Church of Saint Theodosios the Cenobiarch in Acheleia of Paphos

 

 

Elder Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis and Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah I Have Been Canonized By the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Today, the 10th of January 2023, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate made the decision to register Elder Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis and Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah I in the list of saints of the Orthodox Church.