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. 

January: Day 11: Venerable Theodosios the Great

 

January: Day 11:
Venerable Theodosios the Great
 
(On the Beneficial Nature of the Memory of Death)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Venerable Theodosios, whose memory is celebrated today, was a native of Cappadocia, having received a Christian upbringing, was devoted to the Holy Scriptures from childhood, studied them with love and most of all treasured his visits to the temple of the Lord, where, having a good voice, he was appointed a Reader. He loved this work with all his soul and read with attention and took to heart those words of the Gospel, which command not to be attached to the things of the earth, but to think mainly about eternal life and strive for it. He earnestly prayed to God that He would reveal to him the true path and Himself guide him.

Having achieved a high level of holiness in life, he eventually became the abbot of the famous Lavra he founded near Jerusalem with six hundred brethren (all of his disciples numbered up to 16,000 people during his long life).

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

 

 

The Appearance of Saint Theodosios the Cenobiarch in Rakantzi of Kefallonia

The evening before the feast of Saint Theodosios the Cenobiarch (Jan. 11), Father Gerasimos Fokas would celebrate his feast with a vigil and Divine Liturgy at night in Rakantzi of Kefallonia. One year it was a rainy and cold night, when few managed to attend this vigil, but they had a divine visitation. A pious woman noticed that Father Gerasimos was celebrating the Divine Liturgy with another priest that she did not know. When she later asked Father Gerasimos who this priest was, he confessed that it was Saint Theodosios.