September: Day 3: Teaching 2: Holy Hieromartyr Anthimos of Nicomedia

September: Day 3: Teaching 2:  
Holy Hieromartyr Anthimos of Nicomedia
 
(Who is the Father of Lies?)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Hieromartyr Anthimos, celebrated today, did not wish to allow the slightest lie in order to save himself, although the soldiers, struck by his piety, suggested that he hide from them, and they would say that they did not find him, and thus give him the opportunity to avoid the feat of martyrdom.

II. The example of the Holy Hieromartyr Anthimos, a strict lover of truth, encourages us to love truth and avoid lies. This is because lying is a great sin.

a) Do you know, brethren, where lies come from? What a grave sin it is? And what punishment does it deserve both in the present and in the future age? When the Jews lied against the Savior, as if He worked miracles by the power of the prince of demons, the Lord said to them: "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:44). It is as if he had said: the devil has no truth, he always speaks a lie, and speaks of himself; no one teaches him that, on the contrary, he himself teaches lies; truly he is a liar and the father of lies. Do you see, brethren, where lies come from, who teaches them, and whose children do we become when we deceive one another? 

The Entrance of Saint John the Faster Into the Acropolis of Virtue

 

By Fr. George Dorbarakis,

"By means of temperance, Father, and unwavering prayer, you have entered the acropolis of virtue, God-bearer, where the torrent of delight flows in abundance" (Ode 3, Canon to the Saint).

The above hymn by the holy hymnographer Germanos records the path followed by the Saint in order to enter the embrace of the Lord and to enjoy the delights of His Kingdom from then on. The only difference is that instead of the term “Kingdom of God” he chooses the phrase “acropolis of virtue,” because both are identical: the acropolis of virtue is love and love is God Himself. So, Saint John reached the extreme of this virtue, that is to say his heart and his entire existence became the dwelling place of the Holy Trinity, already from this life in this world, but much more so after his holy repose.

The Chapel of Saint Mamas on the Island of Hydra

The Chapel of Saint Mamas is located on the island of Hydra high in the Klimaki area, on a plateau west of Mount Eros on the (internal) road to Episkopi. It is an all-white chapel in a deserted location overlooking Myrtos Beach.

It is said that the founder of the church was Th. Rigas and he was in danger of a storm coming to Hydra, but he made a vow to Saint Mamas that if he was saved, he would build him a chapel, which he did.

Prologue in Sermons: September 2

 

It Should Be Remembered That the Devil Viciously Attacks Those Who Turn From Sin to Virtue

September 2

(The Story of the Young Man Who Robbed the Dead and Repented Again) 

By Archpriest Victor Guryev 

 

Why is it, brethren, that when we decide to sin, it is as if someone were pushing us to sin, and we rush into it with great haste; but when we decide to turn from sin to virtue, it becomes so much more difficult for us? Why is it that in these latter times despondency, and melancholy, and often some kind of discontent so oppress us? Know, brethren, that in the first case we rush into sin with great haste because the devil pushes us into it and encourages us; but in the latter case it is difficult because, when turning from sin to virtue, the devil declares a terrible battle against us, torments us invisibly and disturbs us, using all his powers to quickly turn us away from the path of virtue and set us again on the path of destruction.

Prologue in Sermons: September 1

 

One Reason God Allows Evil Spirits to Rage in Human Bodies and to Subject Individuals to Diseases

September 1

(The Miracle of Saint Symeon Concerning the Presbyter) 

 

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

It is known that evil spirits not only try to destroy the souls of people, arousing, supporting and multiplying among them errors, superstitions and all kinds of impiety, but, as we see in the possessed and other sufferers, they sometimes rage in human bodies and subject people to bodily illnesses. Why does the Lord allow evil spirits this latter? And why are they given power not only over the spirit, but even over the flesh? Know, brethren, that in this last case evil spirits are instruments of God's wrath and God allows them to inflict illnesses on people for their sins, so that they, although it is through sorrows and bodily suffering, come to consciousness of themselves, repent of their sins and correct themselves.