February: Day 12: Teaching 1: Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow

February: Day 12: Teaching 1:
Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow
 
(Lessons From His Life)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, now being glorified, was miraculously called to the high calling of his pastoral service from his youth and, as a chosen vessel of grace, was prepared for his great calling by a long, strictly ascetic life. He was born in Moscow in 1293 of noble parents, Theodore and Maria, and was named Eleutherios at baptism. One day, the youth Eleutherios set nets in a field to catch birds; while watching them, he dozed off and heard a voice: "Alexis! Why do you labor in vain? You will be a catcher of men!" By the action of preceding grace, which touched his young heart, Eleutherios immediately felt the power of this calling. Finally, in the twentieth year of his life, he entered the Moscow Theophany Monastery and received the name that was predestined for him in childhood: Alexis. After strict ascetic seclusion, which lasted 20 years, Saint Alexis was called by the Metropolitan to manage ecclesiastical affairs with the rank of deputy Metropolitan, and 12 years later he was elected Bishop of Vladimir.

February: Day 11: Teaching 2: Venerable Demetrius of Priluki

February: Day 11: Teaching 2:
Venerable Demetrius of Priluki
 
(What Does Christian Humility Consist Of?)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Venerable Demetrius of Priluki, whose memory is celebrated today, was born at the beginning of the 14th century in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky to rich and pious parents from the merchant class. He was taught to read and write early and, even as a youth, he loved reading the Holy Scriptures and soul-saving books. This pious occupation inclined him towards the monastic life. He left his parents' home and wealth and joined the brethren of the Pereyaslavl Bogorodsky Goritsky Monastery. Here he zealously devoted himself to monastic exploits - he fasted strictly, prayed fervently and was distinguished by such humility and purity that he hid from others not only his exploits, but even the external beauty of his face, for which he was distinguished. For the strictness of his life, he was elevated to the rank of priest. Soon after, he left the Goritsky Monastery, and, with the blessing of the bishop, founded a new monastery near Pereyaslavl, with a church dedicated to the name of Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Myra. The new monastery was soon filled with monks, who were attracted here by the glory of the virtues of its founder, Saint Demetrius. Sixty miles from the new monastery of Saint Demetrius, the great Sergius was struggling in the forests of Radonezh. The holy ascetics knew and deeply respected each other. Saint Demetrius often came to Saint Sergius to see him and enjoy his conversation. Both experienced in asceticism, they humbly asked each other for advice on monastic life. They prayed together and shared a meager meal together.

February: Day 11: Teaching 1: Holy Hieromartyr Blaise

 

February: Day 11: Teaching 1:
Holy Hieromartyr Blaise
 
(On the Gentle Treatment of Animals)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Hieromartyr Blaise, now being glorified, was a Greek by origin. He lived in the 4th century. For his holy life he was chosen bishop of the city of Sebaste. Even in life he was distinguished by his meekness and compassion towards animals and beasts, both domestic and wild. Because of persecution, the bishop hid in the desert; there he prayed and remained silent, wild animals came to him and he, laying his hands on them, blessed them, and healed the sick among them. For this, the animals in their own way showed respect to the Saint: when Blaise prayed, the animals stood near his cave and did not disturb the silence of prayer. Soon his refuge was discovered, and he was taken for interrogation, after which he was sentenced to death, as one who refused to worship the pagan gods.

Before the beheading, Saint Blaise prayed to God for the whole world and especially for those who would celebrate his memory.

A bright cloud overshadowed the Martyr and the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ was heard: “I will fulfill all your requests, My beloved ascetic!”

And in our Orthodox Russia, the memory of the Holy Hieromartyr Blaise is celebrated. He has long been considered the patron saint of cattle and prayers are held to him when animals are driven out to pasture and when they are sick.

February: Day 10: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos

February: Day 10:
Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos
 
(The Abundance of the Fruits of the Earth is the Work of God's Blessing)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, whose memory is celebrated today, was the bishop of the city of Magnesia (in Thessaly). He lived and suffered for the name of Christ in the 2nd century A.D. during the reign of the pagan Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. As a true shepherd of the flock of Christ, Saint Haralambos supported his spiritual children in the faith and firmness of their Christian hopes during the cruel persecution of Christians by the pagans that broke out at that time. For this he was seized by the pagan authorities and brought to trial before the head of the region, Lucian. After Saint Haralambos resolutely refused to deny the Christian faith, the judges ordered that the sacred garments be removed from the valiant shepherd and that his body be torn with iron claws. At the same time, the iron claws straightened, and the body of the righteous man remained unharmed. Struck by this miracle, two servants, Porphyrios and Baptos, believed in Christ and before the ruler glorified the almighty power of Christ, strengthening those who suffered for His name, for which they were both beheaded with a sword. After this, many of the pagans came to the holy bishop and received baptism from him, confessing their sins before him. Those who were ill with various ailments received healing from him. The head of the Thessalian region, Lucian, not knowing what to do, went to the emperor himself and told him about everything that had happened in Magnesia.

Homily One for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (St. John of Kronstadt)

Homily One for the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

By St. John of Kronstadt

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus within himself, 

‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — 

extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican'" (Luke 18:11).

Being teachers of the faith among the Jewish people, the Pharisees boasted of their knowledge of the law, and meanwhile, more than anyone else, they dishonored God by breaking the law and their extreme hypocrisy. The Savior assessed them well, saying that they loved the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces (Luke 20:46). This unfortunate passion of exaltation arose in them from a false exaggeration of their merits, since, being public teachers of the faith, they knew well the law of Moses, which very many of the Jews did not know. The publicans were tax collectors, and, according to their rank, they very often resorted to illegal means of their levies. In the Gospel we see an amazing example of humility and self-denial of one publican in Zacchaeus, the chief of the publicans. When the Savior came to his house, Zacchaeus, in a deep feeling of repentance, said to the Lord: “Behold, half of my goods, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have wronged anyone in any way, I will restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8).

February: Day 9: Holy Martyr Nikephoros

February: Day 9:
Holy Martyr Nikephoros
 
(On the Need To Make Peace With Enemies)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Martyr Nikephoros, whose memory is celebrated today, was a layman and was in great friendship with one priest, Saprikios, but due to some circumstances this friendship subsequently not only cooled, but also turned into enmity.

Nikephoros, however, gradually softened and tried to make peace with Saprikios. Saprikios, on the contrary, did not want to hear about reconciliation.

Meanwhile, at this time, a persecution of Christians began. The priest Saprikios was one of the first to be tortured. He endured them with fortitude, and was finally condemned to death. Having learned of this, Nikephoros hastened to ask forgiveness from the martyr. But although Saprikios had enough spiritual strength to accomplish the feat, at the same time he did not have enough love or humility in his heart to make peace with his enemy. He did not pity or forgive his former friend, who tearfully begged him for reconciliation, who now suffered for him, for Saprikios the martyr, who was depriving himself of the crown of victory through his vindictiveness.

Homily on the Leave-Taking of the Feast of the Reception of Christ (Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou)

By Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou

It is a joy for me to be among you again and to concelebrate with you. It is very significant that the celebration of the Divine Liturgy has been appointed today, on the day of the leave-taking of the feast of the Reception of the Lord, which is in reality the feast of the Royal Priesthood of Christ. The “presentation” of the Lord, that is, the sacred work of our salvation, begins in the temple of God.

The last time you invited me to your conference of clergy, we spoke about the double presentation of Christ before God and before men. Christ justified men before God by His true and perfect example. And if we follow it, no, we will never be ashamed, but we will be accepted by the Father and the Spirit as sons of God. Christ also justified God before men, because He loved us to the end, even unto death, and in this way He worked out our salvation. But His appearance also constitutes the beginning of the manifestation of His priesthood, an event of great importance for us who participate in it. There is only one priesthood, the royal priesthood of the Lord, which is the lot of all Christians; however, we, as ordained priests, have a double share.

The Lovers of Silence: Thoughts As We Approach the Triodion

 

By Demetrios P. Lykoudis,
Theologian, Philologist, Historian

At Saint Elissaios, in Monastiraki, devotees of the sacred vigils held by the late Saint Nicholas Planas (1851-1932) were about fifty souls, among them the later Archimandrite and holy man, Philotheos Zervakos (1884-1980). This is how the excellent writer Kostis Bastias (1901-1972) remembers the ecclesiastical events there in Plaka, when the humble priest Nicholas officiated.

The holy Philotheos Zervakos, a soldier in the period 1905-1907 in Athens, had no other joy and pleasure than to go to these vigils. There he met the holy minister, the humble priest of the center of Athens. Here, with these words he was trying to capture what he saw in the face of the simple priest Nicholas: “I never saw him sullen, melancholy, sad, gloomy. I always saw him laughing, cheerful, joyful…”. This is how the saints of God are, I think, this is how they operate, this is how they behave: simply, unpretentiously, unhypocritically, humbly, quietly.

February: Day 8: Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates

February: Day 8:
Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates
 
(On the Properties of Christian Meekness)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. When Saint Theodore, whose memory we celebrate today, who was a stratelates (i.e., military leader) and governor of the city of Heraclia, declared himself a Christian before the ruler of the Roman Empire Licinius, he was subjected to cruel torture, beaten with ox sinews and tin rods, his body was scraped with iron nails and burned with fire. During all these torments, the Saint did not utter a single word of complaint, but continually said: "Glory to You, my God!" After five days of agonizing imprisonment, the torturer ordered the holy sufferer to be crucified on a cross. But an angel of the Lord took the passion-bearer down from the cross at night, and he sat unharmed at its foot. A multitude of people gathered for this miracle, and Saint Theodore preached the faith of Christ, to which many pagans immediately joined. Licinius, certain of Theodore's death, sent two centurions to take the martyr's body down from the cross and throw it into the sea, but when they arrived at the place of execution and saw Theodore healthy, both centurions exclaimed: "Great is the Christian God!" and from that hour they believed in Christ. Likewise, Sixtus, the emperor's governor, sent by Licinius, converted to Christ with three hundred soldiers. The multitude of people who had gathered to witness the extraordinary salvation of the Holy Martyr were greatly agitated and wanted to stone the torturer.