Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

 

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

The Saint’s Hymnographer, John the Monk, refers to the whole sanctified course of Stephen’s life: to the fact that from the very moment he became a Christian he was “a man full of the Spirit and of power,” and to the fact that he was chosen by the people and ordained by the Apostles as their helper — both in the service of tables and in preaching; and also to the events of his arrest, his defense, his theoptic experience, and his grace-filled martyrdom.

What the Hymnographer especially highlights is the manner in which he departed this life: by stoning — a customary method among the Jews for those considered to have blasphemed their faith. And as an exquisite poet he does not remain only with what the senses observe — the throwing of stones — but also reveals the non-sensory dimension:

December: Day 27: Teaching 2: Holy Martyr Maurice and the 70 Soldiers Who Suffered With Him

 

 

December: Day 27: Teaching 2:*
Holy Martyr Maurice and the 70 Soldiers Who Suffered With Him
 
(On the Need for Patience)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The ingenuity of the torturers of the Holy Martyrs Maurice and those with him, whose memories are celebrated today, was exhausted, and all forms of torture were tried in vain to turn the Martyrs away from Christ. But one of the emperor's advisers suggested the following: "There is a swamp nearby, infested with all kinds of insects. The Martyrs could be taken there, their bodies anointed with honey, and tied to trees." Emperor Maximian was greatly pleased with this satanic advice and ordered it to be carried out. The Holy Martyrs endured terrible torments from insects, heat, and thirst for ten days, and all peacefully surrendered their spirits to God.

II. The Holy Martyr Maurice and the Seventy Soldiers who suffered with him for Christ amaze us with their wondrous patience: ten days of terrible torment, ending in slow death, and not a single word of complaint, not a single sign of impatience. Let our word now be about the necessity of Christian patience, without which salvation is impossible.

Prologue in Sermons: December 27

 

Why We Should Love our Enemies and Pray For Them

December 27
 
(Commemoration of the Holy Apostle and Protomartyr Archdeacon Stephen)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

We must love our enemies and pray for them.

Why is this so? First of all, because the Lord gave us a commandment to love them. He says, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who revile you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).

Secondly, we must love our enemies according to the commandment of the Holy Apostle Paul, who teaches: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not, and render to no one evil for evil, thinking what is good in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men... If therefore your enemy hungers, give him food; if he thirsts, give him drink... Do not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:14–21).

Route and Stations of the "Holy Family" During Their Flight into Egypt

 

 

By Ioannis Fourtounas

When King Herod learned from the Magi that Christ had been born, he asked them, once they had found Him, to inform him so that he might supposedly go and worship Him.

In reality, however, he wished to destroy Him.

For this reason an angel warned Joseph to take the Child and His Mother and depart for Egypt, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, “Out of Egypt I called My Son” (Matt. 2:15).

The choice of Egypt was made because it lay outside Herod’s jurisdiction, because it was accessible through established trade routes, and also because of the large Jewish community living there.

After various stops along the way, according to local tradition, they found hospitality in the ancient city of Babylon, where even today there exists the cave of their dwelling in the land of the Nile.

According to early Christian traditions, the Divine Child, His Mother, Joseph, and James the brother of the Lord traveled to twenty-six locations in Egypt and remained in the land of the Nile for three years, six months, and ten days.

The Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

The Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos, first of all, should be recalled as belonging to the tradition of the Church: after the great event of God’s coming into the world for the salvation of humanity, the person who played the central role in that event is celebrated. Thus, after the Nativity of the Lord we have the Synaxis of the Theotokos — she who became the “bridge by which God descended” — just as after His Baptism we have the Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist. It is, of course, unnecessary to say that the event itself, the feast proper, is in direct relationship with the central person; in other words, each Synaxis constitutes an extension of the feast, emphasizing and repeating its very meaning, and to a great extent even its hymns.

Chapel of Panagia Theoskepasti in Santorini

Perched high, very high, on the Western edge of the Skaros rock in Imerovigli of Santorini, Panagia Theoskepasti (She Who Is Covered by God) blesses the Aegean!

This is a beautiful chapel on one of the most difficult heights of Santorini, standing alone, amidst winds and storms and dominating with her Grace the vast blue that lies before it. Its unique beauty inspired the great Greek writer Elias Venezis to write a beautiful short story dedicated to this chapel!

From its small courtyard, which is located at a height of 400 meters in a vertical position above the sea, the pilgrim can enjoy the sun, while it sinks into the Aegean, setting the sky on fire with red colors.

The truth is that it is not an easy task to get there. There are many steps. Over 300. And the path is difficult and in some parts windy and dangerous.

Venerable Hieromartyr Gerasimus of Tismana (+ 1951)

After being born on January 21, 1912, at Holy Baptism, the Saint received the name Gregory Iscu, after his father. His mother was named Elena and ended her life as a nun. He inherited from his righteous parents the love of God and the love of prayer.

At the age of 12, he was accepted into the Holy Monastery of Bogdana, not far from his birthplace. He attended the Monastic Seminary at Neamț Monastery, then at Cernica Monastery. During this period, he entered as a brother into the Holy Monastery of Tismana, where he was tonsured into monasticism and given the name Gerasimus.

The Venerable Father showed great diligence in church services, obedience, and his cell rule, gaining the gift of tears and unceasing prayer. Being a fellow sufferer in his heart with all people, he was soon deemed worthy of the priestly rank, which he loved and honoured throughout his life, for he said: “I desired and still desire to be only a servant of the Altar, a service which, with God’s help, I have never defiled.”

Synaxis of the Icon of the Mother of God of the Three Joys

Icon of the Mother of God "The Three Joys" (Feast Day - December 26)

 

It is customary to contrast the West and the East — and not without reason: specialists point out significant differences in the artistic aspirations of thinkers, writers, and musicians, giving rise to two completely dissimilar, even in some respects opposite, types of culture. Yet history does not always fit within the framework of commonly accepted opinion. True spirituality not only works miracles, but also unites different worlds.

These thoughts arise when one reads about the destiny of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Three Joys.” How strange and unusual it is: an image of Western origin, traditionally attributed to the brush of Raphael, became a Russian wonderworking icon. Is this possible? Yes. With God all things are possible.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, a certain pious painter brought from Italy a copy of an icon depicting the Holy Family. He left this image in Moscow with his relative, a priest of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Gryazi. Later, the priest donated the icon that had been brought to him to his own parish church of the Holy Trinity. There the icon was placed on the church porch, above the entrance to the church.

The Nativity of Christ: Homily 3: On the Meaning of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ (Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko)

 

1. The Feasts of the Lord

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko 

I. The Nativity of Christ

Homily No. 3: On the Meaning of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people: for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11).

I. Thus proclaimed the Angel of the Lord to the shepherds of Bethlehem on that blessed night when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. “I bring you good tidings of great joy,” said the heavenly messenger, “which shall be to all people: for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

II. Great is the joy proclaimed by the Angel of the Lord; great is the joy to which the Church of Christ now calls all her children.