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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Apostle Stephen the Protomartyr

Icon is from Orthodox Wiki
The Holy Protomartyr Stephen is commemorated on December 27 by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Stephen was the first of the seven deacons chosen to minster to the material needs of the early Christian community. He was a wise administrator and a profound preacher. Read his great sermon to the Jewish authorities in the seventh chapter of the book of Acts, which also recounts his death by stoning and his final words, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them … Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Troparion (Tone 4)
O First Martyr and Apostle Of Christ,
Thou hadst fought the good fight.
And didst expose the perversion of the persecutors,
For when thou wast killed by stoning at the hands of wicked men,
Thou didst receive a crown from the right hand on high,
And didst cry out to God saying,
"O Lord do not charge this sin against them!"

Kontakion (Tone 3)
Yesterday the Master came to us as a man,
And today his servant departs from life.
Yesterday the King was born as a man,
And today His servant is stoned to death.
For the sake of Christ Holy Stephen became the first martyr.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Holy Martyr Ignatius the God-Bearer

Icon from OrthodoxWiki allowed by St. Issac Skete (Wisconsin)
Ignatius was named “God-bearer” because he always carried the name of Jesus in his heart and on his lips. Tradition says that he was the child Jesus blessed (Matt 18:4). He was a disciple of the apostle John and Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna. As bishop of Antioch he introduced antiphonal singing into the Church. On his way to Rome in chains he visited and encouraged several churches and wrote seven letters. He was thrown to the lions in a Roman circus on December 20, 106.

Troparion (Tone 4)
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles,
you became a successor to their throne.
Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation,
O inspired one of God;
by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith,
even to the shedding of your blood.
Hieromartyr Ignatius, entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion (Tone 3)
The stirring celebration of your victorious fight
Is an announcement of the One who is to be born of the Virgin.
In your eagerness to possess Him forever,
You hastened to be devoured by the wild beasts.
Therefore, O glorious Ignatius, you were called the bearer of God!

Monday, December 20, 2010

The Righteous Joseph: An Unsung Hero

When we speak of the Nativity of our Lord, we often find ourselves concentrating on the role the Virgin Mary played in this story of mankind's salvation. In doing so, we are sometimes guilty of not recognizing the importance of the Righteous Joseph in this mysterious and miraculous event.
What do we know about Joseph? The Gospels tell us that he was of the lineage of King David, which explains the necessity of his journey to Bethlehem for the census ordered by the Emperor Augustus Caesar. Church Tradition tells us that Joseph was quite advanced in age when he was betrothed to the Theotokos - a mere teenager at the time. It is also our tradition that Joseph was a widower with children from his previous marriage, thus explaining the scriptural references to the brothers and sisters of Jesus. When Joseph discovered that Mary was with child he could have, according to Jewish law, had her stoned to death for her "sin" of adultery. God, however, revealed His divine plan to Joseph in a dream, telling him: "Do not be afraid to take to you Mary for your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." (Matt 1:20) From that moment, Joseph devoted his life to protecting the Virgin and her yet-to-be born Son. After Christ's birth in Bethlehem, Joseph safely delivered them from the wrath of King Herod, taking them first to Egypt and ultimately settling in Nazareth. We know from the Gospel of St. Luke that Joseph was still alive when Christ was taken to Jerusalem when He was 12 years old. It is believed that he died soon after this, never being part of Christ's earthly ministry. The fact that Jesus commended His Blessed Mother to the care of the Apostle John as He hung on the Cross underscores this.
Orthodox Weekly Bulletin ...... Vestal, Cliffwood, New Jersey ...... Litho in U.S.A.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

St. Spiridon: A True Servant of the Lord

As we well know, fame and position in life can often cause a person to change. St. Spiridon, certainly did not fall into that category. He was born on the island of Cyprus in the early part of the fourth century, and spent most of his life there in service of Christ and His Church. The son of a poor farmer, Spiridon lived in an area where no schools had been established. His parents recognized his brightness, however, and with the help of their parish priest, they were able to see that he received a fine secular and religious education. St. Spiridon married, and was ordained a priest. He was assigned to serve a rural community, where he soon founded a school for the neighbouring farm children.

Upon the death of his wife, Spiridon was elected “Bishop of Trimythous.” This rise in prominence had no effect on his lifestyle; he continued to live a humble, simple life. It is said that once he was invited to appear before the Emperor in his imperial court. He was dressed so shabbily that one of the soldiers on duty there thought he was a beggar and refused to let him in!

St. Spiridon was one of the 318 bishops who attended the First Ecumenical Councils in Nicaea in 325 AD. The minutes of the Council sessions tell us that he was instrumental in clearly defining the dogmas of the Church that were under debate at this historic gathering.

Sadly, during the latter years of his life, St. Spiridon fell victim to pagan persecution by the followers of Arius – the Alexandrian priest condemned as a heretic by the first Council. He spent many years in prison, all the while suffering in silence. He died in 348 AD and was buried on the island of Corfu. After some 1600 years, his body is still amazingly well-preserved, and many miracles are still attributed to him by those who pray for his intercession.
Orthodox Weekly Bulletin ... Vestal, Cliffwood, New Jersey ... Litho in U.S.A.

Troparion of St. Spiridon (Tone 1)
Thou did appear as a contender for the First Council and a wonder-worker, O our Father, God-mantled Spiridon. Therefore, thou did converse with the dead woman in the tomb and did convert a serpent into gold. And at thy chanting of the holy prayers, the Angels did accompany thee in the service. O most pure one, glory be to Him who glorified thee; glory be to Him who crowned thee; glory be to Him who worketh healing for all through thee.

The following information on St. Spiridon is adapted from OrthodoxWiki, explains the items in the troparion above:
Our father among the saints Spiridon of Trimythous the Wonderworker was a fourth century bishop who was present at the First Ecumenical Council. He is also commonly referred to in Corfu as Keeper of the City, since he is also the patron saint of that island (this is where his relics are located and venerated). He is commemorated by the church on December 12.

Spiridon was born in the village of Ashia (askia - "without shade"), Cyprus (270 AD) and died in Trimythous, Cyprus (348 AD). He was a peasant farmer and shepherd and was not educated. Spyridon was married and had a daughter, Irene. After his wife died, he and his daughter both entered into monasticism. He later became the Bishop of Trimythous (during the reign of Constantine the Great) and continued in piety for which he was greatly known.

As he grew in the love of God and man, God gave him the gift of healing the sick and driving out demons with a single word. As a result of his holy life and the miracles God performed through him, Spiridon was chosen and ordained bishop of his home town, the city of Trimythous on the island of Cyprus during the reign of St. Constantine the Great.

Called to take part in the Council of Nicaea in 325, Spiridon, though not well-educated, surprised everyone by converting a famous philosopher to Orthodoxy from Arianism. He explained the unity and diversity of the Trinity by holding up a brick, then commonly thought to be a combination of the elements fire, earth and water; as he spoke, fire blazed from the top of the brick while water gushed out underneath. There too, at Nicea, he met St. Nicholas of Myra, with whom he formed a lasting friendship.

When he arrived back home a woman told him that she had given his daughter, Irene, who had died while he was gone, several valuable pieces of jewelry for safekeeping. Now that his daughter was dead, no one could find where she had hidden them. Spiridon went to her grave, spoke to her, and was able to restore the jewelry to its owner.

During a famine Spiridon changed a snake into gold pieces so that a poor man could buy food from a greedy merchant who had cornered the supply.

One day there was only himself and the deacon and readers in church at vespers, and the responses could be heard beautifully chanted by an unseen choir. The music was so beautiful that others, passing by, heard it and saw through the windows what seemed like a large congregation. Entering the church, however, they found only St. Spyridon and his assistants.

St. Spyridon lived most of his earthly life in Cyprus, where he also reposed in 348 AD and was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Trimythous.

When the Saracens took the island, the Cypriots opened his grave in order to remove his sacred bones to Constantinople. They found that his body had remained intact, while from the grave emanated a scent of basil, true signs of the sainthood he had shown during his lifetime. When Constantinople fell in 1453, he was transferred to Serbia, then a Corfiot elder, Georgios Kalohairetis, brought him to the island of Corfu in Greece where he is currently buried.

To this day St. Spiridon's incorrupt relics at his shrine in Corfu continue to manifest the power of God, wondrous in His saints. He is called the "walking saint" because the silk slippers which clothe the feet of his relics wear out each year and are replaced on his feast day. His miracle in Corfu against the Turkish invasion of 1716 is commemorated on August 11.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Our Father Among the Saints Ambrose, Bishop of Milan

Ambrose was born of eminent parents. His father, a pagan, was the imperial governor of Gaul. His mother was a Christian. Ambrose himself was well-educated and occupied an important government position at the time he was selected by the people of Milan to be their bishop. Accepting baptism, he was ordained to the priesthood, and shortly thereafter was consecrated a bishop. He left many works of theology. He forbade Emperor Theodosius from entering church until he repented of a dreadful massacre in Thessalonica. He died in 397.
More on Amobrose …
Our father among the saints Ambrose of Milan came to be bishop of Milan as the only competent candidate to succeed Auxentius, a bishop of Arian persuasion, in 374. A catechumen and trained as a lawyer, he learned his theology through intense study of subject as he was successively baptized and then consecrated as Bishop of Milan. He held to the Nicene belief and through the eloquence of his arguments he persuaded Emperor Gratian to the Nicene confession. Later, he persuaded Gratian to convene a local council, in 381, at Aquileia that deposed the Arian bishops Palladius and Secundianus from their episcopal offices and thus strengthened the Orthodox position in the West. Ambrose zealously combatted imperial court attempts at favoritism to the parties of Arians, the "old" religion, and the Jews, particularly opposing the favors from Emperor Valentinian who supported the Arians. In defending the Orthodox position he has often been compared to St. Hilary of Poitiers. He was known for his sermons which greatly influenced the conversion of Augustine of Hippo. His feast day is celebrated on December 7.

Ambrose is ranked with the great Western Christian leaders of the time: Augustine, St. Jerome, St. Gregory the Great, and St. Hilary of Poitiers. Ambrose was most known for his administrative talents, given his education and early experience before becoming a bishop. Yet, like Hilary he was an Alexandrian and was in the forefront in the doctrinal issues of the day, particularly those concerning Arianism. His sermons were famous and were influential in the conversion of Augustine. His endeavors in hymn writing became models of hymns of dignified simplicity for future times. Ambrose is credited with introducing antiphonal chanting wherein one choir alternates with another. Of particular note is that Ambrose baptized Augustine, his celebrated convert.
 From OrthodoxWiki are the icon, introduction and conclusion of the excerpt "More on Ambrose ..."

An article from ChristianHistory.net about Ambrose, click here.


Monday, December 6, 2010

Our Father Among the Saints Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker

Nicholas was born in Asia Minor of eminent and wealthy parents. Upon the death of his parents, he distributed all his inherited property to the poor and devoted himself to acts of mercy, providing dowry for young women, etc. His acts of charity are still celebrated in the person of "Santa Claus" which is Dutch for St. Nicholas. As bishop of Myra, Nicholas attended the First Ecumenical Council. He died on December 6, 343.

The Manna of St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas, the 4th century Archbishop of Myra, is widely revered by Christians throughout the world. In the hymnology of the Orthodoxy Church, he is acclaimed for being "a teacher of moderation, a model of faith and an example of virtue." His acts of kindness and generosity are remembered and talked about to this day.

Even in death, St. Nicholas continues to have a great impact on the lives of many Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike. From the time of his burial in the basilica of his church in Myra, the body of St. Nicholas has exuded a mysterious miraculous liquid revered to as "manna". Those who are anointed with it often find themselves unexplainably healed of their illnesses. Countless others have their prayers answered through this special intercession of this beloved saint.

In 1087, the body of St. Nicholas was stolen from its resting place by sailors and taken to the seaport town of Bari, Italy, where a magnificent cathedral was built to house the relics of the famed Archbishop. In 1954, the crypt of St. Nicholas needed extensive repair and renovation, so it was necessary to exhume the saint's body from its tomb. When it was time for the body to be re-interred, the linen sheet upon which it had rested was found to be soaking wet – saturated from manna! Since 1980, it has been customary on the Feast Day of the Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas to Bari from Myra, for the cathedral clergy to collect the manna in an urn for later distribution to the general public. It is interesting to note that since 1966, there has been an Orthodox presence near the crypt of St. Nicholas, with a chapel designated for Orthodox services.
The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin … Vestal, Cliffwood, New Jersey … Litho in U.S.A.

FOR CONSIDERATION
There are three sorts of praiseworthy zeal: zeal in cleansing oneself from sinful desires and thoughts, zeal for the truth of the Faith, and zeal for God's justice among men. All three were perfectly present in the soul of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. He showed zeal in self purification through his whole life, keeping a careful watch over his heart. His zeal for the truth of the Faith was especially evident at the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, where he entered into a fearful conflict with Arius. His zeal for God's justice among men was seen especially in two notable events, when on each occasion he saved three innocent men from the death penalty. Once, in his absence from Myra, the avaricious military governor, Eustathius, sentence three men to be beheaded, he having accepted a bribe from their enemies. When he was informed of this, St. Nicolas returned to Myra in the greatest of haste. The condemned men had been led out to the place of execution, and the executioner had already raised his sword over them. At that instant, Nicholas seized the sword, pulled it out of the executioner's hand and set the condemned men free. He then rebuked Eustathius and brought him to shame and repentance. In a similar way, three generals, Nepotianus, Ursus, and Erpilionus, were slandered before Eulavius the governor of Constantinople and the Emperor himself. The Emperor signed the death‐warrant. On the eve of their execution, the three men prayed to God, saying: 'O God of Nicolas, deliver us innocent men from death!' That night, Nicolas appeared to both the Emperor and the governor in their sleep, denounced them for their injustice and ordered them to free the three men from prison at once. The next day, the Emperor and the governor each related to the other the selfsame nocturnal vision, and they set the generals free both from their death‐sentence and from prison.

"A PRAYER TO SAINT NICHOLAS"
O honored hierarch and great wonderworker, Holy Father Nicholas, man of love and brilliant star that illumines and enlightens the whole world: you are a righteous man who flourished in his service to the Lord. Dwelling in Myra, you diffused the fragrance of myrrh and you poured out the ever-flowing grace of God. By your presence, the sea was sanctified when your relics were carried to Bari - from the East to the West - to praise the Name of the Lord. We glorify you as the hope of all Christians, a fountain of miracles, a defender of the faithful, a protector of widows and orphans, a guide to those who fast and a rest for those who labor. Intercede for us with the Most High God, and obtain for us all that is beneficial for the salvation of our bodies and souls. As a watchful shepherd, keep us from all enemies and in all of our misfortunes and afflictions, give us a helping hand and open the doors of God's compassion for us, for we are bound by the bonds of sin and have not done His Will or kept His commandments." "Wherefore, O Holy Father Nicholas, we bow the knees of our broken and humble heart to our Creator, and we tearfully ask for your fatherly intercession in our behalf. Help us, O speedy helper of all, and direct our minds and strengthen our hearts in the Orthodox Faith, so that one day, we may become powerful pillars of the Church like you. Enable us to live a peaceful life in this world, so that we may also see the good things in the land of the living, as we join you in giving glory to the one God glorified and worshiped in the Holy Trinity, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

Troparion of St. Nicholas (Tone 4)
Thy work of justice did show thee to thy congregation a canon of faith, the likeness of humility, a teacher of abstinence, O Father, Bishop Nicholas. Wherefore by humility thou did achieve exaltation, and by meekness, richness, intercede, therefore, with Christ to save our souls.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

The will of God is that all Christians be holy

Dear Son,
I’d like to share with you a homily found in my Church Bulletin. This homily is on the will of God that all Christians should be holy. Ephesians 1:4 says, ‘According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love’
The one Church teaches and demonstrates that there was first a plan for the world, and that it was then created. This plan was in the wisdom and will and power of God. And we Christians, as the Church of God, are part of this plan. God chose us, in accordance with His plan, ‘before the foundation of the world’, for holiness and righteousness in love, God called us beforehand and adopted us in Him – in whom? In the Lord Jesus Christ. For, all that we are to God we are in the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ, man has no link, no relationship, no kinship with God, and our choosing and adoption, then, is in our Lord Jesus Christ. He chose us to be His Holy Church ‘according to the good pleasure of His will’, as Israel was aforetime chosen from among all the nations on earth. Let no one say: “This choice of God’s destroys man’s free will, so that neither will Christians be rewarded for being Christian nor pagans condemned for being pagan.” No; this is an utterly mistaken interpretation, for God chose Israel aforetime, and some Israelites perished and others were saved. He has also chosen His holy Church, calling all men and nations to Himself. But who among those called will be saved does not depend upon God’s choice but on man’s will and striving.
Pray with me: O eternal God, our Creator, who didst choose us for salvation before creating us; have mercy on us and save us. To thee be glory and praise forever. Amen

Love,
Dad