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| St. Ignatius Brianchaninov (Feast Day - April 30) |
April 30, 2018
Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov), Bishop of the Caucasus and Black Sea (+ 1867)
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| St. Ignatius Brianchaninov (Feast Day - April 30) |
The Holy Hierarch Ignatius Brianchaninov was born Dimitri Alexandrovich Brianchaninov, on the February 15, 1807, in the province of Vologda, the son of an aristocratic landowner. Intellectually gifted, peaceful and reflective by character, from early childhood he was drawn to a life of prayer and stillness. However, his father planned a military career for Dimitri, and so, when Dimitri was fifteen years of age, his father enrolled him in the Imperial School of Military Engineers in St. Petersburg. There Dimitri excelled, even attracting the attention of Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich, the future Tsar Nicholas I. Nonetheless, Dimtri felt called to the monastic life (uncommon for a Russian aristocrat at that time), and he became deeply depressed at the seemingly inevitable prospect of a career as a military officer.
Saints and Feasts of April 30
On the thirtieth James was slaughtered with a murderous knife.
Holy Glorious Apostle James, the Son of Zebedee
and Brother of John the Theologian
Holy Apostle James, the Son of Zebedee
Holy Apostle James the Son of Zebedee: Epistle and Gospel Reading
Saint Clement the Hymnographer
Saint Clement the Hymnographer, who was a Composer of Canons
Holy Martyr Maximus of Ephesus
Holy Martyr Maximus of Ephesus
Saint Donatos, Bishop of Euroea in Epirus
Synaxarion of our Holy Father Donatos, Bishop of Euroea
The Bones of a Dragon Killed by Saint Donatos in the Fourth Century
Saint Erconwald, Bishop of London
Saint Erconwald, Bishop of London (+ 693)
Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov),
Bishop of the Caucasus and Black Sea
Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov Resource Page
Translation of the Sacred Relics of
Saint Argyre of Proussa
Saint Argyre of Proussa
Holy New Martyr Argyre of Proussa, Patron Saint of Marriage (+ 1725)
Translation of the Sacred Relics of
Saint Theodore of Byzantium
Saint Theodore of Byzantium
Holy New Martyr Theodore of Byzantium (+ 1795)
Finding of the Sacred Relics of Saint Basil of Amasea
Holy Hieromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasea (+ 322)
April 29, 2018
Fifth of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Dear Readers:
Christ is Risen!
The fifth and last of the five exciting announcements is the launch of yet another new website dedicated solely to the religions of the world. And the title of this new website is simply Orthodoxy and World Religions.
This website seeks to explore an Orthodox Christian approach to religions of the world. Little effort has been made to compile the literature we already have on this subject, as well as to provide fresh resources. Much of what we do have on this subject does not come from the unique Orthodox Christian perspective, and most Orthodox Christians are ignorant of even some of the basic beliefs and practices of people who belong to these religions.
When you ask an average and basically informed Orthodox Christian some basic information about a particular religion, besides Judaism and Islam, you generally get a very basic and often misinformed response. The same holds true the other way around, since those who claim to be informed about Christianity that belong to other religions often associate it only with a Protestant or Catholic version of it. This website therefore exists as a way to heal this ignorance of both sides.
My study of world religions goes back almost as far as my study of Christianity, which is when I was an early teen. I took four courses in world religions in both the college and graduate level, including one by a specialist in the field at Harvard and one by a well-known Christian who converted from Hinduism, and took specific courses in Islam and Buddhism. Moreover, it is my desire to collect and make available in one specific place the unique encounter between Orthodox Christianity and the religions of the world.
Orthodoxy is primarily eastern, and closer geographically than the other Christian traditions to the four other major religions of the world, which are Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. We have a long and historic relationship with the Jews and Muslims, and you can also say the Zoroastrians, some positive and some negative, and though we have encountered Hindus and Buddhists in the past, it is a bit more difficult to come by, though it does exist. All of these need to be examined further. And besides the major religions of the world, we will also explore the minor religions of the world as well, such as Taoism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Shamanism, Animism, etc.
Though I don't consider atheism to be a religion, the fact of the matter is that atheism is a growing phenomenon in the world and especially in the West. Along with atheism there is also a growing agnosticism, and people who just don't know what to identify with regarding their beliefs, and some who just don't want to identify with anyone regarding their beliefs. Many will therefore consider themselves spiritual, but not religious. This is the forum where these will be explored as well.
This website belongs to the ministry of the Mystagogy Resource Center. All those with inquiries and contributions can contact us at mystagogy@aol.com.
With love in Christ,
John Sanidopoulos
Director of the Mystagogy Resource Center
Read also:
Second of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Third of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Fourth of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Fourth of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
The fourth of my five exciting announcement is the launch of my second new website, dedicated solely to book reviews. The title for this website is the New Myriobiblon.
"Myriobiblon" is a Greek word for "myriad of books." The reason it is "new" is because it takes its name from the original Myriobiblon of Saint Photios the Great, more popularly known as the Bibliotheca. One historian calls it “probably the most famous work in medieval Byzantine literature. At least it is unique.” Reynolds and Wilson, in their study Scribes and Scholars: A Guide to the Transmission of Greek and Latin Literature, call the Myriobiblon of Photios "a fascinating production, in which Photios shows himself the inventor of the book review," and say its "280 sections... vary in length from a single sentence to several pages." The works Photios summarizes and reviews are addressed to his brother for his education and entertainment, and are mainly by Christian and pagan authors from the 5th century BC to his own time in the 9th century AD. Almost half the books mentioned no longer survive. He covers works about religion and history, along with some literary pieces, explaining what they were about and sometimes offering excerpts from them.
Photios also sometimes adds his own review of the books, letting his brother know which ones he liked or hated. For example,
Nicomachus of Gerasa’s two books of Arithmetical Theology were read. This certainly is a title suited to astonish and to excite a keen desire, but the treatise – not to call it a work of computations that are based on air and are a waste of time – falls far short of its title.
He had even worse to say about Christian History, which was written by Philip of Side:
His language is diffuse, without urbanity or elegance, and soon palls, or positively disgusts; his aim is rather to display his knowledge than to benefit the reader. Most of the matter has nothing to do with history, and the work might be called a treatise on all kinds of subjects rather than a history, a tasteless effusion.
Photios even finds something to criticize in The Histories of Herodotus, considered to be one of the greatest works of Ancient Greece:
Read the nine books of the History of Herodotus, in name and number identical with the nine Muses. He may be considered the best representative of the Ionic, as Thucydides of the Attic dialect. He is fond of old wives’ tales and digressions, pervaded by charming sentiments, which, however, sometimes obscure the due appreciation of history and its correct and proper character. Truth does not allow her accuracy to be impaired by fables or excessive digressions from the subject.
While he tends to comment on books he did not like, Photios also tells about those works he loves. For example, he praises the writings of Arrian, who is one of the best sources for the campaigns of Alexander the Great:
This author is second to none of the best historical writers. He is very strong in concise narrative, and never impairs the continuity of the story by ill-timed digressions or parentheses; he is novel rather in arrangement than in diction, which he employs in such a manner that it would be impossible for the narrative to be set forth more clearly and perspicuously. His style is distinct, euphonious, and terse, characterized by a combination of smoothness and loftiness. His novelties of language are not merely far-fetched innovations, but are obvious and emphatic, figures of speech in reality, and not simply a change of ordinary words. The result is that not only in this respect is clearness secured, but also in the equipment, order, and nature of the narrative, which is the artistic essence of perspicuity. For straightforward periods are used even by those who are not specialists, and if this is done without anything to relieve them, the style degenerates into flatness and meanness, of which, in spite of his clearness, there are no traces in our author. He makes use of ellipsis, not of periods but of words, so that the ellipsis is not even noticed; any attempt to supply what is omitted would seem to indicate a tendency to unessential additions, and would not really fill up the gap. The variety of his rhetorical figures is admirable; they do not deviate at once altogether from simple form and usage, but are gradually interwoven from the beginning, so that they neither offend by satiety nor create confusion by sudden change. In a word, anyone who compares him with other historians, will find that many classical writers are his inferior in composition.
This New Myriobiblon is likewise a website dedicated to reviewing books, primarily literature that is of special interest to Orthodox Christians, but not only. I will review every book I will read from now on and some I have already read, or at least give a brief evaluation of it. Sometimes I am asked if I read this or that book and people want to know my opinion of it. Here you will read my opinion of it, if I read it. My hope is that these reviews will be found helpful by all who similarly enjoy reading and learning.
This website is part of the ministry of the Mystagogy Resource Center. All inquiries should be sent to mystagogy@aol.com.
With love in Christ,
John Sanidopoulos
Director of the Mystagogy Resource Center
Read also:
First of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Second of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Third of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Third of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Dear Readers:
Christ is Risen!
The third of the five exciting announcements is the launch of a new website dedicated solely to answering your questions. And the title of this new website is Erotapokriseis.
Erotapokriseis is a term from late antiquity by which Roman/Byzantine grammarians designated one of the oldest and most popular literary formats of the ancient world. Erotapokriseis - or Quaestiones, as they were called in Latin - occur in various types of literature, but these all have in common that they use the form of questions and answers in one way or another.
As a literary form and process it sprang from and was used in the schoolroom of the philosophers. It was more broadly used in late antiquity. In the Life of Plotinus, Porphyry ‘spent three days asking Plotinus how the soul is present to the body, he [Plotinus] kept explaining, causing a certain newcomer called Thaumasius to say that he wanted to hear him laying down principles with reference to texts and would not put up with Porphyry’s responses and inquiries. But Plotinus says, “If we do not resolve Porphyry’s difficulties when he questions us, we shall not have anything that we can put straight into the text.”’
The literary form of erotapokriseis was adopted and adapted at a fairly early stage by Christians. Origen and Eusebius — to name but a few — made extensive use of this form. Being one of the first adaptations of the erotapokriseis in Greek Christian literature and having survived under the name of the second century AD apologist Justin, the Quaestiones et responsiones ad orthodoxos is a collection of 161 questions and answers (thus in the longer recension) and it deals with a wide range of issues. In the case of Ps. Justin the persona of the teacher remains less developed but other collections such as the one by Anastasios of Sinai or Michael Glykas afford us perhaps a fuller picture of the teacher at work.
If instruction is the primary concern for these texts it takes the form of a dispensation of knowledge that does not preclude a skillful use of hermeneutical principles, even if the parameters of the debate and of the imparted instruction have changed. In fact question and answer literature becomes a literature where some authors may feel more at ease to speculate and at times innovate. The format allows for the discussion of a broad array of questions which are given different degrees of focus.
Many scholars have referred to these collections as catecheses on account of the fact that they impart knowledge. But we have to ask more questions and probe deeper. Our knowledge of catechesis is limited, but — if anything — these collections allow us to see this process as longer than we have assumed. The literature of the erotapokriseis addressed a constant need for instruction in the Bible but also on a number of other issues. This accounts for the appeal of this form and its longevity.
This website is solely devoted to answering questions, hence the name. I have received numerous questions over the years, which I have primarily answered in private, but from now on I wish to make these public. If one person has a question, most likely many more have the same question. The answers are my opinion only, while of course trying to be as factual as I can be. If I don't know the answer, I will try and get you closer to the answer. Not all submitted questions are guaranteed to appear on this website. This website is part of the ministry of the Mystagogy Resource Center. If you have a question, you may submit it in the contact form towards the bottom of the site, or send an email to mystagogy@aol.com.
With love in Christ,
John Sanidopoulos
Director of the Mystagogy Resource Center
See also:
First of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Second of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Second of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Dear Readers:
Christ is Risen!
As mentioned yesterday, the second exciting announcement is a 50 book giveaway, provided by an anonymous donor. 30 of the books were chosen by him and 20 by me. They are basic and essential texts that should be in every Orthodox library, along with a few popular texts and personal favorites. This is a great opportunity to stock up your Orthodox library. The value of these books exceed over $1000!
These 50 books will be given to one person by random draw, which will take place on May 15th. To be eligible, you must be a donor of the Mystagogy Resource Center. For every $5 you donate, you get one entry in the random draw. All current donors are eligible, and they will get one entry per the $5 they have donated over the past year. If you become a new subscriber for $5 a month, you will get 1 entry. If you donate $60, you will get 12 entries. Obviously, the more you donate, the more entries you get.
I have been informed that if successful, this offer of a 50 book giveaway may become an annual thing, possibly bi-annual. So if you continue your subscription, you will be eligible for more entries in the future. Certain titles of the books may change in the future.
Below is the list of 50 books. If you would like more information about each specific text, a google search of what is written below should bring up more information.
1-7. The Synaxarion: The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church, Volumes 1-7
8. The Spiritual Meadow
9. The Northern Thebaid: Monastic Saints of the Russian North
10. The Lives of the Desert Fathers
11. The Ladder of Divine Ascent
12. We Shall See Him as He is
13. Saint Silouan the Athonite
14. St Gregory Palamas as a Hagiorite
15. The Blessed Surgeon
16. Our Thougths Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
17. I Know a Man in Christ: Elder Sophrony the Hesychast and Theologian
18. Man and the God-Man - St. Justin Popovich
19. A History of the Monks of Syria
20-21. Contemporary Ascetics of Mount Athos Vols. 1 and 2
22. Two Hundred Chapters On Theology: St. Maximus the Confessor
23. Poems on Scripture: Saint Gregory of Nazianzus
24-28. The Christian Tradition, Volumes 1-5
29-32. Evergetinos (Complete 4-Volume Set)
33-36. The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vols. 1-4)
37. Three Byzantine Saints
38. Concerning Frequent Communion of the Immaculate Mysteries of Christ - St. Nicodemos the Hagiorite
39. Confession of Faith - St. Nicodemos the Hagiorite
40. Disputations with Pyrrhus - St. Maximus the Confessor
41. Divine Eros: Hymns of Saint Symeon the New Theologian
42-43. Letters of Barsanuphios and John, Volumes 1 and 2
44. Abba Isaiah of Scetis: Ascetic Discourses
45-47. On the Mystical Life, The Ethical Discourses: St. Symeon the New Theologian, Volumes 1-3
48. An Outline of Orthodox Patristic Dogmatics - Fr. John Romanides
49. The Lives of the Monks of Palestine
50. Feasts of the Lord: An Introduction to the Twelve Feasts and Orthodox Christology
To be eligible for entry, donate or subscribe below. You can also both donate and subscribe as well. Thank you for taking part in this giveaway!
Click on the DONATE button to make a one-time donation (a Paypal account is not needed to make a one-time donation):
To make a monthly contribution, choose from the options below to set your amount and click on the SUBSCRIBE button (please use a browser other than Mozilla Firefox to change the amount of the monthly donation).
To send in your donation, please do so to the following address:
John Sanidopoulos
PO Box 320284
West Roxbury, MA 02132
First of Five Exciting Announcements from the Mystagogy Resource Center
Dear Readers:
Christ is Risen!
Twice a year I make an appeal for your financial support of this ministry, a few weeks before Christmas and a few weeks after Easter. Your generous support is what keeps the ministry of the Mystagogy Resource Center going. To give you an example of some of the messages I have received from my readers throughout the world in the past sixty days alone, I will present five testimonials:
"Your site is by far the most informative and reliable Orthodox website on the internet."
"I don't know what I would do without your ministry."
"Yours is the only website I visit where I say 'wow' over and over again while reading the material."
"I refer to your websites daily not only for my own edification, but I use it every day in my ministry as well."
"You have to understand how much your ministry is appreciated not only by me, but by many people I know."
"I don't know what I would do without your ministry."
"Yours is the only website I visit where I say 'wow' over and over again while reading the material."
"I refer to your websites daily not only for my own edification, but I use it every day in my ministry as well."
"You have to understand how much your ministry is appreciated not only by me, but by many people I know."
These testimonials are only a small sample of the dozens upon dozens I have received over the years. These five alone were sent to me by two priests in the United States, a layman in Thailand, a laywoman in Australia, and a deacon/seminarian from Romania. Though I typically don't post testimonials, nor ask for them, I thought I would share these to give you an example of how much this ministry is appreciated and helpful to people around the world.
With this, I also wanted to make a few exciting announcements. First, on this website alone, I have already surpassed 11,000 posts, making it difficult to navigate through for you the reader, and difficult for me to organize. Therefore the first announcement I wanted to make today is that in the next week, I will be deleting hundreds of posts that I don't think are necessary to keep, and I will start to organize the site by dividing each post into its own particular topic. This will take a long time, but I will start doing it this week. This is something many have asked me to do, and since it needs to be done, I will start doing it.
The next four exciting announcements will be presented with more detail over the next four days. Here I will just say what they are:
Tomorrow I will announce an exciting 50 book giveaway. Yes, 50 free quality books can be yours for free! Those eligible to enter for the 50 book giveaway will be current and future donors to this ministry, whether it be my monthly subscription or semiannual or annual. And whatever amounts to $5 a month will count as one entry. The books are being provided for by an anonymous donor, with 30 chosen by him and 20 by me. This giveaway values at over $1,000, so if you want to be eligible, you must either subscribe or donate below as soon as possible.
Friday I will announce the launch of another exciting website. This website will solely be devoted to the questions I have both received over the years as well as new future questions, together with my responses.
Saturday I will announce the launch of a second exciting website. This website will solely be devoted to book reviews.
Sunday I will announce the launch of a third exciting website. This website will solely be devoted to World Religions.
Please visit daily for more information about the above announcements. The new websites will all be part of the Mystagogy Resource Center.
With this, I urge you all to financially support this ministry. Of course, it is free for all to enjoy, but it will only be free to all as long as those who are able to can send in their financial support. If possible, please send at least an annual contribution of $60, which equals to a $5 a month subscription, which equals to about 16 cents a day. By doing so, you will also be eligible for the 50 book giveaway, which I will announce in more detail tomorrow.
Thank you!
Click on the DONATE button to make a one-time donation (a Paypal account is not needed to make a one-time donation):
To make a monthly contribution, choose from the options below to set your amount and click on the SUBSCRIBE button (please use a browser other than Mozilla Firefox to change the amount of the monthly donation).
To send in your donation, please do so to the following address:
John Sanidopoulos
PO Box 320284
West Roxbury, MA 02132
With love in the Risen Lord,
John Sanidopoulos
Saints and Feasts of April 29
On the twenty-ninth Jason departed the earth.
Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater of the Seventy
Synaxarion of the Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater and Those With Them
The Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater and the Island of Kerkyra
Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater as Models for our Lives
Holy Seven Martyrs Who Were Formerly Thieves
Synaxarion of the Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater and Those With Them
Holy Martyr Kerkyra
Synaxarion of the Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater and Those With Them
Saint Kerkyra as a Model for our Lives
Holy Martyr Eusebius
Synaxarion of the Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater and Those With Them
Holy Martyrs Zenon and Vitalion
Synaxarion of the Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater and Those With Them
Holy Martyr Neon
Synaxarion of the Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater and Those With Them
Saint John Kaloktenes the New Merciful,
Metropolitan of Thebes
Saint John Kaloktenes the New Merciful, Metropolitan of Thebes
Saint Basil of Ostrog the Wonderworker,
Bishop of Zahumlje and Skenderija
Saint Basil of Ostrog Resource Page
Holy Martyrs of Lazeti
Holy Martyrs of Lazeti (+ 17th and 18th cent.)
Venerable Nektary of Optina
Saint Nektary of Optina and the Uncreated Light
Saint Nektary of Optina and the Arts
Saint Basil of Ostrog Resource Page
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| St. Basil of Ostrog (Feast Day - April 29) |
Saint Basil of Ostrog (St. Nikolai Velimirovich)
Miracles of Saint Basil of Ostrog (1 of 5)
Miracles of Saint Basil of Ostrog (2 of 5)
April 28, 2018
Saints and Feasts of April 28
On the twenty-eighth the nine were carried off from this mournful life.
Holy Nine Martyrs of Kyzikos
Holy Nine Martyrs of Kyzikos
Venerable Memnon the Wonderworker
Synaxarion of Saint Memnon the Wonderworker
Saint Auxibios II, Bishop of Soli in Cyprus
Saint Auxibios II, Bishop of Soli in Cyprus
Saint Cyril, Bishop of Turov
Holy New Martyr John of Petra in Pieria
Narration of the Miracle that Took Place
in Carthage of Africa
in Carthage of Africa
Narration of the Miracle that Took Place in Carthage of Africa
April 27, 2018
Saints and Feasts of April 27
On the twenty-seventh Symeon was affixed to the cross.
Holy Hieromartyr Symeon the Brother of God,
Bishop of Jerusalem
Bishop of Jerusalem
Holy Hieromartyr Symeon the Brother of God, Bishop of Jerusalem
Saint Symeon the Brother of God as a Model for our Lives
Venerable John the Confessor,
Abbot of Katharon Monastery
Abbot of Katharon Monastery
Saint John the Confessor, Abbot of Katharon Monastery
Holy Martyr Poplion
Holy Martyr Poplion
Saint Eulogios the Hospitable
Saint Eulogios the Hospitable, Who Was a Stonecutter
Holy Martyr Lollion the New
Saint Stephen, Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves,
and Bishop of Vladimir-Volynsky
Saint Stephen, Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves, and Bishop of Vladimir-Volynsky (+ 1094)
Holy New Martyr Noultsos of Kastoria
and Those With Him
April 26, 2018
Saints and Feasts of April 26
On the twenty-sixth Basil was beheaded with a sword.
Holy Hieromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasea
Holy Hieromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasea (+ 322)
Saint Glaphyra
Holy Hieromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasea (+ 322)
Venerable Justa
Venerable Justa
Venerable Nestor
Venerable Nestor
Saint Leo, Bishop of Samos
Saint Leo, Bishop of Samos
Saint Stephen, Bishop of Perm
Saint Stephen, Bishop of Perm (+ 1396)
Mount of St. Stephen of Perm
Venerable Kalandion
Saint Kalandion and his Unique Church in Cyprus
April 25, 2018
Saints and Feasts of April 25
On the twenty-fifth the senseless ones dragged
Mark along the ground.
Mark along the ground.
Holy Glorious Apostle and Evangelist Mark
Holy Apostle Mark the Evangelist
Saint Mark the Evangelist as a Model for our Lives
Holy Apostle Mark the Evangelist: Epistle and Gospel Reading
Saint Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople
Saint Macedonius II, Patriarch of Constantinople (+ c. 517)
Holy Martyr Nike
Holy Martyr Nike
Holy Eight Venerable Martyrs and Anchorites
Holy Eight Venerable Martyrs and Anchorites
Venerable Basil the Hesychast,
Abbot of Poiana Marului Skete
Abbot of Poiana Marului Skete
Saint Basil the Hesychast, Abbot of Poiana Marului Skete (+ 1767)
Commemoration of the Consecration of the
Church of the Apostle Peter
Next to Hagia Sophia in Constantinople
Commemoration of the Consecration of the Church of the Apostle Peter Next to Hagia Sophia in Constantinople
April 24, 2018
Holy Eight Martyrs Eusebius, Neonos, Leontios, Longinus, Danabos, Demetrios, Nestabos and Christopher
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| Holy Eight Martyrs of Nicomedia (Feast Day - April 24) |
Verses
The eight Martyrs are equal in number,
The equal multiplied by equal multiplied by equal were beheaded.
The equal multiplied by equal multiplied by equal were beheaded.
After the martyrdom of Saint George, the impious Diocletian ordered for all Christians found throughout the world, and indeed all those who had been imprisoned after witnessing the martyrdom and miracles of Saint George and having converted thereby, were to offer sacrifices to the false gods, and if they did so they would be set free and allowed to live. If they did not do so, they would be tortured without mercy, and lastly put to death.
Holy Martyr Savvas the General and Goth (+ 272)
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| St. Savvas the Goth and General (Feast Day - April 24) |
Verses
To Savvas.
Savvas drowned the fearsome demons of delusion,
O river-drowned Martyr you behold the Lord.
O river-drowned Martyr you behold the Lord.
To the Seventy Soldiers.
The number of heads cut off by the sword,
Found of fallen men were ten times seven.
Found of fallen men were ten times seven.
The Holy Martyr Savvas lived during the reign of Emperor Aurelian (270-275). He was a scion of Gothia, and held the rank of military general (stratelates) at Rome. From his youth, Savvas was a Christian and he fervently followed the commands of Christ and strove for virtue. He helped the needy, and visited Christians in prison. Because of his pure and virtuous life the Saint received from the Lord the gift of wonderworking, healing the sick and casting out demons in the name of Christ.
Saints and Feasts of April 24
On the twenty-fourth Elizabeth was carried off to the heavens.
Venerable Elizabeth the Wonderworker
Saint Elizabeth the Wonderworker of Constantinople
Holy Martyr Savvas the General and Goth
Holy Martyr Savvas the General and Goth (+ 272)
Holy Seventy Soldier Martyrs
Converted by Saint Savvas
Holy Martyr Savvas the General and Goth (+ 272)
Holy Martyrs Pasikratos and Valention
Synaxarion of the Holy Martyrs Pasikratos and Valention
Holy Eight Martyrs Eusebius, Neonos, Leontios,
Longinus, Danabos, Demetrios,
Nestabos and Christopher
Nestabos and Christopher
Holy Eight Martyrs Eusebius, Neonos, Leontios, Longinus, Danabos, Demetrios, Nestabos and Christopher
Venerable Thomas the Fool for Christ
Saint Thomas the Fool for Christ of Syria (+ 6th cent.)
Venerable Xenophon, Founder of the Athonite
Monastery of Xenophontos
Saint Xenophon, Founder of the Athonite Monastery of Xenophontos
Holy New Martyr Doukas the Tailor from Mytilene
Holy New Martyr Doukas the Tailor from Mytilene (+ 1564)
Saint Elias Iorest the Confessor,
Metropolitan of Transylvania
Saint Elias Iorest the Confessor, Metropolitan of Transylvania (+ 1678)
Saint Sava the Confessor, Metropolitan of Transylvania
Saint Sava Brancovici, Metropolitan of Transylvania (+ 1683)
Holy New Martyr Nicholas at Magnesia
Holy New Martyr Nicholas at Magnesia (+ 1776)
April 23, 2018
Holy New Martyr George of Cyprus (+ 1752)
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| St. George the New Martyr at Ptolemais (Feast Day - April 23) |
Verses
Now George is gathered with George,
New and old are placed together thither.
New and old are placed together thither.
By St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite
The victorious New Martyr of Christ, George, came from Cyprus. He was young, handsome, intelligent and moral. Leaving his homeland he came to Ptolemais (modern Acre of Palestine). There he entered the service of one of the European consulates, where he was hired as an attendant to one of its members. George would frequently purchase eggs for his employer's household from a certain poor Turkish woman, who had a daughter of legal age. With the passage of time, the girl began to await his arrival. She spoke freely with him, but only in her mother's absence. Several neighbors noticed that the youth would only buy eggs from this girl (as much as she had), and not from anyone else. They became envious and resentful. They, therefore, took counsel among themselves to make some mischief for George.
Holy Martyr Athanasios Who Was a Sorcerer, Converted by Saint George
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| St. Athanasios the Martyr (Feast Day - April 23) |
Verses
Athanasios the sorcerer was beheaded,
The ailing soul found a strange medicine.
The ailing soul found a strange medicine.
During the trials of the Holy Great Martyr George, Dadianus the governor wrote a letter in which he thus said, "I write to the whole world, greetings. Let any sorcerer or magician who can put an end to the magic of this Christian come here to me, and I will give him much wealth and any territory that he shall ask for, and he shall be second in the kingdom."Saint George had miraculously emerged unharmed from his tortures by divine grace, and because of his miracles the stubborn pagans believed he was a magician, and only another magician could defeat him.
Holy Martyrs Anatolios and Protoleon the Soldiers, Converted by Saint George
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| Sts. Anatolios and Protoleon the Martyrs (Feast Day - April 23) |
Verses
To Anatolios.
At sunset the head of Anatolios was cut off,
At sunrise he saw the noetic light of the Lord.
At sunrise he saw the noetic light of the Lord.
To Protoleon.
Protoleon the Martyr of Christ was beheaded,
Having confidence in Christ like a lion has in its tail.
Having confidence in Christ like a lion has in its tail.
To turn Saint George from his faith in Christ and sacrifice to the idols, they subjected him to various tortures. Among the cruel punishments he was subject to was the Great Wheel. Therefore they tied him to a wheel below which were fixed many sharp knives, so that when the wheel spun George would be cut to pieces. Everyone believed that indeed they would find George dead and cut to pieces. But when the Emperor Diocletian and his entourage were on their way to the temple to sacrifice to the gods, thinking with satisfaction that they had finally finished him off, they suddenly saw George standing right in front of them. He had been delivered from this cruel torture by an Angel of the Lord. All who saw him were astounded, and believed he was a ghost.
Saints and Feasts of April 23
On the twenty-third, George’s neck was seized
by the brazen blade.
by the brazen blade.
Holy Glorious Great Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer
Saint George the Great Martyr Resource Page
Holy Martyrs Anatolios and Protoleon the Soldiers
Holy Martyrs Anatolios and Protoleon the Soldiers, Converted by Saint George
Holy Martyr Athanasios Who Was a Sorcerer
Holy Martyr Athanasios Who Was a Sorcerer, Converted by Saint George
Holy Martyr Glykerios the Farmer
Saint Glykerios the Farmer of Nicomedia
Holy Martyr Valerius
Holy Martyr Valerius
Holy Martyrs Donatos and Therinos
Holy Martyrs Donatos and Therinos
Saints Gerontios and Polychronia,
Parents of Saint George
Parents of Saint George
Saints Gerontios and Polychronia, Parents of Saint George
Holy New Martyr George of Cyprus,
Martyred in Ptolemais of Palestine
Holy New Martyr George of Cyprus (+ 1752)
Holy New Martyr Lazarus the Shepherd of Bulgaria
Holy New Martyr Lazarus the Shepherd of Bulgaria (+ 1802)
April 22, 2018
Homily on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women: On Spiritual Deadness (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov)
By St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
The Gospels have told us today[1] about the exploits of the holy women who followed the God-Man during His earthly wanderings. They witnessed His sufferings and were present at his burial. The burial took place on Friday evening. While the Jews’ wrath was pouring out like the fiery lava of Aetna not only upon the Lord, but upon all of those close to Him; while the Holy Apostles were forced to hide or observe the extraordinary events only from a distance; while only John, the beloved disciple who leaned upon the breast of the Lord, feared nothing and remained always near the Lord, the secret disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, who had always concealed his heart’s allegiance due to persecution from the Sanhedrin, suddenly disregards all the obstacles, hesitations, and anxiety that had bound and worried him until then, and he appears before cold, cruel Pilate to beg the body of the One who was shamefully executed. He receives the Lord’s body and buries it with reverence and honor.
Gospel Commentary for the Third Sunday of Pascha (St. Theophylact of Ochrid)
Third Sunday of Pascha
The Myrrhbearing Women
Mark 15:43-16:6
By Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid and Bulgaria
42-47. Now when the evening was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and asked for the Body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if He were already dead, and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether He had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the Body to Joseph. And he bought fine linen, and took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a tomb which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where He was laid.
Saints and Feasts of April 22
On the twenty-second the Sykeote was hidden in the grave.
Venerable Theodore the Sykeote,
Bishop of Anastasiopolis
Bishop of Anastasiopolis
Saint Theodore the Sykeote, Bishop of Anastasiopolis
How St. Theodore of Sykeon Spent His Youth Between Epiphany and Palm Sunday
The Miraculous Recovery of Saint Theodore of Sykeon from the Bubonic Plague
The Role of St. George in the Life of St. Theodore Sykeote
Holy Martyr Nearchos
Holy Martyr Nearchos
Commemoration of the Recognition of Christ
by the Holy Apostle Nathanael
Commemoration of the Recognition of Christ by the Holy Apostle Nathanael
Venerable Gregory the Gravanos of Nisyros
Saint Gregory the Gravanos of Nisyros (+ 1812)
Hermitage of the Panagia of Grava in Patmos
Venerable Ananias of Malles in Crete
Hatzi Ananias of Malles, Crete (+ 1907)
The Amazing Miracles of Hatzi Ananias of Malles, Crete
Hatzi Ananias of Crete Has Been Proposed for Canonization
Holy New Hieromartyr Sabbas,
Bishop of Gornji Karlovac
Bishop of Gornji Karlovac
Holy New Hieromartyr Sabbas, Who Was Skinned Alive By the Ustashi (+ 1941)
Commemoration of the Prisoner Breakout from
Jasenovac Concentration Camp
April 21, 2018
Life of the Holy Hieromartyr Januarius, Bishop of Benevento, and his Companions
On the twenty-first of April, we commemorate the Holy Hieromartyr Januarius the Bishop of Benevento and his companions: Proculus, Sosius and Festus the Deacons, Desiderius the Reader, Acutius and Eutychius the Laymen.
Verses
To Januarius.
Januarius was a noble man,
In the month of April he was beheaded.
In the month of April he was beheaded.
To Proculus, Sosius and Festus.
Proculus together with Sosius and Festus,
Bent forward for beheading while the sword was in its sheath.
Bent forward for beheading while the sword was in its sheath.
To Desiderius.
The neck of Desiderius was bound to the sword,
He submitted to beheading and stands before the Lord.
He submitted to beheading and stands before the Lord.
To Acutius and Eutychius.
The voice of Acutius was heard,
Saying "Eutychius my fellow in beheading."
Saying "Eutychius my fellow in beheading."
On the twenty-first Januarius was beheaded.
On the Salvation of Those Who Died Before Christ (St. Anastasios of Sinai)
I am offering the translation below in response to the translation here: http://ldysinger.stjohnsem.edu/@texts/0-03_plato/99_anast-sinai.htm. There, "hades" is translated as "hell", which is not accurate, but even worse, in section 3, the translation of the first sentence reads: "Having heard this you cannot believe that there is no repentance in hell." This is a serious mistranslation, making it as if St. Anastasios believed there was "repentance in hell", which is something no Church Father believed. Therefore the translation below is a more accurate translation to remedy the false attribution of such a teaching to St. Anastasios.
By St. Anastasios of Sinai
(Questions and Answers, 61)
QUESTION 61:
In regard to the Greeks who died before the coming of Christ, is it fitting to pray for them, rather than condemn them?
ANSWER:
Saint Maximianos, Patriarch of Constantinople (+ 434)
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| St. Maximianos of Constantinople (Feast Day - April 21) |
Verses
Maximianos who was not an all-devouring wolf,
Instead reared the Church and died.
Instead reared the Church and died.
Our Holy Father Maximianos was born in Rome to notable and wealthy parents, and was a childhood friend of Pope Celestine I of Rome. He was noted to be a pious man, but was not known for his intellect, though he was educated. He had a good reputation among the Christians, in part because at his own expense he constructed monuments to bury the departed. Maximianos led a monastic life before he entered the priesthood. He became a priest of the Church of Constantinople, ordained by Patriarch Sisinnius I. After the deposition of Nestorius, Maximianos became Archbishop of Constantinople at the insistence of Emperor Theodosius II, who apparently was looking for an ordinary candidate and perhaps one who was not overly under the influence of his sister, Pulcheria. His selection passed over Proclus, who was a favorite of the aristocrats.
Saints and Feasts of April 21
On the twenty-first Januarius was beheaded.
Hieromartyr Januarius the Bishop of Benevento
and his companions: Proculus, Sosius
and Festus the Deacons, Desiderius the Reader,
Acutius and Eutychius the Laymen
and his companions: Proculus, Sosius
and Festus the Deacons, Desiderius the Reader,
Acutius and Eutychius the Laymen
Life of the Holy Hieromartyr Januarius, Bishop of Benevento, and his Companions
Saint Januarius as a Model for our Lives
Saint Alexandra the Empress and her servants
Apollo, Isaakios and Kodratos
Saint Alexandra the Empress of Rome, Wife of Emperor Diocletian
Saint Maximianos, Patriarch of Constantinople
Saint Maximianos, Patriarch of Constantinople (+ 434)
Venerable Anastasios of Sinai
Holy New Martyr John Noultzos
Together with his Brother and Brother-in-Law
Together with his Brother and Brother-in-Law
Ecumenical Patriarchate Canonizes Seven New Martyrs of Kastoria