συνοδικός
May 27 / May 14
2018 (7526)
● 五旬節 PENTECOST - Trinity Sunday 五旬节（上帝圣三主日——纪念至圣圣灵降临于众使徒）// 2018 //
Κυριακὴ τῆς Πεντηκοστῆς
對基督教來說，五旬節就是《聖經•使徒行傳》第二章所載聖靈降臨早期基督徒之事件日期。此記載在五旬節當天，聖靈（聖神）傾注在門徒身上，使門徒得力量與說方言的恩賜，向别人傳揚福音。有鑑於此，這被認為是早期基督教會成立之日子。五旬節亦是聖靈降臨期的開始。
By the grace of the Most Holy Spirit, we have been vouchsafed to celebrate Holy Pentecost — the descent of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ said of this descent: Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (that is, the Holy Spirit), will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth (Jn. 16:7, 13). This, His promise and benefit, is so great that we cannot even comprehend it: for the Lord promised to send not an Angel, not a man, but the Holy Spirit Himself.
• Synaxis of the YAROSLAVSK (Pechersk) Icon of the Mother of God (1823)
Σύναξις Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου ἐν Ἰαροσλάβλ
The Yaroslavl (Pechersk) Icon of the Mother of God: In the city of Yaroslavl the townswoman Alexandra Dobychkina suffered terribly for seventeen years from emotional and bodily illness. In 1823 she saw in a dream a church with an icon of the Mother of God. She decided to seek out the Yaroslavl temple and icon she had seen in the vision. This church turned out to be the temple in honor of the Procession of the Venerable Wood of the Cross of the Lord (August 1), under the belltower of the archbishop’s residence. Entering the church, the afflicted Alexandra saw on the wall the depiction of the Kiev Caves Mother of God. Suddenly she had a powerful attack of fever, after which there was some relief at first, and later a full healing from the grievous illness. From that time, miraculous healings took place when people prayed to the Most Hoy Theotokos.
• Icon of the Mother of God of PSKOV Caves and CHELNSK
• Synaxis of the TEREBENSK Icon of the Mother of God
The Terebensk icon of the Mother of God became famous in 1654. The Terebensk Hermitage of St Nicholas is located on the bank of the river Mologa (today’s village of Sloboda, Maksatikhinsky District). The monastery was founded in 1641 on the site of a wooden church that had been built in 1492 by a landowner Mikhail Obutkov in the village of Terebeni, in honor of St Nicholas. Obutkov moved to the church his most valuable icons, including the Terebensk icon of the Mother of God and a miraculous icon of St Nicholas. According to a different account, the icon appeared to a boy near the Terebensk Monastery, from which it got its name. Two kilometers away from the monastery there is a rock with a footprint thereupon. There is a legend that the icon appeared near that rock. The original Terebensk icon of the Mother of God did not survive while its image is known from the existing copies. In this icon the Holy Mother of God is depicted at waist-length, with arms upraised in the pose of Oranta. The Infant Christ is shown at full-length standing on a globe with outspread arms. The icon became famous for its miracles, one of which was the salvation of Bezhetsk from cholera.
• Discovery of the Icon of Panagia YPAPANTI 在伯罗奔尼撒半岛的卡拉玛塔寻获至圣诞神女显灵迹的“聚会”圣像（1823年） // APODOSIS OF PASCHA //
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Kalamata is known by the name Ypapanti tou Sotiros, or Presentation of the Savior. It is one of the largest Cathedrals of Messinia and was built in 1839 and consecrated in 1873. The layout is a traditional Byzantine style and it houses within the ancient and miraculous icon of the Panagia. It celebrates annually on February 2, which is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord into the Temple. It also celebrates on the Apodosis of Pascha, which is a moveable feast day celebrated the day prior to the Holy Ascension. It was on the Apodosis of Pascha that the wonderworking icon was discovered. The Panagia Ypapanti is the Protectress of the City of Kalamata. The icon of the Theotokos, dated to 672 AD, was found in a stable of an Ottoman during the Turkish occupation, after a stable-man had a vision. Even though the back of the icon board was entirely burned, the front was perfectly intact. It bore the name "Ypapanti", and probably belonged to a Church of the Presentation of the Savior which had been in Kalamata centuries before the Turkish occupation. The church must have burned down, which is why the icon was burned in the back. The front must have been preserved by the protection of the Holy Virgin. On the land in which the icon was discovered, a small church was initially built to honor the Presentation of the Lord and to house this icon. It was figured also that the stable had been the church that had once burned, which is why they chose the same spot to rebuild the church. The Metropolitan Cathedral was not built until Greece became free of Ottoman domination, and on 19 August 1873 it was consecrated. The icon of Panagia Ypapanti is not only venerated by the residents of Kalamata, but extends throughout all of Greece, and thousands flock to this Cathedral for its feast day and receive miraculous intervention through the Theotokos and her wonderworking icon. One example of its miraculous powers dates to 1841 when the entire population of Kalamata was saved from certain annihilation. In the initial months of Autumn that year, a mysterious illness befell what seemed the entire population of Kalamata. Even the doctors sent to treat the ill caught the disease. Death became such a regular vision in the city that the bells of the churches were ringing hourly informing everyone of the death of another victim. Daily there were burials as well, and sadness permeated throughout Kalamata. When all hope was lost, the people placed their hope in the Panagia and decided to hold a litany throughout the city lead by the Panagia Ypapanti icon. It was hoped that the Panagia would lift this plague from the people and save them from certain death. Those who oversaw the governance of the city then ordered all the residents to undertake a three-day fast, after which they were to attend a Paraklisi (Supplication) Service to the Panagia as well as the litany which was to follow. To the glory of God and the Holy Virgin, during the litany itself the plague began to lift from Kalamata and the city was saved from certain annihilation. During the earthquakes of 1886 and 1986 the center dome of the church was destroyed, but reconstructed according to the original plans. Pilgrims can visit the church during the day any day. Also, every evening the bells of the Cathedral ring calling everyone to the local cemetery to light the oil-lamps over the graves of their loved ones, leaving the cemetery bright throughout the night.
• MAXIM of Gorlich. He was martyred in 1914 for his priestly witness against Austro-Hungarian oppression // SEP 6/19 //
• LUDMILA Martyred in 926. She was the grandmother of King Wenceslaus // SEP 16/29 //
• PROCOPIUS of Sazava. He built several monasteries in the 11th century which subsequently became centers of Orthodox Christianity when the Church came under severe governmental opposition // SEP 16/29 //
• ROSTISLAV Prince and Confessor. As prince of Moravia in the 9th century, SS Cyril and Methodius were encouraged to begin their missionary work with the Slavic people // OCT 29/NOV 11 //
• Equal to the Apostles CYRIL and his brother METHODIUS who established the Orthodox faith and were the first Orthodox witnesses to the Slav nations. They lived around the year 863
• WENCESLAUS The king of the Czech and Moravian lands known for his charity and promoting of Christianity among his subjects. He was killed in 929. He was the subject of the well-known Christmas song "Good King Wenceslaus". Sometimes identified as Vagislav in martyrologies // MAR 4/17 //
• Holy Father and Confessor ALEXIS of Wilkes-Barre (1854-1909) instrumental in evangelizing many in the early 20th century // MAY 7/20 //
• MOSES the Hungarian. He was a slave for many years. One of the greatest monks of the famous Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Monastery, he entered a monastery in the 11th century. He endured much for his Christian faith while a slave // JUL 26/AUG 8 //
• Holy Martyr GORAZD (1879-1942) of Prague, bishop of Moravia and Sleizska. During World War II, he harbored members of the resistance in the Orthodox cathedral in Prague. He was executed by the Nazi
• Holy Father and Confessor ALEXIS of Khust. He led many Carpathian people to the Orthodox faith about the same time as did St Alexis of Wilkes-Barre. He was persecuted by the Nazi during World War II
• EPHREM of New Torzhok // JUN 11/24 //
• JOB Kundria of Ugolka (1902-1985)
Holy Saints of Carpatho-Rus, pray to God for us!
Along with these saints who have been officially recognized by the Church, there are many individuals whose light from the Holy Spirit burned brightly in the Carpathians but who have not yet been numbered among the Saints ― Other Righteous Lights:
• JOACHIM Vakarov
This Carpatho-Russian peasant was arrested by the Hungarian authorities in 1904 when he and his fellow villagers of Iza returned to the Orthodox Faith. Sentenced to fourteen months in prison his land, home and livestock were auctioned to pay fines. After his release from prison, he and his family were destitute. Joachim was arrested again and this time tortured to death. Since no Orthodox priest could legally minister in Carpatho-Russia, the villagers conducted his funeral.
• Abbess NINA
Born with the name Juliana Prokop she embraced a life of prayer and fasting at a young age. In 1914 she and her companions were arrested, taken out in the middle of winter, stripped, drenched with water and beaten. She was arrested again in 1918 and this time beaten almost to the point of death, remaining unconscious for three days. Despite the torture, Juliana refused to renounced Orthodoxy or her monastic life. She later becoming the abbess and founder of the Convent of Lipcha and Abbess of the Convent of St Nicholas in Mukachevo where she lies buried.
• Father THEOPHAN Sabov was the administrator of the Mukachovo-Presov Diocese, arrested by the Communists and executed by them in 1945
• Father VASILY Pronin
A spiritual son of St John Maximovitch while living in Serbia, he was a priest-monk who labored in various parishes in Carpatho-Rus. Clairvoyant elder and Spiritual Father of the Convent of St Nicholas in Mukachevo. A highly educated and cultivated man who spoke 14 languages he was described as a pastor who “loved everyone, forgave everyone and warms the hearts of all with his spiritual father’s love. He died peacefully in 1997, having predicted the day of his death. He was buried in the cemetery at the Convent of St Nicholas but his body has since been placed in a shrine inside the church where healings are said to occur.
Righteous men and women of Carpatho Rus: Eternal memory!
• Martyr VICTOR of Damascus and his wife Martyress STEPHANIDA (Corona, Stefanida, Stephanie or Stephanis) of Spain (161-177)
In art, Victor and Corona are portrayed as they are ripped asunder between trees.
• Martyress RESTITUTA and Companions (272)
Born in Rome of a noble family, she fled to Sora in Campania in Italy to escape persecution under Aurelian but was martyred there with several companions.
• VM ENGELINDA and M FLORITANUS at Cologne
• MM ALEXANDER 亚历山大, BARBARUS 瓦尔瓦若, ACOLYTHUS 阿科利托 at the Church of Holy Peace (the Church of St Irene) by the Sea in Constantinople
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἀλέξανδρος, Βάρβαρος καὶ Ἀκόλουθος οἱ Μάρτυρες
• Martyrs ARISTOTLE and LEANDROS
Οἱ Ἅγιοι Ἀριστοτέλης καὶ Λέανδρος οἱ Μάρτυρες
• HERACLES Bishop of Kofinon, THELTHAS and THEODOUIS and THERAPON of the Sinai of the 300 German saints in Cyprus (7th c.)
• Commemoration of the martyrdom by the Poles (1609) of Abbot ANTHONY with 40 monks and 1 000 laymen of the St Paisius of Uglich Monaster
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀντώνιος ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ Μάρτυρες μοναχοὶ καὶ λαϊκοί
• Commemoration of the martyrdom by the Poles (1609) of Abbot DANIEL with 30 monks and 200 laymen of the St Nicholas Monastery in Kostroma
Ὁ Ἅγιος Δανιὴλ ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ Μάρτυρες μοναχοὶ καὶ λαϊκοί
• ISIDORE and TYKHON
• Bishops JACOB and MAKARIOS
• Deacon CYRUS Malanyin (1918) killed with checkers and bayonets
• Hosiosconfessor MATTHEW of Jaransk, Hieromonk (1927) V’atka
• PETER Dryagin, Priest (1872-1930) shoted in Vyatka region
• MIKHAIL Zubarev, Priest (1894-1930)
• TATYANA Sannikova, nun, an icon painter (1872-1931) died in prison before the verdict
• ARSENY Chistyakov, Priest (1872-1930) shoted
• MIKHAIL Vereshchagin, Priest (1889-1933) died in prison
• New Hieromartyr ANTONY Kotovich, Priest (1938)
• New Hieromartyr PETER 彼得 Rozhdestvin, Priest (1879-1939) died in Siberian KZ, Baim department. Buried in an unknown grave
Abia Egzie (name mean Great with God), ascetic 13-14th century, who worked in the North Ethiopia in the cloisters of the Keliot statute. The life of the saint (published by K. Conti Rossini) was written half a century after his death, and, like his life, does not abound in external events, but is rich in the exploits of piety. Even at a young age, Abia Egzie was so God-fearing, that he gave heartlessly everything that he would not be asked in the name of God. After finishing his studies, he was ordained a priest, but his soul did not lie either in peace or in community monasticism. Saying "it is better to die in the desert than to live in monasteries," he dreamed of settling in empty. Valdebba is the famous center of Ethiopian Asceticism. This desire of Abia Egzie was reflected in his life, the saint, who was brought there by a huge beast of terrible form, wanted to stay there forever, but was transferred back to his native land by Archangel Gabriel. The scarcity of external events in the life path of Abia Egzie led to the fact that his life, in the words: "is not so much a coherent and consistent biography as a number of separate stories about the miracles of a saint." Nevertheless, it shows how, while the South Ethiopian. Monasticism led to active monastic colonization of pagan lands, in the long-Christianized north, local monasticism laid the foundations of national ethiopians traditions of asceticism.
• Hieromartyr ALEXANDER 亚历山大 of Tiverias
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ ἀπὸ Τιβεριανῶν
• AMPELIO the Blacksmith (410) of Upper Egypt
Blacksmith who gave up his work and worldly life to live as a hermit in Thebaid in Egypt. There his chastity was tempted by the devil in the form of a woman, but Ampelio heated an iron bar till it glowed, and used it to chase the demon away; from this choice he received the gift of being impervious to burns. Immigrant to the island of Bordighera, Italy where he planted the first date palms (Bordighera is known as the “Queen of Palms” or “City of Palms”), lived in a cave, was known as a miracle worker, and set an example of prayerful Christian life.
• ANDREW 安德列 abbot of Raphael (Tobolsk) (1820)
• APRUNCULUS 阿普伦库洛 1st bishop of Langres, later of Clermont, Gaul (488) • AUGUSTINE Bishop of Canterbury (604) Apostle of the English
He shares the title of Apostle of the English with St Gregory the Great. A monk at St Andrew's on the Coelian Hill, he was sent by St Gregory the Great with a group of forty monks to enlighten England. The missionaries landed at Ebbsfleet near Kent in 597. Soon Augustine had converted the King of Kent with thousands of his subjects. Consecrated bishop in ArIes, he set up his see in Canterbury. Trained in the Roman way, he was not successful in his relations with the Celts. He reposed shortly after St Gregory the Great. Pope St Gregory appointed Augustine, a monk, to lead a mission to the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent in Britain to bring the King and his people to Christianity. This was necessary because the already Christian British kingdoms had been pushed far into the west by the pagan Anglo-Saxons. The King, Ethelbert, had already married Bertha, a Christian princess; it is possible they were invited. They arrived in Britain in 597 on the Isle of Thanet. St Augustine may have been ordained bishop before this. The King became a Christian and 1 000’s were baptised probably on Christmas Day 597. St Augustine founded the monastery of Sts Peter and Paul outside the walls of the city. St Augustine was made metropolitan bishop in 601. The planned removal of the see to London never happened, probably because London was in Essex and King Ethelbert’s nephew was king and he too became a Christian. London and Rochester both had bishops by 604. Before his death that year St Augustine had also appointed Lawrence his successor at Canterbury. The British churches do not seem to have made any attempt to covert the Saxons before St Augustine came. That may be because the Saxons spent so much time slaughtering them. St Augustine’s attempt to unite the churches failed. One senses the great cultural divide betwen them. When they met the British expected St Augustine to get up from his throne to greet them. But St Augustine didn’t budge an inch all the while expecting the British to bow down to his authority and power and that of Rome behind him. St Gregory believed that the British should submit and that their bishops obey St Augustine. In addition there were the ‘usual’ issues of the date of easter, tonsure and other matters. St Gregory put the English mission directly under himself. St Augustine was buried within the Abbey church.
• Martyr BONIFACE (307) of Tarsus was, according to legend, executed for being a Christian in the year 307 at Tarsus, where he had gone from Rome in order to bring back to his mistress Aglaida (also written Aglaia) relics of the martyrs
• BONIFACE Bishop of Ferentino in Tuscany (6th c.) in Italy, reigned during the time of Emperor Justin and was commemorated by Saint Gregory the Great
• BRUNO (1045) Bishop of Würzburg in Germany, he encouraged church-building and spent his private fortune on this
• CARTHAGE (Carthach Mochuda) the Younger, founder and first abbot of Lismore (637)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Καρτέγιος Ἐπίσκοπος Λίσμορ
St Carthage is the patron of saint of Lismore, County Waterford in Ireland. He is known for his great reverence for the House of God and was responsible for the building of several famous schools and monasteries. St Carthage spent much of his life in instruction,by preaching and example, of those who came to him. He was born in County Kerry near Castlemaine in 564. While still a young boy herding pigs, he was drawn to follow St Carthage the senior and his monks, who passed by him chanting the Psalms. He was passed into the care of the older Saint, Bishop of Castlemaine, to be educated, and was eventually ordained a Priest. He followed the monastic discipline of solitude, fasting, prayer and study. He died in the monastery at Lismore after giving a blessing to his monks and students.
• COSTANZO (Costantio, Constantius, Antonii de Ripolis) of Capri (8th c.) Wandering bishop who preached against heresies in southern Italy, arriving on the island of Capri c.739 where he settled to lead the church there
• Martyr DYFAN (Deruvianus, Damian) (2nd c.) said to have been one of the missionaries sent to the Britons by Pope Saint Eleutherius at the request of King Saint Lucius. His church of Merthyr Dyfan shows the popular tradition that he ended his days on earth in martyrdom
• Saint EREMBERT Bishop of Toulouse (657)
Born at Wocourt near Passy; died c. 672. Erembert became a Benedictine at Fontenelle Abbey about 640. He was appointed bishop of Toulouse, France, c. 656, and ruled for 12 years. In his old age he resigned and returned to Fontenelle.
• EUTROPIUS (475) born in Marseilles, he succeeded St Justin as Bishop of Orange in France, when the diocese had been laid waste by the Visigoths
• Martyr FELIX of Aquileia, Asketic (303)
• Martyr FORTUNATUS of Aquileia, Asketic (303)
• GAL (Gallo) of Clermont-Ferrand (551) bishop of Clermont-Ferrand, France. Uncle of Saint Gregory of Tours
• Martyr HALLVARD of Norway (1043) of the royal family of Norway, Patron-saint of Oslo
• Martyr ISIDORE 伊西多若 of Chios (251) Sailor; brought Christianity to the Greek island of Chios. Martyred in the persecutions of Decius for refusing to sacrifice to idols
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος ὁ Μάρτυρας ἐν Χίῳ
德西乌斯在位期间，依西多尔从希俄斯岛被迫应征参军。从童年时代起，依西多尔就坚守基督信仰，整日斋戒、祷告、作善工。在军队服役期间，依西多尔表白了自己的基督信仰，由此被指挥官抓捕讯问，并试图说服他否认基督，向偶像献祭。这位圣人对此回答说：“即使你处决了我的身体，但是你却不能掌管我的灵魂。我拥有真正的、活的上帝主耶稣基督，他现在居住在我身体内，在我死后，他将与我同在，我将同主耶稣在一起，并将永远与他同在。只要我的灵魂仍在身体中，我就绝不会离弃基督。”起初，指挥官下令用牛尾鞭打他，后来又割掉了他的舌头。即使没有了舌头，在上帝圣灵的大能下，依西多尔却能够讲话，称颂基督的名。与此同时，上帝的审判临到了指挥官的头上，这指挥官立即变成了聋哑人。最后，聋哑指挥官打着手势下令将依西多尔斩首。依西多尔对这个处决感到非常兴奋，他毅然走向断头台，于公元251年被斩首。依西多尔的同伴阿蒙将尸体埋葬，在这之后，阿蒙也惨遭迫害，由此也得到了殉道的荣耀冠冕。
A devout Christian from his early youth, he was kidnapped from his native Chios and impressed into the army. When he openly confessed himself a Christian, his commander ordered him to make sacrifice to the gods. When he resolutely refused, the commander ordered him to be beaten with iron flails, then had his tongue cut out. But even without a tongue, Isidore was miraculously enabled to speak, and clearly proclaimed the name of Christ. At the same moment, the commander was struck mute. The commander then ordered by signs that Isidore be beheaded. Isidore went to his death rejoicing and praising God. This occurred during the persecutions of the Emperor Decius.
• Blessed ISIDORE 伊西多若 Tverdislov ("Constant of Word") Fool for Christ, wonderworker of Rostov (1474)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος ὁ Θαυματουργός ὁ διὰ Χριστὸν σαλός
依西多尔是日尔曼人。来到罗斯托夫之后被东正教信仰迷住；他在教堂中领取神圣的圣体血，同时过着一种艰难的修行生活，得以“圣愚”的称呼。他身穿破旧的衣服走来走去，佯装成疯子在整个白日教导别人，而在晚间则进行祷告。他晚间栖身的地方只不过是用树枝和泥土搭成的草屋。这位圣人在世时以及去世后行了多次伟大、令人敬畏的奇迹。一个商人在航海时从船上掉下，此时，依西多尔出现，竟然行走在海面上将这个商人带到海岸。有一次，罗斯托夫的王子的仆人在依西多尔要求一杯水的时候拒绝了他的要求，并将他赶出门外，之后，他们所有的容器中的葡萄酒全部是空空的。依西多尔于公元1484年5月14日在他的草屋中去世，当时，整个罗斯托夫都闻到了一股香气。那个依西多尔曾经挽救过生命的商人在依西多尔曾经居住过的草屋的原址上为他建立了一座教堂。
He was German by birth but, drawn to the Orthodox faith, he moved to Rostov and not only became Orthodox, but took on the podvig of folly for Christ. He lived in complete destitution, spending the days pretending madness and the nights in prayer. Many wonders were performed by this Saint even in his lifetime. When he died in his meager hut in 1484, the people of Rostov smelled a fragrant odor throughout the city. A merchant whom he had miraculously saved from drowning built a church in the place where his hut had stood.
• New Martyr JOHN 约翰 of Bulgaria (Raiko 莱科 – John 约翰 of Shumena) (1802) the goldsmith; martyred by the Turks as a Christian
Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰωάννης ὁ Νεομάρτυρας ὁ Βούλγαρος, ὁ χρυσοχόος
• LAISRE (also Lassar or Lasrea) an obscure female saint
• Sainted 莱翁提 LEONTIUS II of Jerusalem, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem (1190)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Λεόντιος Πατριάρχης Ἱεροσολύμων
Saint Leontios, Patriarch of Jerusalem, by the account of Saint Gregory Palamas, was Patriarch during the years 1223-1261. His life was similarly described by Theodore, a monk of Constantinople. This Vita was translated in abridged form from the Greek into the Russian language. It was translated a second time more fully by the Monk Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, who indicates the death of the Patriarch was instead actually in the year 1175.
• New Martyr MARK 马可 of Crete, at Smyrna (1643) beheaded by the Turks for confessing faith in Christ
Ὁ Ἅγιος Μᾶρκος ὁ Νεομάρτυρας
• Hieromartyr Apostle MATTHIAS Bishop of Jerusalem stoned to death at Colchis (80/120) mentioned in the New Testament only in Acts 1:21-26, where, after the Ascension of Jesus, Matthias was selected by lot to replace Judas Iscariot
Preached the Gospel for more than 30 years in Judea, Cappadocia, Egypt and Ethiopia. Remembered for preaching the need for mortification of the flesh with regard to all its sensual and irregular desires.
• Martyr MAXIMUS 玛克息默 under Decius (250)
The Holy Martyr Maximus suffered under the emperor Decius (249-251). Maximus was a layman and a merchant. He was a devout Christian and he led many pagans to faith in Christ the Savior, and persuaded them to accept Baptism. Once, when the pagans had gathered to offer a human sacrifice to their gods, Saint Maximus plucked up his courage, unable to bear the sight of such a spectacle, and rushed at them, loudly denouncing their impiety and error, calling the idols soulless creations of mankind. The frenzied pagans stoned the martyr to death.
• Virgin MELANGELL (Monacella) of Wales (590)
A holy virgin who lived as an anchoress in Powys in Wales. Her shrine is in Pennant Melangell. The glory of mid-Wales is without doubt the remote church of Pennant Melangell in a valley in the Berwyn mountains in Denbighshire. Here is the shrine of St Melangell (Monacella) another royal virgin fleeing a suitor. Her ‘cell y bedd’ (the cell of the grave) can still be seen in the apse; before it now stands the truly awesome restored shrine, pieced together from the fragments reused after the Reformation for walls. Bones found under the floor of the ‘cell y bedd’ are now in the casket within the shrine. An effigy of the saints lies to one side. In the churchyard are 2400 old yews. Words cannot describe this place. It is another of the secrets of the Living Tradition in Wales.
• Archibishop MELETI of Kharkov (1840)
• Venerable Sainted NICETAS 尼基塔 bishop of Novgorod and recluse of the Kiev Caves (1108)
Ὁ Ὅσιος Νικήτας ὁ Ἔγκλειστος
The memory of Saint Nikita was celebrated on May 14 at Novgorod, where his relics are located. The saint is also commemorated on January 31, the day of his repose, and on April 30, the day of the Uncovering of his Relics (1558). His is a remarkable story of spiritual delusion (prelest in Russian) and repentance of delusion. Nicetas was a young and zealous monk of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves who, against the advice of his abbot St Nikon (March 25), retired alone to a cave and walled himself in. Some time later, the young monk experienced a delightful scent filling his cave. Believing himself to be receiving a divine revelation, he cried out 'Lord, show Thyself to me, that I might worship Thee face to face!' A voice answered, 'I am sending you an angel: do whatever he tells you.' The Devil soon appeared to him as an 'angel of light' and Nicetas, completely taken in, prostrated before him. The Devil ordered him to stop praying and to devote all his time to reading and memorizing the Old Testament. Nicetas obeyed without question. After awhile, the Devil began to reveal to him things that were happening in the outside world, so that the young monk acquired a reputation for prophecy among visitors to his cave. When the Elders of the Caves realized that Nicetas never spoke to his visitors or anyone else of the New Testament, they decided that he was beguiled by the Devil. Breaking down the door of his cave, they drove out the deceiver by their prayers and forcibly took the young hermit back to the monastery. As soon as the evil angel had been driven off, Nicetas became like a young child: he instantly forgot the entire Old Testament (which he had virtually memorized) and even lost the ability to read, so that he had to be sent to school again. Slowly he returned to himself, realized his former delusion and repented in tears. Thereafter he devoted himself to humility and obedience in the monastic community. Such was his repentance and progress in the virtues that he was later made Bishop of Novgorod. He reposed in peace in 1108 and became known for working many miracles, especially healing of blindness.
• Pope PASCHALIS I (824)
• Martyr PONTIUS of Cimiez (Pons de Cimiez) an Illustrious Primitive Martyr (3rd c.)
He suffered in the persecution of Valerian about the year 258, at Cimele, a city in the Alps, which was afterwards destroyed by the Lombards; when, from its ruins, arose in the neighbourhood the town of Nice in Savoy. Of the old city, only the famous abbey of St Pons at Cimile, or Cimies, subsists; and the relics of the holy martyr were translated to the monastery of Tomieres in Languedoc, where Pope John XXII erected an episcopal see, called St Pons de Tomieres. The abbey of Tomieres was secularized in 1625. St Valerian, bishop of Cimele in the fifth century, in the three panegyrics which he has left us of this martyr, assures us that many miracles were wrought at his relics. Saint Pontius of Cimiez (Pons de Cimiez), martyred in Cimella (Cimiez) near Nice, whose relics gave his name to the town of Saint-Pons.
• Martyr RANULF (Ragnulf) (700) in Thélus near Arras in France. He was the father of St Hadulph, Bishop of Arras-Cambrai
• Venerable SERAPION 塞拉彼雍 the Sindonite, monk of Egypt (542)
亚麻布一般用来包裹死者的尸体，之所以称之为“身披亚麻布”的塞拉皮昂是因为他在身上只披一件亚麻布，并将《福音书》随手携带。塞拉皮昂的生活象一只鸟，没有任何忧虑，从一个地方来到另一个地方。他将自己仅有的亚麻布衣服送给了一个寒冷中冻得发抖、赤身裸体的人。当有人问他：“塞拉皮昂，谁使你脱去了衣服？”塞拉皮昂指着圣福音书说：“是这个！”之后，塞拉皮昂连福音书都送给了一个穷人作为赎金，因为这个穷人的债主向他讨债，并以将他投入到监狱加以威胁。有一次在雅典，塞拉皮昂4天没有进食一点东西，因为他没有任何东西，于是大叫起来。雅典哲学家问他为什么大叫时，塞拉皮昂回答说：“我有三个债主，其中的两个已经满意而归，但是第三个仍纠缠我不放。第一个债主是从年轻时起纠缠我的肉欲；第二个时债主是贪婪；第三个债主就是胃口。前两个债主已经离开了我，唯独这第三个债主仍然在纠缠着我。”雅典哲学家送给了他一个金币，让他买面包得以充饥。塞拉皮昂来到了一个面包店，仅仅买了一条面包，将金币留给了面包店老板而后离开了。塞拉皮昂在年迈之际于公元5世纪离世。
'Sindon' means 'linen cloth,' and this saint was called 'the Sindonite' because he covered his naked body only with a linen cloth. He carried the Gospels in his hand. Serapion lived like the birds, with no roof and no cares, moving from one place to another. He gave his linen cloth to a poor wretch who was shivering with cold, and himself remained completely naked. When someone asked him: 'Serapion, who made you naked?', he indicated the Gospels and said: 'This!' But, after that, he gave away the Gospels also for the money needed by a man who was being hounded to prison by a creditor in debt. Gospel books were all hand-written, and were uncommon and valuable. At one time in Athens, he did not eat for four days, having nothing, and began to cry out with hunger. When the Athenian philosophers asked him what he was shouting about, he replied: 'There were three to whom I was in debt: two have quietened down, but the third is still tormenting me. The first creditor is carnal lust, who has tormented me from my youth; the second is love of money, and the third is the stomach. The first two have left me alone, but the third one still torments me.' The philosophers gave him some gold to buy bread. He went to a baker, bought a single loaf, put down all the gold and went out. He went peacefully to the Lord in old age, in the 5th century.
• TAMÁRA (Thamar or Tamar) King of Georgia (1213)
• Hieromartyr THERAPONT Bishop of Cyprus (3rd c.)
Ὁ Ἅγιος Θεράποντας ὁ Ἱερομάρτυρας Ἐπίσκοπος Κύπρου
• TUTO (Totto) monk and Abbot of St Emmeram in Ratisbon (Regensburg) in Germany (930) where he later became bishop of the city and secretary to Emperor Arnold
• 1st Uncovering (1846) of the relics of Sainted TIKHON 提宏 Bishop of Voronezh, Wonderworker of Zadonsk (1783)
The incorrupt relics of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk were first uncovered in May 1846, during the construction of the new cathedral at Zadonsk. They were found beneath the altar of the old church. Saint Tikhon is also commemorated on August 13.
• Commemoration of VICTOR Chornayiv, Archimandrite of the Annunciation Monastery at Nizhyn (1761)
SERMON BY ST JOHN OF SHANGHAI AND SAN FRANCISCO ON THE HOLY PENTECOST
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit share one nature, one essence, one substance. That is why the Three Faces are the Trinity, one-in-substance. Humans also have one nature, one substance. But while God is the Indivisible Trinity, divisions occur in mankind constantly… The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have common thought, common will, common actions. What the Father desires, the Son also desires, and the Holy Spirit also desires. Whatever the Son loves, so do the Father and the Holy Spirit also love. Whatever is pleasing to the Holy Spirit, is pleasing to the Father and Son. Their actions are also common among them, all act in conjunction and in accord. This is not so with man. We are in constant disagreement, we have differing desires. Even a small child expresses his own wishes, willfulness, disobedience to his loving parents. As he grows older, he separates from their more, and so often in our day becomes completely alienated from them. People simply don’t share identical opinions, on the contrary, there are perpetual divisions in all things, quarrels and conflicts between individuals, wars between nations. Adam and Eve, before their Fall, were in full accord and of common spirit with one another at all times. Having sinned, alienation was immediately sensed. Justifying himself before God, Adam blamed Eve. Their sin divided them and continues to divide all of mankind. Emancipated from sin, we approach God, and, filled with His grace, we sense our unity with the rest of mankind. Such unity is very imperfect and lacking, since in each person some portion of sin remains. The closer we approach God, the closer we approach each other, just as the closer rays of light are to each other, the closer they are to the Sun. In the coming Kingdom of God there will be unity, mutual love and concord. The Holy Trinity remains eternally unchanging, all-perfect, united in essence and indivisible. The One, Indivisible Trinity ever remains the Trinity. The Father always remains the Father, the Son remains the Son, the Holy Spirit remains the Holy Spirit. Besides Their personal Properties, They all share all in common and in unity. That is why the Holy Trinity is One God.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
愿上帝怜恤我罪人
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
for the sake of the prayers
of Thy most pure Mother,
our holy and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us.
Amen.
•
•
•
Blessed be God.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий