Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.
Synaxarion
On April 17 we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Symeon, Bishop of Seleucia and Ctesiphon in Persia, and those with him: Abdechalas the Presbyter, Gothazat, Fusik, and another 1,150 martyrs.(341)
On this day we commemorate the holy Martyr Adrian of Corinth, in Persia (251)
On this day we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Anicetus, Pope of Rome (166)
On this day we also commemorate of father among the saints Agapitus I, Pope of Rome (536)
On this day our righteous Father Acacius II, Bishop of Melitene (435)
On this day we commemorate the holy Martyrs Mappalicus and Companions, in Carthage under Decius (250)
On this day we commemorate the holy Martyrs Fortunatus and Marcian.
On this day our righteous Father Pantagathus, a courtier who later became Bishop of Vienne in France (540)
On this day the Saint Villicus, a very virtuous Bishop of Metz in France (568)
On this day we commemorate the holy Monk-martyr Donnán of Eigg and 52 Monks with him on Eigg Island in the Inner Hebrides, in Scotland (618)
On this day we also commemorate our Righteous father Ephraim the Great of Atsquri, Georgia (9th century)
On this day we commemorate the holy Martyrs Elias the Priest and Paul and Isidore the Monks of Cordova, Spain, by the Moors (856)
On this day our righteous Father Zosimas of Solovki. (1478)
On this day we also commemorate our father among the saints Macarius, Archbishop of Corinth, who ultimately lived as an ascetic on the Island of Chios, and finished his life there as a monk, and went to the Lord in the year 1805
On this day our righteous Father Paisius, Fool-for-Christ, of the Kiev Caves (1893)
On this day we commemorate the holy New Hieromartyr John Prigorovsky of Krasnoyarsk, Priest (1918)
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Alexander of Svir (1533), the recovery of whose holy relics we commemorate. (1641)
On this day we also commemorate the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia: John Prigorovsky of Krasnoyarsk (1918), Kronid (Sakun), Maria (Lelyanova), Mastridia (Marfa), Veniamin (Kononov), Nikifor (Kuchin), Nikolay (Karaulov), Vasily Golovshchikov, Dmitry Zamyatin, Pavel Kamentsev, Ivan Kolesnikov, Ivan Nemtsev, Nikita Olshansky, Ilya Bykov, Konstantin Soloviev who suffered and received crowns of martyrdom from the godless satanic authorities of communism in Russia.
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Seraphim (Dimopoulos) of Larisa (2008)
Fr. Seraphim Dimopoulos of Larisa (2008)
Elder Paisius loved and highly appreciated Father Seraphim. A company of young people living in the city of Larisa, the elder said: “Why do you come to me? Next to you lives a holy man, Father Seraphim.” Some time later, the youths seemed to come to Elder Paisius and told him that at no parish of Larisa does a priest with this name serve. They did not know that Father Seraphim (who was a diocesan preacher) had no parish and served in the remote villages of the Larissa Metropolia. St. Paisios said: “There is Father Seraphim. But he hides like a hare hiding in bushes. “Search a little and find him.”
Father Seraphim bought a plot of land in the vicinity of the city of Larissa, next to the maximum security prison, and arranged his hermitage there. The elder chose this place among the deserted fields not by chance – around his dwelling there was a kind of “triangle of pain”: on the one hand there was a prison, on the other – a hospital, and on the third – a cemetery.
In the house of Father Seraphim there was no water, it had to be worn from afar. He used a stove for heating, but did not light it often. In winter, the visitors trembled from the cold, and he seemed not to notice the frost. Often, despite the winter coolness, the doors and windows of his cell were wide open.
From the outside, it seemed that Father Seraphim’s house was abandoned. The yard was overgrown with grass, mice and rats ran along it.
An acquaintance of the carpenter undertook to repair the door on the second floor of the house of the father and to his surprise saw that he had no bed. Father Seraphim slept on the concrete floor. The bed was an old blanket, a blanket – a dilapidated coat, a pillow – a jacket rolled into a roll. On a small tile in a box of canned food, the father cooked a pepper pod (this was all his food for this day).
Elder Seraphim lost his teeth and had difficulty chewing food. He usually ate a piece of bread with tea or coffee with tahini, the latter he advised to use in writing and his spiritual children. The diet of the father also consisted of pasta, vegetables and fruits. Usually he tried to eat raw food, only sometimes cooked food, but not to make it taste better but to soften it. If he was given good food, his father would give it to the dogs. The delicious fruits that brought the father, he also tried not to eat. “Don’t bring me anything, I cook for myself,” Father Seraphim told his guests. He often didn’t eat anything for days. One day the priest was given prosphora and he accepted this offering: “Thank God, for several days I did not have the opportunity to eat.” The old man never drank wine. He did not break his custom, and when the Archbishop of Albania Anastasios sent him two bottles of selected wine. Even with regard to water, Father Seraphim observed abstinence.
Not many people had the opportunity to see firsthand how modestly the father lived. In Father Seraphim’s room, there was a broken refrigerator with gas tiles and two wooden boxes. It was all his furniture.
Father Seraphim did not come. On the instructions of the diocese, he served in remote remote villages that did not have their own parish priest. The old man did not have a car and made all movements on foot. He left late at night and by dawn, as a rule, reached the goal of his appointment. He walked through snow, rain, cold. He often froze and got wet on the way through.
One night my father was hit by a car. The driver did not notice the pedestrian walking on the side of the road, but the Lord kept Father Seraphim and nothing happened to him.
The elder walked in prayerful concentration, never looked around with idle curiosity.
Father Seraphim did not have a telephone at home, and the toilet was in the courtyard. He spent a lot of time in solitude. With strict fasting and prayer, he sought to approach God, whom he loved with all his heart and followed from his early youth. His prayer was continuous. “Jesus’ prayer never ends,” said the father.
Father Seraphim wore old, sewn and unfurnished clothes. But the smell never came out. He had only one set of “weekend clothes”. In the evenings, he wore a sweater that was all eaten by mice.
The elder spoke little and often emphasized the virtue of silence. His speech was measured, imaginative and clear. He liked to joke. His simple words always had a deep meaning. Listening to him was a real pleasure. My father was very tactful and sensitive. He respected everyone, he could say something kind about every person. The calm and gentle ascetic was a real consolation for all those around him. As soon as we approached him, an indescribable feeling of joy was born inside. Everything about Father Seraphim was kind. It was as if he had descended from the pages of the ancient Fatherland…
Father Seraphim avoided talking about himself, especially about his spiritual achievements and struggles. He spoke little and only what was necessary for his spiritual children to fight the evil one. He said, “Never tell anyone about your spiritual life. You only have to talk to your pastor about it.”..
***
From time to time the old man did unusual things. Thus, he probably wanted to reduce the ever-increasing flow of visitors coming to his cell. To praise and fame, he preferred vilification and oblivion.
In addition to his extravagant appearance (broken hair and untied laces), the elder used to bring a palm or matchbox to his face and pretend that he was trying to shield his face from the interlocutor.
Once the elder was invited to a gala dinner in the Larissa Metropolia, usually he avoided such events – but this time he agreed. His ragged appearance attracted the attention of the hierarchs present. Then Father Seraphim took a spoon from the table and began to pretend that he was combing his hair and tidying himself, looking at it like a mirror. Then he turned his face to the people of the city.
One day Father Seraphim asked a priest friend (who was famous for his greed) to buy him a bus ticket to Larisa. The frustrated priest heartily complied with his request. When the bus started, the Elder suddenly stood up and said, “No, I’ll go on foot after all.”
Becoming an archimandrite, Father Seraphim continued to wear a simple iron cross. Familiar priests joked about him: “Did you buy it in the forge?”
Untied shoelaces and the bag eaten by mice of Father Seraphim attracted the attention of passers-by: “Heronda, you have a bag full of holes: keys and things will fall out of it.” But my father paid no attention to it. He could sit down to record something, or lie down to rest right on the floor.
One day the driver, who was driving my father, stopped to buy something at the kiosk. When he returned, he saw Father Seraphim open the door of the car and put his feet directly on the dashboard of the car.
This behavior of the priest caused some people (especially priests) displeasure: they believed that Father Seraphim was defaming the Church and even believed that he fell into a charm or went crazy. However, the vast majority of people felt the purity of the heart of the father and treated him with great reverence.
Father Seraphim with all his might tried to hide his virtues, good deeds and ascetic life. If I saw that someone begins to praise him in front of strangers, I distanced myself from this person <….>
Sources: — “Holy Mountain Publishing House” http://www.agionoros.ru/
Apolytikion of Saint Symeon of Persia and Those With Him in the Fourth Tone
As instructor of the divinely inspired doctrines, thou didst train martyrs for contest by thy words and deeds. O holy Hierarch Symeon, thou didst suffer with them and cry out to Christ while hastening to Him: We are counted as sheep for the slaughter for love of thee, O Saviour.
Troparion of St Zozimas of Solovki Tone 4
O wise Father Zosimas, thou didst make the wilderness thy dwelling,/ intent on the Kingdom of Heaven./ Thou didst live as an earthly angel in fasting, vigil and prayer./ Thy abundant tears made the wilderness sprout and blossom./ As thou hast boldness with God, remember thy children.
Troparion of St Macarios of Corinth Tone 1
Let us praise Macarios, Hierarch of Corinth, adornment of Chios,/ radiant in deed, word and prayer:/ he has received from God the power to heal/ and to cast out spirits./ Glory to the Father Who has chosen him; glory to the Son Who has exalted him;/ glory to the Holy Spirit Who through him works healings for all.
Apolytikion of Saint Makarios Notaras of Corinth in the First Tone
Let us faithful praise the shepherd of Corinth, who was truly Makarios, who by God’s providence, for reasons ineffable became the great spiritual leader of Chios, him who shone through deeds, words, and prayers; for truly he received from God grace for healing the sick and driving away unclean spirits. Glory to the Father Who destined him, glory to the Son Who elevated him, glory to the Spirit who acts through him.
Apolytikion of Saint Seraphim Dimopoulos (2008)
Plagal of the Fourth Tone
The image of God, was faithfully preserved in you, O Father. For you took up the Cross and followed Christ. By Your actions you taught us to look beyond the flesh for it passes, rather to be concerned about the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy Seraphim, your soul rejoices with the angels.
iconandlight 