Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς Ἀνέστη!
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
ХристосВоскрес! Воистину Воскрес!
ქრისტეაღსდგა! ჭეშმარიტადაღსდგა!
Kristos (İsa) dirildi! Gerçekten dirildi!
Al-Massih-Qam! Hakkan Qam!
Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.
Synaxarion
On May 8 we commemorate the holy and glorious Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, the Virgin and Beloved Bosom Friend of Christ, and celebrate the Synaxis of the Holy Dust, that is, the Manna, that issued from his grave.
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Arsenius the Great of Scetis (448).
On this day our righteous Father Meles the Hymnographer reposed in peace.
On this day a whole regiment of soldiers who were beheaded.
On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Victor Maurus of Milan.
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Arsenius of Varnakova, in Phocis. (†1111)
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Arsenius the Lover of Labour of the Kiev Caves (14th century).
Translation of the relics (1785) of Our righteous Father Arsenius of Novgorod , Fool-for-Christ (1570).
The Monks Zosima and Adrian of Volokolamsk, founders of the Sestrinsk monastery on the banks of the River Sestra (15th-16th centuries)
Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, whose supernatural wonder wrought through her holy Icon of Cassiopeia on the unjustly blinded Stephen, whereby he was granted new eyes, we celebrate.
Repose of Hieromonk Filotheos (Zervakos) of Paros (1980), spiritual son of St. Nektarios of Aegina.
On Wednesday of Bright and Renewal Week, we commemorate the Synaxis of All Saints who have shone forth on the God-trodden Mount Sinai.
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Stephen of Sinai, Whose Incorrupt Relics Rest in the Ossuary of Saint Katherine’s Monastery
On this day we also commemorate the holy Icon of the Mother of God of Ypseni in Rhodes
On this day we also commemorate the holy Icon of the Mother of God of the Kasperov
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Brothers Theocharis (1828) and Apostolos (1845) of Arta
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Leontios of Vlacherna in Arcadia (+ 18th century)
On this day is also the commemoration of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Joseph Gerontogiannis
Verses
Not food but dust is dispensed for humanity,
Namely the Manna of your tomb O initiate of the Lord.
On the eighth is celebrated the blossoming of the son of thunder.
Verses
Beloved Arsenios lived unnoticed,
His death was not altogether unnoticed.
Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God.
He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
We love, because He first loved us (1 Jn 4.7–19). No one has a great love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
Hymn of Praise
Saint John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist
by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
St. John the Evangelist,
Son of Zebedee the fisherman,
Was young when the love
Of Jesus greatly warmed him.
The most faithful friend of the Lord,
With a pure, virginal soul,
With a soul pure and loving,
Visionary and heroic.
He proclaimed wondrous mysteries
And removed the seal from eternity.
He saw the destiny of the world,
from the beginning to the end.
He preached love,
And in love he walked;
To the throne of the Most-high God
He was raised up in love.
And with love he was exalted
Like a snow-capped mountain:
The Son of Thunder, an awesome prophet,
But meek and tender in heart.
O John, seer of wonders,
O thundering saint-
Bear our small petitions
To your Friend, the Savior!
Bring us close to Him,
The powerful God, the sweet God;
And though we are not worthy of His bosom,
At least bring us close-to His feet!
The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
***
Fr. Justin finishes his commentary on the Second Epistle of St. John with words dedicated to the same Apostle and Evangelist: “He is simultaneously the greatest Thunderer of New Testament Truth and the greatest Thunderer of New Testament Love…. Upon encountering him, such an extraordinary Apostle, people’s souls must have felt exceptional joy and exceptional elation.”
***
St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ’s Vision of St. John the Theologian
All of that day, bound as he was, [the Blessed Andrew] did not eat anything. That night, at midnight, as he was praying mystically to God and to the Martyr [St. Anastasia], the devil appeared to him visibly, appearing as a [dark being]. Together with him was a multitude of demons. Some were carrying pickaxes, others knives, others sticks and clubs, swords and spears, and others ropes. That dragon was the general. Because of this, many demons had come with him, in order to darken the blessed one. The [dark being], therefore, was foaming at the mouth. In this manner, the demons charged against him.
Then, the blessed Andrew lifted up his hands and cried out with tears to God: “Lord, do not cast to the beasts the soul that confesses You!”
And immediately, he added: “O St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, Beloved Theologian, help me.”
At that instant, from on high was heard the roaring of thunder*. And an Elder with large eyes appeared, whose face shown like the sun! Many were following him. He made the sign of the Cross in the air, and told those with him: “Lock the doors, so that none might escape!”
Those with him [i.e. the Angels] speedily seized all the demons. As they were all locked within the church, the demons cried to each other: “How dark is the hour that we are experiencing! John is strict and will torture us terribly.”
That precious Elder gave a command to his attendants to take the chain from the neck of the blessed Andrew. He took it, and stood outside the door and cried out: “Bring each of them to me.”
And they brought him the first one. “Lay him down,” he said.
Then, he folded the chain of the blessed one in three, and gave around 100 strikes to the demon, who cried out like a man: “Mercy, mercy, have mercy on me!”
Later they laid out and terribly flogged the second, followed by each of the demons. When the blessed Andrew heard the word “mercy”, he began to laugh. It appeared to him that the demons were bound and flogged perceptibly just like men. In reality, however, God was flogging them. And he was flogging them with such an astonishing beating, such that human nature couldn’t bear it.
He who was flogging them cried out: “Go now to your father, to satan, and show him the predicament that you are in and see if it pleases him…”
When all of the [dark beings] disappeared, that precious Elder approached the servant of God, and put the chain back on his neck, telling him: “Do you see how quickly I came to help you? I greatly care about you, because God commanded me to care for your salvation. Have patience, so that you might everywhere appear to be worthy. Soon, your master will remove you from your bonds, so that you might go free where you will.”
“Tell me, O Lord,” the blessed Andrew asked, “who are you? I don’t recognize you.”
“I am John,” he replied, “I reclined upon the spotless and life-giving bosom of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
As he said this, he disappeared like lightning from before his eyes. He remained ecstatic, and glorified God, because He helped him and delivered him from those evil demons that had surrounded him. He prayed, therefore, and said:
“O Lord Jesus Christ, great and unsurpassing is Your power, and greatly glorified is Your compassion, for strangely and wondrously did you have mercy on and take care of your humble servant. O exalted and almighty Lord, ever protect me on Your true way, and make me worthy, O greatly-merciful Master, O awesome and incomprehensible One, to find grace near You.”
*Note: St. John the Theologian and his brother St. James were called the “Sons of Thunder” by Christ.
(amateur translation of excerpt from the full life of the Saint in Greek, published by Parakletos Monastery, Oropos)
The Myrrhbearers had great trust in Christ, they were in a spiritual state, which is why they spared nothing. O how great was the fearlessness of the holy men and holy women! Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2022/05/07/78134/
St. John the Evangelist, preached love, And in love he walked; Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2021/05/07/st-john-the-evangelist-preached-love-and-in-love-he-walked-saint-nikolai-velimirovic/
Apolytikion in the Second Tone
Beloved Apostle of Christ our God, hasten to deliver a people without defense. He who permitted you to recline upon His bosom, accepts you on bended knee before Him. Beseech Him, O Theologian, to dispel the persistent cloud of nations, asking for us peace and great mercy.
Apolytikion in Plagal of the First Tone
Thou didst spurn fleeting delights, when commanded from heaven like Abraham, and in thy life thou didst emulate the Angels; thou wast famous in wisdom, word and deed. O God-bearing Arsenios, entreat Christ our God unceasingly that He will have mercy on our souls.
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