The Father is my hope, the Son my refuge, the Holy Spirit my protection. Holy Trinity, glory to you.
Entry into Georgia of Saint Nino, Equal to the Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia
Martyr Justin the Philosopher (Justin Martyr) at Rome (166)[
Martyrs Chariton, Charita, Euelpistus, Hierax, Peonus, Valerian (Liberianus), and Justus with Justin the Philosopher Martyr (166)
Martyr Thespesius of Cappadocia (222)
The holy Ten thousand Martyrs, in Antiochia (249-251)
St. Metrius the Farmer of Myra in Lycia (912)
Saint Agapetus of the Kiev Caves, Unmercenary physician of the Kiev Near Caves (1095)
Holy Fathers : Shio the New, David, Gabriel, and Paul of the St. David Gareji Monastery in Georgia martyred by the Dagestanians (1696-1700)
New Hieromartyr Onuphrius (Gagalyuk), Bishop of Kharkov (1938) New Hieromartyr Basil, priest, Virgin-martyr Vera Samsonov (1940)
Repose of Elder Philaret of Kapsala, Mt. Athos (1975)
Commemorated on June 1
Today the Church celebrates the entry of Saint Nina into the Kingdom of Iberia in the year 320 – 323. Holy Apostles Andrew the First-called and Simon the Canaanite first preached the Christian Faith in Georgia in the 1st century, but at the beginning of the 4th century most of the country was still pagan.
After the Theotokos revealed God’s will for her future, the Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina set off for Georgia to enlighten the Iberian people. She arrived in Armenia with the holy martyrs and virgins Rhipsimia, Gaiana and their fifty companions. The holy virgins were martyred in Armenia and, according to God’s will.
St. Nina journeyed on alone to Lake Paravani, entering Georgia from the Javakheti Mountains. She arrived in the spring, but the weather was unseasonably cold.
St. Nina set out on a long journey and finally arrived at the bank of an unfamiliar river near the village of Khertvisi. This river was the Kura, which flows from the west to the south-east to the Caspian Sea and waters all of central Georgia. On the riverbank St. Nina met some shepherds echo gave her food to refresh her after the long and tiring journey. These. people spoke Armenian, but St. Nina had learned this language from her teacher Nianfora. She asked one of the shepherds where the y of Mtskheta was located and if it was very far. He answered, Do you see this river? On its banks a great distance down stands a great city of Mtskheta where our gods hold power and our kings reign.”
Continuing on her way, on one occasion the holy pilgrim was overcome with fatigue, sat down on a rock, and began to wonder: where was the Lord leading her? what would be the fruits of her labours? and might not such a long and such a difficult pilgrimage all in vain? As she was considering these things, she fell asleep and had a dream: there appeared to her a man majestic in appearance. His hair fell to his shoulders, and in his hands he held scroll written in Greets He unrolled the scroll and gave it to Nina, commanding her to read it, and himself suddenly became visible. On awakening from sleep and seeing in her hand the miraculous scroll, St. Nina read in it the following Gospel verses:
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. (Matt.26:13).
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal.3:28).
Then said Jesus unto them (the women), Be not afraid: go tell my brethren… (Matt.28:10).
He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives him that sent me (Matt.10:40).
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist (Luke 21:15).
And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say: for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say (Luke 12:11-12).
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul… (Matt.10:28).
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matt.28:19-20).
Strengthened by this divine vision and consolation, St. Nina continued her journey with renewed fervour. Having overcome difficult labours, hunger, thirst, and fear of the wild animals, she reached the ancient Kartlian city of Urbnisi where she remained about a month, living in Jewish homes and studying the manners, customs, and language of a people new and unfamiliar to her.On one occasion, when all the men of that city as well as many from the Surrounding areas, were planning to go to the capital city of Mtskheta to worship their false gods, St. Nina decided to go with them, to commence her mission to the Georgians.
Homily
by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
About the spirit of the world and the Spirit from God
“We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God” (1Corinthians 2:12).
Brethren, the spirit of this world is the spirit of pride and cruelty and the Spirit of God is the Spirit of meekness and gentleness. The apostle of God asserts that the followers of Christ did not receive the spirit of this world rather the Spirit “which is of God” i.e., who proceeds from God the Father as a sweet-smelling fragrance as from flowers and as a good fragrance pours out on the soul of man making it mighty, bright, peaceful, thankful and pleasant.
Men by nature are meek and gentle. St. Tertulain writes: “the soul of man by nature is Christian.” But, by the spirit of this world, it is irritable and enraged. The spirit of this world made wolves out of lambs, while the Spirit Who is from God makes lambs out of wolves.
The apostle still adds that we received the Spirit of God “that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). Therefore, that we may know what is from God in us and what is not from God and that we may sense the sweetness of that which is from God and the bitterness from that which is not from God, rather from the spirit of this world. As long as man is outside of his nature, beneath his nature, he considers bitterness as sweetness and sweetness as bitterness. But, when by the Spirit of God he returns to his true nature, then he considers sweet as sweetness and bitter as bitterness.
Who can return man to God? Who can heal man of poisonous sinful bitterness? Who can teach him by experience to distinguish true sweetness from bitterness? No one except the Spirit Who is from God.
Therefore brethren, let us pray that God grants us His Holy Spirit as He granted the Holy Spirit to His apostles and saints. And when that Holy Spirit of God enters into us, the kingdom of God has arrived in which is all sweetness itself, only good, only light, only meekness and only gentleness.
O Holy Spirit, the Spirit of meekness and gentleness, come and abide in us.
To You be glory and thanks always. Amen.
http://livingorthodoxfaith.blogspot.gr/2010/04/prologue-may-20-june-2.html
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“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control ” (Gal. 5: 22-23).
..O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul. Rescue me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto Thee have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; for Thy name’s sake, O Lord, shalt Thou quicken me… Psalm 142. David’s.
Ode Eight
Heirmos: The bush that was unconsumed by fire on Sinai spake unto the tardiloquent and inarticulate Moses, and made God known unto him; and zeal for God showed forth to be unconsumed by fire the three Children who chanted hymns. O all ye His works, praise the Lord and exalt Him unto all the ages.
Troparion: When the vivifying, violent wind of the All-holy Spirit came from on high, manifesting unto the fishermen in the form of fiery tongues, they spake eloquently concerning the mighty deeds of God. O all ye works, praise the Lord and exalt Him unto all the ages.
Troparion: Ye that ascend the untouchable mountain, not fearing the awesome fire; come, let us stand on Mount Sion, in the city of the living God, and form one choir with the Spirit-bearing disciples. O all ye works, praise the Lord, and exalt Him unto all the ages.
Troparion Saint Nina of Georgia (Tone 3)
As minister of the word of God in apostolic preaching, you equaled Andrew the first-called and the rest of the Apostles. Enlightener of Georgia and instruments of the Holy Spirit, holy Nina, equal to the Apostles, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Thou hast crushed the envious under thy feet, O righteous Nina the precious tool of the Holy Spirit. Thou hast enlightened the people of Georgia and brought them to the path of truth and light. Wherefore, deliver us from darkness, who faithfully honor thee. (Translated from Greek by Fr. Ayman Kfouf)
Rejoice, thou who didst bring joy to our people. Rejoice, thou by whom we were freed from sin. Rejoice, thou who didst guide those whowere lost. Rejoice, thou comforter of Christian women. Rejoice, thou who didst enlighten the Georgian people with heavenly wisdom. Rejoice, thou who wast sanctified by the Divine Spirit, O Holy Bride!