Afterfeast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.
St. Alexander of Svir (1533)
Saints Alexander (340), John VIII of Constantinople (595), and Paul the New (784), Archbishops of Constantinople
Venerable Sarmata of “The Paradise”, ascetic of the desert, Egypt (c. 362)
16 Monk-martyrs of Thebes, by the sword
Venerable Fantinus of Calabria, the Wonderworker, in Thessalonica (974)
Venerable Bryaene of Nisibis (318).
Translation of the relics (1724) of St. Alexander Nevsky (Alexis in schema), great prince of Novgorod (1263
Commemorated on August 30
Abba Sarmatas said, ‘I prefer a sinful man who knows he has sinned and repents, to a man who has not sinned and considers himself to be righteous.’
A brother asked Abba Sarmatas, ‘My thoughts say to me: “Do not work, but eat, drink and sleep.’“ The old man said to him, ‘When you are hungry, eat; when you are thirsty, drink; when you are drowsy, sleep.’ Fortunately another old man came to see the brother and the brother told him what Abba Sarmatas had said. Then the old man said to him, ‘This is what the old man said to you: when you are very hungry, and when you are thirsty to the point of not being able to stand it any more, then eat and drink; and when you have watched for a very long time and are drowsy, sleep. This is what the old man was saying to you.’
The same brother asked Abba Sarmatas again, ‘My thoughts say to me: “Come out and go and see the brethren.” ‘ The old man said, ‘Do not listen to them about this, but say: “I listened to you before, but I do not want to listen to you this time.’“
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Saint Alexander Svirsky
One night he was praying in his hut. …Suddenly a great light appeared in the cabin where he stood. The Saint was astonished and thought to himself: “What does this mean?” And suddenly he saw three men coming to him in most bright garments and clothed in white, beautiful in purity, shining more than the sun and illuminated with unutterable heavenly glory, and each holding a staff in his hand. The Saint, seeing them, was all trembling; for fear and terror seized him. And coming to himself a little, he understood, and strove to bow down to the ground before them. But they, taking him by the hand, raised him up, saying, “Have hope, O blessed one, and do not fear … for the Holy Spirit has been pleased to dwell in you because of the purity of your heart.” … And the Lord said to the Saint, “Beloved … you see the One speaking to you in Three Persons…” And suddenly the Saint saw the Lord with spread wings going on the ground as if by feet, and then He became invisible. (The Northern Thebaid: Monastic Saints of the Russian North,Compiled and translated by Fr Seraphim (Rose) and Abbot Herman Podmoshensky of Platina with an Introduction by I. M. Kontzevitch, St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2004 , p. 120)
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The Theotokos appearing to St. Alexander of Svir
Towards the end of his life, St Alexander decided to build a stone church of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. One evening, after singing an Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, he settled down to rest in the cell and suddenly said to his cell-attendant Athanasius, “Child, be sober and alert, because at this hour we will have a wondrous and astounding visit.”
Then came a voice like thunder, “Behold the Lord and His Mother are coming.” The monk hastened to the entrance to the cell, and a great light illumined it, shining over all the monastery brighter than the rays of the sun. The saint beheld the All-Pure Mother of God over the foundation of the Protection church sitting at the site of the altar, like an empress upon a throne. She held the Infant Christ in Her arms, and a multitude of angels stood before Her shining with indescribable brightness.
He fell down, unable to bear the great light. The Mother of God said, “Arise, chosen one of My Son and God. I have come here to visit you, My dear one, and to look upon the foundation of My church. I have made entreaty for your disciples and monastery. From this time on there will be an abundance; not only during your life, but also after your death. Everything your monastery requires will be granted in abundance. Behold and watch carefully how many monks are gathered into your flock. You must guide them on the way of salvation in the Name of the Holy Trinity.”
The saint arose and saw a multitude of monks. Again the Mother of God said: “My dear one, if someone carries even one brick for the building of My church, in the Name of Jesus Christ, My Son and God, his treasure will not perish.” Then She became invisible.
The Holy Trinity Monastery of St. Alexander of Svir (the village of Staraya Sloboda/ Svirskoye, the Lodeynoye Pole district).
The relics of Saint Alexander Svirsky, a saint who died more than 500 years ago.
The relics of the saints were taken to the laboratory by the Communists to examine why they were so preserved, thinking they would prove that they are embalmed. However, when they began to cut, the saint opened his eyes. The scientist closed his eyes. He tried to cut a second time. The same thing happened. The scientist sewed his eyelids shut and tried again. A tear flowed from the eyelids. The scientist, beaten and humiliated, stopped the work and demanded that the relics be returned to the monastery, saying that there was their place.
The nails and hair are still growing on the saint, and the relics stream myrrh.
As if someone invisible lifted the baby
This happened in August 1998. A young woman entered the temple with a five-year-old girl in her arms. Small, thin, with lifelessly hanging arms and legs, she looked very tiny. In a conversation with her mother, it turned out that the girl could not walk: her central nervous system was damaged not from birth. The doctors could do nothing to reassure the unfortunate mother. Such a serious illness could be healed only by the power and will of God. And this happened right there, at the saint’s shrine, in front of the astonished people who filled the church to capacity.
The mother, approaching the shrine of the Monk Alexander of Svirsky, with the help of a novice standing by the shrine, laid the girl on the surface of the glass covering the relics. For some time the child remained so in a supine position. Then the mother, taking her from the shrine, sat the girl on the floor in order to venerate the relics of the saint herself. While praying, I did not notice how the girl disappeared. It turned out that she stood on her legs that suddenly got stronger, as if someone invisible lifted her up, set her down – and she went, unsupported by anyone. Silence reigned in the temple, people parted, making a wide corridor for the girl and her mother, who, having run ahead of her daughter, spread her arms over her to pick up her dear creature at any moment. So they reached the exit from the church, here the mother took the child in her arms, straightened up, and everyone saw on her face wet with tears what she experienced at that moment – joy, gratitude, confusion, fear and doubt: “what if she can’t walk again ? ” A year later, the monastery learned that Vera – that is the name of the healed woman – not only walks, but also runs.
Saint Alexander Svirski pray to God for us !!!
Troparion Saint Alexander of Svir (Tone 4)
Thou didst settle in the wilderness from thy youth eager to follow Christ’s footsteps, O Alexander. The Angels were amazed when they beheld thee struggling in the flesh and conquering onslaughts of passions. Dwelling on earth thou wast equal to the Angels. Pray to Christ our God to save our souls.
Troparion to Saint John the Forerunner, Tone 2.
The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord’s testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner; for thou wast shown to be truly more venerable than the prophets, since thou wast granted to baptize in the river Him Whom they proclaimed, and then, after thou hadst joyfully suffered for the truth, thou didst announce to those in Hades the good tidings that God hath appeared in the flesh, taking away the sins of the world and granting us great mercy.
Troparion of St. Alexander of Svir, Tone 4
You settled in the wilderness from your youth
eager to follow Christ’s footsteps, O Alexander.
The Angels were amazed when they beheld you struggling in the flesh
and conquering onslaughts of passions.
Dwelling on earth you were equal to the Angels.
Pray to Christ our God to save our souls.
Troparion of Ss Alexander, John, and Paul — Tone 4
O God of our Fathers, / always act with kindness towards us; / take not Your mercy from us, / but guide our lives in peace / through the prayers of the Patriarchs Alexander, John, and Paul.
Troparion of St Alexander NEVSKY — Tone 4
Recognize thy brethren, O right-believing Prince Alexander, thou Russian Joseph who reignest not in Egypt, but in heaven; and accept their entreaties, increasing the harvests of thy people through the fertility of thy land, and protecting the cities of thy dominion by thy supplications. And together with our Orthodox hierarchs do battle against all heresies.
Apolytikion of St Phantinos the Younger — Tone 1
The boast of Calabria and great sun of monastics, and protector of Thessaloniki, you were seen to be divinely-wise Father, taking up as a child the cross, you sought God O Phantinos, and by withdrawing you became marvelously enriched, with the gift of wonderworking: Glory to Christ Who sealed you, glory to Him Who made you wondrous, glory to Him Who gave you to us as a mediator and teacher.
Apolytikion of St BRYENE — Plagal Tone 1
With the wings of the virtues you were lifted up, to be like-minded with the Angels through your way of life, and you destroyed the counsels of the enemy, wherefore you showed yourself to be a communicant of the glory of Christ, Venerable Mother Vryaini, cease not to entreat Him, to have mercy on our souls.
Prayer of the Spirit by fr.Sophrony Sakharov
O Holy Spirit, All-powerful God;
Gracious Comforter and Almighty Defender;
Giver of Wisdom, and Light of Revelation;
Who by Thy descent didst bring
the uttermost parts of the world
to the only true knowledge of God:
Do Thou come down even upon us,
who grieve Thee always,
to enlighten and sanctify us,
to heal and comfort us
with Thine abiding comfort.
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