Synaxarion.
On November 17, we commemorate our father among the saints Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea.
On this day we also commemorate righteous Saint Lazarus the Confessor, the Iconographer.(857)
On this day we also commemorate devout Saints Zacharias the Leather-worker and John of Constantinople. We also relate an edifying story. (7th c.)
On this day devout Abba Longinus of Egypt died in peace.
On this day Saints Gennadius and Maximus, Patriarchs of Constantinople.
On this day devout Saint Justin died in peace.
Devout Saint Gennadios, who lived as a monk in the Monastery of Vatopedi and served as its cellarer, and who was counted worthy to see an empty container overflowing with oil by a miracle of the Theotokos, died in peace.
Our righteous Mother Hilda, Abbess of Whitby (680)
On this day we also commemorate The holy Martyr Gobron, Prince of Georgia, and the 133 soldiers martyred with him.(914)
Our righteous Father Nicon the Wonderworker, disciple of Saint Sergius of Radonezh (1426).
On this day we also commemorate The holy Hiero-schemamonk Daniel (Sandu Tudor), poet of Romania, the new confessor of Christ (1962)
Saint Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop of Neocaesarea
by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
Let the following examples from the Life of St. Gregory show how God guards and saves the righteous from assaults. While he was still at the school of philosophy in Alexandria, St. Gregory preserved the purity of his soul and his body, as he preserved it to the end of his life. In this, he was an exception among the dissolute youth of that time. This evoked envy and hatred among his companions. In order to debase Gregory, they found a harlot to help them carry out an evil plan. Once, when Gregory was standing in the square with eminent teachers and philosophers, the foul woman approached him and loudly demanded that Gregory pay her the remainder due for impure relations with her. Some of the people present were scandalized, while others were angry at this shameless woman and began to chase her away; but she shouted even louder, demanding money. The innocent Gregory blushed, as any decent man would before such coarse slander, but he displayed neither anger nor hatred, and asked a friend to give her the amount that she sought so she would leave. The friend heeded Gregory, and gave her the money she wanted. But at that moment God let an evil spirit enter the woman and she fell to the ground and began writhing and convulsing, gnashing her teeth, and foaming at the mouth. Seeing this, everyone was terrified. But St. Gregory, innocent as a lamb, prayed to God for her, and the woman was healed and arose. Thus, instead of humiliation, Gregory acquired even greater glory.
Another example: When a bitter persecution of Christians took place, St. Gregory counseled Christians to hide, and he and his deacon hid on a hill. But the imperial soldiers caught sight of them and pursued them. When they were almost upon them, Gregory prayed to God for help, and God rendered them invisible to their pursuers. The soldiers searched for them in vain, and finally left without them.
The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
http://prologue.orthodox.cn/November17.htm
***
Saint Daniel (Sandu Tudor) of Romania, New Confessor
Sandu Tudor (Father Daniel ) demanding universal penance, seeking to revive medieval hesychasm, he joined other mystics and writers in creating the “Burning Pyre” religious movement.The Burning Pyre met daily, the group had among its members some high-profile intellectuals of various backgrounds. They were joined by high-profile Orthodox clergymen: Ghiuș, Dumitru Stăniloae, Sofian Boghiu and Arsenie Papacioc..
The Burning Pyre cell also offered a form of Orthodoxist resistance against the growth of communism in Romania. Sandu Tudor would also explain that the incessant prayer is the very “heavenly prayer” of (sinless) Adam, revived by Virgin Mary “when she was taken to the Holy of Holies, where she lived in uninterrupted prayer […]
The principal of guilt, as confessed by a court magistrate, was that he wanted to burn Communism with The Burning Bush.
One day in winter, they put him together with a friend in a storehouse – the White or the Refrigerator – where it was minus 30 degrees. The storehouse had no windows, but a very dirty floor. People who were put in there would die of cold after no more than three days. Father Daniel lay down immediately with his face in the dirt and with open arms, and told the friend: “Sit on me back to back with open arms and say only this, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!’” Immediately as they started to say this, the storehouse was filled by a very brilliant light, and thereafter they did not know what happened next. After eight days (without the two prisoners receiving any water or food, sleep or clothes), the guards came to take their carcasses, but they were alive and fine. When they touched Father Daniel he was hot, and what was around him had melted.
The spiritual movement, ‘The Burning Bush’, was meant to increase the fire of faith in the hearts of believers in those times of crucifixion. It ‘could not escape the scornful eye of security, and the end was predictable : the arrest of the initiators and participants’.
Father Roman (Braga) commented :
The Bucharest government was panicking. It was afraid of the ‘Burning Bush’ more than all the centres of resistance in the Carpathians. For revolutionaries, there is the punishment of imprisonment and death. But what do you do with that ‘center’ of man that no one can control. One of them, the Abbot Daniil Sandu Tudor, ‘Saint Daniil’ as he was called among the prisoners, died in ‘Zarca de Aiud’, after four years of torture and beatings, being among the few prisoners who wore chains throughout their detention. This fact is attested by the former prisoner of Suceava Teofil Dumbrăveanu, who in a letter addressed to Metropolitan Antonie Plămădeală shows :
‘At the exit on the gate, to the cemetery they threw an iron spear in their heart, to see if he is alive or dead, as in classical martyrologies. In ‘Zarca de Aiud’, amongst the prisoners, the memory of “Saint Daniel” is always kept. Later, the young men who dug a ditch in prison found a skeleton with chains on the legs. They believed that he was the prisoner “Saint Daniel’.
***
HOMILY
on how strangers become members of the household
by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).
Before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, it seemed that only the Jews were close to God and that the pagans were farther away from God. But as a matter of fact, the Jews and the pagans were equally estranged from God, and from true reverence for Him. Then He came, Christ the Savior, and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh (Ephesians 2:17) and by that, brought both Jews and pagans by one Spirit unto the Father (Ephesians 2:18). In the new creation, or the new man, or the Church of God, the Spirit is one; and everyone who enters the Church of God receives this Spirit, so that no matter how much the Church increases in members, there always remains the one Spirit of God; and no matter how many nations or tribes or races enter the Church of God, the Spirit does not change, but remains forever and ever, one and the same Spirit. That is why pagans are not strangers and foreigners in the Church, but are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, as are all other members of the Church. For the Church is founded on holiness, and her cornerstone is the Saint above saints, and according to the plan, all of her members should be holy. All those who lived before Christ but expected Christ and hoped in Him, as well as those who lived after Christ, and who recognized Christ as Lord, Son of God, Savior, Redeemer, Resurrector and Judge, are also called saints. Sin separates and alienates from God, but through the Lord Jesus Christ, division and alienation have vanished, and all the faithful-whether former Jews or pagans-became members of the household of God, by and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
O my brethren, the Lord Jesus Christ gave us something greater and more precious than this life: He gave us peace and friendship with God, and this is greater and more precious than life in alienation from God.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of Peace and Giver of Peace, sustain us to the end in peace with God.
To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
http://prologue.orthodox.cn/November12.htm
Troparion St Gregory the Wonderworker of Neocaesarea — Tone 8
You became worthy of your name through your way of life: through your vigilance in prayer and your constant works of mercy. Therefore, O Father Gregory, beseech Christ God to enlighten our minds, that we may not sleep in sin, which leads to death!
Apolytikion of Gregory the Wonderworker
Plagal of the Fourth Tone
By vigilance in prayer, and continuance in the working of wonders, thou didst acquire thine achievements as a surname; wherefore, intercede with Christ our God, O Father Gregory, to enlighten our souls, lest we sleep in sin unto death.
Troparion of ST Nikon — Tone 1
Thou wast zealous in obedience,/ O righteous Father Nikon./ In praise of thy Father thou didst erect a church of the Holy Trinity./ Wherefore we thy children lovingly cry:/ Glory to Him Who has strengthened thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee;/ glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.
Apolytikion of ST Gennadius ― Plagal Tone 1
Having been adorned with the forms of the virtues, you were shown to be a wise Archbishop of the Church, and true shepherd, Father Gennadius, as a healer of Christ, and communicant with the venerables, in all righteousness. And now you entreat without ceasing, that He may have mercy on our souls.
Apolytikion in Plagal of the First
Flowers of Romania, planted by God, children of the Church true and faithful, let us exalt, O faithful, as martyrs of Christ; for they competed brilliantly, confessing Christ before the atheists, and were worthily crowned, in His glorious kingdom.
Kontakion of Gregory the Wonderworker
Second Tone
Since thou hadst received the power to work miracles, thou dravest from men diseases, O wise Gregory, and with fearful signs thou madest the demons tremble; hence, thou art called Wonderworker, O man of God; for thou hast received thy surname from thy works.
Stichera Mode pl. 4. What are we to call you
Now what shall I call you, O Gregory? * Fierce destroyer of impiety and godless heresy; * right determiner of Orthodoxy, teacher of the world; * a peerless chief and leader of peace in the Church; * unyielding terminator of disputes therein. * Although you dwelt on a mountain far, * you were observing society. * So intercede, we entreat you, that our souls be saved.
Stichera
Mode pl. 1. Rejoice.
Rejoice, for you were clearly adorned * in sacred manner with most sacred theology. * The Church’s unshaken pillar, * and the dogmatical base, * and the divine organ of the Paraclete; * the mind that is heavenly, * the divine Spirit’s cithara, * primatial shepherd, * gentle lamb and a genuine * member of the flock of the Chief Shepherd Christ our God. * Fountain that gushes forth the draught * of dogmas abundantly, * and an effusion of healings, * divine initiate Gregory: * to Christ pray intently * and petition Him to send down great mercy on our souls.
Torrents of your divine prayers, O Saint, * dried up the lakelet that had formerly caused a row. * O wise one, you stopped the wayward stream * from overflowing its banks * with your staff that sprouted and became a tree. * You leveled the altar stones of the demons, O Gregory. * By your most ardent supplications to God on high, * you have brought an end to the winter of unbelief. * You gave assurance unto souls * by miracles, leading them * unto the great Benefactor, * who has rewarded you worthily. * To Him pray intently * and petition Him to send down great mercy on our souls.
Glory. Mode pl. 2
You most wisely embarked upon the depths of knowledge, ⁄ hierarch of Christ! ⁄ You acquired the vision of the Trinity, ⁄ foreseeing steadfastly in the spirit Christ our God! ⁄ You poured forth on us a flood of miracles, ⁄ making solid the watery nature of the sea, ⁄ changing the pagan priest’s dark delusion to belief! ⁄ You persuaded the persecutors truly to believe, ⁄ revealing yourself to them as a pillar of virtue! ⁄ You were called a prophet through your miracles! ⁄ therefore we beseech you, ⁄⁄ ever pray for us to the Savior that our souls may be saved!
iconandlight 