Saint Alexis Gnevushev of Bortsurmany with his prayers is like a candle lit before the throne of God. Like a star he sheds his light up on the horizon of Christianity… a saint who defeated death

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 13 we commemorate the holy Martyr Glyceria of Trajanopolis.(c. 138-161)
On this day Saint Laodicius the prisonguard was perfected in martyrdom by the sword.(c. 138-161)
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Pausicacus, Bishop of Synnada. (606)
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Sergius the Confessor, father of Saint Photius the Great. (c. 829-842)
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Gamaliel the Elder, Teacher of The Law, Pharisee (mid-1st century)
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Theoctistus from Tekoa, Palestine
On this day the holy Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Tiberiani, was perfected in martyrdom by the sword.
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Euthymius the New(1028), Founder of the sacred Monastery of Iveron and his father John the Iberian(998), and George their kinsman(1065);, reposed in peace.
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Saint Gabriel the Iberian, who heard the divine voice of the holy Mother of God, and took from the sea her wonderworking Icon of the Portal, reposed in peace. (10th century)
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Martyrs, the monks of Iveron Monastery who censured the Latin-minded Emperor Michael Paleologus and the Patriarch John Beccus, died when they were thrown into the sea. (c. 1259-1280)
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Nicephorus, Presbyter of the Monastery of Ephapsis.
Our Father among the Saints Servatius, Bishop of Tongres in the Netherlands.
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Father Macarius of Glushitsa, Vologda (1480)
On this day we also commemorate our righteous Glyceria the Virgin, of Novgorod. (1522)
Repose of Rassophore Monk John, of St. Nilus of Sora Monastery (1863)
Hieromartyrs Basil Sokolov, Alexander Zaozersky, and Christopher Nadezhdin, Macarius Telegin, and Martyr Sergius Tikhomirov (1922)
On this day we also commemorate the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia: Ekaterina Andrianova, Nikolay Bashlyaev, Pavel Bryantsev, Mikhail Lyarga (Lyargo), Makariy (Voskresensky Mikhail Fedorovich), Dmitry Makarov, Ardalion Popov, Ivan Shafranov , who suffered and received crowns of martyrdom from the godless satanic authorities of communism in Russia.
The holy Righteous Martyr Macarius of Kanev, Archimandrite of Ovruch.

Synaxarion From Pentecostarion
On Monday of St. Thomas we celebrate the Synaxis of Panagia Voithia (the Helper) in Chios
On this day, the miraculous holy icon of Panagia Chrysafitissa of Monemvasia
On this day, Memory of New Martyrs Anastasius of Paramythia in Epirus (1750)

saint Alexei Gnevushev of Bortsurmany

Many years ago in the village of Bortsurmany (Simbirsk Province, Kurmysh region) lived the righteous elder-priest, Fr. Alexis.
A multitude of people came to him from all quarters. Word of his righteous and God-pleasing life spread far and wide. Whoever came to him was received with love. The doors to his home were always open to the rich and poor alike. The sick and suffering came to him, with all kinds of woes, misfortunes and needs, and no one left without help, advice and consolation.

His whole life was dedicated to God and neighbor, and it was truly laborious and holy. He was at all times in ceaseless prayer, devoid of malice and rich in good deeds. He prayed not only during the day, but also at night, tirelessly and unceasingly, never giving himself bodily rest, until his very death. As a reward for his righteousness, God gave him the gifts of clairvoyance and healing. St. Seraphim, the wonderworker of Sarov, valued his podvig of prayer very highly, and respected him as a great ascetic and God-pleaser. St. Seraphim never met Fr. Alexis, but knew him well through his holy clairvoyance and said of him, “This man with his prayers is like a candle lit before the throne of God. Behold a toiler who, not having taken the monastic vows, stands higher than many monastics. He is like a star burning upon the Christian horizon.” When people came to him from Fr. Alexis’ locale, St. Seraphim would always send them back, humbly assuring them that they had their own fervent intercessor and man of prayer before God, the priest of the village of Bortsurmany—Fr. Alexis, who was no lower than himself, Seraphim.

During the French invasion in 1812, Fr. Alexis prayed at the Liturgy that the Lord would grant Russia victory over her enemy. Suddenly he saw an angel, sent to him by God, who told him that the heavenly powers had moved to Russia’s side, the enemy would be overcome, and that all of Russia would rejoice.
One day at the Liturgy, Fr. Alexis heard heavenly singing and saw the Lord Himself, who directed him to feed His flock, “Feed My sheep, feed My chosen ones, attend to My flock. For I have set you over the flock on my holy mountain and made you a guardian of the Church.”

***

“Dead Shall Be Raised”
saint Alexei Gnevushev of Bortsurmany
by Archpriest N. Deputatov

Very Few Know of Fr. Alexei Cnevushev and the miracIe worked through his intercession. Prince Zhevakhov, assistant to the oberprocurator of the Holy Synod, speaks of this miracuIous event in his Memoirs. He himself learned of it at the Optina Hermitage, where the oral account of Hieromonk Pamvo of Optina had been recorded. At the time, the ccntemporary press made no mention of this occurrence; but, of course, it was not the sort of thing one advertised. lt was known throughout the Volga region. AII the inhabitants of Bortsurmany knew of it as self-evident fact, and the surrounding viIIages knew of it as well. As for Fr. Alexei Gnevushev, his fame had already spread throughout the length and breadth of Russiä.
Fr. Alexei Gnevushev was the priest of the village of Bortsurmany in the Kurmysh district of the province of Simbirsk. He reposed in the year 1848. So many miracles took place at his grave that the parishioners of that village petotioned the Holy Synod, requesting that Fr. Alexei be canonized and numbered among the saints. This would certainly have been done were it not for the Revolution, which completely disrupted our normal way of life. Evidently, it was the parishioners of that village petitioned the Holy Synod, reguesting shev that prompted Prince Zhevakhov to initiate a thorough inquest into the life of Fr. Alexei — an investigation which led to the fact of the boy’s resurrection. Even during Fr. Alexei’s lifetime, St. Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov, spoke of Fr. Alexei, saying: “Behold, a toiler who, not having taken monastic vows, stands higher than many ascetics. Like a star he sheds his light up on the horizon of Christianity.” And that great and holy hierarch Theophan teaches: “Where all is divine and all is God, there is our place, our order, our paradise… God Himself descends to us …, and where Cod is, there is blessedness,” there is life, there is victory over death.
A twelve-year old boy died in Fr. Alexei’s parish. During his lifetime this child was quite special, and the grace of God rested upon him. lndeed, he was born an angel, and everyone considered him such. Wherever he would go, he brought peace with him. He would run up to a cottage where a heated argument or quarrel was in progress and stand silently on the steps, uttering not a word to anyone … But from his luminous eyes a heavenly light would scintillate in all directions. No sooner would the quarrelers notice him, than the argument would immediately die down; and as soon as all was calm again, he would smile and run off somewhere else. People noticed that he did not run aimlessly or to anyone at random, but appeared where fights and arguments were in progress. They also noticed that all that was neecfed for peace to be restored was for the boy to show himself. Thus, they’ called him their angel. And indeed he was quite angelic in appearance. Colden curls hung down over his shoulders; his eyes were large and blue; when he smiled, he glowed. His parents, simple peasant folk, doted over him, and all in the village loved him immensely, even more than their own sons.
It happened that some great festival was held in the village, and on this occasion the peasant men drank heavily and to excess. The revelry spread throughout the whole village and ended, as often happens, in general debauchery. At that time, the boy fell seriously ill and after a few days, died. When this news spread through the village, only then did the peasants sober up, and such a wail was raised that it was as if there had been ns liquor. Everyone blamed himself for the boy’s death and considered it a punishment for his wretched profligacy. The old women wailed and lamented, and the whole village, gathering round the house of the boy’s parents, repented before God for its transgression.
The boy lay in his coffin as if alive, a smile upon his lips. His body was a silent reproach for the peasants. Some would come to gaze at him, and leave the cottage in tears; others hung their heads, uttering deep sighs.
They did not bury him for a full week, until the signs of decay were already visible and greenish blotches appeared on his hands. Then they bore the coffin to the church, and Fr. Alexei Gnevushev began the funeral service. The priest could barely serve or the chanters sing because of the weeping and lamentation. It was 5 o’clock before it came time to approach the body for the last kiss. To describe what was taking place in the church is nearly impossible. Everyone was blaming himself for the child’s death; the countenance of those that had been drinking and fighting moved one to an almost heart-rending pity. (It has always been a trait of the Russian’s character that if he commits a sin and comes to a realization of it, he repents with a depth of feeling and sincerity to match the gravity of his offense.)
Fr. Alexei stood in the sanctuary before the altar, hands raised on high to Heaven, and with the greatest boldness cried out to God in a voice audible throughout the church: “My God, my God! Thou seest that I have not the strength within me to give this boy the last kiss! Do not allow me, an old man, Thy slave and priest, to leave this church in disgrace, for the enemy of mankind will make mock of me, Thy servant, for interrupting this service in my weakness. But it is beyond my strength. Attend unto the groans of Thy repentant people; give heed to the sufferings of the hearts of these parents; hearken unto my request — the petition of an elderly priest: Deprive us not of Thine own, whom Thou didst give unto us for our correction, for our instruction, for the glorification of Thy holy name. Hast Thou not said, O Lord, that Thou wilt grant us all that we ask of Thee with faith? Was it not Thou, O merciful One, that said to us: ’Ask, and it shall be given unto you …’? O God, Thou Righteous One, in this church there is not one that is able to approach this boy for the last kiss. I am an old man; I, too, have not the strength … O our God, have mercy on us! Hearken unto us, our Lord and God …” And suddenly all was quiet in the sanctuary.
A short time passed and the priest fell to his knees before the altar and cried out with a loud voice: “Yea, Lord, yea … but raise up this boy, for all things are possible for Thee. Thou art our Lord, the Ruler of all … I ask not in my pride, but in humility …”
And as during a rainstorm a crack of thunder follows the blinding flash of lightning, so, in reply to the cry of the aged priest sprawled at the foot of the altar, a piercing shout rang out in the church. Chancing back, the priest saw that the boy was sitting up in the coffin, gazing around in all directions. As soon as the priest saw that the child was sitting in the coffin, he fell again to his knees before the altar and, quietly weeping, began to thank God for the miracle. Then, leaning on the arm of the deacon, he approached the coffin in silence. Around the coffin reigned an indescribable pandemonium.
With difficulty the priest forced his way through the crowd to the coffin, took the boy in his arms, carried him into the sanctuary and, falling to his knees, set him on a chair. Kneeling, he communed the child with the Holy Mysteries, for he himself could no longer stand, so great was the shock. Afterwards, he gave the risen boy back to his parents, who took him home.
Fr. Alexei, however, did not leave the church at that time, but had a chair placed in the middIe of the church and served a moleben to the Savior and read the akathist hymn to the Theotokos. Because of extreme shock and emotion, he was not able to leave the church on his own, and had to be carried home on the same chair and put to bed, where he lay for about a week.
After this Miracle, Batiushka Alexei lived for three more years. The child lived for six more years after his miraculous resurrection, dying at the age of eighteen.
Such is the power of prayer. Such is the real boldness before God that a true pastor has.
The world makes a great deal of noise, loudly proclaiming its scientific achievements, but firmly stops up its ears until hopelessly deaf when reminded of the power and immense significance of prayer to Cod.
Translated from : Knowledge of God : The Experience of Orthodox Contemplation (Platina, Calif. : St. Herman Brotherhood, 1975) , pp. 34-38.

*On April 21 we commemorate our righteous Father Alexis Gnevushev of Bortsurmany

Apolytikion of Panagia Voithia in Chios

Numerous monastics praise you with songs, the patroness and protectress of the world, you are the source of all sorts of miracles granted to us by the treasured icon of the Theotokos, to her we all cry out: Rejoice the hope of those who honor you, rejoice our boast, rejoice whose grace and name is our Helper.

Apolytikion for a Martyr in the Fourth Tone

Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Apolytikion

You put to shame the errors of the impious, bravely shedding your blood on behalf of Christ God through the pains of your contest. Wherefore having received an incorruptible crown, intercede to the Lord, Anastasios, Martyr, to rescue us from various circumstances.

Troparion of St Glyceria Tone 4

Thy ewe-lamb Glyceria crieth out to Thee with a loud voice, O Jesus:/ “I love Thee, O my Bridegroom,/ and, seeking Thee, I pass through many strug­gles:/ I am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism,/ and suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee;/ I die for Thee that I might live with Thee./ As an unblemished sacrifice accept me,/ who sacrifice myself with love for Thee// By her supplications save Thou our souls, in that Thou art merciful.

Troparion of St Glyceria Tone 4

Your lamb Glyceria, calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice: / “I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You I endure suffering. / In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You, / and I died so that I might live with You. / Accept me as a pure sacrifice, / for I have offered myself in love.” / Through her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.

Troparion of St Glyceria Tone 3

Let us honour Christ’s fair virgin who excelled in the struggle of contest./ She trampled on the serpent although she was weak in the flesh./ For love of Christ she despised her torments and was therefore glorified by God./ Let us cry to her:/ Rejoice, O blessed Glyceria.

Apolytikion of St Glyceria Tone 3

Let us honor the beautiful virgin of Christ, who excelled in the pain of contest. She trampled on the serpent although she was weak in the flesh. For love of Christ she despised her torments and was therefore glorified by God. Let us cry to her: Rejoice, O blessed Glykeria.

Let us, do what is necessary to change our lives in such away that people meeting us may look at us and say: There is something about them that we have never seen in anyone. What is it? And we could answer: It is the life of Christ abroad in us. We are His limbs. This is the life of the Spirit in us. We are His temple. Anthony of Sourozh

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς Ἀνέστη!
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Христос Воскрес! Воистину Воскрес!
ქრისტეაღსდგა! ჭეშმარიტადაღსდგა!
Kristos (İsa) dirildi! Gerçekten dirildi!
Al-Massih-Qam! Hakkan Qam!

Synaxarion From the Pentecostarion.
On this day, the second Sunday of Pascha, we inaugurate the celebration of the Feast of Christ’s Resurrection, and also the saving confession of the Apostle Thomas when he saw the hands and side of the Risen Lord.
On this day, we also commemorate the 172 Anonymous Venerable New Martyrs of Panagia Eikosifoinissa Monastery (+ 1507)
On this day, we also commemorate the contest of the Holy 1241 New Martyrs of Naousa, who were brutally massacred in the kennels of Arapitsi, Young Women, Mothers, and these Children (1822)
On this day, Memory of Holy New Hieromartyr Niketas of Serres (1808)
On this day, we celebrate the memory of the Holy Five Neomartyrs of Samothrace: Sts. Manuel, Theodore, George, George the younger, and Michael. 1835.
On this day, Commemoration of the Massacre in 1823 at the Cave of Milatos of Mirabelo, Crete. 
On this day, we also commemorate the Miraculous Liberation of the Holy Mountain of Athos from the Turks in 1830
On this day, the Synaxis of the Panagia Pantanassa at Mystras
On this day, we commemorate the paradoxical receiving of the wonderworking Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos that is called Glykophilousa, which miraculously was granted to our Holy Monastery of the Venerable Philotheos, during the reign of Theophilos the Iconoclast.

Verses
If the seals of the Virgin’s womb and of the grave did not hinder Thee,
How could the seals of the doors hinder Thy might, O Lord?

Sunday of St. Thomas
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
April 30, 1995

To-day we are keeping the day of St Thomas the Apostle. Too often we remember him only as a doubter; indeed he is the one who questioned the message which the other Apostles brought to him when they said: Christ is risen! We have seen Him alive!
But he is not one who doubted throughout his life or who remained unfaithful to the fullness of the divine revelation of Christ. We must remember that when the Apostles and the Lord heard of the illness of Lazarus, Christ said to them: Let us return to Jerusalem. To which the others said: But the Jews wanted to kill you there. Why should we return? Only Thomas the Apostle answered: Let us go with Him and die with Him. He was prepared not only to be His disciple in words, not only to follow Him as one follows a teacher, but to die with Him as one dies with a friend and, if necessary, for a friend. So, let us remember his greatness, his faithfulness, his wholeness.
But what happened then when after the Resurrection of Christ, the Apostles said to the one who had not seen Christ risen, that they had actually seen the risen Christ? Why did he not accept their message? Why did he doubt? Why did he say that he must have proofs, material proofs? Because when he looked at them, he saw them rejoicing in what they had seen, rejoicing that Christ was not dead, rejoicing that Christ was alive, rejoicing that victory had been won. Yet, when he looked at them he saw no difference in them.. These were the same men, only full of joy instead of fear. And Thomas said: Unless I see, unless I probe the Resurrection, I cannot believe you.
Is it not the same thing that anyone can say to us who meets us?
We proclaimed the Resurrection of Christ, passionately, sincerely, truthfully, a few days ago. We believe in it with all our being; and yet, when people meet us in our homes, in the street, in our place of work, anywhere, do they look at us and say: Who are these people? What has happened to them?
The Apostles had seen Christ risen, but the Resurrection had not become part of their own experience. They had not come out of death into eternal life. So it is also with us; except with the saints, when they see them, they know that their message is true.
What is it in our message that is not heard? Because we speak, but are not. We should be so different from people who have no experience of the living Christ, risen, who has shared His life with us, who sent the Holy Spirit to us as, in the words of C.S. Lewis, a living person is different from a statue. A statue may be beautiful, magnificent, glorious, but it is stone. A human being can be much less moving in his outer presence, yet he is alive, he is a testimony of life.
So let us examine ourselves. Let us ask ourselves where we are. Why is it that people who meet us never notice that we are limbs of the risen Christ, temples of the Holy Spirit? Why?
Each of us has got to give his own reply to this question. Let us, each of us, examine ourselves and be ready to answer before our own conscience and do what is necessary to change our lives in such away that people meeting us may look at us and say: Such people we have never seen. There is something about them that we have never seen in anyone. What is it? And we could answer: It is the life of Christ abroad in us. We are His limbs. This is the life of the Spirit in us. We are His temple. Amen.
http://www.mitras.ru/eng/eng_65.htm

***

Saint Paisios the Athonite on the Panagia
Liberating the Holy Mountain from the Turks

The good God ordains everything in the best way, but much patience and care is needed, because many times, when people struggle to free themselves from the net, they get tangled further.
God with patience untangles them. This situation will not go far. God will take a broom!

In 1830, because there were many Turkish soldiers, for a period of time, at Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos, there did not remain a single monk.
The Fathers had left, some with the Holy Relics, some to help in the [Greek] Revolution.
One monk would come from afar to light the vigil lamps and to sweep.
Inside and outside of the Monastery was the Turkish army, and this poor monk that was sweeping said: “My Panagia, what will happen with this situation?”
He prayed once with pain to the Panagia, and he beheld a woman approaching — it was the Panagia — who shone and whose face was radiating light.
She took the broom from his hand and said: “You don’t know how to sweep well; I will sweep.”
And she began to sweep.
Later she disappeared into the Holy Altar.
And in three days, all of the Turks had left!
They were cast out by the Panagia.

***

The Providence of the Glykophilousa *
“The Panagia will not abandon us… ”

During the German Occupation, the supply of wheat had almost run out at the Holy Monastery of Philotheou, so the Fathers decided to stop giving hospitality. When the pious Elder, Father Sabbas, learned of this, he was very grieved and urged the council of Elders not to take such an action, lest they sadden Christ and be deprived of His bless – ing from their monastery. He also gave them many examples from Holy Scripture, such as the widow of Zarephath’s hospitality to the Prophet Elias, and in the end the Fathers listened to his advice. Every so often, however, they would bother Elder Sabbas, saying, for example: “We are out of flour. Now what? ” The Elder would answer them: “Good Fathers, let us eat the little that re – mains together with the people, and the Pan – agia will not abandon us. ” There remained only twenty-five okas [one oka is approximately 1¼ kilograms (2¾ pounds)] of wheat in the monastery store – house and nothing else. The Fathers began taunting Elder Sabbas: “Well now, Father Sabbas, the wheat has fin – ished. And what do we do now? ” The pious old Elder, full of faith, would answer: “My good people, do not lose your hope in our Glykophilousa [“the Sweet-kissing”: a won – derworking Icon of the Mother of God trea – sured at the monastery]. Grind the twenty-five okas of wheat, bake bread with it, and distrib – ute it to the Fathers and the laymen, and God will take care of us like a good Father. ” Just when their bread finished, and before they even grew hungry, a sea captain from Kavala arrived at the Monastery of Philotheou and asked for firewood in exchange for wheat
Beholding the manifest providence of the Panagia, who took care of her monastery as a good Mother looks after her children, they all gave thanks to God. More than anyone else, of course, Elder Sabbas glorified God and thanked the Panagia, just as he constantly rendered her thanksgiving by his holy way of life. The Elder would repeat to the Fathers: “Did I not tell you, blessed ones, that the Panagia would not abandon us?”
 Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos, Athonite Fathers and Athonite Matters, published by the Convent of the Evangelist John the Theologian (Souroti, Thessaloniki: 1998). pp. 136-137. Translated from the original Greek.
https://www.imoph.org/pdfs/Periodicals/OIKPAR/OIKPAR08/Oik-Par-T8-Eng.pdf

Resurrect my soul, O Lord, so that my body might also be resurrected. Dwell in my soul, and my body will become Your temple. Prayer XCII (92) St. Nikolai Velimirovich
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2022/04/30/resurrect-my-soul-o-lord-so-that-my-body-might-also-be-resurrected-dwell-in-my-soul-and-my-body-will-become-your-temple-prayer-xcii-92-st-nikolai-velimirovich/

The wonderful palace of Paradise… Lord, lead us mercifully into Your eternal city of Heaven. St. Nikolai Velimirovich
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2023/10/05/the-wonderful-palace-of-paradise-lord-lead-us-mercifully-into-your-eternal-city-of-heaven-st-nikolai-velimirovich/

In the days of Noah, it was like this, the flood was approaching. The ark is the church. Only those who are in it will be saved. Saint Nectarius of Optina
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2022/05/11/in-the-days-of-noah-it-was-like-this-the-flood-was-approaching-the-ark-is-the-church-only-those-who-are-in-it-will-be-saved-saint-nectarius-of-optina/

Apolytikion. From Pentecostarion Grave Mode.

O Life, You rose from the sepulcher, even though the tomb was secured with a seal, O Christ God. Then, although the doors were shut, You came to Your Disciples, O Resurrection of all. Through them You renew a right spirit in us, according to Your great mercy.

Troparion for the Feast, Tone VII:

Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, * didst shine forth from the grave, O Christ God; * and whilst the doors were shut, * Thou didst come unto Thy disciples, O Resurrection of all, * renewing through them an upright Spirit in us ** according to Thy great mercy. (Thrice)

Apolytikion of Panagia Glykophilousa (Sweet-Kissing) in the First Tone (by Monk Gerasimos Mikragiannanitis)

Your holy Icon we praise as a very precious boast of Philotheou Monastery, for in it we behold you, O Pure One, kissing Christ as a babe, and we behold your great glory, O Virgin, and we cry out: Glory to your great deeds, O Pure One, glory to your sympathy, glory to your providence for us, O Spotless One.

Apolytikion of the Holy Five Neomartyrs of Samothrace in the First Tone

O lamps of Samothrace and adornment of Makri, you were shown forth truly as divine Neomartyrs, you struggled steadfastly for Christ and destroyed the delusion of the enemy, Manuel with Theodore and Michael, and the dual Georges: Glory to Him Who strengthened you, glory to Him Who crowned you, glory to Him who bestows on us through you grace and mercy.

Doxastikon in Plagal of the Second Tone
(A Hymn to the Panagia Glykophilousa of Philotheou and for the Liberation from the Turks, both celebrated on the Sunday of Saint Thomas.)

Who can rightly tell of your goodness towards us, the saving appearances and gifts, O Virgin Theotokos? For your Holy Icon wondrously passed over the waves and was granted to us as a divine treasure, and a pledge of salvation. Through your invisible presence, you care for us, and you drove back the foreign army that had troubled your Mountain. Therefore, we celebrate a dual feast: the receiving of your wonderworking Icon, which we praise, and the deliverance from the tyrannical siege. We cry out to you: ever protect and keep us, as you are our protection and defender, as I call you the Most-blessed One.

Apolytikion of the Holy Five Neomartyrs of Samothrace – 1st Tone (amateur translation)

O lamps of Samothrace and adornment of Makri, you were shown forth truly as divine Neomartyrs, you struggled steadfastly for Christ and destroyed the fallacy of the enemy, Manuel with Theodore and Michael, and dual Georges, glory to Him Who strengthened you, glory to Him Who crowned you, glory to Him who bestows on us through you grace and mercy.

Troparion of Ss Epiphanios and Germanos Tone 1

Let us honour the Church’s two divine trumpets,/ Hierarch Germanos and renowned Epiphanios;/ one censured Leo in defense of Christ’s icon, the other was a scourge of heresies./ These two ever intercede for us.

Troparion of Ss Epiphanios and Germanos 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 hierarchs Epiphanius and Germanus.

Troparion of Ss Epiphanios and Germanos Tone 4

O God of our fathers,/ deal with us ever according to Thy meekness./ Deprive us not of Thy mercy,/ but through their supplications// direct our life in peace.

Troparion of Ss Epiphanios and Germanos Tone 4

O God of our Fathers, / Take not away Your mercy from us, / But ever act towards us according to Your kindness, / And by the prayers of Your saints, / Guide our lives in peace.

Troparion of St John of Vlachia Tone 4

Today the spiritual commands the Church to the Orthodox believers, and joyfully shouts: / Come, ye lovers of the martyrs, to celebrate the annual remembrance of the struggles of the New Martyr John. / That this one of us, by God’s will, / rose up in the royal fortress of Constantine blooming greatly, / bringing the Master a rich and well-received fruit through martyrdom. / And now he continually prays in the heavens / for the salvation of our souls.

Apolytikion of St John of Vlachia

Today the Church of the pious Romanians spiritually celebrates and shouts joyfully: Come, lovers of martyrs, to celebrate the annual memory of the struggles of the new martyr John. He was raised among us by God’s will and blossomed wonderfully in the imperial city of Constantine, bringing to the Lord rich and welcomed fruit, through his martyrdom. And now he prays without ceasing in heaven, to save our souls.

Apolytikion of St Theodore of Cythera Tone 3

An inviolate treasure, the island has, in the placement of your relic, delivering us by the grace of miracles, liberating us from suffering and distress, for which it rejoices in honoring your memory. Venerable Father, entreat Christ God, to grant us the great mercy.

Hypakoi, Tone VI:

As Thou camest amongst Thy disciples, O Savior, * and gavest them peace, ** so also come amongst us and save us.

Exapostilarion, Tone I:

On this day Spring is fragrant; * and the new creation danceth; * today the bars have been removed from the doors of disbelief, * as Thomas the friend crieth out: ** Thou art my Lord and God.

Tone II:

After Thine arising, O Lord, * Thou didst stand in the midst of Thy disciples when they were gathered together, * while the doors were shut, granting them peace. * And Thomas became convinced at beholding Thy hands and side, * confessing that Thou art the Lord and God, ** Who dost save them that hope in Thee, O Lover of mankind.

Христос Воскресе, Радост донесе!
Људи ликујте народи чујте: ХРИСТОС ВАСКРСЕ!!!
Св. Николай Велимирович

Kollyvades Fathers, the spiritual guides for the Orthodox

Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς Ἀνέστη!
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Христос Воскрес! Воистину Воскрес!
ქრისტეაღსდგა! ჭეშმარიტადაღსდგა!
Kristos (İsa) dirildi! Gerçekten dirildi!
Al-Massih-Qam! Hakkan Qam!

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.
Synaxarion .
On Saturday of Bright and Renewal Week, we commemorate the Synaxis of the Venerable Kollyvades Fathers of Holy Mount Athos
On this day we also commemorate our righteous mother Kali the Philanthropist from Asia Minor

Verses
Rejoice thou Kollyvades of Athos,
Now the Bride of Christ, the Church, rejoices.
The Kollyvades sowed the knowledge of God,
Reaping a bounteous sheaf of life.
Let us rest on this Bright Day,
Crowning the Kollyvades as workers of light.

The “Kollyvades” Fathers of the Holy Mountain
By Fr. George Metallinos
(From the book I Confess One Baptism)

The appearance in the eighteenth century of the Kollyvades on the Holy Mountain, and in Greece in general, constitutes a dynamic return to the roots of Orthodox tradition, to the “philokalic” experience which is at the core of the Orthodox Church’s spirituality. Their “movement”, as it was called, was regenerative and traditional, progressive and yet patristic. In other words, genuinely Orthodox. Using the scholarly methods of the time (composing writings), they first of all revealed the continuity of hesychasm on the Holy Mountain Athos, and at the same time remained faithful not only to the theoretical formulation of the hesychastic-Palamite theology, but also to its practical applications, i.e. the whole spectrum of the ascetic experience. Through the dissemination of their works and by their struggles in defence of the tradition, they formed the counter balance against the European “Enlightenment,” and in their own right became enlighteners of their Nation and of Orthodoxy at large. That is why they were loved by traditionalists, but hated and fought (or slandered) by those who were instilled with the spirit of Frankish scholasticism or of the Anglo-French Enlightenment and were thus cut off from the philokalic roots. The hypertrophic (metaphysical) rationalism of the westernizers, a standing threat to the patristic way of theology, thus proved to be foreign to the experiential and Holy-Spiritual way of theology which the Kollyvades Fathers embodied and preached. If our reconnection with the genuine, theological tradition of the Fathers has been achieved in our day, this is owed to the precursory labors of the Kollyvades.

A contingent of Athonite monks in the second half of the eighteenth century, living within the tradition of “noetic prayer” or “prayer of the heart,” and being provoked by a seemingly insignificant happening, which, however, had deep theological roots and enormous extensions, will light the Church’s course and reveal the continuity or discontinuity of the fullness of Orthodoxy.

The monks of Saint Anna’s Skete on the Holy Mountain were building a larger church and, since they wanted to be able to work on Saturdays in order to complete it, they decided to move the memorial services from Saturday to Sunday after the Divine Liturgy. This decision, which conflicted with the Church’s practice and theology (Sunday being the day of the Resurrection is a day of joy), scandalized the deacon Neophytos the Peloponnesian of the nearby Skete of Kavsokalyva, who was the first to rise up with a theological campaign against the decision of the monks of Saint Anna’s. One further event also served to intensify the now ignited flame. In 1777, a book advocating the necessity of “frequent Holy Communion” was published from among the circle of Athonite hesychasts who, because of their involvement in the dispute “concerning memorial services” were by their opponents collectively called “Kollyvades” (from kollyva, the boiled wheat used at memorial services). The book was condemned by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1785, for it supposedly created scandals and dissensions. Aside from exposing the contra-traditional attitude of the monks of Saint Anna’s, this action revealed how Orthodox criteria had become obscured, thus affirming, also for Greece, what the ever-memorable Fr. Georges Florovsky called a “pseudomorphosis.” The Patriarchate’s later decision, moreover, by which the condemnation was lifted, serves to show the instability of these matters.

The men who advocated the canonical performance of memorial services on Saturday also advocated frequent Holy Communion (when, of course, the correct Orthodox presuppositions of an ongoing spiritual life exist), thus ranging the practice of the early Church against the unfounded actions of their opponents. The latter, being as they were completely estranged from the tradition of the Holy Fathers, accused the Kollyvades of being innovators, in exactly the same way that the fourteenth century Scholastics (Nikephoros Gregoras, John Kyparissiotes, etc.) had accused the hesychasts of the Holy Mountain of being “modernists.” But then, the case of the Kollyvades is only a repetition of the affair of the hesychasts of the fourteenth century; for both groups, each in its own way, stood up against the spirit of the estranged West and against the westernizing of the “unionists” and westernizers of the East. The Kollyvades emphasized the issue of worship, for they diagnosed that there, i.e. in the area of the spirituality that preserved the unity of the subjugated Orthodox people, the problem of estrangement was perceptible. They encouraged participation in the sacraments/mysteries of the Church accompanied by a parallel spiritual struggle. They strove for the correct observance of the Church’s typicon that would maintain the spiritual balance, and for the study of patristic works that would cultivate a patristic phronema, i.e. the Church’s mind. That is why the honor belongs to the Kollyvades, in that they preserved the Apostolic-Patristic continuity in the Church: noetic prayer and hesychastic practice, asceticism and experience, those enduring and unalterable elements of the Orthodox identity.

This contingent of Athonite hesychasts (Kollyvades) had their leaders, three of whom are among the theologians dealt with in the present study. Namely they are the following:

1) Neophytos Kavsokalyvitis (1713-1784), from 1749 rector of Athonias School on the Holy Mountain, is the man who initiated the cause; but after his expulsion from the Holy Mountain, he discontinued his active participation in the Kollyvades “movement” for reasons unknown. He dealt mainly with education, serving as rector in Chios around 1760; in Adrianople in 1763; and in what is today Romania, Bucharest 1767, Bravsko 1770, and from 1773 until his death again in Bucharest. He left behind a number of important works, among which are some on canon law.

2) Makarios Notaras (1731-1805), a descendant of the renowned Byzantine family of Notaras, was born in Corinth and later became Metropolitan of the diocese of Corinth (1765-1769). He was the “animator” of the movement and the person who not only encouraged St. Nikodemos to write, but also supplied him with material for his works. He died on 16 April 1805 on the island of Chios where he was living at the time, and the people immediately honored him as a Saint.

3) Nikodemos the Hagiorite (1749-1809), officially declared a Saint in 1955, was the “theologian” of the Kollyvades contingent. A great hesychast-ascetic and a highly accomplished author of patristic caliber, he left behind a multitude of writings in which the whole patristic tradition is recast. One who studies the works of St. Nikodemos can unreservedly say that he has gone through patristic theology in its entirety. His Handbook of Counsels, is for modern times, the representative work on Orthodox spirituality. The publication of the multi-volume Philokalia of the Wakeful Fathers (in collaboration with St. Makarios, but essentially the work of Nikodemos) contributed to spiritual rebirth in Orthodox countries. His work The Rudder constitutes the most authoritative compilation of our Church’s holy Canons and explanations of them in conjunction with the Church’s spirituality.

4) Athanasios Parios (1722-1813) was the most militant of the Kollyvades, and also the most martyric. From 1776 to 1781 he remained unfrocked as a “heretic” because of his vigorous stand on the issues of tradition. He passionately fought the European Enlightenment, Voltaireanism, and atheism, and was accused of being an obscurantist by his “West-struck” contemporaries. He, however, was not fighting education which he himself served, nor even the exact sciences themselves; but rather the “godless letters” and the conceit of the wisdom of this world (cf. James. 3:15). A prolific author, he left behind numerous writings full of patristic wisdom and spirituality.

The Kollyvades exerted a tremendous influence in their day, but also on the generations that followed. Their influence initially was greater off the Holy Mountain than on it. Today, however, the Holy Mountain acknowledges their contribution to the rebirth of Orthodox spirituality and follows their tradition. In spite of the fact that the Anti-Kollyvades by far outnumbered the Kollyvades and engaged in a systematic persecution of them, not only did they fail to frustrate the latter’s effort, but they in fact contributed to the spreading of their spirit in Greece and in the other Orthodox countries (Trans-Danubian regions, Russia, etc.). To the Kollyvades is owed the rebirth of hesychasm in the nineteenth century. Even today, the Kollyvades Fathers continue to be spiritual guides for the Orthodox, and the principal bridge of reconnection with the patristic tradition. The rediscovery of the hesychasm of the fourteenth century, and chiefly of its champion St. Gregory Palamas (d. 1357), was accomplished thanks to the seeds that the Kollyvades of the eighteenth century sowed.

***

Holy Venerable Martyrs Theophanes the Elder and Paisios of Messolonghi (+ 1773)
– Two Kollyvades Fathers from the Skete of Saint Anna on Mount Athos

Saint Paisios was born in Messolonghi in the early 18th century. We do not have much information about his early years, but at some point he left the world and went to Mount Athos to become a monk, settling at the Skete of Saint Anna. There he lived in asceticism in the Hut of the Prophet Elias under the guidance of Saint Theophanes the Elder. Elder Theophanes was illiterate, but he had a calm and sweet character with a virtuous soul, whereas Paisios was educated and worked as a calligrapher in his hut, copying the works of the Holy Fathers, and having the entire Psalter memorized.

In the year 1754 the main church of the Skete of Saint Anna was demolished and a new one was going to be built that was much larger. The monks of the Skete went throughout the Ottoman Empire in search of donations to accomplish their task, to which they promised their donors in return to memorialize their names and their deceased loved ones at their vigils. The number of names reached over 12,000, and memorials at vigils at that time was traditionally done on Saturdays. However, on Saturdays some monks were occupied with building the church, while others were at Karyes selling their handiwork which was usually done on Saturday by all the monks of Mount Athos. For these reasons, it was the request of the monks to hold these memorial vigils on Sunday instead of Saturday, breaking ecclesiastical tradition. Many monks protested such a move, since Sunday as a day of Resurrection and joy is unfit for memorials, while Saturday is designated as a day of mourning and praying for the dead. Thus in 1755 the Kollyvades controversy began.

By 1773 the Kollyvades controversy had escalated at Mount Athos, to the point where there was open hostility against the monks who sought to preserve the ecclesiastical traditions, and they were slandered against by their fellow monks. Among the Kollyvades Fathers was Theophanes and Paisios. The Ecumenical Patriarch intervened by trying to restore peace at Mount Athos, but it failed. There was such hatred for the Kollyvades monks that some of the anti-Kollyvades monks sought to murder them. Thus anti-Kollyvades monks, specifically those of the Skete of Saint Anna and New Skete, hired a bandit named Markos, who was the captain of a ship performing robberies for the Russian state, to murder Saints Theophanes and Paisios by drowning them at the beach of New Skete, during the vigil of the Sunday of All Saints in 1773.

By hiring a thief for seven hundred silver coins to do their dirty work, the anti-Kollyvades monks were trying to avoid having blood on their hands and their monastic schemas. These monks had convinced Markos to murder the two monks by telling him that they were sent as Masonic spies and were not in fact monks, and they told him how they had prayed about the matter and God sent him to them to exterminate the disguised monks and thus restore order to Mount Athos. In fact, he was charged to murder four Kollyvades monks – Theophanes, Paisios, Agapios and Gabriel. Markos, thinking that this was God’s will, asked for a guide to lead them to the right hut, and Monk Timothy was chosen and he reluctantly accepted. When the bandit arrived at the hut, he made it look like a robbery, and asked Theophanes for all his money and food, to which he obliged. Nonetheless, he took both Theophanes and Paisios captive on his boat. Agapios and Gabriel were not taken captive because the hut of Agapios could not be located and Gabriel was not in his hut at the time.

Just as the Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of All Saints was ending, they saw Markos taking Theophanes and Paisios to the beach to kill them. The two monks were severely beaten and weakened, but the monks showed no sympathy for them. Ropes with heavy stones were hung around the necks of the two monks, and they were cast into the sea, where they drowned to death. Saint Athanasios of Paros, who informs us about their martyrdom, noted that before they were cast into the sea the two monks prayed for the world and asked God to forgive their murderers.

In this way our Venerable Fathers Theophanes and Paisios were martyred by their fellow monks, who preferred Memorials to be done on Sunday rather than on Saturday, as ecclesiastical tradition has dictated for centuries.

Saint Athanasios of Paros informs us what happened following the martyrdom of the two monks. He says that news reached Karyes and the Protos, Nazir, along with the other Elders of the monasteries, composed a letter to Markos the captain asking him why he murdered two monks known for their virtue and holiness. When Captain Markos received the letter, he realized he was deceived by the monks of Saint Anna. In a rage he therefore went to the Skete of Saint Anna while all the monks were gathered in the church, and with his sword in his hand he rebuked the monks for deceiving him and demanded ten purses of silver coins, otherwise he would burn down the Skete with all the monks there. They brought him the money as he rebuked and ridiculed them, calling their monastic schema a demonic schema.

After the murder of the two monks, Theophanes and Paisios, thirty Kollyvades monks gathered and bitterly lamented their fate. All together they decided to leave Mount Athos in order to not be a source of greater sin on their fellow monks who ignorantly resented their faithfulness to ecclesiastical tradition.

The Kollyvades Fathers were finally vindicated by the Holy Community of Mount Athos on 19 May 1807, which restored them and condemned their accusers.

Constantinople, History and calendar, in red, you wrote, with Holy Faith, you enlightened the universe that is why we all celebrate you! Confessor, that you are! Throughout the earth and in the heavens, your glory echoes; Everyone baptized, a great gratitude owes you. Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2021/05/10/constantinople-history-and-calendar-in-red-you-wrote-with-holy-faith-you-enlightened-the-universe-that-is-why-we-all-celebrate-you-confessor-that-you-are-throughout-the-earth-and-in-the-heaven/

Apolytikion in the First Tone

Let us honor the choir of Kollyvades Fathers, ministers of the Holy Spirit, stewards of grace, for they taught to us the Gospel of Christ in evil times, and as very bright stars, they delivered souls from the darkness of error. Rejoice O Godly band, rejoice boast of the nation, rejoice torches of truth and expounders of the faith.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

In awe of the beauty of your virginity and your support of the hungry, healer of the sick, praise of the Venerables, the rule of beneficence, Kali the miracle-gusher, intercede to Christ that He grant good things to our souls.

Troparion — Tone 4

The city of the Theotokos / dedicates its foundation as an offering to the Theotokos. / For it has been established to remain in Her, / and it lives and is strengthened through Her, / crying out to Her, / “Hail, the hope of all the ends of the earth.”

Troparion, in Tone IV:

As thou didst share in the ways of the apostles and didst occupy their throne, thou didst find thine activity to be a way to the vision of God, O divinely inspired one. Wherefore, ordering the word of truth, thou didst suffer for the Faith even to the shedding of thy blood. O hieromartyr Mocius, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

Troparion, in Tone IV:

In that ye share the ways of the apostles, O divinely wise Cyril and Methodius, ye teachers of the Slavic lands, entreat the Master of all, that He confirm all the Slavic nations in Orthodoxy and oneness of mind, grant peace to the world and save our souls.

Troparion, in Tone IV:

Emulating the ten-year old Christ, Who taught in the temple, O Euphrosynia, at the age of ten thou didst follow the Word of God; and forsaking fleeting glory and an earthly betrothal, and disdaining all the things of this world, thou didst wed thyself unto Christ, Who is more beautiful than all. Taking up thy cross, treading the path of the angelic life, and guiding many thereto, thou didst ascend to the heavenly bridalchamber amid the sweet fragrance of myrrh. There do thou entreat Him Whom thou hast loved, in behalf of those who piously honor thy memory.

Troparion of Ss Cyril and Methodios Tone 4

O Cyril and Methodios, Equals-to-the-Apostles/ and teachers of the Slavonic lands,/ pray to Christ our God to strengthen all nations in Orthodoxy in one spirit,/ to convert and reconcile the world to God,/ and to save our souls.

Troparion of Ss Cyril and Methodios Tone 4

Divinely-wise Cyril and Methodius, / equals-to-the-apostles and teachers of the Slavs, / entreat the Master of all / to strengthen all nations in Orthodoxy and unity of mind, / to grant peace to the world and to save our souls.

Troparion of St Sophroni of the Kiev Caves Tone 1

Threatened by the broad way to destruction,/ thou didst dwell in a dark cave, O Sophroni./ Thou didst struggle in prayer, tears and labour,/ and attain to the joys of eternal life.

Troparion of St Nicodemos of Serbia Tone 4

The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock/ as a rule of faith, a model of meekness and a teacher of temperance./ Therefore thou hast won the heights by humility, riches by poverty./ Holy Father Nicodemos, intercede with Christ our God/ that our souls may be saved.

Apolytikion of St Mocius Tone 1

Serving Christ as a priest of glory, you offered yourself as a rational sacrifice, and a whole-burnt offering on the coal of your struggles, therefore, O Mokios, you were crowned with dual crowns for your struggles by Him Who glorified you: Christ, Who loves mankind.

Troparion of St Mocius Tone 4

As thou didst share in the ways of the apostles/ and didst occupy their throne,/ thou didst find thine activity to be a passage to divine vision,/ O divinely inspired one./ Wherefore, ordering the word of truth,/ thou didst suffer for the Faith even to the shedding of thy blood.// O hieromartyr Mocius, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

Apolytikion of St Argyrios Tone 3
Epanomi rejoices in you, her divine offspring and patron, Neomartyr of the Savior Argyrios, and we celebrate with songs your holy contest, hastening to your intercessions crying aloud. Glorious Martyr, entreat Christ God, to grant us the great mercy.

Troparion of the Founding of Constantinople Tone 4

The city of the Theotokos / dedicates its foundation as an offering to the Theotokos. / For it has been established to remain in Her, / and it lives and is strengthened through Her, / crying out to Her, / “Hail, the hope of all the ends of the earth.”

The saint who removed the seal from eternity. He saw the destiny of the world, from the beginning to the end. Saint John the Theologian

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.

Michael the Archangel stood behind your back. Father Barnabas (Belyaev), Bishop and a Fool for Christ

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.
Synaxarion. From the Menaion.
On May 7 we commemorate the Appearance of the Sign of the Precious Cross in the sky, during the reign of the Emperor Constantius, son of Saint Constantine the Great, when Cyril was Archbishop of Jerusalem.
On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Akakios.
On this day we also commemorate the contest of the holy Martyr Quadratus and those with him.
On this day we also commemorate our devout Father John Psychaites, the Confessor.
On this day we also commemorate the contest of the holy Martyr Maximus.
On this day we also commemorate the Our Holy Fathers of Georgia (6th c.)
St. John Zedazeni and his Twelve Disciples: Abibus, Bishop of Nekressi, Anthony of Martqopi, David of Garej, Zeno of Ikalto, Thaddeus of Stepantsmind, Jesse (Ise) Bishop of Tsilkan, Joseph Bishop of Alaverdi, Isidor of Samtavisi, Michael of Ulumbo, Pyrrhos of Breti, Stephen of Khyri, Shio of Mgvim
On this day we also commemorate our devout Father Nilus of Sora (1508)
On this day we also commemorate the holy New Monkmartyr Pachomius of Mount Athos, of Usaki near Philadelphia (1730)
On this day we also commemorate the Uncovering of the relics of St. Euthymius the Great (473)
On this day we also commemorate the holy Icon of the Mother of God of Zhirovits (1470).
On this day we commemorate the recovery of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark.
On this day we commemorate the recovery of the holy relics of our Father among the Saints Athanasius the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria. 

On Tuesday of Bright and Renewal Week, we celebrate the Miraculous Icon of Panagia Portraitissa (The Keeper of the Portal) of Iveron
Litany of the “Fovera Prostasia” (“Awesome Protection”) icon of the Theotokos
6,000 Martyrs of the St David Gareji Monastery who accepted martyrdom in the year 1616, Georgia
Miracles of the Holy Archangel Michael and the Precious Nail of Christ of Thassos
On  Tuesday of Bright and Renewal Week, we celebrate the memory of the holy, glorious, newly-appearing and wonderworking devout monastic Martyrs, Raphael and Nicholas, and the holy virgin Martyr Irene, and the others who along with them endured martyrdom, on April 9, 1463, which that year was Bright Tuesday, in the ancient Monastery of Karyes, which is located near Thermi on the Greek island of Lesbos. These saints were miraculously revealed to us in the year 1959.

The Life and Exploits of Monk Barnabas (Belyaev),
Bishop and a Fool for Christ

On May 6 we commemorate our righteous and God-bearing Father Barnabas (Belyaev) Bishop of Nizhni-Novgorod (1963).

Bishop Barnabas (Belyaev) was a monk, bishop, hermit, ascetic writer, candidate of theology, and a fool for Christ. It was as though his life had been split into “before” and “after”. He received an excellent education, became a monk, and was ordained a bishop at a young age. However, he lost his rank, became a fool for Christ, spent time in a mental hospital and served a term of many years in a prison camp. He lived the latter portion of his life alone. Most people knew him as Uncle Kolya, a shortened version of his given name. He worked nearly all his life, and his writings -preserved mostly as diary entries or oral and written testimonies of people who knew him personally – are repositories of insightful ideas and observations about his time, the years gone by, the people and the Christian faith.

Before the feat of foolishness

The Bishop-to-be was born in 1887. He received monastic tonsure and ordination to the priesthood in 1911. He studied at the Moscow Theological Academy, became a Candidate of Theology in 1915, was raised to the bishophood in 1920, and served as the senior vicar of Nizhny Novgorod Diocese and prior of the Ascension monastery of the Caves.

In 1922, his life changed fundamentally and irreversibly. The ruling bishop of Nizhny Novgorod bowed to the authority of the Higher Church Administration, the governing body of the Renewal Church, a schismatic project of the Bolsheviks. Together with the secular authorities, the diocese was putting pressure on the diocesan clergy to submit themselves to the Renewalists. On June 19, 1922, a general assembly of the clergy endorsed a resolution recognising the Higher Church Administration as the only canonical body of the Church. Barnabas was one of its signatories.

He realised his mistake almost immediately. He went to Archbishop Theodore (Pozdeevsky), the Archbishop of Volokolamsk, to repent, but the archbishop refused to see him. Later that year, in September, Hieroschemonk Alexis (Solovyov), a respected elder of Smolensk Zosima Pustyn and a confessor of Saint Elisabeth Romanov later glorified as a venerable saint, agreed to receive the penitent monk. Barnabas understood that he could no longer be the bishop of his diocese because that meant subordination to the Renewalists. With this in mind, he asked the Elder’s blessing for the feat of foolishness for Christ and got it.

Before returning to the Caves Monastery, Vladyka visited a doctor in Moscow, who gave him a certificate saying he was suffering from “acute hysteroneuria”. Already on the next day after his arrival, the parishioners and clergy noticed an unusual change in his behaviour. During services, he would begin to kiss the icons too early or too late, and his sermons sounded somewhat weird. He spoke strangely, too. Outside the services, Barnaba would talk about his forthcoming pilgrimage to Jerusalem, adding that he was going to Jerusalem in Heaven.

A day later, the Vladyka, with a rugged haircut announced with wide-open eyes that he was setting off for Jerusalem that very moment. In his woollen cassock and with a hat under his arm, he walked towards the building of the diocese, and from there he was taken under his arms and delivered to a mental clinic, where he was diagnosed with paranoid dementia. Rumours of his illness quickly spread and even reached the press, much to the delight of the atheists, who always called religion madness and took the bishop’s presumed madness as an example that proved them right.

The Vladyka himself thus explained the reasons for his feat: “Foolishness is a strange, unusual and even an extravagant way of life that people and the world find so incomprehensible that they would rather explicate it based on its external manifestations, which is quite easy to do even without invoking any mysticism. They try to protect themselves and their way of life. Ascetics who left for the desert and joined a monastery did not encounter this temptation. The monastic walls, habits and isolation from society were all keeping it at bay. But those who choose to live an ascetic life in a secular world, what protections do they have?” For him, foolishness for Christ was perhaps his only available choice that would preserve his freedom outside the “red church”, and out of reach of the Soviet secret services, as it seemed then.

The feat of foolishness and after

Vladyka hoped to live as a hermit and recluse, writing texts and offering spiritual guidance to those who asked. In his seventh year as a fool for Christ, he wrote a four-volume work titled “Foundations of the Art of Sainthood: an essay in the Explication of Orthodox Asceticism.” It was a collection of his remarks and comments on the phenomena of modern life as seen through the lens of the Holy Fathers’ teachings. He knew very well that none of these works would bring many people back to church, so he had plans to write fiction stories in which Christ’s gospel could be read between the lines.

Sadly, some of his works remained unfinished, others were never published. He had a relatively short time left to live in relative peace. Eleven years later, in 1933, the bishop was charged with anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda (a common pretext for fake persecutions in those years). He was also accused of establishing a secret monastery (where he lived with his spiritual children). His imprisonment lasted until 1948. While behind the grates, he rarely practised foolishness for Christ. He also kept a distance from the other inmates and confided only in a selected few. After his release, the bishop abandoned his feat to live a quiet life. He continued to write, mainly about the lives of different ascetics. He also kept a diary with remarks about life, the faith and the Church. He collected urban folklore and trivia from the press. When at church, he never disclosed his rank or monasticism. All of his neighbours knew him as Uncle Kolya. He conducted services rarely, and only in a small circle of trusted friends. He died peacefully, anticipating his departure to Jerusalem in Heaven ahead of time. Here are some extracts from Bishop Barnabas’ writings and accounts of several episodes of his life.

Expecting good news to come

In her simplicity, Tatiana Shirokova, a nurse at the prison camp hospital, did not believe in Vladyka’s sanity, but still treated him kindly and shared her food with him.

Before her imprisonment, she was a singer at a church in Vyatka Region. A true child of God, she was loved and respected among the laity for her simplicity and frankness. She was serving a ten-year sentence, a term to which she could reconcile. So she prayed with these words, “O mother of God, ten years is too long, more than I can accept. Please take away two and a half years, and you, Saint Nicholas, do the same. O holy prophet Elijah, I have sung psalms, I have been a reader, will you please take another two and a half years of my term, so I would serve the remaining two and a half years, which I can bear.”

When she was at her lowest point in her silent despair, the bishop found a way to comfort her. He once wondered how long her term was, and when he heard the answer, he replied:
“Who gave you these ten years?” “A man,” he continued, without waiting for an answer. Then he pointed his finger upwards and added:
“You have a whole different time to look forward to. Expect some good news on the feast of the Prophet Elijah.

Two months after that conversation, Tatyana woke up in anticipation of her release. She was overwhelmed with joy.
She came to work early to complete her daily tasks sooner. At the end of the day, she said goodbye to the patients telling them that she was being released early.
“That’s our last tea together,” she said.
“How do you know? Have you filed a request for an amnesty?”
“I have.”
“And have you had an answer?”
“Not yet.”
“You are daydreaming!” everyone was saying with a laugh.

Unexpectedly, someone called her to the office, where she received an early release notice. Her prayer was heard, and the bishop’s prediction had come true. She was released after serving two and a half years.

A vision

“Prisoner Maria Shitova, a spiritual child of Archimandrite Georgy (Lavrov), had not completed her medical education but was still appointed to run the camp hospital. She was sympathetic to Father Barnabas (Belyaev) but still considered him insane. She was convinced he had schizophrenia and sent him to Tomsk. The hospital soon sent him back because it was too full of patients who were far worse and more dangerous than him.

With her strong will and energy, she spared no effort to have the poor man committed to an asylum. But a single incident made her rethink her attitude. “As a doctor, I had full freedom. In my white gown, I could go anywhere I wanted, and nobody ever dared to say a word. So I went to church and took communion (without telling anyone, of course). On my way back, the man meets me at the door and bows to me. “Congratulations on partaking in the Holy Sacraments, Nun Michaela!” he exclaims. I was so terrified, I nearly fainted. Suddenly, it occurred to me that the other women, the spiritual children of Fr. George, who was sentenced with me, must have told him. I was upset. “What business did you have to tell a madman that I was a nun?” I thought to myself.

When I got hold of them in the ambulatory, I pulled no punches. “You blabbermouths! Why did you tell him? Do you want them to add another ten years to my sentence?!” I raged.
“Told him what?”
“That I am Mother Michaela, of course!”
“Are you Mother Michaela? We did not know that!”
In the evening, I asked Bishop Barnabas:
“How did you know I was a nun?”
“Since you have asked, let me tell you,” he replied, humbly. He was a humble person, and there was a blush on his cheek. Many people have asked me about my past. Even you have tried me out – before you sent me to Tomsk. I asked myself who you could be. And I saw long stalks of rye and you coming out of it in a mantle. ‘Oh, she wears a mantle,’ I thought to myself. Michael the Archangel stood behind your back.”

Shortly before her release in 1935, Maria Kuzminichna asked him for forgiveness for treating him as insane, not bowing to him and not honouring him as a bishop. “So let me repay my debt now,” she said as she fell to his feet.
https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/2023/06/the-life-and-exploits-of-monk-barnabas-belyaev-bishop-and-a-fool-for-christ

Saint Irene of Lesvos the Virgin-martyr said, if you only knew the terrible pain that I had undergone… it is impossible to even imagine it… The Turks burnt me alive inside this clay pot.
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2021/05/11/saint-irene-of-lesvos-the-virgin-martyr-said-if-you-only-knew-the-terrible-pain-that-i-had-undergone-it-is-impossible-to-even-imagine-it-the-turks-burnt-me-alive-inside-this-clay-pot/

O my brethren, everything is possible with God: both, to reveal the created to man and to create the uncreated. But most importantly for us is that He wants to redeem our souls from sin and death and to give us life eternal. Let us pray to Him for this day and night. Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2022/05/06/o-my-brethren-everything-is-possible-with-god-both-to-reveal-the-created-to-man-and-to-create-the-uncreated-but-most-importantly-for-us-is-that-he-wants-to-redeem-our-souls-from-sin-and-death-and/

The vision of the Cross. Metropolitan Anthony Sourozh
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2018/05/06/the-vision-of-the-cross-metropolitan-anthony-sourozh/

O resurrected Lord, redeem us from beneath the ruins of time and lead us mercifully into Your eternal city of Heaven. Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2022/04/25/o-resurrected-lord-redeem-us-from-beneath-the-ruins-of-time-and-lead-us-mercifully-into-your-eternal-city-of-heaven-saint-nikolai-velimirovic/

Mode pl. 1.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Troparion to the Iveron Icon, Tone 7

From thy Holy Icon, O Lady Theotokos, blessed myrrh has flowed abundantly. Thou hast thereby consoled those, in exile, faithful unto thee, and hast enlighten the unbelievers by thy Son’s light. Therefore O Lady, with tears we bow down to thee. Be merciful to us in the hour of judgment. Lest having received thy mercy we be punished as those who have been contemptuous of it. But grant us through thy prayers to bring forth spiritual fruit, and save our souls.

Apolytikion in the First Tone

Koutloumousiou Monastery, where your Holy Icon, Awesome Protection, resides, rejoices, and as a mystaerious dew, your grace comes from it, and gladdens the hearts and souls, Virgin, of those who cry: Glory to your Protection pure one, glory to your succour, glory to your consideration for us immaculate one.

Apolytikion of Martyrs of Lesvos Tone 4

Having contended on Lesvos for the sake for Christ God, you have sanctified the island since the discovery of your sacred relics, O blessed ones; wherefore we honor you, O God-bearing Raphael, together with Nicholas and virgin Irene, as our divine protectors and intercessors with the Lord.

Apolytikion. For the Saints Raphael, Nicholas and virgin St. Irene
Mode 4. Come quickly.

O Martyrs, you competed for Christ our God on the isle * of Lesbos, which you sanctified when your relics were found * and enshrined there, O blessed Saints. * Now we hold you in honor * as our God-sent protectors. * O Raphael and Nicholas our God-bearing fathers, * together with virgin St. Irene, * you intercede with the Lord for us.

Troparion — Tone 1

The image of Your cross has shown more brightly than the sun, / Extending from the holy mountain to the place of the skull. / In it, You have shown Your strength, O Savior, / And confirmed all Orthodox Christians in the True Faith. / Through the prayers of the Theotokos, / Save us, O Christ our God.

Apolytikion of Appearance of the Sign of the Cross
First Tone

The image of Thy Cross at this time shone brighter than the sun, when Thou didst spread it out from the holy Mount of Olives to Calvary; and in making plain Thy might which is therein, O Saviour Thou didst also thereby strengthen the faithful. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Christ our God, and save us.

Troparion of Saint Nilus of Sora, in Tone I:

Having spurned the worldly life, a our venerable and God-bearing father Nilus, fleeing the tumult of life thou wast quick to gather the flowers of paradise from the writings of the fathers, and, having made thine abode in the wilderness, thou didst flourish like a lily of the field; wherefore, thou hast passed over to the mansions of heaven. Teach us who honor thee also to tread thy royal path, and pray thou for our souls.

Troparion of St Pachomios the New Martyr Tone 3

Thy godly life was made radiant by the trials of holy martyrdom,/ O glorious, righteous Martyr Pachomios./ Thou didst shine forth on Athos by thine ascetical deeds/ and shed thy blood as an Athlete./ Intercede with the Lord Who has glorified thee/ that He may grant us His great mercy.

Troparion of St Alexis — Tone 4

O righteous Father Alexis, / our heavenly intercessor and teacher, / divine adornment of the Church of Christ! / Entreat the Master of All / to strengthen the Orthodox Faith in America, / to grant peace to the world / and to our souls, great mercy!

I go up on the horse of Saint George and it takes me around, but there is no way to transfer images and photos from the mysterious worlds that it takes me to ….”

Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!
Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
ХристосВоскрес! Воистину Воскрес!
ქრისტეაღსდგა! ჭეშმარიტადაღსდგა!
Kristus (ir) augšāmcēlies! Patiesi viņš ir augšāmcēlies!
Isa dirildi! Hakikaten dirildi!

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.
Synaxarion. From the Menaion.
On May 6 we commemorate the holy, righteous, and much-suffering Prophet Job.
On this day we commemorate the Our righteous Mother Sophia of Kleisoura (Myrtidiotissa in Schema), the ascetic of Kleisoura, the Pontian (1974)
On this day we commemorate the Martyrs Danax, Mesirus (Mesiurs), and Therin
On this day we commemorate the holy Martyrs Demetrius, and Donatus
On this day we commemorate the holy Mamas, Pachomius, and Hilarion
On this day we commemorate the holy Martyrs Heliodorus and Venustus and seventy-five others in Africa (284–305)
On this day we commemorate the holy Saint Lucius of Cyrene (1st century)
On this day we commemorate the Our righteous Mother Benedicta, virgin, mystic and nun, lived in a convent founded by St. Galla in Rome (6th century)
On this day we commemorate our righteous Father Petronax of Monte Cassino (c. 747)
On this day Saint Vladimir II Monomakh (Volodymyr Monomakh), Sovereign of Kievan Rus’ (1125)
On this day we commemorate Our righteous Father Micah (Micheas), the disciple of the Saint Sergius of Radonezh (1385)
On this day we commemorate our righteous and God-bearing Father Seraphim, who lived as an ascetic on Mt. Domvu (1602)
On this day we commemorate our righteous Father Job of Pochaev, abbot and wonderworker (1651)
The Sinaites of Serbia: Romylos of Ravanica (1375), Romanos of Ravanica,Nestor, Sisoes, Zosimas of Tuman, Martirije of Rukumije, Nicodemus, Job, Grigorije of Gornjak, and Gregory of Sinai, whose Synaxis we celebrate (14th century).
On this day we commemorate Our righteous Father Barnabas (Belyaev) Bishop of Nizhni-Novgorod (1963).

On this day Monday of Bright Week, we commemorate the holy and glorious Great-martyr George the Trophybearer and St. Martyr Polychronia mother of St. George the Trophy-bearer (303) .
On this day Monday of Bright Week, the Synaxis of the Panagia “Axion Estin”  which took place at Adein
On this day the Synaxis of Panagia Glykophilousa at Philotheou Monastery
On this day the Synaxis of the Bachkovo Icon of the Mother of God at Bachkovo Monastery in the Rhodope Mountains Bulgaria

Verses
George, cutting down all his foes in battles,
Is gladly cut down of his foes by beheading.
On the twenty-third, George’s neck was seized by the brazen blade.

With what encomiums does the Orthodox Church not praise the holy Great-Martyr George, “the greatest of the great martyrs”, “the chief of the martyrs”, “he who is known everywhere by his miracles”, “he who is swift to help”, etc. These sublime names are the evidence of countless miracles that have occurred and still occur throughout Christendom thanks to St. George’s intercessions before God.

Eldress Galaktia of Crete (+2021)

Before eating, she would go and venerate the many icons that were stuck on her fridge. There she usually conversed with Saint George. She saw the Saints and described them in every detail.
Especially in the last years of her life when she was completely like a little girl at heart and she did not understand that we admired her. She especially posed as being on the horse of Saint George.
“I go up on it,” she said, “and it takes me around, but there is no way to transfer images and photos from the mysterious worlds that it takes me to ….”

***

St. Sophia the Ascetic of Kleisoura

With the tragic loss of her son and her husband, Sophia decided to completely dedicate her life to God and live as an ascetic. She fled for the mountains and lived a strict ascetic life in solitude and severe fasting. It was during this time that Saint George appeared to her, warning her of the Turkish soldiers that were coming, and this allowed her to notify her fellow villagers to flee the coming persecution, thus saving her village. She along with her fellow villagers finally arrived in Greece in 1919 as refugees.

“Patience … A lot of patience … Patience a lot.”
“Pride is an ugly thing … Dirt to dirt … Pride casts the soul into hell.”

***

Saint George Karslides and His All Night Conversation With Saint George the Trophy-Bearer

For about two years, a man called Anastasis Spyridopoulos hosted Saint George Karslides in his house, at the Saint’s request. One night, Anastasis heard the hoof beats of a horse outside in the yard.
He went to the balcony and saw a young horseman, all aglow, dismounting and going up the steps. He entered the house and was heard opening the door to the Elder’s room.
Anastasis heard them talking all night long. The next morning, after the sun was up, he asked the Elder:
‘Did you have a visitor last night, Elder?’
‘Yes’, he replied. ‘It was Saint George. Since you saw him, why didn’t you get up and light the censer, ask him for something, call upon him, and you would have received what you asked for.’
‘Unfortunately’, Anastasis now says, ‘I knew nothing of spiritual matters at that time.’

Symela Spyridopoulou, who took great care of the Elder [Saint George Karslides (+ 1959)] from the beginning, narrated the following:
“One day when I was at the monastery I had to go home for a bit to get something.
When I returned I entered the church. There was no one.
As I turned my head, I saw the icon of Saint George the Trophy-Bearer soaring in the air and bathed in light.
Frightened by this, I started screaming.
The Elder heard me and came and said to me:
‘Why are you screaming, my good woman? What are you looking at? It would be better for you to do three prostrations and greet the Saint.’
He then proceeded ahead of me, kissed the icon, then I kissed it and and the light disappeared, with the icon returning to its place.
After that, the Elder’s skin color became amber.”
From the book Όσιος Γεώργιος της Δράμας, Ο Άγιος των πτωχών και των πονεμένων, έκδοση Ιεράς Μονής Αναλήψεως του Σωτήρος, Ταξιάρχες (Σίψα), Δράμα. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

***

Deliverance from the death sentence

One of the disciples and companions of St. Joseph the Hesychast (1897–1959) was Fr. Charalambos (Galanopoulos; 1910–2001), Abbot of the Athonite Dionysiou Monastery. A Pontic Greek by origin, he was born in 1910 in Russia and as a ten-year-old boy moved with his family to Greece, where they settled down in northern Greece, in the village of Arkadiko near Drama. The young man had great success in his studies; however, he quit his studies to provide for his family.
In 1941, during the German occupation of Hellas, the Bulgarian commissars arrested Charalambos along with his fellow villagers and threw him into a concentration camp. A week later, something that no one had expected happened: the prisoners were sentenced to death. Charalambos knelt down and prayed tearfully:
“Holy Great-Martyr George, valiant warrior of Christ, save us! and I promise to devote my entire life to God!”
“Once I finished the prayer,” the elder related later, “I heard a noise above us—the clatter of a horse’s hooves. I lifted my eyes: a horse was galloping in the air over us, but I did not see any rider. But everything was clear! It must have been Saint George, but I was unworthy of seeing him. Although I saw only a horse, it meant that he had heard us!”
Early in the morning the executioners entered the cell, ready to carry out the sentence. Seconds later, the doors of the cell opened wide and a young man of athletic build entered and shouted furiously:
“Stop right now, villains! Release the innocent people and let them return to their homes! Otherwise I will shoot you all!”
Terrified, the executioners immediately left the cell. The young man vanished too. Of course, no one doubted that it had been Great-Martyr George. After a short time, the prisoners were granted amnesty in connection with the birth of the heir to the Bulgarian throne.
Nine years after this miracle, Charalambos Galanopoulos abandoned the world and became a monk on Mt. Athos in fulfillment of his vow to God and St. George.

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life

***

Opening of the church

In the Khrushchev era (1953–1964) the exiled Archimandrite Seraphim (Sutorikhin; 1901–1979) served at the Samarkand (in Uzbekistan) Church of St. George the Victorious. Repressed and after serving ten years in the camps, Fr. Seraphim, already old and weak, became a beacon of light for many believers, especially the young. The authorities could not forgive him for such activities. With the help of provocateurs from the KGB, they ensured that St. George’s Church was closed, so the faithful had to worship secretly under cover of night. Two years later it was decided to convert the church into a kindergarten.

One day, two riders in unusual old officers’ uniforms rode into the church area. The chief of them, getting off his horse, went to the cell of Fr. Seraphim, who was reading prayers, and ordered:
“Father Seraphim, get ready for the service—the church will be open today!”
Then both soldiers went to the executive committee. The formidable officer, passing by the police and the secretary, and without asking anyone about anything, opened the door to the chairman of the executive committee.
“Open the Church of Great-Martyr George today! Otherwise you will be punished mercilessly!” he ordered.
The military man left the same way as he had appeared, and in horror and confusion the official called the Commissioner for Religious Affairs.
“Send a special messenger to open the Church of Great-Martyr George now!”
The church was indeed opened on the same day—on the eve of May 6, the patronal feast. At the same time, the chairman of the executive committee came by car to Fr. Seraphim, asking him to tell him the name of his church leader. Fr. Seraphim showed the chairman a photograph of his Tashkent bishop.
“No, not this one,” the official said. “Do you have anyone higher? Yesterday your boss came to me, such a formidable officer… With such authority he ordered that the church be opened urgently. He said, ‘Otherwise you will be punished mercilessly!’ Clearly, a real leader…”
Then, with tears, Fr. Seraphim brought him St. George’s icon. The chairman was horrified, like the thieves on Mt. Athos:
“It’s him!!! He came to me yesterday!”
Prepared by Gevorg Kazaryan
Translation by Dmitry Lapa
https://orthochristian.com/153484.html

St. George the Trophy-bearer: The Prince of Martyrs
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2018/11/02/st-george-the-trophy-bearer-the-prince-of-martyrs/

Do we really always remember Christ’s words: I am the way, the truth, and the life [John 14:6]? For the holy martyr and Trophy-Bearer George, He was truly the Path and the Life; he neither followed any other path, nor did he wish to know of any other. He was not frightened by threats or fears, boldly following the way of Christ. Therefore, we bow down before all the martyrs, and especially such great ones as George the Trophy-Bearer, commending them by our ardent love. St. Luke of Simferopol
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2022/11/02/do-we-really-always-remember-christs-words-i-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life-john-146-for-the-holy-martyr-and-trophy-bearer-george-he-was-truly-the-path-and-the-life-he-n/

Christ is risen from the dead, by death trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life

Troparion of St George the Trophy-bearer Tone 4

As the deliverer of captives/ and the protector of the poor,/ as the physician of the feeble and combatant of kings,/ holy champion and great martyr George,/ intercede with Christ our God to save our souls.

Apolytikion of the Saint George the Trophy-bearer:
Fourth Tone

Liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the sick, and champion of kings, O trophy-bearer, Great Martyr George, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Apolytikion of Righteous JOB ―Tone 1

On beholding the riches of Job’s virtues, the enemy of the righteous contrived to despoil them; and though he cast down the tower of the Saint’s body, he could not plunder the wealth of his spirit, for he found the soul of that blameless one to be fully armed; but as for me, he hath stripped me and led me captive away. Hasten, then, before the end, rescue me from the wily one, O Saviour, and save me.

Troparion of Righteous JOB ―Tone 1

As an indestructible pillar of courage, / you repulsed the attacks of Belial and remained unmoved in temptation. / Therefore, O wise Job, / the Church praises you as a model of endurance and an example of virtue; / and she is made radiant by your great deeds.

Apolytikion of ST SOPHIA of Kleisoura ― Tone 3

O blessed mother Sophia, you became wise, and the adornment of the Mother of God, and you lived your life in the Monastery ascetically, from which have spread the praise of your struggles, striking the ranks of the demons. And as you stand as an intercessor before Christ, do not neglect those who honor you with fervor.

Glory…, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone V

Spring hath arrived! Come, let us delight therein! The resurrection of Christ hath shone forth! Come, let us be glad! The memorial of the passion-bearer hath been revealed, illumining the faithful! Wherefore, come, O ye who love the feasts of the Church, and let us mystically celebrate it! For, lo! having shown courage against the tyrants as a valiant warrior, he put them to shame, as an emulator of the suffering of Christ the Savior; and he did not spare his vessel of clay, but stripped it naked, altering it by tortures. To him let us cry out: O passion-bearer, pray thou, that our souls be saved.

St. George the Trophy-bearer, intercede for us all and help us! Pray to God for us! Pray that we labor in the fast with joy, and let God’s light illumine our hearts. Pray that we can learn to live out our Christian vocation in all times and places, and in all circumstances. Through the intercessions of St. George the Great-martyr, the Trophy-bearer and St. Martyr Polychronia mother of St. George the Trophy-bearer and our mother, O Lord, have mercy on us and save us! Amen.

Christ is Risen from Paradise… by our beloved Papa-Fotis the Fool for Christ!!!

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.
Synaxarion From the Pentecostarion.
On the Holy and Great Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate the life-bearing Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.

Verses
Christ descended to do battle with Hades alone;
He ascended after taking many spoils of victory.

Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς Ἀνέστη!
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Христос Воскрес! Воистину Воскрес!
Kristus (ir) augšāmcēlies! Patiesi viņš ir augšāmcēlies!
ქრისტეაღსდგა! ჭეშმარიტადაღსდგა!
Le Christ est ressuscité! Vraiment Il est ressuscité!
Hristos a înviat! Adevărat a înviat!
Cristo ha resucitado! Verdaderamente, ha resucitado!
Kristos (İsa) dirildi! Gerçekten dirildi!
Christos E Anviat! Adeverat Anviat!
Al-Masih-Qam! Hakkan Qam!

«Rejoice!». «Peace be unto you!»

Every place may become the place of the Resurrection. It is enough that you live the humility of Christ.
Mother Gabrielia

Christ is Risen from Paradise… by our beloved Papa-Fotis the Fool for Christ!!!

Father N. is a simple Levite and above all one who is in dire straights, with many personal problems, but he was a dear friend of Papa-Fotis Lavriotis the Fool for Christ. Many times when he saw him, Papa-Fotis teased him, because Father N. is a very simple soul, pure, childlike I would say… and Papa-Fotis found comfort in such souls!
This year (2020) he received an order from the Bishop to officiate on Bright Tuesday in a church in another village, as he did. On his way home, he had to pass by the cemetery where Papa-Fotis is buried, and he was thinking about it.
When he got very close, he saw Papa-Fotis standing in front of him, dressed in a white priestly garb, and very radiantly smiling and greeting him!
Father N., as he is a simple and sincere soul, got scared, as he shyly admits, and stepped on the gas of the car!
Moving further down, to a small church where Papa-Fotis used to go and officiate, he saw Papa-Fotis alive again in that bright priestly garb greeting him joyful and bright! Father N. believed it was his imagination, and for fear of being teased, he didn’t say anything.
At night as he fell asleep, he saw Papa-Fotis again in his sleep, telling him teasingly:
“What were you afraid of, blessed one? It was me and I wanted to wish you Christ is Risen and greet you! Why didn’t you stop?”
This was the happiest… the most grace-filled… the most resurrectional Christ is Risen!
“Think about it,” said Father N. “I was told that Christ is Risen from Paradise!”
He shed tears of Resurrection Joy and loving nostalgia for his beloved Papa-Fotis, who always supported him in his difficulties.
May we have the blessing of the holy papouli!
Christ is Risen! … from Paradise!
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

***

I became all light!
Saint Iakovos of Evia
Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou

When Elder Iakovos of Evia was serving in the army before he became a monk, he was granted permission to take all of Holy Week and Pascha off.
But during the week, he noticed one of his fellow soldiers was very depressed. And he asked him, “Why are you so sad, George?”
“Iakovos, you with your religiosity, managed to convince the commander to give you the entire week off. You will be fine with your chanting, your monastic practices, but how about me? I also want to go to my village to spend Pascha with my fiance.”
“Okay, George, you want the day of Pascha off – do you also want a couple of other days off?”
“Well, it would be good to have Great Friday off, and even Thursday, so I can get to church and hear a couple of Gospels.”
“Don’t worry George, I will take care of it.”
This man of God, who lived for these services – this was his life, these hymns were his breath – he sacrificed it all for his fellow man, and he stayed inside the barracks – Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, Holy Saturday and Pascha Sunday.
Out of curiosity I asked him, “Very well, Elder, how did you pass these days?”
“I was serving guard duty, and I was on a hill watching the citizens of Athens going to their churches, and I was trying to repeat the Prayer of Jesus. And on the night of Pascha, when I heard the joyous bells, I sighed and I said, ‘O my Christ, now our Christians are receiving Your Holy Light.’ And as I said this, the Holy Light came to me as well!”
“How did this happen, Elder?”
“Well, my child, a light came from on high and rested on me, and I became all light!”
The man of God had sacrificed the created light of the Paschal candle, and he received the uncreated Light of Divinity. This was Elder Iakovos. This was inside his nature – the willingness to sacrifice even his prayer and his personal effort and struggle, for the love of his neighbor.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

***The Easter of Saint George Karslides in prison

The imprisoned monks and clergy asked permission at Pascha to go to church. Having been denied this, they fervently prayed for continued strength in the struggle. As they chanted, “Christ is risen,” the prison shook and the doors opened of their own accord. The inhabitants of that area hastened to see what was happening and beheld three holy figures who, chanting “Lord have mercy” and holding a cross, were processing in a circle above the prison. The vision lasted until dawn, when the captives were prepared for execution. They were tied together and led to the edge of a cliff. The firing squad took aim and fired. Three bullets hit Symeon, but only grazed him, and did little harm. He was dragged off the cliff, however, by the weight of the others. Miraculously, he fell without being killed and this escaped death.” (Middleton)

Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
O, resurrected Lord, place us among the resurrected citizens of Your eternal kingdom.

Christ by His Resurrection did not cross us a river, a gorge, a canal, a lake, or even the Red Sea. He brought us over an abyss that no human being could cross on his own. Our Christ passed from death to life! St. Porphyrios the Kapsokalyvite
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2022/04/23/christ-by-his-resurrection-did-not-cross-us-a-river-a-gorge-a-canal-a-lake-or-even-the-red-sea-he-brought-us-over-an-abyss-that-no-human-being-could-cross-on-his-own-our-christ-passed-from-death/

The profound faith, the prayer and the simplicity resurrect the dead!!! Why should this incident seem strange? Didn’t Christ resurrect the dead? Lazarus, the widow’s son, Jaerus’ daughter? Didn’t the Apostles resurrect the dead?… Haven’t we read so many wonders in the lives of the saints? Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2021/10/09/the-profound-faith-the-prayer-and-the-simplicity-resurrect-the-dead-why-should-this-incident-seem-strange-didnt-christ-resurrect-the-dead-lazarus-the-widows-son-jaerus/

Paschal Troparion tone 1

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, * let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, * the only sinless One. * We venerate Thy Cross, O Christ, * and Thy holy Resurrection we hymn and glorify. * For Thou art our God, * and we know none other beside Thee; * we call upon Thy name. * O come, all ye faithful, * let us worship Christ’s holy Resurrection, * for, behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. * Ever blessing the Lord, * we hymn His Resurrection; * for, having endured crucifixion, ** He hath destroyed death by death.

The angel cried to the Lady Full of Grace: Rejoice, O Pure Virgin!Again I say: Rejoice! Your Son is risen from His three days in the tomb!With Himself He has raised all the dead! Rejoice, all you people!
Shine! Shine! O New Jerusalem!The Glory of the Lord has shone on you!Exalt now and be glad, O Zion!Be radiant, O Pure Theotokos, in the Resurrection of your Son!

Today in holy and awesome Saturday, from the depths of hell, victory resounded, the victory of suffering love, all hell has been harrowed; now, it is for us to wait with all longing, all hope, with awe, with gratitude for the news to reach us: Christ is risen from the dead, having trampled death by death…

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.
Synaxarion.
On May 4 we commemorate the holy Virgin-Martyr Pelagia of Tarsus (287)
On this day we also commemorate our devout Father Hilarion the Wonderworker.
On this day we also commemorate the Martyrs Florian and 40 companions, at Lorsch, Austria (304)
On this day Saint Monica of Tagaste, the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo (387)
On this day we also commemorate the Martyrs Aphrodisius, Leontius, Anthony, Valerian, Macrobius, and 60 others, monks at Scythopolis of Palestine (beginning of the 4th century)
Our devout father Nikephoros, the Abbot of Medicium Monastery, reposed in peace (813).
On this day we also commemorate our devout Nikephoros, who lived in stillness in the wilderness of Athos, and who authored the wise method of noetic prayer, teacher of St. Gregory Palamas reposed in peace (before 1300).
We also commemorate our devout father Athanasios, Bishop of Corinth, who reposed in the year 957, during the reign of Emperors Basil the Bulgar-slayer and his brother Constantine.
On this day we also commemorate the Alfanov brothers of Novgorod: Saints: Nicetas, Cyril, Nicephorus, Clement, and Isaac of Novgorod; founders of the Sokolnitzki Monastery in 1389.
On this day is also the commemoration of the transfer of the relics of Saint Lazarus, the friend of Christ, and of equal of the apostles Mary Magdalene the Myrrh-bearer, which took place during the reign Leo the Philosopher, in the year 890. The service in their honor is celebrated in the most holy Monastery founded by the same Emperor and named for St. Lazarus.
Icon of the Mother of God “Staro Rus” (Staraya Russa) Old Russian (1570)
On this day we also commemorate the holy Virgin-martyr Nun Stefanida of Kosovo (Serbia) (1945).

Synaxarion.
On Holy and Great Saturday, we celebrate the burial of the Divine Body of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ and His Descent into Hades, whereby our race was recalled from corruption and passed over to eternal life.

Verses
In vain do ye keep watch over the tomb, O guards;
For the grave shall not hold fast Him Who is Life itself.

Death as Victory
by Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia

Christ’s death upon the Cross is not a failure which was somehow put right afterwards by His Resurrection. In itself the death upon the Cross is a victory. The victory of what? There can be only one answer: the victory of suffering love. “Love is as strong as death….many waters cannot quench love” (Song of Songs 8:6-7). The Cross shows us a love that is as strong as death, a love that is even stronger.
St John introduces his account of the Last Supper and the Passion with these words: ‘’Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end’’ ( 13:,1). ‘’To the end’’ – the Greek says eis telos, meaning ‘’to the last’’, ‘’to the uttermost’’. And this word telos is taken up later in the final cry uttered by Christ on the Cross: ‘’It is finished’’ , tetelestai ( John 19:30). This is to be understood , not as a cry of resignation or despair, but as a cry of victory : It is completed, it is accomplished, it is fulfilled. Because of love he offered Himself as a sacrifice, choosing at Gethsemane to go voluntarily to His Passion: ‘’I lay down my life for my sheep… No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself’’ (John 10:15,18).

Loving humility is an incredible force. Whenever we give up anything or suffer anything, not with a sense of rebellious bitterness, but willingly and out of love, this makes us not weaker, but stronger. The power of God is shown, not so much in His creation of the world or in any of His miracles, but rather in the fact that out of love God has ‘’emptied Himself’’ (Phil.2:7), has poured Himself out in generous self-giving, by His own free choice consenting to suffer and to die.

Love and hatred are not merely subjective feelings, affecting the inward universe of those who experience them, but they are objective forces altering the world outside ourselves. By loving or hating another, I cause the other in some measure to become that which I see in him or her. Love is creative and hatred is destructive.
Christ’s suffering love has a creative effect upon us, transforming our heart and will, releasing us from bondage, making us whole, rendering it possible for us to love in a way that would is completely beyond my own powers.

Christ did not suffer instead of us but He suffered on our behalf; He did not exempt us from suffering but showed us how to suffer. Christ offers us, not a way round suffering, but a way through it; not substitution, but saving companionship.
And so Christ’s death upon the Cross is truly, as the Liturgy of St. Basil describes it, a “life-creating death.”
The Orthodox Way by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware of Diokleia, Death as Victory, p.107.

***Holy Saturday, апреля 29, 1989
Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh

 …What wonder when, from the depths of hell, victory resounded the sound of victory, when the whole creation became aware that the Christ’s human soul had descended into hell, into the place where God was not, could not be, into the place which by definition was the place of eternal, irremediable absence; but He had come to it in the glory, the shining, the resplendence of His Godhead, and darkness was banished; the place of radical separation had become a place filled victoriously by the divine presence; hell was no longer; victory was won by God, but not only by God, because it is the human soul of Christ, the man filled with divinity that has won this victory .

And the body? The body lay in the tomb uncorrupted, because corruption could not touch this Body that was filled with divinity, even when His human soul had been torn away from it. Hope came, shy, yet exulting; the whole creation knew now that victory was won and that all things were possible, all promises would be fulfilled, all longings will be satisfied.

Only the world of man was still unaware of it. And we are today in that same holy and awesome Saturday, when the Son of God, the son of man rested from His labours. All creation knows the victory, all hell has been harrowed; now, it is for us to wait; to wait with all longing, all hope, all desire for the news to reach us, that not only hell was conquered but soul and body were reunited, that Christ the man had risen from the tomb, that all things were fulfilled, that the end had come – the end not as a point in time but as a goal attained: the vision of the perfect man united perfectly for ever with the Godhead, whose body stood not only for mankind, but for all the created, material and spiritual world.

Let us wait with awe, let us wait with gratitude, let us wait with the tenderness and adoration for the moment when we, on earth, will hear the news: Christ is risen from the dead, having trampled death by death, and to those in the tombs having been given life. Amen!
https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Antonij_Surozhskij/sermons/169

God wants that all men be saved, that is why He descended into Hades… Pyramid of being… St. Nikolai Velimirovich – St. Sophrony Sakharov
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2021/04/30/god-wants-that-all-men-be-saved-that-is-why-he-descended-into-hades-pyramid-of-being-st-nikolai-velimirovich-st-sophrony-sakharov/

This hymn is a lament chanted from the perspective of Joseph of Arimathea, pleading with Pontius Pilate for the Body of Jesus. It is one of the most beautiful hymns of the Holy Week, Matins of Holy and Great Saturday.

To all the strangers of this world…
Plagal of First Tone

As the sun hid its very rays at the Savior’s death, and the curtain of the temple was rent in twain,Joseph of everlasting memory approached Pilate beseeching him in this manner;
Give me this stranger, who from infancy has been as a stranger,a sojourner in the world.
Give me this stranger, whon His own race has hated and delivered unto death as a stranger.
Give me this stranger, who in a strange manner is a stranger to death.
Give me this stranger, who has received the poor as guests.
Give me this stranger, whom the jews from envy estranged from the world.
Give me this stranger, that i may hide him in a tomb, for as a stranger He has no place to lay His head.
Give me this stranger, whose Mother seeing His dead body cries out:”O my Son and my God, I am sorely wounded within me and my heart is rent,seeing Thee as one dead:but in Thy Resurrection I take courage and magnify Thee”.Thus entreating Pilate with these words, noble Joseph receives the body of the Savior: and wrapping it with fear in a linen with myrrh, he places in a tomb Him Who bestows upon all  eternal life and great mercy.

Chanted during Holy Saturday Morning Service
THE EIGHTH ODE – The Hymn of the Holy Three Children (Dan. 3: 57-88)

Praise the Lord, ye creatures which He hath made.
Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, all ye angels of the Lord, and ye heavens of the Lord: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, all ye waters that are above the heavens, and all ye powers of the Lord: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, O ye sun and moon, and ye stars of heaven: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, every shower and dew, and all ye winds: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, O ye fire and heat, ye winter cold and summer heat: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, O ye falls of dew and snow, ye ice and cold: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, O ye frosts and snows, ye lightning and clouds: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, O ye light and darkness, ye night and day: praise the Lord, and exalt Him above for ever.

Bless the Lord, O ye earth, ye mountains and hills, and all things that spring up therein: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, O ye fountains, ye seas and floods, ye monsters of the sea, and all things that move in the waters: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, all ye winged creatures of the air, ye beasts and all cattle: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, O ye sons of men; let Israel bless the Lord: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

For 8 verses

Bless the Lord, O ye priests of the Lord, ye servants of the Lord: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, ye holy and humble of heart: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

For 6 verses

Bless the Lord, O Ananias, Azarias and Misael: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

Bless the Lord, O ye apostles, ye prophets and martyrs of the Lord: Praise Ye the Lord and Supremely Exault him unto the ages

For 4 verses

Let us bless the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Lord: Praising the Lord and Supremely Exaulting him unto the ages

Let us praise, and bless, and worship the Lord: Praising the Lord and Supremely Exaulting him unto the ages

The Song of the Three Holy Youths

Even in His pain on the cross, the Lord Jesus did not condemn sinners but offered pardon to His Father for their sins saying, “They know not what they do!”

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion
Synaxarion
On this day, Holy and Great Friday, we celebrate the awesome, holy, and saving Passion of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ: the spitting, the blows, the buffeting, the mockery, the reviling, the purple robe, the reed, the sponge, the vinegar, the nails, the spear, and above all, the Cross and Death which He condescended to endure willingly for our sakes. Also the saving confession on the cross of the grateful Robber who was crucified with Him.

Verses for the Crucifixion
Even dead on the Cross, You as God are living
O naked corpse and living God’s Logos.
For the grateful Robber
The Robber opened the locked gates of Eden
Using the key of his “Remember me” confession

the pain on the cross
Saint Nikolai Velimirovič

Even in His pain on the cross, the Lord Jesus did not condemn sinners but offered pardon to His Father for their sins saying, “They know not what they do!” (St. Luke 23:34). Let us not judge anyone so that we will not be judged. For no one is certain that before his death he will not commit the same sin by which he condemns his brother. Saint Anastasius of Sinai teaches, “Even if you see someone sinning, do not judge him for you do not know what the end of his life will be like. The thief, crucified with Christ, entered Paradise and the Apostle Judas went to Hell. Even if you see someone sinning, bear in mind that you do not know his good works. For many have sinned openly and repented in secret; we see their sins, but we do not know their repentance. That is why, brethren, let us not judge anyone so that we will not be judged.”
The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
https://prologue.orthodox.cn/March22.htm

***Homily:
About the hand of the betrayer
by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič

“And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray Me is with Me on the table” (St. Luke 22:21).

It is most difficult for a general to wage war when he has an enemy within the camp; not only external enemies, but internal enemies among his own. Judas was considered among his own. However, he was the enemy from within. Rows of enemies crowded and closed ranks around Christ and, from within, Judas was preparing betrayal. His hand was on the table which Christ blessed, and his thoughts were aligned with the enemies where darkest evil, hatred and malice seethed against the gentle Lord.

Is it not also the same today, that the hand of the many traitors of Christ are at the table with Him? Which table is not Christ’s? On what table are not His gifts? He is the Householder and He nourishes and feeds His guests. The guests have nothing of their own, nothing! All good and all abundance which is given to them is given to them by the hand of Christ. Therefore, is it not so that Christ is present at every table as a Householder and as a Servant? Therefore, are not those also the hands of all who even today betray Christ on the table together with Him? They eat His bread and they speak against Him. They warm themselves by His sun and they slander His name. They breathe His air and they rise up against His Church. They live off His mercy and they banish Him from their homes, from their schools, from their courts, from their books and from their hearts. They trample His commandments willfully, maliciously and ridicule His law. Are they not then the betrayers of Christ and the followers of Judas?

Do not be afraid of them! God did not command that we be afraid of them but wait to see their end. Our Lord was not afraid of Judas nor is He afraid of all the traitorous hordes until the end of time. He knows their end and He already has His victory in His hands. Therefore, do not you be afraid either. Adhere faithfully to Christ the Lord, both when it appears to you that His causes succeed and go forward in the world and then, again, when it appears to you that His causes collapse and perish. Do not be afraid! If you become frightened, perhaps your hand will be found clenched under the hand of Judas at the table of Christ.

O Lord, All-Victorious, sustain us with Your power and mercy.

To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
The Prologue from Ohrid: Lives of Saints by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
http://prologue.orthodox.cn/March7.htm

Herod and Pilate became friends that very day… Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/herod-and-pilate-became-friends-that-very-day-saint-nikolai-velimirovic/

Christ on Golgotha! Seven sorts of criminal surround Him. Saint Nikolai Velimirovitch
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/christ-on-golgotha-seven-sorts-of-criminal-surround-him-saint-nikolai-velimirovitch/

My brethren, let us not ever seek peace with injustice against justice. Rather, let us always seek peace with God, and that with a clear conscience. O God, help us so that we may always possess such peace. Saint Nikolai Velimirovič – Fr. Seraphim Rose
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2022/04/19/77053/

Antiphon One; (Tone VIII):

The rulers of the people took counsel together ** against the Lord and against His Christ?

They laid a lawless accusation against Me. ** O Lord, O Lord, forsake Me not.

Let us bring to Christ pure senses and affections, * and as His friends let us sacrifice our lives for His sake. * Let us not, choke upon the cares of this life, * as did Judas, * but from within let us cry: * Our Father who art in the heavens, ** deliver us from the evil one.

Antiphon Three; (Tone II):

‘Watch and pray, * that ye enter not into temptation’, * thus didst Thou say unto Thy disciples O our God. ** But Judas the transgressor had no desire to comprehend this.

Antiphon Eight; (Tone II):

‘Let Him be crucified!’ cried the murderers of the righteous One, * they who had always taken pleasure in Thy gifts; * asking for the release of an evildoer in place of their Benefactor. * But Thou, O Christ, didst remain silent, enduring their wicked impudence, * wishing to suffer and thereby save us * in that Thou art the Lover of mankind.

Antiphon Fifteen; (Tone VI):

The congregations kneels as the icon of the Crucifixion is processed. The priest intones the following troparion, then the Choirs sing it antiphonally, verse by verse.

Today He who suspended the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross. * He who is the King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns. * He who wrapeth the heaven in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery. * He who in Jordan set Adam free receiveth blows upon His face. * The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails. * The Son of the Virgin is Pierced with a spear. * We venerate, Thy Passion, O Christ. * We venerate, Thy Passion, O Christ. * We venerate, Thy Passion, O Christ. ** Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection.

Let us not keep festival as did the Jews: * for Christ our God and Pascha hath been sacrificed for us. * But let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement, * and with sincerity let us entreat Him: * Arise, O Lord, ** and save us O Lover of mankind.

Read over and over again the services from Holy Thursday and Holy Friday. Remember how Jesus suffered. Mother Macrina of Portaria

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion
Synaxarion
On holy and great Thursday the godly Fathers, who have arranged all things well, received from the divine Apostles and the sacred Gospels and in turn handed down to us, that today we should celebrate four things: the sacred Washing of Feet, the Mystical Supper (that is, the tradition of what we know as the awsome Mysteries of Holy Communion), the High Priestly Prayer, and finally the Betrayal itself.

Verses for the sacred Washing
In the evening God washed the feet of the Disciples;
His own foot once walked before dusk in Eden.
For the Mystical Supper
Double Supper: it has the Law’s Pascha,
The new Pascha also, the Lord’s Blood and Body.
For the transcendent Prayer
You pray: the terrors, the blood on Your forehead,
As though You were begging to be spared from dying.
O Christ, by this You deceive the deceiver.
For the Betrayal
Why swords and clubs, O deceivers of the people?
He is willing to die for the world’s redemption.

Chapter CXXII
Two monks who came naked into church for Communion, unnoticed by anyone except abba STEPHEN.

When we visited abba Stephen the Cappadocian in Mount Sinai he told us the following story:
Some years ago when I was in Raythum I was in Church on Maundy Thursday, and after the offering of the sacred oblation with all the fathers present, I saw two anchorites come in. They were naked, but none of the fathers noticed their nakedness except me. When they had received the body and blood of the Lord they went out of the church and were about to go away. I went out as well, however, and prostrated myself before them.
“Do me a kindness,” I said, “and take me with you,” so they knew that I had seen them naked.
“No, stay where you are and be at peace,” they said.
I begged them once more to take me with them.
“You can’t come with us, ” they said, “stay where you are. The place where you are is a good place.”
But they did say a prayer with me, and then as I watched they walked on the water of the Red Sea and crossed over to the other side.
http://www.vitae-patrum.org.uk/page151.html

***

Saint Seraphim of Sarov

Before services Fr. Seraphim would spend whole nights in prayer. At the end of the service he would remain in the church, putting the utensils in order. He would say: “Those who go to church should never say anything within it that is not necessary. And what is more beautiful, higher or glorious than a church?” He also would say: “Why can’t a man serve God at all times as do the angels?” He saw angels more than once during divine services. “Their appearance was as lightning, their clothes white like snow, or like golden cloth, their singing is impossible to describe,” he would speak of them.

An indescribable ecstasy would then overtake the Saint. “Ready is my heart,”(Ps. 56:10) he said, “as wax melteth from unspeakable joy. And I remember nothing from that joy, I remember only how I entered and left the holy church.”

One day during the Liturgy on Great Thursday, he was vouchsafed to see a vision, the likes of which very few of even the greatest saints have ever been worthy of seeing.…

“One day it so happened,” said the Saint, “that I was serving Vespers on Holy and Great Thursday. Divine Liturgy began at 2:00, as usual, with Vespers. After the lesser entrance and reading, I, the lowly one, pronounced at the royal doors: ‘Lord save the pious and harken unto us!’ Entering the royal doors and lifting my stole to the people, I finished: ‘And to the ages of ages.’ Suddenly I saw a ray of light as from the sun. Looking at this radiance, I saw Our Lord and God Jesus Christ in the image of the Son of Man, in glory and unspeakable light and brilliance, surrounded by the heavenly powers, angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, like a swarm of bees, coming from the west church doors as from the air.

“Approaching with such a countenance to the amvon and raising His Most Holy hands, the Lord blessed those who were serving and those who were praying in church. He had stepped up, transfigured, to His holy icon, which was to the right of the royal doors. The surrounding angelic beings radiated unspeakable light throughout the entire church. I, earth and ashes, meeting the Lord Jesus Who stood upon the air, was deemed worthy to receive from Him a special blessing. My heart was filled with pure, holy and sweetest love for the Lord.”

St. Seraphim’s appearance changed, and stricken completely by the divine vision, he could not even move from his spot by the royal doors. Fr. Pachomius noticed, and sent two other hieromonks, who, taking him under the arms, led him to the altar. But he continued to stand there for nearly three more hours without moving, in total astonishment. Only his face changed the whole time, becoming white as snow, then flushing red.

After the divine services were over, Elder Pachomius asked him what had happened. Fr. Seraphim, who never hid anything from his spiritual fathers, related it all to them. They bid him to cloak himself in silence and to delve ever deeper into humility, to save himself from conceit that could arise from such an extraordinary vision. The Saint accepted this instruction with all meekness, and remained silent until the necessary time.
FROM THE LIFE OF ST. SERAPHIM OF SAROV, Helen Kontsevich
http://orthochristian.com/55236.html

***

Mother Macrina of Portaria

Read over and over again the services from Holy Thursday and Holy Friday. Remember how Jesus suffered. You must be like Jesus. Pick up the heavy load of your cross and follow Him and then He Himself will help you to carry your cross. Say, “Christ will help me pick up my cross and the devil will not touch me if I willingly pick up my cross”. Also, “I BEAR THE SHORTCOMINGS OF MY SISTERS with a glad heart because I have MORE shortcomings than any other sister or person”.

One drop of the blood of the All-pure Christ can cleanse mankind… Lord, our omnipotent Lord, cleanse us sinners by Your bloody wound. Victorious Lord, teach us more about Your long-suffering; and when we become exhausted, extend Your hand and sustain us. Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2023/04/12/one-drop-of-the-blood-of-the-all-pure-christ-can-cleanse-mankind-lord-our-omnipotent-lord-cleanse-us-sinners-by-your-bloody-wound-victorious-lord-teach-us-more-about-your-long-suffering/

The Canon
By Cosmas the Monk.
Ode i. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos.

Initiating His friends into mysteries, the very Wisdom of God sets a soul-sustaining table, and mixes the wine of immortality in His chalice, for those who believe. Let us religiously draw near and call out: “He is Christ our God, and He is greatly glorified.”

Ode ix. Heirmos.

Come, believers, let us enjoy the Master’s hospitality and immortal table, in the upper room, that is, in elevated minds. And learning a sublime word from the Word, we magnify Him.

From Triodion – Lauds.
Glory. Both now. Mode 2.

He, whom Isaiah proclaimed to be the Lamb, comes to His voluntary slaughter. He gives His back to whips and His cheeks to blows. He turns not away His face from the shame of spitting. He is sentenced to a shameful death. The sinless One willingly accepts it all, so that He might grant to all the resurrection from the dead.

Aposticha.
Idiomelon. Mode pl. 4.

Today, the evil council against Christ has gathered together, and they plotted vain things against Him, to deliver Him to Pilate, and to put Him to death, even though He is innocent. Today, Judas has put the noose of money around his own neck, and he deprives himself of life, both temporal and divine. Today, Caiaphas, not of his own accord, prophesies and says, “It is expedient that one man should die for the people”; for He came to suffer for our sins, that He might free us from slavery to the enemy, as He is good and loves humanity.

From Triodion
Both now. Mode pl. 1.

Initiating Your disciples, O Lord, You instructed them, saying, “O my friends, see that no fear separates you from Me. Although I suffer, yet I do so for the sake of the world. So do not fall away because of Me; for I came not to be served but to serve, and to give My life as a ransom for the world. So, if you are My friends, imitate Me. Whoever would be first, let him be last; let the master be like the servant. Abide in me, so that you may bear fruit; for I am the Vine of life.”

Troparion before the Prophecy. Mode 3.

Lord, You were struck on behalf of the human race and were not enraged. Free our life from corruption and save us.