The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God (Part III)

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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THE ORTHODOX VENERATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD (Part III)
By Saint John Maximovitch of San Francisco

Mary told no one of the appearance of the Angel, but the Angel himself revealed to Joseph concerning Mary's miraculous conception from the Holy Spirit (St. Matthew 1:18-25); and after the Nativity of Christ, with a multitude of the heavenly host, he announced it to the shepherds. The shepherds, coming to worship the newborn One, said that they had heard of Him. Having previously endured suspicion in silence, Mary now also listened in silence and "kept in Her heart" the saying concerning the greatness of Her Son (St. Luke 2:8-19). She heard forty days later Symeon's prayer of praise and the prophecy concerning the weapon which would piece Her soul. Later She saw how Jesus advanced in wisdom; She heard Him at the age of twelve teaching in the Temple and everything She "kept in Her heart" (St. Luke 2:21-51).

Even though full of grace, She did not yet fully understand what the service and the greatness of Her Son would consist. The Hebrew conception of the Messiah was still close to Her, and natural feelings forced Her to be concerned for Him, preserving Him from labors and dangers which it might seem, were excessive. Therefore She favored Her Son involuntarily at first, which evoked His indication of the superiority of spiritual to bodily kinship (St. Matthew 12:46-49). "He had concern also over the honor of His Mother, but much more over the salvation of Her soul and the good of men, for which He had become clothed in the flesh (St. John Chrysostom, Commentary on John, Homily 21). Mary understood this and "heard the word of God and kept it" (St. Luke 11:27-28). As no other person, She had the same feelings as Christ (Phil. 2:5), unmurmuringly bearing the grief of a mother, when She saw Her son persecuted and suffering. Rejoicing in the day of the Resurrection, on the day of Pentecost she was clothed with "power from on high" (St. Luke 24:49). The Holy Spirit Who descended upon Her "taught (Her) all things" (St. John 14:26), and "instructed" (Her) in all truth" (St. John 16:13). Being enlightened, She began to labor all the more zealously to perform what She had heard from Her Son and Redeemer, so as to ascend to Him and to be with Him.

The end of the earthly life of the Most Holy Mother of God was the beginning of Her greatness. "Being adorned with Divine glory" (Irmos of the Canon of the Dormition). She stands and will stand, both in the day of the Last Judgment and in the future age, at the right hand of the Throne of Her Son. She reigns with Him and has boldness towards Him as His Mother according to the flesh, and as one in spirit with Him, as one Who performed the will of God and instructed others (St. Matthew 5:19). Merciful and full of love, She manifests Her love towards Her Son and God in love for the human race. She intercedes for it before the merciful one, and going about the earth, she helps men.

Having experienced all the difficulties of earthly life, the Intercessor of the Christian race sees every tear, hears every groan and entreaty directed to Her. Especially near to Her are those who labor in the battle with passions and are zealous for a God-pleasing life. But even in worldly cares, She is an irreplaceable helper. "Joy of all who sorrow and intercessor for the offended, feeder of the hungry, consolation of travelers, harbor of the storm-tossed, visitation of the sick, protection and intercessor for the infirm, staff of old age, Thou art the Mother of God on High, O Most-Pure One" (Sticheron of the Service to the Hodigitria (Directress), "saving the world by Thine unceasing prayer" (Theotokion of the Third Tone).  "She says and night doth prays for us, and the scepters of kingdoms are confirmed by Her prayers" (daily Midnight Service).  

There is no intellect or words to express the greatness of Her Who was born in the sinful human race but became "more honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim." "Seeing the grace of the secret mysteries of God made manifest and clearly fulfilled in the Virgin, I rejoice; and I know not how to understand the strange and secret manner whereby the Undefiled has been revealed as alone chosen above all creation, visible and spiritual. Therefore, wishing to praise Her, I am struck dumb with amazement in both mind and speech. Yet still I dare to proclaim and magnify Her: She is indeed the Heavenly Tabernacle" (Ikos of the Entry into the Temple). "Every tongue is at a loss to praise Thee as is due; even a spirit from the world above is filled with dizziness when it seeks to sing Thy praises, O Theotokos. But since Thou art good, accept our faith, Thou knowest well our love inspired by God, for Thou art the Protector of Christians, and we magnify Thee" (Irmos of the 9th Canticle, Service of the Theophany). (Source: The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"-- Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God (Part II)

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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THE ORTHODOX VENERATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD (Part II)
By Saint John Maximovitch of San Francisco

The Orthodox Church teaches about the Mother of God that which Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture have informed concerning Her, and daily it glorifies Her in its temples, asking Her help and defense. Knowing that She is pleased only by those praises which correspond to Her actual glory, the Holy Fathers and hymn-writers have entreated Her and Her Son to teach them how to hymn Her. "Set a rampart about my mind, O my Christ, for I make bold to sing the praise of Thy pure Mother" (Ikos of the Dormition). "The Church teaches that Christ was truly born of Mary the Ever-Virgin" (Saint Epiphanios, True Word Concerning the Faith). "It is essential for us to confess that the Holy Ever-Virgin Mary is actually Theotokos (Birthgiver of God), so as not to fall into blasphemy. For those who deny that the Holy Virgin is actually Theotokos are no longer believers but disciples of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (Saint Ephraim the Syrian, To John the Monk).

From Tradition, it is known that Mary was the daughter of the aged Joachim and Anna and that Joachim descended from the royal line of David, and Anna from the priestly line. Notwithstanding such a noble origin, they were poor. However, it was not this that saddened these righteous ones, but rather the fact that they did not have children and could not hope that their descendants would see the Messiah. And behold, when once, being disdained by the Hebrews for their barrenness, they both in grief of soul were offering up prayers to God--Joachim on a mountain to which he had retired after the priest did not want to offer his sacrifice in the Temple, and Anna in her own garden weeping over her barrenness--there appeared to them an Angel who informed them that they would bring forth a daughter.  Overjoyed, they promised to consecrate their child to God.

In nine months a daughter was born to them, called Mary, who from Her early childhood manifested the best qualities of soul. When She was three years old, Her parents, fulfilling their promise, solemnly led the little Mary to the Temple of Jerusalem; She Herself ascended the high steps and, by revelation from God, She was led into the very Holy of Holies, by the High Priest who met Her, taking with Her the grace of God which rested upon Her into the Temple, which until then had been without grace. (See the Kontakion Hymn of the Entry into the Temple. This was the newly built Temple into which the glory of God had not descended as it had upon the Ark or upon the Temple of Solomon.) She was settled in the quarters for virgins which existed in the Temple, but She spent so much time in prayer in the Holy of Holies that one might say that She lived in it (Service to the Entry, second sticheron on "Lord, I have cried," and the "Glory, Both now..."). Being adorned with all virtues, She manifested an example of extraordinarily pure life. Being submissive and obedient to all, She offended no one, said no crude word to anyone, was friendly to all and did not allow any unclean thought (Abridged from St. Ambrose of Milan, Concerning the Ever-Virginity of the Virgin Mary).

"Despite the righteousness and the immaculateness of the life which the Mother of God led, "sin and eternal death" manifested their presence in Her. They could not but be manifested: Such is the precise and faithful teaching of the Orthodox Church concerning the Mother of God with relation to ancestral (original) sin and death" (Saint Ignatius Brianchninov, Exposition of the Teaching of the Orthodox Church on the Mother of God). "A stranger to any fall into sin" (Saint Ambrose of Milan, Commentary on the 118th Psalm), She was not a stranger to sinful temptations. "God alone is without sin" (Saint Ambrose, same source), while man will always have in himself something yet needing correction and perfection in order to fulfill the Commandments of God: "Be ye holy as I the Lord your God am Holy" (Leviticus 19:2). The more pure and perfect one is, the more he notices his imperfections and considers himself all the more unworthy.

The Virgin Mary, having given Herself entirely to God, even though She repulsed from Herself every impulse to sin, still felt the weakness of human nature more powerfully than others and ardently desired the coming of the Savior. In Her humility, She considered Herself unworthy to be even the servant-girl of the Virgin Who was to give Him birth. So that nothing might distract Her from prayer and heedfulness to Herself, Mary gave to God a vow not to become married, in order to please only Him Her whole life long. Being betrothed to the elderly Joseph when Her age no longer allowed Her to remain in the Temple, She settled in his house in Nazareth. Here the Virgin was vouchsafed the coming of the Archangel Gabriel, who brought Her the good tidings of the birth from Her of the Son of the Most High. "Hail ("Rejoice"), Thou that art full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women...The Holy Spirit shall come upon Thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow Thee; wherefore also that which is to be born shall be holy. and shall be called the Son of God" (St. Luke 1:28-35).

Mary received the Angelic good tidings (news) humbly and submissively. "Then the Logos/Word, in a way known to Himself, descended and, as He Himself willed, came and entered into Mary and abode in Here" (Saint Ephraim the Syrian, Praise of the Mother of God).  "As lightning illuminates what is hidden, so also Christ purifies what is hidden in the nature of things. He purified the Virgin also and then was born, so as to show that where Christ is, there is manifested purity in all its power. He purified the Virgin, having prepared Her by the Holy Spirit, and then the womb, having become pure, conceived Him. He purified the Virgin while She was inviolate; wherefore, having been born, He left Her virgin. I do not say that Mary became immortal, but that being illuminated by grace, She was not disturbed by sinful desires" (Saint Ephraim the Syrian, Homily against Heretics, 41). "The Light abode in Her, cleansed Her mind, made Her thoughts pure, made chaste Her concerns, sanctified Her virginity" (Saint Ephraim the Syrian, "Mary and Eve"). "One Who was pure according to human understanding, He made pure by grace" (Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, Exposition of the Teaching of the Orthodox Church on the Mother of God) (Source: The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God)

(To be continued)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

August 1 - Dormition (Koimsis) Fast Begins - Strict Fast

“Directress” Icon of the Mother of God

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

AUGUST 1ST HOLY DORMITION (KOIMISIS) - FAST BEGINS--STRICT FAST

The August Fast begins on August 1st. On this day our Holy Orthodox Christian Church celebrates the Procession of the Precious and Life-giving Cross. The Holy Seven Maccabee Children, Solomone, their mother, and Eleazar, their teacher.

Because of the many diseases that occur in the month of August, the custom prevailed of old in Constantinople to carry the Precious Wood of the Cross in procession throughout the city for it sanctification and its deliverance from illnesses. It was brought forth from the imperial treasury on the last day of July and placed upon the Holy Table of the Great Church of the Holy Wisdom (Saint Sophia); and beginning today, until the Dormition (Koimisis) of the Theotokos, it was carried in procession throughout the city and was set forth for veneration before the people.

Apolytikion (Dimissal) Hymn of the Holy Cross. First Tone

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries.  And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

Kontakion Hymn of the Holy Cross. Fourth Tone

Thou Who wast raised up on the Cross of Thine own will, O Christ our God, do Thou bestow Thy compassions upon this, Thy might our most Orthodox hierarchs, and vouchsafe them victory over every false teaching; and as Thy help in war they possess the weapon of peace, the trophy invincible. (Source: The Great Horologion)

PASCHA OF THE SUMMER

In the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostomos celebrated in the Orthodox Church, the priest repeats the following prayer a number of times: "Let us commit ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ Our God."

The Ecclesiastical Year, as you all know, begins on September 1st, has been divinely developed by the Holy Church Fathers with feasts and fasts to aid our life in the God-Man Christ, our Savior. August 1-15: The holiness of these two weeks gives fuel for the faithful to energize their spiritual struggle; this is one reason why the Holy Dormition period is affectionately known as the Summer Pascha (το Πάσχα του Καλοκαιριού).

Our Lord Jesus Christ speaking about how and why we should treat our fellow man with love and compassion says, "...Assuredly, I say to you inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." (St. Matthew 25:40). If He can say this about our fellow man why would He not say the same for the way we treat His Holy Mother, the Theotokos. Remember how He loved, respected and cared for His Mother that even from the Cross He made sure that she would be taken care of by His beloved disciples Saint John the Theologian. "When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then He said to the disciple 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home" (St. John 19:26-27).

It is totally unthinkable that we, as Orthodox Christians, would neglect or ignore to venerate His Holy Mother. The Theotokos, Mother of God, the Ever-Virgin Mary became the Vessel of the Lord of Glory Himself, and bore in the flesh Him Whom heaven and earth cannot contain. We, in our Holy Orthodox Christian Church, refer her as the "the Platytera Ton Ouranon" ("She is more spacious than the Heavens").  

Our most beautiful, and at the same time, humble Chapel dedicated to the Ever-Virgin Mary's Holy Dormition (Koimisis) is a gift from her to our parish. It is a place of peace and prayer. People from New Carlisle who are not even members of our Church park outside the Chapel since it is not open daily and they simply spend time outside of it and pray and find solace and strength. Why would the faithful of Saint Andrew not find the same thing? That inspiration and blessing from the Mother of God?

The Holy Dormition Chapel of the Theotokos is a spiritual treasure. Our lives are full of conflict, unrest, stress, pressure and responsibilities. Let us use our Chapel to discover the many blessings that come from the Theotokos. We refer to our Panagia also as the Queen of Heaven. There is a beautiful holy icon of the Mother of God known as the "Directress." In other words the Mother of our Lord directs all of us to Him Who is Life, Who is Light, and Who is the Resurrection. Jesus always hears the intercessions of His Mother and out of love for her He has mercy on us.

The Chapel is a place of healing. A place where one finds himself/herself. A place where we are restored spiritually and find hope.

Please follow the schedule of divine services at the Chapel and bring your entire family to worship together.

In Christ's service,

+Father George

The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God (Part I)

Icon of the Mother of God of Greben

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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THE VENERATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD DURING HER EARTHLY LIFE
By Saint John Maximovitch

From Apostolic times and to our days all who truly love Christ give veneration to Her Who gave birth to Him, raised Him and protected Him in the day of His youth. If God the Father chose Her, God the Holy Spirit descended upon Her, and God the Son dwelt in Her, submitted to Her in the days of His youth, was concerned for Her when hanging on the Cross--then should not everyone who confesses the Holy Trinity venerate Her?

Still in the days of Her earthly life the friends of Christ, the Apostles, manifested a great concern and devotion for the Mother of the Lord, especially the Evangelist John the Theologian, who, fulfilling the will of Her Divine Son, took Her to himself and took care for Her as for a mother from the time when the Lord uttered to him from the Cross the words: "Behold thy mother."

The Evangelist Luke painted a number of images (icons) of Her, some together with the Pre-Eternal Child, others without Him. When he brought them and showed them to the Most Holy Virgin, She approved them and said: "The grace of My Son shall be with them," and repeated the hymn She had once sung in the house of Elizabeth: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and My spirit hath rejoiced in God My Savior."

However, the Virgin Mary during Her earthly life avoided the glory which belonged to Her as the Mother of the Lord. She preferred to live quiet and prepare Herself for the departure into eternal life. To the last day of Her earthly life She took care to prove worthy of the Kingdom of Her Son, and before death, She prayed that He might deliver Her soul from the malicious spirits that meet human souls on the way to heaven and strive to seize them so as to take them away with them to Hades. The Lord fulfilled the prayer of His Mother and in the hour of Her death, Himself came from heaven with a multitude of Angels to receive Her soul.

The Apostles gave Her most pure body over to burial with sacred hymns, and on the third day, they opened the tomb so as once more to venerate the remains of the Mother of God together with the Apostle Thomas, who had arrived then in Jerusalem. But they did not find the body in the tomb and in perplexity they returned to their own place; and then, during their meal, the Mother of God Herself appeared to them in the air, shining with heavenly Light, and informed them that Her Son had glorified Her body also, and She, resurrected, stood before His Throne. At the same time, She promised to be with them always.

The Apostles greeted the Mother of God with great joy and began to venerate Her not only as the Mother of their beloved Teacher and Lord but also as their heavenly helper, as s protector of Christians and intercessor for the whole human race before the Righteous Judge. And everywhere the Gospel of Christ was preached, His Most-Pure Mother also began to be glorified. (The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God)

(To be continued)

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A Pastoral Counsel: Orthodox Christians prepare themselves for the 'Summer Pascha,' the decapentavgousto (The first fifteen days in August) which dedicated to two major feast days, that of the Holy Transfiguration of the Savior (August 6th), and the Holy Dormition (Koimisis) of the Theotokos August 15th. It is a time for Orthodox Christians to concentrate and dedicate themselves to fasting, prayer, and repentance. It is a time of spiritual renewal and personal spiritual evaluation and reflection.

As Saint John Maximovitch says Orthodox Christians love, honor and venerate the Mother of God. Veneration is not worship! Orthodox Christians worship only God the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

There are unbelievers that over the centuries set out to malign the Ever-Virgin Mary with all kinds of evil stories and unfounded rumors. From the very beginning of Her heavenly glory, there were outbursts of malice and hatred toward Her by Anti-Christians or enemies of Christianity.  

Growing up I recall vividly how during this Lenten Season of the Komisis tis Theotokou (Dormition of the Theotokos) the churches were full of men, women, and children. I recall that except for the petitions that the priest offered during the Paraklesis (Supplication) divine service, the service itself was chanted by the congregation. The love, reverence, trust, and veneration from Orthodox Christian women for our Panagia were extraordinary. They, the women, felt a strong bond between themselves and the Mother of God. They felt that not only was She Mother of God but she was also one of them, a woman, a mother, a friend, an advocate. At times of fear, distress, illness, etc. they would turn to her first to intercede to her Son and God and to bring them or loved one healing. It was felt that she as a mother who also suffered pain seeing her Son on the Cross understood them and how they also felt and would come to their aid to save their child or children. Of course, throughout the centuries, the Mother of God has come to the aid of countless Orthodox Christians and they were the recipients and witnesses of many miracles which continue so today.  The Mother of God will never abandon the human race and as our loving heavenly Mother will continue to intercede for us to her Son and God and for the salvation of all of mankind.

It is most important that we continue to venerate her and to seek her life-saving intercessions as long as we live.  

Make sure that you present me with the Orthodox Baptismal names of your family members and those who are ill and suffering so that I may include them in the Paraklesis service on the first 13 days of the August Fast.  Please make sure that you also attend and participate in the holy services.

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

July 27-St. Panteleimon

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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ON JULY 27th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE FEAST-DAY OF SAINT PANTELEIMON THE GREAT MARTYR

Saint Panteleimon, the Great Martyr, was born at the end of the 3rd century A.D. His father, Efstrogios (Eustrogios), was not only very rich but was well known for his zeal in idol worship; whereas his mother Saint Evoule (Euboule) was a faithful Orthodox Christian full of Holy Spirit, love and kindness. Her only interest was to guide her only begotten son in the True faith and virtuous life.

Saint Panteleimon's first name was Pantoleon ("in all things a lion"). When he was very young his mother, Saint Evoule, passed away and his father taught him to worship the false pagan gods of their ancestors. Pantoleon studied medicine under the guidance of the wise doctor Ephrosynos (Euphrosynos), and shortly differentiated from all his other classmates in wisdom and all virtue. Even the Roman pagan emperor Maximianus admired his kind character, that he ordered Ephrosynos to teach him all the secrets of medicine so that Pantoleon became his own personal imperial doctor.

At that period of time, in the Greek city of Nicomedia, there was an old man named Ermolaos, who was the Orthodox Priest of the city. He foresaw that the young Pantoleon will become a vessel of Christ's grace and will glorify Him through his life. One day, as Pantoleon was passing by, he called the young doctor to his house and asked him about his family and religious beliefs.  Pantoleon, as noble as he was, answered with politeness to all his questions. Saint Ermolaos said to him, that the medicine which Asclepius, Hippocrates and Galenus, taught is of no value, nor the pagan gods of the empire are true gods, but false and the work of men. He taught Pantoleon about the Orthodox Christian faith and that Christ is the Only True God, Who created heaven and earth, and reminded him that his mother believed in Jesus Christ. He also emphasized that Christ is the True Physician of both soul and body and assured him, that if he believed in Christ, he shall cure all illnesses through God's healing grace.

Pantoleon heard all the wise words of Sant Ermolaos. One day, as he was returning to his home, after school, he found on the side of the road a small boy, who died because he was bitten by a viper snake. Pantoleon prayed to Jesus Christ saying: "If you are the True God, as Ermolalos says, let this boy rise from the dead and let the viper die." Immediately the boy came back to life and the snake blasted into pieces.

This was the proof which he needed. He returned to Saint Ermolaos and demanded to be baptized. From that day onwards, the young doctor performed so many miracles in the name of Jesus Christ that his fame traveled throughout the Roman Empire. From all places, Asia Minor, Greece and Rome ill people came to see the imperial doctor and to be cured of their illnesses. He never demanded payment for his services but rather asked that they believe in the True God and become Christians.

Unfortunately, the other doctors seeing that they were losing out, reported to Maximianus that his personal doctor, Pantoleon, as a Christian. The emperor, at first, did not want to believe this rumor. He sent soldiers to bring forth Pantoleon and asked him personally. When the young man stood before the emperor, he confessed his faith in the One and Only True God. In order to prove the falsehood of the pagan gods Pantoleon cured a blind man, but the emperor did not believe.

Pantoleon was brought forth to the imperial court. He was asked to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods of the empire. On his refusal, Maximianus put Christ's Martyr under different martyrdom. He was hanged, and with iron clutches, the soldiers tore his body to pieces and at the same time with torches they were burning his wounds. They threw him into a boiler with boiling lead, but God's grace protected His servant. They then plunged him into the sea with a heavy rock tied to his neck to drown but was not harmed. They threw him to the lions, but the wild beasts respected the Martyr of Christ and were playing around him as if kittens. On the day all the inhabitants of Nicomedia, seeing that the Martyr through his God overcame all sufferings believed in Christ and cried out with one voice:

"Great is the God of the Christians, He is the One and True God, let the righteous be set free."

From all these martyrdoms Pantoleon was protected by God's grace, and thus His name was glorified through His servant.

Maximianus seeing that he could not achieve anything ordered that Pantoleon should be beheaded on the 27th of July in the year of the Lord 304 A.D. When the soldiers brought Pantoleon outside the city of Nicomedia, they tied him on a dry olive tree. The Martyr of Christ asked for a few moments to pray, Christ appeared to him and said

"From now on your name shall be Panteleimon ("all-merciful"), for in your name I shall work signs and wonders (miracles), and if anyone calls with faith upon your name he shall be cured of any illness he has."

At the stroke of the sword on Saint Panteleimon's neck, the sword bent as though it was made out of wax. Everyone was filled with fear, but Saint Panteleimon demanded that they should carry out the Emperor's order, and thus he was beheaded in the year of the Lord 305 A.D. When his blood fell on the roots of the dead olive tree, immediately it gave new green branches, leaves, and olives.

Saint Panteleimon is one of the Holy Unmercenaries (Anargyroi) and is held in special honor among them, even as Saint George is among the holy Martyrs. (Source: Holy Mountain)

Apolytikion of Great Martyr Panteleimon. Third Tone

Panteleimon, saintly champion and healer, intercede with our Merciful God to grant our souls remission of sins.

Kontakion Hymn of Great Martyr Panteleimon. Plagal of the First Tone

O Champion and Martyr of God, imitating the Merciful and bearing from Him the grace of healing, cure our spiritual ills by your prayers and set free from the temptation of the eternal enemy those who ceaselessly cry out, "Save us, O Lord."

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DIVINE SERVICES FOR SAINT PANTELEIMON THE GREAT MARTYR AND HEALER:

Saturday, July 27th:

Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

Location: Saint Andrew

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George

July 26-St. Paraskevi

My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True God,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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ON JULY 26th OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE PARTHENOMARTYR (VIRGIN-MARTYR) PARASKEVI

The holy and glorious Virgin-Martyr Saint Paraskevi was arrested during the reign of the pagan Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.) under the penalty of refusing to worship idols and adhering to the state pagan religion. After enduring many tortures, she was eventually released by the emperor, continuing to profess Christ. She was eventually tortured and beheaded by the Roman governor Tarasius in the year 180 A.D. The Church commemorates her on July 26.

Saint Paraskevi, the Parthenomartyr, was born in a village near Rome during the pious Christians Agathonikos (Agathon) and Politea. Her parents prayed fervently for a child, and God finally blessed their piety. They gave great honor to Friday, the day of our Lord's suffering. Being born on this day, her parents named her Paraskevi ("Friday" in Greek, but literally "preparation").

Saint Paraskevi obtained an excellent education from both secular and Scriptural instructors. She was also very knowledgeable in the field of philosophy. Bolstered by her Christian upbringing, she often conversed with other women about Christianity, trying to strengthen their faith in this new religion. Many distinguished families wanted this beautiful, educated and rich woman to marry their sons. Her understanding and kindness made her even more desirable. However having a higher goal in life, Saint Paraskevi rejected any marriage proposals.

When she was 20 years old, both her parents died leaving her as the sole heir to the family fortune. Saint Paraskevi did not use her fortune for herself. Filled with the spirit of Christ and Christian ideals, she sold all her worldly possessions using the money to relieve human suffering. There was a portion retained to a community treasury that supported a home for reverent virgins who stayed in a kenovion, a type of commune like a contemporary monastery. These women prayed and fasted doing charitable works. They preached primarily to Hebrew and idol worshiping women giving them an opportunity to learn about Christian salvation.

She left Rome at the age of 30 and began her holy mission, passing through many cities and villages. Saint Paraskevi's activities occurred during a period that the Jews and Romans persecuted the Christian religion with the greatest intensity. Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.) ruled Rome at this time, and he did not execute Christians without a trial. She was not caught immediately or put to death. Instead, Antoninus protected Christians against the blind mania of the Jewish and Roman inhabitants. Christians could only be brought to trial if another citizen lodged a formal complaint against them. Antoninus, however, had to repeal this law because of the many disasters which had befallen Rome and which were blamed on the Christians.

Strong faith, learning, and eloquence, Saint Paraskevi spoke persuasively to her fellow Roman citizens, leading them from idolatry to faith in Christ. Eventually, Antoninus heard of Saint Paraskevi's holy mission. Upon her return to Rome, several Jews filed complaints about her and Antoninus summoned her to his palace to question her. Attracted by her beauty and humility he tried with kind words to make her denounce her faith, even promising to marry her and make her an empress. Angered by her refusal he had a steel helmet, lined with nails and compressed on her head with a vice. It had no effect on the Saint and many who witnessed this miracle converted to Christianity. Thrown into prison, Saint Paraskevi asked God to give her the strength to face the terror that awaited her. Antoninus again continued her torture by having her hung by her hair and at the same time burning her hands and arms with torches. The Saint suffered greatly, but had the will not to submit to the pain. Antoninus then prepared a large cauldron of oil and tar, boiled the mixture and then had Saint Paraskevi immersed in it. Miraculously she stood in it as if she being refreshed rather than burned. Angered, Antoninus thought that she was using witchery to keep the contents cooled. Antoninus then approached the cauldron only to be blinded by the hot steam and searing emissions coming from the area. At this moment the mighty emperor asked for the intervention of Saint Paraskevi to heal him from this affliction to which she responded:

"Emperor, the Christian God is healing you from the blindness that was given to you as a punishment."

Immediately, he regained his sight. Humbled by the miracles he freed the Saint, allowing her to continue her missionary activity and ended all persecutions against the Christians throughout the Roman Empire.

From this episode, it is clear to the Christians that Saint Paraskevi has the intercessional ability to help people with visual (eye) ailments.

Astonished by the miracle, Antoninus released Saint Paraskevi. He also ceased persecuting Christians.

This period was brief. After Antoninus' death in 161 A.D., a plague broke out throughout the empire. Romans took it as a sign of the pagan gods that they were angered by the tolerance of Christianity. Under Antoninus' successor, Marcus Aurelius (161-180 A.D.), the laws dealing with 'non-believers' were changed and the persecutions against Christians resumed.

Despite these dangers, Saint Paraskevi persevered in her missionary endeavors, spreading the Gospel wherever she traveled. By authority of the pagan emperor Aurelius the provincial eparchs, Asclepius and Tarasios captured Saint Paraskevi. Having refused Asclepius' demands to sacrifice to pagan gods, she was thrown into a snake pit. The Saint made the Sign of the Cross over the serpent and the serpent perished. Asclepius had heard of the Saint's previous miracles, realized that a great and mighty power guarded Saint Paraskevi and decided to set her free while Asclepius and his court ere all converted.

Tarasios, however, was less tolerant. Saint Paraskevi was tied and beaten and afterward imprisoned and a huge rock placed on her chest. She prayed to Christ to help her be strong. The next morning Saint Paraskevi was taken willingly to the Temple of Apollo. Everyone praised Tarasios, thinking that he had succeeded in breaking Saint Paraskevi's faith. However, upon entering the temple, the Saint raised her hand and made the sign of the Cross. Suddenly, a loud noise was heard and all the idols in the temple were destroyed. The pagan priests and idolaters dragged her from the altar, beat her, and pushed her out of the temple. The pagan priests demanded that Tarasios kill Saint Paraskevi. She was convicted and condemned to death by beheading.

It was customary to give the condemned their last wish. She asked to be left alone for a few moments so that she might pray for the last. Afterward, the Roman soldiers returned and executed the Saint.

Many healing miracles occurred as a result of Saint Paraskevi's divine intervention. It is said that that merely coming in contact with the dirt of her grave faithful, crippled could walk, demonized would return to health and that the infertile would bear children. Most importantly Saint Paraskevi healed the blindness of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius while she was in a heated cauldron. Her merciful disposition to her tormentor has made her an intercessor Saint for the healing of eye ailments.

Her remains were eventually taken to Constantinople, where they are venerated by the faithful to this very day.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Virgin-Martyr Paraskevi

Appropriated to your calling, O Champion Paraskevi, you worshipped with the readiness your name bears. For an abode, you obtained faith, which is your namesake. Wherefore, you pour forth healing and intercede for our souls.

Kontakion Hymn

O most majestic One, we have discovered your temple to be a spiritual clinic wherein all the faithful resoundingly honor you, O famed and venerable Paraskevi.

(Source: Orthodoxwiki)

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DIVINE SERVICES FOR THE VIRGIN-MARTYR PARASKEVI ON FRIDAY JULY 16th:

Orthros (Matins) at 9:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

LOCATION: The Holy Dormition of the Theotokos Chapel at New Carlisle.

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George