http://www.orthodox-arizona.org Welcome Home Sat, 19 May 2012 04:29:17 +0000 en hourly 1 Welcome Home Exaltation of the Holy Cross ROEA - Phoenix Arizona USA no Exaltation of the Holy Cross ROEA - Phoenix Arizona USA chuck@chuckhann.com chuck@chuckhann.com (Exaltation of the Holy Cross ROEA - Phoenix Arizona USA) Daily Readings Christian, Orthodox Church, Daily Readings, Saints http://www.orthodox-arizona/wp-content/gallery/promotional-art/WelcomeHome.png Phoenix, Arizona Daily Christian, Orthodox Church, Daily Readings, SaintsReligion & Spirituality/Christianity33.683603-111.992715 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~3/w6Dc_wKRIDw/ http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-17/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 11:11:56 +0000 Subdeacon Charles-Michael http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/?p=100884 1. THE HOLY APOSTLE ANDRONICUS Andronicus was one of the Seventy Apostles. He was a kinsman of St. Paul, as Paul himself writes: &#8220;Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent among the apostles and they were in Christ before me&#8221; (Romans 16:7). Paul also mentions St. Junia, assistant of [...]<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?a=w6Dc_wKRIDw:AnV-MBHHRVA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~4/w6Dc_wKRIDw" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-17/feed/ 0 1. THE HOLY APOSTLE ANDRONICUS - Andronicus was one of the Seventy Apostles. He was a kinsman of St. Paul, as Paul himself writes: "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent among the apostles and they were i... 1. THE HOLY APOSTLE ANDRONICUS Andronicus was one of the Seventy Apostles. He was a kinsman of St. Paul, as Paul himself writes: "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent among the apostles and they were in Christ before me" (Romans 16:7). Paul also mentions St. Junia, assistant of Andronicus. Andronicus was installed as bishop in Pannonia, but did not remain in one place, rather preached the Gospel throughout Pannonia. With St. Junia, he succeeded in converting many to Christ and destroyed many idolatrous temples. They both possessed the power of Grace to work miracles through which they drove out demons from men and healed every type of disease and illness. They both suffered for Christ and thus received the two-fold wreath: the apostolic wreath and the martyr's wreath. Their holy relics were discovered in the regions of Eugenius (February 22). 2. THE HOLY MARTYR SOLOCHON Solochon was an Egyptian by birth and a Roman soldier under Commander Campanus during the reign of the nefarious Emperor Maximian. When the directive from the emperor was handed down that all the soldiers must offer up sacrifices to the idols, Solochon declared himself a Christian. Two of his companions also declared themselves Christians: Pamphamir and Pamphylon. The commander ordered that they be flogged and cruelly tortured from which Saints Pamphamir and Pamphylon died. Solochon remained alive and was subjected to new tortures. The commander ordered the soldiers to open his mouth with a sword and to pour the sacrifices of the idols into his mouth. The martyr broke the iron sword with his teeth and did not consume the foul sacrifice of the idols. Finally, they pierced a quill through both ears and left him to die. The Christians removed the martyr and brought him to the home of a widow where he gradually, by food and drink, became a little stronger and, again, continued to counsel the faithful to be persistent in their faith and in their sufferings for the Faith. Following that, he gave thanks to God, completed his earthly life and presented himself to the Lord in the kingdom of heaven in the year 298 A.D. 3. SAINT STEPHEN, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE Stephen was the son of Emperor Basil the Macedonian and brother of Emperor Leo the Wise. He succeeded to the patriarchal throne after Photius and governed the Church of God from 889-893 A.D. He died peacefully and presented himself to the Lord Whom he greatly loved. HYMN OF PRAISETHE APOSTLES ANDRONICUS AND SAINT JUNIAThe Apostle Andronicus, a kinsman of St. Paul, A preacher of peace and spiritual health, For Christ burned, a flaming love And throughout the world, carried the illuminating teaching; Without much clothing, without pay and care, Only rich in the power of the Divine Spirit. With St. Junia, all tortures he shared Until, throughout Pannonia, the cross he carried! There, darkness vanished where the honorable Cross glowed, Separated the wheat without chaff and straw. Awakened men from animalistic sleep. And the gift of God's adoption, embraced As weak reeds, the idols they destroyed, Discord and odius vices, they abandoned, When the heart begins to sob, the mouth sang: We are Your children, O Heavenly Father! The light from Your apostle, we now receive, Forgive us, that slaves to the idols we were. REFLECTIONFollowing a terrible earthquake in Antioch, St. John Chrysostom spoke to the people: "Great are the fruits of an earthquake. Behold the Man-loving Lord Who quakes the city and strengthens the soul, Who sways the foundation and strengthens the thoughts, Who shows the weakness of the city and makes the will of the people powerful! Turn your attention to His love for mankind: He sways for a while - and strengthens forever; earthquake - for two days, but the devotion should remain for all times; you were sorrowful for a short time - but strengthened forever. A mother, Subdeacon Charles-Michael no FrontPage, Liturgical, Orthodox Calendarshttp://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-17/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~3/Sur_8mg0BnM/ http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-16/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 11:35:52 +0000 Subdeacon Charles-Michael http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/?p=100028 1. THE VENERABLE THEODORE THE SANCTIFIED Theodore was a disciple of St. Pachomius. He was born and raised as a pagan but as a young man came to the knowledge of the True Faith and was baptized. Learning about St. Pachomius, he secretly fled from his parent&#8217;s home to Pachomius&#8217; monastery. St. Pachomius tonsured him [...]<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?a=Sur_8mg0BnM:kwmLT-G7dYQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~4/Sur_8mg0BnM" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-16/feed/ 0 1. THE VENERABLE THEODORE THE SANCTIFIED - Theodore was a disciple of St. Pachomius. He was born and raised as a pagan but as a young man came to the knowledge of the True Faith and was baptized. Learning about St. Pachomius, 1. THE VENERABLE THEODORE THE SANCTIFIED Theodore was a disciple of St. Pachomius. He was born and raised as a pagan but as a young man came to the knowledge of the True Faith and was baptized. Learning about St. Pachomius, he secretly fled from his parent's home to Pachomius' monastery. St. Pachomius tonsured him a monk and admired him because of his unique zeal and obedience. When his mother arrived to ask him to come home, Theodore did not even want to appear before her but prayed that God would enlighten her with the truth. Indeed, not only did her son not return home, but she herself did not return home. Seeing a convent not far away which was under the spiritual direction of Pachomius' sister, she entered the convent and was tonsured a nun. After a period of time Paphnutius, Theodore's brother, also came to the monastery and was tonsured a monk. In time the bishop of Panopolis called St. Pachomius to establish a monastery for those who desired the monastic life. Pachomius took Theodore with him and entrusted him with the duty of establishing this new monastery. After the death of Pachomius, Theodore became the abbot of all Pachomius' monasteries and lived to a ripe old age. Theodore lived a life pleasing to God, directing the many monks on the road to salvation. He died peacefully and took up habitation in the kingdom of Eternal Light in the year 368 A.D. 2. THE BLESSED VIRGIN MUSA St. Gregory the Dialogues speaks about her: she was only nine years old when, on two occasions, the All-Holy Birth-giver of God, surrounded by radiant virgins, appeared to her. When Musa expressed her desire to also be in such a radiant company of the Queen of Heaven, the Birth-giver of God said to her that, in one month, she would return to her and take her. She also instructed Musa how to live for these next thirty days. On the twenty-fifth day, Musa took to her bed. On the thirtieth day, the Holy Most-pure One appeared again calling to her in a soft voice to which Musa answered: "Behold, I am coming O Lady, behold I am coming!", and she gave up her spirit. Musa was translated from this life into life eternal in the fifth century. 3. SAINT NICHOLAS MYSTICUS, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE Nicholas was famous because of the unusual severity of his life. When Emperor Leo the Wise married for the fourth time, the patriarch refused him entrance into the church and defrocked the priest who performed the marriage. As a result of that, the emperor deposed the patriarch and banished him to a monastery. The delegates of the Roman Pope Sergius II approved of the emperor's fourth marriage. When the emperor died, Nicholas was again restored to the patriarchal throne and called an assembly in the year 925 A.D., at which a fourth marriage for a Christian, in general, was forbidden. He died in the year 930 A.D. Nicholas is often surnamed Mysticus [The Mystic] and was a member of the emperor's secret council. At first, this saint was a high ranking courtier after which he left the vanity of the world and was tonsured a monk. He died peacefully in the year 930 A.D. 4. THE NEO-MARTYR NICHOLAS Nicholas was born in Epira. He was tortured by the Turks for the Faith of Christ and beheaded in Trikkala in 1617 A.D. A reliquary containing the head of this martyr is preserved today in one of the Meteora monasteries in Thessaly. He performs many miracles, heals the gravest diseases and is especially known to repel grasshoppers from fields. 5. THE VENERABLE MARTYRS OF THE MONASTERY OF ST. SABAS THE SANCTIFIED During the reign of Emperor Heraclius, about the year 610 A.D., forty-four monks from the monastery of St. Sabas the Sanctified near Jerusalem suffered for the Faith of Christ. Their heroism and sufferings were recorded by the eyewitness, St. Antiochus (December 24). HYMN OF PRAISESAINT NICHOLAS, NEO-MARTYR Nicholas the martyr, for Christ suffered And by painful patience, overcame the devil; And to deny his Savior, Subdeacon Charles-Michael no About Orthodoxy, FrontPage, Liturgical, Orthodox Calendarshttp://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-16/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~3/XHV8fTzLGyc/ http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-15/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 11:13:33 +0000 Subdeacon Charles-Michael http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/?p=99171 1. THE VENERABLE PACHOMIUS THE GREAT Pachomius was born in Egypt and, in his youth, was a pagan. As a soldier, he fought in battle with Emperor Constantine against Maxentius. Following that, he learned of the One God from Christians and witnessing their devout life, Pachomius became baptized and withdrew to the Tabennisi wilderness, to [...]<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?a=XHV8fTzLGyc:E4JPZhxCf7s:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~4/XHV8fTzLGyc" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-15/feed/ 0 1. THE VENERABLE PACHOMIUS THE GREAT - Pachomius was born in Egypt and, in his youth, was a pagan. As a soldier, he fought in battle with Emperor Constantine against Maxentius. Following that, he learned of the One God from Christians and witnessing t... 1. THE VENERABLE PACHOMIUS THE GREAT Pachomius was born in Egypt and, in his youth, was a pagan. As a soldier, he fought in battle with Emperor Constantine against Maxentius. Following that, he learned of the One God from Christians and witnessing their devout life, Pachomius became baptized and withdrew to the Tabennisi wilderness, to the famous ascetic Palamon with whom he studied the ascetical life for ten years. Then, an angel appeared to him in the habit of a Schema [The Great Angelic Habit of a Monk] over the place called Tabennisiot and gave him a board upon which was written the Monastic Rule [Constitution] for the Cenobitic Life, ordering him to establish such a monastery in that place, prophesying to him that in this monastery many monks will come for the sake of salvation of souls. Heeding the angel of God, Pachomius began to build many cells even though at that place there was not anyone except his brother John and himself. When his brother reproached him for building unnecessary cells, Pachomius simply said to him that he is following the command of God without regard as to who will come to live there and when. But soon, many men gathered at that place moved by the Spirit of God, and began to live a life of asceticism according to the Rule of Pachomius, which he received from the angel. When the number of monks increased, Pachomius gradually established six more monasteries. The number of his disciples amounted to about seven thousand. St. Anthony is considered to be the founder of the hermitical life but St. Pachomius as founder of the monastic cenobitic way of life. The humility, love of labor and abstinence of this holy father was and remains a rare example for the imitation of the vast number of monks. St. Pachomius worked numerous miracles but endured numerous temptations from demons as well as men. He served men as a father or a brother. He inspired many to follow the path to salvation and directed many on the path to truth. He was and remains a great light of the Church and a great witness to the truth and justice of Christ. He died peacefully in the year 348 A.D. in the seventy-fourth year of his earthly life. The Church has included many of his disciples in the ranks of the saints, such as: Theodore, Job, Paphnutius, Pecusius, Athenodorus, Eponymus, Sorus, Psoi, Dionysius, Psentaesis and others. 2. SAINT ACHILLEUS, BISHOP OF LARISSA Achilleus, this great hierarch and miracle-worker, was born in Cappadocia. He participated in the First Ecumenical Council [Nicaea, 325 A.D.] at which he shamed the heretics and, by his learning as well as by his sanctity, he commanded great astonishment. Taking a rock, St. Achilleus shouted to the Arians: "If Christ is a creation of God, as you say, then say: `let oil flow from this rock.' " The heretics remained silent and were amazed at such a request from St. Achilleus. Then, again the saint said: "And if the Son of God is equal to the Father, as we believe, let oil flow from this rock." And, indeed oil did flow to the amazement of all. St. Achilleus died peacefully in Larissa in the year 330 A.D. When the Macedonian King Samuel conquered Thessaly he translated the relics of Achilleus to Prespa to an island in a lake which was called and even today is still called Achilleus or Ailus. 3. THE VENERABLE SILVANUS At first, Silvanus was a comedian; impersonating all and everyone. After that,inflamed with the love of Christ, he became a disciple of St. Pachomius. "I am ready to give my life," St. Silvanus would say "only to receive forgiveness of my sins." HYMN OF PRAISEVENERABLE PACHOMIUS THE GREATWith the Spirit of God, Pachomius burns, With the angels, Pachomius speaks. Around him, the monks swarm All like candles, they stand before God. One day, the knocker sounded, The sister of the Abba, the Abba to see Many years she saw him not, Let him appear; why does he from her, hide himself? The doorman to Abba, the message brings. Abba, Subdeacon Charles-Michael no About Orthodoxy, FrontPage, Liturgical, Orthodox Calendarshttp://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-15/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~3/DDOHaJSxSDI/ http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-14/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 11:32:38 +0000 Subdeacon Charles-Michael http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/?p=99173 1. THE HOLY MARTYR ISIDORE During the reign of Decius, Isidore was drafted by force from the island of Chios into military service. From childhood, Isidore adhered to the Faith of Christ and spent his entire life in fasting, prayer and good works. But when in the army Isidore declared himself a Christian, the commander [...]<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?a=DDOHaJSxSDI:6v8HckEhSGg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~4/DDOHaJSxSDI" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-14/feed/ 0 1. THE HOLY MARTYR ISIDORE - During the reign of Decius, Isidore was drafted by force from the island of Chios into military service. From childhood, Isidore adhered to the Faith of Christ and spent his entire life in fasting, prayer and good works. 1. THE HOLY MARTYR ISIDORE During the reign of Decius, Isidore was drafted by force from the island of Chios into military service. From childhood, Isidore adhered to the Faith of Christ and spent his entire life in fasting, prayer and good works. But when in the army Isidore declared himself a Christian, the commander seized him, required of him an answer and counseled him to deny Christ and offer sacrifices to the idols. The saint replied: "Even if you kill my body, you have no authority over my soul. I possess the True, Living God, Jesus Christ Who now lives in me and after my death, He will be with me and I am in Him and will remain in Him and I will never cease to confess His Holy Name as long as my soul is in my body." First, the commander ordered that Isidore be whipped with oxen tails and after that they cut out his tongue. Even without his tongue, Isidore, by the Spirit of God, spoke and confessed the Name of Christ. Meanwhile, the punishment of God came upon the commander and he, suddenly, became mute. Finally, the mute commander gave the sign to behead Isidore. Isidore was elated at this sentence and after praising God went to the scaffold where he was beheaded in the year 251 A.D. His companion, Ammon buried his body and following that also suffered and received the martyr's wreath. 2. THE VENERABLE SERAPION, THE SINDONITE Sindon means "linen cloth" in which the bodies of the dead were wrapped. Serapion was called the Sindonite because he covered his naked body with a single linen cloth. He carried a Book of the Gospels in his hand. Serapion lived like a bird without a roof and without any worries moving from place to place. He gave his sindon to a needy person who was shivering from the frost and remained completely naked. When someone asked him: "Serapion, who uncovered you?" He pointed to the Holy Gospels and said: "This!" After that he even gave the Book of the Gospels away as a ransom for a man in debt whose lender was threatening him with prison for this debt. Once in Athens, he did not eat anything for four days because he had nothing available and began to cry out from hunger. When the Athenian philosophers asked him why he was crying out so, Serapion replied: "I was indebted to three; two of which I have satisfied but the third one is still tormenting me. The first lender is carnal lust which tormented me from my youth; the second lender is avarice and the third lender is the stomach. Those two have left me, but the third one still torments me." The philosophers gave him a gold coin to purchase bread. He went to a baker, purchased only one loaf of bread, left the gold coin and departed. In his old age, he presented himself peacefully to the Lord in the fifth century. 3. BLESSED ISIDORE, "FOOL FOR CHRIST" Isidore was a German by descent. Having come to Rostov, he fell in love with the Orthodox Faith and, not only became a communicant of the Orthodox Church, but assumed the difficult life of asceticism as a "Fool for Christ." He walked around completely in rags. Pretending insanity through his madness, he spent the entire day teaching men and at night, he spent in prayer. He spent nights in a hut made of branches which he had built in a muddy terrain. Great and awesome were the miracles which this saint performed both during life and after death. To a merchant, who was thrown from a boat and was drowning in the sea, Isidore appeared walking upon the water and led him to the shore. When the servants of the Prince of Rostov refused Isidore a glass of water that he asked for and drove him away from the door, then all the vessels with wine dried up. When Isidore died in his hut on May 14, 1484 A.D., the whole of Rostov smelled from a wonderful aroma. The merchant whom the Blessed Isidore saved from the sea, erected a church in his honor over the spot where his hut was located. HYMN OF PRAISE BLESSED ISIDORE, FOOL FOR CHRIST Blessed Isidorewrestled with himselfUntil passionless, Subdeacon Charles-Michael no About Orthodoxy, FrontPage, Liturgical, Orthodox Calendarshttp://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-14/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~3/zB-NqkrpIWI/ http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-13/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 14:41:56 +0000 Subdeacon Charles-Michael http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/?p=97459 The Holy Apostle James &#160; James was the son of Zebedee, brother of John and one of the Twelve Apostles. At the invitation of the Lord Jesus, James left the fishermen&#8217;s net, his father and, together with John, immediately followed after the Lord. He belonged to that trinity of apostles to whom the Lord revealed [...]<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?a=zB-NqkrpIWI:_k8Ai1qX2qs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~4/zB-NqkrpIWI" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-13/feed/ 0 The Holy Apostle James -   - James was the son of Zebedee, brother of John and one of the Twelve Apostles. At the invitation of the Lord Jesus, James left the fishermen's net, his father and, together with John, immediately followed after the Lord. The Holy Apostle James   James was the son of Zebedee, brother of John and one of the Twelve Apostles. At the invitation of the Lord Jesus, James left the fishermen's net, his father and, together with John, immediately followed after the Lord. He belonged to that trinity of apostles to whom the Lord revealed the greatest mysteries; before whom He was transfigured on Tabor and before whom He lamented before His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. After receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, he preached the Gospel in various places and traveled to Spain. Upon his return from Spain, the Jews began to quarrel with him concerning Holy Scripture and no one was able to withstand him, not even a certain magician Hermogenes. Hermogenes and his disciple Philip were defeated by the power of truth which James preached and, both of them were baptized. Then the Jews accused him before Herod and persuaded Josias to slander the apostle. Josias, seeing the brave conduct of James and listening to his clear explanation about the truth, repented and believed in Christ. When James was condemned to death, this same Josias was also condemned to death. Enroute to the place of execution, Josias implored James to forgive him the sin of slander. James embraced and kissed him and said: "Peace and forgiveness be to you!" Both of them bowed their heads under the sword and were beheaded for the Lord Whom they loved and Whom they served. Saint James suffered in Jerusalem in the year 45 A.D. His body was translated to Spain, where miraculous healings occurred over his grave and, do so even today.   St. Donatus   Donatus was bishop of Evira in Albania. He was endowed by God with the great blessing of miracle-working, by which he performed many miracles for the benefit of the people. Donatus changed bitter water into sweet water; brought down rain during a drought; healed the king's daughter of insanity; and resurrected a man from the dead. This deceased man had repaid his debt to a certain creditor. This unscrupulous creditor wanted the debt to be repaid a second time and, wanting to benefit from the death of his debtor, he came to his widow and demanded that the debt be repaid immediately. The widow wept and complained to the bishop. St. Donatus warned the creditor to wait, at least, until the man was buried and then the debt would be discussed. The creditor angrily insisted his own. Then Donatus approached the dead man, touched him and cried out: "Arise brother and see what you have with your creditor!." The dead man rose and with a frightening glance looked at his lender and related to him the time, when and where he had repaid the debt. He also sought from the lender his written receipt. The frightened lender then placed a document into his hands and the enlivened deceased tore it up and again lay down and died. St. Donatus died peacefully in very old age and took up habitation with the Lord in the year 387 A.D. His relics repose in Evira, Albania and, even today, benefit the faithful.   The Holy Female Martyr Argyra   Argyra, this neo-martyr was born in Brusa, of devout parents. As soon as Argyra was married to a Christian, a certain Turk from the neighborhood fell in love with her and invited her to live with him. The Christ-loving Argyra rejected such a vile proposal of this Turk. He became so enraged and accused her before the judge saying that she had wanted to embrace Islam and later reneged. This holy Argyra spent fifteen years suffering for Christ, going from judge to judge and from prison to prison. She loved Christ above everything in this world. She finally died in prison in Constantinople in the year 1725 A.D.   Reflection   A devout elder lay on his death bed. His friends gathered around him and mourned him. With that, the elder laughed three times. The monks asked him: "What are you laughing at?" The elder replied: "I laughed the first time, because all of you are afraid of death; the second time, Subdeacon Charles-Michael no About Orthodoxy, FrontPage, Liturgical, Orthodox Calendarshttp://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-13/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~3/SPO_t2COaqM/ http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-11/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 11:16:39 +0000 Subdeacon Charles-Michael http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/?p=95747 1. SAINT CYRIL AND SAINT METHODIUS EQUAL TO THE APOSTLES Saints Cyril and Methodius were brothers from Thessalonica of distinguished and wealthy parents, Leo and Maria. The older brother Methodius spent ten years as an officer among the Macedonian Slavs and thus learned the Slavic language. After that Methodius withdrew to Mount Olympus and dedicated [...]<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?a=SPO_t2COaqM:_9L_pRNJ-WI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~4/SPO_t2COaqM" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-11/feed/ 0 1. SAINT CYRIL AND SAINT METHODIUS EQUAL TO THE APOSTLES - Saints Cyril and Methodius were brothers from Thessalonica of distinguished and wealthy parents, Leo and Maria. The older brother Methodius spent ten years as an officer among the Macedonian S... 1. SAINT CYRIL AND SAINT METHODIUS EQUAL TO THE APOSTLES Saints Cyril and Methodius were brothers from Thessalonica of distinguished and wealthy parents, Leo and Maria. The older brother Methodius spent ten years as an officer among the Macedonian S... Subdeacon Charles-Michael no About Orthodoxy, FrontPage, Liturgical, Orthodox Calendarshttp://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-11/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~3/Qw_jr6nR3o0/ http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-10/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 11:48:11 +0000 Subdeacon Charles-Michael http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/?p=94891 1. THE HOLY APOSTLE SIMON, THE ZEALOT Simon was one of the Twelve Great Apostles. He was born in Cana of Galilee. The Lord Jesus, with His mother and His disciples, came to his marriage feast. When the wine ran out, the Lord changed water into wine (St. John 2: 1-11). Witnessing this miracle, Simon [...]<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?a=Qw_jr6nR3o0:Cjm2ma5heJw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~4/Qw_jr6nR3o0" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-10/feed/ 0 1. THE HOLY APOSTLE SIMON, THE ZEALOT - Simon was one of the Twelve Great Apostles. He was born in Cana of Galilee. The Lord Jesus, with His mother and His disciples, came to his marriage feast. When the wine ran out, 1. THE HOLY APOSTLE SIMON, THE ZEALOT Simon was one of the Twelve Great Apostles. He was born in Cana of Galilee. The Lord Jesus, with His mother and His disciples, came to his marriage feast. When the wine ran out, the Lord changed water into wine (St. John 2: 1-11). Witnessing this miracle, Simon the groom left his home, parents and bride and followed after Christ. Zealot means zealous. Simon was called the Zealot because of his great and fiery zeal for the Savior and His Gospel. After receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, Simon went to preach the Gospel in Mauritania in Africa. Because he succeeded to convert many to the Faith of Christ, Simon was tortured and finally crucified, as was his Lord, Who prepared for him a wreath of glory in the immortal kingdom. 2. THE HOLY MARTYRS ALPHAEUS, PHILADELPHUS AND CYPRINUS All three were brothers and the sons of Prince Vitalis in Southern Italy. They were men of nobility and strong in faith. Condemned for their faith in Christ they were led from one judge to another; from one torturer to another. They were taken to Sicily and were slain there during the reign of Emperor Licinius. Alphaeus' tongue was severed and having shed much blood, he died. Philadelphus was burned on an iron grate and Cyprinus in fire. Their incorrupt relics were discovered in 1517 A.D. The three brothers appeared to St. Euthalia (March 2). 3. THE VENERABLE ISIDORA, FOOL FOR CHRIST Isidora lived in the fourth century and was a nun in a convent in Tabennisi. She pretended insanity in order to conceal her virtues and her mortification. Isidora performed the most menial tasks, fed on the leftovers on the dishes, served all and everyone and was despised by all and everyone. At that time, an angel of God revealed to the great ascetic Pitirim about Isidora's secret. Pitirim came to the convent and when he saw Isidora he bowed down to the ground before her. And so, she to him. Then the sisters informed Pitirim that she was insane. "All of you are insane" replied Pitirim, "and this one is greater before the Lord than I and all of you; I only pray that God will render to me that which is intended for her at the Dreadful Judgment!" Then the sisters became ashamed and begged both Pitirim and Isidora for forgiveness. From then on, everyone began to show respect for Isidora. And she, to escape the honors of men, fled the convent to a place unknown and died about the year 365 A.D. 4. THE BLESSED THAIS Thais was a wealthy Christian maiden in Egypt. She decided not to enter into marriage and distributed her property to the monks of the desert. When she spent all of her possessions, she began to live a life of debauchery. Learning about this, the hermits begged Abba John Colovos to come to Alexandria and he did and began to weep before Thais. When she heard that the elder was crying because of her sins, she repented in an instant, left home and everything she owned and withdrew into the wilderness with the saint. One night while Thais was sleeping and while John stood at prayer, he saw where angels descended with a great light and took the soul of Thais. John learned that her instantaneous but warm repentance was more pleasing to God than the long years of external repentance of many hermits. HYMN OF PRAISETHE VENERABLE PITIRIMIn the desert, the ascetic PitirimPrays to God and asks himself: In the world, is there anyone equal to me? Then appeared, an angel of God, Gently reproached Pitirim: In thoughts, you magnify yourself O Elder As though, in the world, there is no better! Come, follow me, O Elder Pitirim, Come, follow me to see the aged woman, Isidora makes herself a "fool for Christ," To see her and then to be amazed: She, from God her heart does not separate, All her thoughts, to God, she binds, And not like you, who, in the body, are here, And thoughts, in the ends of the world! And all of her mortifications that you see That by shame, Subdeacon Charles-Michael no About Orthodoxy, FrontPage, Liturgical, Orthodox Calendarshttp://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-10/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~3/65f3pp0wChc/ http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-9/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 11:13:31 +0000 Subdeacon Charles-Michael http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/?p=94034 1. THE HOLY PROPHET ISAIAH This great prophet was of royal lineage. Isaiah was born in Jerusalem of Amoz his father who was the brother of Amaziah, the king of Judah. By the great grace of God that was in him, Isaiah was made worthy to see the Lord Sabaoth on the throne in heaven [...]<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?a=65f3pp0wChc:DcDzZ72En98:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~4/65f3pp0wChc" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-9/feed/ 0 1. THE HOLY PROPHET ISAIAH - This great prophet was of royal lineage. Isaiah was born in Jerusalem of Amoz his father who was the brother of Amaziah, the king of Judah. By the great grace of God that was in him, 1. THE HOLY PROPHET ISAIAH This great prophet was of royal lineage. Isaiah was born in Jerusalem of Amoz his father who was the brother of Amaziah, the king of Judah. By the great grace of God that was in him, Isaiah was made worthy to see the Lord Sabaoth on the throne in heaven surrounded by six-winged Seraphims who continuously sing: "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts [Sabaoth]" (Isaiah 6:3). Isaiah prophesied many things to individual men as well as to the people. On one occasion, he walked naked around the streets of Jerusalem for three days prophesying the imminent fall of Jerusalem by the Assyrian King Sennacherib, reminding the king and the leaders of the people not to hope in assistance from the Egyptians or Ethiopians for they, also, will be subjugated by the same Sennacherib, but rather to trust in help from God the Most High. This prophesy, as well as other prophecies, were literally fulfilled. Isaiah's most important prophecies are the ones concerning the Incarnation of God, the conception of the All-Holy Virgin, John the Forerunner and about many other events of the life of Christ. ["Therefore, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). "The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord and make straight in the desert a highway for our God" (Isaiah 40:3).] This discerning man, because of the purity of his heart and because of his zealousness toward God, also received the gift of working miracles. Thus, when the besieged Jerusalem suffered from drought, Isaiah prayed to God and water flowed from beneath Mount Zion. This water was called Siloam which means: "sent." Later, the Lord directed the man, blind from birth to bathe in this water in order for him to see. During the reign of King Manasses, when Isaiah thundered against the pagan customs of the king and the leaders comparing that generation with Sodom and Gomorrah, the anger of the leaders and the people rose up against this great prophet. He was captured, led out of Jerusalem and was sawed in half. Isaiah lived and prophesied about seven-hundred years before Christ. 2. THE TRANSLATION OF THE RELICS OF SAINT NICHOLAS THE WONDER-WORKER OF MYRA IN LYCIA. During the reign of Emperor Alexius Commenus and Patriarch NicholasGrammaticus, the body of this saint was translated from Myra in Lycia to the town of Bari in Italy in 1007 A.D. This occurred because of the assault of the Muslims on Lycia. The saint appeared in a dream to an honorable priest in Bari and ordered that his relics be translated to this town. At that time, Bari was Orthodox and under the Orthodox Patriarch. During the translation of the relics of this saint many miracles occurred either by touching the relics or from the myrrh [oil] which abundantly flowed from his relics. "Also on this day, is commemorated the miracle of St. Nicholas to the Serbian King, Stephan of Decani: how St. Nicholas restored the sight to the blinded King Stephan. 3. THE HOLY MARTYR CHRISTOPHER Christopher was a great miracle-worker. He is especially venerated in Spain. The people pray to him primarily for protection from contagious diseases and great pestilence. He suffered for Christ and was glorified by Christ in the year 249 A.D.   HYMN OF PRAISESAINT STEVEN OF DECANI [STEPHAN DECANSKI] On the Field of Sheep, the blind StephansleepsAnd in a dream, endures misfortune without peace.His body shivering, his eyes bloody, Than such a life, death is surely better, At that moment, in a dream a man appeared to him, In heavenly glow, in heavenly glory. Nicholas I am, of Myra in Lycia, said he, And, one of those whom God chooses, you are. Subdeacon Charles-Michael no About Orthodoxy, FrontPage, Liturgical, Orthodox Calendarshttp://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-9/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~3/XWHNQC_98iA/ http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-8/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 11:23:41 +0000 Subdeacon Charles-Michael http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/?p=93178 1. THE HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST JOHN The feast day of this great apostle and evangelist is celebrated on September 26. This day (May commemorates the miracle which appeared at his grave. When John was over one hundred years old, he took seven of his disciples, went outside the town of Ephesus and ordered them [...]<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?a=XWHNQC_98iA:c1UjnX5S7mA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~4/XWHNQC_98iA" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-8/feed/ 0 1. THE HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST JOHN - The feast day of this great apostle and evangelist is celebrated on September 26. This day (May 8) commemorates the miracle which appeared at his grave. When John was over one hundred years old, 1. THE HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST JOHN The feast day of this great apostle and evangelist is celebrated on September 26. This day (May 8) commemorates the miracle which appeared at his grave. When John was over one hundred years old, he took seven of his disciples, went outside the town of Ephesus and ordered them to dig a grave in the form of a cross. After that, the elder went down into this grave and was buried. Later on, when the faithful opened John's grave, they did not find his body. On May 8 of every year, dust is raised from his grave from which the sick are healed of various diseases. 2. VENERABLE ARSENIUS THE GREAT This glorious saint was born of a patrician family in Rome and was well educated in the secular sciences and philosophy as well as in spiritual wisdom. Abandoning all the vanity of the world, he dedicated himself to the service of the Church and was a deacon of the great church in Rome. Unmarried, withdrawn, quiet and devout, Arsenius thought to live that way his entire life. But the Providence of God directed his path in life otherwise. Emperor Theodosius took him as a tutor and teacher of his sons Arcadius and Honorius, and installed him as a senator surrounding him with great wealth, honors and luxury. But all of this burdened Arsenius' heart rather than pleasing him. It happened that Arcadius committed a wrong and for that Arsenius punished him. The offended Arcadius conceived a terrible revenge against his teacher and when Arsenius found out he changed into the clothes of a beggar, left for the seashore, boarded a boat and sailed to Egypt. When he arrived at the renowned Scete, he became a disciple of the glorious John Colobus [The Short] and dedicated himself to a life of asceticism. He considered himself dead and when someone informed him that a wealthy relative died and willed his entire estate to him, Arsenius replied: "But I died before him, how is it therefore that I could be his heir?" Withdrawn in a hermit's cell as in a tomb, throughout the entire day, he wove baskets of palm leaves, and at night, he prayed to God. He avoided men and all conversations with them. Only on feast days did he leave his cell and attend church to receive Holy Communion. In order not to become lazy, he often asked himself the question: "Arsenius, why did you come to the wilderness?" He remained in the wilderness for fifty-five years as a "desert dweller" and for that entire time was a model to the monks and a glory to monastics in general. In all, Arsenius lived one hundred years and died peacefully in the year 448 A.D. after prolonged labor and voluntarily imposing hardships upon himself and took up habitation in the kingdom of Christ the Lord, Whom he loved with all his heart, all his mind and all his soul. 3. SAINT EMILIA Emilia was the mother of Saint Basil the Great. In her youth she desired to remain a virgin for life but was forced into marriage. Emilia gave birth to nine children and so inspired them with the Spirit of Christ that five of them became Christian saints: Basil the Great, Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, Peter, Bishop of Sebaste, Macrina and Theosevia. In her old age Emilia established a convent where she lived with Macrina her daughter and where she died in the Lord on May 8, 375 A.D. 4. VENERABLE ARSENIUS THE LOVER OF LABOR Arsenius was a monk in the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev. He never afforded himself any rest but continually labored. He ate food only once a day, after the setting of the sun. He lived a life of asceticism and died in the fourteenth century. HYMN OF PRAISESAINT ARSENIUS Glorious Arsenius, whom the world glorified, Fleeing from glory, to himself he said, To men and to the world, consider yourself dead, Neither wise nor foolish words, do not speak. For a word, at one time in life, I repented, For silence, I have never repented. If my heart, to God I do not bind, To shake off the passionate life, I am not able. If, Subdeacon Charles-Michael no About Orthodoxy, Church Info, FrontPage, Liturgicalhttp://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-8/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~3/htGlZ34o-Dk/ http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-7/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 11:17:50 +0000 Subdeacon Charles-Michael http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/?p=93175 1. COMMEMORATION OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE HONORABLE CROSS OVER JERUSALEM During the reign of Emperor Constantius, the son of St. Constantine, and Cyril the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Honorable Cross appeared about 9:00 a.m. stretching out from Golgotha to above the Mount of Olives. This cross was brighter than the sun and more beautiful [...]<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?a=htGlZ34o-Dk:xhjqC3ubksw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ExaltationOfTheHolyCrossRoea-PhoenixArizonaUsa/~4/htGlZ34o-Dk" height="1" width="1"/> http://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-7/feed/ 0 1. COMMEMORATION OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE HONORABLE CROSS OVER JERUSALEM - During the reign of Emperor Constantius, the son of St. Constantine, and Cyril the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Honorable Cross appeared about 9:00 a.m. 1. COMMEMORATION OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE HONORABLE CROSS OVER JERUSALEM During the reign of Emperor Constantius, the son of St. Constantine, and Cyril the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Honorable Cross appeared about 9:00 a.m. stretching out from Golg... Subdeacon Charles-Michael no About Orthodoxy, Church Info, FrontPage, Liturgicalhttp://www.orthodox-arizona.org/2012/05/may-7/ Exaltation of the Holy Cross ROEA - Phoenix Arizona USAnonadultDaily Readings