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Virtual Parish
Pray for us here at Saint Philaret's House in Roslindale, Massachusetts U.S.A.
Unworthy,
Priestmonk Theodore & mga
April
May
June
July
September 1
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS
JOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
Here is how we should think of our sorrows and sufferings:
at this time we cannot understand their significance in our lives, their opportuneness,
the benefit they bring in our spiritual life.
Only when we will be able to look back and see our life in its entirety and completeness
will we understand and see that what seemed to be so grievous was actually so important for us.
By means of these sorrows the Lord was nurturing our patience, our faith, our love, and hope in Him;
He was nurturing in us the spirit of prayer,
of a compunctionate turning to Him.
Our Father Among the Saints Hieromartyr Joseph, Metropolitan of Petrograd, Save Us.
September 4
HIEROMARTYR JOSEPH, METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRADIn the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of a Monk.
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
"Behold, this Child is set" -- the very same One, at one and the same time -- "for the fall and rising again"
(Lk. 2:34) -- the fall of some, and the rising again of others. One person says, "Come down from the Cross, and I will believe" (cf. Matt. 27:42).
But I say, "O Lord, that is why I believe, that is why I love Thee, that is why I thirst to imitate Thee, precisely because Thou didst not come down from the Cross. Herein is manifest Thy uniquely divine majesty, that having nailed Thyself to the Cross for me,
Thou didst stand fast thereon against all temptations and human sophistries, and didst bring to completion Thine awesome deed
of wresting me from the captivity of Hades."
September 5
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
Many people incorrectly think that saving one's own soul is secondary, that one should be more concerned about saving others.
No.
When your own soul is perishing and you acknowledge it, you must take it in hand first of all, for it too is God's treasure, and by saving it you are more likely to save others as well. The light of a soul which is being saved has the quality of drawing others to salvation as well, more than we can by concerning ourselves first with the salvation of others, and then only with our own.
© 2005 Translated by Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, Massachusetts
Prophet ZachariasSeptember 6
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
He who does not acquire God here will not see Him in the future life either.* But how do we know whether we are acquiring Him here or not? It is simple. To acquire the Lord does not mean to have only constant contentment, joy and peace in one's soul.
Rather, it means to grieve over each of our faults and shortcomings. This is precisely the sign that we possess the Lord, when we do not feel calmly indifferent about our shortcomings, but grieve over them.
If we did not love the Lord, if He were not dear to our hearts, then we would sin calmly, no fault of ours would torment us, we would see nothing bad in ourselves, and nothing of this sort would grieve us.
True, it is very sad to have and to acknowledge our faults and our shortcomings, our wretchedness. But this sorrow is unto salvation. It is this very sorrow which obtains the Lord for us, Who has mercy on all who sorrow and Who calls, “Come,” all ye who are such, “And I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28).
©2005 The Holy Nativity Convent Brookline Massachusetts
* A saying of St. Symeon the New Theologian.
Miracle of Archangel Michael at ChonaeSeptember 8
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
"Behold, this Child is set" —the very same One, at one and the same time—"for the fall and rising again" (Lk. 2:34)—the fall of some, and the rising again of others.
One person says, "Come down from the Cross, and I will believe" (cf. Matt. 27:42).
But I say, "O Lord, that is why I believe, that is why I love Thee, that is why I thirst to imitate Thee, precisely because Thou didst not come down from the Cross. Herein is manifest Thy uniquely divine majesty, that having nailed Thyself to the Cross for me, Thou didst stand fast thereon against all temptations and human sophistries, and didst bring to completion Thine awesome deed of wresting me from the captivity of Hades."
©2005 The Holy Nativity Convent Brookline, Massachusetts
Birth of the TheotokosSeptember 14
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
They say that the Lord is too great to pay attention to such insignificant things as man with his needs, sorrows, and desires.
But is it not just the opposite?
It is precisely because the Lord is so great, wise, and good that it is easy to think of Him as caring not only for man, but even for the tiniest microbe.
Of course we cannot fathom this with our meager, insignificant little mind,
and we dare to judge concerning the Lord according to our own nothingness and
feeblemindedness.
©2005 Holy Nativity Convent Brookline, Massachusetts 02445
Exaltation of the Precious CrossSeptember 17
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
It will be well with us even if we spend all our life here in just seeking and longing. At the conclusion of such a life the Lord will come to us and will at once give us everything which others have received with labor by installments. And the more we endure, grieve, suffer and are deprived here, the more we will be granted by Him later.
© 2005 Holy Nativity Convent Brookline, Massachusetts 02445
Holy Martyr Sophia and her Three DaughtersSeptember 20
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
We might live out our entire life without attaining the consciousness that we have drawn near to the Lord. But if only we have had the desire to draw near, and diligent effort according to our ability, it will be well with us. Our goal has been attained. If, according to the word of the Apostle, the Lord is not far from every one of the heathen (see Acts 17:27), then all the more is He near those who seek Him, and He will not reject him that cometh to Him (John 6:37).
©2005 Holy Nativity Convent Brookline, Massachusetts 02445
Sts. Eustathius, Theopiste and their Two SonsSeptember 21
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
It will be well with us even if we spend all our life here in just seeking and longing. At the conclusion of such a life the Lord will come to us and will at once give us everything which others have received with labor by installments. And the more we endure, grieve, suffer and are deprived here, the more we will be granted by Him later.
©2005 Holy Nativity Convent Brookline, Massachusetts 02445
Prophet JonasSeptember 22
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
Seek, and you shall find (Matt. 7:7). Seek, even if you seek all your life- strive, try, fall, arise, lose heart, grieve- all with the determination that you have before you a goal: Christ the Saviour, His kindness, consolation and love; and He will not fail to reward you a hundredfold for your labour and patience.
© 2005 The Holy Nativity Convent Brookline, Massachusetts 2005
Twenty-six Righteous Martyrs of the Zographou Monastery
September 23
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTSJOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists in 1937.
The highest good on earth, the wellspring of unfailing consolation and encouragement is to know that we are on the right path, that we are saved by the Lord [Ed. the Russian also carries the connotation ‘being saved’] by the Lord not only are we not excluded from the objects of His fatherly care and concern, but we more than anything else are included. He nourishes and guides us towards Himself through His Mysteries. Here on earth, in our earthly life, we as Christians are like His children. We are surrounded and refreshed by His kindness, His benefactions. Is this just so that having only briefly enjoyed this kindness here, we should lose it in the future life?
Oh, of course not.
Even greater kindnesses and benefactions of His must await us. Now we only gaze with delight at His beauty and goodness (Rom. 1:20), only just slightly lifting the edge of the veil which separates Him from us. But the time will come when this veil will be drawn aside completely, and we will be flooded as with light by His kindness and His grace. Before this hope, what are all our earthly burdens and sorrows? Shadows, illusions, vanity. Our lack of faith, our estrangement from God—that is the main cause and the perpetuator of our faintheartedness and despondency in life.
© 2005 Translated by Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, Massachusetts 02445
Conception of the Venerable and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John
September 25
OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS
JOSEPH METROPOLITAN OF PETROGRAD
In the Father's Embrace: From the Diary of A Monk
Martyred by the Atheists on November 7, 1937.
“Make ready, O Zabulon, and exult, O Nepthalim…” * These symbolize all that is outcast from God, far from Him and foreign to Him. If the Lord calls even such as these and prepares them for His coming, then will He not all the more come to our hearts, loving Him, thirsting for Him, even though they are torn away and distanced from Him by the constant assaults of the enemy?
© 2005 The Holy Nativity Convent Brookline, Massachusetts 2005 U.S.A.
* Dismissal Hymn of the Forefeast of Theophany
Righteous Father Sergius of Radonezh
September 26
SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE
REPOSED A.D. 407
Homilies On the Gospel of Saint John
HOMILY I: PREFACE
1. THEY that are spectators of the heathen games, when they have learned that a distinguished athlete and winner of crowns is come from any quarter, run all together to view his wrestling, and all his skill and strength; and you may see the whole theater of many ten thousands, all there straining their eyes both of body and mind, that nothing of what is done may escape them. So again these same persons, if any admirable musician come amongst them, leave all that they had in hand, which often is necessary and pressing business, and mount the steps, and sit listening very attentively to the words and the accompaniments, and criticizing the agreement of the two. This is what the many do. Again; those who are skilled in rhetoric do just the same with respect to the sophists, for they too have their theaters, and their audience, and clappings of hands, and noise, and closest criticism of what is said.
And if in the case of rhetoricians, musicians, and athletes, people sit in the one case to look on, in the other to see at once and to listen with such earnest attention; what zeal, what earnestness ought ye in reason to display, when it is no musician or debater who now comes forward to a trial of skill, but when a man is speaking from heaven, and utters a voice plainer than thunder? for he has pervaded the whole earth with the sound; and occupied and filled it, not by the loudness of the cry, but by moving his tongue with the grace of God.
And what is wonderful, this sound, great as it is, is neither a harsh nor an unpleasant one, but sweeter and more delightful than all harmony of music, and with more skill to soothe; and besides all this, most holy, and most awful, and full of mysteries so great, and bringing with it goods so great, that if men were exactly and with ready mind to receive and keep them, they could no longer be mere men nor remain upon the earth, but would take their stand above all the things of this life, and having adapted themselves to the condition of angels, would dwell on earth just as if it were heaven.
2. For the son of thunder, the beloved of Christ, the pillar of the Churches throughout the world, who holds the keys of heaven, who drank the cup of Christ, and was baptized with His baptism, who lay upon his Master's bosom with much confidence, this man comes forward to us now; not as an actor of a play, not hiding his head with a mask, (for he hath another sort of words to speak,) nor mounting a 6platform, nor striking the stage with his foot, nor dressed out with apparel of gold, but he enters wearing a robe of inconceivable beauty. For he will appear before us having "put on Christ" (Rom. 8: 14; Gal. 3: 27), having his beautiful "feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace" (Eph. 6: 15); wearing a girdle not about his waist, but about his loins, not made of scarlet leather nor daubed outside with gold, but woven and composed of truth itself. Now will he appear before us, not acting a part, (for with him there is nothing counterfeit, nor fiction, nor fable,) but with unmasked head he proclaims to us the truth unmasked[1]; not making the audience believe him other than he is by carriage, by look, by voice, needing for the delivery of his message no instruments of music, as harp, lyre, or any other the like, for he effects all with his tongue, uttering a voice which is sweeter and more profitable than that of any harpist or any music. All heaven is his stage; his theater, the habitable world; his audience, all angels; and of men as many as are angels already, or desire to become so, for none but these can hear that harmony aright, and show it forth by their works; all the rest, like little children who hear, but what they hear understand not, from their anxiety about sweetmeats and childish playthings; so they too, being in mirth and luxury, and living only for wealth and power and sensuality, hear sometimes what is said, it is true, but show forth nothing great or noble in their actions through fastening themselves for good to the clay of the brickmaking. By this Apostle stand the powers from above, marveling at the beauty of his soul, and his understanding, and the bloom of that virtue by which he drew unto him Christ Himself, and obtained the grace of the Spirit. For he hath made ready his soul, as some well-fashioned and jeweled lyre with strings of gold, and yielded it for the utterance of something great and sublime to the Spirit.
3. Seeing then it is no longer the fisherman, the son of Zebedee, but He who knoweth "the deep things of God" (1 Cor.2:10), the Holy Spirit I mean, that striketh this lyre, let us hearken accordingly. For he will say nothing to us as a man, but what he saith, he will say from the depths of the Spirit, from those secret things which before they came to pass the very Angels knew not; since they too have learned by the voice of John with us, and by us, the things which we know. And this hath another Apostle declared, saying, "To the intent that unto the principalities and powers might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God" (Eph. 3:10). If then principalities, and powers, and Cherubim, and Seraphim, learned these things by the Church, it is very clear that they were exceedingly earnest in listening to this teaching; and even in this we have been not a little honored, that the Angels learned things which before they knew not with us; I do not at present speak of their learning by us also (1 Pet. 1:12). Let us then show much silence and orderly behavior; not today only, nor during the day on which we are hearers, but during all our life, since it is at all times good to hear Him. For if we long to know what is going on in the palace, what, for instance, the king has said, what he has done, what counsel he is taking concerning his subjects, though in truth these things are for the most part nothing to us; much more is it desirable to hear what God hath said, especially when all concerns us. And all this will this man tell us exactly, as being a friend of the King Himself, or rather, as having Him speaking within himself, and from Him hearing all things which He heareth from the Father. "I have called you friends," He saith, "for all things that I have heard of My Father, I have made known unto you." (John 15:15.)
4. As then we should all run together if we saw one from above bend down "on a sudden " from the height of heaven, promising to describe exactly all things there, even so let us be disposed now. It is from thence that this Man speaketh to us; He is not of this world, as Christ Himself declareth, "Ye are not of the world" (John 15:19), and He hath speaking within him the Comforter, the Omnipresent, who knoweth the things of God as exactly as the soul of man knoweth what belongs to herself, the Spirit of holiness, the righteous Spirit, the guiding Spirit, which leads men by the hand to heaven, which gives them other eyes, fitting them to see things to come as though present, and giving them even in the flesh to look into things heavenly. To Him then let us yield ourselves during all our life in much tranquility. Let none dull, none sleepy, none sordid, enter here and tarry; but let us remove ourselves to heaven, for there He speaketh these things to those who are citizens there. And if we tarry on earth, we shall gain nothing great from thence. For the words of John are nothing to those who do not desire to be freed from this swinish life, just as the things of this world to him are nothing. The thunder amazes our souls, having sound without significance; but this man's voice troubles none of the faithful, yea, rather releases them from trouble and confusion; it amazes the devils only, and those who are their slaves. Therefore that we may know how it amazes them, let us preserve deep silence, both external and mental, but especially the latter; for what advantage is it that the mouth be hushed, if the soul is disturbed and full of tossing? I look for that calm which is of the mind, of the soul, since it is the hearing of the soul which I require. Let then no desire of riches trouble us, no lust of glory, no tyranny of anger, nor the crowd of other passions besides these; for it is not possible for the ear, except it be cleansed, to perceive as it ought the sublimity of the things spoken; nor rightly to understand the awful and unutterable nature of these mysteries, and all other virtue which is in these divine oracles. If a man cannot learn well a melody on pipe or harp, unless he in every way strains his attention; how shall one, who sits as a listener to sounds mystical, be able to hear with a careless soul?
5. Wherefore Christ Himself exhorted, saying, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine." (Mt. 6:6.) He called these words "pearls," though in truth they be much more precious than they, because we have no substance more precious than that. For this reason too He is wont often to compare their sweetness to honey, not that so much only is the measure of their sweetness, but because amongst us there is nothing sweeter. Now, to show that they very exceedingly surpass the nature of precious stones, and the sweetness of any honey, hear the prophet speaking concerning them, and declaring this superiority; "More to be desired," He saith "than gold and much precious stone and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb" (Ps. 18:10 LXX). But to those (only) who are in health; wherefore he has added, "Yea, for thy servant keepeth them." And again in another place calling them sweet he has added, "to my palate." For he saith, "How sweet to my palate are Thy sayings!" (Ps.118:103 LXX). And again he insisteth on the superiority, saying, “More sweet than honey to my mouth.” For he was in very sound health. And let not us either come nigh to these while we are sick, but when we have healed our soul, so receive the food that is offered us.
It is for this reason that, after so long a preface, I have not yet attempted to fathom these expressions (of St. John), in order that every one having laid aside all manner of infirmity, as though he were entering into heaven itself, so may enter here pure, and freed from wrath and carefulness and anxiety of this life, of all other passions. For it is not otherwise possible for a man to gain from hence anything great, except he have first so cleansed anew his soul. And let no one say that the time to the coming communion is short, for it is possible, not only in five days, but in one moment, to change the whole course of life. Tell me what is worse than a robber and a murderer, is not this the extremest kind of wickedness? Yet such an one arrived straight at the summit of excellence, and passed into Paradise itself, not needing days, nor half a day, but one little moment. So that a man may change suddenly, and become gold instead of clay. For since what belongs to virtue and to vice is not by nature, the change is easy, as being independent of any necessity. "And if ye be willing and hearken to me," He saith, "ye shall eat the good of the land." (Esaias 1:19 LXX.) Seest thou that there needs the will only? the will?-not the common wishing of the multitude -but an earnest will.
For I know that all are wishing to fly up to heaven even now; but it is necessary to show forth the wish by works. The merchant too wishes to get rich; but he doth not allow his wish to stop with the thought of it; no, he fits out a ship, and gets together sailors, and engages a pilot, and furnishes the vessel with all other stores, and borrows money, and crosses the sea, and goes away into a strange land, and endures many dangers, and all the rest which they know who sail the sea.
So too must we show our will; for we also sail a voyage, not from land to land, but from earth to heaven. Let us then so order our reason, that it be serviceable to steer our upward course, and our sailors that they be obedient to it, and let our vessel be stout, that it be not swamped amidst the reverses and despondencies of this life, nor be lifted up by the blasts of vainglory, but be a fast and easy vessel. If so we order our ship, and so our pilot and our crew, we shall sail with a fair wind, and we shall draw down to ourselves the Son of God, the true Pilot, who will not leave our bark to be engulfed, but, though ten thousand winds may blow, will rebuke the winds and the sea, and instead of raging waves, make a great calm.
6. Having therefore ordered yourselves, so come to our next assembly, if at least it be at all an object of desire to you to hear somewhat to your advantage, and lay up what is said in your souls. But let not one of you be the "wayside," none the "stony ground," none the "full of thorns" (Mt.13: 4, 5, 7). Let us make ourselves fallow lands. For so shall we (the preachers) put in the seed with gladness, when we see the land clean, but if stony or rough, pardon us if we like not to labor in vain. For if we shall leave off sowing and begin to cut up thorns, surely to cast seed into ground unwrought were extreme folly.
It is not meet that he who has the advantage of such hearing be partaker of the table of devils. "For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?" (2 Cor. 6:14.) Thou standest listening to John, and learning the things of the Spirit by him; and dost thou after this depart to listen to harlots speaking vile things, and acting viler, and to effeminates cuffing one another? How wilt thou be able to be fairly cleansed, if thou wallowest in such mire? Why need I reckon in detail all the indecency that is there? All there is laughter, all is shame, all disgrace, revilings and mockings, all abandonment, all destruction.
See, I forewarn and charge you all. Let none of those who enjoy the blessings of this table destroy his own soul by those pernicious spectacles. All that is said and done there is a pageant of Satan. But ye who have been initiated know what manner of covenants ye made with us, or rather ye made with Christ when He guided you into His mysteries, what ye spoke to Him, what speech ye had with Him concerning Satan's pageant; how with Satan and his angels ye renounced this also, and promised that you would not so much as cast a glance that way. There is then no slight ground for fear, lest, by becoming careless of such promises, one should render himself unworthy of these mysteries.
7. Seest thou not how in king's palaces it is not those who have offended, but those who have been honorably distinguished, that are called to share special favor, and are numbered among the king's friends.
A messenger has come to us from heaven, sent by God Himself, to speak with us on certain necessary matters, and you leave hearing His will, and the message He sends to you, and sit listening to stage-players. What thunderings, what bolts from heaven, does not this conduct deserve! For as it is not meet to partake of the table of devils, so neither is it of the listening to devils; nor to be present with filthy raiment at that glorious Table, loaded with so many good things, which God Himself hath provided. Such is its power, that it can raise us at once to heaven, if only we approach it with a sober mind.
For it is not possible that he, who is continually under the influence of the words of God, can remain in this present low condition, but he is ready to take wing right away, and fly away to the land which is above, and light on the infinite treasures of good things; which may it be that we all attain to, through the grace and loving kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom and with Whom be glory to the Father and the all-holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
[1] There is a play on words here in the Greek. Alethia in Greek literally means ‘unmasked’ or ‘unvarnished.’Ê We might say, ‘completely unmasked’ to carry the sense. It is hard to do full justice to Saint John's art as a rhetorician.
Saint John the Evangelist save us.
Translation of Saint John the Evangelist
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Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Boston |