Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Restoration from God the Father
Thank God every day with your whole heart for having given to you life according to His image and likeness - an intelligently free and immortal life...Thank Him also for again daily bestowing life upon you, who have fallen an innumerable multitude of times, by your own free will, through sins, from life unto death, and that He does so as soon as you only say from your whole heart: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee!' (Luke 15:18). St. John of Kronstadt
Diary of a martyrdom
Diary of a Martyrdom
Ss. Perpetua, Felicity and their companions
Commemorated by the Orthodox Church on February 1
This is a short account of the martyrdom of a group of Christians from the third century. It took place in Carthage, a Roman province in North Africa. This account is based on the written account, the diary of Perpetua, one of the martyrs. This is one of the greatest treasures of martyr literature, a document that preserves the actual words of the martyrs and their prison experience. The final details of the martyrdom were written by a Christian witness to their deaths in the arena. St. Perpetua’s diary is a historic record and the earliest surviving text written by a Christian woman.
Perpetua was a 22 year old mother with a son a few months old. In her martyrdom, she was accompanied by her servant, Felicity, who was pregnant, and three others, including her teacher, Saturus. Perpetua was from a noble family and as a convert to Christianity, she, along with her companions, were imprisoned in the year 203AD. Their crime was defying the Emperor Septimus Severus who decreed that all imperial subjects were forbidden under severe penalties to become Christians or Jews. While in prison, Perpetua’s father, who was not a Christian, begged her to deny her faith, but she would not. Knowing that they were to suffer and die for Christ, Felicity, desiring to be martyred with her companions, but unable because she was carrying a new life in her womb, gave birth to her child in prison and the child was given into the care of another Christian, in order that the companions might die together. The night before their martyrdom, they partook of an agape meal or meal of love in the Christian tradition and they went to their deaths in the arena the next day with radiant faith.
The faithful lives of these Christians brought about the conversion of their jailer, Pudens, and many witnesses. Even to this day, those reading of these holy martyrdoms receive the witness of faith and may yet be converted to Christ on the basis of this ancient diary of an early Christian woman and her companions who put nothing in this world before their faith in Christ.
Read St. Perpetua’s diary here: http://www.amyrachelpeterson.com/Groups/1000004968/Saint_Perpetua/Perpetua_The_Martyr/Read_Perpetuas_Prison/Read_Perpetuas_Prison.aspx
An historical production of the lives and martyrdoms of this group of Saints has been produced on DVD by Christian History Institute/Torchlighters. It is called “The Perpetua Story.” This DVD is excellently done and worthy of viewing! There are two versions of the account on the DVD, a 30 minute or so animated version (for a younger crowd) and the other is a documentary which runs about an hour. The documentary follows Perpetua’s written diary and was filmed in Tunisia where the martyrdom took place. This version is more suitable for teens/adults. Visit www.torchlighters.org and you will find some audio downloads available. The DVD is distributed by Vision Video and you can also find a digital download of the movie by visiting their site www.visionvideo.com and typing in Perpetua Story.
Torchlighters produces a number of fine videos focusing on the courage and Christian witness of well-known Protestant Christians as you will see by the other DVD’s they have available. Noting what a wonderful job they did with The Perpetua Story, we can pray that they might be inspired to further investigate the lives of early Christian martyrs and produce other inspiring programs based on those witnesses.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
On the beginnings of repentance
You ask how to lay the beginnings of repentance--if you wish to begin repentance, look at the woman sinner: she washed Christ’s feet with her tears (Luke 7:38). Tears wash away sins of every person. But a person acquires tears by internal efforts, through the diligent study of the Holy Scripture, through patience, meditation on the Last Judgment and eternal shame, and through self-denial, just as the Lord said: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me," (Matt 16:24). To deny one’s self and to take up the cross — means to sever your own will in everything and regard yourself as nothing. Ss. Barsanuphius and John
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Orthodox Saint Valentine
Today, I share with you the February 14, 2011 posting from John Sanidopoulos’ web site Mystagogy on the Orthodox Saint Valentine.
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Orthodox Saint Valentine
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Orthodox Saint Valentine
St. Valentine the Hieromartyr (Feast Day - February 14 and July 6)
The ancient martyrology of the Church of Rome marks February 14th as the remembrance of "the martyr Valentine, presbyter of Rome" (Valentinus mean "vigorous" in Latin). Unfortunately the historical data for the saint is incomplete.
The Martyrdom of the Saint in Rome
Saint Valentine lived in Rome in the third century and was a priest who helped the martyrs during the persecution of Emperor Claudius II the Goth. The great virtue and catechetical activities of the saint had become familiar. For this he was arrested and brought before the imperial court.
"Why, Valentine, do you want to be a friend of our enemies and reject our friendship?" asked the emperor.
Then the saint replied "My lord, if you knew the gift of God, you would be happy together with your empire and would reject the worship of idols and worship the true God and His Son Jesus Christ."
One of these judges stopped the saint and asked him what he thought about Jupiter and Mercury, and St. Valentine boldly replied, "They are miserable, and spent their lives through corruption and crime!"
The judge furiously shouted, "He blasphemes against the gods and against the empire!"
The emperor, however, continued his questions with curiosity, and found a welcome opportunity to finally learn what was the faith of Christians. Valentine then found the courage to urge him to repent for the blood of the Christians that was shed. "Believe in Jesus Christ, be baptized and you will be saved, and from this time forward the glory of your empire will be ensured as well as the triumph of your armory."
Claudius became convinced, and said to those who were present: "What a beautiful teaching this man preaches."
But the mayor of Rome, dissatisfied, began to shout: "See how this Christian mislead our Prince."
Then Claudius brought the saint to another judge. He was called Asterios, and he had a little girl who was blind for two years. Listening about Jesus Christ, that He is the Light of the World, he asked Valentine if he could give that light to his child. St. Valentine put his hand on her eyes and prayed: "Lord Jesus Christ, true Light, illuminate this blind child." Oh the great miracle! The child saw! So the judge with all his family confessed Christ. Having fasted for three days, he destroyed the idols that were in the house and finally received holy baptism.
When the emperor heard about all these events, he initially thought not to punish them, but thought that in the eyes of citizens he will look weak, which forced him to betray his sense of justice. So St. Valentine along with other Christians, after they were tortured, were beheaded on 14 February in the year 268 (or 269).
The Relics of the Saint in Athens
After the martyrdom some Christians salvaged the body of the saint and put a bit of his blood in a vile. The body of the martyr was moved and buried in the Catacombs of St. Priscilla, a burial place of most of the martyrs. Over the years, somehow he was "forgotten" since almost every day there were buried in these catacombs new martyrs for several decades. The memory of Valentine's martyrdom however remained robust, particularly in the local Church of Rome. Officially the memory of St. Valentine was established in 496 by Pope St. Gelasius.
Fifteen centuries pass and we arrive at 1815, at which time the divine intention was to "disturb" the eternal repose of the saint. Then the relics were donated by the Pope to a gentle Italian priest (according to the custom of the time). After this the relics are "lost" again until 1907 where we find them in Mytilene in the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady. It seems that after the death of the priest that a descendant of his had inherited the relics who had migrated in Mytilene, which was then a thriving community of West-European Catholic Christians. There they remained until 1990 when they were moved to Athens in the Church of Saints Francis and Clara's Italian community, where they are today.
Saint Valentine the Greek
We should first say that there is not sufficient information on the national origin of the saint, though there are some other (shades of) evidence that the saint was of Greek origin. Few example, the earliest depiction of the saint bearing the inscription «O ΑΓΙΟC BAΛΕΝΤΙΝΟC" in Greek, is in the Church of Our Lady the Ancient (Santa Maria Antiqua) of the 6th century which was the parish of Greeks in Rome. The church particularly venerated saints who were Greeks and generally from the East. The decoration and renovation of the church was ordered by the Greek Pope John VII (705-707) and finished by his successors, including the last Greek Pope Zacharias (741-752). But perhaps it is no coincidence that after seventeen centuries, the remains arrived in Greece. The issue here still requires research.
Saint Valentine: Patron of Lovers
Apart from the historical data we have for Valentine's life, there is accompanied various legends, such as from those who say he is the patron saint of lovers.
The saint had a reputation as a peacemaker, and one day while cultivating some roses from his garden, he heard a couple quarrel very vigorously. This shocked the saint, who then cut a rose and approached the couple asking them to hear him. Even though they were dispirited, they obeyed the saint and afterwards were offered a rose that blessed them. Immediately the love returned between them, and later they returned and asked the saint to bless their marriage. Another tradition says that one of the charges against Valentine was that he did not adhere to the command of the emperor which stated that men who had not fulfilled their military obligations were not allowed to marry; meanwhile the saint had blessed the marriage of young Christian soldiers with their beloveds.
Besides all this, the likely choice of him as the "saint of lovers" is to be associated with the pagan festival of Lupercalia, a fertility festival, celebrated by the Romans on February 15. Others connect the celebration of this feast with the mating season of birds during this period. Certainly, however, the saint has nothing to do with the commercialism (marketing) of flowers, gifts and secular centers which trivialize Eros, this great gift of God.
Saint Valentine and Orthodoxy
Many, however, raise the objection that St. Valentine is not mentioned anywhere in the calendar of the Orthodox Church. Indeed on 14 February in the calendar of the Church there are commemorated Saints Auxentios, Maron and the martyrs Nicholas and Damian. The explanation is simple: in ancient times hagiographic directories, biographies and martyrologia were written to be primarily used locally in their own character, and the fame and reputation of a saint locally does not mean that it extended also throughout the Church. So there may be saints honored widely in one region and completely unknown in another, eg, St. Demetrios, who is famous throughout the Eastern Church, yet in the West is not honored at all, and is almost unknown, but this does not mean that he is not a saint. Another example of the modern Church: St. Chrysostomos of Smyrna († 1922) who in Greece is known, yet in Russia is completely unknown, but this does not mean that he is not a saint.
Honor Martyrs - Imitate Martyrs
We honor our saints and St. Valentine when we imitate their courage to proclaim their faith in Christ the Savior, even at the cost of their lives. We honor them when we beseech them to appeal to God to have mercy on us and forgive our many sins. We honor them when they are our models of the life in Christ. We do not honor the saints when we measure their 'worth' by worldly amusements and festivities in the best circumstances ... Honor Martyrs - Imitate Martyrs!
Bibliography
1. Encyclopedia New Advent (www.newadvent.org)
2. Patron Saints Index (www.catholic-forum.com/saints/indexsnt.htm)
3. Oxford Dictionary of Saints
4. Ελληνισμός & Ορθοδοξία, Εκδόσεις PSL Λιβάνη
5. Ο άγιος Βαλεντίνος της Αθήνας, Εκδόσεις Καλός Τύπος
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos
Read also:
Ο Άγιος Βαλεντίνος επιστρέφει στη Μυτιλήνη…
Ο «Μυτιληνιός» Άγιος Βαλεντίνος… επιστρέφει
The Martyrdom of the Saint in Rome
Saint Valentine lived in Rome in the third century and was a priest who helped the martyrs during the persecution of Emperor Claudius II the Goth. The great virtue and catechetical activities of the saint had become familiar. For this he was arrested and brought before the imperial court.
"Why, Valentine, do you want to be a friend of our enemies and reject our friendship?" asked the emperor.
Then the saint replied "My lord, if you knew the gift of God, you would be happy together with your empire and would reject the worship of idols and worship the true God and His Son Jesus Christ."
One of these judges stopped the saint and asked him what he thought about Jupiter and Mercury, and St. Valentine boldly replied, "They are miserable, and spent their lives through corruption and crime!"
The judge furiously shouted, "He blasphemes against the gods and against the empire!"
The emperor, however, continued his questions with curiosity, and found a welcome opportunity to finally learn what was the faith of Christians. Valentine then found the courage to urge him to repent for the blood of the Christians that was shed. "Believe in Jesus Christ, be baptized and you will be saved, and from this time forward the glory of your empire will be ensured as well as the triumph of your armory."
Claudius became convinced, and said to those who were present: "What a beautiful teaching this man preaches."
But the mayor of Rome, dissatisfied, began to shout: "See how this Christian mislead our Prince."
Then Claudius brought the saint to another judge. He was called Asterios, and he had a little girl who was blind for two years. Listening about Jesus Christ, that He is the Light of the World, he asked Valentine if he could give that light to his child. St. Valentine put his hand on her eyes and prayed: "Lord Jesus Christ, true Light, illuminate this blind child." Oh the great miracle! The child saw! So the judge with all his family confessed Christ. Having fasted for three days, he destroyed the idols that were in the house and finally received holy baptism.
When the emperor heard about all these events, he initially thought not to punish them, but thought that in the eyes of citizens he will look weak, which forced him to betray his sense of justice. So St. Valentine along with other Christians, after they were tortured, were beheaded on 14 February in the year 268 (or 269).
The Relics of the Saint in Athens
After the martyrdom some Christians salvaged the body of the saint and put a bit of his blood in a vile. The body of the martyr was moved and buried in the Catacombs of St. Priscilla, a burial place of most of the martyrs. Over the years, somehow he was "forgotten" since almost every day there were buried in these catacombs new martyrs for several decades. The memory of Valentine's martyrdom however remained robust, particularly in the local Church of Rome. Officially the memory of St. Valentine was established in 496 by Pope St. Gelasius.
Fifteen centuries pass and we arrive at 1815, at which time the divine intention was to "disturb" the eternal repose of the saint. Then the relics were donated by the Pope to a gentle Italian priest (according to the custom of the time). After this the relics are "lost" again until 1907 where we find them in Mytilene in the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady. It seems that after the death of the priest that a descendant of his had inherited the relics who had migrated in Mytilene, which was then a thriving community of West-European Catholic Christians. There they remained until 1990 when they were moved to Athens in the Church of Saints Francis and Clara's Italian community, where they are today.
Saint Valentine the Greek
We should first say that there is not sufficient information on the national origin of the saint, though there are some other (shades of) evidence that the saint was of Greek origin. Few example, the earliest depiction of the saint bearing the inscription «O ΑΓΙΟC BAΛΕΝΤΙΝΟC" in Greek, is in the Church of Our Lady the Ancient (Santa Maria Antiqua) of the 6th century which was the parish of Greeks in Rome. The church particularly venerated saints who were Greeks and generally from the East. The decoration and renovation of the church was ordered by the Greek Pope John VII (705-707) and finished by his successors, including the last Greek Pope Zacharias (741-752). But perhaps it is no coincidence that after seventeen centuries, the remains arrived in Greece. The issue here still requires research.
Saint Valentine: Patron of Lovers
Apart from the historical data we have for Valentine's life, there is accompanied various legends, such as from those who say he is the patron saint of lovers.
The saint had a reputation as a peacemaker, and one day while cultivating some roses from his garden, he heard a couple quarrel very vigorously. This shocked the saint, who then cut a rose and approached the couple asking them to hear him. Even though they were dispirited, they obeyed the saint and afterwards were offered a rose that blessed them. Immediately the love returned between them, and later they returned and asked the saint to bless their marriage. Another tradition says that one of the charges against Valentine was that he did not adhere to the command of the emperor which stated that men who had not fulfilled their military obligations were not allowed to marry; meanwhile the saint had blessed the marriage of young Christian soldiers with their beloveds.
Besides all this, the likely choice of him as the "saint of lovers" is to be associated with the pagan festival of Lupercalia, a fertility festival, celebrated by the Romans on February 15. Others connect the celebration of this feast with the mating season of birds during this period. Certainly, however, the saint has nothing to do with the commercialism (marketing) of flowers, gifts and secular centers which trivialize Eros, this great gift of God.
Saint Valentine and Orthodoxy
Many, however, raise the objection that St. Valentine is not mentioned anywhere in the calendar of the Orthodox Church. Indeed on 14 February in the calendar of the Church there are commemorated Saints Auxentios, Maron and the martyrs Nicholas and Damian. The explanation is simple: in ancient times hagiographic directories, biographies and martyrologia were written to be primarily used locally in their own character, and the fame and reputation of a saint locally does not mean that it extended also throughout the Church. So there may be saints honored widely in one region and completely unknown in another, eg, St. Demetrios, who is famous throughout the Eastern Church, yet in the West is not honored at all, and is almost unknown, but this does not mean that he is not a saint. Another example of the modern Church: St. Chrysostomos of Smyrna († 1922) who in Greece is known, yet in Russia is completely unknown, but this does not mean that he is not a saint.
Honor Martyrs - Imitate Martyrs
We honor our saints and St. Valentine when we imitate their courage to proclaim their faith in Christ the Savior, even at the cost of their lives. We honor them when we beseech them to appeal to God to have mercy on us and forgive our many sins. We honor them when they are our models of the life in Christ. We do not honor the saints when we measure their 'worth' by worldly amusements and festivities in the best circumstances ... Honor Martyrs - Imitate Martyrs!
Bibliography
1. Encyclopedia New Advent (www.newadvent.org)
2. Patron Saints Index (www.catholic-forum.com/saints/indexsnt.htm)
3. Oxford Dictionary of Saints
4. Ελληνισμός & Ορθοδοξία, Εκδόσεις PSL Λιβάνη
5. Ο άγιος Βαλεντίνος της Αθήνας, Εκδόσεις Καλός Τύπος
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos
Read also:
Ο Άγιος Βαλεντίνος επιστρέφει στη Μυτιλήνη…
Ο «Μυτιληνιός» Άγιος Βαλεντίνος… επιστρέφει
As an addendum to this post, I would like to mention that there is an excellent DVD available, a dramatization of the life/martyrdom of St. Valentine called The First Valentine. It's suitable for kids ages 8+ and adults appreciate it, too. I've used it in Sunday School classes and at St. Valentine's Day parties with my daughter's friends. You can find it as an instant play item on Amazon.com. Of course, you can order a DVD from Amazon, or better yet, from Vision Video which offers it at a deeply discounted price at this time. The theme is faith in Christ which results in sacrificial love and it is beautifully done. Pres. Candace
Sunday, February 12, 2012
On returning to God
If sinners only knew that they were the work of God and the pleasure of His heart: "We are His workmanship," (Eph. 2:10). If the sinner was sure that his rank in God's eyes was foremost among the cares of the Almighty and his dispensation from eternity, and that the mind of God had been preoccupied throughout the ages with his returning, and that the entire heaven waited in expectation for his return, he would never be ashamed of himself, condemn his ability, or procrastinate about his return. Matthew the Poor, The Communion of Love
Saturday, February 11, 2012
On the return of a sinner
The sinful soul which does not know the Lord fears death, thinking that the Lord will not forgive her sins. But this is because the soul does not know the Lord and how greatly He loves us...The Lord not only forgives but rejoices exceedingly at the return of a sinner. St. Silouan of the Holy Mountain (Athos)
Friday, February 10, 2012
On the formation of children
If we seek the things that are perfect, the secondary things will follow. The Lord says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." What sort of person do you think the children of such parents will be? What kind of persons are all the others who associate with them? Will they not eventually be the recipients of countless blessings as well? For generally the children acquire the character of their parents, are formed in the mold of their parents' temperament, love the same things their parents love, talk in the same fashion and work for the same ends. If we order our lives in this way and diligently study the Scriptures, we will find lessons to guide us in everything we need. St. John Chrysostom
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