On World Cancer Day, 1994, St. Paisios of Mt. Athos had surgery to remove a colon tumor. By then, the cancer had already spread to his liver and lungs. He was just a few months from death.
A fellow monk asked him, “Geronda, are you in pain?” He answered: “I’m used to pain. My illnesses helped me more than my whole monastic life ever did.”
St. Paisios was unafraid of death. To the illnesses that had troubled him since his youth, he would say: "You do your job, and I’ll do mine."
God revealed to St. Paisios that Paradise is full of people who died from cancer. Some Elders have called cancer a “holy disease” informing the person that eternity is approaching. This may be a difficult pill for many to swallow, but a diagnosis of cancer may give a person time to repent and better prepare for eternity.
For St. Paisios, even more important than miraculous physical cures is the abandonment of our own will to the will of God, when one “manages to eliminate his will to zero."
A fellow monk asked him, “Geronda, are you in pain?” He answered: “I’m used to pain. My illnesses helped me more than my whole monastic life ever did.”
St. Paisios was unafraid of death. To the illnesses that had troubled him since his youth, he would say: "You do your job, and I’ll do mine."
God revealed to St. Paisios that Paradise is full of people who died from cancer. Some Elders have called cancer a “holy disease” informing the person that eternity is approaching. This may be a difficult pill for many to swallow, but a diagnosis of cancer may give a person time to repent and better prepare for eternity.
For St. Paisios, even more important than miraculous physical cures is the abandonment of our own will to the will of God, when one “manages to eliminate his will to zero."
She is the patron saint of breast cancer patients, nurses, and victims of violence.
During the third-century persecution under the emperor Decius, the young virgin St. Agatha of Catania (Feb 5) could not be coerced by the city prefect, Quintianus, to sacrifice to the gods. She was subjected to cruel torments, including the attempted removal of her breasts with metal tongs. When this failed, her torturers used knives.
The holy Apostle Peter appeared to St. Agatha in prison and healed her wounds. Quintianus was astonished to see her completely healed, with no trace of cutting. Then the torture began again, but as it did, an earthquake shook the city. Among those killed in the destruction were two of Quintianus’s advisors.
The terrified inhabitants of Catania rushed to Quintianus, demanding an end to Agatha’s tortures. Fearing a revolt, he sent St Agatha back to prison. There St Agatha, offering thanks to God, peacefully surrendered her soul to Him.
During the third-century persecution under the emperor Decius, the young virgin St. Agatha of Catania (Feb 5) could not be coerced by the city prefect, Quintianus, to sacrifice to the gods. She was subjected to cruel torments, including the attempted removal of her breasts with metal tongs. When this failed, her torturers used knives.
The holy Apostle Peter appeared to St. Agatha in prison and healed her wounds. Quintianus was astonished to see her completely healed, with no trace of cutting. Then the torture began again, but as it did, an earthquake shook the city. Among those killed in the destruction were two of Quintianus’s advisors.
The terrified inhabitants of Catania rushed to Quintianus, demanding an end to Agatha’s tortures. Fearing a revolt, he sent St Agatha back to prison. There St Agatha, offering thanks to God, peacefully surrendered her soul to Him.
Prayer is our very breath. Prayer should be like a vigil lamp in our hearts: permanent. We must always make sure that it has oil to continue burning. In the moments when we find it most difficult to pray, we should pray at least a little so that the light in our hearts won't go out. We must be like the wise virgins, not like the foolish maidens, so that we will not be taken by surprise when death comes. —Elder Sergei of Vanves
The truth would not be silenced. When St. Meletius (Feb 12), hymned as “a model of faith and the image of gentleness”, began preaching the Son's consubstantiality with the Father, an Arian archdeacon put his hand over the then-bishop of Antioch’s mouth. Undeterred, Meletius, reacted by extending three fingers towards the people, closed them, and extended one only, signifying the equality and unity of the Trinity. The frazzled archdeacon then seized his hand, but in doing so, released his mouth. Meletius declared even more passionately the true doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the declarations of the Council of Nicaea.
Speaking the truth would get the righteous and gentle St. Meletius banished three times from the episcopal throne. Each time, he was eventually restored.
It was St Meletius who ordained St John Chrysostom reader and deacon in Antioch.
Speaking the truth would get the righteous and gentle St. Meletius banished three times from the episcopal throne. Each time, he was eventually restored.
It was St Meletius who ordained St John Chrysostom reader and deacon in Antioch.
Saint Mariamne (Feb 17) witnessed the martyrdom of her brother, the Holy Apostle Philip. She was accused, along with her brother and the Apostle Bartholomew, of sorcery on account of the healings they performed in their apostolic mission. In an attempt to humiliate her, the Roman authorities stripped of her clothing, but a divine flame surrounded her and protected her from the people’s gaze.
After her brother, the Holy Apostle Philip, received the crown of martyrdom, Saint Mariamne continued to preach the word of the Lord, reposing peacefully at Lykaonia.
After her brother, the Holy Apostle Philip, received the crown of martyrdom, Saint Mariamne continued to preach the word of the Lord, reposing peacefully at Lykaonia.
"Forgive me, a sinner."
“God forgives and I forgive.”
On Forgiveness Sunday, we enter the the fast of Great Lent by humbly asking and receiving forgiveness from one another, and thus receiving in ourselves the blessing of God’s forgiveness. “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses." + Matthew 6:14
“God forgives and I forgive.”
On Forgiveness Sunday, we enter the the fast of Great Lent by humbly asking and receiving forgiveness from one another, and thus receiving in ourselves the blessing of God’s forgiveness. “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses." + Matthew 6:14
Honoured as a successor to the throne of the apostles, the Hieromartyr St Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna (Feb 6),
greeted his arresting soldiers warmly, immediately ordered a feast to be prepared for them, invited them to enjoy as much as they desired, and then asked for one hour to pray by himself before being led away to his martyrdom.
“He stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man” (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).
St. Polycarp declared at his martyrdom: "You threaten me with a fire that burns for a short time and then goes out, while you know nothing of the fire of the judgment to come and of the everlasting torment awaiting the wicked. Why wait any longer? Do what you will!"
O Hieromartyr Polycarp. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.
greeted his arresting soldiers warmly, immediately ordered a feast to be prepared for them, invited them to enjoy as much as they desired, and then asked for one hour to pray by himself before being led away to his martyrdom.
“He stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man” (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).
St. Polycarp declared at his martyrdom: "You threaten me with a fire that burns for a short time and then goes out, while you know nothing of the fire of the judgment to come and of the everlasting torment awaiting the wicked. Why wait any longer? Do what you will!"
O Hieromartyr Polycarp. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.
“Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven. (Psalm 84 [85]:12)”
The Venerable Head of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John was first found on the Mount of Olives, where it had been hidden by Joanna, wife of Chusa, after the Saint's beheading. The second finding was at the city of Emesia during a time of unrest at Constantinople. The first and second findings are commemorated on February 24.
The third finding came during a period of iconoclastic persecution. In around the year 850, after the veneration of icons was restored, Patriarch Ignatius saw in a vision the place at Komana where the head was buried in the ground. He revealed his vision to the emperor, who sent a delegation to Komana. There the head was found and transferred to Constantinople on May 25/ June 7.
"As a divine treasure hidden in the ground was your head revealed to us by Christ, O prophet and Forerunner."
The Venerable Head of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John was first found on the Mount of Olives, where it had been hidden by Joanna, wife of Chusa, after the Saint's beheading. The second finding was at the city of Emesia during a time of unrest at Constantinople. The first and second findings are commemorated on February 24.
The third finding came during a period of iconoclastic persecution. In around the year 850, after the veneration of icons was restored, Patriarch Ignatius saw in a vision the place at Komana where the head was buried in the ground. He revealed his vision to the emperor, who sent a delegation to Komana. There the head was found and transferred to Constantinople on May 25/ June 7.
"As a divine treasure hidden in the ground was your head revealed to us by Christ, O prophet and Forerunner."