Lives of the Saints
1. HOLY GREAT-MARTYR THEODORE THE GENERAL
There is martyrdom more precious than precious. The preciousness of martyrdom depends on the magnitude of the treasure which a Christian abandons, and instead of that receives suffering; and it depends also on the magnitude of suffering, which he endures for Christ's sake. Saint Theodore, a Roman general, in the army of Emperor Licinius, and governor of the city of Heraclea, despised both his youth, and beauty, and the rank of general, and the emperor's favor, and instead of all this received upon himself terrible torments for Christ's sake. First Theodore was flogged, and received six hundred blows on his back and five hundred on his belly; then he was lifted up on a cross and riddled all over with arrows. Finally he was beheaded by the sword. Why all this? Because Saint Theodore loved Christ the Lord above all in the world; because he despised the foolish idolatrous superstition of Emperor Licinius, because he smashed the idols of silver and gold, and distributed their pieces to the poor; because he converted many to the Christian faith, and because he called even Emperor Licinius himself to renounce idols and believe in the one living God. Throughout all the time of torture Saint Theodore unceasingly said: "Glory to Thee my God, glory to Thee!" Saint Theodore suffered on February 8, 319 at three o'clock in the afternoon, and departed to the Kingdom of Christ. He is considered the protector of soldiers who call upon him for help. His wonder-working relics were transferred from Euchaita to Constantinople and buried in the church of Blachernae (see June 8).
2. HOLY PROPHET ZECHARIAH
Zechariah was the eleventh of the minor prophets. Together with the prophet Haggai he encouraged Prince Zerubbabel to rebuild the Jerusalem temple. He prophesied the solemn entrance of Christ into Jerusalem on a donkey, the foal of an ass; (Zechariah 9:9) and Judas's betrayal for thirty pieces of silver: and they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver; (Zechariah 11:12) and the flight of the apostles from Christ at the time of His passion: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. (Zechariah 13:7) The prophet Zechariah is called "of the Sickle," because in a vision he saw a sickle descending from heaven to mow down the unrighteous, especially thieves and blasphemers of God's name. He reposed in the last year of the reign of Darius Hystaspes, around the year 520 before Christ.
3. SAINT SAVA II, ARCHBISHOP OF SERBIA
Sava was the son of King Stefan the First-Crowned and nephew of Saint Sava I. Before monasticism he was called Predislav. Following the example of his great uncle, Predislav became a monk and zealously devoted himself to asceticism. Chosen as Archbishop of Serbia after Saint Arsenius, under the name Sava II, he governed the church with great devotion and love. He reposed in the year 1268. His relics lie in the monastery at Peć.
Hymn of Praise
Predislav gazed intently,
Young Predislav wept.
The queen his mother asks him,
Why does his gaze thus wander?
"What are you looking at, Predislav?"
"At the image of my uncle, Saint Sava."
King Stefan said to his son:
"Let me marry you, sweet son,
"I am growing old, time flows,
Whom do you love? Tell me her name!"
But Predislav honors his father
But of a wife will not hear.
Predislav becomes a monk,
Sweetens himself with Christ's word,
And called himself Sava the Second,
Sheds tears, and speaks:
"Continue me, Saint Sava,
On the Gospel path straight!
The king and queen died
And Patriarch Arsenius,
The church remained a widow."
From honor Sava hides,
But double honor upon him descended:
He became a bishop, and also a saint.
Reflection
Saint Seraphim of Sarov writes about despair: "Just as the Lord cares for our salvation, so the man-slayer devil strives to bring man to despair. Judas the betrayer was faint-hearted, and inexperienced in battle, therefore the devil, seeing him in despair, attacked him and forced him to hang himself. But Peter, the firm stone, having fallen into great sin, as one experienced in battle, did not despair and did not lose presence of spirit, but poured out bitter tears from a warm heart, and the devil seeing this, fled from him as if scorched by fire. And so, brethren, teaches Venerable Antiochus, when despair attacks us, we must not yield to it, but strengthened and fortified by holy faith, with great courage let us say to the wicked spirit: 'What have you to do with us, apostate from God, fugitive from heaven and cunning slave? You dare not harm us in anything. Christ, the Son of God, has power over us and over all. But you, destroyer, depart from us! Strengthened by His honorable cross we trample upon your serpentine head.'"
“Just as the Lord cares for our salvation, so the man-slayer devil strives to bring man to despair.”
Contemplation
Contemplate the Lord Jesus as general, namely:
1. As general who went forth into battle against Satan;
2. Who went forth into battle against sin in people;
3. Who took up the defense of good from evil in the world;
4. Who conquered Satan, sin and death.
Homily
on how a true Christian meets the hatred of the world
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake (Luke 21:17)
All who love themselves more than God will hate the followers of the Lord Jesus; All who love the body more than the soul will hate the followers of the Lord Jesus; All who love this world more than the eternal Kingdom of God will hate the followers of the Lord Jesus; All who love sin more than virtue will hate the followers of the Lord Jesus.
The number of these haters of Jesus's name is sometimes greater, sometimes smaller. But however great their number, do not fear, brethren, for the number of angels and saints is enormous. The number of your kinsmen in the heavens, that is, those who love the Lord Jesus, exceeds the number of stars in the sky and sand in the sea. O do not fear, Christ is with you, and that means you are always superior to your haters. When the Strongest is on your side, you are always more numerous, for you are always stronger than any number of your enemies.
O Lord Jesus, almighty Lord, may Thou always be with us, and help us, that we may always be inseparably with Thee, and our fear will disappear. To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
“When the Strongest is on your side, you are always more numerous, for you are always stronger than any number of your enemies.”