The Lives of the Saints
1. SAINT GEORGE THE CONFESSOR
On account of the great virtue which he acquired through long ascetic labor, this George was chosen and appointed Metropolitan of Mytilene. And the saint guided his rational flock with zeal and wisdom until his old age. But when the persecution arose under Leo the Armenian, who trampled upon the holy icons, this holy elder too was summoned by the emperor to Constantinople to a council of bishops, which was to abolish icon veneration at the emperor's wish. But George not only failed to act according to the wicked emperor's wish, but together with certain other courageous bishops, rose up in defense of the holy icons. For this he was mocked and banished by the emperor to the region of Cherson, where in bodily misery and every manner of hardship he spent the remainder of his earthly life. He expired and was translated to immortal life around the year 816. He was a wonderworker both in life and after death, on account of his great righteousness and love for the Lord Jesus.
2. VENERABLE NIL SORSKY
One of the great fathers of the Russian Church. Founder of the skete form of monastic life in Russia. He reposed peacefully in the year 1508. His relics rest in the Sorsky Monastery. His Rule of Skete Life represents a spiritual and practical work of the first order.
3. HOLY MARTYR KALLIOPIS
The only son, obtained from God through weeping, of a certain senator from Perge in Pamphylia. His pious mother Theokleia had taught him from early childhood in the fear of God and a pure life. Kalliopis was still a young man when the terrible persecution of Christians began under Emperor Maximian. In order to save him from death, his mother put him on a ship, gave him a sufficient sum of money, and sent him off to the city of Pompeopolis. But God's Providence had ordained otherwise. Disembarking at Pompeopolis, Kalliopis fell into the midst of a tumultuous pagan festival. And when he, at the insistence of the frenzied crowd, refused to take part in that foolish feast, he was dragged before the commander Maximus, to whom he confessed that he was a Christian. The commander ordered him to be beaten with leaden rods, roasted over fire, and finally thrown badly wounded into prison. When his mother Theokleia heard of her son's sufferings, she distributed all her possessions to the poor and destitute, and with a small amount of money hastened to the prison to her son. Entering the prison, she bowed before her son and bound up his wounds. At last the commander pronounced the final sentence: that Kalliopis be crucified. In the mother's heart joy and grief mingled together. When they led her son to the place of execution, she pressed five gold coins into the executioners' hands so that they might crucify her son not as the Lord had been crucified but in the opposite manner. This she did out of humility before the Lord. On Great Thursday Kalliopis was crucified head downward, and his mother stood beneath the cross giving thanks to God. And when on the following day they brought him down dead from the cross, she fell upon him and herself breathed her last. Thus both of them departed together before the throne of the King of Glory. They suffered honorably in the year 304.
4. VENERABLE DANIEL OF PERESLAVL
He had as his particular ascetic labor the care of the dead. Whenever he heard that someone had been found frozen or had died by some other means, he would hasten to give them decent burial and to pray to God on their behalf. He reposed peacefully in the year 1540. His relics rest incorrupt.
5. VENERABLE GREGORY THE SINAITE
A great saint and ascetic of Sinai and of the Holy Mountain. (See August 8.)
Hymn of Praise
THE YOUTH KALLIOPIS, MOST BEAUTIFUL
"Kalliopis, Kalliopis,
Travel hence to where there is no death!"
His mother speaks and bids him farewell,
Dreaming of her only son's happiness.
The youth Kalliopis, most beautiful,
Explained his faith to the commander:
"Christ is my life, my way and truth,
Christ is my longing, my one longing!"
They lead Kalliopis to the crucifixion,
Crowds of people following after him.
He, pale and calm, tightly bound,
Walks in silence, cruelly tormented.
His mother whispers: Kalliopis!
"I am traveling, mother, where there is no death!"
A martyr of Christ, a glorious martyr,
He received the heavy, head-downward cross.
Over his dead body his mother bows:
With tears she washes Kalliopis,
And whispers softly: Kalliopis!
"Here I am, mother, where there is no death!"
“"I am traveling, mother, where there is no death!"”
Reflection
"Spiritual leaders must be distinguished from those under their authority as much as shepherds differ from sheep." Thus speaks Saint Isidore of Pelusium (expounding the First Epistle to Timothy). The life of a priest always serves as an example, whether good or evil. By a good life the priest confirms the Gospel, and by an evil life he denies it. No one in the world is capable either of confirming the truth of the Gospel or of denying it so powerfully as a priest by his own life. A good priest differs in his effect from an evil priest no less than a shepherd differs from a wolf. Therefore the portion of good priests shall be with the sons of God, and the portion of evil ones with the beasts of darkness. The good shepherds of the Church even in their very last breath were concerned for the flock they were leaving behind. On his deathbed, Saint Joseph the Hymnographer prayed to God: "Guard Thy flock, O Son of God; protect all that Thy right hand has created until the end of time. Be a helper to the beloved sons of Thy Church. Grant Thy bride, the Holy Church, eternal peace and undisturbed calm." And Saint Antipas, burning within the heated bronze bull, prayed to God: "Not only me, but make those also who shall come after me partakers of Thy mercy!"
“Guard Thy flock, O Son of God; protect all that Thy right hand has created until the end of time.”
Contemplation
Let us contemplate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and namely:
1. How the myrrh-bearing women approach the tomb with spices, to anoint the One Who is the fragrant myrrh of heaven and earth.
2. How the angel announces to them the Resurrection of the Lord with the words: Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Homily
On seeking the Living among the dead
**Why seek ye the living among the dead? (Luke 24:5)**
The angel of God questions the myrrh-bearing women as if with wonder: Why seek ye the living among the dead? The seer of God and of the power of God seems to wish to say: how could you have thought even for a moment that He is death's captive? Do you not know that He is the Author of life? Do you not know that all life is through Him, and that no living creature can borrow even a single drop of life from any other source? Did He not sufficiently demonstrate to you on earth His authority over life and over death? Who gave life to the dead Lazarus? Who took life from the barren fig tree? O my brethren, let us also cease to seek the Living among the dead. If any of us still seeks Christ among the departed, let him abandon that soul-destroying labor. That is the fruitless labor of Jews, of the godless, and of non-Christians. We know that the Life-giving Lord is not in the tomb but upon the throne of glory in the heavens. A spirit unobscured by sin looks toward heaven and sees no tomb; and a spirit obscured by sin looks toward the tomb and sees no heaven. Sin and virtue govern the spiritual sight of man and each reveals to him its own contrary world. Sin casts the spirit's sight downward to the earth and reveals to it the world of corruption; virtue raises the spirit's sight heavenward and reveals to it the immortal world — and Christ risen as King in that world.
O my brethren, let us not seek life from the creature but from the Creator. And let us not commit the yet graver sin, that is: let us not seek the Creator in the cemetery of creation, nor the radiant Immortal One in mortal darkness. Lord Jesus, Conqueror of death, unto Thee we cry: raise us also into eternal life from corruption and mortal darkness. To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
“Let us not seek the Creator in the cemetery of creation, nor the radiant Immortal One in mortal darkness.”