Lives of the Saints
1. VENERABLE MARTYR DOMETIUS
Born in Persia as a pagan, in the time of Emperor Constantine. As a young man he became acquainted with the Faith of Christ, abandoned paganism and was baptized. So greatly did he come to love the true faith that he left all worldly things and was tonsured a monk in a monastery near the city of Nisibis. He lived in the brotherhood for some time, then withdrew into silence to a certain archimandrite Nurvel, of whom it is said that for sixty years he ate nothing cooked. The elder Nurvel ordained him a deacon, and when he wished to compel him to the rank of priest as well, Dometius fled to a desert mountain and settled in a cave. He attained such perfection through fasting, prayer, vigil, and meditation on God, that he healed the sick. When Julian the Apostate came to those regions, he heard of Dometius and sent men who walled him up alive in the cave together with his two disciples. Thus this saint of God ended his life in 363 and departed to the Kingdom of God.
2. VENERABLE OR
A hermit of the Thebaid. Through exceedingly great ascetic struggle he attained great perfection. When he had well established and enlightened himself in solitude, he gradually founded several monasteries and was an excellent spiritual leader and teacher of many monks. Rufinus, who visited him, described him thus: "In his garments he resembled an angel of God, a ninety-year-old elder with a long beard white as snow, of a most pleasant appearance. His gaze shone with something superhuman." He saw the angels of God many times. He especially strove never to speak an untruth. He had great temptations from demons, but soberly and courageously he overcame them all. He received Holy Communion daily. Once a disciple reminded him that Pascha had come and that it should be celebrated. Hearing this, he went outside, raised his hands to heaven, and spent three days in prayer without rest. Then he explained to his disciple: "This is indeed the celebration of Pascha for a monk — to lift up one's mind and unite it with God." He reposed in deep old age around the year 390.
3. HOLY MARTYRS MARINUS AND ASTERIUS
The first was a soldier and the second a Roman senator. In the time of Emperor Gallienus, the holy Marinus served as a soldier in Caesarea of Palestine. Because of the Faith of Christ he was beheaded by the sword. His suffering was witnessed by the senator Asterius, who was a Christian. He removed his own cloak, wrapped the body of the martyr in it, took him upon his shoulder, carried him away and honorably buried him. The pagans seeing this beheaded him also by the sword. They suffered honorably for Christ around the year 260.
4. VENERABLE PIMEN THE MUCH-SUFFERING
From childhood sickly, and from childhood desirous of monasticism. Brought to the Kiev Caves Lavra for healing, he remained there until his death. He prayed to God more for illness than for health. At night angels appeared to him and tonsured him a monk. On that occasion they told him that he would be ill until his death and that just before death he would recover. And so it was. For twenty years he lay in bed. He worked miracles during his life and was remarkably clairvoyant. Before death he rose from his bed completely healthy, and immediately prepared a grave for himself, and reposed in the Lord in the year 1110.
5. HIEROMARTYR NARCISSUS, PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM
Beheaded in the time of Antoninus in 213, in the one hundred sixteenth year of his life.
Hymn of Praise
The pride of monks, the glory of monks,
The head of monks, Or, the most wise abba,
With great labor, with many a sigh,
He attained the perfection of a true monk.
They begged him once: tell us a teaching!
Speak the truth, and never lie.
I know a man who never swore an oath,
Never lied, never wished another ill.
Then the elder fell silent after his reply.
Then holy Sisoes asked Or:
"Tell me, father, some instruction."
"Live," Or said to him, "as you see me live!"
"How shall I see you? Tell me more clearly —
Every man hides a secret within himself."
Again Or replied to him: I tell you this:
Of all God's creatures I consider myself the worst.
Or taught his disciple Paul thus:
"From every sin you will easily flee
If only you flee from slander,
For from this evil every other springs.
Slander is death to the human soul,
It smothers every good seed in the heart.
One more thing I will say, and let it suffice:
Drive away vain thoughts, drive away foolish desires,
Distance yourself constantly from the material,
And you will attain, my son, the immaterial."
“Live as you see me live!”
Reflection
Neither worry over the righteous man nor envy the sinner. Remember always that the Lord Christ by His Resurrection conquered the shameful death, while Herod, Judas, Nero, Julian the Apostate, Valerian, Leo the Armenian, and other enemies of Christ by their shameful death destroyed forever their temporary successes and victories. Envious men slandered Saint Narcissus the Patriarch, accusing him of violating chastity. The innocent Narcissus withdrew to the desert and spent many years in silence and patient waiting for God to do His will. Three patriarchs succeeded him, and only then did men appear who clearly proved his innocence. Then all compelled him to return from the desert to his throne. Thus God vindicates the righteous. The bloodthirsty Emperor Valerian with satanic fury slaughtered Christians throughout the whole world. And how did he end? In a war with the Persians he was defeated and captured by King Shapur (Savorius). Shapur did not wish to execute him immediately, but used him as a mounting block when he wished to mount his horse. Every day the servants would bring him the horse and Valerian, and Shapur would enjoy stepping on the neck of the Roman emperor so as to mount his horse more easily. An evil harvest does he reap who sows evil seed.
“An evil harvest does he reap who sows evil seed.”
Contemplation
Contemplate the mercy of God toward the barren Hannah, the mother of Samuel (I Samuel 1), namely:
1. How Hannah was childless, and in sorrow prayed to God to bear a son, promising to dedicate him to God;
2. How God heard the prayer of Hannah, and she bore a son and named him Samuel (asked of God);
3. How Hannah brought Samuel to the temple and dedicated him to God.
“How Hannah was childless, and in sorrow prayed to God to bear a son, promising to dedicate him to God.”
Homily
on the new law from Zion
For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3)
The prophet speaks of a new law and a new word. The Old Law was given on Sinai, the new one shall come from Zion. The Old Law was given through Moses, while the new one shall be brought by the Lord Christ Himself. The former was intended at first only for the Jews, the latter shall be intended for all peoples, for the entire human race. And though these prophetic words are clear, the Jews still could not understand them, nor do they understand them to this day. The meaning of these words is closed to them because of the hardness of their hearts. To whom do they apply these words? To no one. How do they interpret these words? In no way. They pass by them as a blind man passes by an open door. Had they been able to understand these words, would they have done what they did to both the prophet and the Prophesied One? Would they have sawn Isaiah asunder with a saw and crucified Christ on the cross? The Jews considered the Law of Moses as the sole and final law of God. Therefore they could not perceive the meaning of the prophecy about the new law from Zion, that is, from the house of David (for David glorified Zion). But if the Jews did not know how to see the new through the old law, we Christians know how to see the old through the new law. They had only the tree without its fruits, but we have both the tree and the fruits. They had only the images without the reality, but we have both the reality and the images. They held only the promises — and those wrongly understood — while we have both the promises and their fulfillment. O Lord most rich, who hast enriched us by Thy spiritual law and Thy life-giving word, to Thee alone do we bow down and Thee do we entreat: grant us wisdom and strength to live according to Thy law and to keep Thy holy word. Let us not become impoverished before Thee, who hast made us rich. To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
“They had only the tree without its fruits, but we have both the tree and the fruits.”