Monday May 3 / 16 ns 2022 ~ Holy Martyrs Timothy and Máura; Translation of the Relics of Saint Luke of Steírion; Saint Theodósios of the Kiev Caves Saint Peter, Bishop of Árgos ~~~ ON THE PRAYER OF JESUS by Elder Porphyrios

 C H R I S T   I S   R I S E N !

Monday May 3 / 16 ns 2022

Holy Martyrs Timothy and Máura;

Translation of the Relics of Saint Luke of Steírion;

Saint Theodósios of the Kiev Caves

Saint Peter, Bishop of Árgos

P R A I S E

In loving praise of precious Timothy and Maura from

our holy father Nikolai Velimirovich

Timothy and Maura, crucified and pale,

Through the Lord Christ, looked at one another,

And by the spirit see each other better than with the eyes,

By pain exalted, above all things.

And Timothy speaks: Maura, my sister,

You are of a female nature, and your pain is greater!

By prayer be encouraged, do not despair sister,

All of your thoughts, affix to Christ.

Maura replied: Brother Timothy,

The Spirit of God I feel, in my soul it waves

He keeps me strong, and helpless, He strengthens me,

And the Sweet Jesus, my pains alleviates,

But, about you, my glorious pride, I am concerned,

What kind of pains, with yours can be similar?

But just a little while, a little while, my sweet brother,

From the thorns of sufferings, then the roses will blossom,

To the entire heavenly host, the darling you will be,

Only endure, endure without sound and sobbing

Let us be alert brother, let us not fall asleep,

Perhaps the Lord might come, that we not be ashamed.

Behold, the entire heavens opened, I see

Unseen treasures for us prepared.

Then Timothy to Maura: O sister, wonderful,

Bride of Christ, glorious martyr,

For His glorious mercy, let us glorify God,

That such an honorable death, He permitted upon us.

O glory to You O Savior, Who for us suffered;

Our spirit, we now commend into Your hands.

The fate of these two wonderful martyrs, husband and wife, is amazing! Because of their Christian Faith and only twenty days following their marriage, they were brought to court before Arrianus, the governor of Thebaid, during the reign of Diocletian. 

Timothy was a lector in his local church. The governor questioned him: "Who are you?" To that Timothy responded: "I am a Christian and a lector of God's Church." The governor further said to him: "Do you not see these instruments prepared for torture surrounding you?" Timothy replied: "And, do you not see all the angels of God who strengthen me?" Then the governor ordered an iron rod be pierced through his ears so that the pupils of his eyes protruded from pain. After that, they hung him upside down and placed a piece of wood in his mouth. 

At first, Maura was frightened because of Timothy's sufferings, but when her husband encouraged her, she also confessed her steadfast faith before the governor. The governor then ordered all the hairs of her head pulled out and after that severed the fingers from her hands. 

After many other tortures, from which they would have succumbed had not the Grace of God strengthened them, they were both crucified facing each other. Thus, hanging on the cross, they lived for nine days counseling and encouraging each other in perseverance. On the tenth day, they gave up their souls to their Lord for Whom they endured death on a cross and so were made worthy of His kingdom. They suffered honorably for Christ in the year 286 A.D.

Acts 10:1-16 KJV

10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.


Saint John 6:56-69 KJV

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

PARAGON SUPPLEMENT

Need you be reminded that Christ requires ALL OF YOUR HEART?  Are you not aware that He has already freely given you what this life has to offer?  Don't think for a moment that if, in your heart, you exchange every last bit of your life, every jot and tittle, that He will take anything from you!  Again, all of your heart means EVERY aspect of your life.   In other words, you desire nothing but Christ.  Never doubt!  When this is accomplished, He will confirm it from within you. 

Our Lord, our Father, our Savior, our Holy Trinity, doesn't require your blood but He requires that you martyr your association with this transient world - IF - you wish life eternal.  Make no mistake!  This is exactly what He requires!  When Satan whispers praise to convince you that you are satisfied with your struggle, with what you have accomplished, reply, with all your being, to the thought saying:  Get thee behind me Satan!   

Is there no simple way to accomplish total devotion to Christ you may ask?  Yes, the simple remembrance of Him!  In doing so, all things will be given to you and should He offer opportunities to increase your stature or, furnish more elaborately a mansion in Paradise for you, He will make it know through the Jesus Prayer.  And if you question your ability to accomplish unceasing remembrance of Christ, never forget....what's not possible with man is possible with God and thus the quote from the holy Athonite father Porphyrios below.  

Elder Porphyrios of Athos

ON THE PRAYER OF JESUS