Monday June 28 / July 11 ns 2022 • Translation of the Relics of the Holy Unmercenaries Cyros and John Wine and olive oil are permitted • PREPARATION FOR PRAYING St Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia

 

A P O S T L E S'   F A S T

Translation of the Relics of the Holy Unmercenaries Cyros and John

These holy martyrs are celebrated on January 31. On that date, their lives and sufferings are chronicled. June 28 commemorates the translation of their relics from Canopus to Menouthis and the numerous miracles which occurred over their relics. 

St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, prayed fervently to God to destroy the idolatrous impurity in the town of Menouthis where a pagan temple was located and where the power of the demons ruled.   An angel of God appeared to the patriarch and told him that Menouthis would be cleansed of its impurity if he translated the relics of Saints Cyrus and John to that town.   The patriarch did this immediately. He translated the relics of the martyrs to Menouthis and built a church there in honor of Saints Cyrus and John.    Ammonius, the son of Julian the mayor of Alexandria, was healed of scorfula (a form of tuberculosis); a Theodore healed of blindness; Isidore of Menouthis was cured of a decaying disease of the liver; the wife of Theodore from poisoning, a Eugenia of dropsy as well as many other people were healed of various diseases and torments by the relics of these saints. This all occurred in the year 412 A.D.

Romans 12:4-5, 15 -21 KJV

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Saint Matthew 12:9-13 KJV

9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

PREPARATION FOR PRAYING

St Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia

An Elder used to say that in order to have light in your house, you need to install in your house the right hardware, switches, etc. 

To pray, you need to create for yourself the proper “climate”.   Then the Lord himself will teach us how to pray.

Therefore, there are certain prerequisites to praying. 

These are: 

1) some preparatory prayers, 

2) to ask the Lord to have tears, 

3) burning incenses, 

4) lighting of a candle, 

5) silence, 

6) no worrying, 

7) some prior study (i.e. reading the epistle and Gospel; lives of Saints etc,), 

8) removal of yourself from everybody and everything, 

9) burning oil lamp, 

10) desire to be happy, 

11) complete dependence on God,  

12) and completely let go of yourself for God.